Four Leaves

Mango Tropicana

I must say. Amongst all the cakes I've eaten so far, this is the best. The cake is so smooth and just crumples away. One can simple just slurp away all the mango mousse cake easily. I'm surprise the cake is actually structurally sound. Maybe the great tasting cake owns its success to the recent mango season, thus better quality cake.

Four Leaves (Tiong Bahru)
Tiong Bahru Plaza
#B1-05
Tel: 6272 0832
Website: http://www.fourleaves.com.sg/

Bangawan Solo

Coffee Cake

I should have known better then to buy any cake from Bangawan Solo. Its too much cream. So much that I couldn't take another after my 1st or 2nd slice. In fact, the whole cake uses the same cream for the interior and exterior. Making it really boring to eat.

Bangawan Solo (Bedok Central)
Blk 214 Bedok North St 1
#01-155
Tel: 6448 6689
Website: http://www.bengawansolo.com.sg/

Emicakes

Pandora's Box

Their branch on Tampines 1 was celebrating their newly opened shop. I manage to grab this for only $20, after a 15% discount.

Pretty little flower.

Thick layer of fudge.

For the chocolate lovers this is a must for they the layers are so very thick. Though the sweet tooth may wanna stay clear. This instead would appeal to those who prefer their chocolate to be less sweet and dark chocolate lovers.

Emicakes (Tampines 1)
10 Tampines Central 1
#B1-15 Tampines 1
Tel: 67895143
Website: http://www.emicakes.com.sg/

Hong Kong Kim Gary Restaurant @ Tampines 1

I've originally was planning for a Hong Kong trip, but it was cancel in the end due to some complication. Fortunately, Kim Gary opens a new branch in the east, easing some of the disappointment. Now I don't need to travel all the way south just to get my favorite Hong Kong fix.

Kim Gary who is that? I hardly watch any Hong Kong drama.
Doesn't really matter as long he bring the good food, my wallet is always open.

The place is rather spacious, but be prepared to wait quite a while. This place is packed to the brim. Not that I blame them. Who can find fault with someone if their food is so good.

Ying Yong Tea (Mixture of tea and coffee).

The Ying Yong here is the best I've tried by far. Most Hong Kong cafes suffer a downfall on their Ying Yong. They're either too bland or too milky. Kim Gary does it just with the correct proportion and mix. The concoction is thick and heavy, without either coffee or tea overwhelming each other.

Borsch Soup

Another hot favorite is Kim Gary's Borsch Soup. Compared to the "western" version, which can be quite heavy and sour. The one being sold here is more light and clear, which is a good thing as I often find the one outside a bit too sour to my liking. The vegetable are nice and soft, simply mashes away in your mouth. There is also a Sweet Corn Cream Soup, which I would advice you to give a miss for the Borsch.

Garlic Bread (comes in the Steak Sets).

Baked Potatoes Skin topped with Bacon & Cheese.

There are some appetizer for those who isn't really hungry. One of such is the Baked Potatoes Skin topped with Bacon & Cheese. Looks really mouth watering. However, turns out to be a disappointment. I was dry and lacks enough cheese and bacon. The garlic bread that comes in the Steak set instead is rather crowd pleaser. I could smell its aroma across the table. The toast is browned nicely, giving it extra crunch when bit into.

Cheese Baked Rice with Pork Chop

Cheese Baked Rice with Chicken Drumlets

One of the more popular dishes in Hong Kong cruise is the Cheese Baked Rice. Kim Gary offered a variety of cheese baked rice with different kinds of meats that go with it. Customers have a choice of Pork or Chicken Chop, Beef, Fish or drumlets. As if that is not enough for customization there is even two different sauces of your choice, for the baked rice to soak in. There is a white creamy sauce with cream, milk and corn. The red in the other hand, is tomato sauce and beef stock. I'd prefer the white cream sauce as its more tasty and is in perfect harmony with the thick layer of melted cheese on top of it. If you are still indecisive and want the joy of two worlds, there is also a twin sauce version. Though its will cost you slightly more.

Cheese Baked Rice with Fish (looking at the tons of cheese)

Kim Gary's Cheese Baked Rice is the power house. The cheese blankets the whole bamboo steamer and the sauce is sufficient to coat each grain evenly. Rice isn't dry and hard after the baking process. Thanks to the ample amount of sauce and thick layer of cheese, resulting in a nature steaming effect within. Caution though. It can be quite hot within. Pork and Chicken Chop are really tender and the fish is also soft and melts in your mouth. After your first bit, you would be scrapping for every scrap, licking the foil for every drip of sauce and wanting a second helping more.

Supreme Chicken Chop Curry Baked with Swiss Cheese

Supreme Pork Chop Curry Baked with Swiss Cheese

The curry baked is also another hot item on the menu. In fact, it has some similarities of the cheese baked rice. The curry baked is like the evil sister of the previous subtle cheese version. Both are baked and have melted cheese coating the top surface. Those who love spicy food should try the curry baked. Its really spicy and you would be soon gulping down glasses of water. Yet though hot, this heat will growth on you and leave you really satisfied by the end of the meal. It cost slight more then the baked rice and has the option of either rice or spaghetti.

Black Pepper Sauce Sizzling Steak on Hotplate

This hot plate is huge. All of us were starving in amazement on the huge portion serving for the Steak on Hotplate. However, it turn out to be quite disappointing. The sauce was bland and starchy from the exhaustive amount of corn starch. Making it more of a soup than sauce. The steak is tender rather chewy, showing that its quite a cheap grade. Interesting thing is that they serve fries on a hot plate. This makes my wonder if the fries remains crisp or soggy from the bubbling hot sauce.

The new outlet is a lot more difference compare to its Vivocity branch, with a more dark and class feel to it. Everything is glossy, thus making the interior very brightly lit. Service Staff are polite and patient. They would even accommodate to your special requests.

Overall, Kim Gary is definite place for Singaporean to have a quick bit of Hong Kong food without actually leaving the island. Of course you can't compare this with those in Hong Kong, but its a good attempt to re-create the standards there.

Hong Kong Kim Gary Restaurant (Tampines 1)
10 Tampines Central 1
#B1-07 Tampines 1
Tel: 6786 1418
Website: http://www.kimgary.com.my/


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Sake Inn

Love sake? Well then go down to Tampines 1 with its first sake dedicated shop. Since there are wines dedicated shop, why not have a sake one instead.

The large symbol certainly states the product they sell.

There are sake, health vingers, Japanese beers and soft drinks.

All the sake to get you drunk.

Fruit wines with different flavors for your choosing.

Tea for the non-drinkers.

Sake offers a many kinds of drinker to cater the different drinkers. They are sake for the heavy drinkers, health vinger health conscious one, beer for soccer party gathering, tea for the humble and soft drink for kids. All imported direct from Japanese. There is a large variety over here and many different type for you to choose from. The staff are also very friendly and will take time to cater the taste and budget that you are sorting.

Sake Inn
10 Tampines Central 1
#B1-30 Tampines 1
Singapore 529539


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Yamazaki Boulangerie Chaude @ Tampines 1

Now many up market food places are gradually moving from the city areas to the heartlands. One such example is Yamazaki. Sister to Sun Moulin in Shaw House, this bakery brings Japanese bakery to the new shopping center (Tampines 1) which opens not too long ago.



Yamazaki is filled with many kinds of cakes and pastries. Most are very different from the ones you can get from normal bakeries. The brightly lit shop adds much glow to the lustful pastries. Making difficult to choose from the already large variety that is available.

Strawberry Sandwich at front right.

There is some sandwiches available for those who are skipping their regular lunch breaks. The sandwiches are rather regular with combination like ham and cheese, egg mayonnaise and tuna mayonnaise. However something interesting caught my eye. Strawberry Sandwich. Consisting of fresh strawberries and whipped cream sandwiched between two slices of bread. Kind of looks like a cheap version of strawberry short cake. One up for innovation.

Doesnt all these cakes scream yummy.

I just cant resist anything with green tea.

Chomp Time!

Too beautiful to even eat. My eyes soon lost its battle to my stomach.

The Jumbo Cream Tea Puff is rather disappointing. The puff is rather dry. The cream in the other hand though in large volumes doesn't really have distinct green tea flavour but rather more of a cream consistence. How with in mind the price of the pastry its still rather acceptable. I heard that Yamazaki make signature waffles, maybe I'll try those instead on my next visit.

Yamazaki is kind enough to indicated all pastries and cake have some allergies indications for the ingredients they used to make each cake. Allowing the customers with allergies to choose the correct pastries for themselves.

Yamazaki Boulangerie Chaude
10 Tampines Central 1
#B1-14 Tampines 1


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Singapore Zam Zam Restaurent

All those rich food like cafe and restaurants are taking a great toll in my wallet. Especially since I've be financially deprive of the constant flow of allowance from the government since my army days. Money certainly doesn't come free.

Still this doesn't stop me from enjoying simple food around Singapore. One of which is Zam Zam. Zam Zam has been here for a long time, way before I've been born. Yet this successful shop house eatery has its constant flow of regular customers. There is no fancy cutlery or new funky creation food, just simple classic good eats.

You don't see much of these stall anymore.

I believe other places with their glass kitchens are a "copy" of Indian Prata Houses.

Lighter curry to the front is dahl (chickpea curry) and the darker one is mutton curry.

Amongst the curries which they offer. There are Mutton, Fish and Dahl. I would recommend going with the fish and dahl both which are not very hot, but still flavorful and nice. The mutton in the other hand is a bit too rich for my liking. You can request any curry and ask for additional serving if you run out. The waiters there would gladly help you out. The default curry is mutton. So if you prefer the others, be sure to voice out your preference when you order. Food wastage is a sin.

Chicken Nasi Bryani

For those who need to get their daily caboradrate fix, Zam Zam offers Chicken, Mutton and Beef Nasi Bryanis. The rice is fluffy and each grain is distinct without any clumping. The chicken is tender and comes off the bone easily. Unlike some places, Zam Zam doesnt dross their bryani with curry. Instead the curry is served in a separated plate, giving the customer the control of how much curry he would like to drown this Bryani in. Mutton ones are sightly smaller than the chicken counterparts, but are cheaper too.

Mutton Murtabak

When I say that Zam Zam makes a mean Murtabak, i mean it a 120%. Though their more famous for the Bryani they serve, I believe the Murtabak is the key player in their success. For those who haven't eaten Murtabak, its basically a roti prata stuffed with meat and folded into a pocket. In variety of Grounded mutton, chicken, sardines martabaks are offered. Grounded mutton is the way to go. I swear on it. If you are more health conscious you probably shouldn't be here in the first place at all. The murtabaks here are huge and loaded with quite generous amounts of mutton. A small size could easily feed one rather satisfactory. Only complain is that they doesn't have knives utensil, thus eating the Murtabak can be quite a chore.

Mee Goreng (very spicy and devil hot according to my friend's impression).

Prata with Egg (as usual incredibly huge)

All down with Teh Pian

Do note that this place is rather small and going in big groups can be quite troublesome in getting seatings. The shop is separated into two stories and the second level is air conditioned. It can be quite packed during lunch hours, especially during Fridays due to the nearby Sultan Mosque and after prayers devotees.

Singapore Zam Zam Restaurent
697 North Bridge Road
Tel: 6298 6320

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Ice Monster @ The Bencoolen

After the wonderful meal, my friends and I decided to walk from Chinatown to Bugis. Yup. For once, we should slow down our pace and take some time and enjoy the scenery in Singapore. (Those who wanna read the food review just scroll down).

All that walking sure is tiring. The dry and blazing sun wasn't that helpful either. Some nice ice shaving should be nice. Sweet chunks of fruit and syrup would make it even better. Thus the existence of Ice Monster. Ice Monster originated from Taiwan and is one of the top ice shaving dessert chains there.

Shhh...The mascort is sleeping.

After browsing a whole list of their different variety of desserts, we decided to share two desserts amongst the four of us.

Fresh Mango Shave Ice with Strawberry Sherbet & Milk

Fresh Mango Shave Ice with Mango Sherbet & Milk
Top with Durian Puree

Ice Monster is definitely top notch in their desserts. The ice shaving can only be described as "snow" like. Really even consistence without any large chunks of ice. This is topped with a generous amount of mango chunks and mango syrup that covers the whole ice mound. The Sherbet is really smooth and soft. The strawberry one even has a hint of sourish, but not too overwhelming. Nice touch there. The Mango Sherbet is covered with a glistering shiny coat of mango syrup, just screaming "beautiful". I can't even bear to eat it. Durian Puree is also really thick and creamy. Though I find it a bit strong and overwhelms the other flavor of the fruits.

Ice Monster definitely a nice place for their desserts, especially on a hot day. Though it can be price, its all worth it. Caution though. Rather easy to get a brain freeze as one quickly helps oneself on the delicious dessert.

Ice Monster 冰馆 (The Bencoolen)
180 Bencoolen Street
#01-23 The Bencoolen
Tel: 6339 7362


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