alexis blogs

What I learned when my phone suddenly became a brick

2026-04-13T13:17:00.007+08:00

I was at the Habourfront Centre yesterday morning waiting to take the ferry when my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra phone suddenly died. The battery was 76% and it was not overheated nor was I doing anything extreme on it (just texting). Pressing down and power button did nothing. We found a HP shop in the mall and asked the guy, who confirmed my suspicion that the phone is completely dead, likely due to a motherboard failure. I asked Chatgpt what happened later and this is what it said: likely a pmic failure out of nowhere. Basically the chip just failed.

In any case I wasn't gonna let a bricked phone deter me from going to Batam for my 3D2N vacay. So on the ferry we went (thank goodness for physical tickets and passports!). On the 55-min ride me and my friend joked that this is going to be a forced digital detox.

At first I thought yea, likely have to be, as I was under the impression that I was using an eSim and to gain access to it I had to scan the telco email again to set it up. Then I realized that I cannot remember my Gmail password because I am so reliant on having my phone (I saved all my passwords on a sheet on my Google drive) so I cannot even access anything much less my Gmail. We found a Samsung service centre in Batam that opens on Mon so initially I thought yea let me make it through all of Sun and get it fixed on Mon.

However, as we got off the ferry and made it to our hotel and then to lunch, I had a sudden realization that I should have a physical sim! So I opened the tray with an earring (thank goodness) at lunch. Indeed I have not one but two sim cards inside. So now my hopes were renewed - perhaps I can get a budget phone, even secondhand, so I can add the sim card inside and roam and at least get to Google Maps and entertainment (ebooks, YouTube). But this also made me realize how reliant and addicted to a phone I was. More of the reliance - it feels weird to be traveling and not take photos of food and places!

Anyway, we managed to find a HP shop that sells budget phones in a more rundown mall to the one that we were at. I told the guy my budget is under 4M rupiah, or $300 sgd and he immediately shared the Samsung A17 phone options with me. Either 128gb or 256gb and 4G or 5G. In the end I chose the absolute cheapest of all and got it at $255 sgd including a free screen protector, charger and case. Good deal, also thanks to the extremely favourable exchange rates.

We then spent like 30 mins at the shop just trying to set it up but in the end we had to use a new Gmail account for the phone to run cos I was stuck in some loop with my old Gmail account. It gave me the option of inputting a code sent to my Gmail that I cannot access, 🙄 or to my Hotmail backup email (that I also cannot access or even login via my friend's phone because of the Outlook app authentication required). Damn the 2FA!

In the end I was like as long as I get data roaming and cell phone number SMS otp, I am fine. We left the shop and I managed to get on Telegram since I could remember my login and password. Thank goodness. That means I have a way to connect to my friend's phone!

It was during that time that I thought maybe I could instruct my dad at home to help me take a photo of my logins and PW sheet and send it to me via my friend's WhatsApp (thank goodness she saved his number!). Luckily everything is logged in to my Google Chrome profile on my MacBook so my dad just had to type the sheet name for it to pop up. But while he was doing it live I decided to authenticate my Google account by asking him to share the auth code sent to my Gmail inbox as a photo. And it worked perfectly since once again he did not have to sign in. And I manage to finally access my Google account, change the password, and log in to my other accounts via the saved PW sheet. Phew! The only messaging app I couldn't access is my WhatsApp because it only allows linking of secondary devices with permission so maybe I need to try it when I go home because I don't want to lose out all the chat history.

Back in the hotel, I have also changed the backup email of my main Gmail to a less secure Gmail (just requires login and password no 2FA). And have written down all the important passwords to keep in my wallet in case something like this happens!

tldr, here is what I learned and you need to also take note of in case something like this happens to you when you are not close to home, like overseas.

1. Make sure to retain the physical SIM option unless you have absolute no choice so you can access OTPs via SMS. This saved my life. Also tied to that - have at least one cc card on you so you can tap for public transport.
2. Ensure you have essential logins and passwords in hard copy with you (not at home) maybe in a wallet<
3. Tied with that, make sure your recovery email to important accounts can be easily logged in without 2FA or authentication on another device (such as a bricked phone). This is so stupid but it's an infinite loop of hell otherwise
4. Not essential but memorise your parents' HP contact or get it saved in your close friend's contacts (I did it after experiencing the BKK earthquake). This was how I could contact my dad and got him to help me authenticate. Luckily my Mac was also unlocked with a simple password I can remember and not just using touch id.

That is it I think. I'm just lucky to unlock step one. The alternative was to wait 3 days, go back to Singapore the analog way, get online to my MacBook and use it to communicate while sending my phone in for repair. That being said I think I might evaluate the cost and if it is prohibitive, explore alternative Android brands.

Currently my Samsung A17 is very serviceable and even the photos and videos have a digicam vibe to it that I don't mind. So it will be my interim backup phone for now! I just feel grateful my trip wasn't too ruined.

3-Michelin Stars Fine Dining: Odette at National Gallery, Singapore

2026-03-02T10:35:00.003+08:00

I feel incredibly blessed. That was the thought when my work friend said he wanted to invite me to a thank you lunch. And I was like sure! The next thing I knew, I received a calendar invite to Odette for dinner on 13 January. Wow. I did not think a 3-star Michelin restaurant that just reopened after renovation will be on my 2026 bingo card, but there you have it. I accepted the cal invite happily, of course!

The interior is all peach hues and classy vibes, but not stuffy. That seemed to be a difficult feat to pull off but they did!

Here's their January menu for the 7-course Epicure dinner (S$498++). We also got the Discovery flight wine pairing (S$295++). Steep prices so I'm glad I was not the one paying! Though if one is a gourmand foodie, it might be worth it.

Ingredients featured in the dinner were highlighted here. I love that it is a blend of East and West.

We started with GRIGNOTAGES which was a trio of snacks, mushroom soup and a lovely bread basket with butter.

The mushroom soup was so warming and comforting with the earthly flavours grounding the palate for more.

We were gently advised not to go too hard on the bread basket since there is a lot of food coming, but it was so good we could not resist, plus it was paired with French butter. I should have stopped at a bite each.. the white wine that got us started was also lovely. I searched on Vivino for all of them and to no one's surprise they are all rated 4 and above!

We had the first starter, the HOKKAIDO BOTAN EBI

Bafun Uni | Brown Butter 'Ponzu' | Maison 'Kaviari' Caviar where the uni was not metallic tasting (of course) but super rich and creamy on top of the crunchy toast. What's not to like about using the butter of the sea?

Here's the friendly waiter who helped us with the caviar. They are really super friendly and affable but not too much. Personally I think that the service in a fine dining restaurant matters almost as much as the food, so it is saying something!

The dish is a two parter - the creamy, rich and non-metallic uni on toast, and the caviar on brown butter ponzu sauce. It was so delicate you can taste every note and texture!

Our next starter was the CRAB 'CONTRAST' Rémoulade | Béarnaise | Chili Crab. It was a fun one involving different types of crab, done in 3 ways. Very creative and and I liked that the chilli crab rendition subtly pays homage to Singapore.

I think I liked this the best. Wrapping a pillowy soft mantou bun over some sweet and slightly spice chilli crab is genius!

Our third starter was the LANGOUSTINE 'COMME UN DUMPLING'

Leek Fondue | Vin Jaune | Katsuobushi, which was incredibly savoury with the fondue sauce running over the silky smooth skin on the dumpling. The sweet seafood taste of the langoustine inside also worked well with the umami notes from the katsuobushi.

Our fourth starter was the "ba kut teh", or JEJU ABALONE & FOIE GRAS DUO

Shiitake | Pork Broth | Yuzu. The clear pork broth really did feel like an elevated rendition of our bakuteh but the pops of flavour comes from the foie gras and the bouncy abalone. I would never have dreamed of having foie gras swimming in broth. Boundaries, pushed!

Before our main course, we had the SHIMANE AMADAI with Kabu | Yari Ika | Sauce 'Indochine'. The slightly spicy sauce was the perfect foil for the fish, and I particularly enjoyed the crunchy, slightly spiky skin on it.

The main course was their signature KAMPOT PEPPER CRUSTED PIGEON with Topinambour | Black Garlic | Fig Leaf Oil. Despite every other menu item that might change, this was a mainstay for Odette.

There's a message tied to the pigeon (ha) which was actually paragraphs of a story by the chef. We had to piece our paragraphs together to get the picture. TBH the pigeon was alright to me, because at this point we were already very full. And pigeon has never been my top choice for protein. Here it was well-executed and very French.

Paired with a robust red, of course.

They then rolled out a cheese cart, which can be had if we paid for it. But at that point we were absolutely stuffed. So it was a pass. But what a pretty cart!

We had a delicate but super refreshing palette cleanser.

Dessert was the HAZELNU-T-ELLA made with Piedmont Hazelnut Praliné, and it was fabulous. Props to the dessert chef for this delectable creation that played on a familiar flavour of Nutella but elevated it.

And we ended with DOUCEURS comprising of 3 little sweet treats and fruits.

I loved the canele so much. My rosy cheeks makes an appearance after more than 1 glass of wine.

We were all gifted with homemade pineapple jam to take home too, which was such a lovely sweet touch to end the meal.

This was an incredible fine dining experience that will stay in my memory forever. While it was really quite pricey, getting to enjoy this modern European cuisine in the heart of Singapore and not having to fly to Europe means it remains quite a steal since you save on the airfare. What's more, the service really stood out to me. It is so rare to get good service here so when it happens it makes an impression. If you are looking for a special place to celebrate an occasion or person, I would recommend considering Odette.

🙅 Thank you, next
🤷 Try if you are in the area

💁 Bookmark this ✔️

Odette

National Gallery, #01-04, Singapore 178957

Tue to Sat 12-1pm, Mon-Sat 6.30pm-8pm (last seating times)

Closed on Sundays

Korean Lunch Review: The House Chungdam at 72 Duxton Rd, #01-01, Singapore 089531

2026-02-01T17:29:00.004+08:00

The House Chungdam, a relatively new Korean restaurant (opened in December 2024) that's been making waves in Tanjong Pagar, invited me to try their weekday lunch sets again late last year. I decided to revisit them since I had such a good experience trying their BBQ set for lunch last time. I was also in the mood for Korean food after watching the latest season of Culinary Class Wars.

Unlike the typical Korean BBQ joints crammed with ceiling-to-table exhaust pipes and dark, greasy interiors, The House Chungdam stands out with its clean, minimalist aesthetic courtesy of renowned Korean architect Jenie W. Jung.

The space is bright, airy and surprisingly spacious - occupying two shophouses wide - and the powerful ventilation system means ZERO lingering BBQ smell, which is honestly a game-changer and what made me want to revisit.

Here's their weekday lunch menu. Dishes are grouped into 5 (noodles at the back) categories, and each comes with a starter trio during weekdays, as well as the standard banchan (4 high quality ones). They also have 2 sides (cheese potato joen and cheese kimchi joen).

Prices start from $19 for the lunch set and go up to $39 for the LA Short Ribs with A5 Wagyu.

The trio of starters were so delicious, especially the quail egg and mushrooms skewer! I also liked the tiny joen and japchae to not fill you up but whet your appetite for what's to come.

Here is the complete set, with the 4 banchan dishes as well. Special mention goes to the kimchi, which was really delicious and authentic.

For the mains, we tried 3 between the two of us. First was the Thinly Sliced Brisket Soy Bean Jjigae Bansang (S$25). I learned that "Bansang" most commonly refers to a traditional Korean table setting where a main dish (meat or fish) is served with rice, soup, and various side dishes (banchan) on a single tray. In this case, we have the doenjang stew, which unfortunately was not as good as the other 2. The stew itself was quite nice for me, but my friend did not like the slightly sour taste of the fermented soybean. My main gripe was the brisket, for they were quite bland in itself and several pieces were tough. 2.5/5

In contrast, the Beef Tartare Bibimbab (S$27) did very well. We both loved the sweet marinade on the tender, raw AU MB9+ wagyu slices, which went well with the perfectly tossed short grain rice with bits of veggies. It was healthy and light but filling. 4/5

My personal favourite of the day had to be the Jinju Cold Buckwheat Noodles (S$19), which I actually tried before and would have again and again, especially on a warm day. This was refreshing, umami and well-balanced with notes of vinegar not being too overpowering or light. 4.5/5

The House Chungdam has quickly become one of my favourite Korean spots in Singapore. The service was impeccable - attentive, warm and knowledgeable, with staff who were quick to refill banchan and explain each dish. The lunch sets offer phenomenal value for money, especially considering the location and quality of ingredients. Whether you're looking for a quick weekday lunch or planning a special BBQ dinner, The House Chungdam delivers on all fronts. Highly recommended!

🙅 Thank you, next
🤷 Try if you are in the area
💁 Bookmark this ✔️

The House Chungdam

72 Duxton Road, #01-01, Singapore 089531

Lunch: Monday to Sunday, 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Dinner: Monday to Thursday 6:00pm - 10:30pm, Friday to Saturday 6:00pm - 11:00pm

Book on Chope or call +65 8336 2068

Omakase Review: Sushi Masa By Ki-setsu at Cuppage Plaza, 5 Koek Rd, #06-03, Singapore 228796

2026-01-13T23:29:00.010+08:00

I had the utmost pleasure and blessing to be invited to try out Sushi Masa by Ki-setsu on 11 December 2026, and while this blog review is severely delayed, I had posted about the experience on my IG and TikTok in video form, because photos and words hardly do an experience like what I had justice. Regardless, I would still love to note down all the wonderful sushi and dishes I had for dinner (no lunch service), hand-crafted by Chef Masa.

Here's the drinks menu. The omakase menu can be found on their website. Prices start from $230+ for a 16 course omakase, with seafood flown in fresh from Toyosu market daily or directly from Fujiyama.

For starters, 2 small earthy plates and 1 soupy dish was served.

a) Edamame tofu from Yamagata with sea urchin

Tofu had a really unique spongey texture.

b) Eggplant with mushrooms from Osaka

Enjoyed the greenness of the eggplant lightly seasoned with the mushroom.

c) Japanese fishball with ginkgo nuts and seasonal vegetables

Dashi broth was delicious with a hint of yuzu; fish was quite tender but the star was the ginkgo nuts which were tender and not bitter at all. Didn't think the pairing would work but it did.

On to the sushi courses, and boy was there a lot.

1) Longtail grouper, or kuwei, flown directly from Fujiyama

The fish underwent special treatment - they remove the nerves from the fish using special tool of high pressure water and it is aged for 15 days. It is smooth with a distinctive fish, but not fishy tasting.

2) Aburi Kamasi, Japanese barracuda from Mie

Clean tasting, slightly spongey with the aburi lending a hint of smokiness

3) Otoro with egg yolk in wafer with special sauce

Super fatty and oily. I skipped the chilli but the green paste helps to cut through the fat. Very classic presentation, I was told.

4) Baby Golden Squid from Nagoshima

This was super seasonal and not supposed to be still around (only Aug, Sep). Hence it was twice the price of regular one. It was super delicious and bouncy yet tender - best sushi everrrrr.

5) Akami, or lean bluefin tuna from Hokkaido

Quite early on we were treated to this tuna sushi. It tasted very tuna-y but went to the gym so it wasn't fatty. The wasabi in there was quite a hit but it worked well with the stronger tasting fish.

6) Salmon roe from Hokkaido marinated with miso, chrysanthemum and leaves (variation of tang oh). The roe was stuck together with the miso marinate but still popped in my mouth and was great with the snappy greens and the slightly floral chrysanthemum.

7) Scallop with seaweed

It was super meaty and sweet and grilled to perfection in front of our eyes. The sight and smell of charcoal was quite the show.

8) Japanese Spotted Prawn or botan ebi

Sweet but clean tasting despite being so soft. The guts were oven-roasted before it was placed on top, giving it an intense flavour.

10) Skipjack from Nagasaki with maple leaves

It was salty and substantial with the soy sauc, but tasted pretty average. The presentation gets top marks though!

Then some spinach as a palate cleanser, which I appreciated.

11) Nitoro sushi (medium fatty tuna)

It was so good. It melted completely in my mouth.

12) Kohada, Gizzard Shad

Don't really like it, it is a bit too fishy for me.

13) Monkfish liver from Hokkaido

Not my favourite, quite rich and heavy like a foie

The second palate cleanser was the ice plant with seaweed - it worked super well too.

14) Lightly aburi otoro sushi

Fatty, but not as melt in mouth as expected. At this point I think I was too full and did not manage to take a photo of it. It was all starting to become a haze.

15) Uni sushi

However, when the box of gold was brought out, I snapped to attention. A box of this is worth someone's wages in a month, probably.

It was as expected creamy, decadent and not metallic at all because it is so fresh AND of premium quality. You can see how each sliver holds up well instead of melting into the rice.

16) Anago, or sea eel sushi

So soft with a hint of smokey flavour. But by then, I was seriously done. This was a fat one too.

And all 16 sushi has been served, which means it was time for the closing act.

d) Asari clam miso soup

Clean and comforting. Unfortunately out of 3 asari clams i still got sand in one! It only happens to me... but that's why I generally don't like clams.

e) Tamago castella cake

This was pretty normal and customary after all the omakase. Quite interesting from a cultural but not necessarily culinary perspective.

f) "My Heart" grapes

Available only for two weeks from the Yamanashi Prefecture developed by the Shimura Grape Laboratory,.. It was not too sweet, seedless with a very succulent skin.

I ended the meal with my belly and heart full. What an experience!

Even though it was pricey, I think the care in selecting the ingredients and making sure they are the absolute freshest and best makes this omakase potentially worth the treat.

🙅 Thank you, next

🤷 Try if you are in the area

💁 Bookmark this ✔️

Sushi Masa by Ki-setsu
Cuppage Plaza, 5 Koek Rd, #06-03, Singapore 228796

Tuesdays to Saturdays 7pm to 10pm

Closed on Sundays and Mondays

Reservation

Restaurant Review: Meimei Bali Southeast Asian BBQ at 87 Jln Pantai Batu Bolong, Canggu Bali 80361

2025-12-29T20:19:00.003+08:00

I have done some quick research before coming to Canggu, Bali this time round because the last time I was here was 1.5 years ago and I know a lot of new places have opened up (and old ones have shut). Meimei was on my radar to check out as the 1-year old sister restaurant of another popular restaurant Yuki so I made a booking on Xmas eve this year. Going in, the place was buzzy, dark but well-ventilated despite the gigantic open kitchen on the right side where the BBQ action was happening.

I had to wait a tiny bit for my table so I sat at the bar and got a cocktail. I like the Asian twist on cocktails, even if all the alcohol's been pre-made.

I got the Tomat dry martini (170k IDR) made with gin, tomato & bell pepper brine, vermouth. It was the right call because it was refreshing with a hint of tomato tartness to whet my appetite for dinner. It wasn't too sweet or syrupy.

Here's the ala carte menu. If you are here as a pair you get to try the Chef's Menu but since I am solo, ala carte it is. Actually the floor manager was so friendly and he made all the best dishes recommendations so I didn't feel like I was missing out. Prices were also decent for a lot of the raw seafood.

I first started with the handpicked Papaun crab "opor" on toast (IDR 85k) which was probably my favourite dish of the night. The crab flavour was so delicate from the spices used and was perfect on the toast. 5/5

Next was another stellar recommendation, the squid with tamarind butter sate skewer (IDR 85k). It was the right size and the chilli oil mixed with the slightly acidic tamarind butter mixed with the juicy and soft squid was a great combination. Who knew squid could taste so good?? 5/5

Next was the Beef carpaccio kilawin baka, shallot, chilli, citrus, puff tendon (IDR 170k) which was the weakest of the lot I think. Should have skipped it and gone for another skewer, maybe. Nothing offensive, just a bit too tart with the citrus that the natural beef flavour was covered up. 3/5

For my mains, I was glad the Filet "line caught fish", Jimbaran butter, sambal matah (IDR 300k) was suggested. I think it is a red snapper. Regardless, the thin layer of sambal matah sauce below went so well with the clean taste of the super fresh fish. It wasn't overwhelming either despite being very similar to the sambal stingray combi we have in Singapore. There was just enough. The star of the show was the fresh fish with that gorgeous charred skin that showed off the skill of the chefs. 5/5

I was quite full mostly due to the fish, but still decided to order a dessert. It was Xmas eve after all! I had their sticky ginger pudding, tamarind caramel with vanilla ice cream (IDR 100k) which was a bestseller. To be honest, it was not as indulgent as I'd imagine because they have used ginger and the tamarind was a bit too sour in the caramel. The vanilla ice cream was the best quality though, you could see all the vanilla bean bits. 3/5

I also got to try their mango sorbet with passion fruit, coconut yogurt & mint (IDR 95k) with compliments from the chef and I have to say, this actually beats the sticky ginger pudding. It was tropical, it was rich and refreshing and the perfect ending to a great meal. I really appreciate the freebie! 5/5

Overall there were more hits than misses at meimei and I left feeling satisfied. It wasn't just the food either - the service was warm and friendly without overly selling. The phrase that comes to mind is "just the right touch". The spices were not overpowering, the salt was measured and the warmth was like a hug from a friend. I would recommend the restaurant and would love to try their organic chicken next time with more friends!

🙅 Thank you, next
🤷 Try if you are in the area
💁 Bookmark this ✔️

Meimei | Southeast Asian Barbeque
87 Jln. Pantai Batu Bolong, Canggu, Bali 80361
Daily 5pm to 2am
Reserve on Google

BKK Restaurant Review: Aunglo by Yangrak in Silom, Bangkok

2025-12-28T15:44:00.004+08:00

I have heard many good things about Aunglo by Yangrak, which is a Thai-fusion izakaya known for cooking over a traditional charcoal grill ("aunglo"). They are also recognised by the Michelin Bib Gourmand. So when I was in Bangkok for a month in March 2025, I took the opportunity to reserve a seat to try out their skewers and rice bowls. And I got a counter seat on the second floor of the restaurant and saw the action first hand! However, there was no smokey smell that clung on to me after leaving, so props to the team for ventilating it well.

The place is located in a quiet part of the neighbourhood and looks minimal and modern. Their Bib Gourmand sign is proudly displayed out front.

I started with a craft beer (price unsure). Feels like the right type of beverage to go with all the grilled items!

First up was this highly recommended Coconut pancake & grilled shrimp with Southern style curry sauce (190 Baht) and I can see and taste why. It was an explosion of flavours from the slightly spicy curry to the sweetness of the shrimp on top of a fragrant biscuit made of coconut. The tiny pulps of pomelo on top gave it a surprising note of freshness as well. 4/5

I also had the Grilled pork belly with chilli and salt (75 baht), which took a while to arrive but was worth the wait. The fatty pork belly was melt-in-mouth juicy with just the right amount of smokiness. 4/5

One of my favourites of the night was the Yum Som-O, or Pomelo Salad (195 Baht). This was fresh, spicy, shrimpy and tangy, which was a great way to whet one's appetite for more! I really appreciated the blend of flavours. 4.5/5

The main for the night was the Moo Ping Rice Bowl (209 Baht) with grilled pork, egg yolk and chilli oil. By this point I was honestly quite full (as you can see in the background I barely touched the beer!) But I still managed to enjoy the soft, tender grilled pork that was made silky smooth with the egg yolk, mixed with the jasmine rice below. This was extremely satisfying just on its own, even though it could get a bit plain with the large amount of rice underneath it all. 4/5

Ended the evening with some sort of panna cotta dessert with a type of seed (poppy? pumpkin?) and a sweet caramel sauce which I think was not just caramel. Regardless, this was also a fantastic way to end the meal even though it was not as special as the grilled meat. 3.5/5

Overall I enjoyed my dinner at Aunglo by Yangrak. Every dish was made with care and it shows. I can see where there's a hype around it. However, I would also say that nothing is extremely differentiated, so temper your expectations somewhat. It is just that the level of excellence in BKK is higher and this place just sits above it. Would recommend since bookings are not that difficult to secure just 2 weeks before.

🙅 Thank you, next
🤷 Try if you are in the area ✔️
💁 Bookmark this

Aunglo by Yangrak

174/4-6 Decho Road, Suriya Wong, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand

Monday to Sundays 11:30am to 2:30pm; 5pm to 10pm

Closed on Tuesdays

Reserve on Tablecheck

Kaya Toast Review: Dong Sheng Cafe at Blk 163 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4, #01-414, Singapore 560163

2025-12-16T16:50:00.001+08:00

Dong Sheng Cafe is a Nanyang-style cafe that opened late last year near me. I of course had to check them out since I am a big fan of Nanyang cuisine, especially their dirty kopi and kaya toast! However, Dong Sheng Cafe does get quite crowded at the weekends and it is a small space, so I held off visiting until one Monday (15 Dec 2025) where it was less crowded.

The cafe has savoury mains like laksa and nasi lemak as well as noodles. Since this was my lunch, I decided to go for a laksa with a dirty iced kopi (S$3.90 ala carte, $2.30 add on), and ordered the kaya toast ala carte after that. The dirty iced kopi was thick, rich and quite fragrant. The froth does actually make it taste better than regular iced kopi, but one cannot hold the cup normally (I ended up rotating the saucer below). 4/5

The laksa (S$6.80) was nothing to write home about. The bits of hum (cockles) were quite disturbing for me because I don't really like their taste, but their presence enhanced the broth, which tasted quite thin. 2.5/5

The main item was the kaya toast. They were probably the best I have ever tried in Singapore. I say this because the toast is nicely toasted, but the star was the Hainanese kaya made with 100% palm sugar. This gave the kaya jam an incredible coconutty fragrance and taste which differentiated it from everyone else. 4.5/5

Overall I would return for the kaya toast, dirty iced kopi and maybe eggs (the set). For mains, I have yet to try their other offerings which might do better than the laksa. Regardless, my tip for you if you're interested to go check it out is to visit on a weekday!

🙅 Thank you, next
🤷 Try if you are in the area ✔️
💁 Bookmark this

Dong Sheng Cafe
Blk 163, AMK Ave 4, #01-414, Singapore 560163
7am to 5pm daily (walk-in only)

Pasta Review: Scarpetta at 47 Amoy St, Singapore 069873

2025-12-12T12:09:00.004+08:00

When Scarpetta, a new pasta bar on Amoy St opened up early this year in Feb 2025, it attracted snaking long queues. I had seen the raving posts on social media and had bookmarked it, but the long queues were such a turn off that I convinced myself I should wait until the hype dies. In Singapore, it is quite common for queues to form and die in a month or two. So I finally managed to set a date to visit it for Wednesday lunch with my buddy Steph, who suggested we meet at 1pm. I thought surely the queue would have dissipated and we will have no trouble getting in. Wrong. The place was packed at 1.10pm and a sign said next seating at 1.45pm. So i walked in and left my name for 2 pax on the waitlist (very important! don't just queue, leave your name and come back when it is time). I was waiting outside and saw they changed the board to "see you at 6pm!" at 1.30pm. Luckily I came just a bit earlier!

The place is a typical tiny rectangular shophouse that has an open kitchen concept and bar chairs surrounding it as well as tables at the side. Despite all the cooking, we did not walk out smelling like food, which is kudos to the ventilation system, even though it wasn't very cool inside with the AC. The vibes were pretty good, in fact.

We sat at the bar counter and was treated to all the cooking, tossing and toasting action from the well-oiled team. Pasta takes very little time to cook, so it is perfect that they can cook, toss, serve immediately without the dish sitting under a lamp for a bit.

Here's the menu, which I noticed had changed slightly from previous versions on Google. I guess they kept on refining it. There was also uni and crab toasts specials which were not on the menu. One of the USPs of Scarpetta was their pricing. Pastas were not ridiculously priced - they were fair and $22 or under for 4 of the 6 pastas. They also have schiacciata toasts. Apparently if you are finishing your pasta they will give you free schiacciata bread to mop up the sauce (the menu explains that the act of mopping up sauce with bread is termed "la scarpetta", which is their namesake).

We originally wanted to get the Charred Bone Marrow Toast, but they were out of that and the Burrata. So we got the Broccolini (S$18) as a starter instead. This was interesting because of the slightly spicy nduja sauce which also was tangy. That made the veggy (cooked perfectly) really appetising and crunchy with the garlic crumbs! 4/5

On to the main event, the pastas. I had been eyeing the Cacio E Pepe with crispy guanciale (S$22) ever since it launched, since it is SO DIFFICULT to find good ones in Singapore or even outside of Italy. I had high expectations and they were met. The pecorino cheese sauce was properly emulsified so you can see the glossy shine of that mixed with the starchy pasta water (no cream, no oil, no butter!) and not too salty. The crispy guanciale bits were so satisfying with the pop of saltiness. If I to nitpick, I'll say the pepper could be more aromatic and the pecorino a bit more pungent but that's a personal preference thing. For a dish with just 5 ingredients - pasta water, thick spaghetti pasta called pici (perfectly al dente), pepper, pecorino cheese and guanciale (pork cheese), it shone. 5/5

We also got the All' Assassina (S$19) which was super simple. Slightly charred or burnt spaghetti in tomato sauce and a bit of chilli. This was actually the more flavourful pasta due to the stronger tomato base which was tart and rich (they used Italian tomatoes, for sure). I liked the texture of the burnt parts and the pasta was served piping hot. The portion was just right (if you have it with sides) too. 5/5

We ended off with the Tiramisu (S$11), which was well-priced and very tasty because the first bite was a cacophony of textures and flavours. Alcoholic was the first thing that comes to mind, but then the creamy mascarpone and the fine cacao bits gave that textural backdrop. I appreciated the use of the nibs for a bit of grittiness - most tiramisus come with a fine dusting of cocoa powder so this stood out. 4/5

If you have the time, Scarpetta is worth checking out for their pastas. The bustling restaurant filled with patrons even till now is evidence of their good food and pricing strategy. I will actually try to go back again to try other pastas and maybe the toasts!

🙅 Thank you, next

🤷 Try if you are in the area

💁 Bookmark this ✔️

Scarpetta

47 Amoy St, Singapore 069873

Tuesdays to Saturdays 11.30am-2.30pm, 6pm-10.30pm or later

Closed on Sundays and Mondays

Walk-ins only

BKK Michelin 1-Star Restaurant Review: MIA Bangkok

2025-11-19T16:11:00.008+08:00

I had been eyeing MIA Bangkok while I was in Bangkok for a month since I had the luxury of time to scout out and dine at Michelin restaurants without breaking the bank, and decided to try MIA out. Housed in a charming two-storey blue house, this 1-Michelin Star restaurant is the brainchild of chef-duo Pongcharn "Top" Russell (Thai-British) and Michelle Goh (Malaysian pastry chef). Both have impressive pedigrees - having worked at Jason Atherton's Pollen in Singapore and other Michelin-starred establishments - and it shows in their modern European cuisine infused with Asian soul.

The restaurant earned its first Michelin star in the 2024 Guide and retained it in 2025, and I could not wait to see what the fuss was all about over lunch.

The decor inside was very Millennial chic with the lush green plants and pink suede.

I had the lunch set at 2550++ baht, which was insanely good value for 3 snacks, bread, 1 starter, 1 main course and 1 dessert. I did not take up the wine pairing at 1950++ baht because I needed to make it out of the restaurant after.

Here's the wine by the glass list, which was priced decently I guess.

The meal started with a presentation of the ingredients that will be used in the snacks and starter, like in Sorn. What a visual feast!

Duck Liver Parfait | Apple Compote | Cocoa Nibs

The experience started with a bite of rich duck liver that contrasted with the fresh apple compote with cocoa nibs adding a textural element.

Taramasalata Cigar | Chives | Tobiko

I especially enjoyed this taramasalata cigar with the fish roe encapsulated in the crunchy shell. These bites were so fun to experience!

Lemongrass Prawn Taco | Tomato Jelly | Black Quinoa

The lemongrass prawn taco also shone for how complete it was as a starter while looking exquisite.

Sourdough Brioche | Shallot Butter | Onion Ash

But the star of the lunch had to be the homemade bread with shallot butter and onion ash. This was SO GOOD, I had to ask for seconds.

Can you see how fluffy it was? When I broke it up, steam rose gently and wafted up to my nose. The smell was incredible.

The shallot butter was also a savoury creamy hug for the fluffy bread.

This was my SECOND bread. I know, I should have held back, but I figured this was most likely a once in a lifetime thing so, worry about carbs and being full.. never. The server was also really encouraging and friendly with it.

The starter was the Andaman Sea Crab | Ajo Blanco | Grapes

This was a symphony of the sea with the freshness of the grapes harmonising with the sweetness of the crab. And everything was such a joy to look at.

At this point I couldn't help but order a glass of white wine to go with the meal.

Grilled Ocean Trout | "Tartare Sauce" | Garden Peas

The main course was the ocean trout, and TBH this was the most basic of the set. It was simply a normal trout. The sauce was really moreish though - it was slightly creamy, a bit tangy and went superbly with the fish. But nothing overall to exclaim about.

Mia's Cereal Bowl | Malted Milk Chocolate | Corn

Unlike the finishing dish, the dessert, which was inspired by a cereal bowl. It really tasted like when you have cereal and the milk ends up tasting sweeter with the cereal flavour. Super creative while harking back to comfort. I think that was the angle of all the dishes.

There's also a complimentary petit.. one? Which was a nice surprise after the dessert. I had enjoyed this lunch.

The decor was noteworthy with this neon sign in the toilet.

Level one was the bar area, which was in a very pleasing dark shade of green.

I think MIA Bangkok is worth a visit for lunch because they provide the perfect non-stuffy but fine dining experience at great value, service and experience. I would actually return to this if I have the chance to again (and get to have the bread!)

🙅 Thank you, next
🤷 Try if you are in the area

💁 Bookmark this ✔️

MIA Bangkok

30 Attha Kawi 1 Alley, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Tuesdays to Fridays 5-11pm, Sat and Sundays 12-2pm, 5-11pm

Closed on Mondays

Reserve on sevenrooms

Cafe Review: National Gallery's KOPI 1930 and Twenty Eight Cafe opens

2025-11-02T19:20:00.001+08:00

Good news! National Gallery visitors now have two new options for food with the opening of KOPI 1930 and Twenty Eight cafe on 1 November 2025! They are situated right at Level 1 of the main gallery building (City Hall wing) and open daily from 8am to 7pm. The two establishments are sister-cafes offering Asian and Western food respectively, which is great because foreigners and locals alike have a choice or can sample from both easily. And after going for their food tasting, I am confident to say that both cafes are putting out really authentic and delicious dishes that are iconic in their own ways.

The cafe is L-shaped and there's plenty of seats surrounding both sides. It feels very airy and open because there are no walls or doors, it is just a section of the gallery when you walk in past the gift shop.

Photo credit: Kopi1930 and Twenty Eight Cafe

Here are the menus for KOPI1930. From what I understand, the OG branches of both cafes are at Wilkie Road and the outlets at National Gallery are new. That's great. Here's is the menu for Kopi 1930, with some National Gallery exclusives!

We had the chance to sample 3 Kopi 1930 mains as well as their bestselling butter cake, kaya toast and signature UFO bun. I started with the Mee Siam (S$10.90, $13.60 with a drink) and was immediately impressed by the flavour. It was NOT SWEET. In fact, it was pleasantly tangy and that refreshing flavour paired with the gentle spices made the dish super moreish and easy to eat. I could down the entire plate for lunch easily! It also came with generous ingredients - a WHOLE egg, and two big prawns (deshelled!). This was really authentic tasting of the old-school mee siam I remember. 5/5

The next dish was the Mee Reebus (S$10.90, $13.60 with a drink). This was definitely sweeter and had a peanutty flavour. The thick rich broth was cut through with the green chillis and fried shallots. I enjoyed this quite a lot too, even though I preferred the mee siam. 4/5

The Chicken Rendang Nasi Lemak (S$13.90, $16.60 with a drink) is one of their top sellers, and I can immediately see and taste why. While the rice itself was pretty generic, the chicken rendang was soft and incredibly well-spiced with layers of flavour just coating the chicken drumstick. That sauce is necessary to get the rest of the rice and peanuts with ikan bilis and sambal chilli going. I only wished the rice was more fragrant. 3.5/5

We also tried an assortment of sweet treats, including the super thick Signature Butter Cake (S$5/pc) which was so buttery and indulgent. It also tasted extremely nostalgic and reminded me of home, or someone's grandma's cooking 5/5.

The Signature "Min Jiang Kueh" UFO bun (S$3.50 for plain) was termed as such because there's butter, sugar, and crushed peanuts sandwiched between two fluffy buns with a layer of peanut butter. It was an interesting concept, but I felt like the bun was a bit too thick and dense to work with the dry ingredients inside! 3/5

I liked their Homemade Kaya Toast and Butter on white bread (S$2.80), though I wish the kaya was less sweet and more fragrant. The toast and butter was perfectly done though. 3/5

I've definitely had better elsewhere, but this was a decent rendition. My Yuan Yang Iced drink was average as well, though the ice melted quite quickly and diluted the taste. 3/5

Now on to the Twenty Eight Cafe side! Here's their menu.

We had three mains and a dessert as well, starting with the Avocado Smash (S$20) on top of some sourdough bread with tomato salsa and garlic. The lemon vinaigrette really helped cut through the creaminess of the avocado and I appreciate the crunch and freshness from the pomegranate seeds and pine nuts. However, a tiny gripe was the two poached eggs burst into super watery? yolk when cut into, which was less ideal. However, we gave feedback and was confident that the team will be able to rectify it easily. 3.5/5

The Seafood Cioppino with Sourdough (S$26) was pricey, but that's only because it came with generous amounts of mussels, clams and prawns in a rich laksa broth that wasn't too spicy or thick. It went perfectly with the seafood and the sourdough was the perfect carb foil to soak all the juices up. I could not stop eating this! 4/5

We also had the Club Sandwich (S$20) comes with paprika chicken breast, cheddar cheese, egg, baby spinach, tomatoes, roasted sesame mayo sandwiched in 3 layers of pullman bread, and a side of delicious golden fries. I was bursting by this time, so I only had a small taste. It was good, but not fantastic. I think this is merely a matter of preference, but if there's other exciting things on the menu like laksa mussels or avocado toast, I'm going to opt for that. 3/5

Lastly, we had the aignature Kaya Heritage Souffle Pancake (S$20, 20 mins wait). This was the best dish of the tasting, hands down. The incredibly fluffy souffle pancake was paired with kaya by Kopi 1930, coconut cream, butter and coconut flakes and a side of toasted bread biscuit. It was so fluffy, so light, but the coconut fragrance and the cream helped to give it a Nanyang flavour. A must try! 5/5

Overall, I think the food at Kopi 1930 and Twenty Eight cafe did not disappoint. Even though there were some small misses, most of their dishes were executed well and retains their authenticity and flavours. And I think it is high time that our local kaya toast, coffee and dishes like nasi lemak gets to shine. I would recommend these cafes, especially for the mee siam and souffle pancake!

🙅 Thank you, next
🤷 Try if you are in the area ✔️
💁 Bookmark this

KOPI 1930 and Twenty Eight Cafe
National Gallery Singapore 178957

Open daily from 8am to 7pm

Walk-ins welcome

Thanks to the National Gallery and Cafe team for the invite!

Gadget Review: Is the new LUMOS Tablet Pro worth it?

2025-10-30T14:12:00.001+08:00

Believe it or not but I am actually reviewing this by typing on the keyboard that comes with the LUMOS Tablet Pro and using the tablet as the device to connect to the blog site. I've just spent a week plus reviewing and testing out the LUMOS Tablet Pro and I have to say that I am quite impressed with what it can do vs how much it costs (S$249).

So I was sent the tablet comes with the bundle (+SGD79). First impressions was the 10.1" tablet itself was really light at just 490g. Which is important when one is using it to watch shows or pack it to go for travel. I think I've had meals that were heavier than 490g...

After unboxing and installing all the apps and figuring out where everything goes, my conclusion is that this is an ALL ROUNDER. It comes with 18GB of RAM so it is lightning quick, and runs on Android 15 so it is compatible with all the apps. (I have a ChromeOS Lenovo tablet and it is so laggy I don't use it anymore). There's also a generous 128 GB of storage AND comes with two SIM card slots so this device can also run on mobile internet, not WIFI. That in itself is a game changer.

this is the actual speed of me launching MS Powerpoint

Since the LUMOS Tablet Pro is only 10.1", all Microsoft Apps also can be installed on it for free, such as PowerPoint or Word. That is also very important, because you can work on the go on the tablet to do traditional desktop tasks like editing slides, text (or even type a full blog review like I am here) or editing photos (because you can connect a mouse!). I also installed WPS Office, which can be used to open Office and PDF files. And the battery life can last 8 hours, so a plane ride to/from Japan will be no problem.

This is a photo of the review that I did on the tablet. How very meta.

I installed primarily social media, reading, AV media and work apps. Yes, not much of a gamer. I prefer to read or watch shows/movies!

Screenshot of the home screen with all the productivity apps

The tablet is also in Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1200 px with a 60 Hz refresh rate. Shows downloaded look great and even when I am viewing stuff on Pinterest or Instagram on it there is no pixelation. A tiny gripe is that on the YouTube (Premium) app, I can only go up to 720p quality for some videos but videos were perfectly hi-res (up to 2160p!) on the mobile YouTube site. Another aspect which I think could be improved is the sound quality from the speakers - I think in making it so light, they had to sacrifice something. Like I said, this is an all-rounder. As a pure entertainment machine, it will not hit all the marks.

The bundle is definitely more of an entry-level set up for basic usage if someone do not have all the accessories on hand. I like that the keyboard is rechargeable by USB-C and featherlight, but I have ordered some "feet" to prop it up so it is more comfortable to type on. The mouse needs 2 AAA batteries to work (not included) but I have my own mice, so I can use those. The case is probably the MVP in the bundle since it protects the tablet and acts as a stand. I wonder if they can sell just that because I feel like the other accessories can be gotten elsewhere, or paired with existing ones. The idea of pairing a keyboard, mouse and stylus to turn the tablet into a laptop so easily though is brilliant.

TLDR; the pros and cons in case you are considering:

Cons:

- Less than full sound from speakers

Pros:

- Ultra lightweight with long battery life for portability

- Super fast and responsive, no lag

- Microsoft Office compatibility

- Dual sim card slots for mobile connectivity

- Clear and high resolution screen

- Top tier specs for a low price of just $249 (with 1 year warranty included!)

As you can see, the pros outweighed the cons, where I am really just nitpicking. I just wanted to be 100% honest and transparent about what I felt. But for the price, the LUMOS Tablet Pro far exceeded my expectations for something you can game, work, watch and read stuff on. In fact, I think this might even take over my Kindle on trip and I can insert a local 4G sim card and stay connected so I don't have to keep asking for WIFI.

All in all, if you are looking for an all-rounded premium tablet, I would recommend you consider the LUMOS Tablet Pro from the trusted brand that brought you those incredible projectors (all super good value and durable!).

The tablet comes with a wall charger with the USB-A hole and a USB-A to USB-C cable and SIM tray ejector (handy!).

Thanks to LUMOS for sending me this bundle for review! All opinions and thoughts are 100% my own.

Food Review: The Populus Cafe celebrates 10th Anniversary with Throwback Specials

2025-10-27T17:34:00.136+08:00

Time flies. But when you are in F&B in Singapore, 10 years is quite an achievement. The Populus Cafe at 146 Neil Road has managed to keep the lights on and the food good. through thick and thin, which says something about the quality of the food and their service. I had the pleasure to be invited to try their latest limited edition Wagyu Beef Rendang Donburi, which apparently was one of their first menu items! They will be progressively rolling out other fan favourites from their archives, but the Beef Rendang bowl was fantastic, as is with the other 3 mains I tried.

Like I said, the Heirloom Rendang Wagyu Beef Donburi (S$26++) was fabulous. The wagyu beef did not require much chewing - it was that tender. The spices coating the beef was so flavoursome it went really well with the rice. And the homemade achar tasted so homely and that hit of acidity and crunch really balanced out the dish, which was brought together with the runny egg. This is available only for limited time so go try it as soon as you can! 5/5

My friend picked the Seafood Linguine (S$29), which despite the high price, was actually worth it for the portion size (SUPER generous) and ingredients used. 4 plump and juicy scallops (cooked perfectly) surrounds the linguine, which is topped by fresh crab meat (super fresh and no shells!) and tobiko. The linguine was braised with homemade lobster bisque and you can actually TASTE the umami sweetness from the lobster. Definitely an indulgence worth the calories! 5/5

We also saw the girls at the next table having the Mushroom & Truffle Carbonara (S$24) and it looked and smelled amazing, so we decided to order the same. Since The Populus is halal-certified, the "bacon" in this dish is turkey. Which works because it was not too salty or overpowering. The cream sauce was also smooth but not overwhelmingly creamy or gelat. That allowed the mushroom flavours, including truffle, to really come through, with a burst of additional creaminess from the runny egg. We really enjoyed this dish. 5/5

I thought since we are 3 people who go to the gym, let's have more protein so I also got the Halibut with Leek (S$28) which comes with braised leek with turkey bacon on super soft roasted Atlantic halibut (tastes like a healthier cod fish). The creamy garlic and dill sauce mixed with the chunky potato mash was divine. However, in terms of flavour, this is definitely a bit more muted compared to the other 3, but I would come back for this more regularly because it is healthier. 4.5/5

We also had their new Matcha Creme (S$8.50?) where the creamy matcha layer is poured on top of cold brew coffee. The best of both worlds!

I had their Yuri Matcha Latte (S$6.50) which came with award-winning barista latte art. The poodle was so intricately drawn! It tasted great as well - it was not grassy at all - the milk blended smoothly and the discernible matcha was rich, earthy and fragrant.

Here's their menu as of 2025 November in case you are wondering! Their signature item is the Populus Scramble, and their Spring Pancake & Fried Chicken.

Overall, The Populus deserves all the hype and continued popularity for the past 10 years because they have consistently served up good quality food that reflected the tastes of the time. I'm glad they brought back the Wagyu Beef Rendang bowl, but I am also glad to try other mainstays that were equally delicious. I would highly recommend this place if you are looking for halal cafe food that is modern yet satisfying.

🙅 Thank you, next
🤷 Try if you are in the area
💁 Bookmark this ✔️

The Populus
149 Neil Road, Singapore 088879
Open daily 9am to 6.30pm (until 9.30pm for Fri and Sat)
Reservations on Chope

Thanks to The Populus for the invite!

Gadget Review: UGREEN MagFlow Qi2 25W Magnetic Powerbank

2025-09-28T19:44:00.009+08:00

iPhone 16-17 users rejoice! There's now a 25W Qi2 Magsafe powerbank by UGREEN to fast charge your iPhone without using a wire. I've always liked UGREEN gadgets. Their wires, chargers and accessories are a grade above the usual, which is why I was pleased when I was sent the latest UGREEN MagFlow Qi2 25W magnetic powerbank (retailing at $61.92 SGD on Shopee) to try out.

After 3 weeks of reviewing it when I came back from Greece, I have to say I am suitably impressed with the build quality and effectiveness in charging my devices (Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Buds3 Pro and Apple Airpods Pro 2). Not to mention the colour and sleek design!

Source: UGREEN

Even though I had a wireless pad for my earbuds (I strangely dislike plugging wires into them), the powerbank charges the earbuds without issue. You can see it in action here, hehe.

But of course, the main purpose is to charge the newer Apple/Android smartphones - be it the latest iPhone 17 or 16 as well as the Pixel 10 line. According to the press release,

"It can charge the iPhone 16 Pro Max to approximately 50% in about 30 minutes. The product has a built-in USB-C cable that supports 30W two-way fast charging and can also be used as a portable lanyard. Coupled with UGREEN's SmartCharge intelligent charging technology, it can simultaneously power three devices. Additionally, the product offers a strong, stable magnetic attachment, real-time power display, and features 13 layers of safety protection, including temperature control."

Source: UGREEN

Actually for me, the most important factor in buying a power bank is SAFETY. Goodness knows how many power banks have gone up in flames that airlines are extra careful about them, even making sure they are within line of sight on flights. That's because unsafe power banks are like bombs. And since I charge my devices and power banks beside my bed (and head), that is one risk I am not willing to take for something cheaper. When I use the power bank, my device and the power bank get slightly warm but not overheated.

The power bank came with a bit of charge out of the box, but charges up quickly to 100% with my USB-C super fast charging 35W wall plug and wire.

I like that the lanyard also doubles as a wire because sometimes it is more efficient to charge with built-in wire when i just leave it in the bag or on the table. Goodness knows how many wires I bought overseas because I have a powerbank but NO WIRE.

This UGREEN powerbank is not the slimmest I have seen, but I always have doubts about those tiny magnetic power banks that claim to be 10,000mAh. I verified this one against my Samsung's 4855mAh and it could charge my phone from empty to full at lease once. Not charge it twice over from zero to 100% though, because ICYMI and according to Google, "A 10,000mAh power bank has an actual usable capacity of approximately 6,000 to 7,000mAh, which is about 60-70% of its advertised rating. This is due to energy losses from voltage conversion and charging inefficiencies within the power bank and the device being charged."

Overall, I've been very satisfied with the UGREEN MagFlow Qi2 25W 10,000mAh magnetic power bank (buy on Shopee) And my recommendations when it comes to tech has to be something I use and like, so even though this was sent to me for review, I have given my honest thoughts.

Here's the TLDR - it's to me quite an obvious choice.

Pros ✅

High safety assurance from a trusted and established brand

Super fast wireless and wired charging for newer phones

Strong magnetic suction

No overheating

Built in USB-C cable and lanyard

Sleek design and colour

Cons ❌

Thicker and heavier than normal wired 10,000mAh power banks

Slightly pricier than normal

Thanks to UGREEN for sending me the device for review!

Lunch review: SHOU Handmade Dim Sum Restaurant at KADA Maxwell, #01-02/03, Singapore 069183

2025-09-26T15:59:00.004+08:00

I was invited to try out the signature lunch menu at SHOU, a handmade dim sum restaurant at the new-ish KADA building beside Maxwell food centre. I was intrigued because the dim sum disparity in Singapore is huge - you have the local cheap and cheerful 126 alley types vs the super premium hotel types and nothing much in between except maybe Tim Ho Wan. Dim sum for lunch in the CBD is also another rarity since dim sum typically takes quite a long time to serve and eat and is hence reserved for the weekends/PH. I was thus pleasantly surprised by the Signature Lunch Set at SHOU.

For just $21.90++, there is a 10-hour simmered broth chicken pao fan (great for those with shellfish allergies!). It also comes with 3 steamed and 3 fried dim sum items and a cup of premium Yunnan Pu 'Er tea from 100-year-old tea trees. The value alone is incredible - but of course, how did it taste?

The restaurant itself is nice and minimal - it turns into a Japanese izakaya by night, hence the bar. But the rest of the restaurant, while somewhat non-air conditioned, was cooling and well ventilated.

Here's the simple dim sum and food menu. Prices look really decent to me for this economy, in this location.

I really love the dessert offerings and the fact that drinks include dim sum beverages like Hong Kong milk tea, coffee and pu'er (choice of 100 or 200 year old).

The chicken pao fan was delicious. One bowl was enough for sharing between two (we got another noodle dish on top of the set's). The broth was rich, comforting and full of umami that can only come from hours on the stove, not MSG. Amongst the dim sum, my favourites were the steamed siew mai and har gao. They tasted handmade - and that is the point of dim sum to me! None of that factory mass production stuff. The pan-fried beancurd skin shrimp roll was yummy too. 4/5

I'm still thinking of the Deep-fried pork belly noodles, mild spicy ($10.50) which we got to share as well. The noodles were perfectly al dente, not alkaline, and goes well with the incredibly fatty pork belly that melted in our mouths. 4.5/5

Outside of the set lunch, we also tried their House special savoury shrimp dumplings mild spicy (5 pcs for $5.80) which was the right mix of sour and spicy. 4.5/5

There was also the Pan-fried radish cake (5 pcs for $5.50) which is yet another dim sum favourite. Here it was executed really well with the exterior crispy while the interior remained moist and flavourful. Takes skill! 4.5/5

Lastly, not pictured, but as part of the set the Honey Osmanthus Wolfberry Jelly was also superb. I was so full by then but the jelly disappeared in a flash in front of me, and unless magic was involved, I was the culprit! It was the perfect light and sweet palate cleanser for the meal.

I would highly recommend checking out SHOU, as it surpassed my every expectation. The CP ratio is super high and the food was delicious. The only downside to be prepared for is the massive food coma after lunch. But there are tonnes of coffee places nearby so you will be fine!

🙅 Thank you, next

🤷 Try if you are in the area

💁 Bookmark this ✔️

SHOU Handmade Dim Sum

KADA Maxwell, #01-02, Singapore 069183

11am to 2.30pm daily, walk-ins welcome

Thanks to SHOU for the invite!

Food Review: POCHA! Korean Street Dining at JEM #03-05/06, Singapore 608549

2025-08-01T11:05:00.087+08:00

I love the idea of Korean food, like all Singaporeans influenced by the K-wave soft power. However, I find Korean food to actually be quite similar after a while, even in Korea, as a lot of their food relies on the sweet/spicy sauce. However, I was intrigued when popular Korean street food restaurant POCHA! invited me to try the menu featuring food from all parts of Korea, not just Seoul, in July in JEM. This menu style might no longer be available, but the dishes will remain largely intact I think!

We started with some Sundubu Jiggae (S$15.90) which was warm, comforting and came with plenty of ingredients including an entire block of soft tofu. Nothing mind-blowing, but decent. It was a great way to warm us up for what's to come! 3.5/5

The Jjajangmyeon ($13.90) was a bit strange though. The thick black sauce DID NOT taste like normal jjajang sauce. Instead it was quite watery and had a strong peanut taste. While the noodles were nice and bouncy, I was quite disturbed by the sauce. 2/5

The Daejeon Seafood Kalguksu ($16.90) was a bit bland, not gonna lie, after the prior dishes. It felt like something someone would order if they are looking for a super light dish to soothe the stomach. However, all the seafood inside were pretty fresh and you could taste the seafood flavour in the soup. Noodles were pretty average. 3/5

One of my favourite was surprisingly this Stir-Fried Octopus ($14.90) which was spicy (not overbearing) and slightly sweet. The strong fllavoured sauce and soft onions went perfectly with the bouncy baby octopi. 4.5/5

I also really enjoyed this Stir-Fried Chicken With Cheese ($13.90) which was my friend's favourite. The cheese was melty on the hot plate, and the chicken chunks were tender and coated with a similar spicy sweet sauce. 4/5

We also tried the Busan Gukbap ($20.90) which was the most expensive dish on the menu. It came hot and bubbling on the stone pot - did not look like much, but we could all taste the 12 hours that were put into simmering the pork belly! The generous chunks of soft pork belly had a distinctive porky taste - not gamey, but some people might not be a fan. For me, that was fine. I liked this dish quite a bit! 4/5

Lastly we had the Rose Tteokbokki ($12.90) which was also very satisfying because there were pork belly slices mixed in and the sauce was balanced between creamy and spicy. 4/5

We ended the meal with a refreshing yuzu sorbet ($3.90) - there was only 1 portion by the time we got to it, so their food does run out!

The restaurant had a bit of a queue at around 7pm on a weekday, indicating its popularity.

I appreciate that POCHA! is bringing craveable Korean street food to Singapore at wallet-friendly prices. While a few of their dishes were misses, the general vibe and quality of their stir-fried dishes and stews are there. I would still recommend them as a place to go if you have Korean food craving and do not want to spend too much!

🙅 Thank you, next

🤷 Try if you are in the area ✔️

💁 Bookmark this

POCHA! Korean Street Food Dining

50 Jurong Gateway Rd, #03-05/06 Moon Moon Food (JEM), Singapore 608549

Open daily from 11.30am to 10pm

Website to contact/book or see menu

Thanks to POCHA! for the invite!

Buffet review: Flavours of the Lion City SG60 Buffet at Edge, L3 Pan Pacific Singapore 039595

2025-07-31T11:36:00.004+08:00

I love local food. But it is tough to get to the best of Singapore's local food, which includes everything from chilli crab to roti prata without spending a lot of time traversing the island. Which is why when the Pan Pacific team invited me to their "Flavours of the Lion City" buffet at the Edge restaurant that is available from now until 9 August , I immediately said yes. I think Singaporeans show their love to the country by indulging in its food - I know I do! And this buffet is also a great way for foreigners and tourists to sample the best of what Singapore had to offer (except chicken rice, maybe. That one is easy enough to find.)

The buffet's also affordably priced if you think about what you're getting and considering the price of food nowadays. It is easily $60 for a meal with one glass of wine at a restaurant and there is no unlimited portions of ANYTHING.

Weekday Dinner View Full Menu

10 July to 9 August 2025, Monday to Thursday 6:00pm to 10:00pm

SGD98++ per adult | SGD49++ per child

Weekend Dinner View Full Menu

10 July to 9 August 2025, Friday to Sunday 6:00pm to 10:00pm

SGD118++ per adult | SGD59++ per child

This buffet also comes with free flow local drinks stall with 2 options on rotation per night. I love the concept of the old school container and there was Soya Cincau and Syrup Bandung when I visited. The other options are Teh O Iced Limau (Ice Lemon Tea) and Syrup Limau - classics as well!

What's outstanding in this buffet is the Salted Baked Crab, which was novel and kind of ingenious. The crabs are baked in a giant wok of salt, which draws out the sweet crab flavour without making any mess since the thick shells protect what's inside from being salted and there's no sticky gooey sauce on the crab, leaving one to choose to have it plain or to dip it in sauce.

There's chilli crab sauce and mantous provided. The sauce was quite to my liking - it was slightly sweet but not overpoweringly so and had a bit of a spicy kick, but again moderated.

The salt bake method really made peeling and eating the crabs so much easier!

I could also taste the pure flavour of the crab without any sauces. And the shell came off easily, which is a sign of freshness! Towards the end of the evening, there were no more crabs, so if you are coming for this buffet be sure to get here before 8pm, I'd say! Savvy buffet goers will come at 6pm when it starts.

Other than the salt baked crab, there's also lots of other normal buffet options like roasted meat.

As well as Boston lobsters, oysters, clams and prawns.. all super fresh and chilling on ice.

So I started with some sashimi, oyster and the Boston lobster with some nam prik sauce (Thai green chilli). There was also a live mushroom tempura frying station for fresh tempura.

The Edge is also famous for their Signature Laksa, which is also available for their local high tea at the Pacific Emporium downstairs. The laksa is so freakin' delicious and I don't say it lightly - I would know since my parents used to sell laksa and I've eaten my fair share. Here, the laksa broth is thick and full of spice but it is not fiery such that you cannot taste or enjoy it. The thick beehoon mixed with yellow noodles is my go-to combination, though you can ask the server to make it any way you want. It comes with some tau pok, a quail egg, fish cake and peeled local Vannamei prawn. It is a big bowl that was going to take up precious stomach space, but I finished it.

There's also a Peking duck station where you can make Peking Duck rolls with the skin provided.

Other local classics were also fried or made fresh on the spot, including this Wok-fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle in Opah Leaf (from the betel nut palm). This rendition is not too wet and has a generous seafood aroma and crispy lard bits which paired well with the chilli. My friend pointed out that every local dish has its own specialty chilli (as it is with our local food - we are quite peculiar that way), which is a nice attention to detail.

I also tried the Giant Cast Iron Pan Fried Oyster Omelette which was paired with another type of chilli, a more sour and lighter version. It was also very delicious and fresh since it was fried moments ago!

I also tried the Braised Kong Bak with Lotus Leaf Bun, where the pork belly was melt-in-my-mouth tender. This is one of my comfort foods, I think.

We also saw other local delights but unfortunately lacked the stomach space to try, such as the Teochew Style Steamed Local Farm Hybrid Grouper, Poached Local Farm Xia Pai Chai with Egg White Crab Meat Sauce and Pork Lard Mix Rice with Crispy Pork Lard. We had to save space for the dessert station, and for this buffet there's the Durian Pie Tee, which saw super rich durian puree poured into pie tee shells. The same puree was in the durian pengat, which was so sinfully good. We were also very surprised by how good the Signature Durian Pandan cake was - it tasted light and fluffy despite the strong durian aroma.

All in all, I felt super grateful that I got to try this Flavours of the Lion City buffet that is specially curated for Singapore's 60th birthday. It was a good reminder of how good our local food is given we're still such a young country. I could not recommend this enough as well. The weekend version has slightly more premium seafood but both versions are worth it. Go before 9 August!

🙅 Thank you, next

🤷 Try if you are in the area

💁 Bookmark this ✔️

Edge

Level 3, Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore

Mondays to Thurs 6pm to 10pm, Fri to Sun 6pm to 10pm

Reserve on Tablecheck ($100 credit card authorisation hold required)

Thank you Pan Pacific Singapore for inviting me!

Bubble Tea Intel: No. 17 Tea opens at Esso East Coast Singapore

2025-07-31T10:54:00.002+08:00

One of my favourite bubble tea brands, No. 17 Tea, has opened at Esso petrol station at East Coast Road recently. I was invited to the opening day. It is on the right corner of the petrol kiosk when you walk in the main entrance.

I got the chance to try the kiosk-outlet exclusive Croffle (S$3.50) that is made fresh on the spot. It was sweet, flaky on the outside and fluffy on the inside. A superb snack!

I tried their Lychee Oolong with Aloe Vera that day and it was super refreshing for the swelteringly hot day. If you bring the reusable cup, you will also get 17% off your drink!

Here's the bubble tea menu. Tap on it to view it in a larger size.

Also note that if you are studying around the area, there's a student special for $2.50 Pearl Milk Tea if you flash your student pass!

Food review: Curry Rice Stand 'SAGE' by Yasunori Doi at #01-36 150 Orchard Rd, Orchard Plaza, Singapore 238841

2025-07-28T18:44:00.006+08:00

My close friend, who is a fan of Japanese curry like me, told me about this mysterious place called Curry Rice Stand 'SAGE' that serves up Japanese curry rice for lunch and turns into a one-man exquisite Japanese fine dining place, SAGE by Yasunori Doi, by night. Of course I was intrigued. I was undeterred by the fact that we might not get to eat it if we don't show up right before opening time at noon to grab seats, and back then was only open Tues to Thurs. I got there with said friend and another friend right after some hunting. Turns out, the place faces out to an open foyer of sorts at Orchard Plaza and is right opposite the famous Bistro Du Le Pin with a long queue for lunch as well. I almost thought that was the Curry Rice Stand queue. Whew! Once sat, I can see why we needed to be there early - and why dinner is by reservations only. There was only 8 counter seats and I think 2 more table seats!

In any case, reading their latest Instagram update, as of 21 June 2025 the curry rice stand is open from 12pm to 1.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays only and requires a reservation for their Lunch Short Course (S$60++). The other curry rice items should still be available for walk-in but there is only 10 portions daily. When we visited in May, there was also no Wagyu Steak Set (S$35) which is available now. We did try everything else though!

The Chef's Whimsical Special Curry and Rice (S$20) turned out to be a combination of beef and chicken, which worked out for my friend. She also added the marinated vegetable of the day (S$3) which is no longer available. I tried it and the curry was divine with the pearly Japanese short grain rice. The pieces of meat were tender. It is also impossible to eat less rice than the portioned amount (there's free top up of rice, though!). The curry was velvety smooth and infused deep with umami flavour. 5/5

My other friend got the Lobster Bisque Curry and Rice (S$20) which really was like having a super rich lobster bisque masquerading as curry. This is every seafood lover's dream. Of course for the price you cannot expect there to be lobster meat in the curry but the essence is every bit there. I think the chunks you see were beef. This was the heaviest curry of the lot - I think if you are new here, go for the other 3 types of curry. 5/5

I got the Red Wine Wagyu Curry & Rice (S$23), which I topped up $3 for grilled cheese. The torched mozzarella was a good touch to add a bit of creaminess to the heavy red wine curry sauce that is perfumed with chunks of melt-in-mouth wagyu. The combination of the slightly astringent red wine with the intense spices of the curry mixed with stretchy cheese and rice created a party in my mouth! 5/5

We also got a crab cream croquette (S$8, no long available on menu) to try and this was also executed perfectly to achieve that balance between the creamy potato and the crab. 5/5

Lastly, we also got a wagyu beef potato croquette (S$8) and again it was perfection in a patty. 5/5

Writing this is making me miss the curry rice! It is also very rare for me to give 5 out of 5 for EVERY. SINGLE. DISH. That's how mind-blowingly good it was for me. I highly recommend you to check this out if dinner at SAGE is a bit outside of your price range because lunch is a good deal for the quality. Props to Chef Yasunori as well for doing this and I hope to get to eat it again soon!

🙅 Thank you, next

🤷 Try if you are in the area

💁 Bookmark this ✔️

Curry Rice Stand 'SAGE'

#01-36 150 Orchard Rd, Orchard Plaza, Singapore 238841

Saturdays and Sundays 12pm to 1.30pm (10 portions available per day)

Reserve in advance for the Lunch Set at this link

Italian Food Review: Thirty9 at 39 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089617

2025-07-28T17:59:00.002+08:00

I've been wanting to visit Thirty9, an Italian restaurant in the cosy Duxton Hill enclave that is right next door to Latteria Mozzarella Bar, for a while now after hearing my friend rave about the baked red snapper. So I finally made it there on a random weekday catch up with a girl friend! The place was quite empty at 7.30pm on a weekday. It's evident that F&B restaurants in the Duxton Rd/Hill area are struggling somewhat. Nonetheless, it was nice and quiet, which suits us perfectly.

No food smell despite being near the kitchen window. The AC was not very strong though.

Here is the menu, which contains a lot of mouthwatering options. However, I am trying to reduce carbs, so no pasta. Prices are typical of restaurants in the area.

They even have pizza, which I also did not try. Sigh, why are all the yummy things in life made with wheat.

Me and my friend decided to get some white wine, and have a prawn salad to share first. The Finocchi and Gamberi (S$18 for small, $24 for large) was made with mixed mesclun salad, generous amounts of fennel, avocado, orange slices, dill, red prawns and lemon dressing. It was the perfect tart and refreshing salad to whet our appetites. 3.5/5

We were really there for the red snapper casserole. Initially they told us they had sold out of the red snapper. But after some fridge digging, we were told that they have another fish available that can be prepared the same way. The Whole red snapper casserole (for two, 25 minutes wait, S$68) uses seasonal seafood, spicy tomato sauce and is covered with crusted pizza dough.

There were generous amounts of clams, squid and spices. The tomato sauce was light, tangy and not too spicy at all, which makes it the perfect sauce for the white fish. The fish was fresh and meaty, which made us incredibly stuffed! 4/5

I am quite satisfied with the meal at Thirty9 despite just have 2 dishes, and the service was affable too. The only downside was that me and my friend were not big eaters! I would like to try out the pasta, pizza and other Italian dishes next time.

🙅 Thank you, next

🤷 Try if you are in the area ✔️

💁 Bookmark this

Thirty9

39 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089617

Mondays to Saturdays 12-2.30pm, 6-10.30pm

Closed on Sundays

Reservations call 6717 3939 or visit thirty9.sg

Bubble Tea Intel: Cha Mulan 茶木兰 TCM bubble tea menu

2025-07-28T15:36:00.005+08:00

Have you heard of TCM bubble tea? Probably not, but it was inevitable I think (and quite genius), since tea originates from China. I recently discovered Cha Mulan 茶木兰 at AMK Central and decided to buy a cup of the Radiant White Peach Oolong tea after being offered a sample by a super friendly shop staff. Their menu is pretty small but contains quality peach gum, goji berries and snow fungus. Other than the "collagen tea" they also offer Korean Fruit Vinegar teas.

Here's the tiny shop. Plus there's a buy 3 get 1 free promo, but I did not get it because I was worried it will not keep well in the fridge. Turns out I need not worry because non-milk versions can be kept!

I think giving out samples is a good idea because they are a new brand. And each sample had a bit of the peach gum, and the guy said it was 50% sugar.

I opted for a 25% sugar Radiant tea. It was not the lowest priced at $5.90, but there are at least healthy toppings inside! And it came in a lovely insulated bag and reusable cup with lid. Pretty good packaging!

Here are their outlets. This is a non-sponsored or invited post! Check them out if you are curious.

📍Jewel Changi B2 (1 Aug)
📍Suntec B1 (Oct)
📍703 AMK Central
📍Chinatown Complex
📍Bukit Merah ABC
📍84 Marine Parade
📍Bedok 216

Tonkatsu Review: Tonshou at 51 Tras St, Singapore 078990

2025-07-11T13:00:00.000+08:00

Tonshou, the world's first charcoal-grilled pork cutlet restaurant from Korea, has been on my radar since they opened late December 2024 and I was so glad I finally went with a friend recently for our long overdue meet up. The small shophouse restaurant was in the Tanjong Pagar area and had limited seating, which is why I had avoided it when they first opened because you cannot make any reservations. Instead, you have to join the virtual queue and turn up within 7 minutes when your number is called. I did exactly that and the long snaking queues were gone so me and my friend only waited for about 20 minutes to be seated after arriving at 7pm.

Tonshou is a popular charcoal grilled tonkatsu place from Busan and their Singapore outlet is the first international outlet, which is a big deal. My expectations were quite high because they are a specialty tonkatsu restaurant, meaning they only do one thing, and that thing should be good.

I think the counter seats make people eat more quickly - it is definitely not a chit chat and linger opposite each other at regular tables type of place but more of a eat side by side, enjoy the food, then leave.

Here are some pages of their menu. Prices are also decent, starting from $28 for the Hire Katsu (recommended). All sets come with corn soup, free flow rice and cold green tea.

The cold corn soup was refreshing and light, which whetted my appetite for the set which was quickly served upon ordering. They have a very efficient team behind the counter!

Apparently, Tonshou uses a unique four-stage cooking process using low heat, high heat, resting and charcoal grilling. My friend had the Hokkaido Kurobuta Rosu Katsu Set (S$32), which I tried a piece of. It was fatty, juicy and meaty with the distinctive Kurobuta taste. I really enjoyed that but I wonder if I would be able to finish everything if I had this by myself. 4/5

Instead, I got the recommended Hire Katsu Set ($28) which features these coined sized pieces of clean-tasting pork that is purposely pink in the middle. Yes, they even had a sign to tell you this is on purpose and it is safe to consume. I believe them too - a restaurant like Tonshou stakes their reputation on preparing the pork exactly the way it should be done. Every bite was so good I did not even finish half the rice! The clean tasting tender pork with the perfectly crispy exterior was delicious. I struggled towards the end to finish the last two pieces but managed. I was stuffed, but in a good way. 4.5/5

Overall it was a great experience trying out the Korean tonkatsu at Tonshou. It was delicious and value-for-money and the queue wasn't too long. Would recommend!

🙅 Thank you, next
🤷 Try if you are in the area
💁 Bookmark this ✔️

Tonshou
51 Tras St, Singapore 078990
Daily 11am to 9.30pm
Join the virtual queue at this link

Food Review: Black Rock Fishhead Steamboat at 31 Kaki Bukit Rd 3, #02-01, Singapore 417818

2025-07-11T12:23:00.007+08:00

Who would have thought that there will be good zichar and fishhead steamboat inside an industrial building? But that is exactly the case with Black Rock Fishhead Steamboat at 31 Kaki Bukit Rd 3, located on the second floor of the Techlink building. This also means there is air-conditioning in the massive second floor eatery served by the fishhead steamboat and zichar stall and the Kay Lee Roast Meat Joint just next to it. That's great because steamboat and zi char are often sweaty affairs. However, the AC is not super strong (how can it be with such a big space) and the charcoal smell does linger a bit but it wasn't too bad and at least it was not the greasy food smell.

We could see the neon signs for the eatery on the second floor when driving in. There's plenty of parking inside after 6pm when I went for an invited dinner with 6 of my friends (it is also a farewell dinner for a dear friend who's relocated to the US).

Here's the menu. The fish head steamboat uses charcoal to heat up the soup (hence the name black rock), but it also lent the steamboat with a smoky aroma. Prices are super decent in this economy. We opted for red grouper slices because I am a super noob and an impatient eater - I ain't got the skills nor patience to eat around the fish head!

There are also other seafood dishes available.

And of course, Kay Lee Signature Roasted Meat from the next stall since both are owned by the same person/group. A perfect match, since we could surf and turf! I think we had Signature Dang Gui Roasted Duck (half $38) and Signature Char Siew (Small $15, Large $35).

Other than their fish head steamboat, Black Rock is also known for their Signature Crab Roe Noodles which we did not get a chance to try since there were many other dishes then. I will be back for those!

The Signature Dang Gui Roasted Duck (half $38) arrived first. This was perfection with shiny, crackling skin and juicy duck meat all surrounded by that mild herbal fragrance. 4/5

The Signature Char Siew (Small $15, Large $35) was faultless too - the fatty slices with that caramelised charred smokey exterior really whetted my appetite for more. One of my favourite lunch dishes is char siew roast meat rice, and if this was closer to my place I would be a regular. 4.5/5

The Red Grouper slices Fish Head Steamboat (Small $52, Medium $67, Large $82) arrived promptly after a short while, piping hot and boiling from the charcoal inside. It was chock full of ingredients like yam and veggies. There's also seaweed inside, which to be honest, overpowered some of the sweet taste of the broth. Next time I will request for it to be put aside! The fish slices were super fresh tasting and cooked in seconds in the piping hot soup. The soup was so addictive that we kept drinking it but be warned because it can get a bit salty towards the end. 4/5

We were also treated to two huge crab dishes, which are new at Black Rock. Apparently the head chef used to work at Ah Yat Seafood. And though I am sure prices are seasonal, it was only $88 for two crabs in a single sauce - chilli crab or salted egg when we went in May 2025. That is such a good deal!

While I really liked the sweet and salty salted egg combi that coated the crabs, the crab meat itself was a bit dry and stale compared to the chilli crab's. I think it might be due to the preparation method since I saw fresh crabs in a cage outside the stall so they were fresh. 3/5

The chilli crab was so good on the other hand. Some people in my group felt that the sauce was a bit too sweet for their liking, but I do enjoy this tomato-ey sweetness more than the aggressively spicy and salty type. The crab meat here was sweet, succulent and elevated by the sauce. 4.5/5

We also had a few accompanying dishes to try such as the Two Ways Kailan S$12, $18, $23)

topped with pork floss. I enjoyed the crispy fried kailan (a bit like kale) on topped of the normal cooked kailan which was a bit overcooked for me. 3/5

We were also given the Claypot Pork Belly with Mei Xiang Salted Fish (Small $20, Large $28) to try, which is a rare dish in Singapore. A Malaysian delicacy that smartly combines the umami flavours of the salted fish with the tender braised pork belly slices! I felt like this rendition was not bad, a little too salty (it is a rice thief) but I suspect that the ones in Malaysia will taste even better. 3.5/5

We also had a classic, the Prawn Paste Chicken ($12, $18, $22), to round off the dinner. These disappeared quickly - they were fried to golden perfection with that distinctive seafood flavour. Another zichar genius. 4/5

Overall, despite some misses, I would still recommend Black Rock Fish Head Steamboat to anyone who is looking to have a big group family-style zichar and steamboat dinner because of the value, the dining experience and the signature dishes. You won't go wrong with their signatures. There could be slightly longer wait times when the crowd comes in, but every dish is made a la minute fresh so I think it is worth waiting for.

🙅 Thank you, next
🤷 Try if you are in the area ✔️
💁 Bookmark this

BLACK ROCK FISHHEAD STEAMBOAT (黑石鱼头炉）

Techlink building, 31 Kaki Bukit Rd 3, #02-01, Singapore 417818

Daily 11.15am to 2pm and 5 to 10pm

Reservations call or WhatsApp 81393599

Thank you James for the invite!

BKK Michelin 1-Star Review: Restaurant Resonance at 108, 4 Sukhumvit 65, Phra Khanong Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110

2025-06-20T15:15:00.003+08:00

I had booked the 1-Michelin Star Restaurant Resonance after seeing it on my good friend's IGS, even before I landed in Bangkok. That was how much I trusted in my friend's recommendations and I had made it my mission on this trip to go to as many Michelin restaurants as I can. I was glad that Restaurant Resonance, which was awarded a star in early 2024 and serves up "boundless cuisine" as experienced by Japanese Chef-Owner Shunsuke Shimomura, was my first.

The restaurant's modern, elegant and comfortable. I was seated in the corner which was perfectly intimate yet offered me a view of the rest of the restaurant. My menu was enclosed in a wax-sealed envelope with my name on it, which gave a personalised touch.

Here's the 7-course Saturday lunch menu, which was THB 2,900++, which is THB 3,413 after service charge and VAT and that worked out to be about $133 SGD per person. I can tell you right now that it was worth every dollar, in fact, it definitely feels like a steal.

Here's the wine list (as of early March 2025) in case anyone's interested!

I started with the firefly squid in a foamy, creamy soup, which was interesting but firefly squids were not my favourite. The taste was too strong for me but the soup moderated it.

The snack was a fried anago topped with some roe, I believe. This was very delicious and whetted my appetite for what's to come!

The second course was this Amberjack sashimi in blueberry sauce with some seaweed. The fish was covered in the seaweed, giving it an air of mystery. The dish itself was delicate - every flavour was carefully balanced. Now I see why it is called RESONANCE.

The squid and celeraic dish was fine - again, squid is not my favourite seafood, though here it was perfectly tender and the light citrusy sauce with bits of popping roe provided a textural contrast.

The fried Kuruma ebi, or prawn, with egg sauce was more up my alley. The sweet prawn had the perfect crisp outside and the creamy egg sauce below grounded the sweetness and crunchiness.

The main meat course, the Tokyo-X, features grilled specialty pork from Tokyo, which is created by crossbreeding Beijing Black, Berkshire, and Duroc pigs. The pork is known for the marbling, exceptional flavour and tenderness. I can attest to it. The flavour was so full and rich, it almost felt like I was having the "wagyu" of pork!

The last main course before dessert was the chicken curry. It might look unassuming but it was the best dish of the lunch, hands down. The curry was first presented in a pot before it was ladled out in front of me with some rice. The silky curry was full of intense spice (not that spicy) which went so well with chunks of tender chicken and the delightful Japanese short grain rice. Sometimes, simplicity is the hardest to pull off, and Chef did it flawlessly.

The last course was this pear dessert, which was refreshing and very gentle. I could not ask for more - the meal portions were just nice - I was full but not uncomfortably stuffed.

And the funniest thing was being gifted a bread to take away in a box! It was strange - usually bread's given at the start of the meal. I was so full but had to take a bite of the warm, savoury and chewy bread. Yum!

I'm super pleased with the experience (both the food and service) at Restaurant Resonance. Chef Shunsuke was so friendly as well - I had the chance to speak with him after the meal. I would 100% recommend anyone who is going to Bangkok to book a meal there - and the Saturday lunch is a great economical option if one is strapped for time or money.

🙅 Thank you, next

🤷 Try if you are in the area

💁 Bookmark this ✔️

Restaurant Resonance

108, 4 Sukhumvit 65, Phra Khanong Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110

Mondays to Saturdays 6-10pm, Sat 12-2.30pm

Closed on Sundays

Book on Chope

BKK Michelin 3-Star Restaurant Review: Sorn at 56 Soi Sukhumvit 26, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

2025-06-06T16:52:00.005+08:00

Some of you might know that I spent 5 weeks in Bangkok and during that time I was mildly obsessed with trying Michelin-starred restaurants after having a great first experience at Resonance. I was midway through my trip when at the encouragement of my foodie friend, I decided to try booking Thailand's only 3-star Michelin restaurant, Sorn. And I was lucky enough to secure a seat on my actual birthday. I booked online via Tablecheck - seats are released on the 25th of the previous month at 12pm Bangkok time. You just have to prepare like you are booking concert tickets - wait for the seconds to count down before clicking on the book button and pay for the meal upfront (it was SGD333 incl. of service and tax).

The menu was extensive and I love the touch of customisation with the Happy Birthday printed on the menu for me. It made me feel special!

After a brief introduction with a leathery map of where the cuisine is from - Southern Thailand (bordering north of Malaysia), the show got going with the Amuse Bouche, aptly named Let's Eat Rice. There was Tapi River prawn, Jasmine rice, sago crackers and prawn fat. It was one of the best bites of the meal, IMO, making a very strong first impression on me for what's to come. I love the presentation of the ingredients beforehand as well.

We started with the prelude, or series of small bites. They were exquisite, mostly because of the expert blend of Thai spices with seafood. It started with the Hand Caught Abalone which had young mangosteen, hoi tai seaweed and green mango. The bouncy cuboids of abalone were a textural delight with the refreshing and cold mangosteen/green mango? liquid.

The second appetiser, the Silver Sillago, was expertly fried with turmeric, scallop sat on top of a smear of Ming aralial curry paste. It looked quite scary but it was a bite of crunch and an explosion of flavours!

The Ocean trio with raw marinated Blue Crab, Phuket Lobster, and Spotted Babylon conch was presented first in its raw ingredient form. What a colourful tray!

Each bite was fresh and sweet despite being raw. I love tasting the ocean this way!

Then there's this sinister looking sotong which saw Andaman squid, eggplant, lobster and pickled chilli on a stick. I am not sure where the eggplant and lobster is, but it was fun to eat this. The chilli did have a kick though!

The Sorbet which was very much needed because my mouth was slightly on fire from the sotong dish.

This was a prelude of what is to come. It was followed by what they named the Crab Stick, which saw mud crab roe on blue crab leg slathered with chilli paste. This set my mouth on fire, and I was advised to drink more wine to help quell the flames.

They got the Melinjo broth ready on hand immediately after the crab stick though, knowing the spice would be quite strong for those unused to it. The broth was made with coconut milk, coconut meat, dried shrimp and squid and was just what was needed! Next up was the Gor Lae, or cockle and dried abalone on a stick grilled on a mini pot. This was fine (I was still distracted by the lingering spiciness).

The only vegetable course was a sort of tossed salad which awakened my taste buds for more. It's called The Sea Holds the Forest, and someone actually tossed the turmeric rice with Southern herbs and budu sauce by my table and served it.

Now on to the main course - the Thai way of sharing. Chef Ice actually came to my table and shared more about the 4 Thai ways of cooking (stir-fry, deep fry, curry and soup) and revealed the OUTSTANDING rice in a charcoal-fired claypot. Every grain was standing upright when the lid was opened, and the heady fragrance of the Thai jasmine rice was intoxicating. He said he learnt how to cook the rice from farmers - the way the heat rises from the charcoal below causes the rice to stand up that way.

The rice came with condiments, which is apparently typical of this cuisine. I was asked to try each one by itself first. There was pork rind, sweet shrimp, dried yellow curry, fish sauce with chilli and Som Hoak chilli paste (I skipped that).

There were 3 sides to go with the rice, starting with this Stink Bean with redtail catfish and Southern curry paste. It was not as stinky as one would imagine and went perfectly with the rice.

Next was half a omelette which saw tiger prawns cooked with organic egg, shallot and sweet basil. This was the first dish where I though it missed the mark in comparison to local streetside omelettes because the brown bits of the omelette itself was tasteless.

Half of the omelette was served and the remainder brought back to the kitchen (but not wasted, I was assured!)

There was a tiny bit of Morning Glory with abalone liver, dried scallop and shrimp. Enough for me to eat with the rice - at this point I was feeling a little bit stuffed and there was a lot of things happening (the condiments, the omelette etc). So this unfortunately got lost.

The main savoury dish was the Roti with Wagyu Green Curry. It was here that I felt like the spice was too heavy for me to fully enjoy the dish and flavours - it felt like I was getting punched, Muay Thai style,, by the chilli. Perhaps I had the unfortunate luck of biting into a piece of chilli or something but it was PAINFUL.

But the plum soup with bamboo shoots helped, though it was not served as swiftly as the melinjo broth. My lips were red and swollen!

Finally it was time for desserts after that and I appreciated the off-menu passionfruit birthday cake that I was surprised with! It was so good I'd almost wanted to have all of it, but I was bursting (and told to save space for more desserts!). I'm so glad I decided to bite the bullet and come here for my birthday, and managed to get a seat.

For dessert, there was black sticky rice with young coconut ice cream and cashews which I adored. The play on temperatures and textures for me is what determines a great dessert!

There was also a small bowl of seasonal canned fruit which was also very refreshing. It perfectly matched the flavours from the beginning to the end.

Lastly I had the Petit Four (more like 9!) with Southern style tea or coffee. There was also actually a pot of herbal tea for digestion. These little kuih bahulus (what I call them in Singapore) were served first.

It was followed by a cart of Thai kuehs/sweets and I could not resist getting 1 of each! They were worth it and I finished them at a leisurely pace with the teas.

All guests were also given a red guava jam and cashew butter to take home, which was a super sweet gesture!

This was random but even the restroom on the second floor was decorated prettily.

Overall, I felt blessed to be able to experience Sorn: Southern Fine Dining and be taken on a journey with the play on ingredients, flavours and cooking styles, many of which were lost traditional methods. I am a firm believer that Asia is just as good if not better than the Western counterpart when it comes to food and Sorn is a shining example. Highly recommended if you can book a seat to go before prices shoot even higher!

Thanks to the team at Sorn for taking such great care of me!

Food Review: Gelato Messina opens at 1 Club St, Singapore 069400

2025-05-08T15:08:00.007+08:00

I remember trying Gelato Messina when I went to Sydney (no queue) thinking it's good but it's just normal gelato. Well, seems like it was good enough for investors to open up Gelato Messina Singapore on 6 May 2025, because that's exactly what happened. And because Singaporeans' favourite cuisine (and flavour) is novelty, it attracted quite a crowd. I joined the queue last night (7 May) at about 9.40pm (they close at 10pm!) which turned out to be fast moving. It was also only for people who want to try the different flavours, I learned, as I was handed a menu at the queue. If I knew what I wanted, I can skip the line and go straight to pay. Prices were quite high for a single scoop at $7.50 - however, for a double scoop at $10 that's the same as Apiary. And if you get a 3 scoops that's only $12, which means $4 per scoop!

Here's the Gelato Messina Singapore menu. There are 5 Singapore exclusive flavours and I must say they are quite on point and representative. My eye was immediately drawn to the Kaya Toast. Apparently all their gelatos are made from scratch and churned daily (I can see that - their kitchen next door is larger than their retail space).

It was busy and a bit chaotic when I was there but kudos to the staff for managing everyone's requests patiently!

This was the line out the door - it moves quickly though!

There are about 3-4 small round tables inside the store. I got mine and got out of the space to the open area just across the road, since it was quite noisy.

So I tried the Salted Egg Yolk gelato, which had a tinge of umami-ness from the egg but it was quite sweet and that overpowered the saltiness I would have liked. I could not taste the gula melaka caramel either. The Kaya Toast was the obvious winner with the pandan fragrance enveloping my tongue. There are also bits of toast for a textural contrast. I would have gotten a scoop of it, but unfortunately they were out (it was literally too hard to scoop out).

So I just said 1 flavour, the chocomint (yes, I am a chocomint girly). However, the guy was super nice and said he's throw in a free scoop for me since he did not want me to leave disappointed. When he asked which second flavour I wanted, I told him to choose his favourite and he got me a pistachio! The pistachio flavour was nicely blended into the very smooth and creamy gelato, though I felt it was a touch too sweet for me. The chocomint on the other hand was an absolute joy - the mint was fresh and not artificial and the chocolate chips in there were semi-dark and very enjoyable with the creamy gelato.

In any case, I think the hype might die down a little. Gelato Messina is worth trying if you are around the area and looking for a dessert after dinner (since there are so many restaurants in the area). However, if you are looking for something a bit more local and of equal quality, head to Apiary at 84 Neil Road.

🙅 Thank you, next

🤷 Try if you are in the area ✔️

💁 Bookmark this

Gelato Messina

1 Club Street, Singapore 069400

Tues to Thurs 2pm to 10pm, Fri to Sat 12pm to 10pm
Closed on Mondays

Walk-ins only