Room with a View (MOVED)

If not for an event notice put up on a local photography forum about an ongoing exhibition at its venue, I couldn't have come to know about Room with a View. Sitting on the fifth floor of a commercial building along Carpenter Street, of where tenant list comprises a diverse collection of businesses (from international college and KTV lounge to gym and camera rental shop), this café is truly one hole-in-the-wall.

Get a lift ride when you reach Block 17. As the lift door slowly opens up on your right, you know you are at the right place.



Run by two young lady owners, Joanna Wan and Keryl Low, the café serves a fine selection of gourmet sandwiches, pastries, pastas among others.



Many raved about their Signature Room Carrot Cake ($5) and so I decided to give it a try. Moist carrot cake was topped with cream cheese icing, adorned with walnut and apricot bits. I liked its moist cake layer, but it was pity that the icing was too sweet that day.



It was a gloomy afternoon which had seen it drizzling non-stop outside the windows. A cup of their rich Hot Chocolate ($4.5) thus made great perk up option.



My companion just couldn't stop saying praises about his Turkey B.L.A.T ($9). With bacon replaced with turkey breast, there came the L, A and T, all wrapped up in a tortilla skin. Shouldn't it be T.L.A.T instead?



The scrumptious café fare here is just part of the deal. While visiting the café, do spend some time to feast your eyes with the many exhibition pieces. One of the lady owners told me that the photos were actually taken by amateur photographers. This gallery is meant to be a medium for the non-professionals who take really good photos to showcase their works, which otherwise could only be seen online.



"Photography is a way of feeling,... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything." This famous quote by the late American abstract photography master Aaron Siskind just didn't stop resonating with the photographer in me.

As exhibition here changes on a regular basis, I see myself returning to Room with a View pretty often.

Do give them a call in advance if you are going to show up in a big group.


Room With A View
17 Carpenter Street, #05-01
Mon – Fri, 9am – 7pm
Sat, 10am – 6pm (closed Sun & Public Holiday)
6438 4230


Update: Room with a View has closed its Carpenter Street premises and reincarnated into ROOM coffee. bar on the Level One of PSA building. Check out their facebook page for more info.

Bonta Italian Restaurant & Bar @ UE Square

Truffle, the Diamond of Kitchen, has such wonderful aroma that one can easily fall in love with it. This subterranean fungi is rare and almost impossible to cultivate. Most of the foodies would know that there are mainly 2 kinds of truffles dominate the European cuisines. Black truffle from Perigord region of France have the strongest aroma of all truffle with earthy flavor. But tonight, I am heading to Bonta, to pamper myself with Alba white truffle from Piedmont region of Italy which is more delicate in taste. It is in season. Good Italian restaurant like Bonta is celebrating with special truffle menu.



Acqua Panna (S$9) and Pinot Grigio Borgo Con 2009 (S$16)






Dinner began with the now-famous Bonta's soufflé bread. What's special about this bread in a cup is the inside....






Warm cheese fills the centre of the bread, together with nibbets of fiery red tomatoes and crunch walnuts.



Roma Tomato Soup served with basil crostini (S$14.00) - It's creamy, sweet and slightly acidic.



Pan-Fried Goose Liver served with 25 years old balsamic vinegar and semi-dried muscatel grapes (S$29.00). Perhaps you can't see clearly, but the goose liver is hiden inside the forests of salad leaves. The really good balsamic vinegar helped to balance out the crisp and slightly oily goose liver.



From the white truffle menu, comes the top truffle dish which all fans of white truffle must try - Homemade angel hair with Parmesan cheese sauce and white truffle (S$72.00). The pasta came with 5 grams of white truffle shavings. The warmth of pasta made the already intense truffle armoa spread even quicker. Every mouthful screamed luxurious. I was in heaven.



An original creation - the Truffle Ice-Cream (S$22.00) tasted as good (and creamy) as it looks. It's a medley of sweet truffle creamy dessert all mixed into one.

You have until end December to savour the best of White Truffles.


Bonta Italian Restaurant & Bar
207 River Valley Road
#01-61, UE Square

Meatworks @ ION Orchard

After its success in Kuala Lumpur, Meatworks decided to venture overseas and opened its first overseas restaurant across the Causeway in Singapore, in ION Orchard.



Occupying both the empty space outside of Three-Sixty Supermarket and also a unit next to Paradise Dynasty, we are here just barely 1 week after Meatworks opened its doors to the public.

As there were not much diners on a Sunday night, they did not open up their restaurant unit, but instead ushered all diners to the empty space next to the escalator.



Bacardi Housepour (S$10 per glass), one of the most famous brand name around the world.



We started our dinner with 2 portions of the Soup of the Day - Tomato Soup (S$8). The tomato soup was creamy and tasty, and should satisfy most tomato lovers. And the chef also did some beautiful patterns on top of the soup.



Also had the Fruit Salad (S$12) - Arugula, Raspberries, Strawberries, Granny Smith Apples, served with Citrus dressing, before our all-meat mains. Freshness is the word I would describe this salad. Everything is fresh and crunchy.



To company the read meats, we ordered the housepour red wine (S$12 per glass).



Lamb Rack (S$32) served with cous cous in traditional fresh mint sauce. Top marks for their lamb rack, which is juicy and tender. Special mention must be said about the creamy mashed potatoes, made of Yukon potatoes.



Tenderloin 220g (S$46) - Australian Diamantina Platinium angus, 150 days grain-fed. Both mains served with Yukon mashed and garden vegetables. The tenderloin though good, is still not as good as the lamb racks. But given the price, I must compliment them for the good quality choice of beef they have used for their steak.

Need to point out to all potential diners that we waited for a long time for the steak. Although they did tell us we need to wait for the steak as it takes some time to cook, but there was a 40 minutes gap between our appetizers (soup and salad) and the steak. And also, Meatworks tend to undercook their meats. The Lamb Rack I ordered had to be sent back to the kitchen for further cooking because when I ordered Medium Rare, I didn't expect the meat inside to be so raw. So for those who like Medium Rare, it's best to order Medium.

As they have just opened, everything has a 20% discount. Hopefully, they have ironed out all their problems by now.


Meatworks
2 Orchard Turn
#04-12
ION Orchard

Brownies from P.Osh

Good things come in small packages. The 2"x3" treats at P.Osh, a brownie shop conveniently located at Dhoby XChange, are one such example.

Trip Earle C.

Here, the signature chewy brownies are available  in a variety of flavors, ranging from mint mousse and dark chocolate to coffee caramel. I finally settled on the Trip. Earle C. ($3), which was topped with a mix of dark, milk and white chocolate swirls.

P.Osh's chewy brownie proved itself to be no less worthy than the cakey or fudgey versions which I am accustomed to. While it was pleasingly moist and not overly rich or sweet, what stood out for me was its lovely bite. Go give chewy brownies a try sometime if you haven't had them before!

P.Osh Premium Brownies

Aside from chewy brownies, P.Osh also offers Premium Brownies ($3.30) filled with pockets of melted chocolate and roasted walnuts which are more cake-. Nuked in the microwave for 15 seconds, this transforms into a sinfully dense and fudgy treat that would be perfect with ice cream. While both satisfied, I personally favor the chewy brownie over the premium version as it is less heavy on the tastebuds.

The stall also offers customized brownies, which start from $4 for a small piece. Though I have had even better brownies before, there is no doubt that those from P.Osh will make for a decent sweet fix.

P.Osh
#B1-40 Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station
Also available at The Old House, 1011 Upper Serangoon Road

Books Cellar

Housed within one of the clan-like shophouses along the charming Bukit Pasoh Conservation District, Books Cellar offers its guests a cosy space for one to spend a lazy afternoon away with a cup of coffee while catching up some good reads.



This bookstore café/bistro is a venture of two good friends, Kathleen and Honvie who share the same passion about reading and probably sports, as I would tell from the autographed soccer jersey and baseball on display. Featured on the café's menu are pies and cakes from renowned makers, sandwiches made in-house and collectibles such as autographed storybooks and limited editions of books for the die-hard fans and collectors alike.



Ham & Cheese Sandwich ($5.50)



Their Signature Chicken Pie ($6.00) is baked fresh daily. Piping hot when it arrived at our table, the juicy pie was generously filled with chucky chicken and egg. I liked its crust which was not too thick nor flakey, providing a satisfying bite as the teeth sank into it.



Be sure to give your sweet tooth a treat with their sweets such as this yummy Apple Crumble ($4.50).



Café menu is uniquely clipped to the hardcover of a bedtime storybook.











If good food and coffee over a good storybook is what floats your boat, hop over to Books Cellar this weekend.


Books Cellar(Facebook)
19 Bukit Pasoh Road
Wed - Mon, 12pm - 12am
Closed on Tuesdays
6220 9019

Crystal Jade Palace @ Ngee Ann City

As you would have noticed, it's a whole lot's of asian dining this month. On a sleepy Sunday evening, we were at Takashimaya in Ngee Ann City when we decided to drop by at Crystal Jade Palace for a late dinner.



Not sure why, but almost everytime we are there, will be ushered to this back row where the tables reminds me of those long canteen table. From the photo above, you can have a peep at the long table seats behind.



The menu has an interesting texture, but is too heavy.



As with most Chinese restaurant, diners get to enjoy cold or warmt tap water for free. Crystal Jade too.



To judge how good a Cantonese or Chinese restaurant is, I will always try how good their doup is. The Soup of the Day - Old Cucumber Soup (S$7) was delicious. They have a deluxe version which is served in a mini hollowed old cucumber. And of course, that version also commands a deluxe price.



To go with white rice, we ordered the Stir fried beef with fresh mushrooms (S$20). Beef was tender, but did not have much "beef" taste. Most probably the gravy and mushrooms have overpowered the beef.



Sparkling Jasmine white rice.



Another order was the Pan fried prawns in Superior Soya Sauce (S$27) 100g, which is more than enough for table of 2. No complaints here as the prawns were fresh and crunchy.



Deep fried pork ribs marinated in fermented beancurd (S$18) - Crystal Jade did a great job to keep the pork tender and juicy despite the deep frying. And the fermented beancurd did penatrate the juicy pork ribs.


Crystal Jade Palace
391 Orchard Road
#04-19
Ngee Ann City

Smiths Authentic British Fish And Chips

I've found a great place to relieve culinary memories from my trip to England. Judging by both the number of British customers in the eatery as well as my own dining experience, the food at Smiths Authentic British Fish And Chips certainly lives up to its name.

Haddock and chips

In addition to cod and haddock, fixtures on the menu of every fish and chip shop in England, chicken, dory, salmon fishcakes and sausages are also available at this dine-in/takeaway establishment. Like a true blue British fish and chip joint, Smiths' menu also includes side orders, spanning from pickled eggs and gherkins to baked beans and gravy.

EDT (29 Nov 2010): Plaice, scampi and halibut are now available on the menu!

The first thing that striked me when I opened up the triple-wrapped package of fish and chips was the sheer size of the haddock fillet. While a tad pricey at $16, the portion of haddock and chips was sufficient for two small eaters! Deep-fried a la minute, the golden batter encasing the fish was delightfully light and crispy. The firm and tasty haddock also pleased with its flaky and moist interior.

Haddock and chips

Though lacking the crisp exterior characteristic of well-fried fries, Smiths' rendition cannot be described as soggy. Seasoned just right with a sprinkling of salt and malt vinegar, these plump and pillowy slab-cut chips definitely won my nod of approval. I'm sure the British patrons of this joint would like them just as much.

 
Mushy peas

Intrigued by its unusual name, I also ordered a serving of mushy peas ($2 for an eight-ounce cup), a popular accompaniment to fish and chips in northern England. Although I am not a fan of the vegetable, this simple and healthy dish comprising marrowfat peas boiled into a thick and stodgy soup was strangely satisfying.

Given the artery-clogging effects of deep-fried food, I don't quite agree with Smtihs' tagline that "everyone deserves a daily portion". But one thing's for sure- Smiths is the place I'll be heading to whenever a craving for fish and chips hits.

P.S. I heard that the standard and portion size has dropped since my visit to Smith's in November 2010, but have not verified this personally.

Smiths Authentic British Fish And Chips
230 Tanjong Katong Rd
Opening hours: 12pm-11pm (Tues-Sun)

COVA Pasticceria (Confetteria Singapore) @ Paragon

When I pass by Cova, it is usually quiet and empty. No doubt COVA attracts the tai tais during tea breaks, but not much diners during meal times.



There are 2 sections to COVA - a cafe section in the middle of the mall, and a tea lounge next to it. The decor is classic Italian decor. As it is quite empty during dinner time, the whole place looks pretty spacious.



We ordered 2 Set Dinner - S$69 per person. On each table were bottles of white wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar, and a bottle of olive oil meant to dip the complimentary bread platter. And of course, all of them are direct from Italy.



Our set dinner started off with our appetizer of Stewed black mussels in white wine and black pepper "Impepata" style served with croutons. Mussels were fresh and the crouton allows the sweet and flavourful white wine stock to be mopped clean.



Another appetizer was this mini serving of Fusilli pasta served with braised duck leg ragour and duo colour of zucchini. The braised duck leg ragour was nicely done, without the over-acidity of tomatoes.



Ice water is available for free here at Cova when you dine in.



Next are the mains: Seared beef tenderloin served with pistachio sauce and paprika scented crispy potatoes. It took a little getting used to the pistachio sauce with the tenderloin. I am not sure why pistachio sauce was used, and I don't think it matches well with the beef.



The Grilled stuffed squid served with sauteed spinach and lemon sauce, on the other hand, is a winner.



Dessert was in the form of a Cova chocolate chestnut cake. We appreciate that the chestnut helps to balance out the thick slab of chocolates in the cake.



Our set dinner ended with Coffee and tea. A good place to chat and have a meal if you are around the area.


COVA Pasticceria (Confetteria Singapore)
290 Orchard Road
#01-20A
Paragon Shopping Centre