The Coffee Nations @ Bali Lane (Near Haji Lane and Bugis)

After that drenched-with-perspiration walk at Haji Lane, we finally reached our destination; sandwiched in between the shop houses at Bali Lane.

The Coffee Nations, as the name implies, sells a whole lot of coffee beverages from countries all over the world! Okay, it might not have all 194 different varieties but it's wide enough for the moment.

Like many cafes, food is also available and how could i resist not buying anything? Besides, i was really hungry after the walk under the hot sun. Comfort food was therefore deemed to be freaking necessary!!

Potato Salad

This tasted as good as Kon's homemade cold potato salad! Nonetheless, there's a key difference; the one in coffee nations was not as well-mashed though it may not be a bad thing.

Nacho Cheese Fries

For one, when given a choice between crinkle, fat and thin fries, the fat ones are always the least desirable. Although the cheese was really strong (helped no less by the sprinkles of cheddar cheese), deep in my heart, i know i will always prefer KFC cheese fries!

Calamari Fritto

Fried squid is a different story; it must be chunky thick (aka fat) and this one didn't disappoint.

The seasoning was initially thought to be a little too light. For unknown reasons, the taste grew on us and eventually our fingers could not keep away from this dish! It could do with a longer fry for a crispier bite but as a whole, this was one of the best deep fried calamari i have.

Hawaiian Chicken

Chef recommended (as indicated by the little chef hat on the menu), the undecided us finally agreed to have this. We can always blame the cook if it's not up to our expectation!

Looking tempting enough, the ham was unfortunately too tough, the grilled pineapple was too sweet and the supposedly tangy BBQ sauce was firstly thought to be pretty refreshing but eventually turned out to be too overpowering.

The use of chicken thigh was appropriate as the juiciness is usually guaranteed. Maybe what we need to do is to scrap away most of that tangy sauce i stupidly thought was tomato sauce!

Milan Ice Coffee

A dash of mint leaves separated this glass from a typical cup of ice coffee - and likely the reason to be accorded the "Milan" title. After complaining how plain it was, we realised we did not stir long enough!!

Hazelnut Caffe Latte

Comparable to many cafes serving such drinks.

Ice Blackforest

As strangely mentioned on the menu, it did feel like i was drinking a slice of blackforest cake!

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I will go back again to try other nation's coffee; like honey cafe con leche (Spain), Rome holiday coffee (Italy) etc etc

Location

No 17, Bali Lane

(Nearest MRT Station: Bugis)

Opening Hours

Look above!

Price

Potato Salad - S$5.50

Nacho Cheese Fries - S$5.90

Calamari Fritto - S$8.80

Hawaiian Chicken - S$14.90

Milan Ice Coffee - S$6.90

Hazelnut Caffe Latte - S$5.90

Ice Blackforest - S$6.90

Subject to Service Charge

Additional Information

Main seating area is on the second floor and judging from the weather recently, this air-conditioned level is strongly recommended to prevent any potential heat stroke!

It would be nice to have a cuppa of hot coffee and a good novel to spend a lazy afternoon... Sighz, it's been a long time since i last touched a book.

Board games are readily available for all patrons! Great for group gatherings but definitely not conducive for a loner who just wanted to drink and read!

Haji Lane (Day Time) – A Pictorial Walk Down Memory Lane

Two rows of quaint little shops facing one another with only a narrow lane separating them is a scene that is fast disappearing in urban Singapore – for one, the bloody heat is usually enough to deter 75 percent of the population to stick to the air conditioned havens; the malls.

Having said that, Haji Lane has gained popularity due to the mushrooming of independent retailers that took the effort to create a unique identity with a mish mash of designs and vibrant colours.

Here are the pictures from a short (albeit sweaty) walk I had a few weeks ago along the 200 meters long Haji Lane.

A tattoo parlour right beside an ice cream shop. Hm... Guess a fast dose of sugar+milk can significant reduce pain caused by the ink needles. The best thing? It sells beer float!

An ox figurehead (fake one of course) that adorned the entrance of this Mexican restaurant and bar.

 

This French bistro stands out from an area that is more famous for Middle Eastern food. There is another Swedish restaurant nearby (at Arab street) i would love to try out in the future!

 

Cute little displays with a hint of child-like happiness made this walk slightly more bearable. * Cavin continues to rant on the bloody hot and humid weather in Singapore*

Old timed shops with their metal grilles all locked up continue their legacy in another form; their usually bold, brightly coloured name on the support pillar.

Blog shop should exist only in the virtual world of blogs but not for this shop! I remember reading on its launch a few months back and it sells quite a variety of stuff not found anywhere else.

Vandalism on public property in highly disciplined Singapore?! A failed piece of artwork. If you notice, there are quite a few stickers that have the words "Who Likes George". Not a reference to defeated PAP minister George Yeo obviously. Guess everyone knows which George they are referring to.

People watchers wasting their valuable time! Actually, i might do the same if i am filthy rich... Sighz... when can i win the million-dollar lottery?

 

Modern sports car that created an era mismatch to this century old passageway.

Unlike many shop houses, quite a few companies in Haji Lane utilise the second floor for retail activities. The target group is obviously the young professionals and hippies. To quote an example, my mom hates stairs!

To seduce attract customers, efforts were spent to decorate the normally dark, eerie staircase to make it more inviting. Guys with girlfriends should refrain from bringing their partners to this area! The shopping vibe can be so infectious in this area!

A wooden bench that was given a makeover. Things are improving for critics who have always complained that Singapore is too planned, too orderly, too homogenous. As i have always replied to such critical reviews, try the housing estates where more than 80% of the population lives.

 

Anyone knows the significance of those dead leaves above the door frame? Doubt they were there because of some artistic origins.

Awwww, this is so pretty (the Cavina's persona is in play here)!

Read the words! Too small? Click the picture please!

Going Om - a place where you can get some peaceful Zen? Hm.... looked more like a hippie congregation centre to me. You know, love and stuff like that.

Colours signify vibrancy and it's now getting common to see decades and even centuries old shophouses given a new lease of life via a new paint job that deviates from normal dull colours!

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The lane becomes livelier at night! I shall pay it another visit after i have repaired the flash on my DSLR! Bloody flash doesn't go off for unknown reason! Hm.... Maybe i should get a new one; D7000!

Location (Map)

Nearest MRT Station: Bugis

Ootoya (大戸屋) Japanese Restaurant @ Clementi Mall

I was so excited to find Ootoya under "restaurants" while running through the shop directory in Singapore's latest shopping centre; Clementi Mall!

For those who thought Ootoya is just a normal restaurant jumping onto the bandwagon of the highly lucrative niche in Japanese cuisine, you are so wrong. 

It has its origins back in Japan and prides on serving authentic Japanese home cooked fare to the general public since 1958!

Granted i am not Japanese, have never been to the land of the rising sun and thus is unable to attest the level of authenticity. But i know i am not that far from the truth when the two groups waiting right before me are Japanese.

Butakimuchi

My recent affection for Korean food (no thanks to Family Outing) means the order of this stir fried pork loin with kimchi was inevitable. Salad was chosen purely because i need to cut down on my carbohydrates intake at night~!

Kindly note the present tense i used.

Kimuchidon

Same as what i ordered except this was rice based. As an Asian, rice is a main staple for our meals and i was trying hard to curb this craving! Yes, i do have craving for plain, white, beady rice!!

The pork loin with tangy-hot Korean kimchi made a good couple! The exceptionally tender pork loins were still full of juicy moisture even though i used quite a few minutes to take pictures (and forcefully disallow anyone from touching their food)! 

Sumitoridon

As impressive as i remember! Check out my first Ootoya posting on http://cavinteo.blogspot.com/2010/06/ootoya-orchard-central-this-was-my.html

Banana Parfait

Knowing Cavin, he could not withstand the temptation of desserts!

Sadly, the service staff misheard our order and brought us this banana parfait. The initially few bites were actually not so bad until i reached to the lower half of the cup; coffee...

Have i ever mentioned that there are few things in life that should only be taken in its natural form? Like durians for example. Coffee is another such thing. =_=

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Location

3155, Clementi Ave West,

#03-53, The Clementi Mall

(Across Clementi MRT Station)

Price

Butakimuchi - S$11.50

Kimuchidon (Set) - S$16.00

Sumitoridon (Set) - S$14.00

Banana Parfait - S$8.00

Subject to GST and Service Charge

Additional Information

For a few more dollars, you can upgrade your meal to a set which typically includes miso soup, an appetiser and maybe a small bowl of salad.

My first post on Ootoya can be found HERE.

Sunning under the Sun!

When you wake up to a clear blue sky with glaring sunlight on a lazy Saturday morning, what will you do? Go back to sleep? Take a piss? Brew a cup of coffee and enjoy the sunny weather?

Not for me!

Provided i am not too tired, i will behave exactly like the above household; dump my drool covered bed/pillow/bolster covers into the washing machine and sun them together with my smelly blankets and portable mattress!!

Everything will be and shall be perfect.

If you have considerate neighbours residing above you!

Imagine a scenario when your laundry is about to dry with that inviting smell of crispy-freshness slowly seeping out. The next moment you check it, the supposedly dry laundry has been splattered with big dots of water!

Look above and you can typically find the culprit in super duper wet clothes that unfortunately are made of feeble materials that could not withstand spin-drying!!

Frustrating indeed!!!!!

Hm..... maybe i should invest in a dryer.

BM Brownie @ Blue Mountain Cafe (B.M.C) - 313 Somerset

Having a sweet tooth at this age is not exactly recommended by healthcare experts but i could not resist ordering desserts given any opportunity!

One of my favourite Western desserts has to be brownie with ice cream! I believe i have developed a well measured yardstick to compare across brownies served by various eateries (Daily Scoop, Joan Bowen Cafe etc).

Maybe it's time for me to embark on a search for the best brownie in Singapore!

Coming back to Blue Mountain Cafe, i am so not impressed with the brownie.

Tardy dry that had its saviour in the form of vanilla ice cream. And if your eyes are sharp enough, you will notice that walnuts are almost unnoticeable! Cavin adores brownies with chunks of walnuts!

Maybe i should have sticked to their signature dessert; the mudpie.

Anyway, it would not be long before i step into BMC again. Service was great and who could deny themselves of the loving rosemary chicken!!

Each bite was itself a blissful orchestra of tasting, chewing, enjoying and swallowing! Damn, i am craving for a piece right now.........!

If not for the hot weather, my brain might have wandered off (yet again) to sip another scoopful of their flavourful mushroom soup with bursts of roughly grinded mushroom bits.

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Price

BM Brownie - S$6.90

Rosemary Chicken - S$10.90

Cream of Mushroom - S$4.90

Subject to GST and Service Charge

Additional Information

For the location and my first review on blue mountain cafe, please visit http://cavinteo.blogspot.com/2011/01/blue-mountain-cafe-313-somerset.html.

Bloody!! The management has increased the prices!!! My rosemary chicken used to cost only S$9.90 and cream of mushroom was, back then, only S$4.50!