You Are My Sushine @ Ngee Ann City - Hair Salon And Cafe Concept Offering Korean-Western Fusion Food

You Are My Sunshine is the latest venture by the folks behind Walking on Sunshine with a similar hair salon and cafe concept. Located on the fifth floor of Ngee Ann City, the salon-cafe is adorned with lush greenery and offers its customers premium full-service beauty salon services and a wide variety of Korean-Western fusion dishes at the cafe.

Blue Lemonade 4/5, Coconut Smoothie Coffee 4.2/5

We kickstarted our meals with a refreshing and fizzy Blue Lemonade ($7.50) and a Coconut Smoothie Coffee ($8) with a pleasant coconut fragrance.

Salmon Truffle Angel Hair Pasta 4.2/5

First, we had the Salmon Truffle Angel Hair Pasta ($30). The angel hair pasta cooked to an al dente texture has a strong truffle aroma, paired with refreshing pops of ikura. My favourite part of the dish is the grilled salmon which is perfectly cooked. The meat is soft and fork-tender, with a thin crispy skin.

Pan-seared Ribeye Steak 4/5

The Pan-seared Ribeye Steak ($33) features New Zealand Rib-eye paired with mashed potato, asparagus, beef jus, cherry tomatoes and sea salt. The steak done medium-rare is well-seasoned, each slice rendering with tender juiciness.

Kroffle with Ice Cream 4/5

End your meal on a sweet note with their Kroffle with Ice Cream ($20). The Kroffle is a hybrid between the waffle and croissant - a fluffy and flaky croissant pressed into a waffle shape. The result is a delicious crispy waffle-shaped croissant, which we paired with a scoop of strawberry cheesecake ice cream.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


You Are My Sunshine
Ngee Ann City
391B Orchard Road
#05/05A
Singapore 238874
Tel: +65 88878805
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line), Somerset (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 3. Follow the walkway through Wisma Atria to Takashimaya. Continue walking straight at Ngee Ann City until destination. Journey about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B to Orchard Road. Head west or turn left onto Orchard Road against the flow of traffic. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Le Matin Patisserie @ Robinson Road - Expanded With Two New Outlets

Fans of Le Matin will be great that they have opened two more outlets at Paragon and Robinson Road. I visited their new outlet at Robinson Road. Now Le Matin has a bigger space and more importantly a proper dine-in space.

With the dine-in space, now we can enjoy the pastries in comfort over a cup of coffee. We tried a few of their pastries that was available during our visit.

Avo On Toast - grilled pecan financier "toast" stacked with avocado mousse and sourdough creameux finished with a shaving of brown cheese and vegemite dust.

Granola Bowl - granola tart bowl filled with a yogurt and elderflower panna cotta, topped with cloudberry jam and a green strawberry tartar.

Cashew Tart - crisp pate sucree filled with a cashew and saffron frangipane and orange blossom scented mulberries. It is topped with a touch of cashew custard, cashew nougatine and caramelised cashew nut.

Escargot - traditional croissant pastry shaped like a snail and stuffed with juicy escargots from France, and a mushroom ricotta custard. It’s then coated with a garlic crumb and doused with garlic butter, then finished with a swirl of parsley chimichurri.

Ox Tongue & Cheese Croissant Panini - classic croissant layered with beef tongue and wagyu bresaola, a mix of 4 different cheeses, as well as pickled rose petals, butternut and horseradish. It is then flattened in a grill like a panini sando.

Of the pastries I tried, I prefer the savouries over the sweets. One of my all time favourites is the Ox Tongue & Cheese Croissant Panini. Saying that, the Avo on Toast is an interesting take of the traditional avocado toast.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Le Matin Patisserie
77 Robinson Road
#01-03
Singapore 068896
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 9am - 5pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit F. Walk to Robinson Road and Maxwell Road traffic junction. Cross the road and turn left onto Robinson Road. Walk down Robinsion Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Baker X @ Orchard Central - A Platform For Budding Home-baking Entrepreneurs To Experience A Full-fledged Retail Business

Baker X is a new baking studio and cafe at Orchard Central mall by Far East Organization in Orchard Road. Baker X is unlike any other cafe. It features a line-up of home-based bakers who will take up two to six weeks of residency. It aims to support bakers who wish to explore opening their own full-fledged outlets. Besides savouring the delicious bakes by the different resident home bakers, customers can also have a cup of aromatic coffee by Foreword Coffee Roasters to go with the bakes.

Kicking off the project, the baking studio and cafe welcome White's Bakery as the first resident baker, operating from 20 December 2021 to 9 January 2022. Customers can look forward to having a taste of their signature creamy Basque Cheesecake (large slice from $10 / 6-inch 1kg whole cake from $38) and Korean Fat Macarons (any 6 for $30).

The basque cheesecakes by White's Bakery are rich in flavour yet light in sweetness. There are seven flavours - Original, Matcha, Hojicha, Earl Grey, Taro, Lotus Biscoff Cookie Butter. and Cookies & Cream. We tried a couple of them. The Hojicha is packed with intensive, and the Taro is a unique take of the traditional orh nee. However, my personal favourite is the Cookies & Cream, which is well balanced.

As for the Korean Fat Macarons, they come in a delicate crispy shell. We had the Pistachio, Taro and Cheese. My favourite is the cheese Korean fat macarons as I prefer savoury over sweet. During this festive season, the Korean fat macarons are available in special Christmas flavours, including Peppermint Mocha, Toffee Nut, and Hot Chocolate, inspired by the ever-popular festive drinks created by a famous coffee chain.

Complementing the different bakes from the various resident home bakers are coffee from Foreword Coffee Roasters. This social enterprise aims to provide an inclusive work environment for neurodiverse individuals.

The unique concept allows budding home-baking entrepreneurs a chance to run their operations at a physical outlet at no cost and to scale their production. On the other hand, Far East Organization aims to encourage the entry of new brands to the mall by providing customers with more choices, promoting greater diversity, and enhancing Singapore's retail ecosystem.


Baker X
Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road
#04-29
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 62381051
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map].

Knock Knock Cafe @ Kallang - Floral-Themed Cafe Serving Asian-inspired Pasta, Burgers And Instagrammable Bear Lattes

Knock Knock Cafe is a quaint cafe decked in flower-filled walls in Kallang. The cafe serves up Asian-inspired Pasta and Burgers, and picture-worthy lattes. The cafe is a spin-off of the Knock Knock livestream app, created to connect creators with their fans and followers. In the same spirit, the cafe aims to be a space for people to gather over good food and service in a work-friendly environment.

Iced Bear Latte 4/5

Insta-worthy and adorable is the Iced Bear Latte ($6.50). It comes in 4 different flavours - caramel, lavender, mocha and chocolate. I went for Mocha which has a nice balance of roasted coffee notes and creamy cocoa flavours.

Golden Prawn Tacos 4.2/5

We started with some light bites in the Golden Prawn Tacos ($13 for 2pc). The deep-fried crunchy prawns are served in a soft toasted tortilla, laced with an addictive salted egg sauce and finished with tobiko bits. Other choices include Chilli Krab Tacos and Beef Steak Tacos.

Otak-Otak Burger 4/5

The cafe is known for its Asian-inspired pasta and burgers, so we have to try them. We had the Otak-Otak Burger ($17). The homemade batang fish patty is marinated with a medley of aromatic spices, coated with bread crumbs and deep-fried for a crispy golden exterior. The delectable patty is sandwiched between soft fluffy buns, served with fries and a sambal mayo dip. Other burgers available on the menu are Ultimate Wagyu Beef Burger, Krispy Buttermilk Chicken Burger and Mad for Mentaiko Fish & Chips.

Hae Bee Hiam Aglio Olio 4.5/5

The Hae Bee Hiam Aglio Olio ($17) is loaded with umami-rich hae bee hiam (spicy dried shrimp) on olio and topped with crunchy tiger prawns. The incorporation of spicy dried shrimp works for me. It complements the al dente pasta excellently.

Ondeh Ondeh Tiramisu 4/5

For dessert, we had the Ondeh Ondeh Tiramisu ($12). It comes in layers of pandan and gula melaka, topped with toasted coconut flakes. Each mouthful reminds me of the traditional kueh's characteristic flavours.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Knock Knock Cafe
101 Geylang Road
Singapore 389211
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Kallang (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Kallang MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to junction Geylang Lorong 1 and Sims Ave. Cross the road and walk down Geylang Lorong 1 towards Geylang Road. Turn left onto Geylang Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Carrotsticks & Cravings @ Stanley Street - Aussie-Inspired Cafe's Third Outlet With Coastal-Inspired Interiors

Carrotsticks & Cravings, an Aussie-inspired cafe, unveils a new outlet in the heart of CBD along Stanley street. The third and latest outlet boasts a gorgeous coastal-inspired interior, offering freshest quality and wholesome dishes. The food menu comes in four categories - Morning Specials, Bowls, Open Herb Sourdough and Sandwiches.

Stanley Breakfast For 2 4.2/5

In celebration of its latest outlet's opening, it has launched the exclusive outlet only Stanley Breakfast For 2 ($46), a vibrant representation of the brand's founder and owner's Australian and Israeli roots. The platter comprises a generous serving of Israeli salad, two freshly-baked puff pastries filled with cream cheese, oven-roasted eggplant, homemade hummus, falafel patties, avocado, smoked salmon or chicken ham. There is more! A Sourdough breadbasket, choice of two eggs (poached, scrambled, sunny-side up or omelette) and two coffees complete the breakfast feast.

Signature Smashed Avo 4.2/5

A hearty breakfast on the menu is the Signature Smashed Avo ($18). Avocado and a poached egg rest on top of the toasted sourdough. It is further crowned with feta, dukkah and dressed with herb oil. Finally, zest up the flavour with a squeeze of the lemon.

Dukkah Salmon 4.2/5

Cooked to a beautiful pink is the Dukkah Salmon ($28) accompanied by brown rice, roasted pumpkin, asparagus, pomegranate and rocket leaves.

Red Shakshouka 4.5/5

For something comfortable, I will recommend the Red Shakshouka ($18). The spicy Mediterranean red sauce of tomatoes with poached eggs and goat cheese is best with the accompanying sourdough.

Peanut Butter Slice 4/5 and Keto Bomb 4/5

Peanut lovers will enjoy both the Peanut Butter Slice and Keto Bomb desserts.

Overall, I have enjoyed the brunch experience at Carrotstick & Cravings. I will recommend going for the Signature Smashed Avo and Red Shakshouka.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Carrotsticks & Cravings
5 Stanley Street
#01-01
Singapore 068724
Facebook
Website
Tel: +65 8028 6651
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 6pm

1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk along the covered walkway until the junction of Mccallum Street and Telok Ayer Street. Turn right onto Mccallum Street and then left onto Stanley Street. Journey time is about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to junction of Telok Ayer Street and Upper Cross Street. Turn left onto Telok Ayer Street. Turn left again onto Boon Tat Street and make a right onto Stanley Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Coexist Coffee Co @ Hillview Terrace - New Hidden Cafe In The West On The Rooftop Of An Industrial Building

Who would ever guess someone will open a cafe located on the rooftop of an industrial building in the West of Singapore? Coexist Coffee Co is located at Hillview Terrace. Take the lift to the seventh floor and take the staircase to the eighth floor to reach the cafe.

DDeck in white and red tiles, the interior is quite bare and straightforward, giving the cafe a spacious feel. The eye-catching piece of furniture would be the suspending stone table extending out from the counter.

White with Oat Milk

At a glance at the cups for our White With Oat Milk ($6), you may think the cafe uses plastic cups for the coffee. I don't blame you; that was my initial impression until I lift the cup to sip my coffee. Oh, it is heavy. It is not plastic but porcelain.

Steak & Eggs 3/5

The menu at Coexist Coffee Co is quite extensive. We tried both the Steak & Eggs ($26) and Sambal Fish and Chips ($20) from the menu. Both dishes were served about half an hour apart, with many tables checking on their orders and staff going around apologising for the wait. The kitchen is slow in dishing out the food. Hopefully, they can sort out the operation as the delay is ready too long.

Back to the food, the Steak & Eggs is quite average. While it is cooked to the correct doneness, the meat is rather tough in texture. There are no sauces, lightly seasoned to enjoy the beef's natural flavour. While we manage to finish the steak, we didn't touch the salad because the dressing is too sour and acidic.

Sambal Fish and Chips 3.8/5

The same very sour and acidic dressing is used in the salad for the Sambal Fish and Chips ($20). The fish tasted much better than the steak. The batter is light and crispy. The fish itself is fresh, not those frozen types, complemented by the sambal, which is not spicy.

As the cafe is only on its second day during my visit, we have to excuse the operation. I think the concept has potential, but they need time to fine-tune and smooth out their operations.


Coexist Coffee Co
Hillview Building
48 Hillview Terrace
#08-00
Singapore 669269
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok (NS Line), Hillview (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am - 7pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Hillview MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to the traffic junction of Hillview Road and Upper Bukit Timah Road. Cross the road. Walk to bus stop opposite Glendale Park Condominium (Stop ID 43279).Take bus number 176, 177, 653 or 963. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road to Hillview Terrace. Walk down Hillview Terrace. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 43009). Take bus number 177. Alight 3 stops later. Walk down Hillview Ave to Hillview Terrace. Turn right onto Hillview Terrace. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Cat & The Fiddle Cafe - Unveils Its First Cafe At Woods Square

Cat & the Fiddle is pleased to welcome its first café at Woods Square on 9 March 2021! The café will offer a complete range of the brand's well-loved cheesecakes and NEW outlet-exclusive items such as Cheesy Soft Serve and homemade Waffles complemented with aromatic brews from Tad Coffee Company.

Milo Dinosaur 4/5

We had the Milo Dinosaur (Cone: $6.90; Waffles: $12.90) featuring rich, and velvety Cheesy Soft Serve atop fluffy waffles. It is then gloriously cloaked in Milo powder, Milo cereal and chocolate syrup. It is delicately sweet, wonderfully smooth with a hint of savoury. The soft serve is available in a cone or served atop light and crisp waffles that are freshly made-to-order with founder Daniel Tay's proprietary recipe.

Gula Me Gusta cake 4/5

The entire range is available, including favourites such as Gula Me Gusta (Pandan Gula Melaka), Charred Eclipse (Burnt cheesecake) and The Emperor's Romance (Lychee Rose), available in slices and whole cakes. Customers may also pick up their online orders from the café. We had the Gula Me Gusta Cake ($5.90), reminiscent of the traditional ondeh-ondeh. The luscious pandan-infused cream cheese sits on a base of sweet and savoury gula melaka sponge cake, topped with warm and smoky gula melaka glaze as well as a generous sprinkle of grated coconut.

The café offers a comprehensive list of cuppas and bottled cold brews prepared with beans meticulously roasted locally by Tad, as well as a select range of teas and flavoured Drinking Chocolate. We had their Hazelnut Cafe Latte ($6.50) and White Bottled Cold Brew ($5.80).

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Cat & the Fiddle Cafe
Solo 2, Woods Square
8 Woodlands Square
#01-15
Singapore 737713
Tel: +65 62870077
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Woodlands (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Woodlands MRT station. Take Exit 1 or 2. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

The Bravery @ Amoy Street - Muslim-owned Cafe Reopens at New Location with Refreshed Brunch Menu

The Bravery has moved from Lavender Street, where it has stood for seven years to, a two-storey conservation shophouse along the trendy Amoy Street neighbourhood. The second storey also houses The Bravery’s in-house bakery, which churns out fresh bread and baked goods daily. With a full-service team led by Sous Chef Melvin Lam and award-winning Head Barista Maryvn Tan, customers can expect an elevated menu comprising new dishes, crowd-pleasing signatures, freshly-baked treats and quality brews.

Nova Cheese Toast 4/5

From the brunch menu, we had the Nova Cheese Toast ($16), where lemon and dill cream cheese is spread on house-baked sourdough bread and topped generously with smoked salmon, ikura, and microgreens. The side of silky smooth scrambled eggs was a welcoming addition to this classic brunch dish.

Steak & Eggs 4.2/5

The crowd-favourite Steak & Eggs ($23) was no less impressive as well, with tender grass-fed striploin served with a side of house-baked sourdough toast and sunny side eggs.

Cod en Papillote 3.5/5

The Cod en Papillote ($33) features cod fillet is baked in a paper bag with fennel, seasonal greens, herbs, microgreens, and soy broth to keep the fish tender and moist. It is served with a bowl of furikake-topped rice to complement the fish.

Seafood Alfredo 3.8/5

A dish with an umami punch is the Seafood Alfredo ($20). The creamy al dente spaghetti is complete with Tiger prawn, white clams, crab meat, ikura, and a crustacean oil made in-house by infusing roasted shellfish into olive oil.

Hojicha Milk 4/5, Dirty Matcha 4/5

The Bravery serves up signatures like the ever-popular Lavender Latte ($6.50) along with new offerings such as Hojicha Milk ($6.50) and Dirty Matcha ($7). Using beans from Allpress Espresso in Melbourne, which boasts of rich, chocolate notes with a full-bodied flavour, each cup of joe makes for the ideal morning or midday pick-me-up.

Gateau au Chocolat 4/5

We round off our meal on a sweet note with their variety of desserts. Available all day, the bakery churns out a wide range of bread, cakes and pastries, such as the crowd-pleasing Gateau au Chocolat ($6.90 per slice) filled with rich chocolatey decadence.

Lemon Meringue Pie 4/5

The Lemon Meringue Pie is enjoyable as well, with a lightly torched meringue atop, soft, tangy curd and crumbly base.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Bravery
50 Amoy St
Singapore 069876
Tel: +65 93882973
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Thu: 8am - 6pm
Fri-Sun: 8am - 9pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Amoy Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk down Telok Ayer Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]