Hello Kitty Orchid Garden @ Changi Airport Terminal 3 - World's First 24 Hour Hello Kitty Themed Cafe

The world's first 24 hour Hello Kitty themed cafe has opened at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3. Hello Kitty Orchid Garden is designed to emulate the country's garden city vibe. Around the cafe, Singapore's national flower, the orchid is incorporated into the interior design with a kawaii flair of the beloved character.

Coffee lovers will enjoy the the selection of hot and iced brews made from the specially sourced gourmet Ethiopan grade 1 beans. I had the Latte which comes with a cute hello kitty latte art. It also comes with cute shaped hello kitty biscuit.

Hola Nachos 3.5/5

A good starter for sharing is the Hola Nachos ($15.90). The fried tortilla chips is topped with parmasan, jalapenos, olives, onions and cherry tomato salsa. It comes with luscious cheddar cheese sauce that is the star that jazzed up the whole enjoyment.

Over the Rainbow Salad 3.5/5

I do wonder why the salad dish is called Over the Rainbow Salad ($15.90). I was expecting something more colourful or at least the components on the plate resembles the colours of a rainbow. Anyway the dish comes wth mesclun salad, portobello mushrooms, pineapple, jackfruit, feta cheese, pine nuts and dressed in a laksa mustard vinaigrette. I like the idea of using the jackfruit, giving the salad a fruity and refreshing finishing. The laksa mustard vinaigrette was rather light, giving it a slight lift in flavour.

Enchanted Forest 3/5

The Enchanted Forest ($17.90) is quesadillas sandwiched with prawn, avocado, caramelised onions, cheddar and wasabi sesame mayonnaise. The toasted tortilla shell together with the choice of ingredietns is a delectable combination.

Cowabunga Wagyu 3/5

Finally something really kitty on the plate with the Hello Kitty shaped rice. The Cowabunga Wagyu ($24) is one of the few Asian influenced dishes on the menu. The dish comes with Japanese rice, wagyu beef rendang, onions and pineapple. The beef can be more tender and I would prefer the spices mix to be more spicy. This is also the most expensive item on the menu.

Big Breakfast Surprise 3.8/5

Probably my favourite of all is the Big Breakfast Surprise ($18.50). The Hello Kitty waffles comes with cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs, shiitake mushrooms, smoked duck and honey lime maple syrup. I like how the subtle zest on top of the maple syrup sweetness enriched the whole experience.

Hide and Seek 3.5/5

Moving on to the dessert, we started with the Hide and Seek ($16.90) which comes with wobbly pandan panna cotta paired with vanilla gelato, gula melaka, passionfruit and strawberry marshmallow sauce. The other Asian influenced dish that the local palate will be familiar with.

The Cat in Paradise 3.5/5

The Cat in Paradise ($18.50) is another dessert we tried. The mango mousse cake comes with candied orange, hazelnut gelato, green apple and strawberry marshmallow sauce. The smooth and light mousse cake will be appropriate for those that does not like their dessert to be too sweet.

Pistachio Gelato 4/5

At any one time Hello Kitty Orchard Garden will have 8 different gelato flavours to choose from. I decided to have a scoop of the Pistachio Gelato, which is pretty good with the nutty flavour and creamy texture.

Camping Under the Stars 4/5

The Camping Under the Stars ($19.50) is probably the cutest and most photogenic dish in the whole menu. It comes with a scoop of chocolate gelato and hazelnut gelato. Graham crackers is stacked onto the gelato to make it looks like a hut. The green tea powder and toasted muesli is designed to look like the camp fire.

While the food at Hello Kitty Orchard Garden is quite decent, I felt that it lacked the in the face cutest in the dishes. Unless you are a die hard Hello Kitty fan, I doubt it is worth queuing for hours for the food.


Hello Kitty Orchid Garden
Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3
Arrival Hall Central
#01-22
65 Airport Boulevard
Singapore 819663
Facebook
Website
Nearest: Changi Airport (EW Line)

Opening Hours
Daily: 24hr

Direction: 
1) Alight at Changi Airport MRT station. Take Exit B. Go to arrival hall. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Bumbo Rum Club @ Club Street

Long standing bar 83 Club Street has undergone a revamped and replaced with a new concept introducing Caribbean influenced cuisine and rum centric bar. Housing a whopping collection of 76 rums from more than 20 countries, 7 homemade infused rums as well as 25 exquisite rum cocktails, Bumbo Rum Club (BRC) is a rum heaven.

Bumbo Rum Club Signature Cocktail 4/5 and Hurricane 4.2/5

Starting with some pre-drinks before our dinner at Bumbo Rum Club, we had the Bumbo Rum Club Signature Cocktail ($24) and Hurriance. The signature cocktail at BRC is made from homemade infused rum in a concoction of red wine and strawberry. While it comes with hints of fruity berries, the rum can still be appreciated in this cocktail. For those that is not very much into alcohol, the Hurriance which is made up of white rum, gold rum, orange and passionfruit is more suitable with its more fruity and tangy combination.

Pan Con Tomate 4/5

Sometimes good food does not need to be sophisticated, simplicity allows one to appreciate the natural flavours of the ingredients even more. The Pan Con Tomate ($9) comes with tomato marinated in citrus and herbs served on toasted garlic bread. I like the extra topping of the parmasan giving it a extra boost in flavour.

Salmon Ceviche 3.5/5, Camarones Ceviche 4.2/5 and Lubina Ceviche 4/5

A delightful trio of Salmon Ceviche ($16), Camarones Ceviche ($15) and Lubina Ceviche ($14) welcomes us next. Among the three ceviche we tried, our favourite was the camarones ceviche which comes with prawn with chilli paste, coconut milk and deep fried plantain banana. The rich and creaminess of the camarones ceviche with hint of spiciness resembles the familiar taste of Indian cuisine, so good that I could not stop going back for more. The lubina and salmon ceviche on the other hand were as good too. One is refreshing with the seabass marinated in citrus juice while the latter has an interesting light and fruity flavour with the salmon marinated in watermelon juice.

Quesadillas 3.8/5

The Quesadillas ($14) is filled with cheesy beef, spicy guacamole and jalapeno. The tortilla was fresh, soft and has a delectable chewy bite to it. If the flavours could be bolder and spicier, that will make it even more perfect.

Nachos 4/5

How to resist Nachos ($14) when it is further topped with shredded pork, melted cheese and spicy guacamole. The shredded pork interestingly has an Asian flavour to it. I like the added jalapeno giving the corn chips a boost in flavours.

Accras Bacalao 3/5

The weakest link among the dishes we tried is the Accras Bacalao ($20). The cod fish beignet made from flour, onion, chilli and cod fish is served with spicy tomato sauce. I felt that the cod fish was wasted in this interpretation where the buttery flavour of the cod fish is lost.

Pollo Dulce Y Picante 4.5/5

The Pollo Dulce Y Picante ($16) was our favourite for the night. The sweet and spicy chicken with jalapeno confit was grilled to a nice charred and smoky flavour. The flavoursome chicken definitely hit the spot with its tender and juicy chicken.

Churros 4.2/5

If you prefer Churros ($9) that has a doughy innard and yet still has an exterior crisp then the one at BRC will be for you. The crunchy fried dough coated with sugar and dipped in chocolate sauce for a sweet finishing to these yummy Cuban doughnuts.

Bumbo Rum Club Punching Bag (2-4 Sharing) 4/5

For big group that is looking for a great place to gather, BRC would be an idea place with its selection of rum and mouth watering food. Saying that the Bumbo Rum Club Punching Bag ($60), a concoction of white rum, dark rum, gold rum, orange, pineapple, lemon and ginger ale is good for 2 to 4 pax sharing is a light and easy cocktail to kick start the night.

Step into Bumbo Rum Club and be transported to the world of Caribbean sensuality and tastes. Special themed programs are also lined up every night, there is always something to get one entertained each night.


Bumbo Rum Club
83 Club Street
Singapore 069451
Tel: +65 66907563
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bumborumclub.official
Website: http://deliciae.sg/
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line),

Opening Hours:
Mon-Tue: 5pm - 12midnight
Wed-Thu: 5pm - 2am
Fri-Sat: 5pm - 3am
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Cross Street. Turn left onto Club Street and walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk down Smith Street. Cross the road onto Ann Siang Road. Turn left onto Club Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

The Missing Pan @ Bukit Timah Road

After achieving raving success for its delicious brunch dishes, The Missing Pan, a cosy bakery-cum-brasserie at Bukit Timah, has launched several new main courses and light bites that are perfect for sharing over dinner. The good news is that they are available all-day just like their hearty brunches.

Chorizo Pork Fiesta 3.5/5

Highlights from the "Munch" section include this Chorizo Pork Fiesta ($10), a generous serving of intensely savory Spanish pork sausages that are bouncy on the teeth. I thought the meaty discs combined with black olives were a little too salty on their own, but the acidic crunchy gherkins and dried chili acted as good mediators in terms of both flavors and textures.

Chargrilled Squid 4/5

I am not a fan of squid but this Chargrilled Squid ($12) were so sweet and succulent that made me rediscovered the charm of this brainy seafood. The enticingly sweet and spicy "hush hush" seasoning probably won a lot of points for this dish, which implied that the side dressing of honey lime mayonnaise did not serve much purpose but this would taste equally mouthwatering even if other seafood are tossed in.

Mushroom Quesadillas 3/5

The Mushroom Quesadillas ($18) had the basic necessary ingredients such as wild mushrooms, bell peppers, onions and mozzarella but the taste fell rather flat. It was a pity because the tortilla skin made in-house was excellently crisp and fresh. Perhaps a mix of cheese and a little more spice would bring about clarity of flavors.

Smoked Duck Risotto 4.2/5

Nonetheless, regardless whether you have visited in the past for the food, the Smoked Duck Risotto ($25) provided another good reason to dine here. Instead of slices of smoked duck breast, the meat was meticulously chopped into bite sizes, blending itself seamlessly with the rest of the ingredients including hojimeishi mushrooms and baby spinach. The bright zesty flavor of the semi sun-dried tomato lightened everything instantly and served as a good foil for the rich and creamy base.

Frozen Honey Nougat 4.5/5

The vigilant eye for consistent quality food is not kept to the main courses but also the desserts section, where non-conventional pairings like thyme ice cream and nutty brownie would invite you to linger for more. Take for example the Frozen Honey Nougat ($12) that was flecked with pistachio nuts, dried almonds, and jazzed up with a delicate and aromatic coconut tuile biscuit. I was amazed how this chilled meringue was so restrained in sweetness, even when consumed with the meringue sticks. This is definitely a wonderfully refreshing and healthier confection than the usual ice cream to tide sweet cravings.

Bread and Butter pudding with Vanilla Crème 4/5

Topped with all kinds of fruits you can imagine-from the usual berries to apples, grapes and even watermelon, the humble Bread and Butter pudding with Vanilla Crème was transformed into the largest and possibly most beautifully plated version I've ever seen. This eggy pud would set you back at only $8, but increase your belt size by another hole. Begetting a long swipe through the vanilla crème and cocoa crumbs, the lush custardy interior would be perfect if it had a toastier exterior.

Pleasure 3.5/5

Besides the desserts, all the cakes and bread are churned out from the 1st floor bakery. The Pleasure ($8.50) is a classic interpretation of a milk chocolate-hazelnut cake but the dacquoise and ganache were slightly stiffened and dry. However, the hints of salt did help to enhance the elusive chocolate and pull things into a more coherent shape.

For those who love their alcohol, The Missing Pan boasts a specially curated list ranging from Thatcher Ciders, Brothers Ciders to craft beers from Belgium and UK. With a winning recipe of earnest passion and sincerity in serving good food, I am confident that the Missing Pan will continue to anchor a strong foothold in the local F&B scene.

Written and Photograph by Li Tian, a passionate foodie behind Singapore-Japan Food Blog “Dairy & Cream”. Has an eye for pastries and desserts.


The Missing Pan
619D Bukit Timah Road
#01/02-01
Singapore 269724
Tel: +65 64664377
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missingpan
Website: http://www.themissingpan.com
Nearest MRT: Tan Kah Kee (DT Line)

Opening Hours: 
Tue-Sat: 9am - 5pm, 6pm - 10pm
Sun/PH: 9am - 6pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tan Kah Kee MRT station. Take Exit A Turn right onto Bukit Timah Road. Walk down Bukit Timah Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

The Chop House @ Vivocity

With the success of Wooloomooloo Steakhouse at Swissotel the Stamford, the same people has created a new gastro-bar dining concept, The Chop House at Vivocity. The Chop House opened on 2 September 2013 has a seating capacity of about 170 guests offering both indoor and waterfront dining options. The menu at The Chop House showcases a range of classic western favourites executed with flair as well as a wide range of specially curated beers and cocktails.

Interior designed with wood finishing, down lights and ceiling fans, The Chop House has an inviting ambience. There is also TV screens around the gastro-bar screening English premier league soccer.

Featuring the state of the art SelfTap Beer concept from USA, The Chop House is the first in Singapore and Asia to introduce these SelfTap stations. There are 5 such SelfTap stations located in and around the gastro-bar. Customers are able to pull pints at their own leisure and only charged by the millilitres, basically paid for what your drink.

Customers just need to purchase a stored value card from the cashier for $5 and top up the card with a value of their choice, similar to Ezlink. Tap the card against the SelfTap reader before pulling the draft of your choice before pulling your glass of beer. The appropriate value will be deducted from the card. By the way, you get to keep the card and it is also transferrable. Currently the SelfTaps offer only Mac's Great White Cloudy Wheat Beer (New Zealand) and Pure Blonde Premium Lager (Australia).

Mussel Soup 4/5

Moving on to the food, we started dinner with Mussel Soup ($10). Not commonly served in restaurant, this is actually a first for me. Using New Zealand green lipped mussels, the thick creamy broth was further enhanced by a touch of sour cream to lifting the richness of the flavourful soup.

Chicken Quesadillas 4/5

For some light bite before the mains were served, we tried the Quesadillas ($15) with a choice of chicken or beef. We went for the chicken quesadillas that was served with sour cream, homemade salsa and guacamole. The tortilla shell was grilled to a nice crisp and filled with with a cheesy mix of minced chicken and melted Jack cheddar.

Sweet Potato Fries 3.5/5

Gone are the days of potato fries. It seems like its a new trend of restaurant servicing Sweet Potato Fries. Deep fried to a nice exterior crisp with the naturally sweetness of the sweet potato, it's a delightful snack to go with a glass of beer.

The Chop House Pork Burger 4.2/5

It is The Chop House after all so inevitable we need to check out the meat section on the menu. The meat at The Chop House is supplied by the same supplier for Wooloomooloo Steakhouse, quality is definitely not compromised. First up is the The Chop House Pork Burger ($22). The freshly handmade minced pork patty was pretty awesome, tender and juicy. The thick and tasty pork patty was flavoured with ginger, chilli and coriander topped with applewood smoked bacon and pickles.

Berkshire Pork Chop 4.8/5

Given an Asian twist is the Berkshire Pork Chop ($32). The thick cut pork chop is redolent with a Mongolian glaze of hoisin and black bean chilli sauce. The interesting sauce mixture complemented the beautifully grilled chop perfectly. Pardon my shallow palate, the beautiful Mongolian glaze sure got my taste buds excited. I will definitely come back for this again.

USDA Prime Rib Eye (200g) 4.2/5

The Chop House also offers a collection of premium cuts such as tenderloin, sirloin and T-bone steaks from Australia and New Zealand. We had the 200g USDA Prime Rib Eye ($36) that is on par to many steakhouses in terms of quality and price. Grilled to perfection, the pinkish medium beef was tender, juicy and flavourful. All grilled dishes at The Chop House are served with twice baked potato, fresh watercress and deep fried onions.

Homemade Condiments

A trio of complimentary Homemade Condiments of Onion Jam, Chilli Mustard and Beetroot Chutney will be offered to customer with any order of the meat specialties. My favourite was the onion jam.

Mixed Grill Seafood Platter 3.8/5

Good for sharing for two is the Mixed Grilled Seafood Patter ($48). The seafood platter comes with a selection of salmon, prawns and calamari stuffed with herbs and breadcrumbs. The calamari and prawns was grilled to a nice crunch. The salmon was also moist and not overcooked. A slight lack down in the seasoning which was not even. Some section of the plate tasted a tad too salty.

Apple Strudel in Tortilla with Vanilla Ice Cream 3.5/5

The wonderful night was wrapped up on a sweet note with the Apple Strudel ($11) in Tortilla with Vanilla Ice Cream. A decent dessert that came with a nice crunchy bite of the apple, finishing off with the delish vanilla ice cream.

The Chop House with the philosophy of servicing quality food in a casual dining experience is perfect for large group gathering or chill out over a perfectly chilled beers.


The Chop House
Vivocity
11 Harbourfront Walk
#01-161/162
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 63769262
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Chop-House/422514381198824
Website: http://www.the-chop-house.com
Nearest MRT: Harbour Front (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 1130am - 11pm
Fri, Sat, Eve PH: 1130am - 12 midnight
Sun: 11am - 11pm
Happy Hour: Daily 4pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Harbourfront MRT station. Take Exit C or E. Walk to Vivocity Level 1. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]