sunny choice organic café, rail mall.

i'm hardly ever in the bukit timah area, so when i was there for work yesterday, i jumped at the opportunity to check out restaurants in the vicinity. bukit timah has a whole slew of food places that i've been meaning to check out (but haven't due to accessibility issues and general laziness). thanks to the downtown line, though, sunny choice was actually quite easy to get to. out of all the restaurants, i picked sunny choice because i was in the mood for thunder tea rice- haven't had it in a while; there was a point in time where i was utterly crazy about it.

the café was actually merged with a grocer section, so there were shelves of organic produce all around. it was quiet for lunch. it being my first visit, i was wondering how to order. since there was a cashier, i went up there to attempt to place my order, but i was told that ordering should be done via the ipad placed in a pocket underneath each table.

i took a seat and placed my order- it was fairly easy to decide. i'd already settled on the thunder tea rice ($8.50) and the vegetable sushi ($7) that i'd seen online, though admittedly once i saw they had yam abacus ($7) i was briefly tempted. the food came really quickly once i'd placed my order- really efficient!



i was there mainly for the thunder tea rice, having seen rave reviews online. it was alright; not the best i've had, but serviceable. i'd asked for less rice, so i found the proportion of rice to vegetable just about right. i would have liked more peanuts for extra crunch, though. since it was a vegetarian place, the anchovies had been replaced with tiny tempura-battered (?) mushrooms, which were actually pretty good. best of all, the entire bowl was clean tasting and not oily. i didn't take to the rice, though- it was brown instead of the purple one that usually comes with thunder tea rice, but the texture was slightly on the mushy side. what i liked was the tea soup- it seriously packed a punch, not like the other wimpy, watered down versions i've had.



the standout, however, was the vegetable sushi. it REALLY tasted like sushi, despite not having rice in it. there was a vinegary taste which totally reminded me of regular sushi, plus the wasabi dipping sauce that came along was fabulous. i found myself dunking each roll into the sauce.



the food was clean and simple- exactly my kind of thing. i like vegetables, but i usually need meat in every meal; however, i found myself not missing meat at all. i'd come back for the vegetable sushi, and perhaps to try the yam abacus as well.




sunny choice organic café
434 upper bukit timah road
http://sunnychoice.com.sg

artisan boulangerie co., great world city.

i've always associated artisan boulangerie co. with pastries and bread, not mains. we were at great world city and wondering what to eat when J suggested abc- she'd had brunch there and found it quite good.



i was hungry- it'd been a tiring morning and i needed extra fuel for the rest of the day, so i wanted something hearty. i was first drawn to the shakshuka skillet ($15) but later got distracted by the braised short ribs ($23). J and i also got a beetroot pumpkin feta ($11.80) to share, adding on chicken breast ($4) for extra protein.



the food was surprisingly good. the braised short ribs i got was melt-in-the-mouth tender- utterly delicious and generously portioned as well. it came with garlic mashed potatoes which was super smooth and creamy. maybe i was hungry, but i hoovered everything up in no time, and was super satisfied after that.



even the salad that we shared was good as well, though it wasn't quite what i expected. i thought it was going to be a beetroot based salad, but it turned out to be leafy greens based, with cubes of beetroot and pumpkin.

the braised short ribs were so delicious that i'd come back just for it. the food was so satisfying that i'd come back. never expected to enjoy the meal so much!

artisan boulangerie co.
great world city
#01-23
http://artisanbakery.com.sg

mercado spanish food market, market street.

grain bowls are all the rage nowadays, and there are so many such places sprouting up. saw on instagram that a spanish-inspired grain bowl place has opened at raffles place, offering paella, and of course, i couldn't say no to that. i tried googling for their opening hours and the exact address, but there seemed to be no such details easily available- i know they're new, but they should really look into making such information available. after some in-depth googling i managed to find out their exact address; it turned out that they are open all the way until 7.30 in the evening.

it was about two-thirty by the time i got there, and the place was suspiciously empty. i was already starving by then, so i didn't think too much about it, and just decided to order. they had two options; one to build your own bowl at $16.50, and the other was pre-crafted bowls, but i was told before ordering that the pre-crafted ones weren't available. no matter- i was there for paella, anyway. the concept was pretty similar to other grain bowl places (*cough* grain traders *cough*), with a choice of base, protein and veggies. it was simple to order- just point and the server would ladle the items onto a plate.



the paella was counted as a base and protein rolled into one, so i didn't get to choose any protein. i got a choice of hot veggies and two cold ones- i chose creamy cauliflower for my hot veggie, brussels sprouts salad and beetroot for the cold ones. there was a choice of topping as well, with a few different types of nuts to choose from. i got what looked like ground almonds. there was dressing available too, but i didn't feel that my bowl needed that, so i chose not to get any.



it was, all in all, a very vegetable-heavy bowl. don't get me wrong- i like vegetables, but coming from the gym,  i need a good portion of protein to feel satisfied. i was looking forward to the paella, but it was a letdown. the rice was gluey and gluggy- i haven't eaten that many paellas, but this was the worst. to add insult to injury, saying that it was a base and a protein rolled into one was just too generous on so many levels- there was perhaps just three small pieces of sausage in it. my favourite dish was the creamy cauliflower. the rest of the sides were just meh. really not a satisfying meal- i only finished the food because i was starving.

with strong competition all around in raffles place, it's going to take a lot for mercado to survive if they don't up their game. the food was meh- for the same price, grain traders practically next door is a much better alternative. obviously, i'm not returning.


mercado spanish food market
50 market street

perth: pleased to meet you, northbridge.

deciding what to eat for dinner in perth was a giant pain in the ass, because all the cafés close by 4pm, leaving us with limited options. googling turned up pleased to meet you, which was pretty near where we were staying (and they also had cornbread), so we headed over. it was a weeknight, so the place was quiet. only one person was running the floor- he was the bartender, waiter and cashier all rolled into one, and an efficient one at that. i was impressed.



it's a tapas bar, but because of X's limited stomach space, we ordered separately. i liked that it's small plates, because it means i get to try more things. what i got was the raw beef san choy bau (A$12), a beef reuben bao (A$6) and cornbread with maple butter (A$6).



the cornbread was the last to arrive, but it was absolute highlight of the meal. it redefined cornbread for me- i never knew that cornbread could be that good. it came in a thick wedge, alongside a generous quenelle of maple butter. the cornbread was rich, buttery and intensely savoury, with a toasty crust but crumbly insides. paired with the slightly sweet maple butter, it was a sweet-savoury combination that ticked all the right boxes for me. it was so good that it's since become my benchmark for cornbread.



the raw beef san choy bau was not too bad- it was a refreshing starter, what with the crunch of the lettuce wrap and the slightly tart beef filling.



i felt the beef reuben bao was a letdown, though. the bacon-esque beef filling was tasty on its own, but there was just too little of it, and paired with the slightly wet steamed bao, it just didn't work for me. i ended up just eating the filling. the meal left me with mixed feelings- on one hand, the cornbread was glorious, but the other two didn't quite measure up.

we weren't meant to return for another meal, but we were in the area and wanted dimsum, but learnt that it wasn't available for dinner. so... i decided that i could do with another serving of the cornbread. this time, the dishes that i picked were really good. along with the cornbread (of course), i got pork fingers with bbq mayo (A$9) and a warm beetroot salad (A$10).



pork fingers were basically battered pulled pork tenders- seriously good, but it got to be a bit too much after a while. and since the dishes were for sharing, portions were not exactly sized for one person to finish. i ended up sharing it with X.



i finished the entire serving of the warm beetroot salad on my own, though. they meant it when they said warm- it was comfortingly so. i liked the salad because there was a mix of textures and flavours- crumbles of goat's cheese and an utterly delicious savoury granola. i was initially undecided about ordering the salad, because how inspiring can a salad be, right? they proved me wrong though, with that beetroot number.

the cornbread didn't seem to be as good as previously- not as toasty. it was probably because it was a busy night for them, compared to our first visit. still, it was a really good cornbread. it's one of those things that i would want to go back just to have again. if it were in singapore i would probably keep returning whenever i have a cornbread craving.


pleased to meet you
38 roe street
https://www.facebook.com/pleasedtomeetyouperth/

perth: sayers sister, lake street.

sayers sister was one of the cafés listed on my to-try list for perth. it wasn't exactly accessible though- it was located a good twenty minutes away from the cbd. i'm so glad that we made the effort to go, though, because the food was good. definitely worth the trek.



the first time we came, it was for lunch. it was quite late by the time we made it there, but the place was buzzing. managed to nab the only available table inside. found the tables too close together for comfort, though. it made getting out of the seat a challenge, and privacy for conversation was basically nil.

i was undecided between the pulled lamb (A$23) and cornbread (A$19). from what i saw on instagram, the cornbread was what almost everyone ordered, and it looked spectacular. the pulled lamb, however, sounded really good, with its middle eastern inspired flavours- i just wasn't sure about the black pudding. upon asking, i realised that the black pudding was just three small pieces, so i decided to get it.



when i read the menu (black pudding & pulled lamb, pearl barley salad, sweet potato hummus, flatbread & minted chimichurri) i certainly did not envision it to be... well, the way it was. when it arrived, i was startled by the way the dish looked. i was expecting it to be more... traditionally presented, with all the elements flat on the plate and flatbread on the side. it came, however, as more of a stack, with the flatbread acting as a layer in between, with the black pudding at the side. it was a good sort of surprise, though!



the pulled lamb was actually mixed together with the pearl barley to form a salad, and that was the base of the dish. the pearl barley added a delicious bite that was countered by the smooth sweet potato hummus. every element worked together to form a coherent dish. the only element i didn't get was the flatbread- it felt like it was more for aesthetics than anything else.

X got the chai tea poached chicken salad (A$25), which came with smoky eggplant, sundried tomato, mozzarella, basil pesto and rocket. similarly, portions were generous. we were both stuffed at the end of the meal.

the food was so good that i decided that we had to come back for breakfast, because i wanted to have the cornbread.



we returned the next day for breakfast, and i got to have the cornbread. having had cornbread for dinner the night before at pleased to meet you, i found sayers sister's rendition lacklustre in comparison. it was not as rich and buttery as the one i had for dinner, but with all the add-ons, it was still a delicious eat. the perfectly poached eggs added a richness when paired with with the cornbread. it also came with maple roasted pumpkin, baked ricotta, capsicum relish and blackened corn salsa, which added complexity to the dish.



X couldn't decide on the leek croquettes (A$19) or the potato rösti (A$20), so she made me decide for her (!). i decided on the potato rösti for her, and similarly, it came in a stack, with a tangle of rocket leaves on top and the rösti buried beneath.



i found the lamb to be better than the cornbread, but i enjoyed the food both visits. X, however, i think, found the flavours too strong for her liking. i would go back just for the lamb- too bad it's not in singapore. café food in australia is generally much more refined and value-for-money as compared to its singaporean counterparts. eating in cafés in perth has been an absolute joy- i would so love to have had more time to eat.




sayers sister
236 lake street
http://www.sayerssister.com.au

ah bong's italian, tan quee lan, 2.0.

went back to ah bong's italian exactly one week after my first visit, mostly because R was tempted after seeing my instagram post. my previous visit was good enough that i didn't mind a return- especially for the comfort eggs. so that was what we got for starters, and happily enough, R liked it a lot as well. missed out on the burrata with homemade bread ($14) the previous time, because they were out, so this time, we got it to share.



i loved it. the burrata itself was generously portioned- i wish there was more bread to go along with it, to be honest. the burrata was creamy and delicious, pairing really well with the crusty, crispy homemade bread. it even came with roasted cherry tomatoes, which were warm and added a pop of acidity. i loved the dish in its entirety- it was hearty, delicious and comforting.

our mains came after a short wait. R got the angus beef pasta that C got previously, and loved it as much as C did. i decided to go with the day's special- a grilled chicken in light broth ($16). i know it's weird that i go to ah bong's and not have pasta, which is what they're known for, but the chicken sounded good.



turned out that my decision was a good one. they'd used the thigh, so the chicken was succulent. best of all, it was grilled so well that the skin was rendered to a golden brown crisp- utterly delicious. the dish also came with potato and spring vegetables, all of which were in a deceptively light-looking broth. the broth was packed full of flavour, and was a comforting eat. i'd go back just to have it again.

at the end of the meal we were both stuffed and fully satiated. each time i eat at ah bong's i leave satisfied, vowing to return again. it's awesome that they've opened a new, more accessible branch at bugis, and that they now are open for dinner.


ah bong's italian
103 beach road
#01-02
https://www.facebook.com/abitalianTQL#

south union park, kembangan, 2.0.

having had a pretty good meal the last time i was there, i was lured into returning to south union park because they'd introduced a weekday set lunch. at $18 for two courses and $21 for three, it seemed to be value for money.



i was there at almost two in the afternoon, and the place was empty save for one other table. there were two choices for each course, but it was an easy decision. to start i got the smoked tomato soup. it came piping hot and was utterly delicious. it was tangy, singing of tomato; the perfect start to a meal. this set the tone for the meal, and i was excited about the following courses.



for mains, it was a choice between fried chicken burger with cajun fries and a beef brisket cavetelli. they had me at beef brisket- of course i got the pasta. like the tomato soup, it came piping hot. the first thing that hit me once i was served was the hit of parmesan- and that sent my mouth watering. i was expecting it to be more pasta than meat, as with most pasta dishes. this one, however, surprised me with its equal proportion of beef and pasta, so each bite i took was perfectly balanced.



it was such a generous portion that i was already satiated by the time i was done with half the plate, but i couldn't stop eating until i'd cleaned the plate. and that, i think, is the biggest compliment i could give. it was so good- i loved the bite of the al dente, handmade cavatelli, how tender the shredded beef was, and that punchy sauce.



i was already extremely full by the time i finished the pasta, but there was still dessert, and of course, i willingly stretched my stomach for that. i picked the banana bread over the compressed fruit medley, because BANANA BREAD. it came with salted caramel ice-cream, but i requested for it to come without. they meant it when they said warm banana bread- it was indeed toasty and warm. not the most spectacular banana bread, but i like banana bread in almost all forms, and it was a serviceable one, especially since it came deliciously warm. paired with the caramelised banana and buttery crumble, i had no problems wiping the plate clean. even the coffee that they served was no afterthought- it was aromatic and paired really well with dessert.



i loved how they'd put so much thought into each course. everything was obviously made with care. i'd come back in a heartbeat just for the beef brisket cavatelli. highly recommended.

south union park
101 jalan kembangan
https://www.facebook.com/southunionpark/