[CLOSED] 2 Loaves @ Tanglin Halt (Sugar)

Update June 2020: 2 Loaves has closed.

Was it two loaves and five fishes? Or five loaves and two fishes? Either way, one thing’s for certain: 2 Loaves is whipping a mean bake this side of Singapore.

Like the neighbourhood it is located in, 2 Loaves is a laid back, unpretentious bakery, reminiscent of the days when we would rush to the likes of Bengawan Solo for an after school snack. Its brother and sister team are a friendly, cheerful bunch who welcome you genially no matter the time of the day, a definite plus in today’s age of impersonal and sometimes sullen servers. 🙂

As their famous loaf cakes were sold out the first time I visited, I ended up swinging by their cozy little space twice in as many weeks. So here’s this eastie’s verdict of whether 2 Loaves’ creations are worth the trip for!

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[CLOSED] The Chop House 2-Course Set Lunch @ VivoCity

Update June 2020: The Chop House has closed.

Like the neighbouring ports, VivoCity plays host to a smorgasbord of cultures, brands and flavours. Just a walk down the promenade will bring you up close with some of the world’s most mouthwatering cuisines – from classic Western flavours by Brotzeit and Jamie’s Italian to explosively tantalising Asian offerings like Crystal Jade and Menya Musahi.

The Chop House is one of them; branded as Singapore’s first self-tap beer gastrobar, it is the brainchild of the team behind Wooloomooloo Steakhouse, another hugely popular joint for meat maestros and closet carnivores. But while this vibrant-hued gastrobar is a regular haunt for lovers of the self-proclaimed “liquid diet” (cue pints of beer on a Friday night), The Chop House has also rolled out a 2-Course Set Lunch for the corporate bound at nearby HarbourFront offices, as well as hungry tourists on weekdays for S$19.90

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Pastry Snaffle’s Catchcakes from Hakodate, Hokkaido (Japan)

I once had a friend cart back a box of Tokyo Banana for me. His suitcase was so stuffed to the brim, the flight an arduous 7 hours, that it’s a miracle that that box did not sustain a single dent on its way back (talk about durable Japanese packaging).

You don’t extend the same treatment to a box of Snaffle’s Catchcakes, however. Even if it’s double wrapped and packed in a sturdy, true-to-size package. Why? Because these darlings are, quite literally, as delicate as a cloud.

Established in 1998, Pastry Snaffle’s is just one of the many brands that have since crossed the Pacific Ocean (last year, to be precise) to invade our sunny, Japan-hungry shores. With three outlets at Plaza Singapura, Bedok Mall and VivoCity to date, and another on the way, it’s safe to say that Snaffles is here to stay. 😀

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The Ramen Burger by The Travelling C.O.W @ The U Factory

I’ve been obsessing over Keizo Shimamoto’s Ramen Burger for the longest time ever. I mean, what’s not to love about it? Generous chunks of meat and chives tucked between two ramen noodle “buns”; it’s like Shimamoto himself answered the prayers of fast food lovers the world over by combining the two best hangover chows into one.

Just the thought of biting into that culinary hybrid is almost enough to make me want to fly to Brooklyn and get my hands on one. Luckily for me, though, The Travelling C.O.W. (Chef on Wheels), also known as Singapore’s first mobile food truck, has been whipping up various versions of the Ramen Burger at The U Factory, a temporal experimental platform down at Gillman Barracks!

So, without further ado, it’s time to say Amen to the Ramen – burger, that is! 😀

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Poulét @ VivoCity

Whenever French cuisine is mentioned, the image conjured is usually that of an immaculately dressed couple in a chi-chi, no-nonsense setting. Soft classical music plays in the background, while said couple discreetly cuts bite-sized portions from a minuscule dish.

Not at Poulét.

Touted for its Poulet Rôti (roast chicken), this casual restaurant is fast gaining a reputation for dishing up hearty, yet affordable meals. And judging from my recent visits, I’d say that’s a reputation that’s well earned! 😀

Read on and I’ll tell you why. 😉

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[CLOSED] Bakerzin @ Vivocity

Update 20 Jan 2025: Bakerzin has closed.

When it comes to pasta, I’m not one to go big on fancy schmancy restaurants.

Raised on my family’s frugal philosophy, I grew up with the mentality that I shouldn’t have to pay good money for whatever I can nail in my own kitchen… which explains why I still head over to McDonald’s for my Hot Cake fix 😛 (but that’s a story for another day).

So when my friend suggested lunch at Bakerzin in VivoCity, I couldn’t help but feel a little skeptical.

Don’t get me wrong; I was a fan when they first opened their doors in Tampines 1, but since then, their menu has seen so many changes that I hardly know what to expect (pretty much like every girl who’s seen the love of her life morph into a douche over time). That, coupled with a few not-so-pleasant dining experiences, put it waaaay below on my list of to-dine places in the West.

But as they say, everyone deserves a second chance, and restaurants are no exception. So, I thought, why the hell not? 😀

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[CLOSED] Blackball Singapore 黑丸嫩仙草 @ Star Vista

Update June 2020: Blackball’s Star Vista outlet has closed.

It’s been an overwhelming afternoon – travelling halfway across Singapore to pick up my graduation gown from school, dodging dozens of people bent on pitching all kinds of “post-grad” services and surveys, and trying to keep my cool, all amid the sweltering heat.

Naturally, a dose of me time was in order, so instead of taking my usual route home, I took a detour and ducked into Star Vista to escape the afternoon heat – and right in time for a cold treat!

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Noooot quite!
Source: 9Gag

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