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DISCLAIMER If you have any comments/suggestions/places you think serve great food, do share with us! Email me at qiuyi_ong@hotmail.com or leave a comment in the tag board. Thanks and cheers to future gastronomical adventures! MY TO-GO LIST Au Jardin (Eaten!) Au Petit Salut Buko Nero (Eaten!) Cugini (Eaten!) Forlino (Eaten!) Gunther's Jaan (Eaten!) La Strada Le Bistrot Nicolas Pasta Brava (Eaten!) Sage (Eaten!) Tatsuya Tetsu (Eaten!) I LIKE Cugini Kuriya Le Figue LivinGreens Nanbantei Ootoya Original Sin Pasta Brava Sage Tetsu Valentino PAST ENTRIES May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009
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Friday, July 10, 2009
Genesis
1 Lorong Telok 6438 7118 I'm a sucker for any cafe/restaurant that touts to serve healthy meals. And I know I have to try the food at Genesis after reading about it in the newspapers. Luckily enough, this place is quite near my workplace as it's located near the Boat Quay area.  It was a toss up between the lasagna or the 7 Layers Haystack ($7.90). I went with the latter at the waitress's recommendation. It's aptly named "haystack" as raw shredded vegetables, salsa and soyanaise are heaped atop generous amount of organic beans and brown rice done in Mexican style. I thought that this was quite well done as the flavour was interesting with hints of tumeric and there's texture and crunch in every bite.  The Lotus Rice ($7.90) was nicely presented wrapped in a lotus leave and the smell was aromatic. If I didn't remember, this was the special dish of the day. A bowl of chinese soup was served alongside the lotus rice. This is not my cup of tea (or should i say, soup) as I much prefer the thick and creamy version of its western counterparts. Besides the 7 Layers Haystack, I thought the menu was quite boring with the usual rice, noodles and pasta. LivinGreens still remains my favourite with its innovative and healthy renditions of items like quiches and burgers. Labels: Vegetarian 1:51 PM ---------- Thursday, May 7, 2009
Naive
99 East Coast Road 6348 0668 I've read much reviews about this restaurant that strives to serve healthy meals with no meat, seafood, eggs and MSG. A typical vegetarian restaurant, I thought. But what surprised me is that they also don't use any onions and garlic, both of which I like and are healthy ingredients!  While waiting for the food to arrive, we were given a set of mortar and pestle with a bowl of sesame seeds. The waitress explained that it's a Japanese-inspired "bloss" ceremony whereby each small seed represents the blessings we receive each day. It was rather difficult to grind the seeds and I gave up awhile later. I think the one at Tonkatsu is much easier. The Tom Yam Soup ($3.80+) was quite spicy but nothing to shout about. I don't think this is worth the price since it's just a small bowl of soup with very minimal vegetables like cauliflowers.  My favourite were the main dishes we ordered. The Enchanted Forest ($12.80+) consisted of monkeyhead mushrooms braised with wolfberry, "tang gui" herb and broccoli. 2 thumbs up for the dish as it was very fragrant and flavourful.  Our 2nd main was the Spice of Life ($12.80+) which was similar to the chinese dish "kongpo chicken", just that the chicken was substituted for monkeyhead mushrooms in this rendition. The hot and spicy sauce was fiery enough to give us a good kick! The sauteed mushrooms with cashew nuts and peppers tasted meaty and the texture was good.  The food is certainly impressive enough to make even my carnivorous mom agree that it was a delicious meal. The only grouse I have is that portions were extremely small. Even though this was a late lunch, I was hungry by dinnertime. Nevertheless, the tasty food is definitely enough to make me come back again if ever I want a healthy meal.Labels: Vegetarian 4:17 PM ---------- Friday, March 27, 2009
7 Sensations
16, Madras Street 6298 8198 Sis and I have known of this restaurant specialising in organic food for a long time but somehow, we have never tried it until today. It was formerly known as Yogi Hub but was renamed when it had a change of owners. Situated in a rather obscure location along a row of shophouses, we finally located the restaurant after asking for directions at a nearby hotel.  We had 2 orders of the 7 Sensations Moussaka ($12.80+) since the other items on the menu didn't seem interesting enough to warrant a try. The moussaka arrived looking just like what the menu described: braised lentils layered between sheets of eggplant, topped with homemade white sauce and fresh breadcrumbs. Taste-wise, I suppose it's somewhat of an acquired taste as the strong turmeric was a strange contrast to the slightly sourish sauce. This weird combination proved to be too much for Sis as she didn't enjoy it at all. We also ordered the Shredded Ginger with Koniako ($12.80+) as a side to share. I wanted to see how the chef imparted flavour to the otherwise bland Japanese yam as I've been wanting to try cooking with Koniako for quite some time now. The texture was very much like mock meat but the ginger didn't stand out as there was too much sauce. In retrospect, I'll start with what I like about 7 Sensations. Presentation of the food was good and the service was friendly. Perhaps what I like best is the ambience and vibe of the restaurant with its high ceiling, white-washed walls and spacious dining area. However, the price was also relatively higher than the other organic places we've been to so far. Moreover, the food didn't leave much of a good impression on me. I'd rather go to LivinGreens or Nutrihub for a healthy meal since I like their food better and the locations are more accessible. That said, if you want to make a reservation here, be prepared to make your reservation in chinese as all the waitstaff seems to be from China.Labels: Organic, Vegetarian 7:41 PM ---------- Friday, March 13, 2009
LivinGreens
325 Beach Road 6396 5523 The last time I came here with my family was more than a year ago. While discussing what to have for dinner tonight, sis and I suddenly remember this place and decided to make a visit here. When we reached, the place was almost deserted which was not really surprising given that it's a Friday night and I assume people would rather hang out in town.  If my memory is right, the menu has been given a makeover as more items have been added. For starter, we had the Mango Sushi Roll ($5) which seems to be featured on the menu of every organic cafe I've been to so far. It's a colourful mix of mango, beetroot, carrot, alfalfa sprouts, pea sprouts wrapped in a sheet of Nori seaweed. I like the crunchiness and freshness of the vegetables but the seaweed was made a little soggy by the sauce. As usual, I took a long time to decide on my main course. After listening to the owner's recommendations, I finally settled on the LivinGreens Lasagna ($8.50) which is wheat-, gluten- and dairy-free. I love this! It's absolutely delicious with a well-balanced flavour and texture. Every slice of the lasagna contains eggplant, fresh tomatoes, green and red peppers, carrots, mushroom, spices and fresh herbs. I was "dissecting" every slice and bite so as to try replicating this at home. Sis had one of the Today's Specials: the LivinGreens Burger ($8) which is another common item found in such cafes. We didn't like the texture of the bread as it was "neither here nor there". It wasn't soft but neither was it dense. It was just... weird. You have to try it to understand what I'm talking about. Otherwise, the patty was tasty enough with lots of veggies packed in it. Remembering how this was sold out the last time we were here, Sis specially called the cafe this morning to ask whether there will be any Avocado Pudding ($4). This was great! Fresh avocado was blended with soy milk, sweetened with a syrup of molasses and palm sugar, and the result? Smooth and silky "pudding" which seems more like a mousse to me. However, I thought it's too expensive for such a small cup of dessert. Just when I had decided to try the Black Sesame Pudding too, the staff told me it was sold out. Turns out that the lady at the next table was one step faster than me! Argh, this always happens to me! I guess I have to come back here again next time just to try that... After all, besides the healthy and wholesome cuisine, the lack of GST and service charge is another plus!Labels: Organic, Vegetarian 7:54 PM ---------- Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Original Sin #3
Blk 43, #01-62, Holland Village, Chip Bee Gardens 6475 5605 Citibank had a 1-for-1 main course promotion which was a really good deal. Thinking that Elaine is probably the only who would truly enjoy a meal here, I asked her out for lunch today. Both of us had the Bosco Misto ($25++) which is my absolute favourite! Spinach, feta and tofu patties are served with sautéed button mushrooms in a plum sauce and topped with asparagus. Awesome!  Hands down, this is one of my favourite restaurants around. Not only does it uses the freshest ingredients, Original Sin creates the best vegetarian Mediterranean cuisine which is simple yet creative! I've yet to be disappointed by a meal here and doubt I will be in future.Labels: Mediterranean, Vegetarian 12:30 PM ---------- Saturday, February 21, 2009
Yogi House
#02-08, Fu Lu Shou Complex 6297 1220 Mom, Sis and I went for an early lunch at this organic cafe recommended by Sis who came here with her colleagues before. Like most organic cafes I've been to, this one also encompasses a "shop" within the cafe where diners can also purchase organic products.  All of us liked the starter, Pumpkin Cake ($3), which was firm yet "bouncy" to the bite. The texture was very smooth and the sweet sauce further enhanced the natural sweetness of the steamed pumpkin. I had the Sushi Roll ($3.50) which seemed to be a common item on the menu of most organic cafes. This version used ume vinegar and syrup to complement the crunchy shredded vegetables. Mock meat floss was sprinkled over the sushi to add a hint of savouriness to the dish. Personally, I like Nutrihub's version more than this.  Sis ordered the Buckwheat Noodles ($6) which she slurped up within minutes.  Mom had the Brown Rice Set ($5.50) which included a bowl of soup. I think this looked pretty normal compared to the rice set served at Nutrihub which was more generous and colourful.  For desserts, we shared the Konnyaku & Bonsoy with Flaxseed ($3) which was basically cubed jelly in soymilk sprinkled with flaxseeds. Sis didn't like the smell of it but surprisingly, the taste was not too bad. I liked the jelly most of all as it was very firm and nice to bite. Another dessert we tried was the Kanten Jelly with Collagen ($2.50). Now, anything with the word "collagen" got us excited as we all know it's very good for our skin. This jelly reminded me of the one Grandpa used to make. Compared to the previous dessert, this was softer and smoother in texture. The owner of the cafe once appeared on a wellness television programme before and she was friendly enough to approach us while we were looking at the organic products. It turned out that she noticed us as I was snapping pictures around the cafe. We began to chat and she even taught us how to make yogurt at home. In the end, I was the proud owner of a bottle of yogurt starter ($30). I can't wait to try it out at home!Labels: Organic, Vegetarian 1:25 PM ---------- Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Nutrihub #2
#B2-25/26, Cuppage Plaza 6738 2746 In less than a week, I came back here again for a meal! This time, it was for lunch with my sis as we had a movie to catch later. The staff was really friendly and kept recommending the menu to use. In the end, I chose to have the Organic Wholemeal Sandwich ($6) over the Gado Gado. I wouldn't say I liked this a lot as the bread was... strange. It had a soggy-like texture and was too soft to my liking as I prefer dense bread. The patty was quite interesting: a little sweet due to the carrots and yet savoury at the same time.  Sis had the Tuesday Special: Pumpkin Brown Rice with Stewed Taukwa, Brinjal & Veggie ($6). I tried the eggplant which was really well-marinated with a very subtle hint of spiciness. To me, the rice looked horrible though as it seemed really moist and sticky. We got a glass of Walnut with Black Sesame Milk ($5) which was freshly blended on the premises. I liked the nutty flavour but it would have been better if the taste of black sesame was stronger. I think the prices are extremely reasonable for a healthy and organic meal. Even though I didn't enjoy the food as much as I did the last time, I would definitely still come back whenever I'm in the area. Labels: Organic, Vegetarian 1:50 PM ---------- Friday, February 6, 2009
NutriHub #1
#B2-25/26 Cuppage Plaza 6738 2746 Mom and I were wandering along Orchard Road and decided to check out the foodcourt at Cuppage. However, it has since closed down and the whole stretch is filled with fancy restaurants. Not wanting to break the bank, we went into the plaza in search of more affordable food. That's when I saw this lone cafe hidden in a corner at the basement.  The owner, Ms Vinitha Ang, was very friendly and warm. She started to introduce her menu to us and I was sold immediately. Though limited, some of the items on the menu looked interesting enough to warrant a try. I went with the 5 Spices Salad Tofu ($6) which was a new item. Firm yet soft slices of tofu were generously given and also well marinated. The Not-Tuna Nori Sushi ($7) was a visual feast for the eyes with so many bright and different colours. Taste-wise, it was fabulous! Organic almond pate and wakame were creatively used to imitate the taste of tuna. Thus the name "not-tuna". Though not exactly successful, the savoury sushi was interesting and different from any others I've came across. Mom had the Mushroom Ramen Soup ($6) as the 8 treasures rice set was already sold out. This had a very flavourful and sweet broth. Again, generous amounts of kombu, mushrooms, corns and other assorted vegetables were given. Food preparation was a tad slow though as mom was already almost done with the ramen by the time the sushi and tofu were served. However, I took this as a good point as it meant that the food was freshly prepared on order. Tasty yet healthy, what more could I ask for? I'm always slightly partial towards organic food as they carry more flavour and are definitely more healthy than the usual cafe and restaurant fare. This is definitely a hidden gem which I will frequent often! Labels: Organic, Vegetarian 7:03 PM ---------- Thursday, July 10, 2008
Original Sin #2
43 #01-62 Jalan Merah Saga 6475 5605 Praga and I went back to Original Sin again, for lunch this time. We started with a Principessa salad ($16++). There’s an abundance of ingredients—pumpkin, avocado, asparagus, marinated button mushroom, tomato, bocconcini, French beans, mesclun and croutons. I like the classic and flavorful balsamic vinaigrette dressing which is very light.  The Bosco Misto ($25++) is fantastic! It features 2 thick discs of spinach, feta and tofu patties coated with crushed almonds and sesame seeds, and a generous pile of arugula, asparagus and succulent button mushrooms. Thankfully, the feta taste was very subtle and not overwhelmingly strong. The rich plum sauce was sweet and complemented the patties very well. Even as I’m writing this, my mouth is watering and I can’t wait to eat it again! I tried a little of the Porcini Polenta ($28++) and I like what I tasted. The polenta was firm and had a crisp texture. It’s accompanied by a porcini, button and Portobello mushroom ragout, and grilled Australian asparagus in a pesto cream sauce drizzled with truffle oil. The food here never fails to impress me and is just excellent, excellent and excellent. This may very well be my favourite restaurant! Labels: Mediterranean, Vegetarian 1:05 PM ---------- Friday, June 6, 2008
Original Sin #1
43 #01-62 Jalan Merah Saga 6475 5605 I am going to rave because dinner was so lovely! Praga and I went to this Mediterranean vegetarian restaurant hidden along the stretch of road off Holland Village.  We started with an Avocado Salad ($16++).
Avocado, French beans, fresh beetroot, carrot, apple, cucumber mesclun and pine nuts are tossed with citrus mustard vinaigrette. I like the tangy dressing which complements the creamy but bland avocado very well.
The menu for mains is quite limited but I still took a rather long time to decide. All the items sound so interesting!
The Moussaka ($24++) is a vegetarian version of the lasagna. Layers of char-grilled eggplant, potato, tomato and lentils are baked and infused with Middle Eastern spices, topped with a white sauce.
 The Sicilian Pizza ($22++) was tasty too. Bocconcini (small unripened and mild cheese), mozzarella, parmesan, semi-dried tomato, Kalamata olives, caramelized onion are topped with arugula leaves. The thinness of the pizza dough was just nice and crispy enough.  Service was excellent as the waitress was very attentive. They even gave me a copy of their menu after Praga requested for it. The ambience was great too! The interior was candlelit with dim and soft lighting (not conducive for photo taking though). I would definitely come back here again! Their creative and innovative menu makes me want to try everything.Labels: Mediterranean, Vegetarian 7:11 PM ---------- WELCOME! LOCAL FOODIES' BLOGS Gastronomic Ruminations She Bakes & She Cooks Singapore Daily Makan Photo Small Potatpes Make the Steak Look Bigger The Orthorexic Foodie The Skinny Epicurean Timeless Facade Food Glorious Food FOOD FOR THOUGHT | |
