Just like what Kyoto and the surrounding region do really well, the Singapore outpost of Kurasu does their matcha latte equally well. It seems that they get their own matcha supplies from Uji itself, and the difference in milk used does not seem to make this drink less special than its original counterpart. The seating area is small, talk long sofas with social distancing markers, and post lunch it can be crowded from students and office workers nearby, but the staff are still very prompt and friendly manning this new spacious, airy, Kyoto-esque feel space of theirs.
They specially showcase certain blends for certain type of drinks. This is white with a nutty, chocolate-y Brazil beans from Denmark's Coffee Collective (the other beans are from Singapore's own Nylon Coffee Roasters which are brighter and fruity-ish). It is robust with low acidity, smooth on the palate. I also got a sea-salt brownie on the side, the flavor is not so strong therefore allowing the coffee to stand out (they are a 'coffee stand' anyway!)
From HIN hor fun. The first thing to note is that the portion is super huge. The soup is nicely thick and consistent and they use real hor fun. The beef is also tender and well-cooked.
Had it for take away from Hock Soon, so it may not taste as hot and fresh as if you have it on site. They are generous with the radish and overall portion is good too, however it felt a bit underseasoned and the chili isn't as strong as how I prefer it to be, to the point the dish feels a bit jelak. However there are good reviews about them so this stall certainly has its own fans. Maybe I should have ordered the black instead as it has great reviews.
Perhaps I should have ordered the dessert waffles, or was it just a bad day? I have gotten tons of recommendations for Wimbly Lu's waffles, so I popped by their smaller café, that is a little bit out of reach by public transport to try. The breakfast waffle [$19 full, $12 half] is just so so. The waffle is neither dense, crispy or airy, it is in between that it seems confused. The bacon isn't crispy and I can't really taste the juice/fat coating it nicely. Fortunately the iced chocolate with Bailey's [$14] is quite nice, it tastes more like Bailey's which I don't mind at all!
A small-ish scoop of Blueberry Lavender [$5] with the flavor dominated by lavender. I barely could taste any hints of blueberry, though if you like lavender-anything you'll welcome this. To further testify about their love for lavender, they only serve lavender cone [+$1], else it would be a normal (compostable?) ice cream cup. And there is a photo op space at the back of the stall.
One of my favorite cold brews and it is made to order (not pre-bottled)! So can BYO next time. The milk can also be customised. I personally find it a bit different than their in-house espresso-based drink, the cold brew is bolder and more chocolate-y (which I love).
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In frame:
• White cold brew with dairy milk [$7.5]
I am a fan of a cheese tea brûlée drink from a BBT shop out there and therefore was quite tempted to try this. The layers did not mix that well so it is like drinking kopi by itself followed by the brûlée layer. Furthermore I think the cheese/sugar layer on top could not be sipped smoothly with this cup design. I got this by topping up from a (so small for $6+) toast purchase. I think I'd stay with the traditional drinks the next time I drop by.
Strawberry rolls here - it may make great dessert with its soft crepe layer and Japanese strawberry (as the uncle claims) but the center was frozen and I could taste the ice! Hence I am not sure if it is a good sign.. And probably in this time of Covid-19 offering customers to try their samples by putting our hands into the container (instead of them serving it to customers using clean tongs and hands, not because of a 'customer is king' mentality but I think it's a standard, super basic hygiene plus minimising common touch points) is not a good idea..
They serve great grain and poké bowls for the price, and the salmon poké here in particular, is fresh enough for the price. The brown rice is not dry at all which I enjoy. The egg is not super runny (I prefer it this way) and the highlight of this dish other than the poké would be the sauce.
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However I think they need to revamp their ordering system, or maybe I should have used the custom order form instead. I requested for no corn yet the staff who prepared did not get the message that initially the corn was in the bowl. When the cashier saw it, he picked and threw the corn away - food waste! I noticed that this is not indicated in the receipt, hence the lack of communications here, and there was also no indication if the meal is for here or takeaway. I had to remind the staff not to pack the order for takeaway and incur plastic waste.
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In frame:
• Salmon poké rice bowl [$10]
This place houses three establishments: a bar, a clean-eat joint, and BBT shop. It is kind of hidden around SGH, located at the Outram Rd junction at the same building that houses Ka-Soh restaurant. Therefore it is a great place to hang out and refresh after visiting or work as it serves beers on tap too! The poolside seating area adds to the view and if you swim (not sure if this is a member-only facility) this will definitely be a good hang after swim. I got this fish and chips [about $15] . It is perfectly salted, the chips are nicely fried and what can go wrong with tartar sauce right?
Nylon needs no introduction. Its quality of roasts is so top notch. The notes of their espresso blend is not what I would typically go for but Nylon does their coffee really well that it is much better, with clean aftertaste and lower acidity that keeps me coming back for more.
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In frame:
• 7oz white, extra shot [$5 with BYOC]
