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

Wild Honey @ Scotts Square

When people talk about breakfast, brunch or cafes, the first place that comes to mind is always Wild Honey. Therefore I'm going to give this place a solid, wholesome review (: This is because I feel that they are one of the few places that dedicate their efforts into giving you, the customer, the best breakfast experience possible. Their all-day breakfast is available at both their outlets, at Scott's Square and Mandarin Gallery. However, there are certain menu items that are only available at either one of the two outlets, and there are occasional daily specials as well. Wild Honey is definitely a one-stop joint to experience breakfasts from all over the world, and they are particular about their presentation as well. Each picturesque dish is definitely instagram-worthy on its own, and looks even better on a DSLR or after some post-editing. Lastly, you are GUARANTEED a quality breakfast each time as they maintain high standards when preparing your food. 

Both cafes are generally vibrant and noisy, with the nondescript furniture at Mandarin Gallery giving it an extra homely feel. However, seating space between tables and at tables is rather tight, and it can get slightly uncomfortable in big groups. Carrying bulky items is definitely not a good idea as you're highly likely to bump into someone or something. However, it's definitely very cosy and good for a romantic date as the lighting is dim. If you're meeting a friend, however, I would definitely recommend you to go for their outlet at Scotts Square. For starters, the ceiling is much higher and the space is very much bigger. It still retains it's cosy feel but I find seating here much more comfortable (BACKRESTS!) as most of the chairs are spacious and for the ladies, you can place your bags behind you rather than on the floor. The service here is also great in general, although you can see that some staff are markedly more enthusiastic than their lacklustre counterparts. However, it can get a little hard to get the attention of the servers during peak hours (12pm-2pm) but other than that, no big issue. If you are queueing, be prepared to wait up to an hour to get your seat, especially on weekends.

The Wild Honey menu items are named after their country of origin, which really gives a straightforward, no-nonsense approach that I like, instead of giving names that are hard for the common man to grasp. 

Wild Honey Bread Basket

Such a pretty basket of bread! An assortment of bread that can be shared by up to 5 people, it's a good way to start the meal if you're hungry and can't wait for your mains to arrive. I would advise you to ask for sharing plates and try their different freshly-baked breads as each has its own individual taste and textures. Condiments include butter, chocolate sauce, raspberry jam and a zesty lemon jam.

Norwegian

Poached eggs on wheat toast, wrapped with Norwegian smoked salmon and grilled asparagus, topped off with Hollandaise sauce and salmon roe. This pretty much looks like the cousin to the European (pictured below later), but the Norwegian replaces ham with smoked salmon, which is a match made in heaven. Furthermore, the salmon roe bursts with flavour when you bite it, and really every bit of this dish tastest great. The eggs are poached perfectly and do not taste too rubbery (which often is the case) and I like to let the yolk ooze out onto the toast to make it more moist. A must-order for those who love salmon.

European

2 poached eggs on toast, wrapped with imported Italian ham and drizzled with Hollandaise sauce, topped with sauteed mushrooms. Although this is perhaps one of their other more ordinary offerings (the other being the English), the ham is seasoned well and has the right amount of saltiness to go well with the runny eggs. Similarly, I like to soak my toast in the yolk before eating it. The sauteed mushrooms are also tasty and it's one of the little things that make the European more special. I generally prefer Hollandaise sauce with salmon dishes, but it worked well with this one. 

English

Scrambled eggs, back bacon, pork sausage, baked beans, grilled vine-ripened tomato, breakfast potatoes and 2 slices of Wild Honey's signature brioche. As I mentioned in another post, I like to try the "big breakfast" that each restaurant has to offer, and although I have to say the English is good, it's definitely not one of Wild Honey's better dishes. This is no fault of theirs, but I feel that the wide range of other alternatives doesn't make this a first choice for many diners. That being said, the bacon and sausages are delicious. The breakfast potatoes are also well done, and the baked beans go well with the scrambled eggs on toast. I loved the vine-ripened tomato which was grilled to perfection, and it is extremely juicy. Vine-ripened tomatoes are certainly a class above your ordinary tomato or cherry tomatoes. Parents, feed your kids with this to start them on vegetables (: Wild Honey's brioche is probably the best around, but 2 slices of it might be too much for the conservative eater to finish. Do order this on your first visit to Wild Honey though, English breakfasts don't get much better.

Tunisian

I'm just going to lift the description off Wild Honey's website as I doubt I can do justice to this dish with my mediocre judgment of its ingredients. Sizzling pan of spicy shakshouka (tomato, red onion, pepper chilli), studded with Chorizo sausage, crowned with 2 fried eggs, signature brioche and Israeli salad. Sounds funky doesn't it. The Israeli salad is simple, with cucumbers and tomatoes inside but I don't find this exceptional. This is best eaten by just tucking into the stew directly, and dipping the brioche as and when you feel like it. I don't find this dish that spicy, and it's certainly edible for those who don't like spicy food. The Chorizo sausage, however, might be a put off for people who aren't a fan of sausages as it has a strong meat flavour, and tastes a bit like salami.

Spanish Hash

Diced Chorizo sausage, corned beef and potatoes, with poached eggs in Hollandaise sauce, and with ciabatta bread. I had this recently when I met up with a friend and I have to say I was a little envious of her Norwegian. The dish tastes great, but it can get a bit monotonous after eating corned beef and potatoes for the majority of the dish. I also wish that there was more Hollandaise sauce (despite my claim above that I prefer Hollandaise sauce with salmon). I think my main grouse was that by ordering this, I deprived myself from having my favourite brioche at Wild Honey. However that is my personal bias for the brioche, and looking back objectively, ciabatta was probably the better choice to match the dish. The bread was filling, and so was the rest of the dish. Definitely one for the big-eaters.

Boulevard St Michel

Baked Spinach Souffle, Savoury french toast with double-baked cheese, grilled back bacon, slowroasted vine-ripened tomatoes, and poached egg with cheese batter. My current favourite dish at the moment, due the assortment of flavours and colours that this dish offers. The spinach souffle is tasty, and is a good complement to the back bacon which is a little on the salty side. The spicy tomato chutney goes best with the Parmesan coated poached egg, as well as the souffle. The vine-ripened tomatoes, like its counterpart in the English, is extremely juicy and this juice explodes in your mouth when you bite it. The portion of the french toast is decent enough such that this dish is filling, but not to the point that you'll feel bloated. 

Breakfast Hangover Sandwich

Club sandwich with back bacon and scrambled eggs, served with breakfast potatoes. Don't feel like having one of Wild Honey's breakfast sets? This is a safe choice for most people, as you can't go wrong with bacon and scrambled eggs. The serving of breakfast potatoes is also substantial, and extremely well-seasoned. Your meal here is also well presented, and can be shared by 3 people for a light appetiser in place of the Bread Basket mentioned above.

Paris Valrhona Bittersweet Hot Chocolate

This is probably the best Hot Chocolate that I know of. Needs no introduction, just sweet hot chocolate that has just enough of the taste of bitter cocoa to keep true chocolate lovers satisfied. The marshmallow on the side is a nice touch, and it's super squishy. I wish I had more of them to go with my drink. On my must-order list each time unless I am in a desperate need of caffeine.

Macchiato

Wild Honey's coffee is perhaps it's weakest selling point, with the coffee being good, but not something to come back for. This is because it lacks a strong aroma and a unique taste that will make you come back wanting more. That being said, the macchiato was well prepared with the right level of milk and foam.

Cafe Mocha

Can't decide whether to have either the Paris Valrhona Bittersweet Chocolate or the macchiato? Why not both? Enter the Cafe Mocha, which is well-balanced between being a comfort drink for chocolate lovers and giving the caffeine kick that many people need to get their day going. However, I would still stick to the Bittersweet Chocolate if you really want a wholesome chocolate drink as the chocolate flavour is simply better without the caffeine.

Bostok

A weekend-only dessert, Wild Honey's signature brioche is dusted with almond flakes, icing sugar and jam. It's a simple, homely dish that is guaranteed to satisfy. Well, expect maybe for the price tag. For it's price, I would probably venture into Wild Honey's other dessert offerings in the future. This goes very well with the Bittersweet Chocolate though. 

Wild Honey is, and probably will continue to be my favourite breakfast/brunch in the near future. Although prices are bit on the high side, it's definitely worth saving up for (Eat biscuit lo!). Eating here is not merely a consumption of food, but the enjoyment of a beautiful breakfast experience. Do push the boundaries of your comfort zone and try new dishes each time as every dish is pretty much good, if not excellent. If you are going in larger groups, you should definitely make reservations at the Scotts Square outlet, where the Verandah is available for large groups. Furthermore, you can book the same Verandah, which overlooks Orchard Road, for private functions. Good for meet-ups, first dates, family meals, and even business meetings. If you haven't tried Wild Honey before, you're really missing out.

Expect to pay: $25-30

#03-01
Scotts Square
6 Scotts Square

#03-02
Mandarin Gallery
333A Orchard Road

Tim Ho Wan 添好運 @ Plaza Singapura

My friend Derrick messaged me immediately upon seeing my photos stream on to Instagram and Facebook, and he asked me if it was worth the wait to get into Tim Ho Wan. I suppose this post is to answer his question more comprehensively. It came as a surprise to most that I had not tried Tim Ho Wan although it has opened its doors in Singapore for close to a year already. Tim Ho Wan's philosophy is to provide Michelin-star level food available for the masses, and hence I was having high expectations already. Furthermore, the average waiting time that I gathered from friends was around an hour. By this time, the crowds had died down a little and I managed to get my table in about 30 minutes. You can get one person to queue first, but in the end the whole party must be present before your seats will be allocated. Thankfully I got my seat at a less crowded part of the restaurant. Otherwise, it can get a little uncomfortable when you have to fight for your own personal space. Don't expect the ambiance you would find in other Dimsum places such as Crystal Jade and Canton Paradise, for you find that you would not want to sit and chat with friends here for a long period. Seriously, just eat and find some place else after that. I attribute this opinion to the level of noise, the length of the queue outside and the overall personal space that one gets while eating here.

Just a heads up, the 4 Heavenly Kings (aiya, just say must try la) are the Baked Bun with BBQ Pork, Vermicelli Roll with Pig's Liver, Steamed Egg Cake and Pan Fried Carrot Cake. 

 Photos below are taken from my Instagram account. (choccroissant)

Baked bun with BBQ Pork. (3pcs for $4.50). 

Just looks so pretty in a 3x3 doesn't it. Well they're certainly tastier than they look. 

Here we can have a look inside the bun. As you can see, the Char Siew filling is moist with a little bit of fatty meat. Overall the flavour is fantastic, although some people find the filling to be a bit too sweet. For me, it was just at the right level, and the buns are best eaten hot. They certainly trump those served at Crystal Jade. However, they can be rather filling. I would recommend for a serving of 2 buns per person, in order to try out the other dishes on the menu. 

Congee with Lean pork, Salted egg and Century Egg ($4.20). 

I would say this congee is one of the smoother congees that I've tasted, although I find it similar to the one served at Canton Paradise. However, the dish does not disappoint as there are a lot of ingredients to go with the congee. The bowl is of a medium size, so I would say it's a little on the heavy side for light eaters, and hence I would recommend that a bowl be ordered if you eat a fair bit, and ideally 3 people could share 2 bowls to make room for later.

Glutinous Rice Dumpling ($5)

I was initially relucant to order the dumpling, but since I saw almost every other table ordering it, I caved in under pressure. This is definitely a dish to be shared, and I found it quite heavy. Refer to the next picture!

Yup so here we have a close up on what's inside the dumpling. I would say that the lotus leaf makes the dish extremely fragrant. The dish overall was not really outstanding, given the fact that the rice and the meat tasted rather normal. Still, I would order this on a repeat visit. 

Pan Fried Carrot Cake (3 pcs for $4.50)

So we move on to the next of the 4 Heavenly Kings. I love the cantonese version of carrot cake, and hence this dish was a real treat. The cake was well fried, with just the right amount of charring. The carrot cake was extremely soft and melted in your mouth. However, I would have preferred it to be a little saltier as it tasted a little flat. However, this problem can be solved by pairing this dish with the Chilli Bean sauce available at the table. (Incidentally, the chilli sauce tastes almost exactly the same as the one at Canton Paradise, wonder if it's commercial.)

Steamed Prawn Dumpling (4pcs for $5.50)

What was outstanding about this dish was the distinct quality of its shrimp. It was extremely fresh and you could taste this in every bite. The skin was also of the right thickness, which pleased me because I get annoyed with dumplings that have skin that is too thick. This dish goes well with the above-mentioned Chilli bean sauce.

Vermicelli Roll with Pig's Liver ($5.50)

The 3rd of the Big 4 Heavenly Kings. The texture of the Vermicelli Roll, or chee cheong fun was great, as it was smooth and melted in your mouth. The skin was thinner than that of the Prawn Dumpling mentioned above, and hence it was super satisfying. However, this dish was let down by the Pig's Liver. Although I am not a huge fan of pig's liver, the liver was obviously overcooked and hence it had a rubbery taste in addition to having the strong smell that I am not particularly fond of. The redeeming factor was the sauce, which made it much more bearable. Hence, I would recommend this dish only to those who like Pig's Liver. Otherwise, you should stick to the Vermicelli Rolls with either BBQ Pork or Prawns (all $5.50).

Steamed Pork Dumpling with Shrimp (4 for $5)

SIEW MAI <3. The wolfberries on the top of the pork dumplings add a nice touch to the dumplings that already taste great. I am rather particular about the thickness of the skin as mentioned above, and hence Tim Ho Wan managed to deliver in terms of consistently ensuring that the skin was not too thick. That being said, I tasted more pork filling than shrimp, but it was satisfying nonetheless. 

Steamed Beancurd Skin Roll with Pork and Shrimp (3pcs for $4)

This was just another one of those dishes that I ordered for the sake of trying. Unlike the Siew Mai mentioned above, I was able to taste the shrimp properly in this dish. The beancurd skin was pleasantly sweet, and the sauce made this dish even tastier. I would say that this is better than average, but not exceptional.

Steamed Beef Ball with Beancurd Skin (3pcs for $4.20)

As you can see in the picture below, there is barely any beancurd skin to speak of. Not sure if this is supposed to be the case but oh well. A strong beef taste will linger in your mouth so only order this if you do like beef. I did not enjoy this dish as much as I had expected, and the inside of the ball tasted a bit raw. Again, whether this is intentional I do not know.

Steamed Egg Cake ($3.80)

This has to be the highlight of the trip to Tim Ho Wan. Whilst the BBQ Pork Bun earlier was way better than average, I would have to say that the steamed egg cake, or malay cake sets the new standard for such cakes here. It's definitely one of the more pricey items on the menu, but hey, with every single bite comes pure bliss. The taste of the cake was reminiscent of Gula Melaka, or palm sugar, but it was not too sweet. This is another dish best eaten hot but will probably do well cooled down as well. 

Tim Ho Wan has recently opened its 3rd outlet in Westgate, in addition to its existing outlets at Plaza Singapura and Toa Payoh. So effectively everywhere except the east has a Tim Ho Wan restaurant already. Hence there is no excuse not to give it a try, with the Big 4 Heavenly Kings definitely being the ones to go for. However, like I found out, there were a couple other dishes that would undoubtedly satisfy the palate.

Expect to pay: $25 for a good meal

#01-92A
Plaza Singapura
68 Orchard Road