Adventure, baby!

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GIVEAWAY: One Maxomorra onesie (worth $32) from Elly!

Maxomorra from Elly - Brunch With My baby Singapore

One of our favourite kids clothing boutiques, Elly, has just launched a whole range of Maxomorra goodies today!

Maxomorra hails from Sweden and features ridiculously cute patterened designs made from organically grown cotton. I was pretty overwhelmed when I popped into their store (Maxomorra is stocked both at Elly and their sister store Twelve, both located in Cluny Court), and was faced a whole rainbow of bright colours!

Pretty cute huh?!

Maxomorra from Elly - Brunch With My baby Singapore

Elly are giving away one Maxomorra onesie (worth $32)!

a Brunch with my Baby giveaway

You can submit some of the entries more than once a day, so come back tomorrow to get more entries in the draw.

Giveaways will run from 14-20  Mar 2014 inclusive.
Winner’s entry(s) will be verified according to the entry criteria(s).

Winner may select design and size of their choice from all available stock (sizes 50/56 (0 to 6 m), 62/68 (6 to 9 m), 74/80 (9 to 12 m), 86/92 (18 to 24 m)).

Elly are offering FREE shipping for any order over $80!
Use code: BWMB

 

Code is valid until 20 March 2014 inclusive.
Valid on orders shipped to any address in Singapore.

Made of soft and durable organic cotton, the Maxomorra range features those onesies/rompers (above), as well as a LOT of other styles for babies and older kids (you’ll have to go to the store to see them in-person, they’re not online cos they’re limited stock only!)

The clothes get softer after each wash-and-wear, yet the colours stay super vibrant. I suppose they must be very comfy to wear, because both my kids love being in them! No prizes for guessing that these Maxomorra tractor-print long pajamas are for Hunter, my vehicle-fanatic. He wigged out when he saw them.

I mean, reaaallllyyyy WIGGED OUT.

He was so excited to have not one, not two, but about twenty gazillion tractors all over him!! On the downside, now he keeps wanting to wear this particular set of pajamas every night, so they’re getting kinda smelly……..

Maxomorra from Elly - Brunch With My baby Singapore

I tried to take nice photos of him, whilst eating breakfast, wearing his cute Maxomorra pajamas. These photos were as good as we got….

Maxomorra from Elly - Brunch With My baby Singapore

Carter loves his aeroplanes, so he got a Maxomorra aeroplane-print short pajamas. Personally, I reckon this style can be worn outdoors, and not just in bed – the tee looks super cute paired with jeans, and the shorts are so eye-catching paired with a plain top!

Maxomorra from Elly - Brunch With My baby Singapore Maxomorra from Elly - Brunch With My baby Singapore Maxomorra from Elly - Brunch With My baby Singapore

Both my kids are the same size in clothing, so here’s Hunter rocking the same set outdoors – they were having a pajama party at his playschool. How cute?!

Maxomorra from Elly - Brunch With My baby Singapore

Maxomorra also do boxer shorts, that are excellent for popping on when you’re at home. This is what Hunter wears when he’s home – they’re soft, comfy, and easy to pull down for when he needs to use the bathroom.

Maxomorra from Elly - Brunch With My baby Singapore

He actually really likes them specifically because of the dinosaur print. He has a pair of dinosaur boots, so he pairs them together and stomps all over the place, roaring very scarily!

He calls himself the HUNTERSAURUS.

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There are also Maxomorra bodysuits ($28), briefs ($16) and girls hipsters ($9) in the store. I love the Daisy print for girls! Though, a little birdie told me that the Cats print is the most popular..

Maxomorra from Elly - Brunch With My baby Singapore

 

 

A lot of the Maxomorra stock is running low at Elly, because they only received one batch of it. So pop on down (or contact them to reserve what you want) to their store at Cluny Court quickly, if you don’t see what you want online.

Thanks Elly!

THE LIVING CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

The Living Cafe

So I’m being really cheeky here….. because I didn’t actually eat at this place! But, I wanted to share it with you if you’re into the healthy-living and eating stuff.

The Living Cafe is all the rage among the healthy group – popular with expat mums and exercise fiends.

So what was I doing there? 

I was in the area because I wanted to check out the bike shop next door, as Hunter has outgrown his Y Velo balance bike and is ready for a proper 2-wheel bike. Considering Little Diner is also there – in all its truffle mac & cheese, fried chicken, and deep-fried oreos glory – I would never have considered popping into The Living Cafe. Except Little Diner was shut that day 😛

I was keen on just a coffee, so decided to pop in to check it out!

The cafe is lofty, airy, and gorgeous. I love how the sunlight streams in, making the cafe a relaxing place for a spot of lunch or a quiet coffee.

The Living Cafe - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

The dining area is downstairs, and the shop area is upstairs. The shop stocks Supplements, Superfoods, Herbals and Homeopathics. I told you this was a healthy place!!

The Living Cafe - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, SingaporeThe Living Cafe - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

The downstairs dining area is pretty quiet on weekday afternoons, so you’ll have most of the place to yourself. The spaciousness of the cafe is excellent if you have a stroller in tow.

The Living Cafe - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

I’ll be frank – the menu freaked me out. It’s all about  healthy and raw food, which is all pretty foreign to me. My head spun a little when I read the menu, so I ended up ordering……………… nothing. I was just too overwhelmed!

The “TLC Cheese Burger” under the SIGNATURE RAW part of the menu looked so… odd.. that I was tempted to order it just to see what it would look and taste like 😛 Maybe I should go back and see!

The Living Cafe - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

A whole array of desserts – all raw, no nuts, no dairy, etc etc. Bases of cheesecakes etc are all made of crushed nuts, chocolate isn’t really chocolate, cheese isn’t really cheese, etc etc. It was all pretty fascinating to read, but the cakes definitely looked different to the ‘real’ thing, so I was afraid of trying them!

The Living Cafe - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

I ended up with a Soy Latte ($5). Actually, I’d just ordered a “Latte”, but was told they don’t have normal milk, “only soy or hazelnut”.

What did it taste like?

Definitely not the same as a regular milk latte! It had a similar and lovely first impression, but ended on a bit of an odd/sour note after swallowing. I presume this is what a soy latte tastes like?

The Living Cafe - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

So I apologise again that this actually isn’t an informative review about the food. But I still really wanted to write about this because I know many people out there want to eat healthy, and have an interest in seeing what raw food is all about. To their credit, The Living Cafe have an impressively extensive menu and get thumbs up for sticking to their morals.

I’m very tempted to go back and order a bunch of their food, to see how it all pans out 🙂

 
Last Bite: The Living Cafe is a beautifully decorated and sunlit cafe, boasting an impressive menu of raw and organic food, which will delight any healthy eater. Don’t forget to check out their shop upstairs!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

The Living Cafe
779 Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 268759
Phone: 6762 8029
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm, Tue – Fri: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm, Sat: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm, Sun: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

 
 

FLOCK CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Tiong Bahru, Singapore

Flock Cafe

Flock Cafe has been doing the rounds on social media over the past few months, but I didn’t have a chance to visit until only very recently, because we live so epic-ly far away. I’m glad I did, because I really enjoyed the visit!

Open bright and early everyday at 8AM, we were thoroughly impressed that they were open on a Monday morning, as few cafes are. Decorated in a dark brown and grey theme, the decor is simple and clean, and the ambience is relaxed with a buzz.

Flock Cafe - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Flock Cafe - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Flock Cafe - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

We were very impressed with the children’s activity sheet provided. Just grab a colourful sheet off the stack and keep your kid occupied whilst you have a bite and drink!

Flock Cafe - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

The Latte ($5.50) arrived in a tiny cup, but was delightfully creamy and with a punch of flavour. Beans are from Liberty Coffee.

Flock Cafe - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

My girl friends had a quiche each. I didn’t try any, so I don’t know if they were good – so sorry!

Flock Cafe - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

My Pork cheek and gruyere sandwich ($14.90) was RIDICULOUSLY INSANELY GOOD. I’m not even a fan of sandwiches! But this was amazing. It featured incredibly tender and moist shredded pork, paired with a mustard mayonnaise and drizzle of melted cheese.

Oh man, I’d go back again just for this. The “pork cheek and gruyere” potion is featured not just in this sandwich, but also in a pasta, and on Eggs Benedict. So feel free to take your pick!

Flock Cafe - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 
 
Last Bite: Flock Cafe’s signature pork cheek and gruyere sandwich is out-of-this-world good, and their colourful kid’s activity sheet is a winner.
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

Flock Cafe
78 Moh Guan Terrace, #01-25
Singapore 162078
Phone: 6536 3938
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon – Sun: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
 
 

DISTRICT 10 BAR & RESTAURANT: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, River Valley, Singapore

District 10 - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

My kids got their first taste of a bouncy castle when they visited my gf’s place and she had one in her back yard (as you do….). So they were REALLY REALLY EXCITED when they spotted one at District 10 Bar & Restaurant!

The bouncy castle is set up in a nook to the side of the restaurant, so you can sit back and chill out and eat, whilst still keeping an eye on the kids. The area is also sectioned off, so they can’t run out. The bouncy castle is available during weekend brunch, which makes it a pretty fabulous place to bring the kids!

District 10 offer a very comprehensive Brunch menu, which is mostly Western but some dishes have an Asian influence. The kids ate a LOT, so I was very very pleased!

And… errrr… we ate lots too….

District 10 - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

The Rigatoni with wagyu meatballs and fresh tomato basil sauce ($24) was ordered for the kids (off the main adult menu) and it was a H-I-T! The homemade tomato basil sauce was really tasty and I was surprised that Hunter, who doesn’t like chewing meat, gobbled up the meatballs.

District 10 - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

I LOVED the look of the Eggs Benedict; poached eggs on toasted muffin with sauteed spinach, smoked salmon & hollandaise sauce ($16). Seriously, how luscious do those eggs look? I suppose it must have been pretty awesome, because Hunter ate it all up and I had……….. none. Next time, I’ll have to order a separate plate just for myself!

District 10 - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

I’ve had the Hoegaarden Battered Fish & Chips; with mint mushy peas & tartare sauce ($22) before and it hasn’t changed a bit since. It’s gorgeous. The beer batter is fluffy and crisp, and the fish is thick and moist and juicy. The fish lay on a (large!) bed of fries, and I’d recommend this dish for a hearty eater – you won’t be disappointed.

District 10 - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

If you’re looking for a real boy’s brunch, you can’t go wrong with their Beef Burger; charcoal-grilled Black Angus patties topped with fried egg, crispy back bacon, cheddar cheese on a sesame bun & served with natural cut fries ($20). That thing is BIG! I actually couldn’t fit my mouth around the whole burger and had to eat it with a fork and knife 😉

The Black Angus beef patty was moist and thick, and the fried egg (with a gooey yolk!) gave the burger a lovely creamy texture and flavour. If the giant burger still isnt’ enough for you, there’s still a tin of chunky fries to go nuts over….

District 10 - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

I left one of the best for the last – the Pizza with Wagyu Beef Cheek Rendang ($29). The pizza dough was fresh and crispy on the edges, and smothered in luscious cheese. But it was the wagyu beef cheek that was the winner – the beef was so tender! I’ve eaten beef on pizza where you’re gnawing away like a rabid animal, but this was the exact opposite. The beef actually wasn’t very spicy (thankfully), despite it being called a ‘rendang’, so the kids could have some.

My wish? That there was more beef on the pizza, because I loved it!

District 10 - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

I believe my juice was a Dragonfruit and pineapple juice, which is listed under their Health Boosters section. Unsweetened, these freshly-squeezed juices were my ticket to convincing myself I was having a very healthy and light lunch 😉 The juice came in a large mason jar, so I was actually pretty full just from the juice alone!

Chris had an Iced latte. You can’t quite go wrong with a coffee at brunch, can you?

District 10 - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Evidently, we are a family of foodies………..

District 10 - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

The kids went back to the bouncy castle after they polished off their food. For an HOUR!! Thank goodness it’s lovely to sit and chill outdoors at District 10, and we had icy drinks to relax over. The kids made friends with a brother-and-sister duo there (I think they were the chef’s kids), so they were kept well occupied and very well babysat by the two lovely older kids.

District 10 - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

This is the interior of District 10. Very different to the chill and bright ambiance of their outdoor seating area, huh? The indoor area is lovely for a quiet dinner date, and I’d imagine it would be great to dine here over a bottle of wine.

District 10 - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 
 
Last Bite: District 10 hits it out of the ballpark with a bouncy castle for kids on weekends. Their brunch menu is simply tops, our kids loved all 5 mains we ordered!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: Yes (in the mall)
Kids’ menu: No

District 10 Bar & Restaurant
UE Square Shopping Mall
81 Clemenceau Ave
Singapore 239917
Phone: 6738 4788
Prices: $$$
Hours: Mon – Thu: 11:30 am – 11:00 pm, Fri – Sat: 11:30 am – 1:00 am, Sun: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm

 
 

GIVEAWAY: One Personal Training session (worth $125) + one Fit Mummy Workout class (worth $55) with Mums In Sync

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I don’t want to be a frumpy mummy anymore but yet I don’t want to work out in a boring gym. So I decided to end my 3-year exercise hiatus and go check out a super lovely gym in a Sentosa resort! That way, I can exercise and be in gorgeous surroundings (with a killer view) – WIN WIN 😀

Aileron Wellness is located within Amara Resort in Sentosa, and specialises in highly-customized personal training.

For mums, however, Mums In Sync are there to cater for your needs. Kareen, the owner and personal trainer, is a mum (of twins!) herself. She knows all about weak stomach muscles, and mummy concerns like flabby stomach (urk), flabby arms (cannot wave at people without setting off a seismic wave), flabby thighs (where did the gap go??), flabby everything, really!

You can read about my experience with Mums In Sync right here.

What I LOVE about Mums In Sync is that it’s not daunting, embarrassing, nor weird at all. Kareen is easy to chat with, and it’s just so much easier working with someone that’s a mum herself (her twins are 3 yrs old). The gym is also full of young male guy trainers if, you know, you feel like some eye candy as you’re working out………………….

But here’s what we have for you this week – not one but TWO ways to win!

Mums In Sync are giving away one 60mins customised
Personal Training session (worth $125)

a Brunch With My Baby giveaway
     

 

Mums In Sync are giving away one 90mins 
Fit Mummy Workout class (worth $55)

  a Brunch With My Baby giveaway

You can submit some of the entries more than once a day, so come back tomorrow to get more entries in the draw.

Giveaways will run from 7 – 13  Mar 2014 inclusive.
Winner’s entry(s) will be verified according to the entry criteria(s).
Winner of Personal Training session may call to arrange their appointment.

Winner of Fit Mummy Workout class may select one of these two sessions: 25 March 10AM, 29 March 3PM

 

So here I am, going nuts at their machine/game that you have to smack as each of the lights light up. By “going nuts”, I mean moving as slow as a sloth – the game is actually super hard!!!!

MumsInSync02

 

This is Kareen, dead lifting 1,000KG. Give or take.

MumsInSync03

 

With Kareen from Mums In Sync, and Keith the owner of Aileron Wellness gym!

MumsInSync04

 

Saving the best part for the last…… FREE FOOD!!!!!

Specifically, a free kaching putih stand in the hotel’s lobby.

MumsInSync05

MumsInSync06

 

And a tip: bring your swimmers. Heck, bring your kids too if you have someone to keep an eye on them. Because they can swim in the THREE pools at the resort! And you can too, after your workout. It makes for a great family activity and you can poke around Sentosa afterwards to chill out 🙂

MumsInSync07

 

Thanks Aileron Wellness and Mums In Sync!

 

BAKER & COOK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

baker & cook

 

Tucked away in a residential area, baker & cook lies among a row of restaurants and shophouses and is always crowded in the mornings. The smell of freshly-baked breads and pastries is gorgeous! They pride themselves as an artisan bakery & foodstore, offering simple but delightful food for brunch.

BakerCook02

 

My Egg mayonnaise, avocado spread and cress tartine ($13) was good. SO. GOOD. It’s a completely simple concept (which I later re-created at home), but executed so perfectly. Their egg mayonnaise was the perfect combination of chilled boiled egg and mayo, and it went so well with the thin slice of sourdough toast. The avocado spread, however, was pretty pathetic – just a tiny smear of avocado that did nothing to the dish. I would have been much more impressed with slices of avocado.

BakerCook04

 

My girl friend opted for the Tuna mayonnaise, parmesan, chopped boiled egg and chives ($13), which was very similar to mine, just with tuna instead.

BakerCook03

 

I forgot to steal some of my other girl friend’s Spanish Omelette (chorizo sausage, red & green capsicum, onion, cheese) ($16), darn! 😉 But the omelette looked plump and juicy. The toast, studded with nuts and seeds, looked thin and crispy, but I don’t think it came with butter to spread on.

BakerCook05

 

An excellent Large latte ($5), with one of the most adorable foam art I have been served. Very well priced for a solid cup of coffee, so absolutely no complaints.

BakerCook06

 

Their counter, laden with beautiful pastries and breads, is a real treat for the eyes (and nose!). I left with a couple of takeaway items to enjoy later 🙂

BakerCook07

 

 
 
Last Bite: baker & cook offer a simple but delicious brunch, and brew a lovely cup of coffee. Don’t forget to take home some breads and pastries before you leave!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

baker & cook
77 Hillcrest Rd
Singapore 288951
Phone: 6469 8834
Prices: $$
Hours: Sunday to Thursday – 7am to 8pm , Friday to Saturday – 7am to 10pm
 
 

TRATTORIA NONNA LINA: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Tanjong Pagar, Singapore

Nonna Lina - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

I’m cheating a little here… I’m doing a shout-out about Trattoria Nonna Lina as a kid-friendly place to go to, but I actually went there without kids! So full disclosure here: I was actually there on a dinner date, but was charmed by the homeliness of the restaurant and warm ambiance that I felt it would be totally somewhere I would bring the kids to. Not to mention how excellent their food is.. I know my kids would go nuts over their pasta!

Nonna Lina is a small and cozy restaurant tucked away in the Tanjong Pagar area. The Italian owner was outside and we felt like we’d stepped into an Italian family’s home when we entered.

Nonna Lina - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

We were served some complimentary bruschetta, which was a very lovely touch. The tomatoes were fresh and creamy, and it was a nice little filler whilst we waited for our dishes to arrive.

Nonna Lina - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

I adored the Homemade pappardelle with Italian sausages in creamy gorgonzola sauce ($27). Admittedly, it was a total artery-clogging dish, but it was so well executed! The thick pappardelle was cooked al dente and doused in the most gorgeous and luscious gorgonzola… oh how I love smelly cheese. The sausage (which was actually sausage meat) was tasty and chunky. I’d expected the dish to be a lot bigger, considering the price, but in retrospect it’s probably best it wasn’t since it was so rich.

Nonna Lina - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Their version of Finely sliced veal with truffle essence and porcini mushrooms, served with homemade potato mash ($31) surprised us because we thought they’d given us the wrong dish when it arrived. I’d expected the veal to be thin slices, escalope style. Instead, it was more like little thin slivers of veal – not that it was a negative thing, but we just didn’t expect it.

This dish looked terrible (definitely not photo-worthy!) but it was a gorgeous dish – the veal was unbelievably tender, and the mushrooms plump and juicy. It was paired very well with the extra-creamy mashed potatoes.

Nonna Lina - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

The STAR dish of the night was the dessert, Traditional homemade Italian chocolate and rum pudding with homemade caramel sauce ($16).

WOW.

I don’t think I’ve tasted a better chocolate pudding.

The chocolate and rum pudding was dense yet not overpowering, silky smooth and slightly chilled. The flavour of the rum really came through, and lended a lovely potent kick to the dessert. The caramel sauce cut through the rum and the mix of the flavours was just top notch.

This was brilliant and one of the best desserts I’ve had. An absolute must order!!!

Nonna Lina - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 
Last Bite: Trattoria Nonna Lina is the place to go for some homestyle Italian cooking. Their dishes are rich and flavourful, but it was their homemade Italian chocolate and rum pudding with homemade caramel sauce that really knocked our socks off!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

Trattoria Nonna Lina
4 Craig Road
Singapore 089664
Phone: 6222 0930
Prices: $$$
Hours: Mon – Sun: 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
 
 

NINE THIRTY BY AWFULLY CHOCOLATE: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, City Hall, Singapore

 

Nine Thirty Awfully Chocolate - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

I’ve been to Nine Thirty three times now.

The first time was with a gf, and I had both kids in tow. It was my UNlucky day and both were creating a ruckus, so zero photos were taken, thanks to them. The second and third times were a lot more chill (read: well behaved), so I can finally write a review!

Opened by Awfully Chocolate, what I particularly like about Nine Thirty is the fact that this lovely restaurant is sunlit and spacious. It’s also mostly empty (it’s in the Esplanade Mall, so not many walk-ins, I’d imagine), which is simply brilliant if you have a kid that’s napping in the stroller, or if your kid wants to wander around a bit.

 

Nine Thirty Awfully Chocolate - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

What had me so delighted (and salivating) was their pictorial menu! They obviously had an AMAZING food photographer do it, because everything looks enticing. It actually makes the process of deciding what to order reaaalllyyyyy difficult.

 

Nine Thirty Awfully Chocolate - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

The Iced Latte ($8) was well-made and was not as watery as many iced lattes out there. That said, it’s pretty steep for $8 (plus gst, plus service charge) so I’m not sure I’d order it again.

Nine Thirty Awfully Chocolate - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

We were delighted with the Corned Beef Benedict with caramelised onions, poached egg and hollandaise sauce ($18). It was brilliant!! The corned beef lended a saltiness to the dish that wasn’t overpowering, and it was beautifully matched with the soft and mild flavour of the egg. Oddly, despite having two slices of bread, only one poached egg is plopped on top. It would have been much better with two eggs.

Note: apologies for the really strange photos below. My camera flicked onto some setting and I didn’t realise it til much later!

Nine Thirty Awfully Chocolate - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

Isn’t the Croque Madame ($15) a beauty? Served in a skillet, this dish was BIG and well worth the money. It had just the right amount of silky sauce to make the bread soft and moist, but not too much so that you really felt the calories. The crispy fried egg was delicious!

Impressively, they didn’t use ‘standard’ shaved ham, but rather FAT slices of ham-off-the-bone. It was fantastic.

Interestingly, the dish was paired with a small pot of sauerkraut and another of olives. They both complemented the dish well. We particularly liked the sweet potato crisps – they were so thin and crispy!

Nine Thirty Awfully Chocolate - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

These dishes below are featured on the Lunch menu.

We weren’t very impressed with the Chicken Noodle Soup ($11). We’d expected it to be enough for a small eater or for a kid’s meal, but it was so tiny it can’t even be considered a dish. There was ONE noodle in there. It was a thick one, but still, it was one noodle. The shredded chicken in there seemed suspiciously cooked earlier via the boiling-to-death method, and was tough, chewy, dry and tasteless. The broth was nice, but nothing spectacular.

Nine Thirty Awfully Chocolate - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

The lunch menu was waved by the Beef Bourguignon with mash ($23). It was pretty pricey, but at least it was lovely. The beef was fork-tender, all plump and moist. The carrots could have been cooked a little longer (they were a bit hard) and there could have been double the amount of potato mash, but overall, the beef was an absolute winner and both kids lapped it right up!

Nine Thirty Awfully Chocolate - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

The Spaghetti Marinara ($18) came out looking very basic and home-cooked. Looks aside, however, it was cooked very well. The sauce was not too sour, and the seafood tasted fresh. It was a very small portion, so avoid this if you’re a big eater.

Nine Thirty Awfully Chocolate - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

Ahhhhhh, their winner, the Salted Butterscotch Brownie from Awfully Chocolate! The brownie was so moist it was more like a fudge cake – just the way I like it. The salted butterscotch was sweet but gave a different flavour to the plain chocolate brownie. My kids ADORED this. And so did I 🙂

Nine Thirty Awfully Chocolate - Brunch With My Baby SingaporeNine Thirty Awfully Chocolate - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

Last Bite: Nine Thirty has a stellar weekend brunch menu, and a pretty decent lunch menu too. Laid back and spacious, it’s a great place to have a relaxed family brunch.

 

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: Yes (in the mall)
Kids’ menu: No

Nine Thirty by Awfully Chocolate
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
8 Raffles Avenue #02-14
Singapore 039802
Phone: 6336 9563
Prices: $$$
Hours: Sun to Thu: 12:00 – 22:00, Fri – Sat: 12:00 – 00:00

GIVEAWAY: One pair of Pediped FLEX shoes (worth $90-99)!

Pediped FLEX - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

PEDIPED is one of the most famous, popular, and stylish shoe brands in Singapore. But I guess you already know that, since you’re a parent!

As of THIS WEEK, pediped are giving up to 50% off newly added sales items including styles from the latest Fall/Winter 2013 collection!

You can shop directly at their site here:

Pediped_FB_Media_FEBSale2c.v2

 

But, here’s what we have for you:

pediped are giving away one pair of FLEX shoes
 (worth $90-99) of your choice!

a Brunch With My Baby giveaway


You can submit some of the entries more than once a day, so come back tomorrow to get more entries in the draw.

Giveaway will run from 28 Feb – 6 Mar 2014 inclusive.
Winner’s entry(s) will be verified according to the entry criteria(s).
Pediped will ship the winner’s choice of FLEX shoe (subject to availability) to any Singapore address.

 

On top of that:

pediped are offering an EXCLUSIVE 10% STOREWIDE DISCOUNT, in addition to any existing discounts already online!
Use code: BWMBPEDIPED

 

Storewide discount is eligible until 6 March 2014 inclusive.

 

Targeted to children aged 1-8 years old, the pediped FLEX range  offers damn cute designs with comfort to boot. What I personally like about the shoes are:

  1. Excellent cushioning at the heel
  2. Cushioned arch support
  3. Flexible soles

 

My kids have a few pairs of pediped shoes, but I like these ones (below) in particular because they’re kind of match-match!

Pediped05

Pediped15

Thanks pediped!

SMOKE SHACK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Telok Ayer, Singapore

Smoke Shack - Brunch With My Baby Sngapore

 

So after my Bodytec workout, I was looking for calories to put back in. Hey, a good workout deserves some kinda reward, right??

I was poking around the area and, wahey! Stumbled upon Far East Square. Within the ground floor alley (I love how it’s made to look like vintage shophouses), there were lots of little eateries and Smoke Shack, a sandwich shop, caught my eye.

 

Smoke Shack - Brunch With My Baby Sngapore

 

Their menu features 8 sandwiches, and that’s it. All seemed fairly similar to me, so it took me ages to decide!

Smoke Shack - Brunch With My Baby Sngapore

 

I always declare “I don’t like sandwiches”. But that’s because I rarely find sandwiches made well. Here’s what impresses me in a sandwich:

  1. It has to be warm. I just can’t stomach cold sandwiches (soooo boring!)
  2. The bun has to be fluffy and soft. Crusty hard rolls are a no-go for me. I don’t like gnawing away like a beaver does on wood.
  3. The insides have to be moist. A dry sandwich is a crime!
  4. The meat has to be absolutely tender. Nothing worse than taking a bite, and having ALL the meat drag out because it’s too tough for your teeth to cut through. Ugh!

So how does Smoke Shack’s Roast Beef ($11) stack up?

Smoke Shack - Brunch With My Baby Sngapore

 

This, my friends, is PERFECTION. I was really stunned that such a gorgeous sandwich existed. It looked good, and it tasted good. Oh my, it really really tasted good!!

The bun was so fluffy and fresh and soft and warm. That alone already made made me happy. I loved how the ingredients were all stacked in neatly, and cut with a super sharp knife. An un-sloppy looking sandwich always looks so pleasing.

But the star was the roast beef – whoooaaaaaa. It was so tender that the beef just bit straight through. You’ll see in the photo below my bite marks through it. No weird tendon bits, no chewy pieces that pulled out of the sandwich cos my teeth couldn’t cut through it.

Smoke Shack - Brunch With My Baby Sngapore

 

So is the place kid-friendly? It’s a bit like sitting in a (nice) food court, so it depends if your kids fare well in that sort of scene or not. However, the area there allows kids to wander up and down where they’ll be in plain sight. There are some water features nearby (also within viewing range) that they can check out.

If your kids are into burgers and sandwiches, Smoke Shack is a fantastic alternative to standard fast food joints.

Smoke Shack - Brunch With My Baby Sngapore

 

And just down the road is Tan Hock Seng Cake Shop (86 Telok Ayer St)! I stumbled upon it and learned that it is a 70 year old bakery, that is about as old school as it gets  – complete with their goodies stacked in cardboard boxes and a whole variety of edibles that I couldn’t identify. I settled on just three types, but am planning to go back and try more!

Smoke Shack - Brunch With My Baby Sngapore Smoke Shack - Brunch With My Baby Sngapore

 

 

 
Last Bite: Smoke Snack is tiny (in both cafe size and menu size), but serves up some incredible sandwiches. The Roast Beef sandwich was divine!
 
Highchairs: No
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

Smoke Shack
2 Amoy Street
#01-01 Far East Square
Singapore 049945
Phone: 6557 2214
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon – Fri: 7:30 am – 7:30 pm