Brunch @ Skyve Elementary Bistro

This my 2nd meet up in a week and it seems that everyone is going for the all-day breakfast thing now. So there I am, 2nd week in a row in another all-day breakfast brunch-time meal.

Skyve Elementary Bistro is located near Bukit Timah Road. They took over from the District10 Bistro guys and I daresay that the place is really done up really nice and classy.

The area is split between a lounge area and the dining area with a bar right in the center. This place is known for its Sous-vide method of food cooking, which calls for precision in both timings and temperature. This unique cooking technique is often used by high-end restaurants chefs and is starting to pick up steam in the local scene. The results - a more evenly textured food while maintaining its juiciness throughout.

It didn't take us long to order our food (though it took us quite a while to get the waiters' attention) as we all quickly decided on the Eggs Benedict ($12). The Sous-vide method for poaching the eggs was an interesting approach that we were dying to try. Truthfully, the dish was a little bit of a disappointment. On the positive side, the eggs were cooked perfectly. The Sous-vide execution was evident as the eggs' texture was smooth and when cut into the yolk, it runs perfectly down onto the mushroom and the toast. However, the Hollandaise sauce was a little blend and the mushroom didn't really go well with the eggs. Basically, the food were individually cooked really well but (as Dexter puts it) the synergy wasn't there.

Eggs Benedict

The two other dishes that were ordered were much better. First up is the Ricotta Pancakes ($12). Last week I reviewed hummerstons and commented that the pancakes there was fabulous. Here, it is equally good (if not better). The quality lies not just in the execution but also the fact that it was with passionfruit butter - two times the goodness into one.

Ricotta Pancakes

Next recommended dish - the Potato Rosti ($12). The potatoes strips are fried nicely with just enough charred parts to make it interesting (it's definitely NOT overcooked). It wasn't too salty or soggy which is a common complain for Potato Rosti dishes. I loved this dish and look forward to trying it again.

Potato Rosti

Dexter and Diane order the Proscuitto Ham Pizza ($16) and the Smoked Salmon Pizze. It looked pretty good but I didn't really have the chance to try it.

Proscuitto Ham Pizza

Smoked Salmon Pizza

Skyve Elementary Bistro certainly has good food and a even better ambience. The Sous-Vide cooking method is really a big draw point as I am now tempted to try out their dinner menu. Just make sure you reserve your seats as the place can get pretty crowded during the weekends.

Prices range from $12 - $16.

Skyve Elementary Bistro & Bar
No. 10 Winstedt Road
Block E, #01-17

Tel: +65 6225 6690
http://www.skyve.sg/

Tuesday - Friday: 8.30 am - 12 mn
Saturday - Sunday: 10 am - 12 mn

Price Range: $$ (out of 6 $$$)

For more photos: http://on.fb.me/JFTHfw

PeraMakan @ Keppel Bay

I was tasked with looking around for good Peranakan places and somehow stumbled upon Peramakan from various singapore foodie blogs. So I decided to give it a try in spite of the "ulu-ness" of the place.

For the benefit of those that do not know, Peranakans' ancestry can be traced back to the Chinese that settled here even before the British came (some put it around 700 years ago). Generations after generations, these local chinese soon became localized and formed the core group of the indigenous people in Singapura. Their culture has elements of both Malay and Chinese, making it an unique blend in Southeast Asia.

Getting into this Peramakan is a chore on its own - my advice: just take cab! Located within the Keppel Club (Note: NOT keppel BAY), it was a drive in from the main road and it was pretty quiet when I stepped in at 6.30 p.m

There were only 2 of us, so we could only give at most (as recommended by the waitress) 4 dishes a try. So first up is the Nonya Chap Chye ($10). Note that the portions here are fixed (3 - 4 people to a dish), so don't expect different prices if you have only 1 - 2 people. I have to admit, I am not a fan of the Chap Chye. The dried beancurd skin taste is a little too overwhelming but for those that love that, the dish is actually quite tasty. 

Nyonya Chap Chye

Next up is the Babi Pongteh ($14). This Nyonya dish (which is more common in Singapore & Malacca) consist of braised pork cooked with "taucheo" (salted soy beans), sugar and cinnamon beans. This mixture of ingredients gives it an unique sweet and savory taste and is one of my favorite Peranakan dish. The usual Babi Pongteh usually comes with the fatty meat but the dish here is served with a healthier chunk of meat. The taste actually borders the blend side but is still acceptable, especially for the health-conscious ones.

Babi Pongteh

Awhile later, our last main dish came - Sotong Goreng Assam ($14). The stir-fried squid was drenched in Tamarind sauce and has a very sweet taste to it. Compared to the Babi Pongteh, this dish was almost too sweet. However, on its own, the rich flavor and the nicely cooked squid makes this dish really tasty and a good break away from the typical savory food. My favorite dish for the night!

Sotong Goreng Assam

After all the mains came the desserts. We ordered the Sago dessert with the usual Gula Melaka. Pretty decent desserts and a good end to our meal. Though I would prefer a little more Gula Melaka.

Sago Gula Melaka

All in all, this place is one of the better places I have been for Peranakan food. Despite its "ulu" location, I would still recommend anyone interested in Peranakan food to give this place a shot. I would recommend the Chap Chye and Sotong Goreng Assam, but there are so many other choices that I'm sure I'll need to visit it again to make a better judgement.

Peramakan

Level 3, Keppel Club
10 Bukit Chermin Road S109918
(5 minutes drive from Vivo City)

Tel: +65 63772829
http://www.peramakan.com/

Monday - Sunday
Lunch 11:30 am - 3.00 pm
Dinner 6.00 pm - 10.00 pm

Price Range: $$$ (out of 6 $$$)

For more photos: http://on.fb.me/JoJ4N4

I AM BACK!!! and Brunch @ Hummerstons

The last time I posted was more than 3 months ago and anyone visiting would have thought this blog has died. Well, this is far from the truth.

It has been a hectic 3 months for me - balancing my new job (I'm interning at a crazy place), squeezing in time for my interests (e.g. planning trips) and basically getting used to the 9 - 6 lifestyle. As history has shown, I simply failed terribly. However, that's another story for another day. The fact is that I'm back and I'm here to stay :)


In the interim, I have many things that I would love to share, but I'll start of with the most recent one - my brunch at Hummerstons. It was the first meet-up for the upcoming USA 2012 trip gang and we decided on Hummerstons since most of us had a hankering for a good early brunch meal.

Most of the restaurants at Robertson Quay would spill over into the common square, leaving them to be very open and exposed (not really to my liking). Hummerstons, however, is tucked nicely on the 2nd floor, which means its far enough away from the crowd but not so far as to become too "ulu". The interior is simple yet spacious, good enough for large crowds coming in different group size.

It took us quite a while to decide what we want (we were definitely spoilt for choice) and we settled on everyone ordering different dishes so that we could all share (well, almost everyone). So here is what we ordered:

First up, Kelvin decided to order the Hummerston's Breakfast. The mega breakfast set with bacon, sausage, eggs and toast all in one. Because of its sheer quantity, its one of the more expensive dish at $24. However, its definitely worth it if you are undecided, really hungry or both.

Hummerston's Breakfast Set

Next, Dina ordered the Eggs Benedict. As Dina aptly puts it, this dish is usually THE dish to order in any all-day breakfast place, which I completely agree. However, the Eggs Benedict here is nothing to rave about. The eggs generally lacks seasoning and is a forgettable dish.

Eggs Benedict

Dawn and Sandy both decided to get truffle scrambled eggs. When the dish came, the truffle smell basically filled the entire table - so do not worry about not being able to taste the truffle at all. On first bite, I would say the truffle taste is a little overwhelming (almost replacing the scramble eggs) but the mushroom and homemade sausages were tasty. Be prepared to pay - price: $25

Truffle Scrambled Eggs

One of my personal favorites: Pancakes. Its fluffy goodness all in one plate! Put on the butter, syrup and the jam and we are good to go. We liked it so much that we ordered another one to share  (apart from the one Xiuli had).

Soft and Fluffy Pancakes

Last but not least is what I ordered - Breakfast Tostada: Grilled smoked pork and garlic sausages served with asparagus, scrambled eggs and crispy corn tortilla. I would definitely recommend this dish. An interesting mexican spin to the typical brunch menu, the homemade sausage was seasoned nicely and went well with the eggs.

Cripsy Tortilla with Eggs and Sausage

Overall, Hummerstons serves up a good all-day breakfast. Among all the dishes I have tasted so far, I would highly recommend the pancakes. The Breakfast Tostada would be an interesting choice for anyone steering clear of the usual. Prices range from $19 - $25 for the breakfast main courses.

The place itself is convenient for most yet elusive enough for a romantic date. Head in early for brunch as the crowd usually comes around 11.30 a.m during weekends.

Hummerstons
11 Unity Street #02-14, Robertson Walk
Singapore 237995

Tel: 84281620
https://www.facebook.com/Hummerstons

Tuesday - Friday: 12 pm - 12 am
Saturday - Sunday: 10 am - 12 am

Price Range: $$$ (out of 6 $)


For more photos, please visit: http://on.fb.me/IQltmW