The Lokal at Neil Road

The Lokal is the latest addition to the cafe scene in the Cantonment / Everton Park area. With a strong track record at its sister cafe - Sarnies at Telok Ayer Street - The Lokal is set to be the next big hit among the cafe-hopping enthusiasts.

The Lokal is situated in the shophouse at the corner of Neil Road and Bukit Pasoh. It is right next to Goethe-Institut Singapore, and near The Phantom Joker Escape. Perfect location for a cafe if you ask me - a healthy distance from the MRT station (Outram Park), a relatively quiet area plus there are many pretty historical architecture in the neighbourhood (the famous Dong Ya building which now houses Potato Head Folk is just a stone's throw away).

At The Lokal, breakfast is served from 8am to 1130am which lunch is served from 1130am to 3pm. The Lokal lunch menu consists of 4 sandwiches, 1 salad and 2 main courses. The Lokal prides themselves in offering comfort food that is made lovingly from scratch. Even the tiniest detail like butter and pickles are made by the chef from fresh ingredients.  Now, this is what we call passion and sincerity and we would definitely love to see more of these in the (almost saturated?) industry.

The Lokal uses coffee beans from their sister cafe, Sarnies. The coffee is handcrafted using a cool, super slick custom-built Slayer expresso machine. Apart from coffee, The Lokal also serves craft beers and ciders, as well as a selection of tea and homemade smoothies.

Apart from what is stated on the menus, do look out for the daily specials, dessert selection and happy hour promotions that are scribbled on the huge blackboard right behind the counter.

The Grilled Chicken Panini ($15) was such a feast on our eyes when it arrived. Set on a huge grainy wooden board, the sandwich was bursting with colours and oozing avocado and grilled chicken. There was a generous serving of pure avocado in the sandwich, and it was a little overpowering for us. The grilled chicken was nicely marinated and the panini was crisp and chewy.

We wondered where was the smoked mackerel and concluded that they must have ran out of it hence the two chunks of orangey smoked salmon ($22). The salmon was hot-smoked over cherry woodchips right at The Lokal itself, and we certainly could taste the sincerity and passion put into it. We could also identify the thought put into the creamy potato salad, and the perfectly toasted pita. Such an amazing combo!

The toastie of the day was mushroom, sundried tomatoes with parmesan and pesto sauce ($14). This was da bomb for me - best combination ever for a toast! There were generous portions of nicely sauteed mushrooms, with savoury sundried tomatoes nestled in between. The mushrooms and tomatoes were held together by a lovely blend of pesto and melted parmesan. I could eat this everyday!

The latte at The Lokal was very much to my liking. It was smooth, creamy with a nutty aftertaste. There are options to upsize the coffee to medium (+$1) or large (+$2), and I would definitely go for a bigger portion the next time we visit.

We settled for the Pear and Almond Tart with Ice Cream ($12) for dessert. While the vanilla ice-cream and pastry was lip-smacking, the caramelised pear was a little tough and bland. We felt that the price was also a tad steep for the size of the tart.

We certainly enjoyed the wholesome and hearty food at The Lokal, and the awesome laid-back atmosphere of the cafe. It is by far one of my favourite cafes, and I would definitely return to spend an indefinite amount of time lounging on one of the cushioned seats. Did I mention that they also have free wifi and electric sockets? And as if the level of awesomeness is not high enough, The Lokal will also be offering a dinner menu and extended dining hours come end July. Now, don't miss out.

SINGAPORE FOOD BLOG REVIEW BY KUMORY

☁☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

The Lokal

136 Neil Road Singapore

8am to 6pm (Mon to Fri, kitchen closes at 330pm)

10am to 4pm (Sat & Sun)

Bangkok - Talad Rot Fai / Train Night Market at Udom Suk

We have officially found the best market in Bangkok. No, this is not the popular Chatuchak Market. This is Talad Rot Fai, or in english, Railway Train Market. Unlike Chatuchak, Talad Rodfai is only opened in the evenings, from 5pm onwards until midnight during the weekends. The absence of the sweltering heat and narrow alleys makes the shopping here at Talad Rodfai so much more enjoyable.

The Talad Rot Fai Train Night Market is around 20km away from downtown Siam, but it was definitely worth every ounce of our effort. The simplest way to get to Talad Rot Fai is to take the BTS to Udom Suk station. The BTS ride from Siam to Udom Suk took around 20 minutes, and cost THB 50. After alighting at Udom Suk, take the exit on the left and hop on to a taxi. Many taxi drivers are not aware of this night market, so the landmark to tell them is 'Seacon Square'. Seacon Square is a sprawling shopping mall and the Train Market is located right behind it. The taxi ride took another 20 minutes and cost THB 120. Follow the throngs of Thai youngsters/hipsters after you alight at Seacon Square, and you would surely find the big sign that indicates the entrance of the night market.

We fell in love with the night market the moment we stepped into Talad Rot Fai. We were greeted by totally rad and retro furnitures that filled every crack and cranny of the individual shops and even the walkways.

Talad Rot Fai is HUGE. Beyond the numerous stalls selling clothes and accessories, there is a dedicated section for vintage items. It was like a scene out of a junkyard - rusty lockers, leaking bathtubs, scratched tables - but it was this exact randomness and ruggedness that made the whole place very charming. We loved looking and peering into these shops, and wondered about the stories behind the items there.

Another section of Talad Rot Fai was like a huge car boot sale. Vendors were selling their wares straight out of their vehicles. Some were vintage sedans or SUVs, but many were the much coveted Volkswagen Kombi (to die for!). The vendors were mostly chilling by their cars like they would be chilling in their backyard- business or competition seem nowhere in their mind or written on their faces. They were talking or drinking with friends or fellow vendors, only stopping when an interested customer has a query. Totally loved the laid-back atmosphere!

There was also a gallery with a full collection of vintage items ranging from cars to bikes to musical instruments to even a confession booth. We thought it looked like it was part of the Universal Studios, or it could be the set for a hunt by Sam and Dean from Supernatural. It was totally mind-blowing to be seeing these vintage babies upclose.

Besides shopping and ogling at random vintage items, there were also many food options at Talad Rot Fai. There was a really cool bar/pub that was converted from a bus and blasting soft rock music from the 1980s. Totally chill. There were also old-school cafes selling drinks and retro knick-knacks. And of course, there were many many street food stalls here at the night market.

Talad Rot Fai is mainly frequented by the locals - we did not meet much foreigners (and that to us, was also a major plus point). There were minimal signs in English and most of the menus and boards were in Thai. However, the stallholders were able communicate in basic English so we could still find our way around.

We joined the queue at the Tom Yum Goong Noodles stall. Through charades and basic English, we ordered a bowl of mixed seafood with glass noodles. It was a huge bowl full of slices of fish, squid, clams, mussels and prawn (THB140). The seafood was fresh and the soup was very fragrant. Very hearty and comfy in the cool evening breeze.

We were attracted by the prettiness and neatness of this barbeque seafood stall. Signs were purely in Thai but the stallholder was able to tell us his offerings in basic English. Again, through charades and simple English, we got ourselves very yummy BBQ mussels and scallops.

The combination of 3 BBQ mussels and 3 BBW scallops cost THB 200. The mix of cheese, garlic and parsley on top of the shellfish were simply heavenly. The melted sauce was very savoury, and it very much complemented the freshness of the seafood. Simply lip-smacking!

Even the drink stall looked like it had been there since the 1980s. The tins of tea, ovaltine, milk, and the very brown coffee sock indicated the authenticity and passion of the drinks.

What I particularly like about drinks in Thailand is the huge heap of crushed ice that they use in their cold beverages. The tiny crystals of ice makes the drink more uniformly cold, and the coolness is able to last longer. The Thai Iced Coffee we had was a tad sweet, but hey, that's the spirit of Thai coffee right? The coffee was smooth and creamy, and left a slightly savoury aftertaste.

We thoroughly enjoyed the time at Talad Rodfai. The train night market exuded a charm that could not be replicated elsewhere - it takes many like-minded and creative people to put together a place that is authentic, vibrant and endearing. The Train Market will definitely be a permanent fixture on our Bangkok itinerary.

BANGKOK FOOD BLOG REVIEW BY KUMORY

☁☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Talad Rot Fai/ Train Night Market

Soi 51 Srinakarin Srinakarin Rd

Nong Bon Prawet Bangkok

5pm to 12am (Fri to Sun)

Bangkok - Som Tam at Siam Square

We arrived in Bangkok in the afternoon and we were famished after checking in at Baiyoke Sky Hotel. It was around 4pm and we knew it was the best time to visit Som Tam. This popular restaurant at Siam Square is known for two things: its papaya salad and snaking queues. We want the yummy food without the long wait, so we immediately headed to Som Tam at Siam Square for an early dinner.

It was pre-dinner time but the restaurant was already almost to its full capacity, attesting its popularity. We were  ushered to a corner booth that could only fit two petite Asians. It provided us some privacy while the rest of the bistro-style restaurant were buzzing away. Som Tam's menu makes ordering very easy. Tantalising photos, English dish names, spiciness level and chef recommendations were all clearly presented on the menu.

The drinks served at Som Tam is from its sister brand - Yingdeaw Homemade. Besides beverages, Yingdeaw is cafe that also serves cakes and pastries and its located just right beside Som Tam. The Thai Iced milk tea from Yingdeaw was very fragrant, and the level of sweetness was just right for us. The milk tea was smooth and creamy, and leaves a trail of tea fragrance on our palette.

Though skeptical, Galen was an immediate convert after taking a first bite of the somtam with dried shrimp, thai pork sausage and crispy pork rind (THB 90). The crunchy papaya strips drenched in the zingy salad sauce was very refreshing. The crunchiness is further enhanced by the slight toughness of the dried shrimp, the very crispy pork skin and the well-roasted peanuts. It was like an explosion of flavour in our mouths. Very, very delightful.

Som Tam's fried chicken (THB 150) was a tad pricey but it was worth the price tag. The chicken was fried to perfection - the skin was crispy yet not oily, the meat was tender and juicy. The marination did not remain merely on the skin, but went deep into the flesh. We could taste the wonders of the fish sauce, an ingredient that is inextricable from Thai cuisine. The bits of fried garlic that topped the chicken off were also lip-smacking.

It started pouring outside and the Northeast style spicy soup with pork bone (THB 120) came at the right time. When the Thais in the Northeast says its spicy soup, do not take their words lightly. It was spicy. Yet, it was not spicy for the sake of being spicy. We could taste the fragrance of the pork broth, and the essence of the mix of spices. The soup was very hearty, but we did not really heart the chunks of pork that was in it. The essence of the pork must have all been boiled into the soup, leaving the meat rather hard and tasteless.

We find it strange that the Hot & Spicy Crispy Fried Nil Fish (THB 125) was actually cheaper than the fried chicken. We agreed that this is the most value-for-money dish. A whole fresh fish deep fried to a crisp, drenched in a firework of sauces and condiments. Very impressed that we were able to get such high quality at this price tag. Amazing!

It was a very cosy and hearty affair at Som Tam. We were so glad that we were able to enjoy the popular Northeasten Thai cuisine with hardly any wait and the food certainly live up to its fame and hype. We were definitely pleased to have such a stellar start to our Bangkok food trip. Highly recommended to all foodies heading to Bangkok!

BANGKOK FOOD BLOG REVIEW BY KUMORY

☁☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Som Tam Papaya Salad Restaurant

392/14 Soi 5 Siam Square, Rama 1 Road

Siam Bangkok

1045am to 930pm daily

Potato Head Folk at Keong Saik Road

The red and white Dong Ya building at Keong Saik Road is an icon by itself. And it is exactly why the folks at Potato Head Folk were willing to pay the skies for the four storey shophouse right at the fork of the road. Each level of the shophouse were renovated and converted into interesting spaces and differing experiences.

The first level of Potato Head Folk houses the kitchen of Three Buns, the restaurant at Potato Head Folk serving burgers and cocktails. Alfresco dining is available here, with tall bar tables and chairs right by the curbside.

The second storey of Potato Head Folk, also known as the living room, is the air-conditioned dining area of Three Buns. The space is artfully decorated with colourful and whimsical paintings, sculptures and buntings.

Three Buns has a very targeted offering- burgers and cocktails. This makes choosing so much simpler - a rarity these days when we are constantly bombarded with numerous options and multiple customizations.

We immediately knew that we wanted Sherbie Hancock ($7) for we were bought over by the promise of a zingy lemonade with orange, lemon and grapefruit. Anything that is sour and fizzy would work well for us. However, we were disappointed when it turned out neither sour nor fizzy. It tasted like flat, watered down syrup water, and the promised grapefruit was missing.

The pina colada ($17) also looked and sounded better than it tasted. We were swooned by the colour and the presentation but that impression did not last through the first sip. The taste of rum was clearly missing, and all we could think of the slurpee from 7-11 and that we could have bought many cups of it.

Thankfully, the Naughty Fries ($9) was able to perk us up. The fries were huge chucks of double fried potato that had a crispy shell enveloping the mushy insides. Very well done, and went really well with the beef chilli and shallots that topped them. It was served piping hot, and we think they were certainly very naughty, and hearty.

Wings-it ($8) were also twice-cooked before being coated in a smokey BBQ sauce. The flavour of the chicken however, stopped right at the skin. The chicken itself did not have much marination, and lost its flavour once the skin had been stripped off.

The Baby Huey ($20) was a life-saver after the ordinary wings-it. The 150g beef patty was perfectly grilled to a medium doneness, with a smokey outside and a juicy inside. The buttered bun was also crispy and savoury, and the spiced mayo brought everything very nicely together.

The buttermilk fried chicken in Honky Tonk ($19) was lip-smacking. However, we did not really fancy the coleslaw that came in the burger. It was a little too creamy and cabbagey for our liking.

The third storey at Potato Head Folk houses Studio 1939, a bar that we pictured Sherlock Holmes investigating some peculiar crime. It was almost pitch dark behind the behind door. The only illumination was the bar counter, and the lights bouncing off the bottles of wines and liquor. The music was loud but the chattering was even louder. The room, though dark, was teeming with strong energy and vibe.

Finally, the fourth storey at Potato Head Folk boasts a rooftop bar overlooking the shophouses and flats of Chinatown, and the skyscrapers of the CBD. Such quaint, soothing juxtaposition somehow. The weather was forgivingly cooling and breezy the night we were there, and we lounged on the cushioned seats sipping and chilling the night away.

Despite its good track record in Bali and all the hype about them opening an outlet in Singapore, there were certainly hits and misses at Potato Head Folk. We would recommend skipping the drinks at Three Buns, and just go straight to the Naughty Fries and the Baby Huey beef burger. The staff waiting at Three Buns can be pretty unforgiving if you were to linger after finishing your food. So, we recommend that you head up to The Rooftop for drinks instead. There, you can be sure that you would be left alone for a slow sip and be able to lounge the night away.

Potato Head Folk does not take in reservations, so do go early. Else, the waiting list, we heard, could be a good one to two hours wait. Alternatively, we would strongly encourage you to head to The Lokal which is just a few steps away. Great coffee, great food and awesome atmosphere there.

SINGAPORE FOOD BLOG REVIEW BY KUMORY

☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Potato Head Folk (Three Buns and The Rooftop)

36 Keong Saik Road

11am to 12am daily (Closed on Mon)