Food Picks: Tiramisu at Pete’s Place, brunch at Puzzle Coffee, Thai stall at Toa Payoh

Pete’s Place

Beloved Italian restaurant Pete’s Place is back with a sleek facelift. Gone are the gingham tablecloths and terracotta tiles. The classic checked pattern has been transferred to sofas that run the length of the space, while new wooden floorboards give the 51-year-old establishment a touch of modern elegance. 

But some things have not changed. The brick wall still stands, the menu hums with warm Italian classics and a cosy familiarity lingers about the place. It is a bit like reuniting with an old friend who has returned from a long stint abroad – more fashionable but accent unchanged. 

Nostalgia may draw the crowds back – when I visit on a rainy Tuesday evening, the restaurant is packed to the rafters – but solid cooking could very well coax them to stay.

One of the highlights is the Conchiglie Cioppino ($58), a hefty plate of pasta shells robed in a lush tomato sauce. All the usual suspects are here: mussels, prawns, scallops and the crown jewel, half a Boston lobster.

Newly appointed Pugliese chef Salvatore Giorgio Catania also makes a mean Costoletta alla Milanese ($82), a breaded veal chop served with rocket salad and roasted potatoes.

This version is pan-fried instead of deep-fried, so it is not as crispy as other iterations of the dish. But you still get a lovely brown crust, the requisite crunch and a tender, juicy interior. Gaminess is kept to a minimum and can be further banished with a drizzle of lemon. 

Then, of course, the showstopper: a generous slab of tiramisu ($18) that is scooped right in front of you, which somehow makes it all the more tantalising. It is flawless. The balance between cake and cream, bitter and sweet is spot on. 

I plough through mine embarrassingly quickly, then consider asking my dining companion if I can have the remnants she was too full to finish. If we had not just met an hour and a half ago, I might have. Alas, I only watch on in pity as a waiter informs her that the tiramisu, unfortunately, cannot be packed to go.  

Where: Grand Hyatt, 10 Scotts Road
MRT: Orchard
Open: Noon to 2.30pm and 6 to 10.30pm daily
Info:

str.sg/ya96

Puzzle Coffee at Dempsey Hill

At some point in the last week of September, I entertain the fanciful notion that it might be wise to cut back on my sugar intake. My resolve lasts for about a day, then I go to Puzzle Coffee’s new Dempsey outlet, which opened on Sept 30, and try four desserts. 

To be fair, it was a media tasting in which the menu was predetermined. And, technically, two of those desserts count as breakfast. They were also, unfortunately for me, very good. 

My sugary odyssey into the heart of Melbourne coffee culture starts with a stack of fluffy buttermilk pancakes ($25) that have been grilled golden and slathered with whipped cream. Pieces of fresh fruit, dollops of lemon curd, citrus-infused cheesecake mousse and mixed berry compote add a sour tang to what would otherwise have been a smothering bite. 

While the pancakes are pure indulgence, the chia seed pudding ($17) makes some attempt at projecting the illustration of health. Tea-infused almond milk is blended with chia seeds and pitted dates, then topped with a dragonfruit sorbet, toasted coconut flakes and fresh fruit.

Light, refreshing and not too sweet, it is a nice alternative to the ubiquitous acai bowl that has overrun the island.

Among the cafe’s other sweet treats are the matcha lava cake ($22) – a dense, oozing confection that somewhat overpowers the delicate matcha ice cream – and cold-drip tiramisu ($21), a more restrained version of the classic Italian dessert that retains some bitterness and crunch. 

There are savoury options too – massive plates of produce loaded with flavour and best enjoyed in a group. I try the reuben toastie ($20), with smoky beef brisket, sauerkraut, Dijon mustard and gruyere cheese on slices of rye sourdough bread that have been toasted to just the right degree. 

If you are not big on meat, go for the chilli scrambled eggs ($26), a fiery combination of chilli jam, eggs, fresh tomatoes, multicoloured peppers and floral garnishes that is sure to be a hit with the Instagram crowd. 

Puzzle Coffee’s popular edible cups are not available at this outlet, but its signature drinks are still on the menu. For a mid-morning pick-me-up, try the Melbourne Magic ($6) – a stronger version of the traditional latte that features a double ristretto shot. 

Where: 01-02, 71 Loewen Road
MRT: Napier
Open: 8am to 6pm daily
Info: @puzzlecoffeesg on Instagram

Thai Station 42

I first came across this stall when my colleagues and I were craving Thai food on a Monday afternoon. It serves up the kind of straightforward, unapologetically savoury fare that instantly sates all cravings.

I keep coming back for the garlic pork rice ($6), which is served with a fried egg and some token strands of cabbage. Apart from a yolk that varies in doneness depending on your luck and the mood of the cook, it is a rather dry plate of food. But the meat, fried crisp and subtly sweet, is so ridiculously addictive that I am more than willing to overlook the shortcomings of the rest of the dish.

For something soupier, try the tom yum maggie ($6.50), a punchy guilty pleasure packed with meatballs, mushrooms and a few leafy green stalks. Or, if spice is not your strong suit, get the stir-fry maggie mee ($6) instead, which is tossed with prawns and fishcakes. 

Where: 186 Toa Payoh Central
MRT: Toa Payoh
Open: 11.30am to 3.30pm, 5 to 9pm, Sundays to Fridays
Info:

str.sg/nF73