Rainbow Lapis - Delightful Nonya Desserts

Hidden at a quiet corner of old school Heartland Mall is a treasure trove of nonya cakes. And this place is called Rainbow Lapis, where you can find all the possible nonya sweets, from Ondeh Ondeh, Pandan Kaya Cake, Kueh Salat, Ubi Talam to, of course, Kueh Lapias.

Being a fan of all things coconut, I naturally want to try out the cakes here, most of which are made with coconut. The cakes are so full of the rich, creamy, nutty flavours that definitely satisfy my cravings for local desserts. In fact, I have been popping in to buy some cakes whenever I pass by Heartland Mall since it is hard to resist the temptation of savouring these cakes. The service here is also very friendly and helpful, cementing this quaint little shop as my go-to shop for some sweet delights.

Kueh Talam, Kueh Lapis, Seri Kaya, and the kuehs here all feature this nice juxtapose of two strong flavours that work together to yield creamy good treats.

I like the cute designs of the Chinese New Year goodies here. And they taste good!

I also love the special Chinese New Year cookies like Coconut Suji Cookies, which have a bit of saltiness to make it more exciting.

Cookies in cute Chinese New Year Good Bag

Soft, fluffy Pandan Kaya Cake is packed with the sweet vegetal aroma of pandan and nutty aroma of coconut. 

Basil Seed Pudding surprises me by how good it is. This agar agar dessert is very refreshing while slightly creamy at the same time.

Lopez is like the glutinous rice dumpling sprinkled with shredded coconut and to be dipped with gula melaka, aka Southeast Asian brown sugar. I do miss eating this special kind of lye water dumplings, so I'm real happy to find this dessert.

The odeh odeh here has soft bouncy glutinous rice dough holding a ganache of gula meleka sauce. It is so enjoyable to bite through the dough to taste a rush of caramel sweet juice.

Black Pepper Prawn Cracker is so crispy and soufflé. And the black pepper adds a kick to the taste, making it even better.

Thoughts: Lovely Yummy Nonya Delights

205 Hougang St 21

Heartland Mall #02-48

Ivins Peranakan Restaurant - Nostalgic Taste that is Bursting with Flavours

I had actually been to Ivins before, about 7 years ago. I remember I like the burst of flavours in the nonya food. So when I pass by this restaurant again, I want to enjoy the food here again, this time trying the food of my choices. And yes, I enjoy this second outing at here so much more because I love the all food items I ordered and the service is very good now.

The food here features a rich medley of bold flavours that excites the tastebuds and soft, distinctive Southeast Asian flavours as base notes that give the food an extra oomph and a taste of nostalgia and heritage.

The place is like a humble little restaurant that is always full house at peak hours. I like the pottery and tin boxes, painted with florals in earthy or pastel colours, on display on shelves. It gives that kind of homely Peranakan feel.

The service is such a huge, huge improvement from that of the last visit 7 years ago. The young service staffs are friendly, prompt to respond and thoughtful. Now I am eager to pop back right in whenever I pass by this place.

Sotong Assam Puteh Squid served in a lemongrass tamarind gravy looks unassuming but the taste will excite the senses with the aroma of spices, tangy taste of tamarind, The squid rings are tender and have this milky brininess that is complemented by the tamarind.

Nonya Mee Siam is the best Mee Siam. Spicy vemicelli is full of goodlies, with prawns, beancurd and egg, soaked in a tangy tamarind sauce. Refreshing, nutty and creamy at the same time.

Gula Melaka Sago features bouncy juicy sago that I love.

Bandung with Chin Chow is sweet, floral and refreshing 👍🏻

Thoughts: Great Place to enjoy Peranakan food

205 Hougang Street 21

#02-20/21

Dingtele - Shanghainese Delights

Happened to be in Kovan and noticed a humble little shop selling Sheng Jian Bao, direct translated is "Raw Pan-fried Bun". Okay, I admit that I had heard of this bun and was curious about it but never tried it before. So between Lola's (which I had patronised before and liked the food there) and this place, I decide to prioritise my want to try new food. In addition, I do like Shanghainese food, so why not giving this place a try?

The place has that small family-run Chinese restaurant vibe: hot piping food, fast service, brutal efficiency, basic and practical, slightly dim lights with neon signs and maximisation of use of space. There is a certain strange charm. The service here is pretty good. Despite being very busy, they still manage to be friendly. Their real strength lies in the fact that they are very fast and efficient.

The menu features typical Shanghainese fare with flour as essential ingredient in most of the food items. It does feel satisfying to tuck into these yummy comfort food.

Sheng Jian Bao is actually Xiao Long Bao being flipped over and pan-fried. So what I get is smooth thin dough skin with a lovely crispy pan-fried bottom that holds moist minced pork and flavourful broth. Goes so well with the thinly sliced ginger strands soaked in vinegar. I love the contrast in texture between the meat, broth, soft part of the dough and the pan-fried part.

There are two types of Sheng Jian Baos: the original and the prawn variety. The ones with prawns have better texture due to the springy, crunchy flesh of the whole prawns. But the original ones have more focused taste since they have more well-seasoned meat packed within.

Xiao Long Bao with Crab Roe is a novelty where there is an additional taste of umami within. This taste of umami is more pronounced when the bun is hot, so savour them while they are hot.

Wontan in Chilli Oil and Vinegar is very generous in portion. There are at least of them in each serving. And each wanton is stuffed with huge amount of meat. Definitely value for money. Taste wise, it is pretty good. There is more chilli oil than vinegar in the mix, thus the thick chilli oil can stick to the surface of the dumpling skin, amping up the spiciness. As I like dimension in taste, I add more vinegar from the free-flow pot to the dumplings.

Thoughts: Worth a try if in the vicinity or curious about Sheng Jian Bao

949 Upper Serangoon Road

Nearest MRT: Kovan

Lola’s Cafe - Cool Little Backyard Cafe

This is a long overdue post actually. I was bowled over by what Lola’s Cafe has to offer, but I was so busy in my new job role that I couldn’t find the time to write about this cafe. Nonetheless, I was determined to pen down my thoughts about this heartland gem, and here it is!

Pulled Pork and Avocado Eggs Benedict is loaded with a myriad of strong flavours that work well together. The pulled pork is as intensely flavoured as our favourite BBQ pork, minus the sweetness and add in the spiciness. And the texture of shredded meat is somewhat fluffy, going perfectly well with the bread base, eggs and avocado. The hollandaise sauce spread on top of the egg has that hint of tanginess to impart dimension to the overall taste. The egg and the avocado add a wholesomeness and creaminess to this hearty meal while balancing the strong flavours. This is a must-try of Lola’s Cafe.

Lychee Rosewater cake is a creation that actually fits right in that backyard cafe vibe. The cake sponge is of the butter cake type, thus being dense, full of buttery goodness and very old-school. I actually like the cake sponge and the butter cream adds the extra creaminess that I appreciate. As for the taste of lychee and rose, the good part about this cake is that it is au naturale, thus the flavours are muted. But I can’t help feeling that this is a nice butter cake, not a Lychee Rosewater cake. All in all, still a nice cake to order for sharing, just don’t expect to be blown away by the flowery aromas of lychee and rose.

Bacon and Mushroom Truffle Cream Linguine has such smooth texture and awesome woody aroma, thanks to the truffle cream added. While my companion is not into mushroom and pasta, he loves this creation so much.

Ambience wise, this is really like that backyard cafe, being very rustic and casual. It is like the cool place to hang out at to enjoy good food and good company. Service is pretty okay, but the staff are very busy, so got to be proactive in getting their attention.

After the first visit to this cafe, I am so hyped about going back, while tagging my companion along this time, because the Pulled Pork and Avocado Eggs Benedict is so good and unique. Actually, the Bacon and Mushroom Truffle Cream Linguine mentioned above is tried on my second visit. Yes, this is the cafe that definitely worth checking out.

Thoughts: Wholesomely good

Nearest car park: Parallel parking along Simon Road

Nearest MRT: Kovan

5 Simon Road

Contact No: 62840349

Yummy Recipes - Splendour and Grandeur in ... Hougang

Imagine a restaurant that has the space, splendour and grandeur of a Chinese Palace right in the heart of Hougang. Yes, it is unbelievable, but there is really such place in the form of Yummy Recipes. Located at one end of Defu Lane, an industrial park area, I am immediately blown away by the grand white stone stairs decorated with traditional Chinese sculptures and flanked by lush foliage.

More feast for the eyes—and reasons to go camera-crazy—when one arrives at the impressive entrance that features, yes, more sculptures and large heavy wooden doors completed with golden fittings.

And this restaurant has lots of beautiful, intricate lanterns hanging from the ceiling, brightening up the whole place. Parts of the walls are decorated with white painted wooden lattices with golden motifs while the plush chairs all have ornate golden designs on them. The setting of this restaurant is the definition of Chinese opulence.

Double Prosperity Baby Kailan is one of this place’s specialty, and I say this is a must-try due to the novelty of deep fried Kailan. The thin slivers of crispy kailan, with salted deep fried white baits added for dashes of saltiness, is a joy to munch on because of its unique texture. The accompanying stir fried kailan is good also due to the tender but crunchy texture and the slices of garlic added for the extra oomph.

Signature Chicken is very flavourful due to the thick somewhat sweet sauce coating the drumsticks and wings. But this dish does seem ordinary as compared to the kailan since it has nothing special going for it.

Ee fu noodles with crabmeat is cooked just right: smooth texture, flavours thoroughly seep into the noodles and not soggy. It looks like it is meant for three persons, but two of us manage to finish it as it is so favourful. But I feel the crabmeat is bland and does not add much to the dish. Need to find out if there is another more wallet-friendly version of ee fu noodles that does not have crab meat.

Service is decent, and the managers are very friendly and professional.

I think this restaurant is a wonderful choice for gatherings or to impress because the ambience here is unparalleled and the food is good.

My Thoughts: Wow, Nice!

Nearest car park: Car parking compounds within 87 Defu Lane Building
Nearest MRT: Kovan. Enter the building compound through the gate at the side facing the main road.

87 Defu Lane 10
#02-01
Singapore
Contact No: 63431818

Nakhon Kitchen - Surprisingly Good

At last, another Thai restaurant featured on my site! As I had said before: I only bother to write about restaurants that are at least decent, and not a lot of Thai restaurants can make it up here. The problem is not with the cuisine itself since I absolutely love Mai Thai and this new kid on my blog. It is more of lacking the time to specially go down to the ones out of the way—have to admit that when I have the time, I usually use it to suss out the European restaurants instead. And it does not help that lots of neighbourhood Thai eateries just do not impress me. Anyway, it is always good to add another eatery into my list of restaurants I will regularly visit.

The Tom Yum soup is uncannily similar to Mai Thai's one, which I billed as the best tom yum soup. Very clear and clean, saturated with strong flavours of tomatoes, lemongrass, seafood, lime, kaffir lime leaves and coriander leaves, this soup truly simulates the senses.

The spring rolls feature very crispy skin, but the fillings are not exactly noteworthy. The highlights are the vegetables do not have a weird taste that most cabbages have, and the rolls do not have that smell of stale oil. Red curry has the rich creamy taste of coconut, which I love, though I wish they can be more generous with the amount of meat used. Well, at least, fresh meat is used. Deep fried chicken with garlic hits all the right notes with sprinkles of spices on top and its fresh, succulent meat with no tendons. This is one of those few times I actually like deep fried meat.

I think Nakhon Kitchen serves Northern Thai cuisine since it is so similar to Mai Thai's. I had tried Thai food of Southern region, and taste wise, they are quite different from the ones of above two mentioned restaurants. Since the two are on par in terms of food, I will go to Mai Thai for ambience and Nakhon Kitchen for the well-being of our wallets.

No photo taken because being low profile, I do not fancy taking photos with a bunch of people standing beside me—they are actually queuing for a table while I am happily tucking in my food. Note that I am happy with the food, but the environment is noisy. I suspect the loud music is to ensure patrons do not hang around to just chit chat after finishing the meals. But frankly speaking, I rather come here than to go to some sub-par restaurants with air-conditioning.

My Thoughts: Nice!

Nearest car park: Open air HDB car park behind Blk 212
Nearest MRT: Kovan

212 Hougang St 21
#01-341
Singapore
Contact No: 62868785

Ivins Nyonya Specialities - Tasty Food but the service ...

Okay, ambience wise, this place is more like a well-kept coffee shop, saved for the air-conditioning. But every part of it is immersed in strong Peranakan culture. I love the rows of florid porcelain pots at the counter and the colourful tingkats lining the shelves at the other side of the restaurant. Even the claypots sitting in straw baskets ooze that Peranakan vibe. Yes, it is a nice touch to have all dishes served in claypots.

Though claypots does not really work for Ayam Tauyu Lada, which is chicken in sweet sauce. While chicken pieces—the dark brown colours and jumbled up formation make them look not great for photos—taste very flavourful with the right balance of intense saltiness and sweetness, those at the bottom are too sweet due to the accumulation of the sweet sauce at the base of the claypot.

Nyonya Chap Chye has that nostalgic homely feel to it. This is actually very similar to the mixed vegetable stew our mothers cooked, except that the one here has more spices and ingredients added for that subtle, extra zest.

Kuah Lada Ikan Pari—stingray soaked in turmeric and peppercorn gravy is the one that gets the thumbs up from me. I like the huge stab of fresh meaty stingray served, where I am spared of the trouble of scrapping for slivers of meat from the bony stingray. There is a tail part with minimum amount of flesh, but my guy had done the gentlemanly thing to eat that and let me have the meaty part. The tangy, spicy gravy does justice to the stingray meat to impart compatible strong flavours to the otherwise plain flesh.

Bakwan Kepiting is absolutely delightful. Just like Nyonya Chap Chye, it tastes like homemade food. Just that this bowl of unassuming-looking bowl of clear soup is bursting with flavours of different spectrum. The aroma of coriander leaves is very pronounced here, thus complementing the strong taste of the meat balls. It is tending to the oily side, so take note.

The service does leave much to be desired since some staffs, when busy, will outright ignore the customers waiting at the entrance to be allocated a table. Don't expect smiles, as they are not aplenty here.

Despite the service, the food does give me incentive to go back.

My Thoughts: Not Bad

Nearest car park: URA open air car parks around Heartland Mall
Nearest MRT: Kovan

205 Hougang St 21
#02-00 Heartland Mall
Singapore
Contact No: 62887922

Hansik Korean Family Restaurant - Surprisingly Good Heartland Restaurant

This restaurant is no longer in operation 

I don't write a lot about Korean restaurants because quite a number I had visited did not inspire me enough to do so. So this says a lot about Hansik, in which I share my thoughts on this place.

I like the side dishes here since they taste refreshing—exactly how appetizers should be like, to refresh one's palates for the mains and complement the grilled items. The kimchi is not too spicy, which is how I like it.

The chargrilled chicken is fresh, succulent with hints of the burnt aroma of grilled meat. The mushrooms that come with the chicken pack lots of moisture under the grilled surface. Dip the chucks of meats or mushrooms into the sea salt sauce, the result is grill goodness.

The seafood pancake is quite a disappointment as compared to the side dishes and chargrilled chicken. Too much flour, too little seafood, I feel like I am eating mouthfuls of slightly flavoured cooked dough. This can be given a miss.

Since this restaurant has ala carte menu instead of going buffet style, the air there is fresher, with none of the smell and grease that hang in the air of lots of Korean restaurants. I actually prefer this kind of dining environment. The service is okay lah. No highlight and no lowlight.

I definitely look forward to go back to check out other dishes on the menu.

My Thoughts: Nice!