“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well“ - Virginia Woolf

Caramel Cafe

In decadent desserts, places to chill, randoms on June 25, 2009 at 3:29 am

caramel cafe,hairloom and caramel,beach roadMy latest whimsical obsession, Caramel Cafe, has certainly been well-publicised in various magazines and tv shows. But nevertheless, they are a worthy mention that I’d like to share with anyone who hasn’t heard of them yet. Started in January 2009, Caramel Cafe is a labour of love that is not only a cafe, but also a hair salon and retail venture. Hairloom (nice pun there) is located in the same premises, and they’ve recently started their retail arm, Oject d’Art, which means ‘work of art’. Expect nothing less than cosy yet quirky interiors for an afternoon tête-à-tête over tea and desserts. I really like the bright airy feel you get indoors because of their glass doors let the light stream in and all. They close at 8pm on weeknights and 10pm on weekends (closed Sun) so don’t get there too late!

caramel cafe,hairloom and caramel,beach road,shaw leisure galleryMy girlfriend A and I were mesmerised by their counter (pictured here) for a good 5 minutes or so. It looked so inviting and the dessert display had rows of cupcakes amongst others. Loved the decor which is rather reminiscent of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland don’t you think? The owners did a great job in transforming simple pieces of furniture into eclectic pieces by reupholstering them. But this place isn’t just for show…the good people at Caramel Cafe are very friendly and very very attentive. They also seem to bake a lot at regular intervals. Which can only mean that they freshly bake their fabulous desserts daily. I also like how their ovens are located just behind the high counter so that one can catch whiffs of what’s in the oven. Believe me that’s one great sales strategy!

caramel cafe,hairloom and caramel,shaw leisure gallery,beach roadAfter careful deliberation, A and I decided to have their Lemon Creme and Carrot Cream Cheese cupcakes ($3.50 each), Warm Chocolate Banana Cake ($6.90) and a pot of chamomile tea for two ($2.90). Each resting in delicate casings, our cupcakes looked simple and were served on a gorgeous plate. Well that would be an understatement. From furniture to cutlery, plates to tea pots, everything was meticulously handpicked. A and I were so intrigued by our tea cups that we turned them upside down to get a hint of their origins (answer: Japan & China). Oh yes do ask them for honey to add to your tea because their honey’s great…

caramel cafe,hairloom and caramel,shaw leisure gallery,choclate banana cake,decadent desserts,teaOf the 2 cupcakes, I preferred the Carrot Cream Cheese [****] one. I was very surprised that it contained miniscule carrot bits in its centre, and the cream cheese was a great pairing. Personally, I would’ve liked it to be a little more moist. The Lemon Creme [***] one, however, could’ve had more lemony zest. The lemon creme was light and just the right amout of sweet, but it would’ve been to add more zest to it.

caramel cafe,hairloom and caramel,carrot cake,cupcake,lemon cupcake,decadent dessertsNot forgetting our chocolate staple, I found their Warm Chocolate Banana Cake [****] served with vanilla ice-cream on the side really, really good. Though it wasn’t oozing thick, hot chocolate the way some outrageously sinful chocolate cakes do, this one was sufficiently moist and not overly sweet. Warm chocolate still oozed from its centre, but blended with mushy banana slices…it was a wonderful match. And it’s topped with cocoa powder. How can we contend with that? What I loved about this cake was the fact that I didn’t feel too guilty afterwards…

Can’t wait to return for more delectable treats from Caramel. This time I’d like to try their lunch menu too!

object d'art,caramel cafe,hairloom and caramelThe I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 8/10
Price – $-$$
Service – 10/10
Ambience – 9/10
Accessibility – 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Address:
100 Beach Road
#01-50/52 Shaw Towers
Singapore 189702

Tel: +65 6295 2188

Website: http://hairloomandcaramel.blogspot.com

Opening hours:
Mondays – Thursdays
12pm – 8pm
Fridays & Saturdays
12pm – 10pm
Sundays & Public Holidays
Closed

Dress code: Casual

Nearest MRT: City Hall or Bugis

Buses: 57, 100, 107…

Don Quijote Spanish Restaurant

In luxurious food therapy, randoms, the big date on June 18, 2009 at 12:57 am

don quijote,spanish,lorong kilat,paella,seafood,tapas,sangria,jalan jurong kechilToday I discovered a different side to the quiet and laidback area of Jalan Jurong Kechil. Lorong Kilat runs a lane before Chun Tin Road (where the homely Sup Sip & Vis-a-Vis resides) and is slowly welcoming new F&B establishments like Don Quijote which I visited for lunch today. Don Quijote has been around since January 2009 and will soon have a new neighbour – U.d.d.e.r.s opening on 19 June 2009. The Spanish restaurant is tucked away behind Shell station and faces Poh Tai Kok Temple on Lorong Kilat. Enticed by rave reviews about their paella and sangrias, K and I made a trip to satisfy our long-overdue paella craving. And I must say, we were not disappointed. Don Quijote has branches in Singapore and Macao, and their menu boasts more than 25 tapas and traditional Spanish fare like Paella Valencia, and the rare Jamón Ibérico (Iberian ham).

don quijote,spanishWhile deliberating our already evident choice for lunch, we ordered red and white Sangrias ($12/gls) [****] to accompany our welcome bread which we promptly dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

After placing our order for Don Quijote’s Special Paella [****.] for 2-4 pax ($54), we were told that preparation and cooking will take 20-25 minutes…which is totally understandable because they use really fresh ingredients and paella is always made to order. For a moment I considered ordering some tapas to start us off, but recalled the waitress telling us their medium portion was pretty big. In any case, our waitresses for the day were very attentive and furnished us with another basket of bread the moment we were done. What they said was a 20-25 minute wait was really a lot shorter.

seafood,paella,spanish,don quijote,lorong kilat,jalan jurong kechil

And to my delight, the rice was yellow. Not orange or red, but yellow. Which can only mean that they definitely used saffron. Hence the price tag. If it were tomato-based, the rice grains will be orangey-red which is typical of some of the many variations of this popular staple in the Spanish diet. Earlier on, we could choose to have our rice done al dente or soft, and we picked al dente. However, it turned out rather soft though it was still very good.

I loved the rice which was thoroughly infused with savoury flavours, light spices, and rich broth. Every grain oozed seafood goodness. The assortment of seafood comprised clams, mussels, king prawns, and squid rings. Beneath this pile of seafood you see here, the rice was mixed with small chunks of chicken and yet more prawns. A real hearty seafood meal. The best part for me was the bottom of the pan where the rice grains were slightly charred (not burnt) and the small prawns that absorbed the myriad of flavours. Every mouthful had the succulent taste of fresh seafood.

cocktail,sangria,spanishSo despite the price, we were getting great quality paella in generous portions. By the end of the meal I was too stuffed for dessert or more tapas, and I believe I speak for K as well. Don Quijote has 3-course lunch sets and other promotions, so do check out their website for more details. Well, one thing’s for sure – I’ll definitely come back for more.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 8/10
Price – $$$
Service – 9/10
Ambience – 8/10
Accessibility – 6/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Address:
17 Lorong Kilat, #01-09 Singapore 598139

Tel: +65 6465 1811

Website: http://www.don-quijote-restaurants.com

Opening hours:
Open from Tuesdays to Sundays
Lunch: 11.30am to 2.30pm
Dinner: 6.00pm to 10.30pm
Sunday Brunch: 11.30am to 3.00pm

Dress code: Casual or Smart Casual

Nearest MRT: Clementi

Buses: 985, 157, 61…

Bakerzin’s Student Promotion

In decadent desserts on March 31, 2009 at 2:39 pm

Bakerzin is generously offering a student promotion at their Jurong Point & North Point outlets!

From Mondays to Fridays, 10.30 am to 5 pm.

5 Tapas, Bakerzin

After presenting your student/matric card, each student is entitled to 50% off a main course AND 50% off a dessert (not incl. of cakes at the counter).

Grab some sweet treats to sweeten your week!