Foliage - Delicate, Balanced, Amazing Local Tastes

I always know that I will be back at Foliage, a quaint intimate cosy dining location born out of a couple's passion for food and their travels through Japan. And so here I am!

What I love about the food is its unique taste of distinctive Southeast Asian flavours with the clean and clear taste of Japanese cuisine, where the natural sweetness of the specially sourced ingredients is highlighted. And as I have said before, the owner couple work together to add an extra cosiness to their place with their hospitality, curated cutleries, sake, produce from their travels in Japan, and make the experience feel like private dining.

The dining experience here is one of a kind that I definitely look forward to enjoy again.

Monga Ika & Oba Spring Roll, Hojiso & Umeboshi White Rojak amazes me with an unbelievably clean, light and balanced taste of rojak. Roasted almonds add the nutty earthy taste for that distinctive rojak taste, and Hojiso aka ginger flower adds vegetal freshness to lift up the flavours. The ika, aka cuttlefish filling, is so fluffy and milky briny sweet, juxtaposing perfectly with the super crispy spring roll skin that nicely breaks at a bite. The crunchy vegetables tastes so refreshing, brightening the taste of rojak. Best Rojak!

Hamo Conger Eel, Sayur Assam, inspired by a Javanese soup, makes me go, "Wow!" with its unique comforting sweet, savoury taste with a hint of zest. The taste is like southeast Asian umami. The fish is so fresh, having briny sweet and juicy flesh.

 

Murasaki Uni & Akaebi "Lemak Ikan Asin" with Green Yuzu and Coconut is wow, wow, wow. It is unbelievably and amazingly delicious. The taste is super sweet, featuring different layers of sweetness, and refreshing. I love the blend of briny sweetness, vegetal freshness, creamy umami, nutty creaminess and hint of herbal pungency in this dish. The variety of textures present: creaminess and crunchiness, is awesome too.

Fresh Crab & Kani Miso "White Laksa" Pie Tee is stuffed with shredded Coconut Canadian Red Crab and super crunchy shredded turnip that makes for a lovely local taste with extra sweetness, refreshing element, zest from laksa and briny sweetness.  The housemade Pie Tee shell is so amazing on its own due to the extra sweet aroma of baked sweets present, made possible with the addition of coconut milk. And the shell, being freshly made, is so so crispy. Best Pie Tee.

Somen-Kabocha & Manganji Pepper "Soto Ayam Lamongan" with Japanese leeks features fluffy and meaty Grilled Ika & Kampong Chicken Tsukune, which is meatball, soaked in slightly spicy broth full of goodness of taste of Southeast Asia due to the medley of goodies added. The unique slightly crunchy somen, which is like strands of thin fine turnip, absorbs the umami of the broth to taste so good. 

Suzuki & Grilled Nasu White Wine Fish Curry with Prata ala Minute is like the best curry! The Japanese vegetables soaked in the spicy, sweet, buttery curry has this refreshing taste that contrasts so well with the thick curry. The prata here is exceptional too, being made from Hokkaido flour and Normandy butter, and is thus extra fragrant. Yes, best prata!

Amela Tomato & Kanten "Ice Jelly" with White peach is so refreshing and zesty, with vegetal freshness. I love the kanten jelly that introduces the bouncy texture and clear sweetness.

Hojicha made from stems, therefore having less caffeine and is smoother in texture.

White Corn & Wasanbon Kueh Dadar has French sea salt added for sparks of excitement. This dessert is packed with floral buttery sweetness of white corn and creamy nutty sweetness of coconut. The pandan green wrapping skin has such good texture, it is like super thin kueh. The filling features different kinds of crunchiness from coconut and corn, making for an excelent bite. Stellar Southeast Asian dessert. 

I also get to savour rare Japanese wine from Nagano, which cannot be easily found at other establishments. The couple managed to secure supply deal with the winery owner by helping with the harvesting of the grapes. I love the story behind getting wines from this unique, quaint winery. It adds an extra touch of warmth and passion to the experience. The wine is clean and crisp in taste, making the food tastes even sweeter.

I also get to try the red wine from this quaint winery, and it is made from Kyoho grapes. Wow, I have never tried wines made from Kyoho grapes, so I'm so excited to enjoy it. This wine carries the distinctive sweet aroma and wine-like richness of Kyoho grapes and the taste is fresh, with hints of sparkling feel. A must try here.

Thoughts: Amazing, Clean, Balanced Southeast Asian tastes realised by Passion

11 Kee Seng Street

#01-03

First Round Bar - Awesome Little Chilling Corner with Karaoke

I just found a really awesome Watering Hole where I can just chill, party or sing. Hidden at a corner of the second floor of the quiet, quaint, humble-looking 2 Havelock Building, First Round Bar is like that hidden gem where the owner and service crew are so friendly, helping me with my numerous requests to change the setting of the karaoke system to suit my preferences. In fact, the owner is so chilled that I thought he is a very helpful patron there 😆 And they even have dices here for patrons to play with.

Slightly dark with blue overhead light, luminous cool bar counter and high tables with comfy plush high chairs, the place oozes a cool yet cosy charm. I immediately feel at ease here to start singing despite being here the first time.

The drinks here consisted of a good selection of mixers, classic cocktails and some specials, like the dangerous Long Island Iced Tea. Taste so smooth, with a hint of aroma of tea, this drink is so easy on the palates that one can down several glasses of this awesome drink. But it is very potent where one will get happy very easily after one glass. Highly recommend to try it ... with some caution 😉

Ricky Gin is so good too, with a good balance of sweetness, bitterness and smoothness.

I also love the smartphone menu of the karaoke system where I can easily navigate through it and set my preferences, after getting advice from the owner. I have a blast singing here.

Besides singing, I also have fun playing my favourite songs on the karaoke system to just chill and listen to them.

I want to be back here to sing again, enjoy the vibe here and try the drink Flaming Lambooooo!!

Thoughts: Awesome Place to Unwind, Chill, Drink, Have Fun and Sing

2 Havelock Road

#02-11

Crab Set Go - Hearty Good Food

Enjoying crabs in a frills-free, chilled environment sounds like a great idea to me since it means more wallet-friendly bills while enjoying this delicious premium crustacean. And I found such place in the name of Crab Set Go, set in the quiet, somewhat historic building of 2 Havelock.

The price of the crabs is so affordable that I want to immediately order some without even feeling a pinch on my wallet. But since I have something on later and was with someone, I go for the other faster options available from the menu. There are soft-shell crabs dishes, for some briny goodness of crab at super affordable prices, American style appetizers, various pasta dishes and grilled dishes.

The food here is very flavourful and hearty, especially the Grilled Sakura Pork. I’m so surprised a humble-looking restaurant in a super humble-looking building can serve such awesome grilled food.

And given the nice homely service here, I’m definitely be back to try the main star here: the crabs!

Update: Yes, I'm back for the crab. And it is so fantastically good. This is my top place to go for crabs!

The crab is so big, fleshy and packed with briny goodness. And I love it that there are different options of sauce to choose from, from Chilli Crab, Buttermilk to Laksa. I opt for Buttermilk, which is creamy and zesty, goign so swell with the crab meat. And all the tools needed to crack open the crab are provided, plus gloves, apron and wet wipe. So my hands stay nice and clean 👐 This is so highly recommended.

And the deep fried fluffy sweet buns is perfect to enjoy with the crab sauce.

Grilled Sakura Pork is so juicy and tender, with an iota of firmness for a good bite. The slightly charred exterior juxtaposing with the juicy core makes me go, “Excellent texture!” The taste is great too, being packed with flavours. A must-order here.

Tom Yum Soft-Shell Crab Pasta is unique, in a good way, where it actually tastes refreshing and creamy at the same time. The aroma of lemongrass, the zest and the slight spiciness lift up the creaminess of pasta. Soft-shell crab is soufflé-crispy and briny sweet, going well with the pasta.

Crispy Onion Rings, with the light lovely pungency of onions, go so well with the cheese sauce.

Thoughts: A Good Place to enjoy Good Hearty Meals at a Good Price

2 Havelock Road

#01-02

Velveté Boutique Cafe & Nails - Cosy Cafe for Great Snacks, Nail Care and Self Care

I just found one of the coziest cafes, which is Velveté Boutique! This cafe is all about pampering oneself with specially crafted drinks, home-baked goodies, curated snacks, chill time in the cozy space, self care and yes, nail care. I immediately feel all cosy and relaxed the moment I step into this quaint place that radiates warmth from the soft warm light illuminating the space, cute florals and ornaments, spots of subtle elegance from the flowers and plants, plush sofas and photos pasted onto the wall.

The lovely owner, Lynn, who is so friendly and candid, is very passionate about creating a space for patrons to feel totally at ease, thus able to indulge in the drinks, food and services here.

Since I join the Ladies’ Networking Event here, where I get to just chill, relax, make a cute magnet and learn self-care techniques, I get to sample all the food items here. And they are so good that I go back for second helping.

Will I go back just for the food, ambience and maybe some nail care? Absolutely yes!

Crumbly, buttery scones are such hearty treats.

Taiwanese Tempura, at second tier of the tea set, is a savoury treat that features awesome slightly sticky, pillowy soft texture.

From the top of the tea set: Brownies, Scallion Lotus Bites, Spicy Otak Roll

The Brownies here, freshly homemade, are lava chocolate cakes, in solid form. This cake is so chocolatey good, rich and has the perfect texture of crumbly exterior with a viscous molten core. A must-try here.

Another must-try is the signature Banana Cake (no photo since I got distracted 😂). Made only with ripe bananas, this super fluffy cake is packed with the aroma of banana and lovely warm taste of baked goods.

I totally love Scallion Lotus Bites due to a medley of balanced robust flavours from the paprika seasoning, and the interesting texture of crunchy lotus root slice juxtaposing with the tempura batter coating.

Spicy Otak Roll has a balanced spiciness for the excitement in taste and complements the awesome buttery flaky puff pastry. A hearty treat. 

Almost 360 degrees view of the place.

Everything set up for the Ladies' Networking Night ❤️

The Rabbit Fridge Magnet is made by me from origami paper and stickers 😉 I actually took 15 minutes to find the materials that I felt is my style. The sakura origami paper speaks of Japanese whimsical that I love. I saw lots of pretty stickers, but most are of English style. When I finally saw the rabbits, I went, “Yes!” Then I get a butterfly sticker from the English stickers to add in design for variation and focus. I’m proud if this work 😊

Thoughts: Awesome Lovely Cafe to indulge in Great Snacks, Nail Care and Self Care

#03-24 Alexander Central Mall

Alexander Road

Province 2.0 - Refined Amazing Local Flavours

Whenever I want to enjoy meticulously crafted, refined local flavours, Province is definitely one of the restaurants that come to mind. And so here I am again to experience Province 2.0, a new dining concept with revamps on flavours, plus additional unexpected surprises. The food is as good as ever, featuring familiar local flavours presented in unique, awesome ways that makes me go, “This is so different from the usual taste!”

This is one memorable meal filled with lots of gastronomic surprises. And Chef Jia-Jun and his team make sure we feel right at home with their great hospitality.

First appetiser reminds me of my favourite CNY flower-shaped cookie. And this old-school beloved CNY goodie is given an elevation and twist by pairing with luxurious goodies such as Chutoto, caviar and sakura ebi. The taste is so nostalgic and exciting at the same time due to the briny sweetness of caviar and creaminess of chutoro punctuated by the herbal zest of laksa emulsion. The crispiness of the cracker adds texture to the paste-like chutoro.

The next appetiser looks simple but is surprisingly full of subtle harmonised flavours, from earthy mild sweetness of potato, intense refreshing savoury goodness of ikura to the richness of the organic eggs.

Our familiar Bao is given an awesome makeover with uni and Japanese white corn to yield a bao that tastes so unique and good. This is full of creamy umami savoury goodness, balanced by the mild buttery sweetness of corn and the mild nutty sweetness of the fluffy bao. This is like lava bao, lux umami version. So decadent, so good!

A surprise not in the menu comes in the form of Prawn Toast! It’s amazingly and surprisingly, wow, so good. It taste distinctively prawn, yes, but at the same time unlike any prawn dish I had tasted.  I love this new exploration of the taste of prawn. The sago cake has light crispiness and a bit of stickiness to have that "revealing the core" kind of surprise on the palates. The savoury taste of prawn is layered with the sweetness of prawn, made even more distinctive when topped with prawn caramel.

When I first see Province's interpretation of the Rojak, I thought this dish will be super zesty and refreshing. Imagine my surprise to find that yes, it has the zesty, refreshing elements, it is also incredibly naturally sweet, elevated by the earthy Southeast Asian taste of jambu stuffed into the tomato, belacan sauce, the accompanying vegetables and cashew nuts. Rich and refreshing at the same time. Brilliant 

The old school favoutite Wanton gets the star treatment, where the stuffing is made up of shrimps, dried flounder and Sarawak pork for marriage of the sweetness from the sea and land, completed with the earthy taste of airy light Shitake foam. The pork is specially chosen for its milder taste. This dish tastes so comforting and sweet, with lots of flavours dancing on the palates, like the sea, the earth and the garden coming together.

Soon Hock is interestingly prepared like Amadai to yield a great contrast in texture, with a more earthy and unique taste profile that totally goes so well with the sour-spicy umami-rich smoked mussel curry. Different from usual Soon Hock, this one tastes more refined where the smooth pliable flesh is highlighted by the deep fried crispy scales. The mild zesty spicy curry balances the taste of the fish and add excitement to it. The zest from the confit fennel lifts up the spiciness to make it even better. 

Savoury palate cleanser exploring the entire taste spectrum, with a Southeast Asian flair. And it works!

Aged for 10 days with lemongrass, then roasted before resting for 2 days, the Braised herbal duck, packed with star anise, coriander seeds, Thai makwan pepper, galangal, tastes nourishing and is so flavourful, while light and balanced in taste. The hint of zest brightens up the taste. The meat is so tender and succulent yet has a good firm bite to it. Best braised duck, of course!

Second part of the duck dish has fluffy Sarawak Highland long-grained rice served with duck consomme that has a lovely hint of herbal bitterness. Cognac is added for the extra lux. I totally love the amazingly slightly fluffy duck sausage that has the local flair. This dish tastes so satisfying and comforting like Chinese sausage rice, but elevated and more elegant in taste and texture.

Mango and Glutinous Rice is like mango fantasy with textures. Mango sorbet, mango cubes, cute bouncy glutinous rice balls and crispy deep fried mung beans seasoned with chilli and salt, comes together for an exciting dessert.

Kaya toast is oh so good due to the fluffy brioche soaked with coconut milk, brushed with butter and coconut flower sugar. It has a hint of savoury goodness and refreshing element, compledted with the earthy taste of sourdough ice cream, richness of egg yolk jam and kick of the maldon sea salt. This is so good and satisfying to enjoy. 

Unique Petite Fours is in the form of Black Pepper Financier and Pink Guava Candy. I titally savouring them so much too.

The glorious display of the ingredients used for the dishes of the night.

Thoughts: Awesome Fine Local Delights

153 Joo Chiat Road