d' Good Cafe - Singapore Coffee Musuem @ Jewel

Hainanese Chicken Roulade & Risotto Balls (19.50++)

Ling Cod Fish & Chips ($22++)

Cappuccino ($5.50++)

I was preoccupied with online games; yet blessed with R who sought out new places for us to visit. The Jewel is his plan for our date today. And the newly opened d' Good Café is having a 1-for-1 lunch promotion.

You tasted sincerity in their food here, it was as good as the price you would pay, even in full. The juicy chicken roulade is accompanied by a luxurious foie gras. The Ling cod fish was firm and sweet. Yes, we enjoyed our steak.

Of course you would end your meal here with a cup of their home roasted bean coffee. It is the boss's passion. Alas, we were too full for their signature cake - the little Nyonya.

Grilled Beef (Choice of Ribeye/ Tenderloin, $30++ each)

Return to the Ladder Cafe

Pan Fried Dory Fillet ($10.90)

Seek a quiet, relaxing lunch with good coffee. We returned to the Larder Café. 

Repeat for their Sangenton pork culet ($10.90) which was proven to be good on our previous visit. The pan-fried Dory today was surprising; even better.

A big slice of their signature Ondeh Ondeh cake, with bitter aromatic coffee. This is an hour of bliss with Ric.

Ondeh Ondeh Cake ($7)

Day Soup and Coffee set ($4.80/ pax)

南丰, Nam Hong Coffee Stall

Kopi, Siew Dai ($0.70)

In every hawker centre, there's bound to be a coffee stall that commends a long queue. Everyday, without fail. This is the leading coffee stall at the Taman Jurong Market Food Centre.

The good Nanyang coffee here, never had that sour after taste. It is pleasantly thick, serves in a huge mug and is seriously underpriced! Check it out.

Stall #02-88

Good Cheap Coffee Set - $2.20

Set B - Toasted Kaya Butter Buns, Kopi, Eggs ($2.20, upsized coffee + $0.10)

To satisfy an Asian soul in the morning, it would be a cup of fragrant Nanyang coffee; toasted bread with thick cold butter and warm, runny half boiled eggs. On a rest day, it's certainly this simple.

Here's a corner stall (#02-59) at the Taman Jurong Market Food Centre. They have been serving the neighbors for years - offering quality breakfast set at a fairly economical pricing. I reckon they too help keep prices of coffee around the estate stable.

Come down if you like what you are looking.

Bodum - The Original Prench Press

Bodum Bistro Nouveau, 0.35ltr. ($22)

Lately, i realised how instant coffee pack gave me a racing heart rate and stimulates the nervous system. While good coffee beans doesn't. Thick coffee from our Kopitiam or the Starbucks and McCafe are safe for me.

Making coffee for one person is troublesome if I'm using a coffee machine. That's when the Bodum coffee maker comes in conveniently. The coffee maker is actually a heat-resistant glass cup with a stainless stain press filter. I could purchase my choice of coarse coffee grounds from the supermarket (using Boncafe here), add a teaspoon of it and sugar. Pour in hot water and stir; press down after at least 4 mins of seating. No worry of gritty coffee when you pour out the coffee into a separate cup for drinking. That does it.

Cleaning is easy too. And i save the coffee grounds, for my garden. No plastic capsules, no wastage. This is good.

Brunch at Jalan Benaan Kapal - Singapore's Oldest Food Centre (Pt.2)

Continue from Part 1... 

There are only 2 Malay stalls in the Jalan Benaan Kapal canteen - the oldest food centre in modern Singapore. In this part 2, we go into them.

Stall No. 6 - Mee Rebus, Mee Siam

Now do not be disappointed, that stall no. 6 does not serve a splendid spread. We tried their Mee Rebus ($2) which is their most popular item, but it came across as fairly mediocre.

Stall No. 9 - Nasi Padang, Lontong, Mee Goreng

Lontong ($3)

Malay Mee Goreng ($2), Coffee ($0.60)

The Lontong and Mee Goreng were delicious to satisfy the morning hunger! But if you come later when both of these were sold out, get their Nasi Padang! I love the lontong vegetable stew (Sayur Lodeh) so much, I repeat it on our order of the nasi.

The lady chef cooked everything hot and fresh. It was yummy.

Fried Chicken Wings, Sambal Goreng, Long Beans.

Fried Chicken Drumstick, Fried Bean Curd, Sayur Lodeh. (2 plates for $7)

Stall No. 10 - Kang Siang Coffee Stall

You might recognize that tables with the roaster cup were purchased from Stall No. 10. While those of the transparent glass mug were from Stall No. 1, mentioned in the Part 1. They are the only 2 drinks stalls here. And both offer their coffee from 50 cents.

So which one's better? Stall No. 1 is. But be prepared to join their long, slowing queue.

Brunch at Jalan Benaan Kapal - Singapore's Oldest Food Centre (Pt.1)

The Canteen Building

Jalan Benaan Kapal (Malay for "ship building road") is a street near Tanjung Rhu and Geylang. Little known to many, here lies the last of Singapore's old-style Kopitiam. Two stretches of one storey low rise offices lined the street, all of them with flat rooftops. So when you spotted a pitched roof building, that's when you steered into the free parking compound of the canteen.

We were initially drawn by the 50 cents kopi offered here, but we soon discovered that the place has more to offer. There are only 10 stalls; and most doesn't have a name, they go by stall no. 1-10. Here we start on part 1!

On the Part 2, we'll look at the Muslim stalls.

Breakfast Set, without Toast ($1.60)

Stall No. 1 - Drinks and Kopi Breakfast Set

Stall No. 1 and 10 serve cold drinks and coffee, but we thought only Stall No. 1 offers half-boiled eggs and toast? Because everyone gets them here. The hawker uncle works slow, but his coffee is the one you should go to.

We love it too, that the eggs were served, de-shelled.

Fried Bee Hoon Mee, added Fish Cake ($1.30)

Stall No. 3 - Economic Fried Bee Hoon, Steamed Dim Sum and Kway Chap

If you are early, and the Kway Chap is not yet really (only available after 10:30am), do order some of their fried vermicelli first. Many do this, while they kopi and chat, waiting for the Kway Chap.

Nobody is in a rush. This is a Saturday after all.

Kway Chap Set for 2 pax ($6)

Stall No. 7 - Chicken Rice, Braised Meat and Chicken Feet

Chicken rice, or if you fancy an alternative - bowl of braised chicken feet to accompany some fried stuff like the ngoh hiang and fish cake from the stall. They have some glutinous chicken feet for you to suck on!

Braised Chicken Feet ($2)

Miyakori Coffee

Miyakori Kuromitsu Coffee (RM$13.90, S$4.58)

Morning starts at the Miyakori Coffee, in JB City Square Mall.

We tested the cafe by ordering their specialty, the Miyakori Kuromitsu Coffee - with black honey, a Japanese sugar syrup. The sweetness it exudes is light and natural. Well suited with the mildness of the Japanese coffee.

This is no doubt a good change from the strong brews of St*rbucks.

AJ Delights - Muffins!

Vanilla Walnut Streusel ($2), Double Chocolate ($1.80)

White Coffee ($1.80)

An unsatisfying lunch prompted us to look around the Alexandra Village Food Centre. That's when we spotted AJ Delights (#01-82) which is attracting quite a following for their muffins.

Looking hefty in size, their muffins with streusel is indeed heavy! The streusel topping adds a sweet crunch to the muffins, and is yummy. Even without, ingredients were definitely generous in the muffins itself. I say, if prices can be more friendly, this muffin is a must buy, in bulk!

(Disappointing coffee from the White Coffee Corner which had since relocated itself from the Margaret Drive Hawker Centre.)

7Tea Cafe - 台灣茶飲小舖

from left - Cappuccino (L, $3), Honey Aloe Vera (M, $1.80), Ice Cream Milk Tea (M, $2), Honey Aloe Vera Grass Jelly (L, $2.50)

No meals at Taman Jurong Market Food Centre are complete without a drink cum dessert at 7Tea on level 3.

Healthy favorites of mine are the bitter Matcha Milk Tea with/ without red beans ($2.30/ $2), Yakult Green Tea ($2) and the Honey Aloe Vera Grass Jelly above. Occasionally, a Caramel Macchiato ($2.80) finished with pretty "cross-hatch" pattern of caramel sauce.

Prices are affordable, and quality is not compromised. It starts from just $1.50 for a typical Taiwan milk tea. Less ice option available at no extra charge. If milk tea is too much of a routine, you MUST at least take a sip of the hot foamy Cappuccino which is often sold out. You must. It might just knocks you off the chair.

Coffee Hut, 咖啡姐茶轩

Kopi with Toast Bun Set ($2.40)

If you wake up one morning in 2015 and are craving for some really good Nanyang Kopi; determined to travel further than the all familiar Ya Kun or Killney, this is it - Coffee Hut, stall 43 in the Jalan Berseh Food Centre.

We cross our heart for it. And be warned, that you order their toasted bun with the most amazing texture; thick butter and Kaya spread too!

Starbucks Venti-Sized Frappuccino 1-for-1

Venti-sized Strawberry Cheesecake and Tiramisu Frappuccino 

This is a personal delivery from Ric, after work. Sweet. Sweet.

Yes, both are for me! Taking them simultaneously give a good balance of sweet creaminess from the SCC and bitterness of the Tiramisu blended beverage. Half-way through; when the cup loses its chill, i placed it in the freezer and continue my enjoyment the next day - in its ice-cream state.

Frappuccino MUST be taken well chilled; and the venti-size is really too much in one go...!

Delifrance Sandwiches - Oh! It's been too long...

Baguette Sandwiches with Seafood D'sire and Tuna D'licious (background), with thick Coffee Black

Why has we took this long time to revisit the simple Delifrance sandwich?

Price factor. With Subway coming in, offering much affordable and healthy sandwich choices; we simply jumped on the bandwagon. Even my neighborhood Delifrance closes down for a new Subway outlet!

But you can see how popular Delifrance still is, when they ran a $5.50 meal promotion with Groupon. It was sold out within days. Between us, we bought 4 vouchers, or possibly more.

It is a nostalgia for my first Delifrance sandwich in 1997. Often working late nights, my senior would suggest a Delifrance meal when we got bored with hawker takeaways. Fresh graduate like myself, certainly felt grown-up and fab to munch on sandwiches dinner. Today's proper sit-down lunch with mom tastes just as very good!

Office's Instant Beverages!

My trove box is fast piling up! Filled with convenient pack of 3-in-1 Coffee, Tea and Cereals. Colleagues love to share and tell, as if trying to win one another over with our preferences or to warn of 'don buys'; each playing the role of a beverage gastronomer. One thing for sure: Everyone likes their beverages less sweet, yet robust.

And what an eye-opener to our large instant beverage market! The selection is huge! I thus thought it would be interesting to compile a list of our drinks here; updating this post regularly as we extend our sampling!

This post was last updated on 11 JUN 2018 with SUPER Teh Halia and NESCAFE Singapore Kopi-O.


 MILK TEA 
MAX Tea Tarikk, BOH 3-in-1, Boh Teh Terik Original, GOLD KILI, OWL Teh Tarik, Owl Thai Iced Tea, LIPTON Milk Tea Gold, Lipton Black Kiss, Lipton HK Style, Lipton Teh Tarik, SUPER Tea Su Su, AIK CHEONG Teh Tarik Halia, OLD TOWN White Milk Tea.

To Splurge On: San Shu Gong Lao Qian - Teh Tarik Segera (12s, $6), Aik Cheong Teh Tarik (15s, $6.30)
Avoid: Sun Soya Milk Tea (15s, $3.20)


 GINGER TEA 
GOLD KILI Instant Ginger Tea, DILMAH Green Tea with Ginger, HOTTA Instant Ginger.

To Splurge On: Gold Kili Ginger Lemon (filter bag) (20s, $4.90), Gold Kili Natural Ginger Bag (20s, $4.90), Lipton Pyramid Lemon Ginger (20s, $5.45)
Value for $$: Owl Ginger with Honey (20s, $4.50), Super Teh Halia (25s, $4.20)


 COFFEE BAG 
OWL Kopi-O-Gao, Owl Kopi-O, Owl traditional blend, AIK CHEONG Kopi O, MISTER Coffee, CAP TELEVISYEN Kluang Coffee.

To Splurge On: Gold Roast Kopi-O, reduced sugar (20s, $4.35), Starbucks Pike Place Roast, Drip Coffee, Nescafe Singapore Kopi-O (15s, $3.80)
Value for $$: Gold Kili Traditional Kopi O (20s, $2.70)
Avoid: Mr Cafe Kopi O (20s, $3.50)


 COFFEE 3-in-1 
OWL Regular low fat, Owl Strong, SUPER low fat, CAPPAROMA less 50%, Capparoma less 25%, CAFE NOVA Latte, NESCAFE Original, KOPIKO Brown Coffee, GOLD ROAST Improved Blend, GOLD KILI Coffee Mix.

To Splurge On: Super Essenso (25s, $7.20), Starbucks VIA Caffe Mocha (12s, $16.90)
Value for $$: Cafe 21 low fat  (25s, $4.30), G7 Instant (40s, $6.60)
Avoid: Ye Ye Instant Coffee (45s, $4.95)


 WHITE COFFEE 
GOLD KILI Double Shot, OLD TOWN Ice Cold, Old town Classic, Old Town Mocha, Old Town Cane Sugar, NESCAFE Ipoh, Nescafe Oh So-Creamy, POWER ROOT Alicafe, SUPER White Coffee, 福伯 HOC PEH, CHEK HUP Ipoh.

To Splurge On: San Shu Gong Lao Qian - Kopi Putih Segera (12s, $6), Aik Cheong Tarik Original (15s, $6.05), Old Town White Coffee Less Sugar (15s, $6.80), Old Town White Coffee Hazelnut (15s, $6.80), Nescafe Ipoh Gao Siew Dai (15s, $6.45)
Value for $$: NTUC Cafe White (30s, $3.65), Indocafe Instant White Coffee (30s, $3.75)
Avoid: Ah Huat White Coffee (15s, $6.30), Kopiko White Mocha  (20s, $4.95)


 CEREAL 3-in-1 
NTUC Cereal Vanilla, QUAKER Vita Original, NESTLE Nestum Milk Drink Original, SUPER Nutremill Original/ Brownrice.

To Splurge On: Quaker Vita 3-in-1 Original (20s, $6.40)
Avoid: NTUC Cereal (20s, $3.15)


 MATCHA LATTE 

To Splurge On: Gold Kili Instant Matcha Latte (15s, $6.50)
Avoid: MAX Tea Matcha Latte (15s, $4.60), Osulloc Green Tea Latte (10s, $12)


HOT CHOCOLATE
CHOCOCINO Chocolate drink.

To Splurge On: Milo Gao Siew Dai (15s, $6.50)
Value for $$: Gold Kili Instant Chocolate Drink (15s, $4.90), Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate (15s, $4.95)

UCC 113

UCC Blend 113, 90g ($10.20)

I had hesitated - UCC 113, soft taste... 

Wasn't good coffee supposed to be 'thick'? Why 'soft'?

The selection turns out to be a wise one. Instead of viewing the 113 as weak coffee, we should conceptual it as smooth coffee. Yes, smooth like good wine yet richly aromatic. Neither overly acidic nor bitter, with a good mouthfeel. We are enjoying this quite a bit.

There is a good reason for this production.

Lipton Russian Earl Grey

Lipton Russian Earl Grey Black Tea, 20s ($5.15)

Favourite English tea is the Earl Grey. 

Where the sense of smell is more gratifying than the taste. Grasping in the bergamont aroma from the rising hot steam surely soothes the tired and listless brain. Arrhhh... ...! Inhaling deeply.

Lipton Russian Earl Grey is lovely. When even the sense of sight is entertained by the freely dancing tea leaves and Cornflower petals in pretty silk-like pyramid tea bags.

The tea definitely refreshes a desk-bound afternoon, bogged down with paperwork. A life-saver.

Owl Kopitiam Roast

The naming of Owl Kopitiam Roast in honour of the Straits Asian Coffee Shop culture is clever. But there is also a risk to that - as consumer tends to compare the taste of the convenient pack to the actual roast that we were so accustomed to; one that we grew up with; one that can be easily bought from any neighbourhood coffee shops.

So let's compare them!

KOPI-O GAO - Extra Thick Nanyang Coffee, with Sugar
This is mum's usual at the coffee shops. And she has this to say, "No aroma of Kopi, just like thick coffee sugar water, without the nice aroma that we have from the kopitiam." "Oh, maybe i make too big a cup, next time i use less water." I made the excuse for Owl.

The chest felt heavy after the extra thick coffee; and i had to agree - no "xiang wei" of coffee.

KOPI-O - Thick Nanyang Coffee, with Sugar
The most easily available instant black coffee around; i found this in almost every offices i visited lately. Aromatic but finds it tad sweet; usually add more water to this.

KOPI-C - Nanyang Coffee, with Evaporated Milk + Sugar
Real sweet. Blind-fold me and i should not tell its difference from any other common 3-in-1.

KOPI-C KOSONG - Nanyang Coffee, with Evaporated Milk
Everybody's favourite! Thickly bitter with sweetness that's barely traceable. Very nice. Mom selected this to be bought for the household.

KOPI SIEW DAI - Nanyang Coffee, with lesser Sugar
This coffee concoction is my coffee shop favourite that tasted superbly aromatic and delightfully sweet with its receipe of condensed milk in the mix, no sugar. But sugar is instead used in this convenient pack; diminishing all my hope of it.

Starbucks in the Fridge

Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso, 192ml ($2.60). Bottled Mocha Frappuccino Coffee, 281ml ($2.80) 

Sometimes the convenience of things got everybody in trouble - reach out into your fridge and you could savour cafe-like iced coffee as the weather warms. Just as Starbucks goes into bottling up their premium brews for our easy consumption; and their increased market shares, we took in the calories, willingly.

Starbuck's coffee can't taste no good. Both of us preferred the canned doubleshot espresso - thickly bitter with faint sweetness and nice tang of rich cream. The frappuccino is cloying, in comparison.

Any guy would welcome a heady doubleshot; but for that brief moment of decadent, let me have the velvety frappuccino, serves on the rocks!

Lipton Peppermint Herbal Tea

Lipton Peppermint Herbal Infusion (caffeine free), 1.5g (10 pcs for $2.75)

Barely 5 days into my fast-paced job, and i was suddenly down with a groggy head and a slight running nose. "Die!" I had thought. "Wouldn't that give my boss the idea that i'm weak or simply skiving on the job if i had to go on medical leave now?" Gosh!

Needed something warm to clear that blocked head, so i made myself a tea bag of the Lipton Peppermint the boss bought for our office. Amazingly, it works! The minty drink felt especially helpful when you gulp it down in its lukewarm state - i promise you'll feel that instant comfort as it clears the nose and calms the mind...

Surely, i followed with a second tea bag, and by that afternoon, i was gleefully munching on a giant Toblerone chocolate bar :)

Pokka's Tea Legend

Premium Milk Tea, 250ml ($3.45 for 6s), Premium Red Tea, 250ml ($2.60 for 6s)

First time we had the Premium Afternoon Straight Red Tea from Pokka was like last December. It was a rather gratifying experience. We took a sip then, and i went, "Mmmmmm... ... ... ...!" It is really nice. The brew has a delectable flavor and is suitably sweetened. 2 cartons were purchased and we were encouraged to take on their premium milk tea.

The milk tea is absolutely charming when you serve it chilled, and is guaranteed to quench any craving for that expensive cup of Taiwan pearl milk tea. So we took on another carton.

We have been taking Pokka's Chrysanthemum White Tea and chanced on the recent discovery of their Oolong Tea. The sugarless Oolong tasted surprisingly welcoming and goes a long way in thirst quenching - it is definitely a champ in the world of packed tea drinks.