GOLDEN GOODNESS
Well of course eggs cocotte and scrambled eggs are not hard to make. You can do them while half asleep.
But on days when you are too lazy to make breakfast, stop by Patisserie G for Oeufs En Cocotte and Scrambled Eggs En Cocotte.
The baked eggs are delicious. Free-range eggs are baked with creme fraiche and Gruyere, and smoked salmon ($18), mushroom ($16) or bacon ($16). The egg whites are delicious and decadent from the cheese and creme fraiche. I am happy just to have them, but take great pleasure in breaking the two perfect yolks, and then mopping up all that golden goodness with the brioche toast soldiers served alongside.
A heartier option would be the scrambled eggs ($15), with three free-range eggs in each serving. Add-ons include smoked salmon ($3), pork sausage ($3) and mushroom ($2.50). You can choose from brioche or a croissant to go with the eggs.
For late risers and people who can eat breakfast all day long, the eggs are available until 4pm daily.
And until the end of the month, any egg cocotte or scrambled egg order comes with free brewed coffee, tea or juice. Add $1.50 for a cappuccino or other espresso beverage.
Where: Patisserie G, 01-40 Millenia Walk MRT: Promenade Open: 8am to 9pm (last order), Mon to Thu;, 8am to 10pm (last order), Fri; 11am to 10pm (last order), Sat; 11am to 9pm (last order), Sun Tel: 6338-7578
SLURP IT UP
Gyoza-Ya has become my go-to place for a quick, satisfying and relatively inexpensive meal. I have tried practically everything on the menu so it is a good thing there are some new choices.
One of them is the Tokusei Tonkotsu Udon ($6.80), a comforting bowl of noodles for rainy days.
The restaurant uses milky pork broth, usually used for ramen, for this dish. Instead of ramen, there are strands of silky udon which are flat instead of rounded.
A chunk of pork belly braised in soya sauce and lots of finely sliced negi or leek complete the simple dish. The broth looks rich and flavourful and it is most certainly flavourful. What surprises me is that it is also light. I avoid hot liquids at all cost, but am happy to slurp every drop of this broth.
Where: Gyoza-Ya, The Heeren, 260 Orchard Road, Robinsons Orchard, B1-02A MRT: Orchard Open: 11.30am - 10pm daily Tel: 6737-5581
WHOOPIE TREAT
The last time I had a whoopie pie in Singapore, I almost chipped a tooth, it was so hard.
So when I saw them at Vicky's in Bukit Timah Road, I wondered if I should just stick to the bakery's luscious signature chocolate fudge cake instead. But curiosity got the better of me. Whoopie!
These confections, an American invention, are excellent. Soft rounds of chocolate cake, so velvety, sandwich a vanilla cream filling. The chocolate is dark and pretty intense and the filling is not cloying. They cost $3 each and make for a satisfying after meal treat.
Where: Vicky's, 833 Bukit Timah Road, Royalville, 01-07 MRT: Holland Village Open: 9.30 to 6pm, Mon to Sat; closed on Sun Tel: 6466-4000 Info: www.vickycakes.com
CREAMY SMOOTHNESS
Cafes are popping up at the most unlikely places and one of my latest finds is The Tiny Roaster in a quiet HDB neighbourhood in Clementi.
The name is apt. There are a few seats indoors and a couple more outdoors, and I shudder to think what the place will be like when more people find out about it.
For now, it is quite possible to pop by at lunchtime on a weekday and have the place all to yourself. On weekends, there might be a few more people, but there is a very chilled out vibe about the place that I like.
Order The White Brew ($4.50), Aeropress coffee topped with foamed milk. Some people might miss the Hello-Wake-Up kick of an espresso shot in the drink, but I enjoy the mellow smoothness of it so much I long for one every day.
Where: The Tiny Roaster, Block 612 Clementi West Street 1, 01-288 MRT: Clementi Open: 11am to 8pm, Tue to Sat; 11am to 6pm, Sun; closed on Mon
