The Workbench Bistro @ AMK: More Than Just Waffles ‘Cos Their Mains Do Not Disappoint!
The Workbench Bistro is a hip contemporary cafe nestled under a block of HBD flats in the quiet neighbourhood of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, just behind Christ the King church.
Serving up mains, a host of drinks including artisan ciders, dessert and even breakfast items, the café oozes simplicity and a homely, warm, and cosy charm.
The Workbench Bistro: Food
The café is small in size, but big on food.
The ice cream here is supplied from local brand Bing Bing while their food creations are a fusion of western and Singaporean flavours.
The Workbench Bistro takes pride in the presentation of their dishes! All are super picture worthy.
Salted egg chicken wings
The salted egg chicken wings ($12.90) was as delectable as it could get!
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Credit: cptslow yeo @burpple[/caption]
They were super generous with the salted egg sauce. The sauce wasn’t overpowering, and it was just right – creamy and flavourful.
Egg lava beef burger
Next up was the egg lava beef burger ($16.90). The beef patty comes in the shape of a donut with the half boiled egg positioned inside.
The burger is then topped with crispy grilled bacon and cheese.
When you cut the burger open, the yolk flows out nicely, hence the name egg lava. There were plenty of herbs infused into the meat. If you love your meat with a herby taste, you’d love this.
All the burgers are served with freshly made brioche buns and paprika fries!
Crab meat linguine
The crab meat linguine ($15.90) was our favorite main, the dish was very refreshing. Here’s what our ambassador, Ruth, had to say!
The lumpy, jumbo crab meat was more than sufficient and the pasta itself was cooked to perfection – Al dente!
The sauce is a mixture of white wine and light tomato cream sauce. Surprisingly, it was delicate and light. We didn’t feel gelat at all! Could totally eat this forever.
We also had their signature truffle fries ($9.90), which smelled heavenly, and their iced chocolate ($5.50) and the iced green tea latte ($6.00), which were served in pretty mason jars.
The Workbench Bistro: Dessert
Finally came the behemoth that is the s’moreffles supreme ($29.90).
By the time we reached this part of the meal, we had to ask the chefs if they could just give us 2 instead of 3 waffles, which they did so with a smile.
The waffles were dark red and green. As a dish together, it certainly provided the wow factor. It looked impressive and tasted even better – the perfect guilty indulgence!
It was a tad sweet, and should definitely be shared.
Our Verdict?
The café itself was very comfortable. We were there for almost 2 hours and did not feel unwelcome at any point of time. The service was prompt and food was served at a brisk pace upon ordering.
With a cosy, rustic interior and reasonable prices (they do not add any service taxes or GST!), this café is definitely worth a visit!
The Workbench Bistro
Address: 332 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, #01-1881, 560332
Opening Hours: 12:00PM to 10PM (Mon-Thurs), 12:00PM to 11:00PM (Fri), 10:00AM to 11:00PM (Sat), 10:00AM to 10:00PM (Sun)
Phone: 6452 0810
This was an invited tasting session.
Also, read BAKE Cheese Tart Continues Singapore Invasion With Its Second Outlet In Westgate Mall!
A Breath Of Fresh Air: 7 Insanely Unique & Crazy Activities In Singapore!
When we do miraculously squeeze out free time to kickback and engage in the recreational activities that we so desperately need, we find ourselves swept up in this disconsolate state of inertia.
What you need is something different, something with a kick to get you right out of this slump.
Here at DiscoverSG, we might just have the right thing for you. Here are 7 recreational activities so outlandish and so unheard of, you might just have to try them out.
1. Jetpack
As far as unique activities go, JetPacking really takes the cake.
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Credit: Tiger Airways[/caption]
Imagine hovering across the water courtesy of a pressurised, water-propelled jetpack.
Capable of soaring to a whopping 30ft and hitting speeds of up to 25mph, Location: 36 Siloso Beach, Sentosa, Singapore 099007
Price: Cadet Training – $228 (45 mins) & First Officer Training – $298 (60 mins)
Tel: 6376 4336
Email: [email protected]
2. European Swordsmanship
Let’s face it, we’ve all wanted to try swinging swords around like they do in the movies. This is now possible with growing interest in European Swordsmanship in Singapore.
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Credit: PHEMAS (Pan Historical European Martial Arts Society)Location: 139 Ceylon Street, The Eurasian Community House, 2nd Floor
Email: [email protected]
Facebook page
3. Slacklining
Slacklining will quite literally have you on your toes as you sidle across suspended lines of cord.
Choose from a multitude of varying heights and distances and put your balance to the test in this enthralling activity.
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Credit: The Straits Times[/caption]
While incredibly unique and engaging, slacklining also promotes good body posture and core strength.
Credit: The Borneo Post[/caption]
Essentially a medieval-themed combat archery with elements of dodgeball and paintball – quirky doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Hone your dexterity, team spirit, and focus, all while having a great time with your peers.
5. Laser Clay Target Shooting
A safer, greener version of Clay Pigeon Shooting, Laser Clay Shooting fundamentally involves the shooting of clay saucers launched more than 10 meters in the air.
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Credit: BeMyGuest.com.sg[/caption]
Aside from being safer and more environmentally-friendly, Laser Clay Shooting offers you a realistic shooting experience.
Use authentic deactivated 12-bore shotguns which produce lifelike gun shots and clay breaking sound effects. Take your focus and coordination to the next level and fire away!
Credit: MyActiveSG[/caption]
Derived from volleyball, Bossaball also incorporates principles from football, gymnastics and even capoeira.
Now take into account the trampolines and you get one of the craziest, most exhilarating modern team sports. Time to show off some spectacular flips and tricks.
Bossaball Singapore
Location: 10 Raeburn Park #02-08, Singapore 088702
Tel: 6100 6292
Email: [email protected]
7. SurfSet
Touted as one of the world’s most peculiar workout routines, SURFSET draws inspiration from the sport of surfing.
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Credit: SURFSET Singapore[/caption]
Workout routines are carried out on the SURFSET board, designed to accurately simulate the physical demands of surfing in the ocean.
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Credit: SURFSET Singapore[/caption]
Furthermore, elements of aerobic fat burning, muscle building and core training are integrated into the workout. This makes for an extremely intense workout.
The multitudinous physical benefits of this activity however, are there for all to see. Get in surfer shape (without getting sunburnt or even wet).
6 Places Nathan Hartono Might Head To For His Bak Chor Mee Cravings
Unless you’ve been living under a rock this past weekend, you would know who Nathan Hartono is and what exactly he’s accomplished.
For those who have no clue who he is, Nathan Hartono, a local born talent won first runner up in popular singing reality show Sing! China (the furthest any Singaporean has placed!). Not only did this local singer start a Milo craze which resulted in milo trucks making an appearance at Plaza Singapura, he also gave this popular local dish a special shoutout, BAK CHOR MEE!
Bak Chor Mee is the quintessential comfort food, not only can you find it in every other coffeeshop, you can have it in so many different ways! Here at DSG, we’re always on the hunt for the best foods and that (of course) includes Bak Chor Mee. Here are the top 6 places where you (and Nathan Hartono) can satisfy those Bak Chor Mee cravings!
1. Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle
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Don’t be fooled into thinking this Bak Chor Mee spot has no queue, they have a queue number system so be prepared to wait up to an hour for a bowl here. Dishes at Macpherson Minced Meat Noodles are prepared individually and are crafted with springy noodles and stripes of braised pork belly and crispy lard. While the dish is amazing on its own get it with soup on the side, the rich pork broth is the perfect compliment to this popular local dish.
Macpherson Minced Meat Noodles
1382 Serangoon Road, S328254
Opening Hours: 6.30am – 2pm, Tue Closed
6. Seng Huat Eating House
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Also Read: 6 DIE DIE Must Visit Stalls For Lovers Of Seafood White Bee Hoon!
Enjoy 1-for-1 Coffee At These Cafes Because It’s National Coffee Day!
Coffee-lovers out there, listen up! National Coffee Day is back for its third consecutive year!
You can look forward to some really delicious deals and events in town. Here’s what you can expect this week:
1-for-1 coffee deals
In celebration of National Coffee Day, 14 cafés will be participating in a 1-for-1 coffee deal from 3PM to 5PM on 29 September, so don’t forget to grab a friend!
Flash this image for 1-1 coffee. Image Credit: The 14 participating cafés:
1. Fleur Café
2. Oh My Tian Bakehouse & Café
3. Madcow Ice Cream & Music Café
4. Kaw Kaw SG
5. The Laneway Market
6. 2nd Storey Café Bar
7. On the Table
8. Suzette
9. The Lab SG
10. LAAF coffee & bistro
11. Avenue Café
12. Montana
13. The Assembly Ground
14. Carol Mel Café
All you need to do to redeem your cuppa is to flash the above image to the café staff and you’re good to go – it’s that simple!
If you didn’t already know, National Coffee Movement has teamed up with KopiPass to bring you a uniquely affordable experience of 30 cuppas at 30 different cafés at just $30.
Best of all? You can redeem these cups of coffees over 6 months.
Read more, and stand a chance to win a KopiPass here: Attention Coffee Lovers: Here’s Your Chance To Savour 30 Cups Of Coffee At Only $30!
Deliveroo Giveaway
Espressyo-self with Deliveroo and stand a chance to win the NESCAFÉ Barista and NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto MINI ME coffee machines when you order from 21-30 September.
Image Credits: Deliveroo Facebook
There’re only 10 sets to be won, so click 
Image Credits: Dutch Colony Coffee Co. Facebook
With all these deals coming your way, it seems like there’s really something to look forward to, doesn’t it?
Of course, we’ll be updating this page should more deals surface, and if you got lobang, please don’t hesitate to contact us ASAP!
Stay tuned for more, and here’s to a delicious National Kopi Day!
Also, read Mai Tu Liao! Up Your Cafe Game And Visit Sin Lee Foods For Some Sinfully Good Food!
Header image credits:
Zika Has Been Lurking In SG For A Month Now, But There’s Actually Little To Worry About
With new cases of Zika continually popping up on our shores, do we have reason to panic?
Well, like the saying goes, Knowledge is power and Prevention is better than cure.
Instead of hiding at home and sealing your windows, you can arm yourself with these information and lower the risks of contracting the virus. Besides, our Zika timeline shows that there’s little to worry about.
Zika timeline in Singapore
Although the virus originated from Africa, it has found it’s way to our shores.
The first case of locally transmitted Zika Virus was jointly announced by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environmental Agency (NEA) on August 27. That’s exactly one month ago.
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Zika timeline[/caption]
There are 387 confirmed cases as of September 23. 16 of which are pregnant women.
Zika clusters in Singapore
Currently, there are 9 known Zika clusters in Singapore.
Starting with Aljunied – which also houses the largest cluster (291 cases), onto more recently, Sengkang and Hougang.
If you want to know more, NEA regularly updates their website with detailed information on existing or new clusters.
The number of cases are on the decline
Although Zika sounds pretty scary, there is no reason to panic!
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credit: Here’s Your Chance To Truly #FlipTable, Swap Books & More At This Year’s Archifest!
Attention Coffee Lovers: Here’s Your Chance To Savour 30 Cups Of Coffee At Only $30!
This year, the National Coffee Movement has teamed up with KopiPass to bring a unique experience to all coffee-lovers out there! Touted as the ultimate café-hopping pass, pass holders will be able to enjoy up to 30 cuppas from 30 different cafés islandwide at just $30!
Sounds like your cup of tea coffee? Then read on.
Tell me more about this.
If there’s one beverage that’s beloved the world over, it’d be coffee. We Singaporeans are no exception – from your kopitiams to the sheer number of cafés littered around the country, it’s not too much to say that kopi is everywhere in Singapore.
To make café-hopping more accessible to everyone, KopiPass allows you to café-hop with friends and loved ones without burning a hole in your wallet (because café food isn’t exactly cheap, we’re sure you know!).
So, when will KopiPass launch?
On September 29, which is National Kopi Day, of course!
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Image Credits: Being the die-hard coffee fans that we are, Singapore has expectedly joined countries celebrating the goodness of coffee in the form of National Coffee Day – affectionately termed as National Kopi Day.
How does it work?
You buy a KopiPass for $30. With this pass, you can visit 30 participating cafes and drink 30 different cups of awesome coffee! What a great bargain, since a cuppa often costs upwards of $4 at just about any café!
Of course, we wouldn’t expect you to be able to drink 30 cups of coffee in a day, would we?
Not to worry, because your Kopipass is valid for 6 months, from 29 September 2016 to 31 March 2017. That’s a super decent amount of time.
If you find that you’re unable to make full use of it, fret not, because the pass is transferrable/ shareable! No worries about not fully utilising your pass!
Passes are available for purchase either What about the participating cafes?
The cafes will stamp your pass when you redeem your drink. Only one drink redemption per cafe. “We want to deliver a superior cafe hopping experience, which means being very selective with our participating cafes and ensuring overcrowding will not happen…” shared Kathy, co-founder of KopiPass. Image Credits: The pass is currently available for purchase online Otherwise, you may purchase the pass at any participating outlets from 29 September. If you’d like to have a KopiPass and savour 30 cups of coffee goodness, you can stand a chance to… Simply LIKE and SHARE this post on Facebook to stand a chance to win a pass! Yes, it is that simple! That’s all you need to do for a chance to savour 30 cups of coffee at 30 cafes for free. https://www.facebook.com/discover.sg.official/posts/2090012651224426 This giveaway ends 28 September. There are 10 passes up for grabs! Lucky winners will be notified through Facebook. Pssst! We also heard that some cafes will be offering 1-for-1 coffee on 29 September! KopiPass (Header image credit: KopiPass, words by editor. All picture credits: KopiPass, unless otherwise stated.) Also, read Korea Town In Singapore? Satisfy All Your Kimchi Cravings Near Beauty World MRT!
Sounds great! Where do I buy the KopiPass?
Win a KopiPass!
Follow us on facebook for the details!
30 cups of coffee for only $30!
For more information, please click This article is brought to you by Discover SG x KopiPass.
6 DIE DIE Must Visit Stalls For Lovers Of Seafood White Bee Hoon!
The seafood white bee hoon buzz is one of the latest food craze in our sunny island.
This unassuming tze-char dish has been around for ages in Singapore, with no one paying so much attention to it until now.
With so many wannabes in the market riding on the wave of the craze, it’s rare to come by stalls that genuinely know their stuff.
Here are some of the places we recommend for a good plate of our favourite local seafood white bee hoon!
1. Woon Woon Pek Beehoon
This small hawker stall at Changi Village Hawker Centre brings in long lines of customers every week.
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Credit: cptslow yeo[/caption]
Their speciality is the seafood that goes with its bee hoon. Choose from a top-up of fish, crab, prawn, crayfish or mussels. If you’re feeling hungry (or are in a group), you can try the seafood platter ($30 or $40).
Woon Woon Pek Bee Hoon
Address: Blk 2, Changi Village Road #01-52, Singapore 500002
2. East Seafood White Beehoon
Led by a chef with 30 years of culinary experience, East Seafood hawker chain prides itself on offering affordable seafood white bee hoon amidst rising seafood prices.
Image: facebook.com/eastseafood
With three hawker branches located in Toa Payoh, Hougang (Ciyuan CC) and Ang Mo Kio, they also offer great seafood add-ons with their bee hoon (crayfish, lala and crabs).
East Seafood White Bee Hoon
Address:
Blk 210 Toa Payoh Lorong 8, #01-06, Singapore 310210
Blk 407 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 #01-733, Singapore 560407
No.51 Hougang Ave Ci Yuan Hawker Centre, Singapore 538776
3. Jia Wei White Beehoon
Quietly tucked away in an HDB coffee shop in Jalan Bukit Merah (near ABC Brickworks hawker centre), Jia Wei brings a homey taste to its tze char specials.
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Credit: Apart from seafood white bee hoon, they also serve up popular dishes such as Har Cheong fried chicken and black pepper crab.
Jia Wei White Bee Hoon
Address: Block 2 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 150002
4. White Restaurant The Original White Beehoon
When it comes to seafood white bee hoon, this famous restaurant chain in the north is the mother of them all.
Image: uncletehpeng.com
White Restaurant The Original White Beehoon is one of the pioneers of the famous Sembawang White Bee Hoon. Their version is dressed in thick sauce and copious ingredients (eggs, sotong, chai sim, and prawns – yum!). Beware of the long queues on the weekends!
White Restaurant The Original White Beehoon
Address: 22 Jalan Tampang (Opp Sembawang Shopping Centre) Singapore 758966
5. Hualong Fishhead Steamboat
Though not seafood white bee hoon specialists, Hualong manages to differentiate its rendition of the dish by making it drier than usual.
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Image: facebook.com/hualongfishheadsteamboat[/caption]
The seafood white bee hoon is served on an opeh leave, and topped with sliced cabbage, fried garlic and lime for flavour.
Complete your meal with one of their delicious dishes, such as fish maw soup, fried sotong and fuyong omelette.
Hua Long Fishhead Steamboat
Address: Block 347, #01-2142 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, Singapore 560347
6. Hong Yun Seafood
One of the more successful coffee shop stalls in Toa Payoh, Hong Yun is known for the crispy – and huge – pork lard that they generously scatter across several of their dishes. Same goes for their seafood white bee hoon dish!
Image: uniquelious.blogspot.sg
While you’re there, try out their sambal kangkong and potato leaves – shiok!
Hong Yun Seafood
Address: Block 124, Toa Payoh Lor 1, #01-459 Singapore 310124
What is it about seafood white bee hoon that keeps drawing customers – new and old – week after week?
Could it the salty rice noodles that make up the core of the dish? Is it the prawns and sotong that accompanies it? Or could it be the fragrant, hot gravy that tops it all off?
It’s pointless to think too much into it – just join the queue this weekend and find out!
Also, read Wanna Share? 7 Steakhouses With Portions So Huge, You Need To Call Your Entire Squad!
Wanna Share? 7 Steakhouses With Portions So Huge, You Need To Call Your Entire Squad!
Who can resist a good steak? Be it Wagyu or Angus, a seared chunk of peppered beef never fails to tickle our taste buds.
But not all of us are built to chow down 300g-portions effortlessly. For the light eaters, sharing a meal with friends is the perfect solution! Here are 7 steakhouses that offer some of the most generous sharing portions you can find in Singapore!
1. Morton’s The Steakhouse
Start off your steakhunt with one of the more atas spots: at Mandarin Oriental Hotel!
Swanky international restaurant Morton’s maintains its name by using the highest quality, US Department of Agriculture-designated ‘prime’ steak.
Image: pinkypiggu.com
We recommend the Double Porterhouse Steak (1.3kg at $250++), which can serve around four to five pax! If you’re still craving for more, get a ribeye (460g at $102) to share between two to three peeps.
Morton’s The Steakhouse
Address: 5 Raffles Avenue, Fourth Storey, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, Singapore 039797
Tel: 6339 3740
2. Badoque Café
Nothing beats a food joint with friendly service!
Not only does Badoque Café have warm and approachable service staff, but they also whip up a really good steak too.
Image: thehalalfoodblog.com
Feast like royalty with their “King & Queen” promotion, which unites 1.2kg worth of ribeye with a 1.3kg king crab for $298. The set also comes with two starters (blue oyster and Greek salad), four soups and four drinks. This serves about five to six pax!
Badoque Café
Address: 246 Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574370
Tel: 6552 1646
3. iSTEAKS Diner
This grill-specialist has gathered a sizable fan following since its conception as a humble hawker stall in Serangoon Gardens years ago.
Having evolved into a modern diner, the long queues at both its current branches at MyVillage (Serangoon) and Holland Village are no doubt due to the superb and affordable grilled meats that iSTEAKS whips up.
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Credit: iSTEAKS Diner[/caption]
Share a 1.2kg Australian Wagyu D-Rump amongst four pax at $85 (includes four complementary sides), or a 600g Australian Porterhouse T-bone for $49. They make fantastic burgers too! Yummeh!
iSTEAKS Diner
Address: MyVillage, 1 Maju Ave, Singapore 556679
Tel: 6285 8839
4. Bedrock Bar & Grill
Think chic dark wood, plush leather and dim lights on a hot date night. We like!
Tucked in the middle of Somerset Road, Bedrock Bar & Grill was named Singapore’s top restaurant in 2015 by Wine & Dine.
Image: facebook.com/BedrockBarAndGrill
The must-try F1 Tomahawk Steak serves up to three persons at 1.4kg (market price), while the double cut dry-aged Porterhouse feeds two (1kg at $180).
Complete your meal with a side of bedrock mac n’ cheese. Ooh. La. La.
Bedrock Bar & Grill
Address: 96 Somerset Road, #01-05 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard, Singapore 238163
Tel: 6238 0054
5. Pepper Steakhouse & Bistro
When all else in life fails us, we need a no-frills, value-for-money diner we can fall back on.
Look no further than Pepper Steakhouse & Bistro! The Australian Tomahawk is available here with an 800g option at $98, that comes with crushed green peppercorn and feeds around two pax.
Image: peppersteak.com.sg
Light-eating duos can try the 500g Chateaubriand tenderloin fillet at $74 (each sharing option also comes with thick-cut fries, sautéed spinach and a sauce of your choice). Apart from the meats, Pepper also offers an affordable lunch special that comes with five main-course items (at $15-18 each) and a buffet for salads and soups!
Pepper Steakhouse & Bistro
Address: Great World City, #01-66/67, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, Singapore 237994
Tel: 6887 3229
6. Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse
Italian restaurants don’t just serve pasta and meatballs okay!
Bistecca Tuscan is one of the best fine-dining steakhouses in Singapore, using only organic-fed Australian F1 Wagyu for their steaks (with an impressive marbling score of 6+). Their Florentine-style cooking method produces steaks with juicy cores and charred crusts.
Image: facebook.com/BisteccaTuscanSteakhouse
Dig into a sumptuous 1.1kg Bistecca alla Fiorentina T-bone or Bistecca alla Costata ribeye ($188++ each) with one or two other friends. Don’t forget to take a wefie in the breezy al fresco area.
Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse
Address: 25 Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 238969
Tel: 6735 6739
7. Cocotte
Nestled on the ground floor of the quaint Wanderlust hotel along Jalan Besar is the snug French restaurant-bar Cocette.
They serve up family-esque rustic French cuisine inspired by homemade meals enjoyed by the entire kampong (or the French-countryside equivalent).
Image: facebook.com/restaurantcocotte
Order a Tasmanian grass-fed Prime rib Côte de Boeuf to share in a group ($18++ per 100g), or the Truffle Wagyu for one (250g at $69++).
Still got space? Top your meal off with a helping of mussels and clams (350-400g at $35).
Cocotte
Address: 2 Dickson Road, Singapore 209494
Tel: 6298 1188
Steaks come from different sources, in various cuts, and the taste varies based on individual cooking styles.
Depending on the number of people you are eating with (and how much you can eat) you should try out different types of steak, as they all have unique experiences to offer.
If the quantitiy is too much for you, it’s okay! You can always share with your friends! Bon appetite!
Also, read We Hopped On The Makan Bus And Didn’t Wanna Get Off – Here’s Why!
We Hopped On The Makan Bus And Didn’t Wanna Get Off – Here’s Why!
Yup. Finally the first one-of-its-kind hop-on-hop-off Makan Bus tour has arrived in Singapore. Don’t dismiss this food tour as a tourist thingy yet. Otherwise, you are missing out on fun even locals can enjoy!
We all know Singapore is a food paradise, but the best local food are usually not near MRTs or in town.
Makan Bus
It can be pretty hard to enjoy good food if you don’t have a car. With the launch of the Makan Bus on 26 August 2016, reaching out to these great local food is now so much more convenient for everyone.
Recently, I was fortunate to be invited for a free MakanBus tour. Getting on the tour meant I had the opportunity to taste some of the highly acclaimed local food along the 10 specially-curated stops.
What I did not know was it is more than a mere foodie bus bringing us from the central to northern heartlands in Singapore.
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Image Credit: Makan Bus[/caption]
Our Makan Bus Journey
We received a warm welcome from the guide upon boarding the cheery yellow bus at Orchard Gateway. After an introduction, we set off!
Besides recommending good eats near each stop, he would share insights of noteworthy buildings throughout the journey too.
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Image Credit: Makan Bus[/caption]
Interesting history that we never knew about our sunny island
We thought we knew Singapore so well since we grew up here.
But we did not know that the Burma Chinese settled in Singapore as early as the 19th century!
In fact, I highly recommend you to alight at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial stop, where the Sun Yat Sen Memorial and Burmese Buddhist Temple are.
In the main worship hall of the Maha Sasana Ramsi (Burmese Buddhist Temple) sits the majestic 11-foot marble Buddha statue. This religious landmark is the only Burmese Buddhist temple of its kind in Singapore.
The statue was carved from a 10-tonne slab of marble found in Burma’s Saygin Hill and transported here in 1925.
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Image Credit: ghettosingapore.com[/caption]
Bond with your family over nostalgic hawker food settings
The 10 stops on the tour will bring you through buzzing town areas to the old shophouses in Balestier and Thomson, and finally into the HDB heartlands.
This is a specially curated route to showcase the evolution and development of Singapore over the past 51 years.
Bring your whole family, including your parents onboard, so they can reminisce about the good old days.
They will certainly be able to resonate with traditional eateries such as Boon Tong Kee and Original Herbal Shop at Balestier, and Hua Nam Restaurant at Thomson.
Image Credit: Makan Bus
It’s easier to strike conversations as you enjoy the food and nostalgic ambience with your family.
Who knows if these used to be their favourite haunts during their “paktor” days!
Discover yummy novel hawker food delights
While it’s obvious Makan Bus will bring you to yummy food places, you may be surprised at hidden gems within the heartlands.
Ang Mo Kio was the place I grew up in, and I thought I knew everything there. But I did not even know that there is a hawker stall selling sedap Mee Rebus Tarik for over 2 decades!
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Image Credit: Makan Bus[/caption]
In case you are wondering, Mee Rebus Tarik is not prepared by simply “pulling” the noodles as the Malay word “tarik” implies.
Instead, the mee rebus is laden with satay gravy and served together with either chicken or mutton satay. Such an innovative twist to the signature mee rebus!
I have tasted different versions of our favourite Indian roti prata, with egg, cheese etc for enhanced flavour.
However, it was my first time trying out some Roti Tissue along Upper Thomson Road. The prata looked like an interesting thin piece of tissue (hence its name) as seen in the image above. This is a sweet crispy prata seasoned with sugar.
Hop on and off the bus whenever you wish, wherever you fancy
There is no limit to the number of times you can hop on and off the Makan Bus.
Your $28 ticket is valid throughout the day when the bus runs from 11am to 7.30pm.
Indeed, there were times when we were engaged in such interesting conversations with the guide that we missed alighting at the designated stop.
Just continue on the looped journey and alight where you wish to tuck into the good food in the desired area.
Furthermore, you do not need to alight if you don’t find anything you fancy. Unlike other expensive food tours where you don’t get to choose the food, this is a truly flexible tour!
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Image Credit: Makan Bus[/caption]
Makan Bus definitely changes the way we can explore the hidden food joints and other untold stories of Singapore.
Bring your foreign friends on the Makan Bus tour and introduce them to life in the heartlands.
After all, this is a uniquely Singapore experience that they will not find at the usual tourist attractions. Besides, it is definitely more economical if you are travelling together in a group of 5 or more. Check out more details of this one-of-a-kind experience at Makan Bus!
(Featured image: Makan Bus)
Also, read 9 New Desserts So Wacky, You Need To Try Them At Least Once!
9 New Desserts So Wacky, You Need To Try Them At Least Once!
Desserts are sinful because they pile excess calories on you and make you fat. Hence, you’ve been trying to shun these sweet “harmful” delights because you seriously need to diet.
But wait, desserts is STRESSED spelled backwards. With so much stress everyday, surely you need some relief from it all? After all, a bite into your favourite dessert will make you happy.
Check out these top 9 best new desserts that are not only very instagrammable, but also amazingly delish. They’re so incredibly tempting, you just have to shelf your diet plans till you try them all!
TOWN/ CENTRAL
1. Matchaya
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Credit: Matchaya[/caption]
Singaporeans love Japanese matcha and hence, the number of matcha-themed cafes proliferate. Operating as a pop-up concept store previously, Matchaya now occupies an oh-so-Japanese wooden shopfront at Icon Village.
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Credit: Matchaya[/caption]
Riding on the success of their matcha and houjicha milk teas, Matchaya has recently introduced the uber-pretty Cha Cha Pop to its desserts menu. This Magnum lookalike popiscle is first dipped in black honey and houjicha feuilletine, followed by a matcha dip topped with toasted sesame. Every bite of the popiscle is not just crunchy, but also heavenly!
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Image Credit: nkikichua[/caption]
Matchaya
Address: 12 Gopeng Street #01-72 Icon Village
Open: 9 am to 9 pm (Mon to Fri); 10 am to 7 pm (Sat to Sun)
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/matchayasg
2. Niceday Taiwan Snow & Grass Jelly Desserts
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Image Credit: Nahmj[/caption]
No, I’m not recommending you any Korean Bingsu. I know you’ve seen enough of the Kimchi-Land dessert.
This lovely Purple Sweet Potato Milky Snow Mountain is the proud creation of Niceday Taiwan Snow & Grass Jelly Desserts. The base is made using silky smooth grass jelly all the way from Taiwan, covered with a mountain of fluffy ice shavings and chewy balls.
Imagine yourself in Taipei as you enjoy the pleasant bowl of dessert. Notice a small bowl of Taro Q mix and mochi balls in a separate bowl? Add in the balls to your dessert when you wish, otherwise the balls may become stiff in the icy bowl if they are put together.
So thoughtful of the owner to make sure the dessert is served in the best condition!
Niceday Taiwan Snow & Grass Jelly Desserts
Address: 302 Tiong Bahru Road #02-111A Tiong Bahru Plaza (Food Street)
Open: 11 am to 10.30 pm
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/NicedayDessert/
3. Sugar Lips
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Image Credit: @stormscape[/caption]
Sugar Lips the latest addition to the myriad of dessert cafes in Singapore. In fact, they are currently in their soft launch opening week 1-for-1 promotion from 9 to 16 September.
Enjoy the visual feast of the gorgeous dessert platters, and sink your teeth into sweet favourites such as Rainbow Fantasy and Chocolate Seduction Truffle Cake. Life’s short, so eat dessert first and enjoy. 🙂
Sugar Lips
Address: 277 Orchard Road #02-01, Orchard Gateway
Open: 11 am to 10 pm
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/eatsugarlips
4. Meet & Melt
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Image Credit: Peanut Loti[/caption]
*NEW* Curry Lava Toast
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Image Credit: @stormscape[/caption]
*NEW* Mentaiko Lava Toast
Who says desserts can only be sweet? Visit Meet & Melt and you will be delighted to find novel savoury creations of their toasts. Previously located in ulu Tampines, they have just opened a second outlet near Somerset MRT at *SCAPE.
To celebrate their new outlet opening, the folks at Meet & Melt have introduced 2 new desserts – the Curry Lava Toast, as well as the Mentaiko Lava Toast!
Singaporeans love their curry with bread, and the Curry Lava Toast is an amazingly yummy delight you can eat anytime of the day. The Mentaiko Lava Toast is another remarkable creation that not only smells delicious, but also tastes great with the Sea Salt Gula Melaka ice cream. We wonder why no one thought about such divine concoctions earlier!
Meet & Melt
Address: 2 Orchard Link #02-33/34, *SCAPE; Blk 915 Tampines St 91 #01-49
Open: 1 pm to 10 pm (*SCAPE outlet); 2 pm to 10 pm (Tampines outlet)
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/meetandmelt
5. Epicurious Cafe
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Image Credit: Daniel Food Diary[/caption]
First it was rainbow cake making the Insta-rounds. Then earlier in the year, videos of rainbow-coloured cheeses stretching in various postures went viral, thanks to Kala Toast in Hong Kong. And now, our own Epicurious Cafe has also created the first Rainbow Cheese Toastie in Singapore.
The rainbow is made up of 5 different colours and flavours: Pink (beetroot), Orange (carrot), Green (Spinach), Blue (potato and garlic with butterfly pea) and Violet (eggplant and red cabbage).
Great to know that it’s made using natural ingredients and minimal colouring. At least we can eat this appealing cheese toastie at ease! Have fun stretching your rainbow for the best shots before you tuck in to the crispy and buttery toast!
Epicurious Cafe
Address: 81 Clemenceau Ave #01-13 UE Square Shopping Mall
Open: Lunch – 11.30 am to 2.30 pm (Tue to Fri), Dinner – 6 pm to 10 pm (Tue to Sun), Brunch – 9 am to 5 pm (Weekend/ Public Holiday)
Official website:
6. The Pound
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Image Credit: Jiaksimi png[/caption]
Located in a shop unit of the first floor in the old commercial Sultan Plaza building, The Pound‘s classier decor makes it stand out from the rest of the shops. The Pound is a small cafe specializing in premium Dutch Iced Coffees and homemade cakes. Unlike other Korean-owned cafes, they do not sell the Korean Bingsu.
What you will find here is roll cakes that look so delicately tasteful. Leave some stomach space after a satisfying kopitiam meal nearby for their Earl Grey Roll Cake. Light with a chiffon-like texture, the earl grey flavour was subtle and a perfect dessert for a complete meal.
The Pound
Address: 100 Jalan Sultan, #01-17B Sultan Plaza
Open: 9.30 am to 6.30 pm (Mon to Sat)
HEARTLANDS
7. Birds Of Paradise Gelato Boutique
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Image Credit: Nahmj[/caption]
Located opposite the Roxy Square, Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique is a sleek and tastefully furbished boutique in a restored shophouse along East Coast Road. The unique point of Birds Of Paradise lies in its 9 gelato flavours inspired by botanical flavours.
Think fruits, flowers, pods, herbs, and spices. Instead of your usual chocolate and strawberry flavours, get the garden taste on their special homemade thyme ice cream cones! Exquisite flavours include Basil, Lychee Raspberry, Spiced Pear, Mint Cacao, Strawberry Basil, Pandan and White Chrysanthemum.
Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique
Address: 63 East Coast Road #01-05
Open: 4.30 pm to 10 pm (Tue to Fri), 12 pm to 10 pm (Sat to Sun)
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/bopgelato/
8. KOOKS Creamery
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Image Credit: @ggabrielchan[/caption]
KOOKS Creamery is not just your ordinary ice cream cafe in the heartlands. They specialise in molten lava cookies (or KOOKS as the folks call them) and ice cream.
KOOKS may be just a small cosy 20-seater cafe, but they whip up a total of 18 ice cream flavours. Some of the unique flavours include Lemon Curd, Milk Cereal, Nougat and Brown Butter.
Top the smooth and creamy ice cream on the thin yet crispy lava cookie, and ta-da! Here’s your oozing sweet Molten Lava Kooks treat!
KOOKS Creamery
Address: 211 Serangoon Ave 4 #01-02
Open: 12 pm to 10 pm (Tue to Thu, Sun), 12 pm to 11 pm (Fri to Sat)
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/kookscreamery/
9. The Workbench Bistro
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Image Credit: @siewgavin[/caption]
*NEW* Red & Blue Velvet S’morffles
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Image Credit: Daniel Food Diary[/caption]
*NEW* Purple Japanese Sweet Potato Waffles
Located in a quiet part of Ang Mo Kio at least 10 minutes’ walk away from the MRT, The Workbench Bistro (TWB) is an unassuming neighbourhood cafe that has recently gone through a menu overhaul. Its latest original dessert creation – the Blue & Red Velvet S’moreffles seems to be flooding all the Instagram feeds.
In case you still do not know what s’moreffles is, it’s actually s’mores baked in waffles. How cool and sinful is that?! Sandwiched between two quarters of the crisp waffles are melted fluffy marshallows, drizzled with graham cracker crumbs within the waffles. Topped with big scoop of ice cream and generous chocolate sauce, this insanely awesome dessert is worth every penny and calorie!
As if the Blue & Red Velvet S’moreffles isn’t sinful enough, TWB has also introduced another irresistible dessert to their menu – the Purple Japanese Sweet Potato Waffles.
This pretty waffles is made using fresh purple sweet potato with no additional colourings. Savour the sweet potato bits in this yummy waffles drizzled with homemade Gula Melaka sauce and topped with ice cream. Don’t count the carbs, just enjoy first!
The Workbench Bistro
Address: Blk 332 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 #01-1881
Open: 12 pm to 10 pm (Mon to Thu), 12 pm to 11 pm (Fri), 10 am to 11 pm (Sat) and 10 am to 10 pm (Sun)
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/theworkbenchbistro/
Don’t you agree these 9 new dessert creations are so tempting and irresistible? Not only do they look wonderful on the pictures, they are also incredibly palatable!
Don’t just drool over your phone, iPad or laptop. Make a move to these cool cafes right now to taste the real stuff. You can always resume your diet plan after you have try them all!
Also, read K.F Seetoh Is Bringing Singaporean Favourites To A Brand New Destination – Manila!
Header image credit: Danielfooddiary.com
