P.S. Cafe @ Dempsey's

We made our second (or was it third?) visit to P.S. Cafe at Dempsey's two weekends ago. Ambushed by aged trees and abundant greenery, this particular outlet is situated on Dempsey Hill - Singapore's famous lifestyle destination, or to simply put it - 'Paradise Found'.

Away from the noisy distractions of the city, this P.S. Cafe allows its patrons to enjoy a quiet afternoon of reading and reflection, while enjoying the myriad selection of tea cakes and desserts that I promise will leave you spoilt for choice. And no worries for all you salt lovers out there because this cafe also serves a wide variety of lunch and dinner items on their menu. (You should however avoid visiting them from 3-5pm if you would like to try their lunch/dinner items).

This blueberry cheesecake is soft and moist, and is a perfect combination with its brownie base. The sweetened berries are a great compliment to the otherwise heavy cheesecake. Overall, a great dessert! And a must-try for all cheesecake lovers!

This chicken pie was only mediocre. Although the pastry was crisp and flakey to the touch, the chicken was lacking in flavor, and there was no outstanding taste that lingered on after each bite. I wouldn't go back for seconds.

Overall, we greatly enjoyed our visits to P.S. Cafe. It is a great place for friends to hang out and catch up! I would rate an A for setting and decor, A- for food, and in case I forgot to mention that the staff there are really friendly and attentive, an overall A for the dining experience!

Oh, and one more thing:-

Most known for the size of their serving portions, it is no wonder that they are a favorite choice for many of our western friends. So, before you embark on this adventurous journey to Dempsey's Hill, remember to call along some friends - that way, you get to taste as many of their star-studded recipes without feeling the guilt of indulging!

ben can't cycle (for real)

So we finally made it to East Coast Park after all that talk! The weather was absolutely perfect - there's no other better way to put it. (Bikes were for rent at $6 each; for an hour + two free hours).

I think I can safely say for the both of us that we had a great time today! And boy did we really work those muscles - my butt and thighs are suffering the after effects now. Cycling was fun! Especially when you get to poke fun at ben - who by the way, was in a constant struggle to keep his bike on track!! Sorry dear, but I think this challenge is mine to keep! Better luck next time!

Wild Honey @ Mandarin Gallery, Orchard

There are several things that make a day off great - sleeping in, spending time with a special someone and a great breakfast! Bel and I hit the much hyped about, Wild Honey, for brunch after spending the morning sleeping in.

Wild Honey boasts a couple of standouts; excellent decor, pretty looking all day breakfast and very comfy couch seats. Of course, it would have made the 'perfect' list of places to go if they had a more updated magazine rack and slightly more attentive staff.

That aside, we ordered the Quiche Lorraine and the Tunisian Breakfast Set. The Quiche Lorraine came with cherry tomatoes and a salad tossed with a dressing that left a savory aftertaste. Quiche was not too bad, but the salad is THE BOMB! (nuff said!)

The Tunisian Breakfast came in a sizzling hot pan of tomato stew, eggs and chorizo sausages with a side of diced cucumbers, tomatoes and parsley salad and 2 slices of freshly baked bread. Honestly, this dish looks and sounds much better than it actually tastes - unique but I wouldn't be back for seconds.

Overall, it was a pleasant experience but slightly too pricey for the quality of food served.

Ippudo @ Mandarin Gallery, Orchard Road

Shiromaru Classic

Original recipe tonkotsu soup served with thin noodles, Rosu chashu (Pork Loin), cabbage, kikurage & scallions

Broth was flavorful and left a strong aftertaste that leaves you wanting for more. Noodles were springy and light, pork was tender and well marinated - overall a great bowl of traditional Japanese ramen!

Boomerang @ The Quayside, Robertson Quay

3 Dips

We recommend this as a starter for 4 or more, nothing less! Served with generous portions of toasted Turkish bread and tortillas, the dish comes with 3 homemade dips – Hummus, Spicy Capsicum and Taramosalata (fish roe). Whilst the bread and the dips made a good combination, the tortillas were less than satisfactory – being way too oily for our liking.

Aussie Steak Sandwich

A tender steak, caramelized onions, greens slapped between two slices of bread with generous servings of chips and salad sums up the Aussie Steak Sandwich. The beef steak was juicy and tender, with a marinate that left a savoury after taste. Overall, a good steak sandwich but nothing out of the ordinary to shout about.

Sticky Date Pudding

By far the best sticky date pudding I’ve had in Singapore! An excellent combination of vanilla bean ice cream and the pudding drizzled with warm butterscotch and caramel that was not overwhelming. Boasting a light texture, Boomerang’s sticky date pudding stands out from the rest of the field, which are usually too thick, too heavy or just too sweet.

Hong Kong - April 18 - 23

So we embarked on our first holiday ever, and with the rest of 2010 meant to be the time of our lives, there was no better way than to kick start it with a trip to Hong Kong the day after the exams.

Day 1

Checking in into our hotel – Butterfly on Morrison

Butterfly stands out like a rose amongst the thorns, being by far the most artistic and modern architectural structure in an area surrounded by old flats and rundown buildings. After trudging our way through an old-school market selling pounds of meats and fresh produce, we finally found the hotel which had an entrance that reeked of disappointment but quickly delivered a surprise when we first entered the room. The room, as the pictures will show, was small but well-designed – maximizing every inch of space to create comfort for the customer.

Lunch at Lung Wah Roasted-meat Cafe

After starving ourselves and having had our last proper meal at 10pm the night before, our stomachs were desperate for some Hong Kong goodness! We found ourselves wandering the nearby streets, finally settling at a small café specializing in roasted meats. We shared a meal of roasted goose and barbecued pork. The roasted goose was decent, but the barbecued pork was exceptionally tasty and was nothing like the mediocre char siew in Singapore. The BBQ pork was roasted to perfection, with a thin layer of fat at the edges that melted in your mouth, bringing about the full richness of the dish. Also, in keeping to the HK tradition, we ordered a chilled HK milk tea that left us craving for more!

Dinner along Wellington Street – Wong Chi Kei

After spending 3 hours at H & M (bel’s version of paradise), we finally decided to give our poor legs some rest and get some dinner. We walked a couple of lanes and found a restaurant with many newspaper articles and recommendations for its famous wonton noodles. As expected, we ordered the wonton noodles, with an additional bowl of black mushroom noodles in soup. Thankfully, when the dishes came, our high hopes were not disappointed! Both noodles boasted exceptional broth, with each ordered dish having a unique broth type. Also, the wontons were tasty with fresh prawns that were crunchy and complimented by savory minced meat – a combination that justified the immense popularity of the dish. The best part of the whole dining experience was the low cost paid for such an exceptional meal.