Chez Suzette - Lovely Brunch in Paris of Singapore

Ah, time to relax and have a good brunch in a nice cafe that makes me feel like I'm enjoying an idyllic life somewhere in Europe. And Chez Suzette is where I get just that.

The place is chic with a relaxing vibe: lots of greenery plus quaint shophouses on the outside as backdrop, white marble tables, white rattan chairs and lots of lights streaming through the full-length windows with black frames. And little lovely touches, like plants, flowers, ornaments with European influences to make this cafe feel like one in Paris. I got a seat at the corner, which feels so cosy. Good thing I came early to snag it. The place is full by 11:30am on a holiday.

There are quite a number of brunch items and pasta dishes for selection as mains, and I set my sights on Organic Egg Mayo since I simply just have greater craving for croissant over toast. I'm blown away by the generous amount of egg mayo stuffed between the halves of croissant. This egg to carbs ratio is so good. The light sprinkling of pepper and salt while adding bits of excitement to the taste, allows the richness of the egg mayo to take the centre stage.

I also add supplements of Parma Ham and French Butter to perk things further up. I like this concept of adding supplements according to one's liking. By the way, the French Butter is a must-add-on. The creamy goodness elevates the dish from very good to excellent. Parma Ham is also a very good accompaniment to the dish by introducing the taste of meat .

For the theatrics of blazing flames, I opt to add a top up of Grand Marnier Flambé for my Crêpes Suzette. Watch the video above to experience it ... visually.

More importantly, the crêpes are silky soft, which makes them a pure delight to savour. This is one of the best crêpes I have in terms of texture. The floral citrus taste of orange juxtaposes very well with the herbal bitterness of Grand Marnier. The portion of the crêpes is pretty huge, but I can actually finish them lol

Nice, unique kombucha in the flavour of Lychee and Rose. Very refreshing and soothing at the same time.

Besides from being a great place to relax and to have dates at, Chez Suzette is actually super child-friendly. Colouring sheets and colour pencils are provided upon request to keep the kids occupied. It is cool to see dating couples, friends, whole families and solo diners (quite a number of us there 😉) all dining at this one place. The service crew is efficient, polite and fast to respond to requests.

I really enjoy dining here since it's so relaxing here and the food is good.

Thoughts: Feel so good to pamper myself with a treat here

5 Teck Lim Road #01-01

Nearest MRT: Outram Park

Izakaya Yoppi - Very Good Japanese Food

There is a new hidden gem right in the middle of the shopping complex Wilkie Edge. which is the shiner neighbour of the good old Peace Centre. I wouldn't have known about this cool new find if I didn't pass by the perimeter of Wilkie Edge to go to a nearby cafe. The upmarket, clean and zen furnishings instantly caught my attention and I changed my plans right on spot to dine at Izakaya Yoppi instead.

I actually go into the restaurant via the backdoor since I was walking along outside of the shopping complex. The main entrance is accessible through the interior of Wilkie Edge. Anyway, due to how I got in, I got to walk through the entire length of restaurant to get to the main dining area. So I got to see the several impressive partitioned-off areas furnished in traditional Japanese style, where patrons sit on the floor to dine at the low table, with a nice hollow-out space beneath the table to stretch the legs.

Decor wise, I really love the strong zen influences of light wood, wooden fences and Japanese rectangular lamps here. The food here is surprisingly very affordable, with set lunches going from eighteen plus to under thirty. And to add it on, it's very good.

I got Tempura and California Roll set lunch, and the California roll is very tasty.

The salad is also very refreshing and tasty, with every part of the veggies slathered with the Japanese Wafu dressing.

The Pitan Tofu here is the star of the meal. I never have something like this before, and it is so surprisingly awesome. The light-tasting sauce of century egg renders the silky soft tofu to be so flavourful. And the tempura bits added introduces a delightful crunchiness to the dish that contrasts nicely with the tofu. This is the must-try of the restaurant.

The salmon sashimi here is nice, fresh and well-cut. I like it that the salmon here is of a nice deep orange hue, which is that of what upmarket Japanese restaurants typically serve.

The Tempura is of that nice crispy texture, and I love it that the prawns are very succulent and full of briny sweetness.

I decide to add on a side of Pork Belly Skewer, aka Buta Shio, since the set meal really satisfies me. This meat is juicy and has a lovely smoky aroma with light hints of salt and pepper. Now I want to try more of their skewers lol

This restaurant is most probably one of my best random, purely accidental finds of the year. And the food is suitable for most Singaporean palates (meaning you can bring your parents here too). The service is pretty good too. This is one of the places I can afford to go often to with family or friends due to the good combination of good food, good ambience and good price.

Thoughts: Very Nice Japanese Restaurant!

8 Wilkie Road, Wilkie Edge #01-22

Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut, Bencoolen or Rocher

Los Amigos - Great Time, Great Drinks and Great Food

Being absolutely in love with Mexican food and the casual, colourful vibes of Mexican restaurants, I have been on a lookout for such places. Which takes me to Los Amigos.

The vibes here are totally on the spot, with bold, colourful wall paintings featuring cute Mexican skeleton mascot, high tables and chairs, Mexican hat lamps, rustic settings, hip wine bar and vibrant mood. The service crew here is exceptional, making patrons really feel like part of the fiesta. They are very friendly, full of smiles and always on a look out to respond to requests, especially the chef. The food here features the colourful and well-loved robust flavours of Mexico.

This is a place that is perfect for chilling, winding down or just having a good time with friends. Best of all, the Calamansi is free flow here, and it is complimentary for lunch, yes!

I have my eyes on Prawn Ceviche because this looks really unique and I have not seen this dish before in other Mexican restaurants. In fact, they didn't have this on my first visit, so I come here again to try my luck. And yes, it's worth the trip!

Lots of diced or chopped ingredients, such as Lime Cured Prawn with its mild umami, tomato, chilli,  plus Avocado Puree stuffed into oh-so-thin, crispy Puri Shell. There are lots of simulating flavours working together in harmony to create a fiesta on the palates. I love it. The spiciness is pretty mild in the presence of other tastes. After a while, the real super spiciness kicks in. The margarita is very good in dousing out the fire. This form of savouring the dish is pretty shiok actually.

The Quesadillas here is very flavourful, combining strong tastes of refreshing tanginess, simulating spiciness, mild sweetness, pungent garlic and cheesy nuttiness in perfect harmony, where each can shine through. This place is super generous with the amount of meat added. I suggest to share this so that meat lover in the group can be happy with getting lots of meat from this dish. And choose chicken over pork if undecided between the two options.

Espadin 2.0 (White Bait) is extremely crispy and tasty on its own or with the specialty sauce of freshly squeezed lime, red onion, red eye chilli. An unique and nice bar snack.

I love it that the piping hot churros are nicely prepared in bite size, sort off. And there are two yummy options of caramel, which I prefer, and chocolate. I actually finish this all by myself since it is so good.

Nice Margarita to go with the meal. And a must-have when eating spicy food.

Refreshing Calamansi is of perfect balance between sweetness and sourness.

I really like this place a lot, and the price of the food here is very kind to the wallet lol

Thoughts: Totally Great place to hang out at!

85 Circular Road, #01-01

Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay or Raffles Place

Joséphine - Good Hearty French Treats

French dining can be casual and fun, and Joséphine is one of the places to get just that. There are some distinctively French food, bistro style, such as Snails from Burgundy, Joséphine Lyonnaise Salad, Riz Au Lait. My feel of the place is that this is perfect for gatherings due to the good French bistro food at wallet-friendly prices, good variety of dishes in the set menus and ala carte, and nice, idyllic ambience with a touch of class. It is also good place to introduce French food to those unfamiliar with it since quite a number of food items here will please most palates. And yes, this place is full-house by 1pm for a weekday afternoon.

I decide to order Charcoal Grilled Kurobuta Pork, which is 100% purebred Berkshire pork from Snake River, because I just have a craving for grilled meat. And I made a good choice. I thought the thick slab of pork will be tough, but this pork is my-oh-my so tender and juicy. So full of smoky sweetness, which is enhanced by the herbal flavour of rosemary. The accompanying honey sauce, which I had chosen from a selection of sauces available, does well to cut through fat and perks up the overall taste.

My choice of side is Gratin Dauphinois, which is sliced potato and shredded onion baked with cheese. This is one very flavourful pure comfort food. I love it.

Good recommendation of wine to go with the Charcoal Grilled Pork. This tastes sweet and fruity when paired with the pork.

Le Frondant is good old Lava cake made with quality 75% Valrhona chocolate. Very chocolatey and yummy.

I'm torn about the mini magnum added though. It does give a nice variation to the taste and texture of the chocolate cake, but I will prefer it if it's homemade ice-cream or one that is made from full-cream milk. That's just me though.

The place has a modern setting and chilled ambience, plus the friendly service, it is easy to feel very relaxed here and just enjoy the good food here. And there is a nice hidden spot on second floor for some exclusive gatherings.

Thoughts: Surprisingly good hearty French treats in a more relaxed setting.

97 Amoy St

Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar, Maxwell or Chinatown

Catkin by Huishan - Best Contemporary True Blue Singaporean Desserts

This place is no longer in operation 

Dessert Omasake!!! Definitely first of its kind in Singapore, so of course I'm totally excited about it. Omakase is all about trusting the chef to curate several seasonal dishes for the patrons. As I had mentioned before in previous posts, more often than not, I enjoy almost the dishes of omakase. And I'm happy to say I'm absolutely love all the dishes of the dessert omakase at Catkin by Huishan.

This is a must-visit for dessert lovers. In fact, the desserts here are like no others. Presentation wise, they are of contemporary style. Taste wise, they are uniquely Singaporean and complex.

First dessert of the day is so amazing. While I don't have much love for banana desserts, I absolutely this banana dessert. This is the first time I actually fell in love with a banana dessert. Made up of special kind of banana ice-cream with banana cubes, flowers and crispy tempera bits, this is so complex in taste and texture. The banana used for this is absolutely the best for desserts: have hints of vanilla, honey and rum notes while having none of the acidic taste. This really sets the golden standard for banana desserts.

Milky Oolong is designed as tea pairing for the cakes. The sweet aroma of milk is so soothing and goes perfectly well with the desserts. Amazingly, the taste, by contrast, is fresh, bright and clear to refresh the palates.

Next is desiccated coconut, topped with kueh bangkit jelly and coconut foam. This is oh-so-wonderfully rich in flavours due the lovely milky, nutty taste of coconut and kueh bangkit. Being a fan of coconut, this is like my dream dessert come true in luxurious, contemporary fashion.

Last dessert of the omakase takes the taste profile in a totally different direction by featuring, sliced and cubed jambu fruit, calamansi and plum. This is a topical delight that is refreshing and full of nuanced tastes. The balance between the tart taste and sweetness is done just right for a sweet journey with hints of excitement.

Housed within Twenty Eight Cafe, the place is bright and airy in contemporary setting. The omakase table in the centre of this cafe is specially for Catkin's patrons. It sure feels exclusive. Huishan is very friendly, and it is quite a sight to watch her meticulously prepare the desserts and tea.

Not only the desserts here are some of the best desserts in Singapore, they are very also special in featuring the tastes of Singapore. It is a place I love to come again and again,

Thoughts: Local dessert tastes reinterpreted in refined, contemporary style is so awesome and simply the best!

28 Wilkie Road #01-06

Nearest MRT: Little India or Bencoolen or Dhoby Ghaut