Celebrating the best of Italian summertime steakhouses, GEMMA is the latest concept of Italian Chef-Owner Beppe De Vito of The ilLido Group. Tucked atop National Gallery Singapore, the 68-seater restaurant is full of old-world charm but not stiffy at all and the prices are a lot more reasonable than some of these other steakhouses around. Lunch sets are only $45/pax and even their dinner sharing menu for 2 would only set you back by $208/pair.

I meant to check out Gemma earlier but plans were disrupted several times due to COVID. A random browsing of the Restaurant Week offerings (yes it is still around!) finally provided an opportunity to visit Gemma. The Restaurant Week dinner menu actually looks a lot like their regular lunch set offering ($45/pax, Tue - Sat) with a few upgrades.

We started with a semolina bread with Alpine butter sprinkled with Tarragon. This was followed by an amuse bouche of beef tartare on potato cracker with Mascarpone cheese.

The appetizer was a blue swimmer crab with avocado, ox-tomato gelée, citron remoulade and compressed Sedano. We really enjoyed the refreshing citrus and herb finish with the fresh crab and how the tomato added a little spiciness to the dish.

A Chinese restaurant in the middle of CBD, tucked away on top of a commercial building with no prominent signage in view? You would think that it's quite impossible for them to survive the pandemic, but nope, Myo Restobar still draws in the crowd with their solid dishes featuring 40 years of history and experience from their Kia Hiang roots. You may be drawn in by their Michelin Guide recommended Claypot Spring Chicken but definitely stay for their classic homestyle Cantonese dishes and all-day dimsum.

A bite of the Shitake Mushrooms & Black Truffle Dumpling (3pcs $6) and i knew we had to come back to sample more of Myo's dimsum offering. 

The thin and smooth translucent mochi skin was bursting with the mushrooms and crunchy vegetables filling. It's not huge on the truffle but we enjoyed the flavors just fine.

If you're a fan of the traditional yam ring, you would enjoy the individually portioned Crispy Yam Bag with Scallops ($5 each, min 3pcs) because you get all the goodness of the typical yam ring all in one bite and you will still have space for other dishes. I liked that was crisp and not oily. 

I currently have an aversion to fish and generally all seafood but i was able to stomach the Garoupa Fillet in Claypot with Garlic & Ginger (from $18) and i actually ate more than i expected. The fillet was very lightly seasoned and because Myo only uses the white flesh of the fish, there was no fishy flavors at all. 

The Kia Hiang Claypot Organic Chicken ($28) is what most people go to Myo for. Be comforted that the premium organic chickens did not die in vain- they lived comfortably and listened to classical music, and were also given health supplements (no antibiotics or growth hormones ok). The chicken is enveloped in a sweet cabbage and braised in a rich herbal broth and the overall flavor was on the sweeter side. We probably would have enjoyed this dish a lot more if we didn't eat this at the end of the meal.

We were surprised at the quality of the grilled Miyazaki A5 Wagyu ($40/100g, min 200g). The cut was closer to the chuck so it wasn't too fatty. It's good on its own but you could always add a bit of the black pepper sauce at the side. 

Almost forgot to update my review of the Singapore Airlines B777-300ER Business Class ride from Singapore to Frankfurt when we went on our Germany trip (check out our 10 day Germany itinerary here)! Now that we're working on our relocation, i thought it was opportune to share the updated SQ Business Class review. 

Our trip started with a visit to the temporary SilverKris Lounge, which is the current KrisFlyer Gold Lounge. We didn't have much time to spare actually so i'm gonna do the lounge justice and refer you to Mainly Miles review of the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge here! One thing that i appreciated was the online ordering system which ensures that your food is fresh and "clean". 

Onto the already not so new Business Class seats on SQ. The seats are handcrafted from Scottish leather and diamond-stitched. 

The seats have new seating positions- the Lazy Z, a cradling position; and Sundeck, a lounging position that extends the base and foot of your seat so you fully stretch out. The seat back and leg rests could be adjusted independently, and you could adjust it to your preference. I actually fell asleep in the Lazy Z position while watching my pre-dinner movie. 

Of course, my favorite feature is that the seat transforms into a fully flat bed with a cushioned headboard so i could easily just prop myself up to watch a movie comfortably. I also caught some beauty sleep on the bed complete with linen, duvet and pillows. This is a must on any long haul flight! The 18 inch LCD TV could also be tilted downwards for viewing pleasure while you're lying down. 

I also appreciated the side console, which allows for easy stowage of small items and even a laptop. Since it sits above the armrest, i could easily grab my toiletries pouch, hand sanitizer etc. while seated or lying down. Ports (eXport, HDMI and USB) are also readily available for easy charging of electronic devices. 

A highlight on SQ is the 'Book the Cook' dining selection and i make it a point to try something different each time. Currently SIA is featuring a series of popular local dishes from renowned hawkers to celebrate the addition of Singapore’s hawker culture to UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This includes Bismillah Biryani Restaurant Chicken Dum Biryani, a Michelin Bib Gourmand Award Winner from 2016 to 2019, and also Boon Tong Kee Chicken Rice and Qiu Lian Ban Mian! And hello SQ satay how much i've missed you!

Joining the numerous grills sprouting over our tiny island is KOAL, the latest addition to Les Amis Group’s array of award-winning restaurants. What sets KOAL slightly apart is that it playfully marries Asian (Japanese, Korean and Chinese) and Western flavours and grilling techniques, to offer diners a light to night dining experience. 

Our night at KOAL started with a smorgasbord of starters and sharing plates. Jr enjoyed the Chunky Salmon with Coriander and Green Chili Dressing ($12), which was like a spicy and tangy South East Asian ceviche. 

I'm a carb monster and i love a good dinner roll. KOAL’s Bread Roll with Bacon and Grilled Spring Onions, Sour Cream and Chive Butter ($8) was a fragrant and fluffy one though i thought it could be salted further. 

My vote goes to the Crispy Pork Riblets ($16) with a smattering of peanut and sesame. The meat had a nice crispy Mala Honey glaze over it. I enjoyed picking up a piece and gnawing off a juicy bite off the bone. I would probably skip the Scallion Salad ($6) in the future. This was more like a condiment for me though i guess it helps to cut through the greasiness of the meats with its spicy sesame soy dressing.

Given a choice, i'll always choose to travel rather than go on a staycation. When travelling, the highlight is your new surroundings and novel experiences. On staycations in Singapore, the highlight is mainly just your room (provided you find a nice place). Exhibitions, plays, food, malls and shopping could be done on a regular basis and there's no need to spend the extra buck doing that from a hotel room. Well unless there's something special experience provided at your place of accommodation. 

This is exactly what Studio M has in mind to keep guests entertained. They have collaborated with Chef Janice Wong to present staycationers with a sensory experience where you will make your own chocolate bar and enjoy the fine chocolates made from Thai cocoa beans.

During my Chocolate Temptation Staycation, i was guided through the process of making chocolate from bean to bar in one of the decorated loft in the hotel. While I wasn't able to go through the entire process of chocolate making in 1 hour, it was sufficient to keep me occupied for a bit. For your customized bar of chocolate, you could choose from milk or dark chocolate and also tweak the sweetness to your liking. 

The focus of the process was conching, where the cocoa nibs, cocoa butter, sugar and milk powder (if making milk chocolate) are ground into a smooth paste. Expect some arm work to ensure that the conching is done smoothly at the start but once the paste is less clumpy, it could be left to the machine to do its job for the next 24-48 hours. The cream mixture would then be sent to Janice Wong's chocolate store for tempering and made into a chocolate block, which would be delivered to you after your stay. 

Xi Yan Culinary Group has recently launched a new concept Zing by Xi Yan, a conscious-dining concept which collaborates with The Social Kitchen to provide employment for disadvantaged communities. This casual concept caters to everyone in the family as they do not only serve Xi Yan's contemporary Chinese cuisine but also salads, grain bowls, steaks and pastas, and even croffles!

I must admit that i was skeptical when browsing through the menu which seemed schizophrenic. But after tasting the dishes, i can see the charm and appeal of having such a varied menu. Most importantly, i enjoyed every dish i tried and that says something.

We started with Yum Som O Kung Salad ($15) which is a refreshing mix of pomelo, prawns, and sakura ebi. You wouldn't be faulted for thinking it's a Thai salad as fish sauce was definitely at play here, along with the perk-me-up calamansi and yuzu. We hear that this sauce based is also used on one of the fish dishes. 

Do not miss The Squid Game ($14), which is as popular as the Netflix series. Octopus tentacles are used here actually and we loved the light tempura batter which is tossed in chilli, celery and parsley and lemon and a bit of peppercorns for that light numbing sensation. This was perfect with Xi Yan's blend of shrimp sambal, which they also bottle and retail.

At French Fold by Merci Mercel, you can have authentic French crepes and galettes all day, every day and as early as 8am at their Telok Ayer outlet. Being an early riser and gym bunny, i greatly appreciate cafes and restaurants that open early and i love how i could still enjoy a wide selection of savory buckwheat and sweet wheat flour pancakes (more than half of their full menu) at French Fold early in the day.

For breakfast, you could dine on small pastries, egg sandwiches, Eggs Benedict, other than galettes and crepes (of course). Come lunch and dinner, a fuller selection of crepes and galettes are available, together with appetizers, salads, cold cuts, and burgers too. 

For a savory start, we went with the crowd favorite, the No. 04. This has practically all the perfect breakfast toppings of savory Chiffonade of ham, organic egg sunny side up, over sautéed mushrooms, and  Comté cheese ($17). We enjoyed the thin crispiness of the galette, which goes well with the running yolk. 

The crepe comes topped with ribbons of ham, tender sauteed mushrooms, Comté, and an organic sunny-side-up egg. The galettes are also much bigger than their sweet crepes so it was perfect for sharing between me and my gf. 

We then went with the No.18 ($10), a chewy wheat flour crepe topped with artisanal Manuka honey, roasted buckwheat seeds, and Hojicha sea salt gelato from Birds of Paradise($10). The ice cream and roasted buckwheat definitely gave this crepe a more savory twist, which we weren't expecting, since we wanted something sweeter. On hindsight, we should have chosen the traditional Classic Butter ($9) but add on our choice of ice cream. 

French Fold is perfect for catching up with your girlfriend over breakfast, or if you could convince your date to have galettes for dinner (i know Jr wouldn't be that excited about it). We found the Telok Ayer outlet to be cozy and chic and very welcoming and it's definitely going to be my regular post-gym refueling stop from now. 

French Fold has also opened a second outlet in Palais Renaissance on Orchard Road.

French Fold

204 Telok Ayer Street

SINGAPORE 068640

Daily: 8am - 10.30pm

#01-02, Palais Renaissance

390 Orchard Road, Singapore 238871

Daily: 11am - 10.30pm

Park Bench Deli is one of famed breakfast spots in Telok Ayer/Tanjong Pagar since they opened in 2015. I remember firstly the queue, and then squeezing myself onto one of those uncomfortable bar seat and balancing my sammie over a thin long bench of a table. But damn the sandwiches were great. 

We recently revisited PBD after their revamp mid 2021. PBD is now a spacious all-day diner which is way more inviting with comfortable seating for 42 pax. The menu has also expanded beyond their sloppy buns and now also offers breakfast plates and heartier mains for lunch- the likes of braised beef cheeks, pastas, and fried steaks.  

A craving for pancakes and more sent us to PBD and i was drawn to the PBD Big Breakfast ($22), a massive platter 2 mini ricotta pancakes, sausages, bacon, tater tots, and scrambled eggs. This sounded like the perfect solution for one who wants both savory and sweet stuff, right? Except that the ricotta pancakes were more undercooked meringues with a very foamy center and they were so raw they split in the middle. Even though we were the first customers in the cafe, the sausages and bacon came cold and bland. The best component of the dish turned out to be the freshly fried tater tots. This was a complete disappointment. When we heard the next table's order of 3 platters, we shook our heads in horror. 

The Grilled Cheese ($15), one of the mainstays, didn't fare better. As you can tell from the picture, the cheese remained hard and cold with zero melt at all. The spiced pear relish was the one that threw me off with this bitter aftertaste to each bite. 

Even the coffee was bad. The Iced White ($6.50) was diluted and bitter. We had to get another coffee after the meal.

Needless to say, we left PBD extremely disappointed. If not for the tater tots, i would have been super hangry. I'm not a hater of PBD, seriously just look at my previous post on them. And there i was, playing it safe with an old favorite and this happens. Just bring back the good old standards. 

Park Bench Deli

179 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068627

Tue - Sun: 9am-10.30pm

I could hardly find any proper reviews of Iru Den online and only chanced upon it thanks to the fellow foodies with trusted taste buds on IG. So, here is a proper review for you guys who are considering dining at this hidden omakase-only restaurant on Scotts Road.

Chef Owner Javier serves a Modern Japanese Kappou style cuisine. If you thought he sounds familiar, he used to run a one-man kitchen IL DEN which served Modern Japanese cuisine. Since then, his style has evolved and grown and he now runs a full-fledged kitchen serving 3 choices of omakase meals starting at $198++ (7-courses).

When i said that the restaurant is hidden, i meant it quite literally. Entering the main gate, we naturally went to the first obvious building we saw, only to be given the dirty eye and directed to the left corner of the black and white. Enter the wooden gate and down a little dark garden, you will then arrive at the locked doors of Iru Den. Only after our reservations were checked could we enter the restaurant. 

My gf and I went with the 10-course dinner omakase ($268++) to sample more variety. I was originally worried that i wouldn't be able to stomach the whole course but the portions are really small and i was feeling just right at the end of the meal (i'm a small eater btw). 

Our first dish was the Aka Ebi, dressed with Tosazu vinegar dressing and Nanohana pesto. I enjoyed the light and refreshing citrusy acidity and touch of herbiness with the sweet prawns. 

If there's one good thing that came out of COVID-19 for me, it's the appreciation of Korean cuisine, thanks to Netflix and K-drama. I've always prefered Japanese food over Korean, as it is more delicate  and refined, as compared to the one pot, mix-it-all with lotsa sauce, and eat out of a huge metal bowl kinda way of eating. Well consider me a convert. Korean food is best for social bonding over hearty dishes and alcohol. For those who want the best of both worlds, i highly recommend ANJU for a more elegant modern Korean dining and bar experience in a chic and tasteful setting right in little Korea that is Tanjong Pagar. I promise you would not leave smelling like a BBQ post-dinner.

Dinner reservations are hard to come by and i was lucky that a friend made a reservation more than 2 months ago! Forget the regular green or blue bottles of soju. At Anju, they have a curated list of Koreans alcohol and Makgeolli is a special. 

If you are here with more friends, definitely go for their special Champagne Makgeolli ($75, 940ml), which is naturally carbonated. Since there were only 2 of us, we went with the White Lotus Makgeolli ($28, 375ml). The grain liquor was infused with white lotus, which provided hints of floral undertones and a refreshing nutty finish. 

For appetizers, it's a toss between the umami crunchy bomb that is the Bori Prawns ($8) simply seasoned with green baby garlic shoots and salt; or the Black Bean Mascarpone ($16) with sourdough crackers that is my one true love. The latter could be a snack or a dessert due to its delicate sweetness from the sweet Suritae beans. Mix it with Chef’s special chive oil and it provides a savoury headiness.