Has it been two years since Maggie Joan's opened?! Since that very first bite at this super cool contemporary Mediterranean-inspired restaurant on Amoy Street, i've been impressed with them over and over again (read my first review of Maggie Joan's here). To celebrate their second year of opening, they have given a thorough shake to their menu and we had many interesting plates that I would come back for.

Teaser, this is one of my favorite dishes. Read about it below!

Do the twist and nibble (not dunk) with the Taramasalata, Squid Ink & Nori ($3/pc). It's small but the flavors are punchy (like me haha). The crunch comes from the homemade squid ink tortilla and the Taramasalata cream is a citrusy mentaiko aioli sprinkled with some nori-wakame-cayenne pepper seasoning. I just wanna keep popping these babies. 

If you prefer something a little more substantial for a starting bite, try the Crab Sandwich and Green Harissa ($7). An airy cookie choux (the crust is sweet) holds a juicy and tart crab filling with refreshing chives and shallots. I liked the light touch of heat from the spicy harissa olive oil mayonnaise. Interesting balance of flavors i must say.

Now the Green zebra tomatoes, black olive and sea lettuce ($20) is just the right amount of green for me (you can’t have too much greens anw). I love the subtle flavors of the sea and the garden. To break it down for you, there's a slighty tart torched green zebra tomatoes, earthy tapenade, creamy homemade ricotta, salty pops of the sea grapes, and a crispy sourdough crouton cracker base. Savor each bite slowly for maximum pleasure. 

I can never resist ordering a burrata dish and i wasn't disappointed with the Burrata, roasted plums, shio konbu & basil ($23). The surprising element is the umami deep fried shio konbu strips which tasted like Mamee fried noodles (Singaporean childhood snack). 

Then we had a taste of Chef Oliver's childhood- Chicken liver, rhubarb, cocoa & peanut ($17).  As a kid, he would look forward to the rhubarb harvest in his garden and his family would have it with chicken liver pate. Well i have to agree with this combination as I couldn't stop slathering my sourdough with this creamy mixture. The flavored chicken liver pate and juicy rhubarb jam are blanketed with a savoury-sweet ‘soil’ made with peanuts, cocoa nibs, dark chocolate, malt powder and dehydrated mushrooms. I love how the grainy cocoa soil light bitterness provided depth to the dish. The House baked sourdough with smoked beef fat butter ($6) is great on its own, but it's even better with the chicken liver parfait!

If there’s something I have to pick on, it’s the Beef tartare, kimchi & smoked beef fat ($19). Somehow the mix of seasoning gave the Australian beef a ketchup flavor (which is not my favorite sauce) with a light bitter ending note from the kimchi. The charcoal mayo also does nothing for the dish.   

On to mains, the Smoked potato and egg yolk raviolo, pickled girroles mushrooms & hazelnuts ($28) was an unexpected delight. The thin chewy handmade pasta encases a lemon curd-like filling of ricotta, smoked mashed potato and egg yolk. It even tastes a little like lemon curd. The dumpling is complemented by baby spinach, pickled girrole mushrooms and roasted hazelnuts in a brown butter sauce infused with sage, and finished with Parmesan. Overall, it’s a great choice for a carb.

The Roasted barramundi, artichokes, seaweed and charred red pepper sauce and charred red pepper sauce ($34) is a simple comforting dish to have on a cold day or after a really shitty one at work. It's nothing wow though. 

We also tried the Coconut sorbet with rock melon granita which is only available on the tasting menu. That coconut is so rich and creamy without being oily at all and it contrasts with the refreshing rock melon ice made from fresh rock melon juice. Fav!

End the meal on the right note with a sweet treat like the Paris-Brest ($16) with chocolate, praline, pear and thyme. It’s more hazelnut than chocolate in this one, which satisfies the sweet tooth without going overboard. The thyme also gives the dish a refreshing twist.

Goats’ cheese parfait, honeycomb, raspberry & sorrel sauce ($12) may sound like a funky dessert but it's really a light ice cream made with goat cheese, sabayon and whipped cream (can’t taste the “goaty” flavor in this). The homemade honeycomb and granola provided the crunch to the dish, with a grassy sorrel syrup for contrast. Funky it was but it was more from the sorrel i think.

Always a pleasure to be back at Maggie Joan's. Be sure to check out their new menu!

Maggie Joan's

110 Amoy Street #01-01 Singapore 068579 

(Entrance from Gemmill Lane) 

Tel: +65 6221 5564

Weekdays: 12 - 2.30pm, 6 - 11pm
Sat: 6 - 11pm

The first thing that comes to my mind when visiting Perth would be Margaret River (is it because i'm an alcoholic?) On my recent trip to Perth (check out my Perth travel review here), i made it a point to check out the vino offerings in Western Australia. 

Now now, with the number of wineries in MR, you would probably go dizzy just from selecting the ones you want to visit. So here's sharing the list that i have curated, most of which i visited, and some others that i'm dying to visit, and 1 that disappointed.

Xanadu

Boodjidup Rd, Margaret River WA 6285 

Tel: +61 8 9758 9500

Cellar Door: Daily 10am - 5pm

Restaurant: Thu- Mon 12 - 3pm

Of the wineries that we visited in MR, i was most impressed with Xanadu, with several of their bottles tantalizing my tastebuds. My favorites are pictured above, but I can’t remember which of the Chardonnay I preferred, just that Jr likes one and I the other. Also the 2013 Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon is great too. Lunch is available on their estate (see Xanadu's menu here) and I shortlisted it as a lunch spot after reading all the reviews. We went with something else in the end due to our itinerary but I’d check this out next time!

Leeuwin Estate
Stevens Rd, Margaret River WA 6285
Tel: +61 8 9759 0000
Daily 10am - 5pm

Leeuwin Estate is one of the most well-known wine producer from Perth. Jr is full of praise for their food, which regrettably i did not try.. But yes, their fine wines and great food under sweeping verandahs and domed skylights will sweep you off your feet. They are renowned for their “paddock to plate” philosophy, which focuses on regional produce and working closely with local artisan suppliers to create seasonal menus. Their Art series is also delicious.

Voyager Estate
Stevens Road, Margaret River WA 6285
Tel: +61 8 9757 6354

Daily 10am - 5pm

Voyager Estate is another spot that deserves repeated visits according to my trusted friend T (she thinks she's boring that way but why should anyone have to settle for potential disappointment elsewhere?). The cavernous spot is ideal for gathering of large groups but i love their outdoor space even more (it reminds me of Alice in Wonderland with their rose bushes). Check out Voyager Estate's award-winning tasting menus here.

Aravina Estate
Stevens Road, Margaret River, WA 6285
Tel: +61 08 9757 6354
Daily 10am - 5pm

Aravina Estate was recommended by my Airbnb host and it's wedding perfect (some influencer who recently got married was promoting this spot too). Horrible picture from me aside (i was too starved to head to the open grounds to get a better shot), the estate is perfect for that wedding reception under the stars.

The wines are ok, nothing mindblowing. Some dishes i enjoyed more than the others, like this duck with orange. I reckon the selling point here is the terrace dining where you can enjoy the view of the rolling hills and bushland. 

Arimia 

242 Quininup Road, Yallingup

Tel: +61 08 9755 2528

Daily 10am - 5pm

Look no further than Arimia for an all-in-one wine holiday. This boutique vineyard and wine producer also has an on-site 4 BR house for those who wants to have the vineyard view all to themselves. Make your own meals or enjoy a leisurely lunch under the tall trees at the restaurant. Their tasting menu is available at AU$60 for 4 courses. 

Hay Shed Hill

511 Harmans Mill Road, Wilyabrup WA 6280

Phone: +61 8 9755 6046 

Daily 11am - 5pm

One of the places i REALLY wanted to check out was the tapas bar Rusticos at Hay Shed Hill. Sadly, they weren't open when i visited. What drew me to them was the Mediterranean style communal plates and tapas which are paired with their wines. So far, i've not been won over by Aussie fine wine and dine so i'm more inclined to check out the Rusticos' casual menu. Rusticos' 6 course tapas degustation menu is priced at AU$65 and i'd definitely top up for their wine pairing at AU$89.

Cullen Wines 

4323 Caves Road Wilyabrup 

Margaret River, WA 6280

Tel: +61 8 9755 5277

Daily 10am - 4.30pm 

Restaurant 11.30 - 3.30pm

Good wines and even better food are what you get at Cullen Restaurant. This was recommended by a fellow foodie-vino guzzler. Their restaurant has also been awarded two Chef Hat in the 2018 Good Food Guide. You know they are serious about their nosh when they serve fresh fruits, herbs, and vegetables from their biodynamic garden. I've been told to grab hold of the Diana Madeline 2014 (Cab Sauv-Merlot) too. 

Vasse Felix

Caves Road (Cnr Tom Cullity Drive)
Margaret River, WA 6284
Tel: +61 8 9756 5050
Daily 10am - 5pm
Restaurant 12 - 3pm

Based on the reviews i've read online, i formed a super high expectations of Vasse Felix and it was sorely disappointing. The wines are more expensive than the others that I’ve sampled and they aren’t great. The only decent one was their most expensive bottle which is the 2013 Tom Cullity (76% Cab Sauv, 20% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot). It was good but it certainly isn’t worth the tag. We managed to get a table at the restaurant but we left after seeing the menu which wasn't very appetizing. Verdict- Can skip.

Things to buy from Margaret River (other than wine)
Other than drinking, here are other recommendations for Margaret River!

The Margaret River Saturday Farmers' Market is one of the highlights of my Margaret River trip. It isn't huge but it has a nice mix of fresh produce, bakes, jams, chocolates etc. 

My favorite store is the Margaret River Bakery!

Best berries and granola parfait i've eaten in my life! It's AU$8 of happiness in a giant cup. I simply refused to eat anything else. 

You also MUST get the chocolates from Temper Temper Fine Chocolate. That sea salt caramel dark chocolate is out of this world!

Also, if you're a cheese lover, you have got to drop by Yallingyup Cheese Company. We stuffed our faces with cheese after our wine-lunch.

Places to eat in Margaret River
I love Morries Anytime! It's one of the few places that stay open till later and their tapas are lovely! The grilled haloumi with pickled zucchini on Margaret River Woodfired Bread (AU$13) was the best! I'm still dreaming about that Blackbrook scotch on potato terrine with truffle butter (A$39)! If you are sick of wine, they have a good cocktail list here! I hope you stay nearby because the drinks are strong. Other restaurants on my list include Settlers Tavern & Margaret River Ale Co and La Scarpetta Trattoria.

Till the next wine trip!

XOXO
Travelerintransit

#Waffles the insane trend that is on the Singapore cafe scene right now. Even though it feels like the trend is past its peak, cafes are still hopping on to this train. Well I guess in months to come, only the good ones will still be going strong and my bet is on Montana Brew bar to continue serving us some crispy deliciousness.

Waffles are the highlight here though Montana Brew Bar does burgers and sandwiches alongside specialty coffee (it's a brew bar after all).

Let's start with savory first. The Southern fried chicken wafflewich ($10.50) has gone through many versions and I think this may be v2.5 or something. Reviews said that the chicken was dry and it still wasn't improved after all these changes #meh It may have something to do with the bland spice rub on the chicken. Well we'll just give us a juicy buttermilk fillet and that'll do. 

The spicy southern mustard sauce, which tasted pretty much like tabasco sauce, was pretty good. At least it gave some acidity to the crispy sandwich. I thought that the waffle seemed to be missing some kinda ketchup sorta base or something to gel the dish. The waffles, on their own, were faultless. They remained crispy with every bite even after sitting there for a bit as we carried on with our conversation and got distracted by the other waffles. 

The Truffle Jalepeno Mac & Cheese ($12.50) invaded our immediate environs with its strong truffle scent. The mac & cheese was folded into the waffle batter and then toasted. We were surprised by the generally sweet batter though (isn't m&c supposed to be salty?). Also we didn't get any of that stringy cheese pull-apart effect that we were expecting. This waffle was softer than the rest of Montana's offerings but we enjoyed the moist and spongy texture. Spice lovers may get a kick from the jalapeño bits but the chutney sauce that came with it tastes more like a a sweet Indian curry (it had a distinct cumin flavor). Overall, this dish required something salty to cut through the sweetness. Like bacon... Definitely bacon.

For sweets, you get a choice of the crispy crunchy waffle or the fluffy, light and chiffon-like center with a gentle crispy crust for their sweet stacks. The limited time availability made us choose the Red Velvet Waffle Stack ($10.50) (which really ran out when we were halfway through our brunch at 12ish) over the Chocolate Banana Waffles ($10.50), a chocolate waffle with caramelised banana, vanilla ice cream, salted caramel sauce and nutella truffle powder. 

I kinda liked this one actually. It didn't taste anything like red velvet (with the taste of beet) but go for this because it's a really awesome crispy waffle with dulce de leche and dense creamy ice cream (could do with a stronger vanila flavor). 

We spotted a new flavor which is the Brioche French Toast Waffles ($10.50). I'd hand them my money already. 

You can also get your caffeine kick at Montana Brew Bar with black coffee going for $3.50 onwards and other espresso based drinks from $4. The Montana House blend is a mix of beans from Brazil San Antonio, Peru Apu and Ethiopia Ardi Sidama beans. It produces a full bodied coffee with a low acidity and was an easy to drink cuppa with dark chocolate notes. 

Pour-over and aeropress coffee are available as well ($5.20) and you can pick from the Ethiopia YirgaCheffe or the Peru Apu single origin beans. 

I'd head back to Montana Brew Bar for a decent coffee and perhaps a sweet waffle if i'm in the area. You can't beat great waffles at a great central location.

Montana Brew Bar
1 Selegie Road #01-04, Singapore 188306
Daily: 8am - 9.30pm
Food from 10am

Seafood and bubbly for tea? We cannot disagree. The Lobby Lounge at Westin Singapore has recently refreshed their afternoon tea menu to bring you seafood and champagne for a decadent afternoon with a picturesque view of the South China Sea and Marina Bay.

The Seafood and Champagne Afternoon Tea set (for two) could be loosely called a three-course set. You get a tiered platter of savories, followed by a main course, and the event ends with an assortment of cakes and tarts. Of course, each set comes with 2 glasses of champagne. 

Well each person gets a platted platter of 5 nibbles plus 2 of my favorite Crab Salad Sandwiches. 

These are quite salty and juicy and goes well with the crusty multigrain. 

As for the other items, the lobster and mushroom torchoon was like a lobster version of a cold crab cake which sat well with me. My gf liked the mussels with salsa. The rest of the items were meh, especially the sashimi which was sitting in cold water. I can't even.. 

Each person gets one oyster, possibly of the French origin because they were so... thin. The oysters are served with a choice of three sauces – champagne dressing, lychee bourbon and lime and shallot vinaigrette. 

Then the main course. A half Lobster Thermidor each. Expect to be filled by the rich cheese and cream, not so much by the amount of the crawler.  

If you were not filled (i didn't use satisfy), maybe the sweets will do the job. Of this lot, the freshly baked soft chocolate cranberry cookie, chocolate dipped strawberries, and the blueberry lime-scented mango tart were a-ok. The rest were again meh. The truffle cupcake (scented with truffle oil) weirdly attracted me to take a second bite. 

The Seafood and Champagne Afternoon Tea is priced at $85 (for 2 pax) and is inclusive of 2 glasses of champagne. This is not inclusive of other beverages. For this price point, i may closed an eye to the quality of the food.  

The Westin Singapore

Level 32 Lobby Lounge

12 Marina View, Asia Square Tower 2, Singapore 018961

Tel: +65 6922 6988

Weekdays: 2.30 - 5pm

Weekends: 2 - 4pm, 4.30 - 6.30pm

Our favorite Morton's the Steakhouse, has introduced new seasonal dishes this fall to their lineup of all-American favorites. 

Before i go on, get ready to make a reservation because the new fall menu is only available for a limited time!

Enjoy the flavors of autumn starting with an earthy and nutty Beet & Goat Cheese Salad ($26) with plump red and golden beetroot, crunchy candied walnuts and sharp goat cheese served atop a bed of baby greens tossed in a honey-balsamic vinaigrette. 

Fancy some sweet silky and delicate pearls of mussels? Well the Moules Marinières ($47) is a new steamy dish of mussels cooked in a fragrant white wine broth. The mussels come from either Holland or Australia. We couldn't stop soaking the crusty buttered toast and the famous Morton's Onion Bread Loaf in the broth. 

Some new cuts of steak include the crusty and robustly flavored 10oz American Wagyu New York Strip ($138) from Snake River Farm Idaho. This is of a higher grade than the regular prime beef and has an intense beefiness to it. If you like meaty, this is it.

For those who prefer a smooth butter feel to your slice, go with the 14oz Bone-in Filet Mignon ($138). It's a tough choice between the two but i'm glad i had both. As usual, the meats come with a variety of butter i.e. Foie gras, cognac, truffle, and blue cheese, and sauces.

For sides, always go for the creamed spinach but make sure to order this sin-free Cauliflower Mash that is flavored with truffle and garlic.  

My favorite side from the autumn menu is the Maple Glazed Sweet Potato Fries ($24). BEST SWEET POTATO FRIES EVER. You get an all-around crunchiness and a smoky caramel flavor to this hearty comforting snack. I could not stop myself.  

Save space for the new Morton’s Chocolate Layer Cake ($24) which i'm praying damn hard that this stays on their regular menu. The towering cake is dense and rich but each bite is so light that you can just go on and on and on until it disappears. Of course, that perfect drizzle of salted caramel that is not too sweet and gooey is icing on the cake. You can easily share this chocolate bomb with 3-4 pax or have it all for yourself. I recommend the latter. 

Of course, start and end the night with Morton's famous Lychee Martini or one of their signature martinis. Always a pleasure to be back at Morton's The Steakhouse, this is just an added excuse to make more visits this fall.

Morton’s The Steakhouse
5 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039797
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Singapore, 4th Storey
Tel: +65 6339 3740

A $129 ten-course omakase with quality ingredients that are flown fresh 3 times weekly from Japan? It's almost too good to be true but yes, the guys at Kyuu by Shunsui are serving a sashimi-robatayaki omakase that is plated like art. If the Shunsui name sounds familiar, well Kyuu is a sister restaurant of Kappo Shunsui at Cuppage Plaza and Chef Tomo Watanabe's Tokyo restaurant by the same name was also named in Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand list for three consecutive years between 2015 and 2017.

The less than a month-old Kyuu by Shunsui is overseen by Head Chef Issey Araki, formerly from one Michelin-starred restaurant Akasaka Tantei in Tokyo, Japan. He was also part of the team that opened Kappo Shunsui. His specialty? Impressive knife and charcoal grilling skills! The 27-year-old chef also has a puffer fish processing license to his name. 

Best seats in the house? By the bar. That's where the action is. Tip: Try not to sit right in front of the grill unless you wanna be barbecued. 

Our meal started with three appetisers: A refreshing and lightly spiced Red Snapper and Japanese Ginger with Sumiso (a mixture of miso, rice vinegar, and sesame paste); a starchy and fragrant Homemade Sesame Tofu covered with a bekko-an sauce (a mixture of dashi, soy sauce, mirin and sugar) and wasabi; and a citrusy Soft Simmered Duck topped with Homemade Miso.