Coast and Company @ 54 Siglap Road

I haven't been blogging for a really long while, and I suppose it took a food trail by my friends as well as the opening of a new cafe - Coast and Company, to get me blogging again. Coast and Company is the newest addition to the cafe scene in the east, a collaboration between Papa Pahleta and Coast Cycles, and the first thing that came to my mind - "Will this be a concept similar to Wheeler's Yard?" The answer? Although there is a bicycle workshop on site, it's definitely not as chic as Wheeler's, but the concept of having a coffee joint next to a bicycle workshop is definitely practical. You can actually pay for your bicycle to be maintained while enjoying a cuppa at the same time, in air-conditioned comfort. The coffee, from Papa Pahleta, the same people behind Chye Seng Huat, is definitely something to go for anyway. The inclusion of bicycle racks is also practical as there is limited legal parking available without causing obstruction to the residents in the somewhat sleepy neighbourhood. Therefore, both residents and cafe hoppers alike can take advantage of this cheap and healthy form of transport.

Just my luck to have a "cycle" in the frame, but no, they don't sell motorcycles.

Lyssa Zampa, already seen at this new joint!

I'm expecting this cafe to fill up quite a bit over time, as more people learn about it through social media and word-of-mouth, and you'll probably end up like this moth, waiting outside and peering into the cafe in hope of a seat. There is no outdoor seating as of now, but there are some air-conditioned recess areas within the cafe. I estimate that the cafe can seat about 25-30 people at once, so do head down early if you're going to be there on a weekend or public holiday. I went down in the afternoon so I gave their food a miss, but went for teatime instead. They serve a variety of cakes, cookies, muffins and even traditional ang ku kuehs and nine-layer kueh (九层糕).

Blueberry Cheesecake

The blueberry cheesecake that I had was delicious, and to my delight, there were fresh blueberries on top. The cake was sufficiently sweet and the cheese wasn't too overpowering. It also wasn't too heavy that it would be difficult to finish one in a sitting. The cookie crust was also soft and just crunchy enough to satisfy cheesecake lovers. 

Flat White and Latte

Coffee from Papa Pahleta - What more can you ask for? Definitely saves you the time from travelling down all the way to Chye Seng Huat or Loysel's Toy if you stay in the East, and for now, ensures you a good cuppa in a quiet environment with friendly service. They do serve their hand brews here as well, if you prefer that to pressured coffee. Check out more drinks that are available in the menus below.

Overall I enjoyed my time at Coast very much, given its spaciousness and minimalist architecture. The coffee is undoubtedly excellent, and the pastries are decent too. As of now the food menu is pretty limited, but I expect this to expand over time. Definitely coming back here in the near future.

Expect to Pay: $10-20

Coast and Company
54 Siglap Road
Singapore 456176

Cups N Canvas @ Selegie Road

One of my good friends recently suggested that we go to a cafe that we haven't gone to before, with the only condition that it had to be near the Orchard area has he had errands to run later on in the day. I'll admit that it was rather challenging for me. The Orchard district and cheap and good cafes are hardly synonymous with each other, owing to the higher rental costs of the area. Hence, to stumble upon a place such as Cups N Canvas gives one a good feeling. A short walk off the corner of School of the Arts Singapore, Cups N Canvas blends in well with its surrounding shops and eateries, and you would easily miss it if you're not looking for it. I had read positive reviews on its food and coffee here, and therefore I had fairly high expectations for this place. Imagine my delight when I found out that there happened to be a lunch special ongoing at the time. Since we were all pretty hungry, we decided to place our faith in the reviews and not even look at the menu before entering the premises.

The interior of the cafe is partitioned into two, with one side being the main cafe area for the consumption of food and beverages, and the other being the place for art classes and activities. During days when classes are being conducted, the seating in the cafe will be restricted to the main area, and this could lead to insufficient seating space when this happens. However, on the day that I went, we pretty much had the luxury to choose which seat we wanted. We settled on the art area as the higher tables made it more suitable for the consumption of food. The smell of paint was faint, but pleasant, something I'd not felt since I used to take Art classes in my Secondary school days. The lunch specials were written with markers on drawing block, which I found practical and in line with the theme of the cafe. As you can see, art pieces adorn most of the free spaces on the walls, making it an art lover's abode.

The three of us decided to try the lunch specials, despite having her good things about their bacon pasta, Blanc Bacon. Maybe on a future visit (: We had the BBQ Quesadillas, Crispy Chicken with Mango Mayo and Pan Seared Dory with tomato salsa. We were surprised to receive a beverage that looked like orange juice, and it was to our delight that it was a complimentary drink due to the Chinese New Year period. Kudos to them for really going the extra mile to making the customer happy.

Crispy Chicken with Mango Mayonnaise

Probably the safest item on the lunch specials, how do you go wrong with fried chicken cutlet :D The cutlet was tasty but could have done better with more meat as the chicken was dry overall. The mango mayonnaise was nice, especially since mango has always gone well with chicken. The fries were nicely done, with them not being too salty. The salad dressing was strange though (not in a bad way), and tasted like grapefruit dressing. It left a strong bitter aftertaste though.

BBQ Chicken Quesadillas

I don't really eat Quesadillas often, and hence I can only judge it based on its overall taste, as I have only tried quesadillas on another occasion at T.G.I.F. The skin was nice and soft, but did not taste that flaky. Also, the dish was definitely on the healthy side as it didn't really taste salty at all. The BBQ Chicken also could have done with more seasoning before preparation, as it comes out flat overall. Same grapefruit-like salad served here.

Pan Seared Dory with Tomato Salsa

I enjoyed this the most (perhaps because I'm partial to seafood). The fish fillet was very succulent, and was good enough to be eaten on its own without the salsa. The fish was also well seasoned with herbs and did not have any fishy smell at all. The salsa was good though, being a bit on the spicy side. The portions are also much more reasonable, though I wouldn't say it would be more filling than the fried chicken option. 

The above-mentioned orange juice-tea drink. 

Having heard good things about the coffee, we ordered a ristretto latte and a soy latte. The soy milk in the soy latte overpowered the coffee and the result was not being able to taste the caffeine. The soy milk choice might have been questionable because it wasn't a very smooth combination. I had higher hopes for the ristretto latte, as I had been promised that it would be much stronger. The result? Yes, it was stronger, but lacked the aroma that I was expecting. It was certainly better than the soy latte but still ended up tasting quite normal as the coffee was a bit too weak-bodied to be expressed in a latte.

Menus for your viewing pleasure and reference. Updated as of 27/01/14

Overall it was a pleasant experience here! Was glad to be away from the daily grind, and also to enjoy such cafe comforts a short walk away from the Orchard district. The food is good enough, and I would say it is better than average, especially for its price. I enjoyed the complimentary orangejuice-tea drink more than the coffee though, but it's a passable standard for most people. The price for the drinks might be on the higher side for its quality. Would definitely consider meeting up with friends here because of the quiet ambiance.

Expect to pay: $10-20

Cups N Canvas
139 Selegie Road

Department of Caffeine @ Duxton Road

The Duxton area is one of the areas that is teeming with cafes now, serving various cuisines and catering to different dining experiences. Just a stone's throw away from the bustling Chinatown district (especially during this Chinese New Year period), the Duxton area provides a good hideaway for those who prefer to stay away from the thronging crowds. One of the more popular/highly-rated cafes in the area is the Department of Caffeine. It had a rather unassuming storefront and you would certainly miss it if you weren't looking out for it. The cafe itself is long and narrow, and I have to say that seating here is quite tight, that is, your personal space can be quite limited especially during peak hours. That being said, it's nice to have a noisy environment so that you can meet up with friends without it being too awkward. The interior looks classy, with wooden panels visible around the cafe and sharp edges. I got a swivel stool so I was pretty happy spinning around in that.

With a name like the Department of Caffeine, one would expect a high quality of coffee served. Is the coffee on par with its name? More on that later.

The barista hard at work

Five Senses Hand-drip Coffee

Cute blocks to display on your table while waiting for your order (:

Hotcakes ($16)

Served with maple syrup and honey, dusted with icing and homemade blueberry compote, and comes with butterscotch ice cream. 

Just look at how pretty it looks in the picture (: The taste did not disappoint either, especially with the fresh blueberries. They were extremely juicy and went well with the plain hotcakes. The maple syrup and honey ensures that those with a sweet tooth will be satisfied. The pancakes were light and fluffy, and it's good that the batter did not have any contrasting tastes (i.e salty) that would ruin the dish. In my opinion, having the maple syrup is completely optional as the compote and the ice cream already make it a very wholesome serving. However, having only 3 relatively small pancakes means that this might not be the most filling choice on the menu.

Buttermilk Waffles ($13)

Served with rum bananas, maple syrup, New Zealand Vanilla ice cream and dusted with icing.

Another salivating picture for you guys to enjoy (: I LOVED THIS. The waffles had a much stronger taste as compared to the above featured hotcakes, and I like how the waffle traps little pockets of melted ice cream with every bite. The rum taste was present, but not overpowering in the bananas and I had to control myself not to finish all the bananas before my waffles. I also shared the blueberry compote with my friend so i was able to have like the taste of blueberries, rum bananas, vanilla ice cream and maple syrup in every bite. Heavenly. A must order, especially for its price.

Cappuccino

Time for the Coffee Test! I was pleasantly surprised that my Cappuccino didn't have as much foam as I expected, and the latte art is fairly pretty as well. However, I have to admit that I was slightly disappointed with the coffee overall. It's good, yes, but I'm relieved that I did not order a latte, or I would have been hard-pressed to taste the coffee. That being said, the drink as a whole is smooth, especially since Meiji milk was used in its preparation. It also wasn't as roasty as I'd hoped it would be (still comapring coffees with that served in Chye Seng Huat and Tiong Bahru Bakery) and it lacked a bit of the coffee aroma that coffee lovers love.

The Weekday Menu

I spoke to the staff and apparently the weekday menu doesn't differ much from its weekend counterpart, except that they focus on their all-day breakfast items on weekends. 

In conclusion, it was a great experience at Department of Caffeine. I would definitely come back, especially since they do their customers a great service by accepting reservations. That means no needless waiting is necessary. I didn't get to try their food items on this visit, but I look forward to trying their salads, Pulled Pork burger and Cordon Bleu chicken in future visits as they have been highly rated by others. The cafe can easily accommodate up to parties of 6 per group, but for larger groups, it might be better to call in. For their desserts, stick to their buttermilk waffles! Super delicious and probably the only thing you should order if you have only room for one item.

Expect to pay: $20 for food and drinks

15 Duxton Road

Brotzeit @ East Coast Road

Ever since I've been to Brotzeit the other day, I've been craving to try their Brotzeitplatte which includes their famed pork knuckle. There has to be a reason that almost every other table orders the pork knuckle right? For those who don't know, the Brotzeitplatte features a pork knuckle, 2 pieces of pork schnitzel, and a selection of their sausages. The greens are more for presentation's sake, but they do come with whole pickles which help to break the monotony of the taste of the meat. As for the sauces, there is your staple ketchup, mustard and sweet mustard (I enjoyed this the most, especially with the schnitzel). There is also a sauce that is heated up specifically for the pork knuckle which makes it much more moist. The platter makes for a very good instagram picture, especially when it's served on a slab of polished wood. In addition, there is a choice of 2 sides from the extensive range of sides available in the menu to accompany the platter. Although they recommend it for 4-5 people, I would say that it would feed 4 comfortably, whereas for 5 people more definitely needs to be ordered.

Full view of the Brotzeitplatte

The Pork Schnitzel comes in a rather generous portion, but is rather underwhelming in my opinion. Not sure if this is meant to make the pork knuckle much tastier in comparison or... In any case, the pork is nicely battered but is way too dry and bland. There was nothing really special about the schnitzel. I would have to say that the saving grace of the schnitzel is when it is taken together with beer. On hindsight, I would probably order the Pork Knuckle ala carte the next round to avoid having to eat the schnitzel.

Close up of the Pork Knuckle and Sausages

The Pork Knuckle is easily the star of the platter, because it has the most distinctive taste. I would recommend scraping away the fats as it can get a bit nauseating to keep eating the fats with the pork. However, I would still eat the crispy skin together with the meat and perhaps abit of fat. That, in my opinion, is the optimal way to enjoy the pork knuckle. Of course, you need to dip into the sauce so that it becomes both warm and moist with every mouthful. 

The selection of sausages allows you to try a bit of each of their sausages. In a nutshell, all of the sausages are good, and it all boils down to the individual which one you like best. They include cheese, pork, and chicken sausages. Personally I found the larger sausages to be more juicy and the texture of these sausages was also better. The spicy sausages might be too spicy for some, but like I said, it's good to have a variant of flavours to avoid being sian of just eating a platterful of meat. 

Now, on to the sides that I chose.

Napkin Dumplings

The napkin dumplings are made of eggs, flour, milk and some other ingredients. They don't really have a distinctive flavour, but its a good alternative to having all the other potato-based sides to go with every main. Definitely worth a try, although I would probably order something else on my next visit.

Roast Potatoes

A staple that you can't go wrong with. The potatoes were well seasoned and roasted, and the roast onions were a welcome surprise. The potatoes were also not too salty which make them suitable to be eaten with the meat platter.

Winter Beer

Glad to see this is still around, but not sure for how long. A friend that frequents Brotzeit says that they usually will carry on with a particular brew as long as there is demand for it, and they'll slowly phase it out over time. I hope that this is still around on my next visit though!

The Brotzeitplatte is what I believe to be the most value-for-money dish on the Brotzeit menu when they are not having any other promotions. It's also a good and safe order for those visiting Brotzeit for the first time. However, I'll be sticking the to pork knuckle and sausages for future visits. 

View my other post on Brotzeit here!
http://eatwheresia.blogspot.sg/2013/12/brotzeit-313-somerset.html

Brotzeit German Bier Bar and Restaurant
126 East Coast Road

Hawker Spotlight: Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee

When I want to satisfy my craving for Bak Chor Mee (Minced meat noodle), I will often head down to Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee to meet my needs. The food pictured here is taken from the outlet at Hong Lim Food Centre. Be prepared to queue for quite some time here, especially on the weekends. This is because the stall is only open 4 days a week (Thursday to Sunday). 

"In Singapore, follow queue won't go wrong right?"

I suppose you can say so, when it comes to hawker food anyway. Your bowl of noodles is served with dumplings, mushrooms, minced pork, salted fish and tossed in vinegar and oil. This strays from the standard make-up of a Bak Chor Mee recipe we have come to see at many food courts around Singapore. There are no fishballs, fishcake or meatballs here, just good old plain minced meat noodle. The verdict? It's definitely worth your time and money, but it'll be enjoyed the most by those who like dumplings and minced pork, as these 2 items are the more outstanding ones. There is a little bit of salted fish in each dumpling, which greatly enhances the flavour and makes the dumpling more fragrant. The minced pork is done such that the pork is very fine, and I like the fact that there isn't that much fat in the minced meat. It can taste a little salty especially with the vinegar and tiny bit of salted fish as a garnish, but it's still okay when taken with the soup. The soup is just your typical clear soup, but like I mentioned earlier, makes it much easier to wash down the saltiness in your palate. 

However, the portions are definitely insufficient for those heavy eaters, and those who want more variety in their Bak Chor Mee will most likely be disappointed as well. It's yet another sad instance where quality hawkers have raised their prices such that it's definitely not value for money in terms of portion, but have solely placed customers returning to enjoy the flavour of the food. That being said, I would still come back and pay premium for their Bak Chor Mee, which is probably one of the better ones around. They have another stall at Old Airport Road Food Centre, another foodies' haven. However, I find the Minced Pork Mee to be better at this stall, although the one at Old Airport is more generous with their portions. Do head down if you're in the area!

Expect to pay: $5

#02-42
Hong Lim Food Centre
531A Upper Cross Street

UPDATE: The Humble Loaf @ Katong Shopping Centre

Sorry that the posts haven't been coming as often lately. Been rather busy and haven't had the time to update the blog. That being said, if you haven't given The Humble Loaf a try, it's a great time to do so now as they have a lunch set for only $10 nett.

It includes, a choice of sandwich, pastry and one of their drinks. 

Taken from The Humble Loaf's Facebook Page

Ham and Gruyere Sandwich

This is your classic ham and cheese sandwich, improvised with parsley and garlic butter. As you can see, the bread is well toasted making it very crispy,which is to my liking. However, those who want soft breads can opt for it not to be toasted, The bread used is their Mutigrain Chiaseed Loaf ($6/loaf) which smells and tastes great. I would have preferred more ham though.

Spicy Tuna Sandwich

I loved this sandwich because of the spicy tuna, which was not too salty. It also wasn't saturated with mayo or onions. The cured cucumbers tasted fresh and did not have any bitter aftertaste. The same multigrain chiaseed bread was used. Personally I felt that this was better than the Ham and Gruyere sandwich.

Shoyu Caramel Latte

I upgraded the Americano in the meal in favour for a Shoyu Caramel Latte, which I have enjoyed on mutiple occasions. The subtle saltiness of the shoyu and the hint of caramel syrup somehow go well together and tastes great as a latte. The coffee here might not be the strongest (The coffee is from Highlander) but it tastes okay. Not the strongest coffee but smooth enough to keep you satisfied. 

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Pardon the overexposure on the cake. This dessert was brilliant. It literally melted in your mouth, and to me, it was largely reminiscent of the molten chocolate lava cakes that are around. The chocolate quality is decent (tastes something along the lines of hershey's baking chocolate) and it is extremely moist. I like strong, dark chocolate, and hence the bitterness of the chocolate was balanced well against the sweetness of the cake overall. The best part? It only costs $2 to buy this ala carte, a price I haven't seen since my school days.

Cinnamon Chocolate Roll

Delicious stuff. This is best eaten hot/warm as the chocolate tastes best in a semi-melted state. The bread used in the roll is also tasty, although it is slightly more chewy than I expected. The bread is fragrant as well, providing a safer alternative that is not as sweet for the discerning eater.

It was hard to get seats when I was there earlier today, and most people were seen ordering the lunch set. So don't miss out now if you're in the area!

Read the full post on The Humble Loaf here: http://eatwheresia.blogspot.sg/2014/01/the-humble-loaf-katong-shopping-centre.html

Don't say good deal bojio!

Hatched @ Holland Village

Hatched at Holland Village is definitely a place for egg-lovers to go to. As their name suggests, their specialty lies in eggs, and they do it well! Often crowded during breakfast and brunch time every day of the week, especially weekends, it's a bustling place for meeting up with friends or just to have a great start to your day. However, if for some reason you don't fancy eggs, I'll suggest that you go elsewhere as almost every dish has eggs in them. 

Even their Salt and Pepper containers are in the shape of eggs. Extremely cute!

Smoked Royale

Eggs Benedict! Smoked salmon and poached egg with Hollandaise sauce on an English Muffin, served with greens and homemade mash. The poached eggs here are perfectly done, and the smoked salmon is nice, although I feel that they could have been more generous with the portion. Overall, it's rather light as the English Muffin isn't very filling. The homemade mash is awesome though, extremely tasty without being too salty. The portion of greens are just right for the dish too.

Philly

Steak, Peppers and Onions in an omelette, with cream cheese on toast. Personally I felt that there wasn't enough cream cheese to go around the omelette, and the portion of the steak wasn't that much either. However, the steak, peppers and onions were all very well done and tasted great, especially when you cut a bit of cream cheese to go with each mouthful. Their bread is only average though, and is a tad bit dry.

There are MANY MANY other dishes available on the menu, and you can customise the dishes to your preference, especially if you want to change things like your omelette filling. There's certainly something for every egg lover here. The drinks aren't as good though, so I would just come here for a good solid breakfast. That being said, the food here is generally for those with smaller appetites as they aren't very filling on their own. You might want to order a few more to share, or head somewhere else for drinks after going to Hatched. They currently have 2 outlets.

Expect to pay: $15-20

Hatched @ HV

267 Holland Avenue

Holland Village S278989

Twelve Cupcakes

Cupcake fever has been going on in Singapore for quite a while, and it was quite recent that Twelve Cupcakes, arguably one of the fastest-growing and most popular cupcake chain in Singapore, increased their prices. It now costs $3.20 per cupcake for their regular range, and $3.70 for their more premium flavours, some of which include alcohol. The question is, is it worth the hype and money we shell out for it?

I would say that their cupcakes in general are good. You definitely get what you pay for with their regular flavours such as PB Jelly, Cookies and Cream, Red Velvet and Espresso. Their other more special flavours such as Longan, Raspberry White Choc and Strawberry Champagne are certainly better than their regular ones. That being said, the primary distinction between the cupcakes is through the whipped cream which is flavour accordingly. There is a generic selection of either chocolate or plain cupcakes, and then the respective-flavoured cream is put on top. Without the cream, one cupcake would be largely indistinguishable from the other. Although this is somewhat disappointing for a few flavours, you get a consistent result of a moist and not-too-sweet cupcake base, and a well-made whipped cream topping. Those cupcakes which claim to have alcohol in them do have trace amounts of it, but its certainly insufficient for people who want the full flavour that is promised. 

"But you're not answering my question, is it worth it?" I would say at regular price, no, not really. Unless you have a party or a function, which makes it pretty neat for you to bring a box or two of Twelve Cupcakes, which is rather classy and neat in the box and bag. Or perhaps someone is celebrating their birthday and you want to use a cupcake as a substitute for cake. Or perhaps for the occasional indulgence, I guess it's fine. However, there are a few promotions at closing time that might be of interest. They usually go for Buy 4 get 2 free near closing time, or 6 cupcakes for a fixed rate of $12, regardless of whether the flavours are under the regular range or premium range. They also do have occasional tie-ups with credit cards so that makes this little luxury a little more affordable. In summary, if you don't mind paying premium for a cupcake that is of a guaranteed quality, then go ahead and get it! Otherwise, I would probably be more frugal as you probably can make your own cupcakes to a standard that's pretty similar, if not better than theirs.

Dean and Deluca @ Orchard Central

Many people have walked around Orchard Central and it would be almost impossible to miss Dean and Deluca, which took up the space left vacant by Gelare Cafe. The cafe space is ever-changing due to accommodate the retail section of Dean and Deluca, but for the better as the seating spaces have increased. I like to be nearer to the counter rather than at the far end nearer to their delicatessen. The place is usually noisy and full of people around brunch time, and it only really frees up around 2pm. This is in spite of the 37% user review reflected on hungrygowhere. Given it's location, I would say it's a nice place for friends to meet as the high (or lack of) an immediate ceiling means that the place feels spacious. The seats are also adequately spaced so that one can have his or her own private conversations. I like to drop by to just get a few muffins for breakfast the next day as they are cheap and good ($3.50 for a very filling and wholesome muffin). Their regular mains are good, but not extremely so. Their drinks are rather underwhelming as well,  and perhaps this is why they've garnered such low ratings. This is because their prices aren't exactly for the budget-conscious. Therefore, I don't usually go for their mains but I usually like to custom my meals ala carte as I get what I want at a slightly cheaper price.

Pan-seared Salmon steak, Herb Mixed Vegetables

Normal-tasting salmon that is a little on the dry side. Needed much more of the lemon butter sauce but couldn't get more. The more fatty parts of the salmon tasted good though, and they're pretty stingy with the greens. I ordered mixed herb vegetables which included beetroot, pumpkin and potatoes to accompany this dish so I managed to get this combination for under $15.

Angus Beef Bulgogi Aglio Olio Linguine

Extremely tasty and it only costs $13.50. You're unlikely to get this deal at the moment, but one can always hope. I got this under the "Pasta of the Week" promotion, which recently increased their price to $14 for the week's pasta. Not sure if this promotion is still ungoing though, but it was certainly good over the weeks when it lasted. The linguine was adequately tasty and not too oily, which I enjoyed. The angus beef was also very flavourful and slightly spicy. The portion was also enough to satisfy me, and it's certainly a steal for the price.

Spicy Marinara with Soft Shell Crab

Another one of my catches during the promotion! The pasta here is definitely more moist due to the tomato base sauce. I liked the taste of the herbs they used to season the pasta, and the mashed tomatoes were good. There was a decent portion of soft shell crab, which was nicely battered. However, the crab was a little cold by the time I ate it, but it was still tasty nonetheless. It tastes better on its own and just perhaps with a dash of the tomato or tabasco sauce. Otherwise, the batter will turn soggy and the crab won't be as pleasant-tasting.

Boston Shrimp and Avocado Sandwich

Another budget alternative, one can always try the Chef Special that is slightly cheaper than their all-day breakfast mains. However, the quality of the chef's special changes and it really depends on the individual if you want to go for it. Here, the sweet taste of the shrimp bathed in a light mayo sauce tasted great. The avocado was fresh and sweet too, and hence it provided a nice texture to the sandwich on a whole. There is a sizable portion of a side salad, and potato chips that go well with the BBQ sauce that they provide. Or you could be like me and have chips drizzled with Tabasco sauce. Not the most orthodox way of eating it but oh well.

Portobello Cheese Burger

Angus beef steak, with porotbello mushrooms (obviously, lol!), gouda cheese, tomato and lettuce. The bread patties simply cannot contain the burger, which is almost certain to fall apart when you try to eat it. The beef patty is good, definitely very tasty and juicy. Only eat this if you do like beef, as the taste can be a bit strong. The lettuce and tomatoes are normal, but sufficiently fresh. The gouda cheese is a good alternative and goes well with the burger on a whole, and having just the portobello mushrooms with the gouda cheese is pretty heavenly. Their serving of fries is quite large, so it might take a while for you to finish it. That being said, the burger isn't that filling on its own. Have this with the BBQ sauce that they provide at the counter. However, it was slightly expensive in my opinion for a burger.

Chicken bacon and Apricot Roll

Another one of my budget selections! This is pretty filling on its own, and it wasn't as dry as I had expected it to be. The chicken bacon is extremely tasty, and goes well with the flaky pastry of the roll. The apricot flavour is nice too, and the sesame seeds help to make the roll more fragrant overall.

The New Yorker

One of Dean and Deluca's signatures, I had high hopes for this, especially since I was paying $25 for it. Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon in a sesame-seed bagel accompanied by a vine-ripened tomato. Although I wasn't disappointed by the dish's taste and appearance, the price was rather high. For the same price, I would have gotten much larger servings and better service at Wild Honey. The smoked salmon had a strong smoked flavour which was enjoyable, but the slices were bordering on stingy. The scrambled eggs were good, and so was the freshly-baked bagel. However, this dish is certainly not filling because of it's small size. I would have liked another vine-ripened tomato too because mine was a little small for me. 

The verdict for Dean and Deluca? I would say that it's a nice place to start your day for brunch, and perhaps for their stack of pancakes which look delicious. I wouldn't come here specifically for their drinks or for their food though. Definitely a bit overpriced for its quality. If you don't mind experimenting with their ala carte dishes, you probably can come up with something nice and value-for-money. This is because I find their normal menu much nicer than that of their all-day breakfast. However, with it's location at Orchard and the relative ease of getting a seat, it's definitely a good place (for larger groups especially) to meet up. I would recommend, however, their baked goods such as muffins and cakes, especially for a takeaway.

Expect to pay: $20-30

#04-23/24

Orchard Central

181 Orchard Road