Brawn & Brains @ 100 Guillemard Road: Hearty & Affordable Brunch At Geylang

Amongst the cluster of our beloved durian, dimsum and frog leg porridge stalls at Geylang that Singaporeans frequent, a hipster cafe has chosen to open here – out of all places.

Introducing… Brawns & Brains, a cafe you wouldn’t even know it existed without taking second look while the rather worn-out Insight Gym, also known as the former Singapore Badminton Hall .

I can’t believe I missed it and circled around the compound for 15 minutes!

Other patrons didn’t think it was inaccessible though; the space was packed to the brim on a Saturday afternoon that I had to wait for another 20 minutes.

They were slowly enjoying their brunch and having small talk with their company. My friend and I are famished by the time we had seats!

On a side note, everything is self-service here.

You have to eye and wait for the specific seat (like at the food court) and order from the counter.

All offerings are listed on a large chalkboard at the entrance and there’s a selection of pastries at the counter.

Within 15 minutes, brunch is served.

We shared both of these dishes.

I savoured the Oven Baked Molten Eggs with Avocado and Melted Cheese [$12.90] first, and it was one Insta-worthy dish cos of all dat melted cheese!

Taste: 4.5/5

Almost perfection.

I was worried how baked eggs would taste without a piece of toast underneath to soak up the yolky goodness. Thankfully, I’m glad that there was a crispy tortilla hidden underneath, which kinda  BLEW MY MIND.

Paired with the runny egg and fresh baby spinach, each bite with the semi soggy-crispy tortilla was delightful!

One little thing I’d be dissatisfied would be the lack of black pepper and a lemon wedge that would help offset the saltiness from the cheese.

The lemon would also be awesome with the avocado (how Aussie am I?). Essentially, this dish is something that I could have for breakfast everyday!

The next dish that seemed interesting was the Open Face Toast with Slow cooked egg and Smoked Salmon [$14.90].

Taste: 3.75/5

Unlike the previous dish, it had only one egg.

Luckily it was compensated by the refreshing salad that contained thin slices of apple, which I quite liked! My friend, on the other hand, didn’t like the idea of being overloaded by veggies.

For the toast, we agreed that it was mediocre as the bread wasn’t very fresh and smoked salmon tasted fishy. Lola’s Cafe’s  Eggs Benny and Mushroom Toast is TONNES better than this for the same price.

Thank goodness we didn’t add on more smoked salmon for our Oven Baked Molten Eggs!

Furthermore, since Earl Grey Croissant that my friend and I wanted was sold out, we settled for a Cinnamon Bun because Cinnamon makes the world go round, right?

Also read that the coffee here is good so I took a shot at it.

Iced Latte (Single Origin)

Taste: 3/5

I didn’t have a good impression of Single Origin when I had it for the first time in Australia. This is my second time, and I can say that it is STILL not my favourite coffee.

While it was smooth, espresso and acidity were very mild. Disappointing. Maybe I should have ordered their house blend.

Similarly, their Cinnamon Bun was underwhelming.

Taste: 2/5

Like how it looks, the bun is dry inside out. It was not fluffy or moist.

The only saving grace was the cinnamon that was stark in our palate. Wish the cafe could serve fresh bake goods throughout the day so the taste will not be compromised.

Although accessing here without a car is difficult, I can tell why it’s so popular amongst Singaporeans.

No one can give up on the idea of having brunch in such a chill hipster cafe with pops of bright yellow, and sunlight peering from the floor-to-ceiling window.

It is a motivating reward to have brunch here after a vigorous workout at the gym.

For me, their Oven Baked Molten Eggs is one reason to get up in the morning and head straight to Geylang.

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BUNNY’S VERDICT: 

NOT SURE IF I’LL RETURN.

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Oven Baked Molten Eggs

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RATING

Overall Taste: 3.4/5 Only one dish was up to our expectations. Felt like the chefs should work on improving the rest to ensure that all are equal standards in terms of taste and presentation. I do like the fact that most dishes are less than $15.

Ambience: 3.5/5  Although the decor is pretty like most of the cafes in Singapore, the seats had no backing and we did not really had much privacy since the tables are communal. We need a more compelling reason to lure us back.

Service: 1/5 Very difficult to get a seat because it’s “free seating” – pretty much like a hawker centre or food court, where you have to wait for one. There is also no tap water – first time encountering a cafe that doesn’t have free flow of H20. Quite ridiculous!

Brawn & Brains
Address: 100 Guillemard Road, #01-02 Singapore 399718
Tel: 6348 0501
Opening Hours:
9am – 7pm (Tues to Fri)
9.30am – 7pm (Sat, Sun, Public Holidays)
Closed on Mondays.
www.brawnandbrains.sg
Facebook

Directions: 

• Nearest MRT: 10 minute walk from Mountbatten MRT station
• Best to drive here. Carpark is available at the gym that the cafe is located at

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 ❤

The Laneway Market @ 266 Tanjong Katong Road Review: All About The Vibes

The Laneway Market has been on my cafehopping list for over a year now. I mean, the name itself already sounds so hippie. Iconic for its suspending bouquets of flowers and rustic embellishements, it has been featured on quite a few programmes on MediaCorp and YouTube series, and their food is oh-so-hard to ignore on Instagram.

You’ll find out why soon.

I have considered coming here on so many occasions, but my plans usually fall apart because the cafe is too out of reach from where I live in the North! The MRT station is also not located anywhere nearby. When I was notified that my brother was going to be overseas for a few days, I grabbed the chance and borrowed his car without any hesitation!

The Laneway Market is situated amongst many well-known eateries like Domino’s, With A Pinch Of Salt, Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh, Eng’s Noodle House, and Kay Lee Roast Meat Joint.

When we first arrived at about 1pm,  every table was occupied – except the bar and communal ones. I told the waitress that I have reserved a table the day before; she didn’t bother checking and immediately asked a customer in green, who was left with a drink, to shift the communal table instead.

I felt so bad! Nevertheless, I was impressed by how she handled it so professionally.

Browsing the menu was redundant for me, as I knew the two dishes that I wanted to try! I noticed that most of their dishes are actually not very friendly for vegetarians; sausage and ham seem to be the VIP staples in the menu, where they make quite an appearance in almost every dish.

Did I mention that it’d be bad for the waistline? Oops.

Dining at the Laneway Market would be incomplete if we did not order a cuppa! Out of all the coffees offered, I was interested in their Earl Grey Latte [$6].

I was really excited to try it.

Indeed, the coffee is infused with a light Earl Grey note and was not acidic at all. However, I felt that it was inclined towards the milkier side. Just wished that it would have a heavier ratio of coffee to tea.

Taste: 3/5

Our brunch dishes came one after within 20 minutes. Voila!

The Laneway Market’s Dashi Risotto [$20] with Hon Dashi, Field Mushrooms, Onsen Egg and Crispy Mushrooms is forever on their Instagram feed, as quite a number of influencers have raved about it. I was keen on trying it because I didn’t mind Dashi, onsen egg, and I like my carbs to be wet and soggy – which means that risotto should be fine?

When the dish came, however, it did not look like the ones I’ve seen on Instagram; I asked their waiter about it – with a reference of the Instagram picture. He checked the issue with the chef and later told me that dish is in transition of changing its presentation style.

Needless to say, I was a tad disappointed because previous version had bonito flakes in it. The other waitress then came and said she can help me add some. Now, that’s some good service!

Taste: 3.5/5

My company, who had a bad impression of risotto, actually liked the dish!

For me, I wanted it to be wetter, with a soggier texture. It tasted like hard rice to me. Since our responses were different, I think that opinions of this dish would be subjective based on your personal preferences of how you like your risotto to be – wet or dry.

It definitely turned out better when the sous vide egg was cut open and we could combine all the yolky goodness with the risotto.

A splash of Dashi sauce for this dish would be great addition too, I feel.

After the letdown, the second dish we had – Stacked French Toast [$15], which came with Bacon strips, Caramelised bananas, Granola, Banana toffee sauce and Blueberry Marmalade, fortunately cheered me up again!

Taste: 4/5

Everyone by now should know that I’m a HUGE sucker for French Toasts, and this is the dish that first lured me here after spotting it on Instagram. Despite the portion size looking rather small, I was already bloated by the time I was halfway through the dish!

The banana was almost perfectly caramelised – where the charred sides were quite obvious. Nevertheless, the rest of the ingredients scored well; bread is fluffy and tastes even better when soaked in the toffee sauce that’s not too sweet.

Granola bits are abundant and they even had corn flakes in it! MAJOR LOVE. Hands up to my other corn flake homies out there?

The dish still tasted great after being left out for my photo-taking session, but I reckon it would be absolutely divine when eaten hot. Both of us liked this dish better.

The rest of our afternoon was spent at the cafe watching the Siglap Secondary School students’ having a photography field trip! So envious of them. We did not have thuch programmes back then.

I was interviewed by four students, which turned out to be an amusing experience. They asked me questions about the food here and whether I would be back. “This is exactly your forte”, my company commented.

True that. So here’s what I told them:

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BUNNY’S VERDICT: 

YES, I WOULD HOP BACK FOR THEIR BRUNCH!

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Stacked French Toast

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RATING

Overall Taste:  3.75/5 I would definitely return whenever I am craving for a French Toast and have a car. Prices of the dishes are also predominantly wallet-friendly i.e. below $20. All prices are NETT with no GST or Service Charge! Very comparable to Lola’s Cafe.

While the space is small, it is a rustic and and cosy cafe that would be wonderful for a girly meeting here. However, I would advise visitors to reserve a table a day or two before coming here. Walk-in customers would be directed to communal tables if you don’t mind them.

Ambience: 4/5 The cafe seems to be popular amongst young girls and foreigners, which could be due to the attractive design of the cafe. We were seated next to a Caucasian couple and a group of male ABCs who spoke with an accent. I guess they could be living nearby? Regardless, cafe is suitable for small groups of 2 to 4 people. Any larger than that would be a squeeze.

Service: 4.5/5 I have to give credit to their service, as the waiters regularly topped up our water and were pretty smooth on dealing with issues that propped up during our experience. Another problem, in particular, arose when I had a discount code for a minimum spend of $40 and forgot to use it while we were footing the bill. They kindly refunded me the extra money that I paid for! I was really touched by this action and would like to give a shout-out to them.

Thank you so much for being so flexible and making my first TLM experience a positive one! 🙂

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The Laneway Market
Address: 266 Tanjong Katong Rd, Singapore 437053
Phone: 6719 8832
Opening Hours:
10am -9.30pm (Wed-Sun)
Closed on Mon and Tues
http://thelanewaymarket.com/

Directions: 

• It would be best to drive here and park along the stretch of shophouses; it is actually free in the early afternoon! Wasted a coupon because I wasn’t aware of it.
• Nearest MRT would be Dakota MRT station. Take Bus 31 towards Tampines Interchange. Take 3 stops and drop off at “Katong PO”. Walk 2 minutes to the cafe along Tanjong Katong Road.

 

Hopping out…
ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

Boufe Boutique Cafe @ 308 Tanglin Road Review: Service More Impeccable Than Instagrammable Food

Iconic for its white-washed walls, old-school swing and brunch dishes like their French Toast and Strawberry Shortcake – which looks exactly like the emoticon, I’m sure anyone who has scrolled through Instagram on trending Singaporean cafes would have come across Boufe Boutique Cafe.

Boufe has long been on my list of “to-go” cafes in Singapore since its opening in January 2015, but the location can be a little far off to where I usually hang out at – Orchard; there are only two buses that pass by Tanglin Road. Nevertheless, the perfect opportunity arose when they have recently launched their new menu two weeks ago, and my best friend had her whole afternoon free on a weekday.

We therefore embarked on our cafe-searching adventure!

As usual, I brought my trusty umbrella and water bottle in a bid to battle the hot sweltering heat! After half an hour of transport and navigation from Somerset MRT station, we managed to reach the cafe just before 2pm (specific directions to the cafe will be posted below).

I’ve always thought that Boufe is an independent colonial house – seen from pictures online, but it is actually linked to another building of offices at Phoenix Park, where Spruce is situated as well. The exterior of the cafe is very inviting for photo-taking due to its dark wooden decks and minimalistic black and white design.

We had to give taking #ootds on their swing a miss because it was too hot, and our poor stomachs were growling! #anotherreasontocomebackagain

When we opened the door, the waitress immediately asked us where we would like to be seated. I promptly replied: by the window!

I had three dishes in mind: Brioche French Toast [$19] (because I’ve been the ultimate French Toast and Brioche lover since forever), Salted Egg Yolk Crayfish [$18], or Scotch Egg Guacamole [$19].

Since my company wanted the Salted Egg Yolk Crayfish, I decided on Scotch Egg Guacamole for a double #Eggporn brunch!

When this dish was rolled out in the menu, it gained quite a significant popularity on Instagram – obviously riding on the salted egg yolk craze in Singapore’s foodie scene.

Salted Egg Yolk Crayfish [$18] with duck yolk sauce, in-house baked buckwheat bun, sautéed mushrooms  & cherry tomatoes.

Taste: 3.75/5

My company adores salted egg yolks and mushrooms, so it was a no-brainer for her. She squealed in delight while having the mushrooms. They were tasty and juicy. When asked how she is going to “attack” the crayfish, she wasn’t sure.

Later, something magical ensued…

She was able to pick the shells right off the pieces of crayfish! This was really a thoughtful gesture from the chefs and marked a positive start to our meal.

Other great indicators were the fluffiness of the buckwheat bun and salted egg yolk sauce that was drizzled evenly on it. We joked that I was taking “food pornography” as the crayfish was literally lying naked on the soft bed of bun!

I had a portion of her dish, and we unanimously agreed that the crayfish was overcooked. It was simply tough and required some effort to break it apart in our mouths. Nevertheless, I was smitten with the sauce and crispy edges of the freshly-baked buckwheat bun.

I’m sure my company did too; I couldn’t help but notice that she had brushed almost the entire bun up!

She rated this dish either a 3.5 or 4, so I chose the in-between for her. It would have been a 4 if it weren’t for the overcooked crayfish.

Scotch Egg Guacamole [$19] with homemade guacamole spread, fresh greens, crème fraîche, pan-seared vine tomatoes or edible flower. Having a choice of sesame rye bread, walnut rye bread or sourdough, I settled on Sesame Rye Bread as I found it novel.

Oooh… When the dish came, my heart skipped a beat. The success of the flowy scotch egg is impressive! I had a friend who tried making half-boiled scotch eggs during Christmas, and not all of them had runny yolks.

Moreover, my company who has eaten quite a few noted that Boufe’s version has an outer crust that is not as dry as others.

I liked the sausage meat; it was moist with just the right amount of saltiness. The greens and roasted vine tomatoes also came with generous servings, and their seasonings were on point.

On the contrary, I was disappointed by the Sesame Rye, as I thought that the sesame would be within the bread and not on the surface of the loaf. In addition, it was difficult to cut through the crust and both of us left the edges untouched in the end. This is a common problem for artisanal breads. Perhaps it needs more time in the oven?

I was looking forward to having the Guacamole, but it fell short of my expectations. I’ve made my own before, and am used to quite strong lemon, garlic and pepper flavours. Theirs was tasteless and felt more like an avocado spread. The crème fraîche  also proved to be redundant, especially when the scotch egg already encases a burst of flavours. Despite this, I rate it higher than the Salted Egg Yolk Crayfish due to its presentation, fresh greens and technicalities behind on creating the perfect scotch egg.

After eating, I had a mini tour around the cafe:

Their cakes look really enticing. I did not lie about their Strawberry Shortcake loking like the emoticon, right?

I had no idea that it has Liqueur Syrup in it. This makes me want to try it next time!

Another part of Boufe that is impressive is their in-house bakery; self-produced bread means they are fresh out of the oven!

The final section is the reason why they chose “Boufe” to be their cafe name – the boutique! Because Boutique + Cafe = Boufe.

Their were various items – from shoes to home decor on sale. What a range! Smart move to make the accompanying boyfies to buy their shopaholic girlfies something that they want; there’d be no chances for negotiation since it shares the enclosed space with the dining area.

This shopping concept also brings me back to the several cafes in Australia I’ve encountered with a small grocery store. No harm looking at pretty stuff, right? Consumerism at its best hehe…

The cafe had a little power failure at 4pm, where it caused all the kitchen appliances and cash register to be down. Thank goodness it only lasted for about 15 minutes!

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BUNNY’S VERDICT: 

YES, I WOULD HOP BACK FOR THEIR BRUNCH AND DESSERTS!

Although Boufe’s location can be a bit far, it is definitely a great respite from the hustle and bustle of the city life. I might be back to explore their tantalising desserts that look so sexy in the display. I also feel that the new menu is worth a try! If the elements that I pointed out were to be improved, I’m sure they’d wield the potential to sustain a loyal following for their new brunch items.

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Salted Egg Yolk Crayfish, Scotch Egg Guacamole

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RATING

Overall Taste:  3.9/5

Ambience: 4/5 What’s not to like about the minimalistic interior with lots of natural light shining in? Photos of their food on Instagram always look so perfect. Cafe seems popular amongst hipster youths for brunch, and taitais, who drive here for tea time with their children after 3pm.

The atmosphere is also boosted by their playlist… The owner is an obvious Bieber and Bruno Mars fan. Some nostalgic songs that I loved in secondary also started playing in-between like “Why Can’t I” by Liz Phair. Couldn’t help but sing along to them.

Service: 5/5 Prompt in serving food, where both dishes arrived TOGETHER within 20 minutes and the waitresses were polite and well-trained from the moment we stepped in, until we left. This particularly applied to the young waitress who served our table; she was attentive at refilling our water, and to my surprise, she even asked for feedback about our food. Furthermore, during the power outage, she apologised to the customers seated at every single table.

As we all know, the service of an F&B establishment can make or break anyone’s perception of it, and most of the time, the additional 10% service charge in Singapore does not define the quality of their service. This was one of those rare times that it was translated to our experience. Kudos to her and her manager!

They remind me of Brisbane’s Shouk Cafe while I was still studying there; the staff would never fail to ask comments about their dishes (I’ve visited over five times). This brings hope to the cafe service in Singapore because let’s admit it, our quality of service here ain’t great and it has a large room for improvement. I truly wish that every customer would receive such lovely treatment during their visit!

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Boufe Boutique Cafe
Address: 308 Tanglin Road, Phoenix Park #01-01

Singapore 247974
Opening Hours:

Closed on Mon

8am – 10pm (Tues – Fri)
10am – 10pm (Sat – Sun)

www.boufesg.com

Directions: Nearest MRT would be either Somerset or Redhill.

• For me, I took 111 from the bus stop directly opposite 313 Somerset, and alighted at “Bef Chatsworth Rd” after 8 stops.
• Walked along Tanglin Road towards Chestnut Drive and cross the road towards Phoenix Park that is a commercial property for office rentals.

• Turn left when you see the sign above and walk all the way inside to building 308. It would take around 10 minutes to walk there.

• And… Tada! Boufe is located at the back.

Hopping out…
ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

Lola’s Cafe @ 5 Simon Road Review: Affordable Food with Updated Menu

To most cafehoppers out there, Lola’s isn’t a stranger to Singapore’s cafe scene. Besides being notorious for its long lines and tiny corridor for patrons to wait in the hot sun, I’m glad to say that they have expanded not long ago!

I have been planning my return since my first visit 1.5 years ago because they make the best Eggs Benedict and Scrambled Egg croissant! Nothing in Australia matches up to what I’ve had here.

Since its location is relatively close to where I live, I have visited Lola’s 3 times in between December and January 2015 for 2 brunches and dinner.

The cafe has finally invaded the unit next to them. Two times the space, hurray!

A cake display and small takeaway window are created for those who want to order on the go.

Unfortunately, although the cafe is twice its former size, the lines remain persistent 😦 I was told by the host that it’d take 25 minutes to get a table, but I waited for more than an hour! My parking time was also up and I had to renew my coupons. Bad time estimation, anyone?

Organic Chai Tea Latte [$5]. 

This might be the cheapest Chai Latte I’ve come across in Singapore! Starbucks is so pricey, where one cup costs almost $7. It’s daylight robbery!

Now I know where to satisfy my Chai cravings. It definitely matches up to the ones I’ve had in Brisbane; they have also managed to whip up a swan latte art for me with cinnamon! #TopNotch #BaristaSkills

Hola to their signature Breakfast Butter Croissant [$15] that I’ve been pining for so long!

Taste: 4.5/5

It still has that “wow” factor – reminiscent of my virgin try years ago. The croissant was what it should be… Buttery, crispy and flaky. What perfection! Additionally, the scrambled eggs were smooth, moist and not overdone, and that liberal sprinkle of paprika sealed the deal.

One small complaint would be the large pieces of bacon and ham sitting on the bread; I found two slices of ham in it. While I might be the only one nitpicking at this, the salt and oil stemming from them were affecting my enjoyment of the entire dish.

For those who dislike bacon, an alternative would be placing smoked salmon in it instead. It would be a whole lot healthier! I know that Flock Cafe at Tiong Bahru does this with smoked salmon, but their croissant ain’t as good as Lola’s.

Avocado Eggs Benedict [$14].

Taste: 3.75/5 

Not sure if they are trying to cut costs, but I’ve noticed that the brioche for the dish has reduced from two to one from photos. Came to check it out, and it’s true! I remember that there were two pieces of bread.

They have also changed their plating, where they have placed the avocado puree at the side. However, I prefer it to be on top – combined with the bread because avocado and bread together would make a wonderful marriage! Why would you separate these lovers? My rating for their Eggs Benny has fell from a 4.5. There are other better ones I’ve had at cafes like 23 Jumpin.

After visiting for a few times, I’ve been eyeing on their Truffle Mushroom Toast [$12] on their new menu. Evidently, their sunny side up did not lose out to their Egg Benny’s poached egg. It generated such a wonderful yolky #eggporn when sliced open.

Taste: 3.5/5

I was very curious how the truffle mushroom would be incorporated into the brioche. While the amount of mozzarella cheese was just right – where every bite  had us trying to snap the sticky strands of cheese, I felt that the truffle taste was underwhelming and mushrooms could be sliced thicker to compliment the richness of the cheese. I’m not complaining about the price for its quantity though. Very value-for-money if you are on budget!

On a separate occasion, I came back to Lola’s for dinner again, and my company and I couldn’t decide on the type of fries we should get; I insisted on the Nacho Cheese Fries [$8], while he wanted the Truffle Fries [$12].

In the end, we ended up with both flavours even though the waitress warned us it would be too much fries to finish LOL! #FriesOverLoad

Taste: 4.5/5

Fries are a foe to me because of my over-sensitive throat. Nonetheless, the Nacho Cheese was EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE – due to the salty cheese and spicy sprinkle of paprika! I finished 90% of them with no trace of cheese left by myself! Almost wanted to order more cheese (additional $3) to finish the rest up.

Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!

My company, similarly, stole quite a number of my fries because his truffle fries was disappointing. It did not have that truffle aroma that we expected; it was one of the worst I’ve had, actually.

Although we were stuffed from all the potatoes without having any mains, every meal needs to have a sweet ending right? I’ve seen this beautiful mess all over Lola’s Instagram page. Upside down ice creams have their defying-gravity appealing aesthetics, don’t they?

The Debbie [$10]: Peanut Caramel ice cream, black cookie crumbles, peanut brittle & caramel sautéed banana.

The easiest way to tackle this monster is to knock the cone all over using your cutlery, and tuck into the crumbles along with the ice cream! I was looking forward to having more ice cream in the cone, but look – it’s hollow! No soggy cone for me to enjoy…*sniffs*

A surprise at the end!

Taste: 3.5/5

Even though the plating is eye-catching, the ingredients did not really come together so well. For one, the caramelised bananas were overriped. Cookie crumble was also more than what we could handle, causing it to overpower the  ice cream in the end. I think I would have a real double scoop ice cream cone over this.

Another dessert I was eager to try was the Lychee Rose Water Cake [$7]. 

Taste: 3/5

Unfortunately, the dish with an alluring exterior fell beneath our expectations. We only managed to find two lychee pieces, as seen from the thick layer of rosewater buttercream in the middle. The texture of the cake was oily as well – to the point of sickening. I was trying to fish out for the rosewater vanilla sponge instead. Moreover, toppings like the rose petals did not add any sort of value to the cake’s flavour at all.

To improve, I felt that adding nuts like walnuts or pistachios on top would lend an extra textual depth to the plain-tasting cake instead.

BUNNY’S VERDICT: 

YES, I WOULD HOP BACK FOR THEIR APPETIZERS & BRUNCH!

Although it has been in business for quite some time now, Lola’s cafe remains one of the most affordable in Singapore, where there are no GST or service charges. I’m quite glad that they have generated new dishes, which would heighten their competitiveness against other hundreds of up-and-coming cafes. However, I’d like to see more substance in their dinner menu and desserts – not just depending on their spectacular looks.

I do not mind having their Nacho Cheese fries again and check out other brunch items like their Smoked Pulled Pork Sanger.

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Breakfast Croissant (DIE DIE MUST TRY), Eggs Benedict & Nacho Cheese Fries.

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RATING

Overall Taste:  3.8/5

Ambience: 3/5 Patrons seated within close proximity and chairs not very comfy. Decor has improved by a lot! More towards vintage and industrial with whimsical quotes and portraits around the space.

Service: 4/5 Prompt in serving food and attentive at refilling water. A seat was also provided to place our bags. Estimation of waiting times could be improved.

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Lola’s Cafe

Address: 5 Simon Rd, 545893

Phone: 6284 0349

Opening Hours: 

Closed on Mon

10.30am-11.30pm (Tues-Thurs, Sun)

10am – 12am (Fri, Sat)

lolascafe.com.sg

Hopping out…
ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

Australia: 10 Best Cafes in Brisbane & Gold Coast in 2015!

I’ve been wanting to do this post for awhile, especially since I’ve visited over forty cafes in Brisbane and Gold Coast within five months before graduating in 2015. Cafehopping only became a full-time hobby when I was left with such a short span of time in Brisbane; I thought it would be a wonderful way to explore the nooks and crannies of the deceivingly small city before leaving the place that I have lived for the past four years.

Thanks to my trusty car, I was able to travel alone to the outskirts of downtown and the process of finding the cafe further became a challenge and adventure. It also made me become even more independent, unafraid of spending quality time alone outside (I previously did not dare to eat alone in the uni canteen!), and improve on my food photography skills!

After visiting so many places, I thought that it would be productive to shortlist those that have left a deep impression on me when I’ve finally found time to pen all my experiences down in prose. I hope this guide would be useful for anyone travelling or studying in Queensland.

Additionally, I want to prove people wrong that Brisbane IS NOT AS BORING AS IT SEEMS.

Watch out Melbournians!

Brisbane’s coffee/cafe culture has started to flourish and I’m extremely proud of that! I remembered that when I first arrived Brisbane in 2011, it was a tad… dull, to be honest. I would either stay at home to cook or eat out the same places. There weren’t many cafes to hang out at besides Pancake Manor and a few other establishments.

Conversely, Brisbane has become such a dynamic and vibrant city that I do not mind residing in. And also, a cuppa of freshly brewed Chai latte every morning would be a dream come true!

So without much further ado, I bring you… Brisbane’s and GC’s Top 10 Cafes in 2015!

#1 Shouk Cafe

If I would to ever visit Brisbane again, the first cafe I would head to in a heartbeat would be Shouk!

Shouk is nestled in the depths of the Paddington – a hipster suburb full of cafes! It’s a great place to do some window shopping after your meal, especially along Latrobe Terrace, where there is an Antique Centre full of vintage goodies.

It is generally the most ideal situation to drive here, or else it’d be an arduous journey from the nearest train station, Milton; Paddington is well-known for its topsy turvy steep roller coaster hills that I, sometimes, have difficulty driving during my first few trips.

Best seats are by the back of the cafe. It has a great view of Paddington’s lush greenery. I hadn’t got the chance to sit by the window because they were always taken!

As you can see, they are outstanding for their fun Middle Eastern flavours and never fail to to pull me back several times to discover their new offerings when transitioning into the next season.

The first dish that blew me away was their Challah French Toast [$17]. It was undoubtedly the most exotic and sophisticated French Toast I’ve ever seen and tasted!

Challah is a type of Jewish bread, and they have interestingly soaked it in a spiced egg mixture to form the French toast, and topped it with candied walnuts, balsamic macerated berries and vanilla bean semifreddo, which is a sliceable semi-frozen ice cream.

This dish alone produced the first spark for my intrigue with Middle Eastern cuisine.

Little did I know, the second dish that I ordered, Honey Panna Cotta with Smashed Baklava, Spiced Syrup & Pistachio Floss [$15] was even better; it became an all-time favourite dish of mine from Shouk. What was so unique about it would be the smashed baklava coated with freshly grounded pistachios. They complemented the Jewish pastry really well due to the added crunch sprinkled on top of the finely ground ones embedded within.

I loved it so much that I had this dish all to myself during a repeated visit. #Fatdieme.

Determined to try the rest of their menu, I have visited Shouk at least five times, and tried almost every dish. The waiters have also begun to recognise me!

Their Challah French Toast was then updated with a twist; it was accompanied by Pistachio Halva, Ricotta ice cream, Turkish Apricots poached in vanilla syrup, and Almond & Pistachio Praline Crumble [$19].

Another popular dish – Belgian waffles with Chocolate Brownie Ice Cream and Chocolate Halva [$18].

If these sweet treats aren’t your jam for breakkie, Shouk’s classic Latke Stack – a permanent item on the menu – is always a crowd-pleaser! Similar to rosti, Latkes are potato pancakes that Ashkenazi Jews have prepared as part of the Hanukkah festival. It’s a dish that the boys would adore; their eggs are always perfectly poached!

Dining at Shouk has always been an educational and enjoyable affair; my knowledge of food has expanded thus far, and that is what eating is about. I am also very proud of them to be crowned as with the Best Breakfast in Brisbane for the Golden Fork Awards in 2015! Likeminded foodies like me have voted for them because they truly deserve it.

Delicious food comes at a price; everyone whom I have brought here had to Shouk-it-off after such a sinful meal. Perhaps a walk back home from the steep hills of Paddington would do?

Shouk Cafe

Address: 14 Collingwood St, Paddington QLD 4064, Australia

Phone:+61 7 3172 1655

Opening Hours: 7.30am–3pm daily

http://www.shoukcafe.com.au/

#2 Grocer and Grind

Gold Coasters, I’m so envious of you guys. This cafe is the epitome of the beach lifestyle; it’s a place where I would totally hang out at after a great tanning and surfing sesh!

Grocer and Grind provides all-day breakfast food that is hearty, wholesome and beautifully executed. Thankfully, the cafe is located only 10 minutes from Surfers Paradise – the touristy belt, which is accessible to both travellers and locals alike.

The layout of tables reminds me of Artistry Cafe in Singapore.

The baristas in action.

I’m always spoilt for choice whenever I’m here. They offer an extremely broad menu – from All-day-breakfast, salads, to savoury hot lunch sandwiches.

Breakfast for champions! Their Protein Pancakes with Coconut yogurt [$14] is a definite must-try.

I also ordered an Acai Bowl with Quinoa Cookie Crumble [$15] that was too pretty to be eaten! Fruits were so fresh that they tasted like they’ve been picked from the orchards seconds ago. This is the best acai bowl I’ve had in terms of flavour and presentation. Trust me, I’ve had quite a few and even attempted to make my own, but it wasn’t as spectacular.

Enjoying my usual cuppa Chai latte :’)

This is another occasion, where I ordered the French Tower [$17], which was again fantastic! Despite trying many variations of French toasts in Australia and Singapore, this was my first try with banana bread being adopted. I liked how it’s topped with walnuts (a compulsory addition to banana bread), coconut yogurt, goji berries and small figs.

Pictured in the background are the Lamb & Beetroot Burger [$18] and Truffle Scrambled Eggs [$17]. Besides the scrambled eggs being a bit bland, we finished our plates spanking clean! I would definitely be back to try their Veggie Stack, which has gained quite the reputation on Instagram.

Grocer and Grind

Address: 1/1 Sunshine Blvd, Gold Coast QLD 4218, Australia

Phone:+61 7 5527 6223

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 6am–4pm

www.grocerandgrind.com.au

#3 John Mills Himself

If you have some time to spare in the Brisbane city during the morning or early afternoon for a cuppa, I would encourage you to visit JMH. Not only do they serve the best coffee and hot chocolate in the CBD, the process of searching the cafe is an exciting one as well.

There are two ways to access the cafe; first being from Charlotte Street (just before the Pancake Manor), and another from Elizabeth Street. The easier option would be from the former, where you have to go past an antique book store sign, and a Wildlife store.

John sure hides himself well!

 

Tada! Here he is!!! I was instantly amazed how the cafe was filled by working adults when I was here for the first time – despite its seemingly secluded location. Had a *Proud hipster moment*.

The prices for their drinks are considered really reasonable – since the cafe is situated within the CBD. Although they do coffees, I would recommend their flavoured Hot Chocolate for something novel.

Be sure to ask for the Hot Chocolate menu that lists all the different flavours that they have. They include Ginger, Rose, Lavender, Sea Salt, Chili, Rosemary, Lemongrass etcetera. Very extensive.

 

BEST PART of JMH: You get to customise your Hot chocolate with Dark Chocolate, Dairy Milk or White Chocolate.

How cool is that?!

I’ve never come across anything like this!

As I wanted to be adventurous and play it safe to avoid disappointment on my first try, I selected a floral flavour – Lavender with White Chocolate [$4].

And thank goodness… My virgin White Chocolate Experience was the best decision ever made!

There were small bits of white chocolate floating on top too!

Where I sat.

Red brick – CHECK, Marble – CHECK, Pretty and tasty drink – CHECK!
Their decor is fullproof for any Instagram newbies – I never fail to take rustic-looking shots with their wonderful ambience.

 

John Mills Himself

Address: Access via 55 Elizabeth Street, 40 Charlotte St, Brisbane QLD 4000, Australia

Phone:+61 434 064 349

Cafe Opening Hours: 6.30am–3.30pm (Mon to Fri)

http://www.johnmillshimself.com.au/

#4 Sourced Grocer

Sourced Grocer has got to be those one of the cafes that Australian farmers would boast about. It literally has a grocer within the cafe, and employ the freshest local produce for their dishes – meaning pesticide-free, and perky fruits and veggies.

So health food freaks, this is the place for ya! *Guilty as charged* hehehe..

When I arrived, my eyes were directed straight towards the lovely potted plants hanging on the wall!

Perfect excuse to window shop.

 

 

 

Creativity juices flowing with crates acting as makeshift tables!

Cabbage Pancakes with Goats Cheese Dressing, Crispy Brussel Sprout Leaves and Chives [$16] looking all photogenic under the natural light.

Although the exterior seemed dry, the pancakes were incredibly moist! And sous vide eggs burst out at the light pierce of my fork.

Another stunner was The Bircher: House rolled Organic Oats, Barambah yogurt, Seasonal Fruit, Lemon Myrtle and Fresh Honeycomb [$13].

Hundred points to Gryffindor! This is the first time I’ve seen bircher muesli plated extremely well! I usually see it being poorly served as a sloppy mess, or filled in jars to conceal its unappealing appearance.

The matcha powder sprinkled on top of the yogurt added another dimension to the otherwise already sweet dish, predominantly from the natural sweeteners derived from the fresh fruits. There were also passion fruit, sultanas and seeds hidden within the creamy oats, so I was very pleasantly surprised! I did not mind a second helping of this dish.

If you are intending on coming here for a meal, I would recommend their breakfast food; lunch menu portions were rather meagre.

Sourced Grocer

Address: 11 Florence Street, Newstead QLD 4006, Australia

Phone:+61 7 3852 6734

Opening Hours:
7am–8pm (Monday to Thursday)
7am–7pm (Friday)
7am–5pm (Saturday)
8am–4pm (Sunday)

www.sourcedgrocer.com.au

#5 Little Loco

Just a 3-minute drive away from Sourced Grocer is Little Loco that is a nondescript house converted into a cafe. I actually visited the cafe when it first opened – before their signboard even was up.

 

 

 

Like their minimalist clean decor, the food that Little Loco serves are chic and Instagram-friendly.

I came specially for their Lemon Ricotta Hotcakes [$16.90], which was trending on within Brisbane foodie scene in April 2015! The dish had finally arrived after suffering so much food envy from the Melbourne cafes that first invented them. They truly warrant all the social media attention.

 

 

While the pancakes had been taken off the menu in mid-2015, Little Loco is always reinventing their seasonal menu and producing quality health food dishes that customers would adore. I had their Quinoa Salad [$18.90] that contained a wonderful amalgamation of seasonings and textures – comprising of organic quinoa tabouli, pumpkin puree, roasted and pickled beetroot, goats cheese, tzatziki, and dukkah.

Oh, and did I mention that their presentation is always on point?

Little Loco
Address: 121 Merthyr Rd, New Farm QLD 4005, Australia
Opening Hours:
6.30am–3pm (Monday to Friday),
7am–2.30pm (Saturday and Sunday)
www.littleloco.com

 

#6 I Heart Brownies

I’m not a sucker for anything too chocolatey, as I have a sensitive throat. I get a sore throat if I take a bite of anything fried and full of rich, dark chocolate. While this is so, I daresay that I Heart Brownies has THE BEST brownies hands down. It’s almost impossible to believe that they are GLUTEN FREE.

This also means that they are healthy. Right… right?

According to their website, every brownie is 100% gluten free, and contains: Belgian black cocoa, couverture chocolate, free-range eggs, QLD cane sugar, Australian butter and gluten-free flour.

Stole a chance for a picture because the store is always filled with customers!

I Heart Brownies serves a wide range of brownie flavours, such as the Original [$4], Double Chocolate [$4], Turkish Delight [$4.50], Salted Caramel [$4.50], Raspberry [$4.50], Peanut Butter & Jelly [$4.50], and many many more!

I’m really jealous right now because I think Salted Caramel wasn’t invented until recently!

Don’t go breaking my heart~

Well, I’m glad I did. Because this was the most delicious thing I’ve ever had!

I’ve tried the Turkish Delight [$4] and Peanut Butter & Jelly [$4.50], as seen above, and I felt that the latter triumphed the former.

This is due to the dense ooey-gooey PB&J fillings against the moist and firm chocolatey interior! It was even better when paired with coffee – because bittersweet works. Thus, I suggest you to head to a nearby coffee shop to enjoy these babies like Campos Coffee or Bellissimo Coffee in Fortitude Valley.

I do have to warn though, as popular flavours like this run out fast. Be sure to drop by before noon because early birds grab dem brownies!

I Heart Brownies

Address: 7/694 Ann St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4005, Australia

Phone:+61 7 3252 8473

Opening Hours: 7am–6pm (Monday to Friday), 8am–5pm (Saturday), 8am–4pm (Sunday)

www.iheartbrownies.com.au

#7 Dip Cafe

One of the mandatory things to do when you come to Queensland is to visit Byron Bay. Although it’s not situated IN Queensland, it’s merely a 1.5 hour and 45-minute drive from Brisbane and Gold Coast respectively to see the golden fire ball rise over the faraway ocean horizon at 6am!

And there is nothing better than a hot scrumptious breakfast with your friends and family after all that sea breeze that has frozen you over, particularly during winter.

While there are plenty of cafes around the Byron Bay town, my go-to is Dip that opens early at 7am – just nice after you’ve taken hundreds of photos of the sunrise.

Dip exudes a relaxing and cosy ambience, and it is a cafe that the locals residing at Byron Bay would frequent.

Full menu can be found here.

I was really fond of their Mushroom Stack [$18], where the poached eggs beautifully rested on a bed of spinach, goats cheese and crispy fried potatoes. Now trying to recall back… I’m pretty sure it was because of those juicy mushrooms marinated with truffle oil that made the dish so tasty.

This was popular in the reviews – Bacon and Egg Roll [$10.90]. If you like bae, this could be your thing. My company felt that their chili that was incorporated with the garlic mayo masked the natural taste of the proteins in the panini.

The most memorable dish out of all was their Pecan Ricotta Honey on Sourdough Toast [$8.90]. I never knew that sweet cheese would match the bread so well! Loved it so much that I started making my own as soon as I returned to Brisbane.

For a taste of an Aussie mum’s cooking, Dip would be the perfect choice.

If you have some time to spare after breakfast, do consider spending the rest of your morning taking a stroll around the coastal town of Byron Bay. It is filled with craft, souvenir, surfing and book stores, which would take less than two hours to cover.

Dip Cafe

Address: Shop 1/21-25 Fletcher St, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia

Phone:+61 2 6685 5141

Opening Hours: 7am–3pm daily

#8 Samson and Sophie

Not many tourists would know about Samson and Sophie, since it is a cafe situated within an apartment building at the Newstead suburb. It’d be a place where you would have to drive to as its location could be a bit far off from the centre of Fortitude Valley.

Opened in 2014, the cafe focuses on fine, fresh, local food done well. I’ve heard that their coffees are amazing too. Interior is humble and rustic-looking that reminds me of a garden and old provision store.

While scrolling through Instagram, I was immediately drawn to their Gluten free Apple & Coconut Hot cakes with Whipped Ricotta and Sour Cherry Reduction [$16.90]! You may perceive “gluten free” as something dry, less appealing and tasty, but I was proven so very wrong.

The first spoon was absolute pure heaven! It contained apple, shredded coconut, and spammed with a lot of cinnamon – all of my favourite foods. I have even found six large slices of apples on the hot cakes. So awesome that I went back again for this exact plate of messy goodness.

Not a fan of coconut or cinnamon? Other popular dishes like their customisable Avocado and Co [$12.90] with add-ons of your choice (Poached eggs, Smoked Salmon, Haloumi), as well as Roast Pumpkin Fritters with Honey Carrot, Wilted Spinach & Pepitas [$16.90] would be sure to tantalise your tastebuds.

Samson and Sophie

Address: 2 Macquarie Street, QLD 4005, Australia

Phone:+61 7 3172 1194

Opening Hours:

6am–3pm (Monday to Friday),

6am–2pm (Saturday and Sunday)

#9 Goodness Gracious Cafe

Goodness gracious… The name of this cafe is already interesting, and it’s a 10-minute drive from my University – so why not try it?! This is my first time encountering a cafe with its own carpark in Brisbane. Hurray! If the carpark is full, don’t worry because the road opposite is usually clear.

What I adore about this cafe is the sunlight peering into the cafe in the morning. There are also outdoor seating if you do not mind the heat.

While glancing at the menu, I was instantly attracted to the Pistachio Granola, Cornmeal Waffles, Spiced Chickpeas and Dukkah Spiced Eggs. Gosh, if only I had four stomachs… As I couldn’t make up my mind and my stomach was rumbling, I heeded the waitress for some advice, and told her that I was in the mood for something refreshing in the summer.

She then promptly recommended the Dukkah Spiced Eggs [$19] with Marinated Mushrooms, Sun dried Tomatoes, Labna, Asparagus, Chutney, Boiled Eggs and Buckwheat Lavosa. With foreign ingredients like Labna and Lavosa, I was keen on trying something new!

When the dish was brought out, my jaw dropped.

Check out this wonderful piece of architecture made with purely food! #BalancingSkillsOnPoint

While eating them halfway, I further squealed in delight upon discovering that the boiled eggs hidden underneath the structure were PINK and HALF BOILED! It was not stated in their menu.

I felt that Goodness Gracious could be the next Shouk cafe. I would rate this dish full marks in terms of its execution and flavour combinations. All were spot-on.

Just wished that I had more time in Brisbane to try the rest of their dishes for an in-depth review of the cafe. Nonetheless, if you are feeling adventurous on trying some creative fusion food and live in the West of Brisbane, Goodness Gracious would be your answer to the next brunch date.

Additionally, the drive to the cafe would be scenic, as you would cross the Brisbane river along the Walter Taylor suspension bridge!

Goodness Gracious Me

Address: 250 Oxley Rd, Graceville QLD 4075, Australia

Phone:+61 7 3162 9092

Opening Hours:

6am–4pm (Monday to Friday),

7am–4pm (Saturday and Sunday)

#10 Passion Tree

Passion Tree is one of those cafes that I frequent so often that I felt that it may be pointless to introduce – because it is very popular amongst students. However, I felt compelled to add it in here because the Asian in me is still very attached to the ambience, service and food that they offer.

They do not serve your usual Australian breakfast fare like avocados on toast, but rather sweet Korean desserts like thick toasts and bingsu – a shaved ice dessert topped with fruits and sauces, as well as an array of iced coffees and blended drinks.

Since Brisbane’s CBD is so small, Passion tree tends to be the one-stop hub for all the sweet-toothed to satisfy their late night dessert cravings after dinner. It opens till 12 midnight on weekends, and is only a 5-minute walk from the Brisbane Central station, and 2-minute from Queen Street Mall.

Their waffles on display.

Whenever I visit the city for dinner or some shopping , I would make a point to stop by here for their Green tea bingsu [$14.90], which remains the best green tea bingsu I’ve tried.

I’ve had several versions, but I still dream about Passion tree’s. They provide the most generous servings of red bean, almonds, macadamias, and not forgetting the most important ingredient… Fresh and crispy CORN FLAKES. Very few green tea bingsus in Singapore include cornflakes! Even if there are, they were stale and not as crispy as Passion tree’s.

I like how the corn flakes turn semi-crispy and soggy when incorporated into the chunky icy mountain. Their green tea ice cream also does not taste artificial and leans towards the sweeter side.

Another bingsu that had me at first bite, and respect the owners of Passion Tree even more was this beauty!

I’ve seen honeydew/melon bingsus… But PINEAPPLE? HELL NO!

I have been so curious on how they managed to scoop out the pineapple flesh into perfectly round spheress! Sadly, it is only served for a period of time in summer and by the time I went back for a second try – they have pulled it out of the menu. My friend and I were devastated. That hefty pricetag of $20 was well worth the one-of-a-lifetime dining experience.

Unsurprisingly, the place I chose bid farewell with my friends before leaving Brisbane for good was here. With great food, free Wifi and comfy cushioned seats, I have called Passion Tree my second home in Brisbane. My friends would also agree on that one with me.

Passion Tree

Address: 103 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane QLD 4000, Australia

Phone:+61 7 3012 8865

Opening Hours:
10am–11pm (Monday to Thursday, Sunday),
10am–12am (Friday and Saturday)

www.passiontree.com.au

Final Words

I have filtered down those that have left a lasting impression on me – in terms of all my aspects like taste, presentation, ambience and service. If these cafes have changed their menus and dishes in 2016 (which I expect them to do), I’m so sorry about that! However, I would still recommend them to anyone out there because I have full confidence in their potential on generating even more palatable dishes!

On a side note, the forty over cafes that I’ve been to have at least 75% ratings on Urbanspoon and located within half an hour from my place. For the case of Gold Coast, I refuse to post the overrated ones like Black Coffee Lyrics and Elk Espresso because their food and service were so bad that I do not want to add on to their unwarranted hype.

While cafehopping has burnt a large hole in my pocket, my journey in Queensland had an outcome that’s priceless – the exposure to so many cultures and cuisines have further fueled my passion for this hobby and interest in cooking. I have attempted to recreate some of the dishes I’ve eaten, like Dukkah with poached eggs and Lemon Ricotta Hotcakes, and even cooked them for my friends! I also pair my homemade pistachio Dukkah with bread and sweet potatoes on a daily basis.

Hopefully, Singapore like Brisbane, would soon be open to more diverse sensations and create more fusion dishes with our well-known local foods to make a name in Australia as well.

For those who are tight on their budget, cafehopping in Australia can be quite an affordable affair like Bangkok – with added advantages:

Cheaper coffees, most dishes being below $18 at nett prices without additional GST or service charge, and warm welcoming waiters with genuine smiles on their faces. Lastly, no language barrier!

Again, I hope that this guide would come in handy for those travelling or studying at Queensland. LUCKY YOU!

For more pictures of my cafehopping and food adventures, follow me on @bunnymunchies on Instagram here.

 

Hopping out…

ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

 

The Populus Coffee and Food Co. @146 Neil Road Review: Popular Cafe on Instagram, Subpar Pretty Food

Word says that this cafe… oh wait, there’s no word about the launch of this cafe in December – except for a few reputable food bloggers blogging about it.

Posts generated from their social media accounts are minimal. And yet, they have a sizeable following (more than a thousand followers on Instagram in less than a month!) and numerous pictures of their sundaes served in iconic sepia-toned glassware trending on Instagram.

Could this be an indication of a #hipster cafe, where only curious insiders and foodie Insta-sniffers like me know about this cafe?

And so, I knew I had to check this mysterious cafe. Opportunity arose when they were taking reservations during the Christmas period – I could secure a table without waiting long hours in the sweltering heat. Thank goodness!

Arrived here at 12.30pm on a Saturday. While outside looked serene, I was obviously fooled; inside was bustling with diners once I opened the door. It was no different from a wet market – except that it’s being filled with youngsters and middle aged parents with their children in arms. This is most likely due to the festive period where friends and family hold their mini gatherings here.

Thankfully, I was seated immediately directly in front of the entrance by a young male waiter. He then gave me a huge glass bottle of water and menu not long after. Since not many cafes in Singapore are this swift at these two steps (the wonderful service in Australia has spoiled me too much), “impressive” is one word that came to my mind.

I was eyeing on the Ricotta & Herb Bread Pudding and Buckwheat Pancakes…

And my eyes drifted towards their sundaes…

In the end, I let my company decide because I might raid the whole cafe hehehe. We opted for two dishes to share. Orders are taken at the counter.

Here’s a quick shot of their fridge: nothing eye-catching.

Buckwheat Pancakes with Berry fruit compote, cornflake crumb, passionfruit curd & thyme infused maple syrup [$20].

The pancake was served with a cute (but un-photogenic) rubber glove for the iron pan.

Despite the cafe being full house, the pancake did not take too long to emerge from the kitchen, and this choice seems to be a good one. Besides its beautiful presentation, it is healthy as well.

Just take a look at the cross-section; thick and fluffy air holes filled with small dark specks of buckwheat! Ooh! #PancakePorn

Taste: 3.5/5

Although I would like to rate it higher because of its fluffiness and usage of buckwheat as a healthier option as opposed to white flour, we felt like we were suffering in the desert heat halfway through. The pancake was unfortunately TOO THICK! Got boring after a few bites. There was also not enough berry compote or maple syrup to last the pancake.

I have eaten over 10 different kinds of pretty pancakes in Australia and some were not dry at all. To counter this problem, perhaps they could separate the batter and make two pancakes instead? And line the bottom and in-between pancakes with fruits and more compote. A more indulgent addition is a scoop of vanilla/hipster-sounding ice cream! Warm carbs and cold ice cream are just a match made in heaven that I absolutely ADORE.

And here is the star attraction. Probably the most Instagrammed dish out of their menu!

Dark Chocolate Sundae with Passion fruit curd, raspberry puree, hazelnut crumb, chocolate crumb, honeycomb & whipped cream [$14].

Taste: 4/5

It is basically an edible brown mountain with layers and layers of surprises hidden underneath. Every spoonful you get is something new as you reach towards the bottom. It was quite fun to eat!

While eating halfway, we were bummed by how creamy the soft serve is. It did not melt even though we have left it alone for ten whole minutes. As it is quite rich and filling, I suggest sharing this amongst 2-3 people! Otherwise, it does have the legitimate bittersweet taste of the dark chocolate.

Seen above is the fate of the leftover pancake; we transferred some soft serve to finish our last bit that lacked sauce.

BUNNY’S VERDICT:

This is one of those cafes that I might or might not visit again because the food was a hit and miss. Definitely overrated by food bloggers and influencers.

However, if I do visit, it would be for another flavour of their sundaes because it is awesome for photos, and rather innovative for the tastebuds. The rest of the menu does not look that appealing to me as well. Pulled pork bowl is really cheap and easy to make 😉

Similarly, the pancakes were not worth the 20-dollar price tag. I’ve actually been wanting to make my own buckwheat pancakes; I’ve bought a big bag of flour a few months ago, but did not have the time to make them. I may try to do it soon!

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RATING:

Overall Taste: 3.75/5 I recommend their unique, yet decadent Dark Chocolate Sundae.

Ambience: 3/5 I was unfortunately seated directly in front of the door, leaving left me with little to be impressed by. It was only the pentagon-shaped tiles that was interesting. Decor seems to be nicer inside the cafe.

Service: 4/5 Efficient and quick at bringing out the goods.

The Populus Coffee & Food Co.
Address: 146 Neil Road Singapore 088875
Opening Hours:
9am – 7pm (Mon, Wed),
9am – 10:30pm (Thurs – Fri),
9:30am – 10:30pm (Sat),
9:30am – 7pm (Sun), Closed on Tuesdays.

Hopping out…

ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY