Miss Popular was packed full when we arrived on Tuesday afternoon, but we were able to get our hands on the S'mores Pie and Raspberry Tart ($8 each) and boy, it took me on a JOURNEY that even Chris Columbus would envy. The solid cookie crust of the S'mores vs the crumbly tart base. The thick, rich choccy with caramelised graham chunks vs a fairy-light, tangy sponge. The hug of marshmallow fluff vs the elegant blueberry topping. Different like sky and sea, night and day, yet completing each other in their own divine way. ✨
I just wanted to sit pretty and do some cute 2022 planning but the bill gave me a heart attack. One scoop of their seasonal Gingerbread Vanilla gelato + mochi waffle came up to $16?!
Waffle's crunchy outside and chewy in as promised, but a tad thin and served cold. Gingerbread was good, rich and creamy with chunks of gingerbread cookie (plus a huuuge one that was impossible to break with my teeth). At this price though, I won't get the waffle again.
What threw me off was that the handmade pasta toes the line between al dente and undercooked. Staff were especially brusque and it's rather pricey.
That aside, the sauces are fairly enjoyable. Their mentaiko recipe is not what you would expect + those plump, fresh scallops are hard to ignore. The tomato-based lamb merguez and pasta alla vodka are tangy, creamy yet not overly surfeit, but you've gotta pick the right pasta type to go with it.
Very limited seating, good to put in a reservation. Probably wouldn't visit if not for Burpple 1-for-1.
A short walk from one-north MRT. I want to make a joke about its gentrified glasshouse decor, but the amount of natural lighting that streams through the windows is way too good for doing work and taking photos. The place is so minimalist I can't even tell where the kitchen is.
About food: they offer DIY bowls here. Interestingly, rostï is one of the base options but it's unevenly salted and mehhhh. $14 for base + chicken thigh + mushrooms. Points for creativity, but The Lawn at Biopolis 10min away has better execution.
Iced white ($6) is smooth, one of the few that actually gives me a caffeine buzz so thumbs up.
New kid on the block @ SMU and my first ever "croffle" (croissant waffle). They've got about 6-8 flavours, all nicely plated. Tiny blistered blueberries, whip and condensed milk -- it's serving looks alright, but taste-wise, it's similar to $1.50 neighbourhood blueberry cheese waffle you can get from the bakery downstairs.
Ordered the platter ($20) because their sell point is supposedly the meat, but it really wasn't anything life-changing. In fact, I liked everything else better, i.e. them pillowy steamed buns and flavourful sauces. Who knew wasabi would go so well with roast pork?
Their stir-fried long beans gets a thumbs up too, they use less dried shrimp so it doesn't overwhelm.
Hello again, pricey sugar fix. What's unique about Randy's offerings: you can build your own bowl starting from $9.90, and they offer a dragonfruit pitaya base which is the first I've seen. What's not so hot: regrettably, the fruits weren't particularly fresh, and the acai base was a tad too iced up for my liking. And there's no seating! The other acai joints just do it better.
Though marginally healthier, the beetroot base is DRY as hell, but I guess the rich dark choc fudge + the staff very proactively refilling your water sort of compensates for it. Organic is nice but I'll go for the full indulgence next time.
Last group dine-in before Phase I've-Lost-Track, so naturally we had to queue for 30mins and wait to get the food for another 30mins despite coming at 8.30. Staff were prompt and accommodating despite the bustle. Food - worth a try, okayish price, but would not go out of my way to have it. Here's the lowdown:
🥪 FAIRFAX: Indulgent, cheesy, creamy soft scramble, total melt-in-your-mouth along with the buttery brioche. The star among the sandwiches and rightfully so. If you can only have one thing, it has to be this!
🥪 BACON/SAUSAGE, EGG AND CHEESE: The ones to get if you want a gorgeous orange yolk porn. Also the ketchup in the B.E.C is quite something else.
🥪EGG SALAD: Served cold if that's your thing (it's not mine unfortunately). The egg mayo pairs well with the generous heaping of arugula but is slightly dry.
🍳SLUT: Potato and egg on buttered sourdough, and just that. Lacking dimensonality and I got bored of it really quickly. $11 is a tad steep too.
🧃OJ: $5.50 for what tastes like Minute Maid. Still paid for it because I just had to wash down the food.
Grown-up kids food in a charming Duxton shophouse. The fusilli is delightfully al dente, baked in a creamy, mild cheese blend with none of that off-putting smell. Served in a deceivingly small pumpkin - scrape some of that base for a sweetness that cuts through the rich pasta. Great for sharing!
A cozy little nook tucked out of sight because of construction in the area. Pretty decor and crockery. Super quiet, great place for conversations and work (note there's only one charging port).
Food-wise, nothing to shout about really, not for this price. Pecan pie ($9) tasted really healthy; the crust texture was good but everything else was either rock-solid or falling apart, and the flimsy wooden fork didn't help 🙁
Everyone posts about the dumplings but no one posts about this BEAST of a crepe cake and that is injustice. Thick layers of semi-solid condensed milk are dressed in a honeyed brown sugar streusel that tastes oddly similar to Biscoff, and the result is a decadent Russian classic that you absolutely must complete your meal with.
