Miam Miam at Bugis Junction

Miam Miam, "yum yum" in French, is yummy in all aspects. The cover of the menu is already an orgasmic sight- beautiful, beautiful typography. What follows inside is pure food porn. Everything was screaming for our attention, and we were so compelled to have them all!

At Miam Miam, the visual delight did not just stop at the menu. We were equally wowed when our orders arrived.

Miam Miam Spaghetti was a fireworks display. The bed of yellow pasta was showered with generous portions of orange frankfurters and bacon; red tomatoes; green spinach and finally, topped with a white runny egg with sprinkles of chilli flakes and sesame seeds by the side. The pasta is tossed with french butter, shoyu and Miam Miam's secret broth. We do not know what went into the secret broth, but we do know that we love it.

Miam Miam Riz Noir Squid Ink Rice was another pretty sight. Yellow, fluffy omelette blanketing the black squid-inked seafood rice. Both the egg and the seafood went really well together, it was like a perfect match of surf and turf; french and japanese.

Miam Miam Souffle De Nuage looked really homely, like what Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother would bake for her when she goes to visit. The fluffy cloud of egg and cheese melted in our mouths, and tomato sauteed rice beneath it warmed our hearts. However, this became a little overwhelming after a while, and it was not without difficulty to finish it. For a rice and egg combi, we would prefer the Miam Miam Riz Noir Squid Ink Rice.

Miam Miam's French Toast was a chef's recommendation on the menu and we decided to go for it. We were shocked to realise that the white cream on top of the french toast was not ice cream but whipped cream, but all guilt was gone after the first bite. It was simply heavenly. The whipped cream was fluffy and light; melted on the piping hot toasted bread and seeped right through; and went really well with the maple syrup. We wolfed these down in no time - whipped cream and maple syrup and all.

Miam Miam Matcha Smoothie with Red Bean Cream paled in terms of flavour as compared to the Miam Miam French Toast. The taste of the matcha was not as strong as we liked it to be, and the red bean in the red bean cream was negligible.

Miam Miam Haze is earl grey tea with steam milk and vanilla syrup. It is also known by its fanciful name, the London Fog. The tea was a tad watered down, and could have been much creamier. It seems like Miam Miam is able to hit the right notes with its food offerings, and not so much for its beverages.

Go for the savouries in this French-Japanese/Japanese-French Cafe. The pasta and squid ink rice will definitely make you go "Miam Miam!".

Singapore Food Blog Review by Kumory

☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Miam Miam Bugis Junction

#02-14 Bugis Junction

200 Victoria Street Singapore

1130am to 10pm daily

,http://miam.sg/

Windowsill Pies at Jalan Besar

Windowsill pies in the woods is crystal clear about their speciality in the cafe scene in Singapore. Not savoury pies, not cakes, not cupcakes, but sweet, lovely pies.

A huge display of tantalising pies greeted us when we entered through the tiny wooden door. It was such a visual delight. Every single piece looked so pretty, so pretty in place on the green grassy patch. I wanted all the flavours! But it was a dangerous proposition, for the prices of the pies were not marked.

The staff at Windowsill Pie was really helpful in telling us the lovely stuff that went into each pie, and she made recommendations according to our liking. We settled for 2 pies out of the 8 available flavours.

The moment I heard "lime vodka", I knew this was the pie for Galen. He loves sour desserts, and what more, with vodka! The Lime Vodka pie is a must-have at Windowsill Pies. There is a right balance of zest and cream, and the texture is well-matched with the cookie crumble at the bottom of the pie. Amidst the lemon cream are hidden gems - vodka infused jelly! Put a lil of it in your mouth and I'm sure that you'll go oomph!

The Grasshopper Pie at Windowsill Pies is another attention grabber with its vibrant mint green cream, and the loads of chocolate cookie crumble on top of it. I would have loved the taste of the mint to be slightly stronger, and the cookie crumble at the bottom to be slightly thicker.

Windowsill Pies is like a scene right out of a children's story book. It is almost like the home of the three bears which Goldilocks stumbled upon in the woods. The decoration reminds me of Wimbly Lu, just that Windowsill is like the day version of the Goldilocks story. There are also many interesting drawing and craft books for you to browse in the cafe. For me, they were enough to make up for the lack of free wifi. Now, isn't it the perfect environment for you to pick up a book? You can immediately imagine that you're in the scene of the book already.

Singapore Food Blog Review by Kumory

☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Windowsill Pies in the Woods

78 Horne Road Singapore

11am-930pm (Tues-Thurs); 11am-1030pm (Fri); 10am-1030pm (Sat & Sun)

Closed on Mon

http://windowsillpies.sg/

Fei Fei Wanton Mee at Joo Chiat Place

Wanton mee is our default breakfast for many of our weekends in Clementi (we have a favourite stall in Clementi that is worthy of another post). Springy noodles coated with chili and lard, chewy charsiew with smooth wanton - what other ways to welcome the best days of the week?

I enticed Galen to make the (arduous) journey to the East for breakfast one special weekend. Okay, not me, but Fei Fei did. Nestled among the pastel shophouses along Joo Chiat Place, Fei Fei Wanton Mee is a landmark by itself. The traditional coffeeshop with tables just by the road; the special springy egg noodles; the chili with some secret ingredient - now, aren't you also enticed already?

For variety, we had Fei Fei's wanton mee, and Fei Fei's dumpling noodles. Both bowls were exploding with such vibrant colours that the sight of them immediately perked us up that morning.

Fei Fei wanton mee's noodle is the key to our hearts. It is very unlike the usual noodles used in other wanton mee- it's eggy, it's springy, it's like a cross between spaghetti and yellow noodles. I went wide-eyed when I popped the first spoonful into my mouth. Absolutely heavenly. To nitpick, I would have love the wantons- both boiled and fried- to be a little hotter.

Fei Fei wanton mee is also famous for their chili sauce used for their noodles. The chili certainly did not disappoint. A little spoon like this is power packed with the right balance of oil and spiciness. Drench it right into the noodles and you get such a soul satisfying meal.

I call dumplings 'goldfish'. I think they look like them. For me, the skin of the goldfish must be thin, and I must be able to see what is lovingly wrapped in them. Fei Fei wanton mee's dumplings fulfilled my criteria. The skin was soft and smooth, and the insides were generously filled with minced meat and prawn. A real tummy-warmer.

Fei Fei Wanton Mee is a good place to start the weekends. After a hearty bowl of springy noodles and exploding goldfishes, get lost amidst the beautiful shophouses in the area. After some walking, perhaps you'll find yourself at the doorstep of Penny University at East Coast Road. With a cup of muddy expresso in your hands, continue immersing in the charm of the East.

Singapore Food Blog Review by Kumory

☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Fei Fei Wanton Mee (飞飞云吞面)

72 Joo Chiat Place Singapore

64405013

Penny University at East Coast Road

Joining the myriad of restaurants and the rich food heritage along East Coast Road is Penny University. With a name that sticks in the mind, coffee that warms the heart and pastries that satisfies the tummy, Penny University is easily the top of its class. Ivy league, I would say.

The cement grey floors, woody brown furniture illuminated by orange lightbulbs at Penny University is a combination that worked really well for me. Warm, cosy and sort of like a time warp. Time seemed to slow down behind the glass door- no more incessant buzz of the traffic, people or cellphones. Just the therapeutic sounds of the coffee roaster, cash machine and 8tracks kinda music. I would love to take all classes at this University, and I would learn for life.

From this small coffee counter and the short (limited) coffee menu, came the best artisan coffee that I have ever encountered in my cafe-hopping journey. The first sip shocked me- rudely. I thought to myself: (if you'll please allow me) this is so, damn, bloody good.

The muddy expresso with cold milk at Penny University looked really tiny and unassuming, but I was very, very pleased with it. The coffee had the right acidity, the right texture, and in perfect proportions with the milk and ice. The taste was not compromised or watered down in the ice version. I would name this Kumory's favourite coffee, the one at Maison Ikkoku would now be my second.

The Chai Latte is also another A-grader at Penny University. The chai taste is well-balanced with the milk coffee. Frothy, smooth and heart-warming. Perfect in this cooling January weather.

The cake display at Penny University got me all excited. All the cakes and tarts are sourced from cafes and bakeries around the area. Penny University also carries pies from Windowsill pies! We were having so much difficulties in choosing what we want- it was like choosing modules all again. But this time round, we were not sure if we had enough bid-points, cos there were no prices stated! But heck, I just want them all!

We decided to go for the more exquisite and unique goodies at Penny University, and settled for the Avocado Cheesecake. It was a daring choice, I would say, given that both avocado and cheese are both milky and cheesy things that we would hardly think of putting together. But boy, the Avocado Cheesecake is a like a perfect union of the two- smooth, creamy and prefect with the buttery crust. And not a bit oily or overwhelming. Who knew that avocado can go well with cheese? Penny University knows, and now I do!

Ever since I had the chocolate sea salt caramel tart at Carpenter & Cook, I have been looking out for a contender. I found one at Penny University- the Snickers Tart.

Everything about the Snickers Tart at Penny University tells me its a straight As student. The crust was of all things buttery-chocolatey-cookiey- absolutely perfect. The filling was an amazing combination of dark chocolate, chocolate cream and caramel. There is really nothing not to love about this tart, except that one is not enough for me, and I would love to have a second or third piece, if my wallet and waistline allows it.

Penny University is my favourite cafe in my East Side story. The coffee and the pastries here resonate very well with me, and I love the cosy interior of the cafe. There is also free wifi, and it works reasonably well. Penny University is truly a gem along the East Coast Road stretch, and I can see myself re-visiting it and being wowed over and over again.

Singapore Food Blog Review by Kumory

☁☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Penny University

402 East Coast Road Singapore

830am-6pm (Tues-Thu); 830am-12am(Fri-Sat); 830am-9pm(Sun); Closed on Mon

No reservations

Maison Ikkoku at Kandahar Street

Maison Ikkoku- cafe, bar, boutique- is a lifestyle destination in the hip Kampong Glam/ Arab street area. And everything at Maison Ikkoku feels just about right. Now, who says Jack of all trades but master of none?

Nestled among the malay eateries and restaurants in the Kampong Glam shophouses along Kandahar Street, Maison Ikkoku is a good place to spend your entire day at. Speciality coffee at Maison Ikkoku Cafe on the first floor; cocktails at Maison Ikkoku Bar on the second level, shopping at the Maison Ikkoku Boutique on the third level- now, what's there not to like about this place?

The decor at Maison Ikkoku Cafe is simple, elegant and tasteful. From the coarse white brick walls to the woody brown furniture to the copper pipe lightings, everything is cohesive and creates a warm and cosy environment. The best kind to slowly sip and savour good coffee.

Maison Ikkoku's iced cafe latte ($6) is arguably the best I've had since the cafe popping/hopping phenomenon started. The likely contender with Maison Ikkoku is Forty Hands, but the winning edge is the laid-back and slow atmosphere that Maison Ikkoku has. The iced caramel latte ($7) had the right tinge of caramel goodness, not too over-powering and brought out the nutty taste of the coffee. The iced cafe mocha ($7.50) had a generous amount of chocolate, and it almost looked like a rich cup of milo dinosaur. The chocolate and the coffee hit off really well. The coffee at Maison Ikkoku was absolutely a visual and oral delight.

The cafe at Maison Ikkoku serves all day breakfast on weekends and have both savoury and sweet options. There is also a wide selection of cakes on display and the price ranges from $7- $10 per slice.

Salmon is my weakness and my must-have when it comes to brunch. The salmon florentine ($20) at Maison Ikkoku did not disappoint. Beneath the generous hollandaise sauce was perfectly poached eggs, chunks of Norwegian smoked salmon and tasty toasted brioche. Perfect. I liked the little twist of watermelon balls instead of cherry tomatoes in the rocket leaves salad. Refreshing.

Every cafe has their own version of full works, and the one at Maison Ikkoku was so full that the potato wedges were spilling out of the plate. We were very overwhelmed at the sight of the Break of Dawn ($22) - power packed with so many yummy breakfast goodies. I loved the special twist to this dish- cinnamon orange salad that was just simple but mind-blowing. The portion at Maison Ikkoku was so huge that the 3 of us had problems finishing it. The Break of Dawn alone could have probably filled all of us up.

Maison Ikkoku is easily one of my favourite places in Singapore- awesome coffee, good food and cosy atmosphere. It gets crowded on weekends but they do take in reservations and there is no time limit on your dining time. There is also free wifi at the cafe, and it worked perfectly well (we could even facetime our friend halfway round the globe in the States). Now, grab a good book (or your laptop), your loved ones and just head on right down to Kandahar street already. Soak it all up at Maison Ikkoku.

Singapore Food Blog Review by Kumory

☁☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Maison Ikkoku

20 Kandahar Street Singapore

62940078

9am-7pm (Mon-Thurs);  9am-10pm (Fri-Sat); 9am-6pm (Sun)

www.maison-ikkoku.net/‎

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery at East Coast Road

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery (真美珍茶室) is a traditional coffeeshop where you can find kopi, pastries and soft-boiled eggs in porcelain teacups and plates, prepared by (grumpy-looking) aunties with their permed hairdo and uncles in their sheer white tees.

Chin Mee Chin is a sharp contrast with the many (many) hippie cafes popping up rampantly nowadays. No fanciful decoration, no 8tracks music, no wifi, it is not even air-conditioned! But by no means Chin Mee Chin is lacking in any charm of its own.

The pastries at Chin Mee Chin Confectionery are displayed at the front of the shop. This is where the chaos start: you can pick whatever you want, pile as many as you want on the pretty plate and then just start eating. No, the pastries are not free-flow, but the folks at Chin Mee Chin go by the honesty policy. You can eat whatever pastries you want, however much, and then just declare it later when its time to foot the bill.

The absolute necessity at Chin Mee Chin is the cream puff. If you cannot make up your mind what to choose from the pastries display, you have to pick the cream puff. Savour that first, and then take your time to choose the others. The puff is fluffy and has a slightly salty aftertaste. It goes really well with the sweet and creamy custard. A heavenly match. The other winner is the chocolate cupcake- rich and soft, with the rainbow bits giving a slight nice crunch. Another favourite of mine at Chin Mee Chin is the egg tart. Buttery crust, sweet custard- we bought many of these home.

The chaos continues when you try to order your coffee, toast and eggs. If you observe for a few seconds, you will soon realise that there is no system at Chin Mee Chin. Grab any auntie or uncle you see (no matter how grumpy they look), and rattle off your order. You will be surprised, they can and will remember. The famous kaya toast at Chin Mee Chin is toasted bun (not sliced bread) with a generous spread of pandan kaya and a huge chunk of SCS butter. Ah, simple but so satisfying. The coffee is gao, and has a slight buttery taste. A small cup of warm happiness.

Apart from the pastries, kaya toast and coffee, Chin Mee Chin does their soft-boiled eggs right. The soft-boiled egg is a lovely combination of white, yellow and transparent- result of well-timed cooking that can only come with experience. Another simple but soul and tummy satisfying dish.

You have to do it like the old folks do when you eat at Chin Mee Chin- be there early, very early, in order to get a seat. No ice coffee- order hot kopi gao to taste the rich beans. Buy a copy of the newspaper- facebook and instagram can wait. Dabao the pastries in a red plastic bag- all your loved ones back home deserve a little piece of heaven too.

Singapore Food Blog Review by Kumory

☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery (真美珍茶室)

204 East Coast Road Singapore

830am-4pm (Tues-Sun); Closed on Mon

63450419