Havla Craig - Delicious Healthy Desserts

So many restaurants and cafes, so little time to visit them all. Out of so many choices, I set my eyes on Havla because it is located at the quaint heritage area, the matcha theme and the novelty of vegan desserts.

The place is minimalistic, classy, modern and has lots of zen influences. There are also lots of spaces between each table. So I feel really calm and refreshed when stepping into this unique space. The desserts are good too, and the tea is refreshing to the palate and the mind. In fact, this is place is heaven sent for lactose intolerant individuals.

Since I'm here for the matcha, of course I will order an item that has matcha. But I also want something different instead of pure matcha or matcha ice-cream only. So I decide on Warabi Mochi with  °2 Matcha Gelato. °2 Matcha Gelato is the more intense version of matcha and I love it. The taste is more intense, yet still smooth and not acidic. Warabi mochi is soft, chewy and refreshing in taste, complementing the creamy ice-cream well. By the way, the ice-cream still tastes very creamy despite being vegan. 

Shikuwasa Yuzu Cheesecake is full of lemony goodness and has the light sweetness to balance the flavours. The cheesecake is slightly firmer in texture and pretty creamy, yet refreshing due to the lemon added. Lemon fans will like this.

Kamairicha Hot Brew is so smooth and has the extra roasted flavour with no bitterness. 
I love this.

Nice photo, so I take a photo of it lol

The matcha ice-creams are covered to prevent oxidation, thus preserving the potency of the matcha.

The ambience makes this cafe a really great place to relax, hang out with friends or loved ones while enjoying some yummy healthy desserts and good matcha or tea. Since I'm mildly lactose intolerant, this is really an awesome choice for me to enjoy some good creamy desserts.

Thoughts: Nice, Zen, Modern Cafe

40 Craig Road

Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar

Tea Chapter - Appreciation of Tea and a pot of Chinese Culture

Since I hang around Chinatown a lot, it's a matter of time that I stumble upon Tea Chapter. Something nostalgic and authentic about its signage that makes me stop in my tracks and then I remember I had been to this place many many years ago, when I was just seventeen years old. With the fond memories of enjoying Chinese tea at a tranquil and oriental setting resurfacing, I make it a point to revisit this place again.

So after a very quick lunch, I brave through the drizzle to relive the memories, with this time fully aware what is going on–I was just tagging along when I visited here during my teenage years.

Lots of medium brown wood, yellow light lamps, the place has a calming effect that is perfect for relaxing and just enjoying a good tea. The staff recommends me the Imperial Golden Cassia from Fujian Anxi since this is their specialty. Yes, this had been served to their VIP before, but I don't choose this because of that, I order this because it is their premium tea.

The tea preparation here is actually very detailed. Following the steps will allow one to fully appreciate the complexity of the flavour of the teas. Listening to the staff explaining the steps makes me have a newfound appreciation for Chinese tea. I need to listen anyway because I need to prepare it by myself for later rounds 😄

The tea set for drinking of tea. Since Imperial Golden Cassia is a type of Oolong tea, zisha pot, aka purple clay, is used for brewing the tea. Only oolong requires this expensive zisha pot in order to retain its light aroma.

I decide to order the platter of 3 kinds of jellies since these are the more unique offerings on the food menu. My favourite is the Osmanthus Jelly since I like its strong floral flavour.

I'm listing down the steps to tea preparation and appreciation here for my readers and myself so that I can refer to this when I come here again. But note that I may miss some details here.

1. Pour hot water into the brewing pot and then pour some of this water over the rim of the ceramic holding pot and the rest into the holding pot. Pour the water from the holding pot over the two cups for rinsing before emptying the rest of water over the tray. Then pour away all the water in the cups onto the tray.

2. Turn the bamboo scoop and gently slide into the tea packet. 

3. Turn the scoop around together with the tea bag so that the dried tea leaves naturally gather into the scoop.

Reason for step 1 and 2 is to ensure the delicate, brittle tea leaves are being not shattered by ploughing the bamboo scoop through the bulk of tea leaves. Retaining the whole leaves ensure the right amount of the tea essence seeps into the hot water. Broken leaves will result in overly strong, bitter tea.

4. Pour the tea leaves into the brewing pot. Only put in half of the packet into the pot first.

5. Pour hot water into the pot until full.

6. Then immediately pour this first tea away over the tray.

7. Refill the brewing pot with hot water until full. Wait for 30 seconds.

8. Pour the entirety of this tea into the holding pot.

9. Pour the tea from the holding pot into the tall cup and then bring it up a take a deep whiff of the aroma of the tea. My tea has distinctive floral notes at first whiff.

10. Transfer the tea to the tea cup.

11. Rub the narrow cup between the hands and then take a whiff of it again. The aroma will become sweeter in nature due to oxidation of the tea with the air.

12. Hold the tea cup with three fingers.

13. Take one small sip to cleanse the palate.

14. Let the second sip of tea swirl in the mouth to develop the flavours before gulping it down.

15. Then enjoy the tea as one likes it.

16. When this batch of tea is finished, go through Step 7, 8, 10, 12~15 for maximum of 4 times.

17. Clear the pot of the used tea leaves and stash them underneath the cover of the tray.

18. Repeat Step 2~8, 10, 12~16 for the remaining batch of tea leaves.

Tea brewed this way is exceptionally smooth, of the right acidity, mellow, complex and aromatic. 

I like the soft nuanced hint of osmanthus flower in my tea.

Coming here to enjoy tea is so relaxing and calming, and it is also let me immerse myself in this art form of Chinese culture. A bit like reclaiming my heritage since I'm a Chinese. Lots of tourists and expats come here too. The staff here are polite, efficient and exceptionally knowledgeable.

I definitely want to come here again when I have the time to savour that moment of repose again.

Thoughts: I appreciate Tea Appreciation!

9 Neil Road

Nearest MRT: Maxwell, for NEL and EW line, Outram Park

Gary's - Beautiful Place, Beautiful Food. Beautiful Taste

On a lookout for restaurants in quaint heritage architecture surrounded by lush greenery? I know I do, and I found out that besides the famous Dempsey Hill and Botanic Gardens, there is also Rochester Park, which is like a Dempsey Hill in Buona Vista. This area is like a perfect respite from the city buzz, lots of foliages and the buildings there are mainly bungalows, which are distinctive and have a certain charm to them.

Gary's is one of the 2-storey restaurants housed in these bungalows, and its interior is so beautiful, especially the mezzanine balcony that takes my breath away. With the good service and awesome food, dining at the balcony really feels like a pure enjoyment in life. And the way the staffs celebrate birthdays is absolutely impressive, eye-catching while still classy. The reveal on details will come later.

Set lunches here come at a nice price of $38 ~ $58, but I decide to go for à ala carte since quite a number of items in there are too tempting for me to skip in favour for set lunch.

Red Prawn Tartare is a luxurious treat full of umami. The diced raw red prawns is so creamy and sweet, complementing the buttery, briny goodness of the uni. The caviar and ikura introduces refreshing, intense essence of the ocean to uplift the creaminess. I love this so much.

I usually put photos of the interior at the end of the post, but this is too beautiful that I have to put it at the top of the post here. Even the scenery outside the balcony is pretty.

The homemade bread is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, with hints of the flavour of ham packed within. This tastes so good when eaten warm with the special kombu butter.

Pan Seared Foie Gras is so perfectly prepared. The thin seared crust holds within it a rich, buttery, almost jelly-like core. The taste is so sublime. It tastes even better with the onion chutney, the sweet pear, tangy aged balsamic and dashes of rock salt. 

Iberico Pork Jowl is very well-cooked, being super tender and juicy. It has a gamey flavour that will transform into a rich taste when slathered with the sweet, refreshing carrot puree. It tastes delicious when paired with the carrot puree.

The Lava Cake really holds lots of lava in its centre. The moment I scoop out a piece of the cake from the side, the lava start oozing out. This is so decadently good. And pistachio ice-cream actually goes better with lava cake than the usual vanilla one.

The main floor of the restaurant is posh and modern, and the mezzanine balcony embraces the nature while still having the comforts of an air-conditioned environment. Both are great for dates and gathering. I love the balcony so so much that I'm so glad I arrived earlier than other guests to take some great pictures of the place. The balcony area is full house a little past noon on a Friday afternoon.

The service is very meticulous, professional, warm and friendly. And the ladies are full of smiles. The way they celebrate special occasions for patrons is so unique and definitely worth a visit here just for this. I saw them serving the dessert on a very huge stylish rectangular platform to a couple nearby. And then, they light up the candle that burns like a sparkle! The sparkle looks so pretty. They even take photos and print one out for the couple. I'm really impressed.

This is definitely one place that worth a visit just to pamper oneself and the loved ones with lovely ambience and great food, or to have a special celebration. I want to go there again to submerge in the idyllic atmosphere with lots of greenery and try other food items that look very promising.

Thoughts: Beautiful Experience

41 Rochester Drive

Nearest MRT: Buona Vista

Bakalaki Greek Taverna - Rewarding Journey for the Adventurous

I had always been curious about Greek cuisine, but never got around to trying until now. And a meal at Bakalaki made me realise how much I had missed out on. Better late than never. Greek food is very different in taste from French and Italian food, but it is delicious, simulating, filling and hearty nonetheless. And dining here feels like being transported to a sunny town in Greece.

Navigating through a Greek menu is so exciting because I can't understand a word of it and it's my first time 😂 Luckily, there are English "subtitles" beneath each dish for me to make an informed choice. I decide to order Tzatziki at first look because one, I think I saw this word before, so it should be a pretty famous Greek dish, and two, I like its ingredients of Greek yoghurt–best yoghurt, cucumber, garlic and olive oil. The service team lead is very thoughtful to suggest two dip platter instead, so that I can try another kind of dip and I, as a solo diner, will not be overwhelmed by huge amount of one of kind of dip. I opt for Taramosalata, which is white cod roe with lemon juice and breadcrumbs.

Tzatziki is so creamy and refreshing in taste. The tangy flavour of the yoghurt complements the cool element of cucumber so well. The garlic adds a hint of distinctive aroma to further spice things up. Spread it on the delicious pita bread with pillowy interior, this is pure comfort food, with lots of zest.

Taramosalata is more intense in taste. Not bad, but I prefer Tzatziki, which totally whets the appetite.

Super fluffy bread with crusty exterior is a joy to much on. This is the first time I try bread sprinkled with rock salt and oregano, and I love it.

I get a shock when Htapodi, aka  the Octopus, is presented onto my table. My first thought is, "Is it possible for me to finish this?" And to add on to it,  I'm not even a fan of octopus.

But this dish manages to convert me into a fan, and I know now why this is a speciality of the restaurant. The octopus is unbelievable tender. In fact, this is the most tender octopus I ever have, baby octopus aside. Slightly chewy but still easy to bite, packed with light briny flavour accentuated by splashes of lemon juice, and laced with a thin layer of smoky taste and charred meat, this is oh-so-good. By the way, I easily finish every bit of this.

Galaktoboureko, which is flaky thin Filo Pastry stuffed with semolina custard and Greek honey syrup, looks simple and is simply yummy. Semolina is a kind of durum wheat used to make this custard that is slightly different from the usual custard. This custard has more structure and is more curd-like in texture, I like it. And it pairs excellently with the slightly stretchy thin pastry.

Nice complimentary House Shot presented during dessert time. By the way, the restaurant is very generous with the house pour of red wine I had ordered 👍 

Too crowded and since I don't like to post photos of patrons' full faces, except myself, thus a cute sticker added here.

The place is beautiful: full of little details, like the bird-like lamps, the bougainvilleas, the straw-hat lamps, ratan chairs, , white-washed walls, full-panel glasses to let lots of natural light in to add to the dining experience. It reminds me of the famous Greek island, Santorini that I see in the photos.

The service is very good, being polite, professional, friendly and prompt to response. The team lead guy takes very good care of me by informing me to order dessert later and offering to hold my order of chicken skewers due to the possibility of me not being able to finish everything. And true enough, due to the generous portions of food, I have to limit what I can order. I'm really impressed by this thoughtfulness.

There are other food items that I really want to try here, not to mention a dining experience here really perks up my interest in Greek cuisine, so I look forward to be back again.

Thoughts: Greek food is awesome!

38A Martin Road

Nearest MRT: Havelock or Great World City