Rebecca Lynne Tan Food Correspondent recommends

Popsicles in booze, Greek fare and Japanese soft-serve ice cream

Fruity popsicles in glasses of booze ($6 a pop, and $18 with a glass of alcohol, above) at Grand Park Orchard hotel. PHOTOS: EMPLOYEES ONLY, BAR CANARY, BLU KOUZINA, SMALL POTATOES ICE CREAMERY

POPSICLES IN BOOZE

Nestled in the heart of Orchard Road is a rather unpretentious, laidback and low-key alfresco bar called Bar Canary.

Kick off your shoes as you relax on bean bags on artificial turf.

Located on the fifth floor of Grand Park Orchard hotel, the bar serves a range of cocktails including fruity popsicles in glasses of booze ($6 a pop, and $18 with a glass of alcohol).

The popsicles are made by local artisan pop-maker Popaganda.

Try the refreshing Passionfruit Mint pop in a glass of riesling or the Mango Cayenne pop in sparkling wine. The invigorating Mixed Berries Shiso pop comes in a glass of sake.

Other good cocktails here include the Coco Chanel - a blend of rum, coconut liqueur, wheatgrass, coconut water, mint and lime ($20); and Sugar 'N Spice And All Things Nice ($20), a sweet and energising cocktail with salted caramel vodka, kaffir lime and gula melaka.

WHERE: Bar Canary, Grand Park Orchard, 270 Orchard Road MRT: Orchard OPEN: Noon to 1am (Sunday to Thursday), noon to 2am (Friday, Saturday and eve of public holiday) TEL: 6603-8855 INFO: Go to www.parkhotelgroup.com/orchard or e-mail fnb.gpor@parkhotelgroup.com


Bacon-wrapped lamp chops with salsa verde ($32).

GOOD FOOD TO GO WITH DRINKS

Employees Only in Amoy Street opened to much fanfare last month. It is an offshoot of the one in New York's West Village that has been named one of the best bars in the world.

The vibe is buzzy and inviting, no matter which night of the week. But do not come just for the drinks.

The bar-restaurant makes a mean and addictive hot sauce, which is served with steak tatare ($27) that is mixed table-side.

The scrumptious and moist bacon-wrapped lamp chops with salsa verde ($32, photo) are not over-seasoned and go well with drinks; while the fried skate ($31), deliciously smoked rainbow trout ($38) and cavatelli pasta with pork sausage ($23) are good choices.

WHERE: Employees Only, 112 Amoy Street MRT: Telok Ayer OPEN: 5pm to 2am (Sunday to Thursday), 5pm to 3am (Friday to Saturday) TEL: 6221-7357 INFO: Go to www.facebook.com/employeesonlysingapore


Meat platter (from $94.80) at Blu Kouzina.

GREEK FARE AT DEMPSEY

Greek Restaurant Blu Kouzina moved to Dempsey Hill about three months ago, from its former shophouse location along Bukit Timah Road, off Old Holland Road.

Not only is its new premises much more spacious, but the restaurant's ventilation has also improved tremendously - I am glad it is no longer stuffy and I do not leave smelling like food.

The restaurant is in the same block as Portico Prime and ChopSuey.

Things I like to eat here include the fresh and light Greek salad with cucumber, olives and onions, served with a block of feta ($21.80); imam baildi ($18.80), baked eggplant topped with a rich tomato sauce; and dips such as tzatziki ($14.80), a yogurt mixed with cucumber and garlic; fava ($13.80), a mellow yellow lentil dip; and melitzanosalata ($15.80), a smoky eggplant and herb dip balanced out with lemon juice.

Main courses to order include a meat platter (from $94.80, photo) that comes with succulent lamb chops, juicy beef patties, beef kalamaki (grilled cubed marinated beef on skewers) and meatballs. Be sure to order some grilled octopus ($29.80) too.

WHERE: Blu Kouzina, 10 Dempsey Road, 01-21 MRT: Holland Village OPEN: Noon to 2.30pm (Friday to Sunday), 6 to 10pm (daily). First seating 6 to 8pm; second seating 8.15 to 10pm TEL: 6875-0872 INFO: Go to blukouzina.com or e-mail blukouzina@singnet.com.sg


Small Potato Party ($9.50).

SWEET JAPANESE SWIRL

To me, a name like Small Potatoes Ice Creamery has its pitfalls. I am not sure I would want the name of my business to be synonymous with being small potatoes in Singapore's competitive ice cream industry.

However, this new ice creamery in Novena Square 2 is pretty good and can hold its own.

It does its two soft-serve flavours - Japanese sea salt and Japanese purple yam - very well. Prices start at $5 a serving.

I would recommend getting a twist, which is a combination of both flavours. Milky sea salt ice cream and sweet-savoury Japanese yam make a winning combination.

Or opt for one of its parfaits, such as the Small Potato Party ($9.50, photo), which comes with a small Japanese yam, yam paste, warabi green tea mochi, azuki beans and crispy rice.

WHERE: Small Potatoes Ice Creamery, Novena Square 2, 10 Sinaran Drive, B1-131 MRT: Novena OPEN: 11am to 10pm daily TEL: 6352-2661 INFO: Go to www.facebook.com/smallpotatoesicecreamery

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 15, 2016, with the headline Popsicles in booze, Greek fare and Japanese soft-serve ice cream. Subscribe