Gaston Luga: PRÅPER Backpack Review

As someone who is constantly on the go, I love bags that are roomy and lightweight!

When Gaston Luga decided me to send me their backpack, I was thrilled to receive it, especially when it fits the bill for my work needs as a business owner and someone who wants a functional bag to carry for my errands and workout sessions.

What I like most about it is the ability to fit my essentials such as:

• my tall 800ml water bottle to stay dehydrated throughout the day
• ultra heavy Macbook Pro which I usually add-on my laptop bag
• DSLR camera
• change of clothes for gym/work
• adjustable straps

The exact dimensions are: 30 x 42 x 15cm and 18L.

I was also very relieved to find a back pocket, which I normally look out for when I shop for a bag.

Apparently, it is a signature to Gaston Luga backpacks! I could even slot my iPhone7 Plus in, along with my EZ Link Travel card, which was a snug fit for small items so that they won’t fall out easily. I really love this feature a lot.

While Pink can be a daunting colour for some girls, I like the way how it pops from my outfit and makes me happy whenever I look at it. As you know, it is proven that colours can affect one’s mood 🙂

This bag is amazing with a good size, but one downside was probably the canvas material. I am afraid that it would get stained easily especially when I like throwing my bags around and do my thing.

But I guess that’s the problem of choosing lighter colours.

There are also other sexy hues like black, white and olive so you definitely can find your match!

Overall, I’m pleased with this backpack that is both stylish and fuss-free.

If you’re looking for a quality bag for school, everyday or travel use that withstands wear and tear, I highly recommend Gaston Luga, and am happy to share with you my discount code to receive 15% off sitewide on Gaston Luga.

Simply quote “BUNNY15” for express DHL Shipping and the Swedish VAT (currently 20%) is automatically deducted from the price of the item.

Happy shopping! 🙂

Xx, Bunny.

 

 

 

 

Wildseed Cafe by The Summerhouse @ 3 Park Lane Review: Relaxing Brunch Within a Beautiful Charming Garden

New year, new cafes to hop to!

Following the floral cafe trend in South Korea and Bangkok, I am elated that cafes filled with lovely fresh flowers have finally arrived in sunny Singapore! Located at Seletar Aerospace Park, I was excited to check out what Wildseed Cafe has to offer on a Saturday morning for two hungry girls.

Opened by the people behind The Summerhouse restaurant, this area is reminiscent of restaurants that have occupied the colonial bungalows at Dempsey. My Hong Kong friend commented, “Wow, I haven’t seen this side of Singapore before!”

Well, who said Hong Kong and Singapore are similar?

I drove down here and was delighted that there were ample parking lots.

While we headed towards the cafe, I noticed that it was not very big with less than 5 tables. Nonetheless, I was relieved that there were more seats outside, where patrons could bring their pets over.

Yes I’ve seen dogs being their customers already.

Wildseed has got the garden ambience just about right with the overhanging pots, ferns and red brick walls. I’ve been to a couple of Florist x Cafe collaboration cafes like Casa Lapin in Bangkok, and I adore them.

There’s something relaxing about staring at plants and the florist constructing her bouquets from scratch.

And FYI, the flowers and plants here at Poppy Flora aren’t cheap though. One small pot starts from $20, while the bouquets are a lot more than that. I can’t complain though, they really spruced up the space really well.

All orders are done at their counter.

I couldn’t make up my mind on what dishes we should have after I came face-to-face with their dessert display. I wanted all of them! That’s when I realise that most had a common denominator – using flowers and herbs to incorporate the “nature” theme in their bakes.

I was tempted to get their Pea Flower Coconut Muffin [$6.50] until someone ordered their Chocolate Banana Bread [$6.50] and I followed suit. It looked extremely alluring under the spotlight.

Below are the Wildseed Cafe’s menus for All-day Breakfast on weekends (until 5.30pm), and the other – Sandwich menu on normal days. I tried to find them online but they don’t seem to have a website yet. I was apprehensive about the All-day  breakfast as it was $28+ per person and have no idea how big the portions are.

Not your average price for breakfast, for sure.

Thankfully the Sandwich Menu seems to have more reasonably-priced with options  that are below $20. They also provide sharing platters for families or larger groups.

We couldn’t go past the Drinks Menu. There were quite a wide selection of coffee brewed by Nomad the Gallant Coffee Roasters, juices and cocktails. However, we were notified that not all smoothies were available that day.

I craved for something healthy to start the day and ordered The Vegano 1.0 Sandwich [$14] with Tomato, Garden herb salad, Eggplant, Nuts & Hummus. It came inside the brown wrapper and when I opened it, it was a burger instead of a sandwich!

How cute.

Taste: 4.5/5

For $14, you definitely get the bang out of your buck. It came with three tasty herbal falafels that were one of the best ones I’ve had. It is packed full of proteins and minced herbs.

I was pleased how the vegetables like the cabbage and cherry tomatoes were fresh, and the nuts adding a wonderful dimension the burger; it would be plain without them. Furthermore, the filling to bun ratio was just right. The top bun had a spread of hummus, while the bottom was lined with tomato sauce and sunflower seeds.

Every bite was bliss.

The bun was also made out of sourdough, one of my favourite breads.

The felafels were unforgettable and deep fried till its crisp and golden brown. It also had a few whole chick peas ambushed inside for a texture explosion.

This is my first vegan burger that has left me wanting more and more. I need a Vegano 2.0 and 3.0 after this! Setting healthy goals for the new year.

To accompany our sweet treat, my friend ordered a Pink Potion [$5] fresh pressed juice, while I had a Cappuccino [$5].

Sadly, Pink Potion, which was made from Pink Grapefruit, Apple, Carrot, Lemon and Ginger juice, was extremely sour – even for someone who actually likes sour drinks. It was a mess of flavours that were indistinguishable. I am guessing that the grapefruit and lemon overpowered everything else.

My coffee, on the other hand, was quite smooth and not too milky. Quite a decent cuppa. The cute madeleine at the side was a pleasant surprise too.

All these were enjoyed with our Chocolate Banana Cake [$6.50].

Taste: 4/5

The cake is moist, fluffy and delectable at our first few bites. I could taste some raisins inside, but thought that it could have more walnuts, or even chocolate chips for more crunch and a burst of cocoa.

This is perfect for those who do not have a sweet tooth, but craving for something to go with your coffee. It was so delicious that I couldn’t stop digging into it.

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BUNNY’S VERDICT: **** out of 5 stars

Great cafe for couples, youngsters and families alike. I can see myself bringing someone of any age here for breakfast and tea.

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Vegano 1.0 Vegetarian Sandwich, Chocolate Banana Cake, Coffee

DAMAGE: $16+ per person. Service Charge not included.

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RATING

Overall Taste:  4/5  Great ambience with great affordable brunch food with unconventional dishes, what’s not to love about this cafe? I can’t wait to return for more sweet and savoury items! I would want to try more of their sandwiches, Honey Lemon Rosemary Tart and Garden Dessert Bowls. I admire chefs who actually dare to experiment with different flavour combinations using fresh produce on hand.

Ambience: 4/5 Everyone is here for its whimsical nature design! Nonetheless, I wish that the al fresco area would be slightly more decorated with more plants and fairy lights for a better dining experience for larger groups.

Service: 4/5 Food and drinks took about 15-20 minutes to be served.The staff were all smiles despite being slightly underhanded and busy on their first few days of operation.   They were eager to serve and tried to answer my questions. However, something was lacking during my visit – tap water. This is usually mandatory in all my cafe hopping visits around Australia and Singapore.

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Wildseed Cafe
3 Park Lane
The Summerhouse
Singapore 798387
Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am – 7pm (Tuesday to Friday)
9am – 7pm (Saturday, Sunday)
Closed on Mondays

Directions: 

• 103 (Serangoon Interchange), 117 (Punggol Interchange)
• Stop after Rolls Royce Pte Ltd

Love,
The Hungry Bunny
Follow @BunnyMunchies on Instagram for more honest reviews!

Shiberty Bakes [UPDATED] @ 46 Owen Road: Sugar-High on Thick Toasts, ChurroWaffles & Old-school Treats

If you haven’t already known, @Shiberty is a prominent baker slash blogger.

At a young age of 23, the opening of her own cafe under her name in April 2016 was an unexpected move because young bakers rarely do that – unless they are really successful right?

After You Bangkok’s Thick toasts have a special place in my heart and when I learned that Shiberty Bakes serves them in such an alluring manner, I had to come.

Nonetheless, 2 months was how long it took me to make the decision to visit due to the bad publicity created – they served melted ice cream during the first few days of its opening. What a turn-off that would be if it happened to me!

And so, I waited for review to turn positive before visiting. Also had a friend who dined there thrice in  2 months.

It SHOULD be good, right?

The cafe, however is located at Farrer Park – a secluded neighbourhood to me.

I was lost while navigating my way here and having a standee, or sign outside and a block number listed in Google Maps would benefit them.

We met here at 3pm for tea on a Saturday, and I was surprised that only two tables were occupied.

Selecting our food was a no-brainer because there’s only two of us who were craving for thick toasts. It was particularly amusing when we unanimously agreed on having the Matcha Shiberty Toast [$16] not long after browsing the menu.

You’re a true matcha lover when you choose Matcha over Rocher Toast; I was a bit torn between the two of them, but thought Rocher may be nothing special because most cafes serve this flavour, or with Nutella.

The ordering is done at the counter where several cupcakes, cakes and macarons are being displayed.

Our Matcha Shiberty Toast [$16] with cookies, white chocolate drizzle, green tea & vanilla ice cream arrived after our 20-minute chatter.

Taste: 3.5./5

This is my 5th thick toast in Singapore and my standards for thick toast is pretty high now. With edges that were crispy and easy to cut through, I’m glad to say that the quality of the toast is better than Dessert Project’s. It was also evenly buttered.

While saying that, it was sad when the middle part of the toast uncontrollably collapsed before even tucking in! This did not ever happen for four thick toast cafes I’ve been to so far.

Maybe the weather was too hot. Hmm…

Another downside was the artificial taste of the ice creams. Their matcha ice cream was on the sweeter side and the vanilla had a “cheap” taste – “like Wall’s” – commented by my friend.

One more thing that you would either love, or hate was the haphazard sprinkle of sweet treats on the side.

They include Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Cream candy bar, matcha roll wafers,  Pepero white chocolate sticks, matcha Kit Kats, and crushed peanuts.

I liked the fact that each was given in an even number so two of us wouldn’t have to fight for them hehe…

These snacks were definitely an interesting addition that is distinctive from the rest of the thick toasts in the market. The Hershey’s candy bar made me reminisce my primary school days, where I’d buy them in primary school whenever I was peckish after classes were over.

My company, on the other hand, was unfazed by these “junk” and wished that the toast is serve plain with the ice creams alone.

On another occasion, we came back for the iconic “Churro Waffle“ [$15].

I know, it already sounds larger than life.

It consists of cinnamon sugar, toffee lashings, chocolates, hazelnut & sea salt caramel ice cream. 

Taste: 3.5/5 

I have to give them credit for trying to be different, but it has a severe lack of cinnamon, which caused the entire dish to be rather bland alone. I joked that I would bring my own cinnamon powder and up the spice game.

Nonetheless, the ice cream quality has leapt by miles because it wasn’t cheap vanilla. While we were supposed to have the Hazelnut flavour, somehow it switched to Dark Chocolate – I’m not complaining though.

This waffle may be something worth trying if you are adventurous and a fan of sugary things and old school treats like chocolate wafers and biscuits!

The cafe also offers pretty macarons and *gasps* Pokeball cake!

BUNNY’S VERDICT:

I really returned for a second visit!

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Shiberty Toast, Churro-Waffle

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RATING

Overall Taste:  3.5/5  A few hits and misses for the Matcha Shiberty Toast and Churro Waffles, which causes this dessert cafe to be labelled as “mediocre” under my cafe rankings.

The price tag of $16 is also quite high, considering that Dessert Project costed me $14.90 for better quality handcrafted ice creams. I reckon the ice creams here are not freshly made by the cafe. This was one big factor that may have compromised their taste.

Ambience: 4/5 The best ambience out of all the dessert cafes located in the heartlands that I’ve been to. Much effort has been put into the decor, like vases of flowers, and corners framed with calligraphy quotes. They are THE perfect back drop for your Instagram photos.

I had a problem with their toilet though because my experience was ruined by how there wasn’t any toilet paper and handwash left (a bit of an OCD freak here) and the toilet door was really tough to close.

Service: 3/5 Staff were generally all smiles, but they didn’t seem that genuine or eager to serve. Maybe because there is no service charge?

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Shiberty Bakes
46 Owen Road, #01-277, Singapore 210046 (Farrer Park MRT)
Opening Hours:
12pm – 9.30pm (Tues – Sun)
Closed on Mondays.
Facebook

Directions: 

• Cafe is near Pek Kio Market, if you’re familiar with it. Nearest MRT is Farrer Park station and it’d will be a 10-minute walk from there.
• Buses: 131, 141

Hopping out…
ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

Don’t be a stranger!
Stay connected with my munching journey on Instagram ❤

 

 

Hong Kong Food Review: Social Place 唐宮小聚 – Fusion Dimsum that Actually Looks AND Tastes Good!

Everyone knows that any trip to Hong Kong is incomplete without having dim sum.

As a seasoned traveller to Hong Kong, I personally feel that the variety of dim sum here are quite similar across eateries and their quality varies. If it’s your first time having dim sum in Hong Kong, do not expect the random eatery to be mind blowing!

The offerings here differ from Singapore. For example, Hong Kong occasionally has Salted Egg Yolk Buns on the menu, but rather Custard Buns 奶黄包 that unfortunately do not ooze for that Instagrammable #foodporn photo. While this is so, Hong Kong has other delectable dim sum that Singapore does not have – which is exactly what got me excited.

You may be familiar with staples like Har Gow (shrimp dumpling), Siu Mai (pork dumpling), Char Siew Pork buns and so on, but have you tried buns shaped in a rose, mandarin orange, or even a pig?  If you are raising your eyebrows right now, you’d be in for a treat at Social Place, a fusion dim sum restaurant situated in Sheung Wan, one of the busiest districts in Hong Kong.

Reservations were made for four at 12pm, but it was already half-filled when we arrived!

It is apparent that diners not only come for their food, but also their fantastic ambience; the attention paid to its Parisian and Oriental decor is remarkable.

The eclectic mix is portrayed from the shelves and kitchen with Chinese herbs and condiments lined up neatly, whereas western element shone through once you see the open-air concept kitchen. I was able to catch the chefs in action, preparing ingredients and blasting their hot woks skillfully.

Unlike other yum cha restaurants, their menu is not limited to just dim sum; a wide selection of appetisers, soups, vegetables, rice & noodle dishes and desserts are available and it was quite hard to decide because I wanted everything!

*Full menu was nowhere to be found online (boo), but you can preview some of their dishes here.

I ended up ordering dishes that I saw on Instagram and had no regrets.

I squealed with delight when the food came! I MEAN, HOW CUTE ARE THEY?! Full marks for presentation, hands down.

It was a difficult choice, but the first to tackle was the Grapefruit-shaped Har Gow x3  [HKD49, SGD8.60] because it seemed like the least “cruel” thing to do out of all the dim sum that we ordered.

Taste: 4/5

I appreciate the chefs’ effort gone into making these grapefruits – the little doumiao inserted into each har gow must have been tough!

I had no expectation for them, but was pleasantly surprised when they were actually palatable. They had a distinct grapefruit aroma and flavour infused into the skin.

I’m usually put off by har gows that have a thick and doughy skin. Thankfully, this was the exact opposite. Prawn was also quite fresh, but on the limp side.

It can be juicier.

The next one in line to enter the slaughterhouse were the Pig-shaped Taro Buns [HKD29, SGD5]. 

Taste: 4.5/5

Again, I had absolutely no expectations for them – as long as they are photogenic.

I was so impressed, as I broke one into half. Look at those fillings!

The pigs were stuffed with taro to the brim and brought me to taro heaven. For those watching their sugar intake, these buns would be great because they are not overly sweet, and fluffy too.

The most adorable and tastiest taro bun I’ve had. Taro lovers, you HAVE to order this.

While their Steamed Rose Floret bun [HKD29, SGD5.05] was another popular dish displayed repeatedly on Instagram, it was a severe letdown.

Taste: 2.5/5

The red bean merely occupied the middle portion of the bun – exactly where you see it in the picture, and the flour was too dry. It was drier than the taro bun!

I like the conception of having red beans with the dried rose petals, but techniques gone into making this dish should be improved.

The final picture-worthy dim sum dish was the Truffle Shiitake Buns [HKD49, SGD8.55]! 

They come in a cute set of three, and my company was so hungry that she stole one first. Sniffs.

But they really looks like mushrooms, don’t they?

Taste: 5/5

Despite looking like the real thing with its spotty mushroom cap and a stalk (yes they made a stalk), the shroom buns were unbelievably soft and fluffy.

My mouth was also injected with crunchy mushroom bits, which burst with that irresistible flavour of truffle that everyone adores. It was not overpowering but sufficient to make us go “ahhhh”.

This became a massive hit and we finished it instantly. I was yearning for more after!

Apart from dim sum, we had their recommended Roast Pigeon.

And for those who are afraid of getting your hands dirty, the staff has prepared plastic glove to make sure that we consume the pigeon spanking clean!

Taste: 5/5

If you haven’t had Roast Pigeon, you need to try it.

Their meat is usually a lot tender than their bigger counterparts like chicken and duck. I personally used to eat it as a kid during my trips to Hong Kong. Things changed, however, when I went to Australia, where pigeons are seen walking around at beaches – instead of serving at restaurant, oops.

However, Social Place rekindled my love for it because the dish blew my tastebuds away.

The meat was so juicy and tender, and skin was ultra thin and crispy. It was not overly salty or loaded with MSG.

This dish ticked all the right boxes on how a Roast Pigeon should taste. We were all very satisfied.

We also wanted to have some greens to go along with our dim sum, so we had Smoked duck veg rolls [HKD48, SGD8.40], which boasts the vibrant colours that nature has to offer.

Taste: 4/5

First thing that struck us was how the spring rolls were served cold, instead of warm that we are used to. While this is so, they were a refreshing change from the deep fried ones that usual eateries would offer and not taxing on our bodies.

It’s healthy like the Vietnamese ones!

Moreover, the cabbage used to wrap the ingredients was not too tough and the vegetables encased in it (carrots, zucchini etcetera) were crisp. The “smoked duck”, however, was not what I imagined it to be because it seemed like a piece of ham that was overly salty.

Whenever I visit a Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong, one dish I absolutely cannot leave without is Hong Kong Kai Lan or Chinese Broccoli because they are usually fresher than Singapore’s – especially during the winter season when it is in season!

Most restaurants here stir-fry it with garlic or oyster sauce, but Social Place stands out by having the Dragon Beard Kale cooked with bisque/ginger [HKD79, SGD13.70].

Taste: 5/5

My company chose the ginger version and it was one of the best Kai Lan dishes I’ve had to date!

The Kai Lan sourced was extremely crunchy due to the “young parts” provided; it did not have stringy or tough stems that I detest. I was also able to taste traces of wine added and the extra ginger shreds provided the dish a fun kick.

I’ve had over 30 Kai Lan dishes in my life (I love veggies too much) and this turns out to be my top 3. Simply wholesome and wonderful.

Finally, my company who is obsessed with Rice Rolls savoured their Wok Fried Shrimp & Rice Rolls [HKD69, SGD12] and tucked into them before I could take a proper shot, unfortunately.

Taste: 4/5

I’m not too keen on rice rolls, but this had an interesting twist to those steamed ones you’d normally have in Singapore.

These had a wok hei flavour – fried with sticky sauce, and then topped with chives and white sesame seeds. Quite tasty I would say. As much as I would like to rate it higher, I have to admit that the dish was on the saltier side.

While we were leaving, the elevator corridor was packed like sardines as working adults were. I’d advise everyone to book ahead or come before 12.30pm to avoid the lunch crowd!

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BUNNY’S VERDICT: 

YES, I WOULD HOP BACK FOR LUNCH AGAIN!

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Truffle Shiitake Buns, Pig-shaped Taro Buns, Dragon Beard Kale, Roast Goose

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RATING

Overall Taste:  4.5/5  Prices may be on the higher side in comparison to other dimsum eateries, but you get what you pay for. I could tell that the ingredients used are of high quality, freshly sourced . Presentation of the food is also stellar! I will be back for more.

Ambience: 5/5We felt like we were having our meal in fine dining restaurant. The food was greatly enhanced by the chic Tiffany blue and silver theme chosen, which reminds me of Tung Lok in Singapore, but even better.

Service: 3/5 Mediocre. It took long to be served whenever we needed to pass them our orders and tea refills. I think they are understaffed during peak hours. This is how Hong Kong functions, nevertheless.

 

Social Place 唐宮小聚

Address: 2/F, The L. Place
139 Queen’s Road Central, Central 
中環皇后大道中139號 The L. Place 2樓
Phone: +852 3568 9666 (Reservations recommended)

Opening Hours:

11:30am -3pm (dim sum)
6pm – 10pm (Last Order 9.30pm) 

Directions: 4-minute walk from Exit E1/2 of Sheung Wan station where you would turn right when you see Gilman’s Bazaar Road. Continue walking until you see the building below and take the lift up to Level 2.

Hopping out…

ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

DON’T BE A STRANGER!
STAY CONNECTED WITH MY MUNCHING JOURNEY ON INSTAGRAM ❤

The Benjamins @ Forum Orchard: Fun & Instagrammable Milkshakes That Would Fly You To Cloud 9!

Cereal, wafer or iced gems for breakfast, anyone?

Yes please, because The Benjamins at Forum Shopping Mall at Orchard has got them all!

Along with Cake Spade, this cafe is well-known for producing Over-The-Top, or OTT Shakes since last year. To further keep their head in the game, they released a whole new series of Shakes last month that feature Cerealsly Crunchy Shakes that are cerealsly good-looking.

I made my way there for brunch on a Sunday… You must be thinking what a way to indulge for breakfast hehe… Well, the #CerealCafehopper just can’t stop herself!

By the way, I have made a vlog-style review on my on my visit on Instagram @bunnymunchies. Head there if you want to have a good look at the ambience and food!

Outside the cafe were these attractive photos of their shakes that was already enough to make any child or girl squeal! I was also wondering if the “available after 12pm” applies to the Cerealsy Crunchy Shakes.

Boasting industrial vibes with its hanging lightbulbs and metal chairs, the cafe was half empty at 1.30pm. However, its serene ambience changed to bustling from 2pm onwards, as a throng of diners came in.

I suspect they are the late risers on Sunday, or just here for after-lunch desserts.

I took photos of the full menu, which is not available online because I’ve tried searching for it (you’re welcome).

What I realised, while browsing, was their mains are not very wallet-friendly for such a casual cafe. I was also puzzled why they had an Omakase breakfast…

The cafe also has alluring cakes like Salted Caramel Chocolate, Rainbow, Nutella and Thai Milk Tea on display!

In the end, I had to control myself and focus on my main goal with my company – their Fairy Pebble Shake and Mango Rainbow Smoothie Bowl; I chose the latter to make up for the cerealsy sinful Fairy Pebble hehehe… As if it is that healthy.

Mango Rainbow Smoothie Bowl [$14++] with fresh mango, strawberries, pomelo, avocado, chia seeds, low fat yogurt and cereal  granola.

Taste: 4.5/5

I’ve had green vegetable, acai and pitaya smoothie bowls, but this mango version is a first! It originally comes with cereal, but I requested for granola for a healthier option.

I am very delighted with the presentation and taste of it because I had not much to complain about this pretty bowl of colours!

The strawberries and mango were very fresh – despite being on the sour side. They also had sharp edges; I have a weird penchant for fruits with clean cuts by a well-maintained knife.

The texture of the mango smoothie base was creamy, smooth and not overly sweet. Those who do not like avocado would be relieved that the traces of the green fruit could not be found!

I deducted 0.5 marks just because I was hoping for a bit more granola for a more filling meal – especially if someone is having this all by him or herself.

Now, behold for our next dish…

Because the size of the Fairy Pebbles [$16++] cerealsy blew my mind!

It doesn’t look big on photos, but when presented on the table… It was definitely larger and wider than my face.

That says a lot.

Taste: 3.5/5

Overall, this messy, yet adorable dessert tasted better than expected! I thought  it was “too pretty” to taste like rainbows; but then again, it’s full of childhood treats and cereal that we love, so what’s there to not like about it?!

For those who wonder – how are you going to eat this?

Well, let me demonstrate!

First, pour the fruity pebbles onto the poofy pink and green cotton candy for a photo… (haha) And then place them into the small cup.

Be cautious for this step though! Once done, start digging into the wonderful end of the rainbow.

There was a slice of chocolate cake, hundreds and thousands biscuit and iced gems; I immediately grabbed the hot pink one because that’s the flavour I like most as a kid!

I believe the hundreds and thousands biscuit to be Arnott’s.

But honestly, it was too hard for me and my company. Can kids even eat them? I sure hope their teeth are stronger than ours. We also shared the yellow disc, and found out that it was durian-flavoured!

Yay!

Everything was great so far… Until  we reached the milkshake itself.

The shake, unfortunately, had a foamy consistency akin to soap; I saw that there was some whipped cream inserted to keep the iced gems afloat, and the combination did not had much taste.

So my company invented a method by scraping the Nutella-painted sides using the spoon and have it together with the foam!

Ingenious.

Added some fruity pebbles into the mixture too for good measure!

When the iced gems disappeared into our mouths, the slice of cake started to sink into the shake, so I hurriedly scooped it out and thought it was a bit too sweet for my liking due to the thick icing, but the saving grace was the prominent chocolate flavour.

Believe it or not, we managed to finish BOTH desserts and couldn’t feel our waists after.

Me up on Cloud 9!

While the milkshake was disappointing, I was transported to Cloud 9.

Savouring my favourite childhood snacks induced nostalgia about the past, but in a good way… *writing brimming tears in the eyes*.

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BUNNY’S VERDICT: 

YES, I’ll be back for insane-looking desserts, BUT remember I’d bring friends to share the calories and LOVE gone into making them!

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Mango Pomelo Bowl, Fairy Pebbles

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RATING

Overall Taste:  4/5  Despite worrying that the desserts would only look good in photos, their taste reached my expectations, particularly for the Mango Smoothie Bowl.

The Milkshake for the Cerealsy OTT Series, on the other hand, can be improved. I discovered that other Fruity Pebbles served on Instagram seem to have two discs, but ours only had one, and the milkshake can have a thicker consistency – like the Mango Smoothie Bowl, rather than being all foamy!

Ambience: 4/5 Very children-friendly, where kids would go crazy with their desserts; cafe is furnished with colourful cereal boxes and posters, which adds a “kiddy” element, but they match their OTT shakes!

Service: 3/5 Menus and water came promptly when we were seated, but it took a few tries to call for warm water. Our cups were not refilled throughout our dining experience and waitresses seemed quite hostile.

The Benjamins
Address: 583 Orchard Road,
Forum the Shopping Mall, #01-20/21
Singapore 23888
Phone:6887 4117
Opening Hours: 
10.30am – 9pm (Mon – Thurs, Sun)
10.30am – 9pm (Fri, Sat)
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Directions: 

• Nearest MRT: Orchard. It’ll be a 10 minute walk from the MRT by the Wheelock Place route.
• Parking is available at Forum Shopping Mall or other malls nearby.

Hopping out…
ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

DON’T BE A STRANGER!
FOR MORE HONEST REVIEWS, FOLLOW MY MUNCHING JOURNEY ON INSTAGRAM ❤

Rise & Grind Coffee Co. @ Bukit Timah Plaza Review: Cosy Cafe with Brunch That Will Wake Your Tastebuds Up!

Rise and grind! Ah, what an apt phrase to capture our dread of waking up to work daily. But hold up, that dread would be erased immediately – when you rise to nosh that is not only good-looking, but delicious as well!

Nestled outside Bukit Timah Plaza is the unsuspecting Rise & Grind Coffee Co. – a small, yet inviting café serving brunch fares in the day and dinner at night. Despite being around for a year, the café has garnered a loyal following on social media; I had first known about the café through the gorgeous food flat lays circulating on Instagram, which were extremely hard to ignore by an ardent cafehopper and foodie like me.

Stepped in at 1.45pm and I was overwhelmed by the diners had a good mix of students from nearby schools and working adults. Business seems to be doing pretty well!

An alfresco area is also available for seating, but it can get hot easily with Singapore’s humidity.

After settling down, I noticed how there was so much going on in the decor department.

They were something that Martha Stewart would approve of, especially the industrial hipster-looking counter that serves as a window to the kitchen.

This means that there’s no central kitchen!

And when you have the chance to look up from your devices, you’d find a cute message written on the wall. I think that such messages are much-needed reminders to take a breather, notice our surroundings and SMILE at your neighbours more! Because #CoffeeMakesTheWorldGoRound

Onto the food, the menu appears to have an ideal selection of brunch items, mains and desserts from different continents.

What do I mean by continents?

Take their Avo-ka-dukkah [$15] for example. It actually makes me recall what I usually have at cafes in Australia – avocado and dukkah… A “duh” moment!

And their Hei Amigo [$16] and Confit Duck [$17] without a doubt, are inspirations derived from Mexican and French flavours; I thought it was a wonderful way to expose Singaporeans to other cuisines because this seems to be lacking in most cafes! I can get tired of the same old pancakes and eggs benny kinda run-of-the-mill dishes.

I wonder if you guys reading would feel the same?

I was pleased that they serve Chai Tea Latte and Thai Milk Tea. Definitely not your regular hipster cafe because they cater to the likes of tea lovers!

And finally, the best thing about the menu was the prices, which are all in NETT. Hurray!

Oh, and when I wrote I was sick of the same old eggs benny dishes, I ironically ordered one here.

However, I beg to differ on how Rise & Grind’s is the “same old” ones served at other cafes! I rely heavily on social media and reviews on selecting my dish, and judging from the feeds, Ocean’s Thirteen [$17] appeared to be one of the staples customers would order at Rise & Grind.

And on first bite, I can tell you exactly why and assure you that it is NOT YOUR AVERAGE EGGS BENEDICT!

Taste: 4.5/5

How so?

Firstly, it is the most gorgeous plate of Eggs Benedict that I’ve set my eyes upon!

Together with a striking splash of hot pink (notice this, ladies) beetroot yogurt on the side, the plain sourdough is embellished with two large wobbly poached eggs, thin sprigs of asparagus, savoury smoked salmon, salmon roe, beetroot and a generous helping of apple cider hollandaise sauce.

Secondly,  I was pleased with the healthy balance of greens and proteins, and how each bite contained refreshing elements, such as the occasional crunch of beetroot and playful, yet satisfying burst of umami derived from the salmon roe.

The further effortless explosion of yolky goodness generated by the poached eggs signalled an instant full marks for this dish! It was screaming at me to stop taking photos and eat it up now.

I have tried over thirty poached egg dishes, and so far, none have come close to Lola’s Café – the longstanding winner of the best Eggs Benedict in Singapore, in my opinion.

Lola’s poached eggs never fail to impress me, but I have found their contender!

Moreover, despite the sourdough being substituted by a croissant (because they ran out of sourdough that day), I’m not complaining about the crispy and flaky pastry that acted as a safety net to collect all the juices from the poached egg at all! This dish has also surpassed Flock Cafe’s Smoked Salmon Croissant, where their standards have fallen.

Some improvements, however, can be made to make this dish full marks!

The  asparagus could be fresher and thicker (mine was thin and wrinkly) and the croissant was drenched with too much Hollandaise – to the extent of becoming too salty. Don’t forget that we already have smoked salmon on it.

Moreover, I didn’t get to touch much of the beetroot yogurt – since the Hollandaise was overwhelmed me, so maybe they can have either one of them. Or even combine them – the Hollandaise sauce can be infused with beetroot so that we can  keep that pretty pop of colour on the side!

My company, on the other hand, is not a big fan on brunch food and loves her caaaaarbs! So she had the Chili Crab Linguine [$16], which is something that she usually orders at cafes.

Taste: 3/5

She rated it 2 because she has had better ones elsewhere, but I thought it was all right! I’m not too picky with my pasta, as long as it is al dente and the sauce is in abundance to cover them.

At Rise and Grind, the pasta fulfilled both criteria and the Chili Crab sauce wasn’t too spicy or thick. One downside was the sloppy presentation that is miles worse than my Ocean’s Thirteen, oops.

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BUNNY’S VERDICT:

YES!

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Ocean’s Thirteen

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RATING

Overall Taste:  3/5 Despite the pasta was not as appetising than the dish that I had, their offerings are all VERY value-for-money, where most of them are under $18 (no added GST and service charge) and served hot and fresh from the kitchen!

Perfectly poached eggs are hard to find nowadays and this is one cafe I would instantly return to for brunch; their Mentaiko fries, Avo-ka-dukkah and Tom Yum Pasta are crowd favourites that I might want to savour next time!

Ambience: 4/5 I didn’t expect the cafe to be this squeezy where the proximity of the tables are about one foot! It was so cosy enough for us to strike a long conversation with our next-table customers who just moved to Singapore from Florida!

That being said, I have to stress that it is not an ideal space for groups bigger than four. The cafe can also be a bit stuffy as the kitchen is in the middle.

And for the food Instagrammers reading this – Rise & Grind has fancy backgrounds and props to play with; the photos turned out really nice with the natural light shining in from the side window. No wonder it is regularly featured on social media!

Service: 4/5

Friendly and smiley faces when we walked in and out! Our food was delivered in 10-minutes, which is really commendable. Everything is self-service though; there is a small counter on the side to grab water, cutlery and serviettes. Cups were a tad too small and I had go a couple of times for refills.

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Rise & Grind Co.
Bukit Timah Plaza, 1 Jalan Anak Bukit #L1-CA1
Singapore 588996
Tel: +65 9154 8550
Opening Hours:
10am – 9pm (Mon – Thurs)
10am – 10pm (Fri)
9am – 10pm (Sat)
9am – 9pm (Sun)
www.riseandgrind.co

Directions: 

• Nearest MRT station: King Albert Park (Blue, DT Line), cross the overhead bridge and walk 10 minutes from there.
• Carpark available at Bukit Timah Plaza.

Hopping out…
ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

DON’T BE A STRANGER!
FOR MORE HONEST REVIEWS, FOLLOW MY MUNCHING JOURNEY ON INSTAGRAM ❤

Shopping & Eating @ Myeongdong, Seoul 1-Day Itinerary: Myeongdong Kyoja, Mukshidonna Korean Army Stew, O’sulloc Tea House, Street Food, LOTTE & lots more!

Myeongdong Myeongdong…

No matter how touristy it is, those who love to shop still feel compelled visit Myeongdong for its cosmetic stores waiting to earn your buck!

Foodies can’t escape from this shopping district as well… Because it is filled with Korean restaurants, cat cafes and STREET FOOD.

This itinerary covers my day of eating and shopping at Myeongdong – from day to night. 1 day is enough to make the most out of your wallet and satisfy your growling bellies.

*For cafehoppers and fashionistas, be sure to visit Garosugil (the hippest shopping belt) for a unique experience unlike anywhere in Seoul!

**Follow @bunnymunchies on Instagram for more honest travel and food reviews!

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1-DAY FOOD ITINERARY AT MYEONGDONG STREETS

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#1 MYEONGDONG KYOJA  명동교자 – BREAKFAST, BRUNCH, LUNCH

Mandu, Gyoza or 饺子?

Whatever it is, dumplings – especially Pork and Chive – are one of my favourite Chinese food of all time. While searching for the top restaurants in Seoul, this store kept popping up on blogs and TripAdvisor.

Like me, you might think it’s merely one of those restaurants that are overrated. But when I noticed how its skin of its dumplings seem to be translucent in pictures – you know it’s gonna be good.

Navigating to the restaurant is quite straightforward if you follow the directions below.

TIPS

• Just remember to look out for this dark brown-coloured shopfront!
• I would advise visiting when it opens at 10.30am for brunch so you have ample time for shopping later and beat the lunch crowd!

Picture Credit

The restaurant had steady streams of people entering and leaving, and their menu is pretty simple, featuring four dishes – that’s how confident they are.

Full menu can be found here. I found out they have an English website. Hurray!

While you’re there and wondering where the utensils are, don’t be “blur” like me! They are all kept in a secret drawer underneath the table top. I felt like a fool when asking the busy waitresses who were reluctant to entertain us.

We ordered the famous Mandu Dumplings [10 000 won, SGD11.60] and Kalguksu  [8000 won, SGD$9.60] to share between two of us, and when they arrived, we immediately regretted our decision.

The Mandu came in ten and each was the size of a golfball! *jaw drops*

Taste: 4/5 

Nevermind about the size. The bigger the better, ain’t it? Hehe.

I’m quite particular about my dumplings and don’t like them to be too doughy. For this, I was pleased with the thin silky translucent skin that didn’t not require much effort to bite through. The filling, though, did not live up to my expectations. I was hoping for more vegetables than meat like a traditional Chinese dumpling but it was the exact reverse.

I guess Koreans are truly meat lovers!

What made my dumpling experience really stand out was Myeongdong Kyoja’s accompanying sauce that was their signature.

All tables had Soy Sauce, White Vinegar (instead of Black that I’m accustomed to for my Chinese dumplings alongside with thinly sliced ginger), as well as the Soy Bean Marinade (pictured above) that I’m very much in love with.

Dipped in the thick salty marinade that contained thin cuts of young pepper, the dumplings tasted much more flavourful! I found myself slathering them with the marinade while my company looked at me wide-eyed.

Can I bring one jar back to Singapore, please?

We also had a bowl of Kalguksu [8000 won, SGD$9.60] that several food bloggers highly recommended, but we were extremely underwhelmed.

Taste: 2/5

Kalguksu is a bowl of handmade chopped noodles boiled in chicken broth, which is supposedly something like our Singaporean version of ‘ban mian’. I’m not a big fan of ban mian, but my company was; she commented that it was too soggy for her liking – to the extent of not finishing it!

I guess that was how bad it was; the noodles were soft and seemed like they were overcooked. Not springy at all. We only sipped the rather bland chicken soup and that was about it. The pyramid pork dumplings were also average, very similar to the Chinese wantons and their kimchi was the spiciest we’ve had. I’m not sure what the bloggers were raving about. Hmm…

Out of these the two, the Mandu wins hands down and would be something I would have again.

Myeongdong Kyoja 명동교자 (明洞餃子)
29, Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 중구 명동10길 29 (명동2가)
Opening Hours: 10.30 – 9.30pm Daily
Website

Directions:

• Main Branch
  Myeongdong Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exit 8.
  Upon exiting the station, turn left onto Myeongdong 10-gil Road.
  Go straight about 150m to arrive at Myeongdong Kyoja (명동교자) on the right.
• Myeongdong Kyoja Branch No. 1
  From Myeongdong Station (Exit 8), turn left onto Myeongdong 10-gil Road.
  Go straight about 280m to arrive at the restaurant on the left.

#2 MUKSHIDONNA 먹쉬돈나 /  MUKSHI MYEONGDONG먹쉬명동 – DINNER

*IMPORTANT NOTE*

The branch of Mukshidonna at Myeongdong is called Mukshi Myeongdong. They have updated their restaurant name recently (I don’t know why) and pictures/name provided on TripAdvisor are different. Please refer to the directions and SBS logo posted below.

I believe that all trips to Korea needs to have Army Stew somewhere in the itinerary, or else it would be such a waste!

Personally, my obsession for Army Stews was first conceived while I was studying in Brisbane. It  was a winter warmer for me, and I felt that it so shiok when eaten during a cold night when temperatures dipped below 10 degrees Celsius; I would come out of the restaurant feeling so rejuvenated. This is also exactly why I don’t eat them in Singapore! It is hard to enjoy it when our climate is so humid and warm, and costs SGD40 to 50 for a pot. That is expensive.

I initially wanted to visit Mukshidonna’s main branch situated at Samcheong-dong after my visit to Bukchon Village. Unfortunately, it raining cats and dogs and the foodie – drenched from head to toe – had to give it up and visit the Myeongdong branch on another day.

To be honest, the route here wasn’t easy and I had to rely on TripAdvisor’s map and match the Korean characters word-for-word with every restaurant’s sign. With some help from the waitresses of the opposite Chinese restaurant, we managed to find it! They clarified with me that the restaurant’s name is called Mukshi Myeongdong – rather than “Donna”.

For further directions, it is located on the same alley as Angel-In-Us Coffee, and on the second level of a nondescript building. Diners like these could be seen eating hot pot against the glass windows when you look up.

Restaurant sign at the lift lobby.

Our reward finally came when we made our orders with the Chinese menu given to us. We saw every table savouring one hot pot and we couldn’t wait to have them!

We were told that the army stew had to be shared by at least two. I met up with my friends so there were three of us, and we had to pay 6500 won, SGD7.50 EACH and select  3 ingredients from the menu.

So we went with their Army Stew with Cheese and Seafood [19600 won, SGD22.70]!

You can also have additional toppings at 1000 won, but we were satisfied with what we had because intend to have 2 more parts to our dinner!

Here it is!! Our Army Stew with Tteokbokki, Sausages, Ramyeon, Prawns, Squid, Mussels and CHEESE! 

LOOK AT ITS SIZE FOR SGD22.70! HOW WORTH IT IS THAT?!

Taste: 4/5

I was concerned that cheese would make our stew too gelat, but oh it was the highlight of the army stew. It matched the spicy broth flawlessly. I was hoping that the broth would be more flavourful, rather than the flat out spicy.

Nevertheless, the seafood was quite fresh and ramyeon was delightfully al dente. Some downsides I have to mention include the dull ambience (bad for food photography), lack of air-conditioning and BANCHAN!

Mukshi Myeongdong was the first restaurant that did not serve those yummy mini side dishes I was looking forward to have. No kimchi, no life.

Oh well, it is definitely value-for-money when it comes to price!

Mukshi Myeongdong 먹쉬명동
*12, Myeongdong 3-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-021, South Korea
02-754-0405
Directions: Next door to Angel-in-us Coffee & opposite an eatery selling Chinese food. 

*Address taken from TripAdvisor, as Google Address leads to the  Samcheong-dong main branch.

#3 O’SULLOC TEA HOUSE – THERE IS ALWAYS SPACE FOR DESSERTS!

Rejoice, matcha lovers! This cafe is meant for all of us!

O’sulloc is a franchise in Seoul that specialises in green tea and offers an array of desserts, light bites and beverages.

With four branches in Myeongdong, Apgujeong, Insadong and Daehango, I found Myeongdong to be the most convenient to locate with surrounding landmarks like Starbucks, McDonald’s and Daiso.

If you’re just interested in their matcha soft serves or have no time to sit down, you can get your matcha fix from the kiosk outside as well.

The interior seems rather traditional with the wooden furniture and partitions at first glance. However, when juxtaposed with neutral, earthy concrete floors and brick walls, the Japanese decor became modernised and had the chill atmosphere.

There were also couches for you to laze around, so it’s a very conducive place for… napping. It didn’t help when they provide free Wifi and soothing music because we were reluctant to leave!

Due the menu being really extensive and the cafe having dim lights, pictures that I’ve taken were blurry. Thankfully, full menu and prices can be found online here.

Unlike others, I wasn’t going for their Tea Garden Set Menu, which comprised of Green Tea Pesto Sandwich, Green Tea Pound Cake, Scone and Green Tea Milk Jam and Green Tea Ice Cream. It  costs 18000 won – almost SGD21 and my intensive review research indicated that some things were a miss, including their Green Tea Scones, Roll Cake, Pound Cake and Green Tea Latte.

What a pity because they looked drool-worthy from the display.

I tried more lesser known desserts like the Green Tea Ice Flakes [14000 won, SGD16.20] since I adore bingsu so much, Green Tea Cheese Tiramisu [5000 won, SGD5.80], Fresh Green Tea Hallabong [6500 won, SGD7.50] and Green Tea Latte [5500 won, SGD6.40].

It was a matcha frenzy!

Don’t worry, these were shared amongst 4 – even though we already had  dinner. #ThereIsAlwaysSpaceForMATCHADesserts

Taste-wise, what won our hearts over were the Green Tea Hallabong and Green Tea Cheese Tiramisu.

Their beverages left quite a deep impression on me – both good and bad. The Green Tea Hallabong, an ice blended drink derived from Hallabong – sweet Jeju variety of Mandarin orange, was a refreshing burst of flavour for the summer!

I liked the stark contrast between the sweet citrusy juice and slight bitterness from the green tea.

On the other hand, green tea fans would be disappointed with their Green Tea Latte. It was overly milky and the mandatory green tea hint was not found; it tasted more like a watery mixture of milk, and half a teaspoon of green tea powder.

My friends who have visited O’sulloc previously also agreed, so please avoid ordering it! I heard that their iced version is better.

Taste: 4.5/5

Similar to other reviewers’ thoughts, the Green Tea Cheese Tiramisu was the only cake worth going for.

I had my own reservations, thinking that it would be overly thick and creamy, but thankfully it wasn’t! Instead, the cream cheese was incredibly light and it had a thick layer matcha powder on top, which made a huge difference to our palate; green tea lovers would appreciate this very much.

While there was no graham crumble at the base, the layer of green tea chiffen cake worked. Nonetheless, I felt that it could have a thicker and firmer texture. One idea would be substituting it with a crunchy layer of green tea/ hojicha grounded nut base that  would be a fun dimension.

Green Tea flavoured bingsu are one of my favourite desserts; I have tried over 6 renditions from Bukchon Bingsu (Seoul), Hanbing (Hong Kong), Passiontree (Brisbane), Bingo Jung (Singapore), Caffebene (Singapore), and O’ma Spoon (Singapore).

Taste: 3.75/5

Positive signs stemming from O’sulloc’s were the pronounced Green tea flavour, and the fresh azuki and moist beans. My company commented that the ice flakes were quite rough, but I didn’t mind them.

The bad was dry texture of the pound cake that resonated with other reviews; I cannot comprehend why they would even produce something like that for their customers! I’d be better off eating a Pandan chiffon cake from Bangawan Solo. That is how bad it was.

Moreover, something was amiss while having this dessert halfway, as there was still half the amount of ice shavings left that had no ingredients to pair it with. It was quite wasteful, to be honest. Maybe they could add nuts, mochi or slices of fruits? Because the price does not really justify the bingsu. 

My all-time favourite Green tea bingsu would still be the first ever bingsu I tried from Passiontree at Brisbane, Australia. It only costs only AUD14.90 with many more toppings!

Overall, the cafe seems like a pleasant place to wind down and relax after a day’s of shopping; it has a whole lot more appeal than Starbucks for its spacious seatings and free Wifi. The green tea desserts, however, need to step up because they were not up to the standards that I experienced at Kyoto’s Tsujiri.

Bunny Recommends: Green Tea Hallabong, Green Tea Cheese Tiramisu

O’sulloc Tea House, Myeong-dong Branch 오설록티하우스 – 명동점
12, Myeongdong 7-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 중구 명동7길 12 (명동1가)
+82-2-774-5460
Opening Hours:
9am – 10:30pm (Sun – Thurs),
9am – 11pm (Fri – Sat)

Directions: Exit from Exit 6 Myeong-dong Station of Seoul Subway Line No. 4, turn left, and go straight for 370m. Go past the alley in between the Myeongdong Theatre (left) and Daiso (right), O’Sulloc will be after McDonald’s.

#4 KOREAN STREET FOOD – IF YOU STILL HAVE STOMACH SPACE!

Korea is also known for its street food, and they are everywhere in Myeongdong. If you can’t make it to Nandaemun or Dongdaemun, Myeongdong should be enough to at least savour most of them.

While most stalls pop up at night, certain stalls are open during the day! Here are some quick snaps of the variety that I took, and reviews for the ones I had.

Grilled Seafood, Fishcakes, Tteokbokki 

Tall ice creams seen all over Instagram

Roasted Chestnuts, Corn

Freshly squeezed Lemon Juice

Fresh Fruit Jellies that remind me of Taiwan

Seafood Skewers

Milky Bee Ice Cream – Hand sculpted Rose!

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MYEONGDONG STREET FOOD REVIEW

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STRAWBERRY MOCHI (DDALGI-MOCHI)

This is a Japanese-style rice cake filled with fresh strawberry and red bean custard. I spotted a few times while walking around the Myeongdong shopping belt at night and was intrigued how the owners were making them on the spot.

Taste: 3/5

Still, it still can’t be matched to Japan’s warabi-mochi. We felt that the mochi texture was too thick and wasn’t as smooth as the ones I had at Japan.

Come on Koreans, you can do better! Straw berry was juicy though.

GRILLED CHEESE SCALLOP

My best friend back in Singapore recommended me the Grilled Cheese Scallop, which was sold by one of the most eye-catching stalls due to the torching process. She raved about it when she had it during her trip in December. #DatCheese

Taste: 1/5

I like grilled scallops, but I wondered if it would taste good with cheese. It costed me 12 000 won [SGD14] and took about 8 to 10 minutes to prepare, which was a bummer.

However, the wait wasn’t worth it! The scallop wasn’t fresh and I had no idea that it came with corn. Corn with scallop… Not a good combination.

There goes my 14 bucks! Please do not waste your money on this if you dislike corn!

GRILLED OCTOPUS & DRIED OCTOPUS SNACK

Taste: 2/5

Another fad on the streets of Myeongdong.

I thought nothing could go wrong with squid when it’s on the grill. It was nice of the ajumma helping to chop the whole squid into smaller pieces, but I did not enjoy the tough texture of the body. The tentacles were still fine.

Also got their Dried Octopus Snack, which turned out to be the worst I had. Very rubbery. I’m very puzzled about how something so fresh could be so horrible.

Is it the quality of their squid?

DEEP FRIED POTATO RINGS

I SAVED THE BEST FOR THE LAST.

I don’t usually get deep fried food, but my company wanted to try this. This store served enticing potato snacks ranging from fries to tempura! They also sell this popular Honey Butter Potato Chips (not pictured) was all the rage last year.

Taste: 5/5

WOAH. These Potato Rings tasted EXACTLY like a packaged potato chip, but freshly made with the real texture of potatoes! I just couldn’t stop eating it – despite telling myself numerous times that I would get a sore throat subsequently and ruin the rest of my trip.

Nonetheless, the chips were SO addictive that I was still thinking about it after having one skewer. I wanted to go back for it after shopping, but sadly, I wasn’t able to retrace my footsteps back to the stall.

This was definitely my biggest regret when leaving Seoul.

#YOLO #TheSoreThroatIsWorthIt

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SHOPPING AT MYEONGDONG

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The Myeongdong district is full of shops and malls like Shinsegae, Hyundai and Lotte Department Stores, but I’ll just show you where I’ve been to during my trip!

#1 MYEONGDONG STREETS – CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES

It is a no-brainer to shop at Myeongdong streets when the night falls. Besides being known for their street food, there are quite some steals on the main belt like t-shirts, caps, baby clothing, sunglasses, glasses (I got mine for SGD15) etcetera.

Be sure to explore small alleys and underground subway shops that also sell trendy Korean clothing and shoes that are pretty comfy!

Tried and tested.

#2 A LAND, AMERICAN APPAREL – MEN & WOMEN CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES

Even though I’ve already been to the Garosu-gil outlet, I still had to visit the Myeongdong branch to see what they offered because almost every Korean walking past me was carrying their iconic paper bag!

I also spotted an American Apparel next door, but it was way out of budget where women’s tops start from SGD40.

Myeongdong’s A Land has 5 levels – one more than Garosu-gil’s and it has additional vintage, used clothing and stationery lines. Unlike the one at Garosu-gil, their 3.3 FIELD TRIP brand is located at the basement, but has a limited variety I feel.

And for the men, hurray! There is an “A Land M” dedicated just for you – just opposite of A Land, and it has 3 levels consisting of street, casual and formal wear.

Those who are interested in designer clothing and street fashion should check it out!

A Land
30, Myeongdong 6-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 중구 명동6길 30 (명동2가)
Opening Hours: 10.30am -10.30pm Daily

#3 LOTTE DEPARTMENT STORE

Composed of 14 stories (yes 14!), the Lotte Department Store at Myeongdong is the leading department store in Korea and the branch at Myeongdong is its main store; there are a total of 8 in the entire city of Seoul!

The department store boasts a variety of luxury brands, fashion apparel, jewellery, cosmetics, fashion accessories, household goods, duty free shopping, consumer electronics, and many more. Those still in their 20s would be interested in shopping at the Young Plaza (over 120 fashion brands catering), while the exclusive shopping mall Avenuel would be more suitable for taitais, as it contains high end brands like Mulberry, Moschino, YSL, Louis Vuitton and Chanel.

I went straight to the women clothing section and gosh, it was HUGE. I reckon one day here is not enough if you want full-fledged shopping. Then again, you might go bankrupt because the things here are not cheap at all.

#4 LOTTE DEPARTMENT BASEMENT

Lotte has a similar concept to Japan, where there is a food court and supermarket on the basement floor. As we all know, Koreans are famous for their ramyeon, sesame sauce, gojuchang, tidbits, Makgeolli etcetera and they can be found here!

I highly recommend going to Lotte’s supermarket to fulfil your long shopping list meant for your friends and family members. However, be prepared to squeeze with the rest of the world’s tourists because the alleys are narrow.

Korean condiments, spices, tidbits, international snacks

These are only one-third of their groceries

Cute melons (chamoe) unique to Korea! 

The leaves used for wrapping our BBQ-ed meat

Lotte’s basement is also a food haven for foodies, consisting of takeaway banchan dishes. I felt like I was at Takashimaya, but it was the Korean version! I was there at about 7.30pm (close to the closing time) and many stalls were selling at reduced prices.

I was drowned in excitement. It was just like my experience at Kyoto’s Takashimaya, where all the staff were shouting to sell their leftover dishes.

I reckon these would be awesome to bring it back to Singapore for those who love the authentic taste from Korea.

While browsing the food display, the raw oysters below caught my eye and an ajumma gave me a sample of it. I was scared I would get food poisoning, but thank goodness I didn’t!

It was quite fresh and seemed to have some soybean and gojuchang marinade.

There are also numerous bakeries and dessert stores here.

I came across BAKE, which has crazy lines in Singapore at the moment, and spied on how they bake their cheese tarts… The fillings are white and painted with egg wash. One tiny hint on how to replicate them heehee.

Oh those caramelised surfaces are to die for.

Lotte Town
81, Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 중구 을지로 30 (소공동)
General Operating Hours: 10.30am -8pm (varies from store to store)

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POST-TRAVEL THOUGHTS

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Myeongdong is one shopping hub that deserves a visit its Korean food and vibrant cosmetic culture. I would also recommend staying at least 2 nights at that area (I stayed at L7 Lotte Hotel near exit 8 of Myeongdong station) and I had about 1.5 days to roam about the district.

Besides, there are many perks for staying there because it was really convenient for visiting other districts and attractions nearby like Insadong, Ewha Women’s University, Dongdaemun, Nandaemun, Itaewon, Hongdae and Gyeongbokgung Palace!

You can also take an airport coach shuttle from Myeongdong (roughly 45 minutes), which made reduced a lot of hassle for travelling to the airport and you can buy some last minute cosmetics while you’re at it!

Happy travelling! 

LOVE, ANDREA,
THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

DON’T BE A STRANGER!
FOR MORE HONEST REVIEWS, FOLLOW MY MUNCHING
JOURNEY ON INSTAGRAM ❤

Shopping & Eating @ Garosu-gil, Seoul Itinerary: Honest Reviews of Sulbing, REMICONE, LINE FRIENDS Store & Cafe and lots more!

If you’d like to shop for Korean designer clothing labels, be part of the in-crowd, grab a chance to dress fashionably (without people staring at you), or even spot some Korean stars… Visiting Garosu-gil might be your best bet!

Since not many websites or blogs depict Garosugil with its shops, so I thought that a virtual picture tour of the place would be helpful; it is a heaven for shopaholics and foodies like me.

To ensure that you are able to shop and eat to the fullest, be sure to reserve one day to explore Seoul’s famous fashion street! I came back for another day because one day was not enough. Oops.

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DIRECTIONS TO GAROSU-GIL

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Located at Sinsa-dong – a district of Gangnam, getting to Garosu-gil was a breeze because it’s only one stop from Gangnam by the metro! Just take Exit 8 of Sinsa station and walk about 250m until you see the “It’s Skin”, a Korean makeup store and turn left.

The view after coming out of Exit 8 of Sinsa station.

Make a left turn after this store!

There it is.

Filled cafes and restaurants, and local boutiques like MCM, Wonderplace and H. Kim’s Boutique etcetera, it is not surprising that both tourists and Koreans like to dwell on this street from day to night – which happened for me.

The entire stretch of Garosu-gil is not that long actually – you’d be able to walk from one end to another within twenty minutes, but when you actually start slowing down to shop, time seems to fly like crazy! Along with your money.

This post will focus on the shops, restaurants and cafes that Garosu-gil offers, so continue reading on if you are travelling to Seoul!

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SHOPPING AT GAROSU-GIL 

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Here are a list of several shops that I spotted, where some of them that I actually went into.

#1 WONDERPLACE – CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES

Situated within the heart of the Garosu-gil, Wonderplace is a wonderland for hip and trendy casual wear where it carries both Korean and international labels like BOY LONDON, and has opened branches at touristy areas like Hongdae.

I heard that Korean stars would frequently shop at Wonderplace; you might bump into them while you’re there. Who knows?

#2 NEUF HOTEL – CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES, HOME DECOR

 

NEUF HOTEL not only houses men and women clothing, but also accessories and home decor within its 4-storey premise.

I was not able to gain access to the second level because it was closed in the morning.

The shop basically targets young adults and working women; their selection of smart-looking blouses, shirts, and trench coats made with lightweight chiffon and polyester materials are wonderful for the current summer season, and prices start from about SGD80.

A backyard sale was held while I was there too!

#3 9 OWLS – VINTAGE CLOTHING, SHOES, ACCESSORIES

Isn’t this just the most adorable shopfront?

Clad with my favourite shade of neon pink and matching lights,  9 OWLS was an unexpected discovery when I veered off the main shopping belt.

It seemed daunting to go down the stairs at first, but I’m glad I did!

It is essentially a vintage boutique store overflowing with fun styles from the 1970s and 80s! Twiggy would have approved of this.

I found myself walking through racks and racks of floral and polka dot patterned garments, thick denim jackets and your grandma’s mustard sweater or large floppy hat – anything to remind you of fashion back in the olden days.

9 OWLS also boasts an entire wall of branded bags like Chanel, MCM and Louis Vuitton bags that will make any girl go gaga – some of which are imitation though; I was thankful that the sales assistant was frank with me when I enquired about them.

#ExperiencedShopper

9 Owls would be the ultimate destination for girls who like retro, bold prints, and unique pieces that are uncommon on the street.

#4 SKINFOOD – MAKEUP, SKINCARE

Anyone at Garosu-gil would never fail to turn their heads and stare at this beautiful facade that SKINFOOD has created – together  with a cute vintage Volkswagen minivan that is perfect for photo shoots!

Oh, and don’t be surprised if you see models strutting out their stuff for the photographers at alleyways or cafes because it is a completely normal practice for them! The tree-lined fashion street is just too picture-perfect.

#5 SPAO – CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES, SHOES

If you are a fan of SM Entertainment celebrities, SPAO is the store for you. It is a prominent Korean casual wear brand ranging from women  and men’s wear to children and it is a brand popular amongst the youths.

That is because they frequently collaborate with celebrities; you can tell just by their gigantic posters and standees of the hottest stars.

SPAO has another branch at Myeongdong though, so don’t fret if you skip this one!

#6 A LAND – CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES, SHOES, HOME DECOR

The end of Garosu-gil lies the magical world of A LAND – a a multi-brand store that offers creative and special products created by up-and-coming designers. Each floor comprises of a variety of merchandise like shoes, hats, accessories and clothes, and prices of tops, for example, can start from SGD20 to really high.

How much you’d spend really depends on your budget. For a shopaholic like me who would spend more than I have, I would recommend going directly to level 3, where it features items from 3.3 Field Trip that are more affordable.

I have been a huge fan of A Land since its opening at Hong Kong. Nevertheless, I have concluded that it is better to shop at the branches in Hong Kong because I found some designs that I have not seen before at Garosu-gil!

I am not too sure why.

Nevertheless, for the male shoppers, Myeongdong has a three-storey store dedicated for you, so please visit that instead; their options are a lot wider than this particular branch!

#7 RANDOM BUS FLEA

You’ve seen flea markets in Singapore. But what about BUS fleas?

I was excited when I saw a bus parked at one corridor from A Land. It carries handmade jewellery, funky tropical printed apparels, t-shirts and sunglasses.

To be honest, it was the funky cat cushions and caps that attracted me!

#8 POP – CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES

Another Korean boutique that caters towards the girls, sorry boys.

There are many other boutiques that are just like that along Garosu-gil, so be ready to shop till you drop!

#9 GUESS

Besides Korean brands you can expect international brands like GUESS.

Something different from the normal GUESS stores would be the opportunity to be pose as a rock star!

#10 ZARA, ZARA HOME

ZARA – the global clothing franchise needs no introduction. But ZARA HOME, guys?

They sell anything that you can imagine in your house, and they look so pretty. Beware of overbuying though, because they can bust your baggage allowances!

I wish we had an outlet in Singapore. Sigh. Rental problems.

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EATING AT GAROSU-GIL 

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For the foodies, hubbies and boyfriends, this section is for you. You can choose to relax at a cafe with a cup of coffee while your lady takes off for shopping and ignores you for the day.

#1 COFFEE SMITH – A CUPPA FOR YA?

If you are walking from Sinsa station, it is hard not to notice Coffee Smith, which is a chain of cafes that is opened all over South Korea’s major landmarks. It is probably the most eye-catching cafe in Garosu-gil due to its high ceilings, chill vibes and spacious area.

I read that they serve pretty decent coffee.

There was an event going on while I was there for FRESH cosmetics that day, and I was given a free balloon!

Coffee Smith
536-20, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Tel: +82 2-3445-3372
Opening Hours:
9am – 1.30am (Mon to Thu, Sun) 
9am – 2.30am (Fri, Sat)

#2 REMICONE – TAKE A BREAK WITH THEIR ICONIC SOFT SERVES

Located in one corner of the opposite alley after ZARA is REMICONE, a must-go dessert shop for the Instagram photo that will receive numerous ‘likes’, no matter how expensive and non-delectable it is.

Pick a cup or cone, and you can customise your Milk, Salted Caramel, or Real Chocolate soft serve with honey caviar, mango, cotton thunder, hazelnut crumble, honey chip, popping sugar or fleur de sel (sea salt) toppings.

I had the classic THUNDERBOMB that costs 61 000 won. Taste-wise, let’s just say I’ve had better. Who cares, though?

It looked nice against any background while I was savouring it on the go.

It was so cute that everyone turned back to get a clearer glance at my portable fluffy cloud.

REMICONE
547-12 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
+82-2-6207-1029
Opening Hours:
11am – 10pm Daily

#3 LINE FRIENDS STORE & CAFE

Girls who use the LINE app, please scream.

Because LINE FRIENDS are at Garosugil and you can take photos with Brown, Cony, Sally and more!

Knowing that typical Asian girls are all about taking photos and selfies with anything and everything, there is a queue dedicated to fans of the #ForeverSad Brown Bear!

Shopping is a no-brainer at the store, but be careful what you pick because you might overspend on their pricey merchandise!

All that expenditure on the plush toys and balloons is to lure you into their shop…

Kids are also not exempted from the LINE FRIENDS merchandise, however, the designs and quality for a basic cotton shirt with a small picture of the characters are nothing fantastic for their price – in my opinion.

As for the foodies, you can straightaway head to the cafe located at the basement. Remember to stop by and say hello to Sally because she/it appears to be a tad lonely…

Behold… The LINE Cafe’s display window is so compelling that it was tough for anyone to choose which dessert or character to devour!

A variety of treats are being served at the cafe, including their iconic Macarons, Cream Roll Cake, Brown Mini Pancake, Matcha Cream Roll Cake, Chocolate Cupcake, Cake Puddings, Lemon Meringue Tart and so forth – with a touch of their signature gwiyeo characters.

JUST LOOK AT THEIR CONES AND CUPS!

The Brown Choco Mousse Cake [15 900 won] and Cookie [2500 won] looked too cute to break them apart, so I settled for something that is less brutal – Ice Cream served in a cup [3800 won]!

I liked how the designers have gone to the extra mile, as the cups are customised to the characters’ faces! This not commonly done at character-themed cafes.

I see triple Conys! Do you?

Although cafe has several tables for you to relish your LINE FRIENDS desserts, I chose to wander the streets with Cony. She not only looked good, but tasted good!

It was hands down one of the best soft serves I’ve had. It has a smooth and thick milky base that was prominent within each scoop. Moreover, the sprinkle of dehydrated strawberries tasted like the real thing due to the presence of their seeds! The only downside was the pink Cony butter biscuit that was rather bland.

But I guess consuming my own kind is bad enough…

Visiting my LINE friends was definitely a highlight of my Seoul trip, and it could be yours if you are a fan of the Korean messaging app and its characters!

LINE Friends Store & Cafe
535-15 Sinsa-dong,
Garosu-gil Street,
Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, South Korea.
Opening Hours: 12pm – 9pm Daily

#4 SULBING 설빙

If you haven’t already known, Bingsu is a widely popular dessert that has already made waves in Singapore – especially since the launch of numerous bingsu cafes like Oma Spoon, Nonsongyee and Nunsaram. However, you may not know that the real deal actually originated from Sulbing!

I was so excited to spot one branch within 50 metres from the start of Garosu-gil – unexpectedly, and wanted to see if our Singaporean cafes are on par with South Korea’s Sulbing.

Go up the stairs, and Sulbing has at least a hundred seats that can fit at least a few classes of students!

I heaved a sigh of relief when the menus contained languages that we are familiar with.

It was difficult to select what we wanted because we were hungry and everything looked delicious, but we made it in the end.

We had the Mango Cheese Snowflakes Sherbet [9500 won], Black Sesame Snowflakes Sherbet [8000 won] and Citron Injeolmi Toast [5000 won].

I would urge everyone to order the Black Sesame Snowflakes Sherbet [8000 won] and Citron Injeolmi Toast [5000 won] simply because the cheese cubes and mangoes tasted artificial and frozen – respectively.

The Citron Injeolmi Toast was toasted and I liked how each bite contained the soybean powder and gooey melted rice cake that is sandwiched in between the two layers of bread. The “Citron” flavour came from the yuzu sauce drizzled over, which may be a bit too overpowering.

A simple Injeolmi toast without additional toppings would do for a first-timer. I’d rather have this over an American grilled cheese sandwich… anytime, I thought to myself.

Red bean and black sesame lovers like me would take delight in their Black Sesame Snowflakes Sherbet [8000 won]. I found the red beans were fresh, and black sesame powder and soybean powder to be finely milled enough to mix with the snowflakes.

While this is so, my company found it to be too fine, but I loved it. Just remember not to breathe in or choke on them on your first bite!

To my surprise, there was more soybean powder embedded within the bingsu when you’re halfway through. How very thoughtful!

Overall, in comparison to Singapore’s Oma Spoon, Sulbing’s snowflakes seem to be made out of plain ice, whereas Oma Spoon has a milky flavour and condensed milk was provided on the side.

I personally preferred Sulbing’s rendition because it was not overly taxing on your digestive system.

Their Black Sesame Bingsu has developed a special place in my heart and I’d definitely get this again.

Sulbing 설빙
Address: 2F, 45, Gangnam-daero 152-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강남구 강남대로 152번길 45, 2층)
 02-540-3268
Opening Hours: 11am – 10.30pm

#5 O’SULLOC TEA HOUSE

Located next to ZARA, O’Sulloc Tea House is a chain of tea house that all matcha and tea lovers must not miss while you are at Seoul because they specialise in all things matcha and hojicha like rolls, cakes, scones and bingsu!

I visited the branch at Myeongdong and had a few drinks and desserts; I personally recommend their Green Tea Cheesecake and Iced drinks.

A word of caution: please do not order their Hot Matcha Latte because it was the worst I’ve had, and some of my friends on their separate trips have agreed on this with me.

O’Sulloc Tea House
532-10 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Opening Hours: 11am to 10pm Daily

#6 CAFE DE PARIS

People come to Cafe De Paris for just one thing, which is their Insta-famous Strawberry Bon Bon and striking modern European-style atmosphere.

They also serve breads, cakes and drinks if you would like to have some taitai-ish teatime with your girlfriends, and escape from the bustle of Garosugil.

Picture credits: Harper’s Bazzar Hong Kong

Cafe de Paris
551-2 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Tel: +822 5148282
Opening Hours: 10am – 11pm Daily

#7 MUG FOR RABBIT 

Similar to Coffee Smith and Cafe de Paris, Mug For Rabbit is yet another multi-storey Parisian themed cafe and it seems like a cosy space to sip some coffee while people-watching – note that the chairs are directed towards the pavements.

Mug For Rabbit
Gangnam-gu, Sinsa-dong 534-25 (서울 강남구 신사동 534-25)
+82 02-548-7488
Directions: Off the Sinsa stop (신사) on Line 3, Exit 8. Go straight, until you reach the main street. Take a left. When you see Nonhyeon-ro 153-gil (논련로 153길), take a right. Mug for Rabbit will be on the right of the first intersection.

#8 SCHOOL FOOD

If you are hungry and want a serious Korean meal without any cafe nosh before shopping at Garosugil, come to School Food for their Gimbap, Dokbokki Cabonara and Naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles).

It is situated about just 10 metres from the start of the street, just before Wonderplace.

I first knew about School Food when I was in Hong Kong – it is one of the top restaurants at Causeway Bay, and I had no idea that it is actually from Korea, which is worth a try.

School Food

538 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

+82-2-510-5005

Opening Hours: 11am – 9.30pm Daily

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POST-TRAVEL THOUGHTS

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I hope you enjoyed this rather lengthy shopping and eating post and felt like you were at Garosu-gil with me! There are many more shops and I felt like I only covered one-quarter of them because I was busy shopping and eating myself.

I can’t emphasise how this shopping street is a must-visit for all girls  because it is not as touristy as Nandaemun and Dongdaemun, and does not sell similar things that you see repeated over again. It’s like Haji Lane of Singapore, but ten times bigger and fancier!

I was 7-years-old since I last stepped into Seoul – before the K-wave started and I had quite a bad impression of it due to the cold winter, spicy food (I haven’t learnt how to eat them) and falling down from skiing a thousand times was not fun. However, my visit to Garosugil is easily one of the most memorable times gained from my trip, and me visiting this over Myeongdong any day says something about it.

P.S. The reason for the food section: I thought that writing reviews on each cafe that I visited would be rather redundant – especially when quite a number of reputable food bloggers have done that. Let me know if this full-day itinerary is better!

Happy travelling…
ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

DON’T BE A STRANGER!
STAY CONNECTED WITH MY MUNCHING JOURNEY ON INSTAGRAM ❤

 

Asanoya Bakery @ 15 Queen Street Review: Best Matcha Breads & Most Innovative Salted Egg Croissant to Date!

THE #CROISSANT WAR CONTINUES.

With more bakeries like BreadTalk, Antoinette and Da Paolo pulling up their socks to stay relevant in the Salted Egg Croissant food fad by launching their own variations and other interesting ones like Matcha, Chili Crab, Charcoal Kaya  Croissants and counting, we foodies are in for a treat!

The question now is… Are you on TEAM MATCHA OR TEAM SALTED EGG?

If you asked me, I would reply:

I’M ON THE FENCE BECAUSE I LOVE BOTH

Amongst all the flavours, I’m most inclined towards Asanoya’s MATCHA SALTED EGG CROISSANT, which had raided Instagram for a few months now. I was a bit unsure at first – especially when they don’t seem to be the best flavour combination. However, I am pretty surprised by the rather favourable reviews so I have been DYING to try it. I’ve already had THE ORIGINAL  Salted Egg Croissant from Urban Bakery, Hong Kong last year  – so  breads filled with Salted Egg are a passé for me now. I guess they are not so hipster anymore, sorry!

For those who are not familiar of Asanoya, let me give you some background. It is an 83-year-old bakery that originally catered to foreign embassies and diplomats of various countries. It then became so popular that the aristocrats would frequent the store.

Asanoya is  also the first bakery in Japan to install a Spanish-made stone oven, and to cope with the rising demand for European hard breads, the chefs have successfully mastered the skills and meshed Japanese and Western breads to create novel flavours that no one would dare to dream of and Matcha Salted Egg Croissant would be an exemplification of that.

For Singapore’s clientele, Asanoya has been consistently wonderful on review websites, and  all my attempts to visit have failed on the weekends because few of my friends either dislikes matcha or croissant (how can such people exist?!) and Asanoya is so out of the way.

Thankfully, I have a friend who likes Matcha (but not Salted Egg), but she is adventurous enough to tag along on a weekday afternoon, which I reckon would not be so crowded.

The exterior of Asanoya is quite plain and any passers-by would assume that it is just an office space!

Unlike the usual purchasing procedure of bakeries in Singapore, you have to order the breads and beverages from the staff over the counter at Asanoya, and they will pass them to you on a tray. Water and serviettes are self-service, where they are located on two counters at the middle of the bakery.

Not only does Asanoya offer pastries and bread, but also takeaway lunch pack, Swiss rolls and cakes – but you’d be dumb to fill yourself up on those though!

We transformed into kids when we were peering at the bread display… All of them looked so enticing! They were oven-baked till golden brown, and the smell of bread = HEAVEN.

I called up an hour before arriving to check if there were any Matcha Salted Egg Croissants left (because they had limited stocks daily), and they said they had four. We were quite surprised because it was only 2.30pm and most of them were sold out!

However, when I was there, it seemed like they have restocked them.

Yay to freshly baked bread!

I was quite tempted to get their Matcha Cube after spotting it on Instagram. I showed it to my friend before we arrived, but she didn’t seem interested.

However, when we realised that it was the last piece left in the bakery, my friend said, “let’s get it” without revealing any signs of hesitation. We also grabbed two more breads each for our family members, since they looked so good, and we weren’t sure when we would ever return!

A wide selection of drinks and sandwiches can also be found at Asanoya. I’m quite surprised with the beer section. Beer and bread do not seem like a good pair at all!

Time for the long-waited Taste Test!

First, we had the Matcha Salted Egg Croissant [$4.80].

Taste: 4/5

When the croissant was sliced open, the Matcha Salted Egg filling did not flow out really fast like what we expected it to. Not sure if the bread was not warm enough to melt the fillings – even though the lady had already heated it up for us.

Besides that, the filling had a thick and grainy consistency, which indicated how it is truly made from  LEGIT Salted Egg. On first bite, all we could taste was the Salted Egg, and we were wondering where the Matcha went to! Thankfully, it became more obvious as we continued eating, and Matcha and Salted Egg Yolk strangely complement each other really well! Asanoya has definitely managed to achieve a perfect balance between the saltiness from the Salted egg, and mild bitterness from the Matcha.

I was also pleased about the generous amount of fillings that we were able to dip the ends of the croissant with. I’ve read that Antoinette is stingy with theirs.

Just one downside would the croissant.

As you can see from the picture above, the quality of the croissant is not very good. It is more towards the doughy side – neither crispy nor flaky. A tad disappointing for me, as I have had better croissants elsewhere at Lola’s Cafe and Rise & Grind Co. (upcoming).

The pastry that we had high hopes on – Matcha Cube [$4.50] was filled with rich white chocolate & green tea cream. They currently sell this in Salted Egg, which is also really popular as well.

Taste: 3/5

While it is extremely “hot” under the #sgfoodporn department, looks can be deceptive.

Pictures on Instagram made it look as if the white chocolate filling was oozing out by itself, but it did not happen in real life! We were actually struggling to let it flow out while prying the cube open. #KenaCheated

And when I asked my friend who tried it first whether she could taste the White Chocolate, she replied, “no, it tastes more like custard”.

True to her words, I could barely taste any chocolate in there! The edges of the cube were not crispy as well; we expected it to possess a crust akin to a Shibuya toast.

Overall, everything about the cube was bad, except for the rather obvious hint of matcha flavour.

Since I hardly come to Asanoya, I decided to takeaway two more breads for my mother and grandma, and one of them is their Danish Coffee [$3.20] – just because my mother is a die-hard coffeeholic.

Taste: 4/5 

I was happy to say that it is very flaky, crispy and the coffee taste is strong! I also daresay that the pastry is even better than their Matcha Salted Egg Croissant *gasps*.

Pardon my shaky  photography, but this was eaten in the car while my mum was hungry on the expressway. I just wanted to illustrate how the interior layers had a thick notable spread of coffee fillings, which contributed to its pronounced flavour.

My mum was a bit taken aback by the icing on top though, which can be daunting for those who do not have a  sweet-tooth.

One more word of caution: do order a drink to accompany this, as I got choked by the dry and flaky bits of the danish that peeled off.

Not a good feeling against the throat.

For girly girls like me, I’m sure you won’t be able to look past their Bonjour Sakura [$2.80] – simply because IT’S PINK!!! I’ve never had pink bread in my life!

Taste: 2/5 

It was described as a fluffy sour cream-sakura dough filled with Hokkaido red bean paste and bits of Sakura leaves. It sounds like the chefs have generated a more atas or higher-class version of an Anpan.

When  I tore it into half, there was large piece of Sakura leaf embedded within, which I’m not sure that it was meant to be eaten – but I did. It reminded me of the Pandan leaf from Ang Ku Kueh, which has a bitter aftertaste; it was bearable when ingested together with the sweet red bean paste.

While the amount of fillings were just nice, the sweetness of the smooth red bean paste further became extremely prominent once the Sakura leaf was gone; I’ve never tasted such red bean fillings before and suspect that they have added too much sugar. I felt like I would get diabetes from the paste alone – that’s how sweet it was!

I also wished that the red bean paste contained whole red Azuki beans, which would add more texture to the bread. I was extremely disappointed with this one.

Another bread that looked super delicious is their Karuizawa Green Tea Loaf. We sampled it (last piece left) and it had a heavy taste of Matcha.

My friend was amazed and even goes on to say how other bakeries would sell green-coloured bread, but taste nothing like Matcha. For me, I don’t usually buy Matcha-flavoured bread, but this was not only good, but AWESOME. I can imagine smearing some Black sesame spread, or pair it with Chrysanthemum or Yuzu tea. Yummy!

I can foresee coming to Asanoya for more Matcha-flavoured breads and Matcha Salted Egg Croissants!

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BUNNY’S VERDICT:

YES I’LL COME BACK BECAUSE I AM #TEAM MATCHA & #TEAMASANOYA!

HOW ABOUT YOU? WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?

#TEAMMATCHA OR #TEAMSALTED EGG? 

Which bakery do you think has the best version of the Salted Egg Croissant?

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Anything with Matcha, Coffee Danish

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RATING

Overall Taste:  3.2/5  A couple of hit and misses, but we were definitely impressed by the matcha-flavoured bread and Asanoya’s attempt to fuse Japanese Matcha with the local food fad.

If you are on #TEAMMATCHA, you would definitely appreciate this place a lot! However, for French pastries like the croissant, it was too chewy and was not the best I’ve had. The bakery can make more improvements in perfecting their croissants and fillings for their Matcha Cube and Bonjour Sakura.

#TEAMSALTEDEGG, don’t worry as will not be left out with their Salted Egg Cube and Salted Egg Croissant! The latter is also the cheapest amongst the other competing bakeries; it is going for $6.50++ (dine in)/$6.50+ (takeaway) at Antoinette and $7.50 at Flavour Flings.

There is no GST or Service Charge for this cafe, which is a plus against other bakeries and cafes.

Ambience: 3.5/5 Very minimalistic and sanitised; not the best for food photography. I felt like I was in the bread factory, and everyone had to be screened before entering. Space was huge and plenty of tables for large groups of people. It is best to visit during weekdays during their non-peak hours to grab those popular breads.

Service: 3/5 I was glad that they were lenient enough to reserve the Matcha Salted Egg Croissant prior to my visit even though one of the staff said they were not allowed to.  You can try your luck!

I didn’t really like the system of not being able to take the bread ourselves like a normal bakery would do as the staff was not very attentive at times; some were chatting amongst themselves even though we were ready to order. Although the level of cleanliness is quite high, some tables had cup and water traces left by previous customers that we had to wipe ourselves.

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Asanoya Bakery
Address: 15 Queen Street #01-03
Singapore 188537
Phone:6703 8703
Opening Hours:
9am – 8pm Daily
www.asanoya.asia/

Directions: 

• Alight at Bras Basah (Circle Line) or Bugis (DT, EW Line) station. It will be a 5-minute walk from the former (250 steps), and 10-minute for the latter.

Hopping out…
ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

DON’T BE A STRANGER!
STAY CONNECTED WITH MY MUNCHING JOURNEY ON INSTAGRAM ❤

 

Dessert Project Review @ 22 Havelock Road: *Almost* the Exact Replica of After You Dessert Cafe, Bangkok

Behold… Those who have tried After You Dessert Cafe in Bangkok will understand the withdrawal symptoms that you suffer when you’re back in Singapore – because I do. I crave for these babies once every few months, and it’s killing me!

They are so delicious that I went twice in three days during my trip to Bangkok last year just for their thick toast. One was for my post-dinner dessert, and another being my breakfast! Even though I was so stuffed from the delicious Thai food, I managed to wipe the plates up spanking clean!

Ferrero Rocher Toast, After You Bangkok

Sticky Toffee Toast, After You Bangkok

Just glancing at the pictures that I took is making enough to make me drool!

To better understand why it is so popular amongst Singaporeans and the cafe scene now, you just gotta try and see it for yourself.

My personal criteria for a good Shibuya or Thick Toast that I always look for are as follows:

1. Toast served thick, hot and crispy on the outside
2. Accompanied by not just one, but two scoops of cold, fresh (non-melting) ice cream to generate a temperature contrast AND ensure that there’s enough to melt and soak through the hot bread. This is highly crucial for maximum enjoyment of the toast.
3. Insides of the toast must be fluffy, while having a thin wall that is easy to cut through
4. Able to taste the eggy, buttery flavour that’s not too overpowering
5. Adequate toppings and other ingredients for added sauces like chocolate sauce, maple syrup, fruit compotes, caramel etcetera.

Guess what?

After You has hit ALL THE RIGHT SPOTS.

#TakeMeBackToBangkok

While we do not have an After You branch in Singapore, cafes serving similar renditions have sprouted, including Assembly Coffee, Dazzling Cafe, Tuk Tuk Cha and Stateland Cafe – but have they got the recipe right?

I’ve tried almost half of  lists of “Best Shibuya Toast in Singapore” written by famous food bloggers, and so far, none have reached the level of Dessert Project!

The exterior of Dessert Project is fairly simple, with black window grills that makes it look like a greenhouse. There is only one menu, which is at the counter, and two tables were occupied on a weekday mid-afternoon.

Like After You, Dessert Project offers a range of Thick Toasts for you to opt from, such as Classic Maple [$13.90], Nutella [$14.90], Sticky Toffee [$14.90], Matcha [$14.90], Gula Melaka Coconut [$14.90] and Pina Colada [$14.90].

It is interesting that they offer Maple, instead of Honey toast, and their Sticky Toffee definitely is not the same as After You’s – since it has Coffee ice cream on it.

It’d be a pity to leave the cafe without ordering any of their homemade ice creams! Their renowned Truffle flavour exactly tasted like truffle with a smooth and creamy consistency, but I certainly do not want it to be on my toast. Not sure how much Truffle Oil is added inside, hmm…

To generate a fair comparison between Bangkok’s After You and Dessert Project, I opted for their Nutella Toast [$14.90], but I wanted to replace the vanilla ice cream with Thai Earl Grey that was packed full with Earl Grey goodness.

However, the owner said that we could not replace the ice creams on their thick toast with fancy ones that you see on display. *inserts crying face* So if you want to have a try of their ice creams at the counter, you have to add $4-4.50 – which was I did in the end.

Is this a way to earn more revenue from their ice creams? You be the judge.

Nutella Toast [$14.90] with Ferrero Rocher and Vanilla Ice Cream + Thai Earl Grey Premium Scoop [$4.50].

“Can we dig in now?”

Taste: 4.5/5

The toast itself was aesthetically pleasing that I couldn’t bear to eat it! It was totally worth the 20-minute wait that we had.

The texture of the toast was exactly what I was looking for… Hot, toasty and the cold drizzle of chocolate sauce sealed the whole package together. All my criteria were checked.

What was lacking is the Ferrero Rocher on top that After You has!

I came down on another occasion to try their other popular thick toast, the Gula Melaka Toast [$14.90] with Coconut Ice Cream, Grated Coconut Flakes & Gula Melaka Syrup.

Taste: 3/5

On first bite, I felt it was rather bland.  This could be due to both scoops having a subtle Coconut flavour and Gula Melaka syrup being kind of water. I sensed no flavour burst like what the Nutella Toast had. What a letdown!

Moreover, the edges of the toast this time round were quite thick and tough this time round. I had trouble slicing through the toast… Not sure if it was day old bread, but their quality has gone down. I don’t recommend anyone to order this, unless you are craving for a thick toast and thinking of something less decadent.

But why would you do that?!

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BUNNY’S VERDICT: 

YES, it has become my go-to Thick Toast place.

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Nutella Toast 

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RATING

Overall Taste:  3.5/5  The Gula Melaka Toast did not live up to my expectation so it pulled down the rating of the overall taste and its price is not justified for the toppings and ice cream that came with it.

The Nutella Toast will be the one that I will continue to come back for; it is crispy and had had ample butter within the toast. I just wished that they allowed us to choose the flavours of the ice cream on it! The extra scoop of their premium flavour is pretty pricey as well at $4.50. But what to do? This shall suffice till my next Bangkok trip!

Ambience: 3.5/5 Very minimalistic, simple and nothing much to look at. It is Instagram-friendly though, with small potted plants at the long bar seats that you could use to take your food photos with, which I did it on both visits.

Service: 4/5 All smiles during our time at the cafe, and although the toasts took about 20 to 25 minutes to prepare so be prepared to wait!

Dessert Project
Address: 22 Havelock Rd, Singapore 160022
#01-673
Phone: 8113 5385
Opening Hours: 
12 – 9.30pm (Mon – Thurs, Sun)
12 – 11pm (Fri, Sat)

Directions: 

• Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru. It’ll be a 10-15 minute walk from the MRT, but there is a shortcut if you walk by Bukit Ho Swee Link and Jln Bukit Ho Swee, and behind the Havelock Food Centre that has a staircase down to the block that the cafe is located at.
• Parking is available at Havelock Food Centre or the nearby HDB Estate Multi-storey Carpark.

Hopping out…
ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

DON’T BE A STRANGER!
FOR MORE HONEST REVIEWS, FOLLOW MY MUNCHING JOURNEY ON INSTAGRAM ❤