Chir Chir - Novel Korean Chicken

Chir Chir (Pronounced as Chi-Reh Chi-Reh) is the latest restaurant to follow the Fried Chicken craze from korea to Singapore. Having already tried various Korean Fried Chicken joints in Singapore, namely 4Fingers, Bonchon and NeNe Chicken, we were eager to see how Chir Chir fairs among its more established peers.

Snow Nest ($32.90)

We decided to order a portion of the Snow Nest after being recommended by the service staff. The Snow Nest consist of seven to eight pieces of Cajun chicken tenders, atop a generous scoop of sweet potato puree.

The chicken is surrounded by a moat of cream sauce which consisted of bell peppers, broccoli, olives, grated parmesan and cheddar cheese. The novelty of this dish is the topping of whipped cream - which in our opinion, did not add much to the taste.

Without having much expectation, we were pleasantly surprised by the juiciness and texture of the cajun tenders. These tenders were lightly spiced and goes perfectly with the cheesy cream sauce. We enjoyed the Snow Nest and would recommend it for sharing between 2 people.

Garlicky Wings ($28.90)

The signature korean fried chicken wings, coated with a thin batter and deep fried to perfection. These juicy wings are served with bite sized chunks of roasted sweet potatoes and fried tteokbokki (Korean rice cakes).

As a basis for comparison, despite the relatively plump chicken wings, we preferred the 4Fingers rendition of the korean fried chicken wings for their amazing soy sauce coating and better tasting marination.

Macaroni and Cheese ($9.90)

Although Chir Chir is a korean fried chicken restaurant, we still had to order a Macaroni and Cheese dish simply because every one loves cheese! We loved the taste of the Mac & Cheese, but the portion is a tad too little for a dish that costs 10$.

Innovative looking tools to keep your hands clean whilst you enjoy your friend chicken !

Appetizers ($0.50 Each) 

As far as we know, Chir Chir batters and fries their chicken on the spot, right after the order is put through. This might mean a 10-15 minute wait before you would be served your food.

Thankfully, we were served some appetizers to whet our appetites. The pickled radish in particular was refreshingly sweet and crunchy. 

The novelty that Chir Chir brings to the Korean Fried Chicken scene is refreshing. We particularly enjoyed the freshness, tenderness and quality of the chicken used. However, we felt that perhaps the marination and taste, especially for its fried chicken, could still be improved. 

Chir Chir - Fusion Chicken Factory 
313@somerset #B3-04/05/06
Singapore 238895

Also opened at
Bedok Point #02-05/06 

4 Must Try Cafes in Penang (George Town)

If you happen to be on a trip to Penang, and intend to savour some of the best desserts or just simply to have some respite from the sweltering heat. Look no further, read on for our recommendation to some of the best cafes in town - George Town, that is.

The Alley

The Alley is a laid back, off-the-beaten-road cafe, tucked in a corner at 5 Stewart Lane. This delightful cafe in Penang specializes in freshly made Churros and Cronuts (An interesting cross between a Croissant and Donuts). 

We ordered the signature 6 piece churros and a cronut, accompanied by a refreshing glass of iced latte. For our choice of churros dip, we decided to go for the melted chocolate dip. It was great, smooth and robust but not enough to satisfy the both of us ! We were out of dipping sauce after our 4th stick. 

We were quite pleased with our choice of the salted caramel sauce to go with our cronuts. There was a generous lather of the sauce on its surface as well as on the sides of the plate, complete with chunky oreo chips (my favourite). The Cronut, is kind of like a cross between a croissant and a donut. Made with flaky layers of pastry, the cronut is buttery but not overly oily.

The Alley serves up a mean churro (and Cronut) and it is a great cafe to spend a lazy afternoon. We highly recommend trying the combination of desserts we had.

Coffee indeed!

The Hardware

Iced Latte

6 Piece Churros & Cronut

The Alley
5 Stewart Lane, George Town, Penang.
12:00PM - 12:00AM

Chinahouse

Famed for one of the most eye-popping variety of cakes, Chinahouse is a quaint shophouse converted into a beautiful cafe, serving up some of the most delectable western fusion food in Penang. Its concept seems to be derived from a collaboration of several businesses. "Kopi-C" being the bar/coffee dispensary, which also fronts the entrance via Beach Street. Next is the cake counter, with up to 30 varieties of cakes baked by Beach Street Bakery. Finally, BTB serves up some excellent western style, asian fusion dishes for those who want something savoury.

We ordered a Milo Cake, presumably a chocolate cake with added 3-in-1 milo powder on the top, ala a Milo Dinosaur. Unfortunately, the milo powder added an extra dimension of sweetness which was over bearing. The cake itself was moist, but nothing too spectacular.

The iced coffee (with ice cream) was pretty decent. They seem to use coffee beans which were roasted by Singapore's very own Nylon Coffee Roasters. Huge credit to the barista, the coffee itself was just about right, not too acidic like the ones which we had in several other cafes in Penang. 

We were also pleasantly surprised with the Chicken Tika Sandwich we ordered to supplement the meal. The whole meal bread was soft and moist, layered with spiced grilled chicken breast, fresh avocados and romaine lettuce. 

Milo Cake

Ice Coffee with Vanilla Ice Cream

Chicken Tika Sandwich

More than 30 varieties!

Chinahouse

153 & 155 Beach Street, George Town, Penang. 

9:00AM - 12:00AM

Mugshot Cafe

Mugshot Cafe almost did not make the list. We weren't too impressed with the coffee, nor blown away by the special homemade yogurt. However, they delighted us with one of the best bagels with cream cheese ! 

The flat white we ordered, was sadly, flat. It was too watery and the coffee taste was mild. Perhaps it was the barista's day off, so lets give them the benefit of the doubt. One of the specialty of Mugshot is its homemade yogurt. Stored in delightful little jars and mixed with different seasonal fruits fruits like Mango, Kiwi and some walnuts for texture. 

Aside from the interesting pasta menu (which we were too full to try), the main feature of here, is the bagel. I absolutely love a good bagel and Mugshot cafe's freshly baked bagel with cream cheese, is to die for ! Charcoal baked over the open stove, the Bagel is peppered with toasted sesame seeds which complements the rich cream cheese spread. Each bite into the crusty external layer reveals a moist yet chewy inside. There is nothing better than a freshly baked bagel and Mugshot's Bagel is as good as it gets.

Homemade Yogurt

Flat White

Mango & Walnut Yogurt

Bagel

Mugshot Cafe

302 Chulia Street, George Town, Penang

8:00AM - 12:00AM

Moustache Houze

Moustache Houze is a moustache themed cafe which specialises in "Ice-Cube" drinks. Having an extensive list of drinks that are frozen into ice-cubes and served with milk (coffee) or soda.

We tried the ice-cube latte and ordered a tiramisu cake. The ice cube latte was nice, but could not compare to one of the best ice cube latte we had, in a cafe called Roast in Bangkok, Thailand. The tiramisu cake was good but not spectacular, perhaps because of the numerous times we have tasted great Tiramisu, our expectations we simply too high.

Overall, Moustache Houze has a nice ambience and is a great cafe to relax and chill out with friends.

Ice Cube Coffee

Tiramisu Cake

Wall Art

Moustache Houze

24 Lebuh Campbell, George Town, Penang

12:00PM - 12:00AM

Here's a map of each of the cafes. Do drop by and enjoy these great cafes when you are in Penang!

Map

L'Atelier Tiramisu - One of The Best Tiramisu In Singapore

Tiramisu, which means "Pick me up" in Italian, is a dessert that is so commonly misrepresented that many people in Singapore don't exactly know how a good one should taste. Made with high quality dark chocolate, creamy mascarpone cheese and ladyfingers, commonly dipped in coffee liqueur. This popular Italian dessert appears on many dessert menus of restaurants in Singapore. Yet, not many taste as authentic or exquisite as the ones made by L'Atelier Tiramisu!

Tiramisu ($6.90)

Classico & Matcha

Four variations of this delightful dessert is on offer here.

Classico - Classic Tiramisu

Lychee

Matcha

Dark Cherry

We tried the Matcha and Classico.

The Classico ticks all the boxes to qualify it as one of the best Tiramisu i have ever eaten in Singapore.

The layers of mascarpone is light and fluffy, providing a nice setting for the coffee dipped ladyfinger. For me, it is crucial that the ladyfingers are not too wet or mushy. The Classico is perfect in this aspect - something can only be achieved if the dessert is allowed to rest in a fridge for a few hours. The 'icing' on the cake was the chocolate shavings, liberally sprinkled on the top, complimenting each bite with a slight bitterness that was pleasant and refreshing.

Make sure you try the Classico and pair it with a nice cup of cappuccino ! Enjoy !

L'Atelier Tiramisu

The Central @ Clarke Quay
#B1-09
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
Singapore 059817

Opening Hours:
Nearest MRT: (Clarke Quay MRT, Exit F)
Monday - Friday: 12pm-9pm 

Saturday: 1pm-8pm 

Sunday: 1pm-7pm

Update: L'Atelier Tiramisu is undergoing renovations and will re-open sometime in June 2015.

FatCat Ice Cream Bar - Simply Delectable Waffles

Waffles, Waffles, Waffles ! 

Ever since trying Waffles at Creamier, We have been on a hunt to try some of the best Waffles in Singapore. Our next stop was the famed FatCat Ice Cream Bar, for their Gourmet "流沙" Waffles. Pictures of the Waffles from FatCat Ice Cream bar has been turning up on our instagram feed. We were piqued to find out how well this savoury treat will blend with our beloved ice creams.

Image Credit: Fat Cat Ice Cream Bar

Gourmet Waffle ($6)

Drizzle Liberally!!

The Gourmet Waffle is a MUST try at Fat Cat ! Apparently, they have really limited quantities on these deviously delicious waffles. Each portion of these Waffles comes accompanied with generous amounts of caramel and hints of lavender buds. The ingenuity of this waffles however, is the liquid salted egg mixture. When served, you will be instructed to drizzle this savoury mixture across your waffle (it is NOT enough, so drizzle it sparingly).

Don't be fool by its color, the charcoal waffle does not taste anything remotely close to anything 'charred'. In fact it has a mild buttermilk sweetness and tinge of savoury goodness, a perfect harmony if you were to ask me. Relatively crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside.

Ice Cream ($3.90) or ($4.50 for Premium Flavours)

We tried the Banana Caramel Ice Cream as the our original choice of the Earl Grey was out-of-stock. The ice cream was good, but nothing spectacular. We could taste the rich flavour of the Banana but the ice cream was slightly too sweet for my liking. Perhaps we chose the wrong flavour and we were too quick to judge, but there are definitely better ice cream cafes around.

The overall concept of this ice cream bar really sets it apart from many of its peers. Creativity and Passion are at the core of each dessert. These specially created desserts do not come cheap, but they will indeed tantalize your taste buds and excite your senses. Unfortunately, due to their popularity and limited quantities produced each day, they often run out of desserts or waffles towards the latter part of the day. The secret to avoiding disappointment is to be REALLY early !

* Check out their facebook for more news

Fat Cat Ice Cream Bar
416 Bedok North Avenue 2
#01-25 S(460416)
6241 0830

Project Acai - Antioxidant Goodness

Project Acai (pronounced as "ah-sigh-ee") is a newly opened chic cafe, tucked in the bustling street of Holland V, specializing in desserts made from a berry that is touted to be richer in antioxidants than cranberries, raspberries, strawberries and even blueberries. Project Acai Cafè prides itself for serving organic Sambazon Acai, together with only the freshest fruits and ingredients.

Image Credit: Project Acai Cafe

It's mainstay, the Acai bowl, comes in the "Handy", "Medium" or "Large" sizes, the Acai mixture is blended with granola and topped with a variety of fruits, goji berries and chia seeds. My favourite toppings is the desiccated coconut shavings - it provides a crispy texture and crunch to each bite. 

Handy Size

The preparation of our order took about 5-7 minutes. It's staff takes extreme care in making the dessert as much of a visual treat as it is for the taste buds. The Acai blend at the bottom has a slight tartness and light sweetness. Quite similar in taste to a partially ripe blueberry, yet with a tinge of bitter after taste. When mixed and eaten with the fresh fruits, coconut strips and garnishing, each bite is surprisingly refreshing! 

For the health conscious, most conventional desserts are often out of bounds due to the obscene amounts of refined sugar that goes into making it. Project Açaí creates a beautiful, unique and healthy dessert, allowing dessert lovers to enjoy without having to worry about unnecessary calories and refined sugars.

Note: They do provide take-away the Acai blend in powder packs for your own home made smoothies.

Project AÇAÍ
27 Lorong Liput
Holland Village
S(277738)

Nearest MRT - Circle Line (Holland Village). 

Teppei Syokudo - Quality Chirashi at a Great Price

Teppei Syokudo, the sister outlet of the immensely popular Teppei at Orchid Hotel, caters to the casual diner looking for a quick Chirashi fix or takeaway lunch. Despite its minimalist menu, we quickly realised that Teppei Syokudo focuses on quality rather than quantity and we were pleasantly surprised.

Kaisendon ($16)

Quality Chirashi

The Bara Chirashi bowl, or more commonly called the Kaisen don, boasts fresh and plump portions of salmon, tuna and white fish sashimi. Each slice of sashimi, completely coated in Teppei's unique soya sauce mixture, topped with a generous portion of salmon roe. It would not be an understatement to say that this bowl is worth every cent of the sixteen dollars you've paid.

White Fish ($2.50)

We ordered a side of Fried White Fish to go along with the Kaisen Don. Unlike many other pseudo Japanese croquettes. This one is as authentic as it gets - it is thinly battered and lightly fried. Each bite reveals a pleasant sweetness from the white fish, inviting you to continue to devour it. We would have liked to try the vegetable pancake and cheese croquettes, but we were already too full!

If you are looking for a nice, authentic and affordable Chirashi, Teppei Syokudo is your go-to fix. Aside from their famed Kaisen Don, which we definitely recommend to try, they do offer several other takeaway dishes such as the Katsu curry, Grilled Mackerel bento set, and more. 

Teppei Syokudo
#01-105 Millenia Walk
Nearest MRT (Promenade - Downtown/Circle Line)
Open 11AM to 9PM daily

Patisserie G - Artisan Cakes at its Finest

Millenia Walk has never been my favourite place to hang-out. Being the least popular of the 4 malls that cater to the crowd at City Hall. Due to convenience and the glut of food places in Suntec or Marina Square, we've never really considered going the extra mile to try food places here. 

The Japanese-French inspired Patisserie G has been around since 2012, i must confess that i have walked past this little cafe several times but never really gave it a chance. Needless to say, i am so glad i did!

Croque Madam ($9) 

Croque Madam, finely toasted brioche served with Ham and Emmental cheese, finished with a sunny side up.

G's take on the Croque Madam is indeed a treat both for the taste buds and for the eyes. A lovely sunny side egg is topped on two slices freshly baked brioche. We absolutely enjoyed the well balanced taste of the ham, cheese and brioche.

2x Free Range Eggs Cocotte with Mushroom ($16)

Two baked free-range eggs in a cute casserole pot with mushrooms, Gruyere cheese and toasted brioche for dipping.

The eggs are delicious and delightful!. My favourite part of the dish is breaking the yokes and dipping the delicately baked brioche into the runny mixture. There is simply nothing more comforting than having fresh eggs and toasts.

Sake Kasu Cheesecake ($8)

Baked, creamy cheesecake with Sake Kasu, filled with an assortment of macerated fruits - fruits soaked in alcohol.

Recommended by the staff, the Sake Kasu Cheesecake is indeed a breathe of fresh air for the cheesecake lovers. It is light, with a hint of sweet sake mixed into a velvety concoction - unlike the typical dense cheesecakes which we are all used to eating. Interestingly enough, i found myself enjoying the bits of macerated fruits and its crunchy cookie base.

Nouvelle G ($8)

73% & 63% Chocolate Blend,  Sacher Sponge, Crispy Chocolate Feuilletine Base

The Nouvelle G caught our eyes with its unique shape and we decided to give it a try. Its semi molten exterior is made of a dark chocolate coating which was not overly sweet, evident of its high cocoa content. For the chocolate lover, this cake is indeed worth all the extra effort you'll need to put in the gym. We absolutely enjoyed it. Who says we cant have ALL our cake and eat it!

Flat White ($5.50)

We ended the wonderful afternoon with a cup of coffee. 

Patisserie G hits the spot its high quality ingredients and wonderful cakes ! In my opinion, they could very well have some of the best cakes i have eaten in quite a while - In terms of taste, aesthetic appeal, creativity and textures. The prices are slightly steep in today's context. But i guess for the quality of ingredients and effort spent into making each of these master pieces - they are at least worth a try!

Patisserie G
9 Raffles Boulevard, #01-40 
Millenia Walk
Singapore 039596
6338 7578

Nearest MRT (Promenade - Circle Line)
Opens 11:00 am – 9:00 pm Daily

Joo Bar - Makgeolli and All Things Korean

Joo, which opened in the Bugis area late last year. Is conveniently located within a stones throw from the Bugis MRT exit of the Downtown Line. Aside from being the ONLY bar in Singapore that brews its own Makgeolli*, it also offers a full menu of food that is a mix of Korean and Western cooking styles.

* Makgeolli is a popular alcoholic beverage in Korea made from fermented grain - usually rice or wheat.

We arrived at Joo on a Friday evening at around 645PM. To our amazement, the dining seats were fully booked and we had to settle for a seat at the counters.

The interior was decorated mainly in black, white with wooden furnishing. Although some parts of the bar looked raw and edgy, there was certainly some artistic flair in its design. Bag hooks were conveniently located underneath each bench for the ladies - this is a nice touch for those seated at the counters. With remixed K-Pop beats playing in the background, you can be forgiven for wondering if you have just entered a swanky pub in Gangnam Seoul.

Banchan Appetiser

A trio of fried anchovies, Macaroni & Cheese, and pickled radish.

Organic Home Brewed Makgeolli (Small) ($10*) 

*(Daily Happy Hour Special) from 5:30 - 7:30PM.

Joo, prides itself with its home brewed Makgeolli. Our order of Makgeolli had a hint of sweetness and tasted mildly tart. It was lightly chilled and refreshing to the palette - especially when paired with the heavier tasting stew and pork belly.

We only wished they provided a stirrer to mix the drink, as after a while, the mixture start to settle. This could be overcome by the improvised use of the chopsticks.  

Home Brewed!

Truffle Fries ($14)

We weren't blown away by the Truffle Fries. Although it was nicely salted with a generous amount of Parmesan shavings, it lacked the oomph - We were expecting a little more of the Truffle infusion.

Our recommendation is to skip these for the Korean dishes!.

A Whole Lot of Fries

Beef Bean Paste Stew ($20) 

Bean Paste Stews are one of my favourite Korean dishes ! Perfectly salted, with a generous amount of Spring Onions, Zucchini and Radish, Joo Bar's rendition is one of the best comfort food after a long day's work.

Soya Bean Paste Stew

Slow Roasted Mangalitsa Pork Belly ($32)

Aside from their Makgeolli, the Mangalitsa (Hungarian) Pork is another one of their highly recommended items. These slow roasted slices of heaven, garnished with sides of spring onions and Dijon Mustard are simply irresistible. As a result of the slow roasting, the meat is succulent and the fat from each slice readily melts in your mouth! 

I would gladly put my diet plans on hold again - just for this dish.

The Highlight!

Due to the low light environment, the pictures i took with my iPhone simply does not do this place justice ! If you enjoy a nice chill-out place with excellent food, great ambience and authentic korean Makgeolli, Joo Bar is indeed the place to go.

Our recommendations are to skip the regular cafe (E.g: Fries) dishes and go straight for the fusion korean dishes. You wont be disappointed !

Do make a reservation to avoid disappointments, especially on the Weekends (Fri-Sat).

Update:

I was surprised to learn that owners were the same people behind Sticky and E!ght Korean BBQ. It has to be something special about these entrepreneurs that make seem to make everything they touch turn to gold!

Joo Bar

5 Tan Quee Lan Street 188094

+65 8138 1628

Nearest MRT (Bugis - Downtown Line)

Creamier

Sitting right below a HDB estate block, Creamier is indeed true to its reputation as one of the most popular waffles and ice cream parlour in Singapore. Even on a lazy Wednesday afternoon, the tightly packed tables were filled and we had to settle for the bench area facing the window. They must have done something right to be attracting such a huge crowd !

Ice Cream Counter

Sitting Area

Single Scoop 3.30$

Thai Milk Tea

Being a major ice cream lover, one scoop just wasn't enough. My partner decided to order another single scoop of ice cream. This time, she choose the "Premium" Thai Milk Tea flavour. I must say that the Thai Milk Tea flavour is not my cup of tea - pun intended. It was creamy, light and flavourful, she loved it but i thought it was just alright. Call me traditional, but somehow the taste just did not sit well with me.

Thai Milk Tea Ice Cream.. Anyone ?.

Waffles with Single Scoop 8.80$

We ordered the signature Waffles with a single scoop of Sea Salt Gula Melaka ice cream. The waffle was delicately sweetened, fluffy on the inside yet crispy on the edges. Eat bite was enticing and before i know it, i was hooked!.

Moving on to the sea salt Gula Melaka ice cream, the flavour was pretty unique. We thought that the addition of the sea salt greatly balances the sweetness of the gula melaka. The slight tinge of coconut from the gula melaka together with the creaminess of the ice cream is indeed intriguing and delightful. This combination of waffles and gula melaka ice cream is definitely a good starting point for the uninitiated. I would definitely come back just for the waffles !

Heavenly Waffles with Gula Melaka Ice Cream

Coffee - Flat White 5$

Being a ice cream and waffles parlour, we were not too picky with the quality of the coffee. Yet, we were pleasantly surprised by the aromatic cup of flat white that was served. A pity that it was lukewarm when we received it, which was kind of an anti-climax from the delicious waffles and ice cream we had earlier.

Flat White

We truly enjoyed the ice cream and waffles here at Creamier. Although the seating capacity looks pretty decent for an average cafe, it can hardly handle Creamier's rising popularity. Be prepared to wait for a seat, especially if you decide to go during the weekends !  

Do note that this place is really popular ! My advice would be to make a visit during the weekdays, around 3-5PM to be able to truly enjoy a pleasant dining experience.

Creamier

128 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, 310128

Nearest MRT Toa Payoh (Take 141 From Bus Interchange)

6250 1476