I already was a fan of nougat when I came across 3 Bites Full.   Handmade, premium nougat, using quality ingredients.  They take nougat to a whole new level!

When you first bite into the chewy nougat piece, you’ll first taste the milky creaminess of the nougat.  Unlike European nougats, ’sweet’ is secondary to milky and chewy.

The consistency is really smooth – not floury and sugary and hard, but a chewy combo that’s incredibly more-ish.  Uh-oh.  As I type I’m chomping on a chocolate nougat – oh my, the cocoa-ness of the chocolate really comes through.

They come in several delicious versions – cranberry and almonds (main pic), chocolate (limited edition), green tea, macadamia, almond, and another favourite of mine, black sesame.

I would go so far as to say that even if you aren’t a nougat fan, you will definitely like 3 Bites’ version.

They are er, less bad for you than other sweeties – no artificial anythings and no preservatives.

Each chunk is sweetie-wrapped and in a foil bag like this…perfect for Christmas goodie bags.  Each bag is $7.80, except for the macadamia ($8.80).  Each bag contains approx 10 pieces – 100g.

Currently on sale in Taka basement 2, in the carts outside Cold Storage, through Christmas.    Otherwise, you can order online here only after Christmas.

When you want good quality Japanese food (rather than the run-of-the-mill family restaurants), but don’t want to pay a fortune for a ‘celebrity’ restaurant,  head for Kuriya Dining.

On the ground floor of the office block wing of Great World City, this restaurant serves posh-ish Japanese food.  What makes it different from for example, Ichiban Boshi (its sister restaurant) in the basement, is the quality of the food.  The difference is really marked. Service is also really good (and the bathroom’s cool – Japanese style toilet means lots of buttons to play with).

It’s maybe 50% more price-wise than the average family resto, but if you don’t want to get disappointed by stodge masquerading as Japanese food, this is highly recommended.

They do some interesting seasonal specialties too.  Sadly, the chef changed when they moved to their current location – he used to do an amazing dish – butterbeans with asparagus and miso paste cooked in a banana leaf.  It was GORGEOUS!  Please bring it back!  They still do lots of great fresh fish, and of course, most of the standards you would expect to find.  But cooked with pride, rather than a factory-style kitchen.  There’s a delicate touch to everything.  Try the Tofu Salad, with home-made goma dressing, it’s so good.

crab miso, my fave

Related to the critically-acclaimed Kuriya Penthouse, this restaurant actually came first…part of the RE&S Group.

I’ve been asking around for ‘the best chai png’ here in Sg Land.

Or, curry rice/scissor cut rice…even economic rice it’s been called.  Anyway, rice n stuff.

There was a great scissor cut stall at Maxwell Market but alas that’s now gone.  The one in Jalan Besar is still there.

Nephew Ryan promised me his find at Redhill Market was IT. (#01-74)

So off we went-

And stood in the queue…service was pretty brisk.

and piled a plate high for me to try:

It wasn’t bad but I wouldn’t say it was the bomb.  The curry gravy is the best part:  it’s rich and flavourful, but I missed the egg tofu…although the selection was pretty big, some of my favourite dishes were missing.

It’s a lot better than some of the awful cheapskate stalls I’ve come across – you know the ones with really thin curry gravy and mysterious deep fried things.  But not quite The One.

So my search continues.

Anyone have any tips?  I passed by one at Katong that looked promising…

PS: if you are there though, try the chai tow kway.  It’s really good although the portions are little. The stall sign is pink and has a couple of Mickey Mouses (Mice?) on it.

Over at Cluny Court, Sin lurks, waiting to lure you in to mmm-chocolate heaven, leading directly to FatAss hell, do not collect $200 and do not pass go.

3 inch Sin: The name actually stands for the 3inch cakes filled with molten yums (a selection of melting, oozing centres hiding in 3inches of chocolate cake).  There’s molten peanut butter, hazelnut, raspberry, coffee, among others.  It’s served with artisanal ice cream just to top it off.  Yes, I am weeping as I type.

Now, not content with 3 inches, Celine has added other cakes to the menu.  Scroll down and have a look.

3inches of sin: molten cake with ice cream

the Blackforest...

the Royal Fudge cake

If you think you’ll just ‘try a little bit’, think again…enter at your peril!

3 Inch Sin

#02-07 Cluny Court, Bukit Timah Road

Foodies already know this hawker centre for its many ‘famous’ dishes.  For a newbie like me, it was a delightful revelation.  (Sorry Muslim friends, this is nowhere near Halal)

First off though, it’s not so lovely.  It’s not awful, but you’re not going for the ambience.  It’s off Guillemard Road, a couple of blocks back from Geylang Road.  There are parking options in the multi-story carpark next door, or in the open carpark.  On Sundays, get there before 7, or after 8 at night.

The Prawn Noodle soup is the most well-known dish there.  I’d heard from many people that it was sooooo good.

5/5

The picture doesn’t do it justice because friends, it really really is sooooo good.
I don’t know what they put in the broth but I think there’s some magic in the mix.  It’s sweet, tasty, rich, totally loaded with flavour.  They use King Prawns and happily they are halved so it’s easier to shell them.

Whitley Road Prawn Noodle #01-98 starts at $5 a bowl

5/5

Close to the Prawn Mee stall is Teochew Fishball Noodle – wow, this was a standout dish too.  You’ll be struck by the giant fishball and fishcake, but what is amazing is the chilli sauce – there’s a definite tinge of he bee, chilli, soy.  Mixed with the perfectly al dente noodles, this is one of the best fishball noodles I’ve had in a while.

My friends know PS Café in Dempsey is my default restaurant.

What’s not to love?

The PS trio were the first to recognise the Dempsey ambience, and to make the most of the lush green surrounds.  Taking a long barrack-like building, and glassing the walls so when inside you get to appreciate the very pretty outside of green and jungley zen.  Keeping the interior stylish yet simple so it doesn’t compete.

It’s stylish, but not dressy, casual but not slouchy.  The interior veers towards retro, with lots of lush green and wood floors to bring the jungle inside.

Then there’s the food.  A clever menu with the intended clientele in mind:  nice salads (try the Sticky Prawn Salad), hearty mains (my faves- the Miso Cod or Chicken Parmigiano) and AMAZING desserts…the PS-style enormous slabs of cake, or ginger puddings, or pies.  With a big drinks menu (from herbal infusions, to home-made lemonades, to cocktails), and decent prices, it’s the ideal place hang out over food.

the cake counter, just waiting for your hips

You wouldn’t come here just for the food, or just for the venue, or just for the design – it’s a happy culmination of all three that makes it my personal favourite.

Be warned though, it can get noisy when busy; portions for most of the dishes are large; and you need to book (but no reservations for the very popular brunch).

The Crisp and Dip - $18 and enough for 3 or 4

PS.CAFE at HARDING

28B HARDING ROAD

SINGAPORE

T: 6479 3343

When I was a little girl, Holland Village was just the strip of shophouses currently being beseiged by MRT buildings.  Joo Ann Foh, which I remember as photo developers, are still there, but all else has gone, replaced by Starbucks, banks, Crystal Jade – chains of chains, the independents are few and far between.

One of the stalwarts of the early days in the shophouses was the Balmoral Bakery.  Happy memories of cakey treats (yes, cake love started a long time ago), birthday tea parties.

Happily, while they are no longer at HV, they decamped 5 minutes up the road to Sunset Way in 1985.

Uncle and Auntie make the cakes and pastries just as they always have since 1965, and the family business continues.

In a time of over-rich chocolate-ganache-truffle-mousse praline, it’s great to have the old simple cakes.

My favourite is the Butterfly cake – a simple, light sponge cup cake with butter cream and sponge ‘wings’.  The cream horns – solid pastry with buttercream filling, and a new invention – mini cupcakes.  50 cents each, and you can stretch it out to 3 mouthfuls as a little manageable calorie treat.  (works for me)

The sausage rolls, chicken pies, beef pies and sausage rolls are really yum too. With actual meat, and not just potato with a sliver of meat.  And hearty, flaky pastry.

In the era of mass-produced everything, the difference here is tangible.  And when I asked Auntie if they love what they do, (since they’ve been doing it so long), it was no surprise when she said yes.

Of course Uncle still makes the fabulous old-style buttercream cake slices and Swiss roll slices.  And he does some great birthday cakes too.

Long live Balmoral Bakery!