The Cheesecake Cafe @ Siglap Area

TAKING PICTURE(S) WITHIN THE CAFE IS NOT ALLOWED!!!

However, you are welcome to take pictures of the food and your friends accompanying you.

*i managed to take one picture before they stopped me!!*

Neh neh neh neh!!

With this minus-points rule out of my mind, i have to say that this is a great chill out place with comfy chairs and decor that must have been come from a narcissistic person with a penchant for mirrors, paintings and Roman statues.

On one hand, it has a classical Roman feel to it. On the other hand, it exudes an almost laid back attitude, relaxing your tense up mood!

A reason why i will continue patronising this cafe.

In accordance to the name, this cafe sells many kinds of cheesecake. We had the following;

Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake.

 With its chocolaty themed title, you do not need to expect less. The problem is, it will be best if the chocolate brownie stands alone.

The cheesecake was almost overpowered by the chocolate ingredients.

Chocolate lovers might love this though.

Blueberry Cheesecake

The blueberry will be more suitable for a young person with sweet tooth. It had the right balance (unlike the Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake) but was a tad too normal.

Rum and Raisin Cheesecake.

It was creamy, airy and not compacted like most cheesecakes. The rum was noticeable without being too strong and the raisins added a special burst of sweetness to the bite!  

Another reason why i will continue going there.

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Location

685, East Coast Road.

Near Siglap Centre.

Price

Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake - S$7.60

Blueberry Cheesecake - S$7.20

Rum and Raisin Cheesecake - S$7.60

Peppermint Tea X 2 - S$13.80

No GST but 10% Service Charge remains.

Additional Information

We ordered two pots of peppermint tea to aid in the digestion of the almost bursting stomachs! As you have read above, it was a rip off at almost S$7.00 per pot for a tea bag!!

I guess the tea bag cost at most S$0.50, the tiny chocolate cookie at most S$0.30 and the rest went to the rental of the teapot, cup, teaspoon and.... the decor!

At more than S$7.00 per slice of cheesecake, this is pretty pricey! 
Oh yes, i am paying for the decor.

The cafe maintained a strict policy of at least one item per customer! This is to deter CHEAPOS who take advantage of the nice ambience but only order a pot of tea to be shared amongst 2-3 persons.

Ah Biao Wanton Noodle (亚标云吞面) @ Soon Li Coffee Shop (顺利餐室)

With an average F&B rating of 8.9 (on a scale of 10) in HungryGoWhere.com, Ah Biao Wanton Noodle has attracted a decent number of reviewers within a mere 2 months of operation!

Originating from Johor Bahru, two versions of wanton noodles are offered; white and black. The black version has dark soy sauce, which can be really addictive in dishes like char kway teow.

Though we were really full after our meal at Le Muria, Mr Kon and I really cannot resist not trying this highly acclaimed stall. We can always debunk the reviews if they prove to be untrue!

Our worries were unfounded.

This is one of the best wanton noodles i ever have in Singapore!

Noodles were springy with a slightly egg-y yet palatable taste to it.

And don't get me started on the sauce the noodles were dumped in; which reminded me so much of the famous but pathetically portioned wanton noodles in Lavender food centre.

The char siew did not have much charred bits, which i initially thought to be a disappointment. However, the smokey and caramelised flavour remained at its optimal level!

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I had the white version and in fact, preferred it over the black one. Just a note, always mix the noodles well before you eat it. The sauce will oil the otherwise dry noodles and enhance the overall flavour.

Crispy pork lards were added and should have been a great supplement to this dish. If only they were fresher. 

Price

S$2.50 for a small plate (black/white)

S$3.50 for a normal plate (black/white)

Location

Within Soon Li Coffee Shop, located at 236 Upper Thomson Road.

It's very near to Thomson Plaza!

Additional Information

It may be difficult to find a parking lot outside the coffee shop. Hence, please consider parking at the HDB blocks behind the coffee shop; i think it's block 23.

Even though this stall is housed within a 24 hour coffee shop, it is only open from 11am to 11 pm!!

Clash of the Sisters!

Being the middle child and only boy in a family with two neurotic sisters, it can be a blessing since i have always been pampered... or a curse when both of them gang up against me! 

In terms of physical ability, one has super strong legs and the other is a taekwondo-karate-judo fanatic.

As a comparison, I prefer to read, eat and sleep.

My sisters are fun people, despite the shortcomings (the pig mother of course). Though married, my elder sister will come home every now and then for a sleep in session!

Occasionally, mini competitions will be staged when she's back.

This time, it is arm wrestling between the sisters!

Le Muria @ Upper Thomson Road (Near Nee Soon Camp)

The name of this restaurant looked deceptively French.

Coupled with a posh decor associated with fine dining, i shuddered (then) just thinking if it will take me a leg or a hand (or worse; both) to dine in this barely two months old establishment.

The above wrapped up my initial opinion of this restaurant!

In case you are wondering, my mom is a frequent patron of the 7-11 next door (for 4D betting) and i passed by this restaurant every 1-2 weeks!

Anyway, fate has its strange way of creeping into our life. The gang of four was looking in HungryGoWhere.com on places to eat and Mr Kon was attracted by the almost ridiculously high reviews (4 of them) of Le Muria.

The familiarity of this name did not sink in until i searched for the restaurant in iPhone Maps.

Truthfully I wasn't keen, judging from what i thought was a correct perception of that place. Kon, knowing me, did his magic (fantastic reviews, prices not expensive according to the reviewers etc) and i agreed (albeit reluctantly).

Stepping into an empty restaurant at the supposedly crowded dinnertime can be so nerve wrecking! The reviews real or not ah?!?!?!?!?

*update: i honestly think they are real*

Heck care lah!!!
Time should no longer be wasted!

The first thing that debunked my impression; It's not a French eatery wtf!!!

According to the first page of the pamphlet size menu, Le Muria is the name of an apparently lost continent variously located in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The food served in Le Muria infuses various tastes and blends of the land that was once Le Muria (Madagascar, India and Indonesia).

Orh.... Fusion food la...

And here comes our orders!

Soup of the Day (Corn)

The corn flavour was barely noticeable though there were whole kernels of corn.

Love the savoury (chicken i think) biscuits though!

S$2.50 per bowl (UNLIMITED SERVINGS!!)


Mixed Salad with Thousand Island Dressing

The small boy Alex decided to have something light since he was sick (damn weakling).

Though i am not a salad fan, this was really appetising for its wide variety of fresh ingredients thinly drenched with the thousand island dressing.

S$5.00 per plate, which was really a shocker since the serving size was not small!

Grilled Chicken with Black Pepper

Part of the set meal (with limited free soup and drink), the grilled chicken was normal with minimal marination.

The buttery mushroom sauce should have made an explosive difference but for reasons unknown, it did not.

Originally S$13.90 for just the dish but as a set, it was only S$9.90!

Good deal!

Fish N Chips

The recommended must-try in HungryGoWhere.com, we were surprised to find an uncommon batter that wasn't thick, wasn't oily, wasn't crispy yet tasted fabulously!

The specially mixed tartar sauce was a delight to have!
Either with the fish or fries!

Originally S$11.90 for just the dish but as a set, it was only S$9.90!

Another worth it deal!

Butter Chicken (whole chicken)

High expectation was anticipated since any food with a significant amount of butter should taste nice nice right?!?! Think butter crabs!

Bad luck...

The butter flavour was so light, it was almost non-existent. The dips (tomato-lookalike sauce with potatoes and the other one had garlics and onions i think) enhanced the flavour but their powers were just insufficient to term this a must-try.

In addition, the meat was too dry without having any deep infusion of marination that make many chicken meat tastes out of this world.

It was filling nonetheless.

At S$17.90, a sampling portion (half chicken) is also available.

Buffalo Wings

A must try!!! Unlike the buffalo wings i blogged before (HERE and THERE), the ones here in Le Muria were distinctly different in taste and smaller in size (read: drumlets, not wings).

They were so juicy with a really tantalising marination! If there's anyone who is willing to sponsor me, this is the kind of dish i would gladly participate in "who can eat the most buffalo wings in 10 minutes" contest!

Six pieces at S$6.90, fries included!

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Like any restaurants, there are things that are good and some things, not so good. In Le Muria, the good was excellent and the not so good was normal. 

A person with basic analytical skills will know the odds of good food are quite high (judging from my post) and i will definitely be back again for other must tries, like the beef stew.

As Mr Kon commented, this is a good place to have a jug of beer and a plate (or few plates) of buffalo wings.

Location

914, Upper Thomson Road.

Quite near to Nee Soon Camp (the old BMT camp).

And it's near to the kampong (village) i used to stay!

Lost?

Call 6455-2133!

Price

We paid S$57.86 in total.

There's a 10% 5% service charge with no GST!

Additional Information

There's a complementary serving of indian spices biscuits before you start your meal. Not amazing but definitely a good service gesture for the customers.

They do serve liquor and beer (ginger beer too for 'kids' like me)!

Happy hours are also available for those 'beer bellies'!

Japanese Ramen (日本拉面) @ Daikokuya (大黒屋) - Paragon Shopping Centre

A good bowl of ramen is really only dependent on two factors;

the soup and the noodles.

That is what i learnt after patronising three different ramen restaurants (the other two being Ippudo and Men-ichi) within two weeks! The experience has not made me a connoisseur, but i guess it has impressed on me certain standard when it comes to ramen.

Based on a reliable source (a friend who is really into Japanese culture and food), today's highlight will be on Daikokuya Ramen.

Serving four different styles of ramen, we were one person short to have the full series! A mini sampling version was available, but hunger had set in and visually (and psychologically), a mini bowl was not just filling!

The Styles

Kyushu Style Tonkotsu Ramen

A broth supposedly made by boiling pork bones over 12 hours, the soup was light without being too salty. The bamboo shoots were surprisingly edible since my perception of them has always been kinda smelly.

The noodles were thin, springy; a perfect complement to the ramen.

Two to three pieces of pork belly accompanied my ramen. They were juicy with fats.... literally more than 50% fats!!! So tasty, so sinful yet so disgusting! I can imagine the fats swirling in my stomach!

UGH!

That said, the whole bowl of ramen was cleaned out pretty fast, exception being the two big chunks of pure fatty tissues!!

Sapporo Style Cha Shu Ramen

After my prior initiation to Cha Shu at Ippudo, the ones in Daikokuya seriously lacked the flavour and taste.

I was actually puzzled because the fermented soybean soup base (typical for sapporo style) was thick and creamy rich but the Cha Shu seemed to have absorb little or none of the savouriness.

Tokyo Style Spicy Miso Ramen

My comment about this ramen will not be a fair judgment.

Ms Hannah Lim (the order-er) is a chilli padi person. Spicy based ramen should be good enough for most of us. She took the extra step by asking for extra chilli!!

THE POINT IS:
I don't take a lot of chilli!!

To be a bit fairer, the Cha Shu were a lot better than the ones submerged in the Sapporo style ramen! Despite the intense chilli sensation, the Cha Shu were more fragrant with more taste in them!

Sides

Gyozas

Lavishly titled as salted cod roe pan-fried dumplings with spring onion & mayonnaise, this common Japanese dish was disappointing no different from the normal gyozas!

Maybe i should try the normal ones next time.

Sashimi

Thick, fresh salmon! Look at the perfect cut.

I am craving for this right now!!

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Location

Basement B1, Unit 47 (#B1-47)

Paragon Shopping Centre at Orchard Road (Opposite Takashimaya).

Price

Kyushu Style Tonkotsu Ramen - S$13.90

Sapporo Style Cha Shu Ramen - S$16.90

Tokyo Style Spicy Miso Ramen - S$13.80

Gyozas (Fancifully Named) - S$6.80

Salmon Sashimi - Forgot the price.

Cannot remember if 10% Service Charge or 7% GST is added. Knowing restaurants in Orchard, the chance of including them should be very high.

Additional Information

Just some information sharing. The waitress/waiter will usually recommend you to get the flavoured egg at S$2 each, provided it is not part of your ramen.

Essentially a hard boiled egg with a half runny egg yolk, this may enhance the palatibility of your ramen but at S$2 each, it's a rip off! Compared to my mom's hard boiled eggs in braised pork, it's really a no fight.

My mom's version wins, hands down!

Softies (Jelly Beans)

I don't like gummies and jelly beans.

To put it bluntly, i hate them!!

Why would anyone like love desire to eat those usually sourish, soft things that stick to your teeth at every possible opportunity?!?!?!?!

Hence, when Hannah offered me a tub of jelly beans that has possibly the most colorings i have ever seen, i was hesitant. 

As the latest addition to the department (or NUS in general), i risked being termed as unfriendly, proud, picky, arrogant... you get my picture. 

My mind was telling me to swallow the beans without biting, and pray to god that someone in the office knows Heimlich Maneuver.

My action said otherwise though. 

I gave a gentle bite to one pinkish bean.

Immediately, the sweet fragrance of strawberry smoothie enveloped my mouth! Nice nice nice!! 

A total of 36 flavours, each with its distinctive splash of color, i cannot wait to see how good the others will be.

Most of them were fabulous!! To name a few, my personal favourites include Butterscotch, Granny Smith Apple, Vanilla and Marshmallow!

Since that fortunate day, i continue to hate gummies but for jelly beans, i only go for NOBODY BUT The Jelly Bean Factory.

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Available at the Candy Empire with outlets in Vivocity, Millenia Walk, TripleOne Somerset and Changi Airport.