KU DÉ TA, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

With one of the best views in Singapore, Ku Dé Ta sits at the top of the boat building - Marina Bay Sands - in Singapore.

My partner (Mr. P) and I have wanted to try Ku Dé Ta for some time.  So with both of us in Singapore last weekend, I booked us in on Saturday night.

Arriving at the taxi drop off, we navigated our way through the jungle of cars and the huge crowds of people to reach the elevators for Tower 3. 

Once in the elevator, it was a case of waiting to get up to the 57th floor.  I say 'a case of waiting,' because as luck would have it, the cutest looking, but rather mischievous (in the nicest sense of the word) little girl started pressing various floor numbers on the button panel . . . much to her amusement, not ours.

On reaching the top, the elevator doors opened onto a tree lined walkway to a stunning nighttime vista of Singapore.  Greeted at the front desk, we made our way to our table through the dimly lit restaurant. 

Browsing the menu, there is a tasting menu at $148 per person.  A great option for those wanting to sample a wide variety of what Ku Dé Ta have to offer. 

The menu is then divided into different sections: raw, cold, hot, fish & seafood, meat & poultry, organic Japanese vegetables, rice/noodle/soup, and dessert of course.

Mr. P and I decided to choose a dish from each section, except the 'meat & poultry'.  I won't go into detail about how they all tasted.  But here are some photos of the food that we ate.

Half a dozen New York oysters, delicious!  At $38, I didn't expect anything less.

Spicy bo'samm pork belly salad ($13); not sure about the spice as my palate couldn't locate it, but the salad was nicely dressed.  As for the belly pork, Mr. P very rightly commented on how bland it was.  Although it did have a 'melt-your-mouth' texture, we felt a little let down by it.

Crispy-sticky baby squid ($14); this was my favourite of all the dishes, crispy, a little bit sticky with the sauce and just delicious.

A generous portion, the bamboo roasted pacific-black cod with whipped red miso ($35) was cooked perfectly with a subtle miso sauce on the side. 

The barbecued senryo eggplant with sweet and sour plum sauce ($14), I felt was good.  I preferred this over the cold 'smoked eggplant and marinated salmon caviar' ($16) dish that I failed to take a picture of.  Mr. P thought otherwise, preferring instead to chomp on the cold eggplant.  Good job we ordered two different eggplant dishes!

(Excuse the crappy out-of-focus shot)

'Forty' flavor [sic] fried rice baked in lotus leaf; had a slight 'al dente' texture to the rice.  There were obviously loads of different flavours going on, more so that we could care to name.  I thoroughly enjoyed this and it was deeply fillling.  Mr. P didn't care too much for this dish, not because he didn't like it, but because he found it too filling.

As for dessert, I declined due to feeling full.  However, Mr. P decided to go for the 'Wild strawberry confit' ($14) - cardamom rice pudding, crispy meringue, sichuan pepper cloud.  Unfortunately my photo turned out all blurred.  So I can only describe it as a work of art, both visually and in taste.  For somebody who isn't much of a dessert person, Mr. P gave this a winning thumbs up.

Needless to say, we both enjoyed our meals and we're glad to have experienced dining at the top of Marina Bay Sands.  Was the food exceptional?  Hard to say.  But I will acknowledge how well executed the food was and we both left feeling like we couldn't eat any more.

Booking is essential.
KU DÉ TA
Bayfront Avenue, Sands SkyPark, Tower 3, Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore
Tel: +65 6688 7688

HOURS
Breakfast: 7am – 11am
Lunch: 12pm – 3pm
Tea: 3pm – 6pm
Dinner: 6pm – 11pm
ounge: 6pm till late
Skydeck: 10am till late
Poolside: 8am – 10pm

DRESS CODE

Smart casual

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Jones The Grocer, Dempsey Hill, Singapore

Part grocer, part cafe, Jones The Grocer provides an almost warehouse size pantry full of delicious looking edible delights as well as cookbooks, teapots and other kitchen paraphernalia.

It's a large modern space with high ceilings and enough room to move between the stocked shelves and tables.  There's a deli counter, a cheese room, a selection of wine, vinegars, homemade pastas, the list goes on.  They also sell gourmet chocolate and I was delighted to find Willie's Chocolate bars for sale here.  I have been wanting to try his chocolate for ages!

Arriving just after 3pm on a Sunday, this place was busy.  All seats were taken inside and as we surveyed the available seating outside, we managed to grab the last two stools.  

That said, the turnover of sitting patrons seemed to be fairly regular in this place.  Plus, we didn't arrive during their peak lunch time which meant that we missed out on the brunch menu.

As we sat patiently waiting for some menus to be brought to us, none came.  So I found myself having to flag down a waiter inside.  Even then, it took a while for them to be brought out.

Service didn't get much better when nobody came to take our order.  Once again, I had to go grab a waiter.

Our drinks did arrive in good time though.  My flat white was smooth and probably a little on the milky side.  It could have passed for a small latte.  The berry iced tea was refreshing and came unsweetened.

We both ordered a pumkin and feta salad, which came in a large bowl.  It was dressed with a plain vinegar olive oil, the feta was certainly on the stingy side, the pumpkin pieces didn't fair much better.  It was a nice enough salad, for what it was that is.  But it really felt as though I was chewing on rocket leaves more than anything else.
 

The potato wedges on the other hand were mostly lovely.  I say mostly, because the one fattest wedge was still slightly raw in the middle.  Apart from this one minor flaw, these wedges were hot and crispy with a hint of rosemary.  The homemade mayonnaise was a bit bland.  I sometimes make my own and I like to make mine a little tangy.



I really wanted to try their coconut pancakes with mango and vanilla ice-cream, but had no room left.  Check out Coffee With Amee who gave these a 'must-try' thumbs up. She also sampled the brunch, and I have to agree with her 'Strike three'!

Service here really needs to improve.  The staff seem to be run off their feet and are so busy, they don't always catch patrons' attention.  

If you're looking for speciality items that you possibly can't find anywhere else, Jones The Grocer is worth checking out.  Unfortunately I can't comment on their desserts.  Not sure I'd come back especially for brunch and besides, there are so many more places that I'd like to try in Singapore.

Jones The Grocer
9 Dempsey Road, #01-12 Dempsey Hill, Singapore
Tel:  +65 6476 1512 

HOURS
9am-11pm Daily

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Pope Joan, Melbourne

Today involved a trip out of the city on the number 96 tram.   As it rattled it's way along Nicholson Street, I was starting to get a little apprehensive about whether I would be able to find Pope Joan. 

Unbeknown to me, Nicholson Street is a pretty long street and Pope Joan is nestled amongst, well, not an awful lot by way of trade to be honest.

I got off at stop number 24 as instructed by Melbourne's metlink journey planner and wondered back down the street and alas, I had found Pope Joan.  The cafe doesn't look like much on the outside, but get a load of that cute copper pan letter box. 

Anyhow, my friend had arrived before me and was already enjoying a cup of coffee.  As I sat down, a waitress came along to bring us some water and take my order for a skinny flat white.

This place is only open for breakfast and lunch (Monday to Friday), and so the menu was really Eggs (cooked in many different ways) and sandwiches.  We opted for the chicken with stuffing sandwich and the curried egg and cress.  Mmm...they sounded yummy.

You can watch the chef at work just behind the front counter too.

We decided to order the chicken stuffing sandwich ($9) and the curried egg sandwich ($8).  The chicken stuffing sandwich came warmly wrapped in foil.  The curried egg was served between slices of sourdough.

The chicken stuffing was delightful.  The curried egg was just OK.  We thought it could have done with some oomph and I had to pepper mine to add some kick. 

There is outside seating to the side.  Babies more than welcome as was evident by the several mums and bubs sitting outside.  It's modern rustic with a good old splash of Britishness about it.

Pope Joan
77/79 Nicholson Street
Brunswick East, VIC 3057
Tel: +61 (0)3 9388 8858

Breakfast + Lunch 7 days a week.

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Basement Café, Melbourne

The city circle trams rattles past this place on La Trobe street, near to the corner of Queen street.  It doesn't look like much from the outside, but enter this cafe and feel welcoming warm reception envelope you as sit down and relax. 

Décor has a musical theme.  Remember vinyl?  Well there's a vinyl decorated wall below the window counter, posters advertising bands and musicals on one wall, and lots of other decorative paraphernalia.

There are separate breakfast and lunch blackboards listing the days menu.  Service is super friendly in this funky cool cafe and also extremely efficient.

My lunching companion and I both ordered flat whites and they came with the much oligatory leafy pattern on top that I have become accustomed to whilst living in Melbourne.  And it still makes me smile each time I see it...

Food wise, we ordered a mushroom pizza with feta, pine nuts and rocket ($8); and also a pesto chicken salad with pine nuts and feta to share ($9).

Both came out at the same time.  Ingredients were fresh and tasty.  Pizza was thin crust, which is how I like it. 

The very generous serving of salad was yummy.  Gorgeous pieces of chicken breast, avocado and spinach leaves dressed with pesto; feta and pine nuts on top. 

They don't rush you here; they play some good background tunes, and they are more than happy for you to perch your bottom here all day if you wanted to.

A great find with fabulous service and delicious fresh food at amazing value!

Basement Café
350 La Trobe Street, Melbourne 3000
Tel: +61 (0) 9329 8000

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St. Ali, Melbourne

At 12-18 Yarra Place in South Melbourne is a hidden gem.  I say hidden because unless you're in the know, it's not obvious to a passerby looking down this street that there's a great little coffee place just a few steps and a skip away.  

St. Ali occupies a converted warehouse with wooden tables and mis-matched chairs.  Yes, this place is certainly quirky, but oh so good quirky!

I arrived at one o'clock today and was instantly greeted by a wide eyed and smiley waitress.  I instantly saw my friend sitting at the end of one of the communal tables and went to sit with her.

Another waitress came and offered to get us some coffees right away.  Again, with a lovely  huge smile.  Wow, with the amount of smiles we were getting in such a short space of time, we were becoming instantly enamoured with this place. 

We both ordered flat whites ($3.80 each); except I ordered a 'skinny' as opposed to regular.  There were a couple of coffee makers with brewing looking contraptions to the side, it all looked a bit like a potions class going on in the background. 

The flat white came with a lovely fir tree pattern on top.  It was beautifully smooth and oh so yummyliciously creamy.  Mmm, I think I fell in love with this place from the sip go!

This place has a breakfast menu as well as a lunch menu.  We decided to share a couple of dishes.  From their 'kitchen confidential' section, we chose the 'my mexican cousin' ($14.50) which is their secret recipe corn fritters with baby spinach, grilled halloumi and kasundi with our choice of poached eggs.

From the 'between the sheets' (sounds a little naughty), we chose the 'morrocan spiced chicken thigh burger' ($16), stuffed with tomato jam, tomato, avocado salsa and rocket.

They both arrived at the same time.  The burger came in toasted turkish bread - one of my favourites.

One can see the yummy filling - chicken, lovely fresh green avocado salsa, plenty of crunchy rocket and big beef tomato slices with lovely sweet tomato jam.  The ingredients were all fresh and tasty and after a good morning workout, it felt indulgent without being too glutinous (apart from the white bread...)

The corn fritters came with two lovely poached eggs on top with kasundi on top (sliced mango pickle).  The halloumi wasn't salty as some that I have had before, and the corn fritters were delicious and very non-greasy.  The poached eggs were just about runny, with the edges of the yoke cooked - a little more done than I prefer.  But all in all, a well rounded dish which hit the spot. 

We polished off the meal with a chai tea latte ($4.80 each).  The spices had been ground up and topped with hot milk in a one handle jug.  I asked for honey on the side and they gave me a generous shot glass of honey.  The chai latte was delicious, but it could have done with more oomph if I'm honest. 

Staff here are so super friendly.  We were made to feel welcome from the moment we set foot inside the place to the moment we left. 

St. Ali is just brilliant.  I love the concept and I love the fact that they take such pride in their coffee.  I think I've been persuaded to make the effort to come back here just to buy some ground coffee beans.  After which, I will just have to try to emulate their great coffee back home! 

St. Ali
12-18 Yarra Place, South Melbourne, VIC 3205
Tel: +61 (0)3 9686 2990

HOURS
Mon-Tue: 7am-5pm
Wed-Sat: 7am-11pm
Sun: 8am-5pm

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The Boyz 4 Breakie, Mornington

Having set out early yesterday Sunday morning, we decided to have a breakfast stop in Mornington.  We parked by the Information centre and wondered over to a busy beachside looking pitstop of a place - 'The Boyz 4 Breakie'.

Sounds more like a boyband than a breakfast cafe.  Look at their logo and it almost resembles an old vinyl cover!

Nevertheless, this place was rocking with people inside as well as outside.  As we approached the cafe, I could see a small queue just forming inside.  It appeared that we had unknowingly come to the place to go for breakfast in Mornington.

Luckily, we managed to get a table upstairs on the mezzanine level which gave us all great views of the ground floor and into the open kitchen.  I could see the chefs all busily preparing big breakfasts.  And believe me, they are big here.

Plate after plate of poached, fried, scrambled, any which way you-like-it eggs were being carted off to tables by every available waitress. 

I decided to go for 'Poached eggs on sourdough toast' ($9.50) with a side of bacon ($2.50) and a side of baked beans ($2.50).  And to be really English about it, I ordered a pot of English breakfast tea.  What better way to start off the day!

My three companions all went for 'The Turkish' - two fried eggs, bacon and tomato salsa on toasted turkish bread.  This was my first choice, but I decided against the fried eggs for the more healthy choice of poaching.

Unfortunately, we had a bit of wait for our food and drinks to arrive.  Although this place was busy, some tables seemed to get theirs quickly.

When they did finally arrive, my poached eggs were beautifully done and all was forgiven.  Golden yellow, rich tasting yolks and perfectly cooked whites. The bacon was deliciously crispy and the beans were just heaven.  If I could have made it even better, I would have requested my beans to be cooked until just soft and mushy; just how I like them - which is probably a bit too wierd for some. 

The Turkish's all looked amazing good as well.  The eggs weren't greasy and the salsa was diced fresh tomato with red onion and chopped basil. 

This place was super busy with the waitresses constantly bringing out breakfasts.  It's a sunny sort of place with upbeat music, sunny interior, smiley (although a tad slow) service and great breakfasts, served all day long as well!

P.S. This place also does lunch and dinner.  

The Boyz 4 Breakie
1a Main Street, Mornington, VIC 3931
Tel: +61 (0)3) 5977 2888

Mon-Thu: 8am-5pm
Fri-Sun: 8am-Late


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Mr Tulk, CBD, Melbourne

On the North-Western corner of the grand Victorian building that houses the State Library of Victoria sits Mr Tulk.  This licensed espresso cafe feels all light and airy apart from the rapturous sounds of chatter emanating from the informal dining room.

To the left of the entrance is a large counter that does takeaway coffees and food, affectionately referred to as 'Tulk Junior'.  And to the right is the sit down dining area known as 'Mr Tulk'.  With a large central wooden communal table in the middle, there is strategically placed seating around the edge of the room.  Not forgetting the outside seating as well, this place is often overspilling with patrons. 

Inside Mr Tulk is a large board listing wines and beers.  They also have a specials chalkboard for wines.   

There is also a 'specials' menu for food which changes all the time I am told.  My friend and I decided to share the 'Asparagas with labna, poached egg and bastourma'.  Bastourma being an air-dried cured meat, hailing from Turkey and the Middle East.  We also chose the smoked salmon bruschetta with capers and dill.

The waiter went off with our order and proceeded to take away the menu's as well.  We couldn't help but notice how all the Mr Tulk staff were men and the women were behind the counter in the Junior Tulk part.  Not sure if this is done on purpose or it was just a coincidence...

Still,  we received our two dishes.  The poached egg with the bastourma and asparagus was done to perfection.  The labna (yoghurt cheese) was sitting right under the poached egg.  The dish was executed and presented so well.  I wish that there had been more of it...

The smoked salmon bruschetta was also perfectly executed.  The ingredients were fresh and tasty.  The ciabatta was toasted just right.  Again, I wish there had been two pieces instead of just the one!

We both finished off with coffees.  The coffees of which I have to say were excellent - strong and hot, just how I like it. 

I give this place gold stars all round for the food.  I will however say that our first waiter was rather unfriendly.  Perhaps he was having a bad day...although not an excuse to be unfriendly, especially when working as a service waiter.  The others however, (of which we had a different one each time bringing us out the food and drinks) were pleasant enough. 

Still, I would come back here again and I might even try it on a Friday evening with some friends after work or for brunch on a Saturday.

Mr Tulk

328 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Tel: +6 1(03) 8660 5700

Mon-Thu: 7am-5pm
Fri: 7am-9pm
Sat: 9am-4pm

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Commercial Bakery, Melbourne

Commercial bakery can be found on the corner of Gills Alley and Little Collins.  I read somewhere that it used to be a truck rental garage.  I'd never have guessed it.

I was meeting a friend for lunch here today.  At 1:30pm, we arrived just on the cusp of a busy lunchtime.  As the office workers were finishing up, we were just getting started. 

The bakery cafe has just a few tables and leads into Gills Diner at the back.  Although not a huge place - with tables cosily placed next to each other, the high ceiling gives the bakery cafe a greater sense of space. 

The chalkboard listed a cold soup (of which I failed to make a note of) and spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino.  Mmm, a delicious Italian rustic dish.  However, I was in the mood for a nice pie, so I ordered the 'Cock-a-leekie' pie with salad for $10.50.  The waitress came to take our order.  But a minute later she came back saying that they were out of all the pies...a little disappointed, I opted for the spaghetti. 

I also ordered a skinny flat white.  My first coffee of the day, it was strong and smooth.  It went down a treat. 

Stainless steel utensil holders are filled with cutlery on each polished concrete topped table, along with a jar of brown sugar and a breakfast/drinks menu.  It feels a little like a school canteen. 

The spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino arrived with grated parmesan on top.  The spaghetti had a lovely bite to it, the parsley was fresh and fragrant.  It was just delicious...DELICIOUS!

If I had to criticise, I would say that it was a little measly in portion size for $16.50.  However, that could just be me being exceptionally greedy.  It was afterall, my first meal of the day.  I don't usually make a habit of skipping breakfast, but today I had no choice.  So come 1:30pm, I was famished to the core. 

Commercial bakery cafe has rustic and homely charm.  I bought some fluffy looking croissants to take home with me.  They are freshly baked on the premises along with their bread and other pastries.

The girls who work here even have a homely, countryside feel about them with their black aprons and casual jeans.  A lovely place for an informal bite to eat and some take-home croissants. 

Commercial Bakery
360 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: +61 (0)3 9670 7214

Mon-Fri: 7am-5pm

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