Brew Maison is a Japanese and Korean-inspired Western cafe that quietly opened very recently. Tucked away in a housing estate along Bukit Timah Road, it’s not very noticeable from outside and so has not yet attracted the hordes of cafe goers.

But they’re good. Oh, they’re really good!

I will admit that their decor and crisp turquoise-and-white colour scheme completely delighted and captivated me. They are my dream colours, and exactly what I want (and do) our home to be like. Everything in the cafe is so clean, airy and beautiful.. not to mention the large amount of space it occupies – absolutely perfect for young kids!

We were there for brunch, and this is their menu (below). It’s small, but I LOVE the photos!

The food didn’t take long to arrive, but we amused ourselves by pottering around (it wasn’t busy on a weekend morning) and checking out their decor.

The Cafe Latte was served in a big mug for $4. That is a bargain! It was milky and well balanced. My only complaint was that Brew Maison is famous (or rather, they crow on about this in their Facebook) for foam art on their coffee. It’s gorgeous, from what I’ve seen in photos. But both our coffees had ZERO foam art, not even a miserable little heart.

The Hamago Crossanwich ($5.20) is, dare I say, the cheapest you will find in any cafe in this country. And it was good! It’s a simple dish, and served simply with zero sides, but the ingredients were fresh and the croissant was flaky and buttery.

The Shibuya  ($6.50) looked both unappetizing and unexciting when it arrived. But it was AMAZING. My favourite dish and I’d order it again in an instant.

It consisted of a very special bagel at the bottom. Normally bagels are tough and chewy. This was soft and I could bite through it easily.. it was more of a bagel-soft bun? Big slices of shitake mushrooms sat on top of it, followed by a generous layer of soft sweet cooked onions (oh man these were good), followed by a big dollop of creamy scrambled eggs, and topped with a sprinkle of seaweed.

It sounds (and looks) odd, doesn’t it?? But it was excellent!! The flavours went together in perfect harmony and I would consider this to be their signature dish. 

The Tamago Sandwich ($4.30) was also very reasonably priced, and was a solid, good dish. We really enjoyed the fluffy and light brioche-style bread, with chilled egg and very fresh shredded lettuce inbetween. Yes, again, it’s a simple meal… but Brew Maison somehow manage to execute it very well.

Carter was very, very pleased with the food!

The L’experience chocolate cake ($4) had me REELING. It is beyond good. I wouldn’t consider it a cake. Think more of a chocolate mousse/rich cream.. sitting on top of a crispy base. It quite literally melts in your mouth, is full of rich chocolate flavour, yet doesn’t give the ‘heaviness’ of a dense chocolate cake.

It was amazing.

A definite must-order and I hope they never remove this from the menu!

Chris and Carter, food coma’d out from that luscious chocolate cake……

Is Brew Maison Carter-approved? Oh YES it is!

Last Bite: Brew Maison can serve up a main + dessert at under $10, which is no mean feat! The food is simple but well-executed, and we were delighted with the lovely ambiance and service.

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

Brew Maison
383 Bukit Timah Rd,
#01-9B Alocassia Apartments
Singapore 259727
Prices: $$
Hours:
Mon – Fri: 7:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sat – Sun: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm

Three Hands Coffee has just opened its doors at Binjai Park, in the Upper Bukit Timah Area!

I’m completely delighted because there aren’t that many coffee places in the West side of Singapore, so I always welcome a new one.

It shares premises with Taberna Wine Academy (which opens in the evening), and thus Three Hands Coffee is only open in the daytime. It’s not immediately obvious that this place exists (they’re still working on getting signage up), so you have to poke around for a bit!

The interior is spacious and very comfortable. Check out all those sofas! SO good for kids to chill out on.

Despite the incredible rows and rows of wine bottles all around the cafe, Carter didn’t knock or smash any (whew), and spent most of the time lounging around on the comfortable sofas like he owned the place.

This small counter area is where the magic happens. They brew their coffee here, and also heat up some pastries and savory dishes.

On the side wall is a few drawers crammed with pastries galore.

Their coffee, brewed from beans by Papa Palheta, is done very carefully. Each morning, the barista calibrates the machine just-so, because the beans vary.

The result is a balanced, rich cup of coffee. I know there’s zero bitterness, because I drank this with no sugar. I never drink coffee with no sugar.

They are still in the process of bringing in a proper savory menu.

For now, we were treated to a little off-the-menu goody – a toasted butter croissant with shaved ham, cheese and greens.

It was very fresh, and I loved the golden croissant, which wasn’t oily at all.

We also had their Almond croissant, which we thoroughly enjoyed because it wasn’t too sugary. It was flaky, yet moist inside, and the almonds were crunchy and fresh.

 
Last Bite: Three Hands Coffee is new on the block, and already wows with their carefully-brewed coffee and fresh pastries.
 
Highchairs: No (in the process of getting them)
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

Three Hands Coffee
17 Binjai Park
Singapore 589825
Phone: n/a
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon – Sun: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
 
 

I have such a soft spot for The French Ladle. It’s pretty close to where we live, and is what I consider to be a kickass French restaurant in a neighbourhood area. The service is good. Always good. And their food? It never fails to impress us, and I’ve been there almost ten times!

The inside feels really homely, and seats just a few tables. It’s busy on weekday lunches and weekends, but is quieter on weekday evenings. Specials are written up on the blackboard.

Look! Hunter was presented with some paper and a set of coloured pencils to draw with. He loved scribbling away, and I was delighted that he was kept amused during the meal.

Complimentary warm baguette with salted butter. There is much to be said about a restaurant that serves complimentary chilled water AND a bread basket. It is SO appreciated, especially because we all know about kids and their insane obsession with carbs….. Hunter self-buttered each slice and… errr…. ate the whole basket.

Their Mushroom soup comes thick with mushrooms, and is served piping hot.

I was initially disinterested with the Mushroom risotto when it arrived. It’s a vegetarian dish – not my cup of tea 😉 But…. I LOVED it when I had a bite, and proceeded to scoop more onto my plate 😉 The dish was laden with fat chunky mushrooms (of various varieties), draped with creamy risotto rice and perked up with shaved Parmesan. Oooo… it was delicious! The sweetness of the mushrooms really came through, contrasting with the softness of the buttery risotto.

We were so impressed with their Steak frites. The shoestring fries were a hit with Hunter (no surprise there), but it was the steak that I loved. It was meaty, and a great bite, and was served with just a small dollop of herbed butter so the beef flavour really came through. It was cooked to perfection. Served at a sizeable portion, this is great if you’re into red meat.

And… what I thought was the best dish.. the Duck confit pasta. I think this is one of the best pastas I’ve eaten – ever. The spaghetti was cooled el dente, enveloped in a light cream sauce (that was not too thick or overpowering), and scattered with Parmesan. But it was the duck confit that had us reeling – it was astonishingly tender and moist, and in FAT chunks! In fact, I ended up with lots of duck left over, and not much noodles to go around 😉

An absolute must-order!

Last Bite: The French Ladle offers home-style French food that is absolutely delicious. We never fail to leave impressed. Their Duck confit pasta is a winner in our book!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

The French Ladle
2 Pandan Valley
Pandan Valley Condominium #01-206
Singapore 597626
Phone: 6467 7505
Prices: $$$
Hours:
Tue – Fri: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sat: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
 
 

Remember I visited The Living Cafe a couple of weeks ago? Back then, all I had was a Soy latte, which is a pretty poor effort for a food review 😉

Well, I went back! With Chris in tow! He was both horrified and interested at The Living Cafe, after learning that they do no red meat, no cow dairy, no white sugar, no preservatives, no additives, no artificial colorings and include gluten free alternatives on the menu. The specialise in raw food, or raw-fusion food. And that sort of spiel is enough to make a grown man shudder 😉

And it was surprisingly packed out on a weekend brunch. Almost every table consisted of at least one foreigner, so I suppose it’s pretty hot with the expat community. I don’t think your typical ‘ol local Singaporean auntie or uncle is going to be able to stomach this kind of food.

I didn’t realise the last time I went, but the cafe provides colouring paper and crayons for kids, which is popped on a small stool near the front entrance. It’s actually the kids menu (which looks good), but Carter had a grand ol time scribbling all over it with gusto.

I had a Flat white with hazelnut milk ($5.50) and, I gotta say, it’s way better than soy milk. It basically tasted like it was made with regular milk! Sadly though, no nice foam art so the coffee looked pretty basic, and it was served in a tiny cup.

The 6th Avenue rosti ($20) Sweet potato rosti, smoked salmon, avocado, poached egg, wasabi mayo was outstanding. TRULY AMAZING. I personally thought it was one of the best brunch rostis I’ve had. The sweet potato used is a winner (as compared to the regular potato version), and the egg was poached to perfection. The avocado (it was originally asparagus but I swapped it to avocado) was perfectly ripened, and the whole dish was a luscious explosion of sweet and salty, crisp and creamy.

The portion size is very small, and would be best made 50% larger, but at least it is kick-ass amazing.

Chris opted for the Hormone free chicken, onions, goats cheese, cashew cheese pizza ($20), and it actually did come out looking like a pizza! The base, however, didn’t taste like a regular pizza base. It has more of a pita texture and floppiness (it’s very thin), and very grainy because of all the wholemeal flour used. I’m not saying this is bad, but it was just very different to regular pizza dough. If you’re aware of this and embrace the fact, you’ll like it 🙂

The toppings were delicious – the chicken was tender and chunky, and the cheese gave it the necessary kick of flavour. The pesto was a little on the skimpy side, so the edges became a tad dry (because, again, the wholemeal flour is different to regular pizza dough).

Still, a very impressive effort to recreate a healthy wholemeal pizza, and it was pretty good!

Oh boy, their Raw chocolate ganache tart ($8.90) is fabulous. Ask for it to arrive with your food, and set it aside to come to room temperature by the time you finish your mains. It’s not chocolate, it’s cacao, but it damn near tastes just like chocolate! Very rich, very creamy chocolate, in fact.

The base is a mix of nuts and coconut oil, so it does give off a strong coconut flavour. I normally don’t like coconut, but this sat well with me. It’s a bit chewy, a bit crumbly, and very good paired with the rich creamy chocolate.

 
Last Bite: The Living Cafe’s brunch menu truly impressed us with it’s thoughtfully cooked and delicious food. Their 6th Avenue Rosti is a mustorder!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: Yes

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
 
 

Carpenter & Cook has a pretty unfortunate location for most (it’s far out west) but since I do live far out west, I consider it a pretty brilliant location! 😉 That said, I do reckon it’s worth the trip because you’ll find few (no?) cafes like it in Singapore.

Look at the cafe, in all it’s beautiful vintage charm:

Most of the vintage decor and furniture in the cafe is up for sale, but they don’t come cheap. Personally, I love poking around their lovely cookies-in-a-bag and homemade jam (which are delicious!).

They don’t do any freshly-cooked hot food, which is a bit odd and a huge shame. To compensate, they offer a (pretty impressive) selection of pastries, tarts, and desserts. Everything is displayed by the counter, which is fantastic for a visual order-er such as myself. I feel like I’m spoiled for choice!

Some of their beverages are served in these gorgeous old-school mugs. I LOVE them. Complimentary water is offered – huge props to them for this!

Their coffee comes in a tiny mug, but is deliciously creamy.

The Croissant is a total STAR. Flaky layers of pastry, with a buttery fluffy inside. Carter gobbled this right up!

I personally love the Almond croissant, which I’d recommend if you feel like something sweet. It’s a regular croissant draped in a crisp almond ‘cap’, and scattered with almond flakes. Delicious.

Their Quiche was a startlingly tiny slice for the price, I’d expected double the portion size. It’s enough for a petite snack, but is not sufficient (by FAR) if you’re thinking of having this dish as a main meal. That’s a shame, because the quiche is delicious, especially that buttery crumbly crust.

Ahhh their Sea salt and caramel chocolate tart, which is famous by now. I’ve had it almost ten times, and it’s consistently good. It’s small for what you pay, but at least it’s done perfectly!

Their Brownie pales in comparison to the chocolate tart (above). It’s nice, but nothing to shout about. In fact, I’ve actually completely forgotten what this tasted like..

Standing near the entrance of Carpenter & Cook, isn’t the interior just lovely?!

 
Last Bite: Carpenter & Cook serves up absolutely delicious pastries, tarts and desserts, albeit on the tiny side. But it’s the gorgeous vintage interior that truly charms us!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

Carpenter & Cook
19 Lorong Kilat #01-06
Singapore 598120
Phone: 6463 3648
Prices: $$
Hours:
Tue – Sat: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sun: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
 
 

I’ve been to The Marmalade Pantry at the stables a couple of times, but never had a chance to write a review. I’m not sure why I never got round to it, because it’s a fantastic place for the family! The car park area is outdoors (the restaurant is in a standalone building) so be prepared for a super-heated car afterwards, but at least in the meantime, you’ll be dining in cool comfort indoors (though there are outdoor tables).

I’ve always loved The Marmalade Pantry for their drinks – they are consistently good. I personally find the Strawberry shake with ice cream ($9) is heart-stoppingly expensive (hey, it can get me THREE meals at the hawker centre!) but damn it is good. And at least it’s served in a large glass. It’s thick, full of ice cream, loads of flavour, and has fresh strawberries. The kids LOVE this shake, so this is always a must-order for us.

And their Iced Latte ($9) is always a winner. If I remember correctly, the menu said it had ice cream in it, but I also don’t -recall ours having any on this particular day, apart from lots of ice to chill the coffee-poured-on-top-of-milk combination. It’s a delight to have this chilled drink, though, on a hot and lazy weekend. Just a shame about the price!

Hunter and Carter share a Scrambled eggs with sausages and toast soldiers ($12), from the kids menu. The polish half off each, and are still hungry. So I realise that the portion size is pretty small for a kid and very young children can order one meal each. The eggs are done well, and the sausage is tasty, so I’m just happy they’ve gobbled it all up.

I’m impressed with the Steak sandwich with wasabi mayonnaise, caramelized onions and rocket ($24) and how it is presented. Laid out on a large platter, this is an EXCELLENT dish for a hearty eater – you won’t be disappointed. Even if the steak and large bun doesn’t fill you, there’s a tumble of (absolutely delicious) sweet potato fries that will.

The Spaghetti carbonara with soft-cooked egg, bacon bits and parsley ($24) is freaking awesome. It always is, every single time. The sauce is beautifully creamy, the bacon bits are charred perfectly, and that wonderful poached egg…. ooh!! This dish is a winner if you’re into more-ish creamy foods.

After you’ve had your meal, the kids can stretch their legs at the horse stables right outside. The grass is green, the great outdoors does such good thing for kids, and we are all happy. The kids are delighted to check out the horses up-close!

 
A bit of a photo dump, but I just adore these photos my girl friend took of the kids! Sorry for the photo spam! 😛

 
Last Bite: Marmalade Pantry do killer (but expensive) drinks, and delicious mains. But what we love most is checking out the horses afterwards!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: Yes

Marmalade Pantry
55 Fairways Dr
Singapore 286846
Phone: 6467 7748
Prices: $$$
Hours:
Tue – Fri: 15:00 – 23:00
Sat – Sun: 10:00 – 23:00