Bel Amer Kyoto: 京都高级抹茶巧克力舒芙蕾 Matcha Chocolate Souffle

Bel Amer is a renowned premium chocolate brand in Japan with retail shops in major department stores, It opened its first and only chocolate cafe in Kyoto where chocolate lovers can indulge in all kinds of "atas" chocolate desserts. Plated desserts are always more expensive than cakes in patisseries and the average price of a dessert here costs around 1080 yen (SGD 14-15) which is on par with desserts in Singapore or even cheaper.

Occupying a 2-storey mansion house unit within walking distance from Nishiki market, the 1st floor of the unit is a retail space where chocolates are displayed like expensive diamonds while the 2nd floor is a dimly-lit dining space that gave me an impression of a fine-dining restaurant rather than a casual cafe.

The menu is divided into hot and cold desserts. Rather than picking a straightforward chocolate dessert, I decided to go for the Kyo-matcha souffle on the hot menu since it was rare to find it elsewhere. For a good wait of 10min, this souffle served didn't rise as high as its classic French counterpart and neither was it just an airy pomp.
The interior revealed a moist and rather dense cakey layer that boasted an alluring dark green hue. The taste was neither too sweet nor too muted on the matcha; evidently a harmonious balance of quality white chocolate and Kyoto-originated matcha powder. Even the addition of rich chocolat sauce did not drown out the taste. This was deeply satisfying but my only gripe was that the happiness from a souffle was short-lived.

There's also a pretty cool-sounding -196 degrees chocolate marron ice cream with hot chocolate tart. Probably when I feel richer to splurge, I will come back for not only one but two or more desserts. Hopefully the Pumpkin Cream & Nuts Chocolate Affogato will still be available then.

Bel Amer Kyoto  ショコラ ベルアメール 京都別邸
京都市中京区三条通堺町東入ル北側　桝屋町66
66, Masuyacho, Nakagyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 604-8111
1F　Chocolat Shop ／ 2F　Chocolat Bar
Daily 10am～8pm ( no fixed holiday)
http://belamer-kyoto.jp

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Sin Hoe Huat Cafe @ Jalan Besar : Kopi-Roti Fix and Har Cheong Gai

I first knew Sin Hoe Huat as a kopi-roti stall at Sembawang Hills hawker center since my family often visits there for breakfast and lunch. In fact, it has been around since the 1960s and this family business is now helmed by the third generation of owners, according to what's been written on its website.  

It even won the 2008 CityGas Hawker Hunt for the Best Kopi & Roti. But it is only recently that I learnt about its cafe at Jalan Besar where they sell local food like laksa and thus I decided to check it out with my folks on a Sunday evening. 

The space is very much like a retro cafe designed with all the elements that bring you back to the 60s or 70s era. There's a section where you can even scoop some complementary old-school cookies like the cream crackers and the colorful jewel icing cookies. Call it hipster but its not overly done. The price range is similar to the those from a food court but the quality is actually pretty good, or at least better than Coffee Hive and Straits Coffee. The main dishes are available from 10am as ala carte or as a set with a drink for $7.90. The Mee Siam ($6.90) came with readily squeezed lime juice that made the dish extra appetizing and tasty. The gravy wasn't too sweet at all and had the right balance of acidity and spiciness. It leans more towards the Malay style rather than the Nyona style as barely any coconut milk was added. My mum and I loved our Mee Siam this way as the flavors are sharper and less jelat. The Laksa ($6.90) was rich and fragrant, especially if you mixed in all the sambal chilli and transformed it into a pool of red. A more generous dose of laksa leaves will definitely enhance the aroma. 

It won't be a complete kopi-roti experience without the eggs and I'm totally impressed by the half-boiled eggs here. My wild guess is that they either use super fresh eggs or a premium type of eggs (maybe even both) because the eggs were perfectly cooked to the dot--the whites were not too runny while the yolks had a slight viscous texture that set it a notch above the usual kopitiam eggs or even Onsen eggs. I hope they can maintain this consistency. 

Meanwhile, all the three types of toasts I had were excellently toasted with the ideal ratio of butter and Kaya (of course I won't mind more butter and Kaya but theirs were quite sufficient already) If you like something more unique and different, go for the crusty French Baguette or Signature Emperor Bun. I appreciated the fact that the toasts are really toasted to a state where the bread shatters into crumbs; crisp but not tough or hard. Trust me, toasts might sound like so basic but I've encountered stale chewy versions elsewhere  that totally destroyed your mood. 
Everyone in the family gave the Har Cheong Gai ($9.90/5pcs) full thumbs up because those wings were crispy, piping hot and full of umami goodness. A little pricy for 5 wings but I guessed that's the norm for cafe food these days. This is definitely a must try for all har Cheong Gai fans out there. 

The MeePok Madness ($12.90) is Sin Hoe Huat's unique creation with a top secret sauce and a soft boiled egg on top. It looked so deceivingly plain and dull but a quick toss soon revealed its true spicy colors. The egg and sauce mixture coated the noodles strand and created such a pleasant slimy effect that unknowingly encouraged us to slurp on and on. Some might find it a little bland compared to the average Mee Pok but the seasoning was just right for me. The only thing I didn't quite understand was the sheer amount of minced meat that stuck together in clumps. 

Good to know that this place opens till late night 1am and even 3am on certain days. Probably won't return since the kopi stall at Sembawang is nearer to my house. But if you are looking for a quick fix or late night supper place in that vicinity, this place is a good option to consider. 

Open Tuesdays to Sundays 6am till 1pm
2. 383 Jalan Besar, Singapore 209001
+65 6291 8011
Open daily 7am till 1am
www.sinhoehuat.com

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Mercer Brunch @ Ginza Terrace : The Famous Brioche French Toast and Brunch

Mercer Brunch is one of the longest standing western brunch spots that is famous for that French Toast. Like it or not, you can't escape from the toasts because every brunch dish is served with French toasts. Each one from Sets A-J on the one-page brunch menu features a savoury main course such as grilled chicken, sirloin steak, tomato stew etc., alongside 2 pieces of French toasts-plain without honey or whipped cream. 

I did feel the pinch when I realize that each set costs 1700 yen. However, we felt convinced by the quality as the food, especially the French toast definitely lived up to the hype and reputation as one of the to-go brunch spots in the city. 

The toasts were crispy-tanned and square, soft pillowy but not to the extent of being too custardy inside. It has some light hints of sweetness but I still prefer it if they can serve it with honey and whip cream. How can a French Toast be called a French Toast without honey??? Do note that they don't give you honey and cream unless you open your mouth to ask. Honey is free but cream costs 300 yen.

The Baked Salmon & Spinach Gratin answered the calls of our growling bellies with its generous chunks of salmon swimming in the creamy milk bath. I wished there was more spinach but I liked the lightly crisp brown crust that added texture to the dish. And that's when the brioche toast comes in handy to mop up the sauce. 
Meanwhile, the scrambled omelette took us by surprise with its uniformly golden-orange hue and soft on the verge texture. Minimally seasoned to complement the marinated smoked salmon of exceedingly fresh quality. 

This Ginza outlet is pretty crowded on weekends and holidays so Roppongi outlet may be a better choice to avoid long queues. Dinner menu starts from 5pm. 

Mercer Brunch @ Ginza Terrace
東京都中央区銀座1-8-19 キラリトギンザ 4F
Chuo-ku Ginza 1-8-19, Kirarito Ginza 4F
LUNCH 10:00～17:00 (LO 16：30)
DINNER 17:00～23:00 (LO 22：00)　
Access: 1 min walk from Ginza station / 3min walk from Yurakucho Station/ 1 min walk from Ginza Ichome station / 5 min walk from Higashi-Ginza station / 3-min walk from Kyobashi station
http://www.merceroffice.com

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LAITIER レティエ : Probably the Best Soft Serve in Tokyo

"To produce the best soft serve in Tokyo" That's the motto of Aoki san, the owner behind Laitier, a cute blue soft serve shop near Kitasando.

Although I haven't tried (will never be able to try) all the soft serves in Tokyo, I must say that this is one of the better soft serves in town. Meaning milk house in French, Laitier offers soft serve made with premium milk directly delivered from Shizuoka Izu Farm which has won the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) gold award for 19th times. 

The cream has only a dairy fat content of 4.5%, which is 8-12% of average soft serve and the sugar is reduced by 75%! Not sure if it's truly low in calories but hey, at least it did make us feel less guilty indulging in the huge serving of soft serve.

Yes, even though the price is not cheap, I must say the portions here are so generous--the cone felt very heavy but the soft serve was smooth, dense and not too sweet. Inspired by the French dessert Nougat Glacee, the Hachimitsu and three nuts soft serve (780 yen) was truly a nutty delight laced with lavender honey and the orange peel. The caramelized shards of almonds Pistachio and pecan nuts complemented the soft serve so well that I wished they could sell them in a separate bag so I can nibble at home.

The Otoko Brandy Chocolat Soft Serve (780 yen) was obviously targeted at Otoko aka guys but I think this would appeal to any gender especially those who love alcohol because there's Hennesy in the spuit and Nama dark chocolates. The original milk-based soft serve can be upgraded to mascarpone-based for just 50 yen which we did for this Otoko Brandy flavor. It was wonderfully lush in texture with mild Savoury notes not found in the original flavor. 

Best if you can try both types of soft serve base (the original vs. the mascarpone) to do a taste test for yourself. My vote goes to mascarpone.

Read here for other gelato selections in Tokyo

LAITIER　レティエ
11am-7.30pm daily
Closed on Tues
Shibuya-ku Sendagaya 1-22-7 1F
5-min walk from JR Sobu line Sendagaya Station 
5-min walk from Toei Oedo Line Kokuritsu Kyogijo Station exit A4
5-min walk from Tokyo metro Fukutoshin Line Kitasando station
東京都渋谷区千駄ヶ谷1-22-7　1F
JR総武線　「千駄ヶ谷駅」　より徒歩5分 
都営大江戸線　「国立競技場駅」　A4出口より徒歩5分 
東京メトロ　副都心線　「北参道駅」　A1出口より徒歩5分 
http://laitier.net/shop/

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The Peranakan @ Orchard Hotel : Tok Panjang and Pandan Chiffon Durian Cake

I thought I entered the world of "Emily of the Emerald Hill" when I stepped into The Peranakan, a restaurant that exhibited the opulence of Peranakan culture at its grandest point. From the finely crafted tableware to the exquisite chandelier, one can't help but feel like a royalty when dining in here. 

I had the chance to try Tok Panjang ("Tok" means table in Hokkien and "Panjang" means "long" in Malay), which is a long table of feast that accommodates the kaleidoscope and magnitude of food specially prepared for very special guests or occasion. 

I'm not a Peranakan food connoisseur and I can't judge how authenticity the dishes are. I was drawn to tasty dishes such as Nasi Ulam Istimewa which I've never tried before. It's a like a rice salad with minced fish, salted fish and vegetables. Both the Sup Bakwan Kepiting and Itek Tim were good too; clean and flavorful without being too overly seasoned. 

However I was disappointed with the Kueh Pie Tee because it's a basic dish and not difficult to go wrong. The version here lacked the necessary sauces and the turnips could have been simmered longer. The deep fried fish with sambal were sorely dry and parched while the Sesame chicken were terribly bland and tough to chew. Nonetheless, it is a good opportunity to try a variety at one go. Ala carte might be a safer investment if you know which items are good and not. 

I think the desserts fared much better than the savoury in the Tok Panjang set which includes a Chef desserts platter. The Pandan Chiffon was utterly moist and fragrant, dusted with fried coconut shavings in gula Melaka. But if you love durian, just head for the durian version. The chilled durian purée on top of the chiffon cake sent me to heaven. It's very sweet and creamy but somehow that temperature contrast between the durian and the cake just produced some miracles. 

The Peranakan High Tea set features a good mix of savoury and sweets such as Hae Bee Toast and Goreng Pisang. However, I had a similar conclusion that the savoury bites might need more fine-tuning before they can meet the standards. These might be interesting to foreigners who are first-timers to Peranakan cuisine but to draw a wider local crowd with an increasing discerning taste buds, the kitchen seriously needs to work harder to catch up. 

This is an invited tasting

PERANAKAN HIGH TEA

11am - 5:30pm daily

Weekdays $24 Weekends $28 per pax

Minimum 2 persons to share

Tok Panjang 

Inclusive of signature soup, chef’s dessert platter and choice of malacca coffee or tea. Is (One day advance order) FREE TP Certificate for each order Minimum 2 persons to share TOK PANJANG FEAST MENU $45/$65 per pax

The Peranakan

442 Orchard Road

Level 2 Claymore Connect

Singapore 238879

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黄金の塩らぁ麺 Due Italian: Michelin Bib Gourmand Cheese Ramen in Tokyo

No, it's not some Angmoh cooking up some ramen. It's Japanese ramen with an Italian twist. Think ramen in cheese broth with Parma ham. Something like soup pasta but the broth is thinner and not overwhelmingly rich. This Fromage Ramen is the signature creation of Due Italian, a little red ramen-ya that has been awarded Michelin Bib gourmand for 2 consecutive years. 

Chef-owner Ishizuka was born in Italy and opened up to 6 Italian restaurants in Tokyo at one point in time. Business took a downward turn due to economy recession but he met Sato Minoru san, the founder of famous ramen chain "支那そばや" and learnt the ropes from him. With the aim of serving healthier ramen, he created his signature "Golden Shio Ramen" (黄金の塩らぁ麺) that boasted a special broth made with a golden formula of Nagoya chicken bones, scallop, konbu etc. When I first stepped into his little red shop in Ichigaya, I thought I entered a small Chinese noodle house, not a typical hole-in-the-wall ramen ya. The only thing that reminded one that it is a ramen shop is the self-order vending machine. Nonetheless, it felt more welcoming than a ramen-ya and no wonder 80% of the customers are ladies. 

The basic Fromage noodle (980 yen) was an interesting dish served with two globules of cheese. Parma ham can be added for 200 yen and I think anyone should do so because it imparted more bite and flavor to the dish. Once stirred with chopsticks, the cheese disintegrated rapidly under the heat and turned the soup creamy white. Yet it wasn't as thick nor rich like a carbonara but more like a cheese-flavored milky chicken broth that was light and tasty. 

Add the beauty Genmai rice served towards the end into the remaining soup and you'll get somewhat watery porridge which they call "risotto". 
On the other hand, the Golden Shio Ramen (880 yen) tasted quite flat and pedestrian. I was expecting more from this bowl but there was nothing much to shout about except for the tender Matsuzaka charsiu. The soup was clear and significantly less oily than average ramen, though those who are used to rich heavy flavors will find that this lacked the kick. 

One thing I like is the flexibility to change the usual noodles to zero-calorie konnyakyu noodles for extra 100 yen. In fact, the texture was almost the same. 

Overall, the concept of a healthy Italian style ramen sounds pretty attractive but I'm uncertain if it is worthy of a bib gourmand. I'll look elsewhere for a more satisfying ramen experience. 

Due Italian 黄金の塩らぁ麺
〒102-0074 Tōkyō-to, Chiyoda-ku, Kudanminami, 4 Chome−4−5−11
Mon-Fri 11am-4pm/5pm-10pm
Sat 11am-10pm
Sun/PH 11am-9pm
http://www.dueitalian.jp

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Assemblage Kakimoto : New Posh Dessert Salon Opens in Kyoto

Pour the hot chocolate to melt the chocolate cover and proceed to enjoy the dessert in the glass. This is pretty much the same formula which has been recycled in different ways in other parts of the world but I wanted to try it because the person behind this is the famous Chef Kakimoto. 

Assemblages Kakimoto is a newly opened shop in spring 2016 by Chef Kakimoto who previously assumed the role of patissier chef and advisor of the renowned chocolate shop Salon Du Royale in Kyoto. With numerous accolades under his belt, he is popular and well-respected figure in the local chocolate scene, with fans who made trips all the way just for his chocolate creations. It's no wonder that his first independent venture has been closely watched by the media. 

Decked in clean, white polished walls, the front of the shop gives a very bright clear view of his entremets that are displayed like art pieces in a museum. Walked past the door and you'll be greeted by a darkly lit L-shaped counter table and the shelves arranged with all kinds of sake and French wine. It's similar to Toshi Yoroizawa's salon but the atmosphere is much serious and even a little sacred, looking over a Zen garden that suggests that silence is gold here. 

The plated dessert which I've ordered did not took a very long wait, but I wished Kakimoto san could arrange someone more professional to do the desserts if he wasn't there himself because the lad that was in-charged was sloppily dressed and looked super unprofessional. I even thought he was a school dropout! That definitely spoils the experience no matter how well executed the dessert is. 

And that was true. The Vert was like a beautiful edible garden of mushroom-shaped chocolate mousse, marshmallow , Matcha mousse, Matcha sponge and matcha chocolate stick. The mousse here isn't those that melts instantly. They were sticky and airy, like Cadbury Aero Chocolate. 

The matcha was of superior quality but what impressed me was the grated blue yuzu which provided a very nuanced but pleasant citrus whiffs that somehow unified all the 10 different elements here. Lying beside the glass was a Tonka Nougat Ice Cream which I was instructed to eat with the main dessert when I am halfway done with it. That atas magnum stick was excellent even though I figured that it would be still as delicious on its own.

If given a choice, I would just stick to the the entremets because simply they gave me a longer lasting satisfaction. 

アプリコット (¥580)

甘酸っぱい杏タルトとクリーミーなアーモンドのマリアージュ

The Apricot grabbed my attention instantly with its thin chocolate film that resembles an eagle's feather. The apricot mousse was creamy and not too nauseatingly sweet, with a crunchy base fortified by the roasted almond nuts. This is probably the most beautiful and delicious apricot tart I've ever had! 

テ オ ショコラ (¥550) 濃厚な抹茶の香りと気品よくトンカのトンカの香りがマッチ

What truly showcased his mastery in chocolate was this shimmering piece of Chocolate Tonka that had such a intricately silky mousse which should not be hastily consumed. Matcha took a backseat here as a sponge but it still maintain a cool posture of its own without stealing the limelight away from the Tonka chocolate and crispy cacao nibs. 

Come by at night and this place transforms into a fine-dining place serving dinner course that costs as much as ¥12,000. It's the first time I come across a patissier who also calls himself a chocolatier and a cuisinier at the same time ( As described in his website). And it will be another whole story to tell if his savoury dishes lived up to his name as well. 

Assemblage Kakimoto
住所：京都市中京区竹屋町通寺町西入る松本町587-5
電話：075-202-1351
営業時間：12:00〜19:00（5/3現在）
定休日：火曜、第2・4水曜日（不定休）
アクセス：京阪「神宮丸太町駅」より徒歩8分
Address: 587-5 Matsumoto-cho, Teramachi Nishi-iru, Takeyamachi-dori Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Hours: Take-out. 12:00-19:00. Eat-in. 12:00-18:00. Dinner. 18:00-23:00(L.O. 21:00)
Closed: Tues, 2nd and 4th Wed (No fixed holiday)
Access: 8-min walk from Keihan Line, Jingu-marutamachi station.
http://assemblages.jp

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King George @ Daikanyama : King of Gourmet Sandwiches

 Opened in 2013, King George is synonymous with voluminous sandwiches with fresh, quality fillings. It is one of the early pioneers of the giant sandwich food trend and the colorful instagramable cross sections make this a popular place amongst youngsters.  

The place is surprisingly housed in narrow spaced 3-storey unit which one can easily overlook if not for the cat sign. You have to ascend a very narrow staircase before reaching the cafe located on the 2F and 3F. 

Like that also can sell food ah? Yes, it's another common example of how the Japanese maximizes limited space to makes business out of it.

With prices starting from 1400 yen, I felt that the sandwiches were really too expensive even though the ingredients were fresh. The King George (1400 yen) comprised of oven baked turkey and polverone cheese in rye bread while the Vegetarian (1600 yen) was a healthy delight loaded with fresh vegi, avocado, marble cheese in sesame bread.

The cheese was not layered like a subway sandwich but melted and solidified on the inner walls of the bread. So you've got to chow the entire monster to get the flavors revolving around your tongue.
Not conducive for sharing, I say, because it was difficult for us to slice and it spilled into a mess. We preferred the King George to the Vegetarian because turkey meat itself was tasty compared to the fresh vegetables which was bland on its own. It made me feel like a rabbit crunching on raw greens after a while.

Don't get me wrong, I love my greens. But I think it can be jazzed up with more sauce or some cooking to make the entire thing more delicious.

This may be the king of sandwiches for size and price. But there's plenty of alternatives out there which I would more happily seek out.

King George キングジョージ
東京都渋谷区代官山町11-13 2F
Shibuya ku Daikanyama cho 11-13 2F
Mon-Fri 11am-9pm
Sat 11am-10pm
Sun 11am-6pm
http://crownedcat.com/

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Goldleaf Taiwan Porridge @ Katong : Nostalgic Chinese Flavors from the 1970s

Just like Teochew Porridge, there's nothing better than Taiwan sweet potato porridge with an array of familiar home-style dishes to bring family and friends on the same table. There aren't many Taiwan porridges restaurants in Singapore so I was happy to learn that Goldleaf Taiwan Porridge has opened a second outlet at Katong Square, a newly established commercial mall that took over the former Joo Chiat Police Station.

In fact, Goldleaf has been established in Singapore since 1971 and it relocated from Orchard to Amoy street.  I visited the Katong outlet with my family on a Sunday evening and our overall experience was a pleasant and satisfying one with more hits than misses. 

Chye Poh Omelette ($10)  is always an obligatory dish for any Taiwan porridge visit and the version here is fluffy and not greasy. However, we wished more sweet preserved radish was used rather than the salty kind. Meanwhile, the Three-Cup Chicken ($10)  with Basil went off the tangent because there was hardly any accents of basil and made this seemed more like dark soy chicken. 

Items like the Seafood Beancurd ($8) and French Beans with minced meat ($10) are decent but not particularly outstanding. Nonetheless, the Goldleaf Prawn Balls ($12) impressed everyone with a crispy-thin batter and meaty filling. The Braised Pork Belly with Preserved Vegetables ($16) stood out as the best dish during our visit as the meat was rich, fatty yet flavorful. The Mei Cai was braised thoroughly without being overly salty not mushy. 

In fact, the menu also has many other dishes such as Salted Egg Yolk Prawns that are commonly found in Zi Char restaurants. With that, I think my family can return and try different items each time. 

Gold Leaf Taiwan Porridge
86 East Coast Road
Unit 01-02 Katong Square
Singapore 428788

Mon - Thurs: 11.30am - 2.30pm, 6pm - 10pm

Fri - Sat: 11.00am - 2.30pm, 5.30pm - 2.30am

https://www.goldleaf.com.sg/

Sun: 11.00am - 2.30pm, 5.30pm - 10pm

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