Platters Bistro & Wine Bar

Date : 27 September 2012
Address: 42 Club Street
Opening Hours: Mondays to Saturdays Lunch: 12noon to 3pm; Dinner: 5pm up to 12am
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar / China Town / Raffles Place
Website: Platters  ( please visit their gallery for photos that will tempt your taste buds till they invade your dreams )

MY PHOTOS REALLY MEGA EXTREMELY DO THE FOOD HERE NO JUSTICE. 

These are classic examples of how i have to continue improving but anyway, i'd like to share whatever I have with you and this time we go to Platters! 

Platters has an interesting concept of rotating chefs every 3-4 months and when I visited, the chef was Chef Yen Koh. The food was served on wooden boards,  in very interesting arrangements. How did they taste? Really Really Good. 

Let's Graze seared rib eye with pepper yuzu sauce / butter-glazed asparagus and carrots / roasted honey chef yen’s hot wings with spicy sauce / almond and pretzel crusted chicken / marinated tomatoes - S$ 38 / S$74 

Trying to take good photographs at Platters have made me realized how spoilt I have been with good lighting at the other places. I'm not saying the lighting here isn't good for the ambience, but for a rookie like me? Urgh, a disaster. I was a complete failure and these are my "trying" best ones. 

BUT ANYWAY, you can choose between having the half board or the full board, that's where the prices differ. It's a good idea to me cos it caters to different sizes of groups. 

The meats were a little too dry for my liking, especially since I like my beef medium rare. I did love the almonds with the chicken because they complemented each other so well! I am not a huge fan of nuts so I was pleasantly surprised to find that i liked it. 

Every time I see tomatoes, I always wish they were Roma tomatoes. These weren't so meh, mini personal disappointment. Everything else was pleasant and tasteful. I would give it a 6/10 (?). I'm not too good at ratings but I've had quite a few people requesting that I give ratings so I might just starting rating stuff.............as and when I can actually put a number to it.

Salmon Symphony  salmon belly tartar / seared salmon tataki / green espuma / orange basil dressing / crispy white bait / kelp sprinkle / fresh cabbage coleslaw / toasted foccacia  - S$34 / S$64 

This amazing bunch of things was my favourite of the night. The salmon tataki was smooth, sweet and incredibly tasty. Take a pinch of the green espuma, spread it across the foccacia and taste the goodness in that because I could basically just eat that for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Simple, satisfying and delicious. Foccacia bread was delectable, crunchy and fragrant. The crispy white bait was dismissible because I hardly like fried stuff anymore. I would give this platter a 7/10. 

• Signore Peking  roast duck / thin crust / mozzarella / oriental sauce / crispy wanton skin / spring onion
• S$ 24 / S$ 44 
• This was a miss for me. Compared to the duck pizza that Timbre serves, this was an amateur's version. The chunks of duck meat were meagre and most of what I tasted was the dough (and the fried wanton chips) . This dish could use a lot more duck.  4/10 

Lindemans Krief / Fruit Lambic - S$ 10/ 12 

This, on the other hand, was fruity and a real delight! 

It's a real pussy beer if you ask me but who's judging? 

Chef Yen Koh will only be around till Oct (not too sure when) so if you wanna have a go at these dishes before the menu changes, do go quick! Platters is extremely popular during the weekends, so be sure you give a call to make reservations! 

On the whole, I really enjoyed myself, soaking in the ambience and the company I had. The food didn't exactly disappoint either! 

Hatched

Date : 23 September 2012

Address: 26 Evans Road (Evans Lodge) 

Website : Hatched 

Opening Hours: Tue - Thurs 8am to 10pm, Fri & Sat 8am to 11pm, Sunday 8am to 10pm, Closed on Mondays  

Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens 

I have wanted to try this place since last year but never got it because I was lazy to travel all the way to Bukit Timah. On that beauuuuutiful morning, after an exhilarating ride on my uncle's new found love (his harley baby), we stepped into Hatched for some early sunday breakfast. 

I must say the food (And coffee) didn't match up to my expectations one bit, which was a pity. It's a good thing the company i enjoyed made up for the mediocre breakfast. 

Sir Benedict - S$12 for one, S$18 for 2
Poached egg on english muffin, with hollandaise sauce and black forest ham. Served with homemade mash. 

I had high hopes for this one after eavesdropping on the conversation next to me. This lady was proclaiming how badly was craving for this since the day before. 

It was honestly very "meh" to me. The ham was tough and the sauce was bland. The muffin wasn't very fresh either. Everything was "meh" 

Usual Suspect - S$15
Sausages, sunny side ups, toast, baked beans and potatoes. 

 Come on. Let's face it. I could make this and it would turn out the same. 

For 15? It's a real rip off! 

Latte - $5 

 Too milky, could hardly taste coffee in it. Don't really even know if this was coffee. 

Pancakes - $12 

 The pancakes were fluffy and warm ( thank goodness they were ) but other than that, nothing much to rave about. 

I think the point is I feel the hype about this place is highly overrated!! The place looks comfortable and cosy, and the staff are acceptably polite but the food and the coffee??? Way below any standard to rave about. Besides, it's all the way in Bukit Timah. Will I ever be back? No. Not till they've improved their menu. 

I think if this place weren't so "highly recommended" to me, i wouldn't have been so disappointed. If I were to give the place the benefit of the doubt......perhaps I tried the wrong items. Then again, I don't usually like coming back to places with bad lattes haha. 

Try this place if you'd like, let me know if you think differently! 

136 Hong Kong street

Date: 6 September 2012

Address: 291 South Bridge Road 

Opening hours: 11am - 230pm, 5pm - 11:30pm 

Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar 

Craving for home cooked food but want something a little more special and worth your money?

I went to this place with a few of my "old" friends and you really have to try their wasabi prawns!!

I have to admit i was a little skeptical at first but once I bit into it..........................just wow. 

Stir -fried French beans - $8/10/12

Good, crunchy and juicy. I love french beans and as long as its not too soggy or anything, it's perfect. It probably thinks only a few minutes to fry plus it has such a delicious texture to it. 

Pork Ribs with Salted Egg -$10/12/16  

You'll be quite surprised how salted egg can make alot of things better and nicer (i'm thinking of custard salted egg buns now) 

I loved it, except for the fact that it was fried. Really not into fried food anymore. 

Home styled rice wine chicken - $10 

Mmmm...Nothing much to rave about. It's one of those bland but tasty dishes, with not much flavor to it except for the sweetness of the chicken, which was amplified by the rice wine. The broth was not too thick but very smooth. 

Wasabi Prawns - $20/30/40

This was really something different! I usually like my prawns either in sweet and sour sauce or in cereal. But this is now my new favorite prawn dish in singapore! 

The wasabi taste was not choking, so we didn't have the brain-squeezing feeling, just the flavor of wasabi. The prawns were big and fresh and very juicy. Even though this was fried it was still soft and tangy. 

This place is right around the corner of china town, just 2/3 doors away from a place with egg tarts my "old" friend swears by. China town is brimming with good food and this is just my first reviewed place. Can't wait for the rest! 

House @ Dempsey

Date: 21 August 2012

Address: 8D Dempsey road

Opening hours: Mon - Fri 12 pm - 10:30 pm, Sat 11 am- 10:30 pm, Sun 9am - 10:30 pm

Nearest MRT: Queenstown MRT

House is one of the many restaurants at Dempsey and has quite a large seating capacity. 

I wanted to try something off their brunch menu but they only serve brunch on weekends (a little strange) but oh well. 

Honestly, the food was average but i liked the decor of the place. 

Squid Ink Paella -S$29
A friend suggested having Paella because she'd just come back from a long trip in europe and missed having paella. This one did not meet up to her expectations at all, which was quite disappointing because I really wanted to taste how authentic paella should be like. Guess this isn't the place for them.

It's a little like risotto except it's less creamy because paella is cooked with all the liquids in and little stirring, while risotto is cooked with constant stirring and portioned additions of liquids. They also use different grains, i think the risotto one releases starch with constant stirring so it has a "stickier" texture.

This paella was cooked in squid ink (a first for me) so I have nothing to compare it against. I'll just say it was rather bland. I mostly tasted cheese and a slight squid flavor with the zesty accompaniment of the tomatoes. The prawns were very fresh and good though i must say!!
The portion is rather big, I wouldn't have been able to finish it on my own. 

English Breakfast Skinny Pizza - S$24

Let me just say this cannot, in any possible way, be compared to my favorite pizzas from Peperoni Pizzeria. It looked aesthetically wonderful but it just didn't deliver taste wise. Huge mega disappointment. 

Firstly, there was too much going on. 

I could hardly see what I was eating. The huge chunks of tomatoes were really not a big help at all because if I wanted to eat a tomato on its own, I would've have ordered a tomato on its own. I expected my tomatoes sliced and placed nicely on top on my pizza and not have them rolling around while I try to cut into them. 

Secondly, the gravy was way too thick. It made the crust soggy and unappealing. 

Thirdly, the cheese they used could have been better. It tasted like the ones you would use for a sandwich and not a pizza. It barely blended with anything else on the pizza. It just stood out on its own. As did the tomatoes. 

Even the bacons came in full strips and not pieces. 

SERIOUSLY, It was as if they served english breakfast on dough. What's the point??? 

Thankfully, this wasn't a morbid disaster. The warm chocolate toffee cake (S$9.50) was rather small but it tasted just as a chocolate cake should, warm, moist and chocolatey. 

My cup of latte saved the day. It is so far, my favorite cup of latte in Singapore. It's dense and rich, with just the right amount of milk and goodness. 

Despite being thoroughly annoyed by the pizza I tried, i still wanna come back for their vintage tea party thingy. Will let yall know how it goes when that happens! 

Societe Canteen

Date: 15 August 2012

Address: 501 Bukit Timah Road , #01-05B, Cluny Court

Opening Hours: Tue-Fri 10am - 7pm, Sat & Sun 8am - 7pm, Closed on Mondays

Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens 

  

A new indie cafe just opened in June 2012 by an aussie guy and since my friend and I were next door at La Petite's for lunch, we decided to visit the place for a short while. 

For now, they don't serve any food on weekdays because they haven't found a chef yet. 

They do however, serve brunch on weekends and a few of their items include things like Eggs Benedict for S$15 and Big breakfast for S$18. 

I tried the Latte S$4.50 and it was nice but a little too milky for me. 

Perhaps I should have tried the other stronger coffee like the Piccolo latte. 

Decoration's minimalistic and comfortable, some of the paintings (if not all) on the wall are up for grabs if you fancy one and wanna buy it home. 

I'm eager for them to get a chef so I can try their food! For now, it's a nice place to have a coffee and do some work or read a book in peace.

La Petite

Date: 15 August 2012

Address: 10 Jalan Serene, Serene Centre #01-05 

Opening hours: Tue - Sun 11:30-2:30 5:30-9:50, Closed on Mondays 

Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens 

La Petite is a hidden gem in the corner of Serene Centre, next to Island Creamery. 

A very friendly bearded french chef greeted us with a warm "Hello!" 

He looked oddly out of place, as if he stepped out from a cafe on a street in Paris and into this cafeteria looking restaurant in Singapore. 

But his warm smile and grandfather looks welcomed us nicely and started our splendid time spent there.

Everyone gets a free piece of bread which was warm, perfectly baked and fragrant. I actually regret not having asked if they sold bread. 

This is meant to be an appetizer but who says you can't have appetizers for lunch? 

I'm not a big eater so I decided this was enough to fill my stomach and boy did it taste AWESOME. 

The Ravioli with prawns and foie gras (S$15) WAS AMAZING. 

The creamy sauce was not exactly like carbonara, it was sweet and not too salty. The prawns were fresh and there was just a pinch of foie gras to complement everything. 

Ahhhhhhhh, so good. 

My companion ordered the dory fish in basquais sauce and rice S$13 

The fish was as it should be, fresh and tasty. The sauce was slightly sour and lemoney, went perfect with the sweetness of the fish. The rice was meh, okay. Nothing much about it, i've heard they serve good butter rice. I shall have a go at it next time. 

I didn't take a picture of the interior but this is how the exterior looks like and as you can see, it's just a nice unpretentious, fuss-free place to go to for good food at reasonable prices. The staff are great and helpful too. 

If you like duck confit, do go ahead and try it because it's ACTUALLY better than Saveur's. I can't believe I just said that either, cos I hadn't tasted better duck confit than theirs before trying Petite's. I would however prefer Saveur's mashed potatoes to Petite's diced ones. 

I wish i had (have) a bigger appetite so I could do a review of it for you guys but trust me when I say i'll be back soon for more! 

Preparazzi

Date: 28th July 2012

Address: 29 Boon Tat Street
Opening Hours: 12-2:30pm, 6.30-11pm
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar/ Raffles Place 

A friend and I were on our way to Vanilla Cafe and arrived there a few minutes before 11am only to be disappointed because the cafe hadn't even opened and they were supposed to be open and ready for guests by 11am. They should probably work on their punctuality because it plays a big part on our impression of them. 

All was well though, because we got the chance to visit Preparazzi instead! 

We were told we had to wait for 20 minutes because the kitchen was just getting ready and so we did. 

I'd known Preparazzi to be a catering business because I once worked part time for them and it was a good experience to watch the behind-the-scenes of catering business - how they prepared the food, how they presented it and ohhh how good the food was! So I was highly anticipating the food to be extraordinary, finger licking good. I guess I expected too much. 

I like the setting of the place though. 

Preparazzi had won this 1400 sq.ft shop space, rent free for a year at the "Ultimate Start-Up Space" competition and now here they are, just after a few months of opening. I like how they have managed to "open" up the space they have by mirroring an entire wall. It effectively makes the place look more spacious than it is. 

Truffle Eggs Ben - S$18 

The supposedly truffle hollandaise sauce they use to drizzle over the poached eggs didn't have a truffle oil taste or smell at all. In fact, it was buttery. Way Too Buttery. I quickly scooped the sauce out of the way after one bite of it. I abhor how bland the sauce was and don't understand how it could go well with the smoked salmon. I'd rather they just drizzled some lemon sauce and be done with it. 

The brioche they baked themselves was good though, nicely textured and fragrant. 

The side salad was dismissible. 

My friend tried the Toad brioche - S$15  

This was simple, kurobuta sausage, 2 sunny side ups on freshly baked brioche, along with asparagus and a really interesting onion gravy dip.

The sauce was sour and sweet and should definitely be taken with the rest of the dish because it would be too sour on its own. 

I guess this was simple enough so neither of us could complain. 

Their food is pricier than average and from what I've tried, it isn't all that worth it. Perhaps they have other speciality dishes I missed out on and I am rather intrigued to try them out. But for now, i don't think i'll re-visit them any time soon. 

Kith Cafe ( Park Mall )

Date: 27 July 2012 

Address: 9 Penang road #01-01E, Park Mall Shopping Centre 

Opening Hours: Daily 8am - 10pm 

Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut 

I have long wanted to visit Kith Cafe but the one at Robertson quay is so tiny and annoying cos you'll most probably have to sit outside where it's hot, stuffy, very hot and very stuffy. 

So when I heard about their new outlet at Park Mall, I made visiting them the first item on my priority list. 

I was so excited that I forgot to take pictures but you can take my word for it and know it's at least twice the size of the Robertson quay one. It probably can sit around 20 people or so inside and a coupla  more outside.

Big Breakfast - S$15 

Everything you'd want for breakfast would be on this plate. It's quite like a classic English Breakfast with eggs, toast, bacon, sausage and mushrooms. Everything was well cooked and the toast was crisp. Can't complain about anything really! 

I thoroughly enjoyed my Sirloin steak sandwich!!! For S$16,  they gave a reasonable sized piece of steak that was tender and easy to bite into. It was as juicy as a steak should be and went pleasantly well with the shaved parmesan, onions and capsicum. 

I can't wait to go back there to try their other items. Service was better than average and the decor was simple and nice! Just a perfect place to chill out with a friend and have some good food! 

Tiong Bahru Bakery

Date : 20 July 2012

Address: 56 Eng Hoon Street

Opening hours: 8am - 8pm, closed on Tuesdays 

Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru 

There's been so much hype about Tiong Bahru Bakery, most of my friends who visited the place gave squealing recommendations. One even threatened never to speak to me again if I didn't try the chocolate croissant. 

So I did. And I'm sorry to disappoint everyone, but i wasn't impressed! Not one bit. 

I don't know if it was the high expectations I built of it or just a down day for them. Or perhaps I didn't really try the "specialities" but I was really disappointed after my brunch at TBB. 

I stepped into the buzzing eatery that was already crowded before noon and was greeted by a friendly waiter. 

I like the layout of the counter, how it displays the food to make every one of them irresistible. I was only with one friend but we wanted to order everything we saw. It's a good thing I live nearby so I can always go back to try the rest of the food. 

The first item i sank my teeth into was the Lemon Tart - $6 

The crust was harder than I expected it to be and honestly very plain and boring. The lemon pudding on top was sour and sweet and I wonder if they put mandarin oranges in it cos there was an overpowering taste of them. 

I wouldn't have been able to finish one on my own just because it's very sweet and I rather dislike the crust. 

The moment had arrived.

This was the chocolate croissant ( $3.20 ) my friend had so highly recommended. 

I eagerly shoved a piece of it into my mouth and............ my heart sank.

The croissant was soggy and slightly tough, not crispy and fresh. 

Perhaps I had indeed gone on a bad day, but aren't they supposed to be serving good and fresh food all the time? My friend and I exchanged glances and she said " Okay only leh " and I couldn't agree more. 

This was a spontaneous order that we made and boy am i glad we did because it turned out to be the best item we had that morning. The Croque Monsieur ( with ham and cheese ) - $9.50 would be one pastry I would dare to recommend at TBB.

The bread was soft and together with the ham and cheese, each bite was a flavorful one.

"PANNA COTTA!! " I squealed in delight when i saw this among other dessert items. We tried the one with tropical fruits - $6.50 

I prefer the pistachio panna cotta at Saveur's because it's smoother and milkier whereas this one was dry and more starchy.

My brave friend bought the squid ink bread $4++  and regretted her choice almost immediately after having a bite of it. She hadn't tried squid ink pasta before so she had no clue what she was venturing into. However, if you HAVE tried squid ink pasta before and like how it better flavours your food, then perhaps you will fancy this. 

As disappointed as I was, I'll go back and try more of their food. Hopefully the next time, I'll have an improved impression of them.