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ANTOINETTE @ PALAIS RENAISSANCE: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Orchard Road, Singapore

October 16, 2013 / Food Reviews, Orchard Road, Palais Renaissance, Singapore / 0 comment

I’m always so entranced whenever I step into Antoinette at the Palais Renaissance. Situated in the basement of the mall, it’s like stepping into a pretty English garden. The sunlight streams in through the high roof, showing off the beautiful white decor. They place lots of greenery around the restaurant, so it’s not too stark white, and the wooden chairs have blue cushions to soften the look.

The area in the middle is circular and actually excellent for babies and young children, as they somewhat ‘contained’ in that space (just gotta watch they don’t tumble off the step!). Even if you sit outside that circle area, kids can still walk/run laps around – kind of like a race track 😉

Antoinette was quiet when we were there on a weekday lunch, with two other tables there besides us. Just as well, as less chance of diners/wait staff tripping over kids!

I’m so charmed by their high chairs. They’re white wood (of course), with a rattan back and cushioned seat. A refreshing (and luxe!) change from the standard Ikea high chairs. Bonus points: Carter didn’t seem to mind it and managed to sit through lunch before yelling to be taken out.

I had a Ratoutille with fried egg and serrano ham that I completely forgot to photograph, because I was too eager to stuff it into a hungry Carter. He thoroughly enjoyed the soft vegetables mixed in with the fried egg, and ate the entire thing. So, I guess this is a thumbs up!

My main was the Red wine wagyu beef ragout, which floored me. It looked really moreish, more like a dinner item than a lunch!

It was beautifully presented. A thick slab of wagyu beef that rippled with fat, and was soft and moist in the mouth. It was paired well with the plain olive oil tossed pasta, and sat on a bed of creamy mash. The asparagus was tender but still crisp, and lent a pop of bright green to the dish.

A very hearty meal, especially for lunch. But I loved it.

I’m a fan of their coffees here. My Latte came out in a regular coffee cup, which confused me. Aren’t lattes normally in a tall glass? Nevertheless, it was good, and polished off my meal very well.

Last Bite: Antoinette at the Palais Renaissance offers a refined and quiet lunch during weekdays. Their set lunch is a real steal, and staff are extremely accommodating with kids.

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

Antoinette
Palais Renaissance
#B1-08/09/10C
390 Orchard Road
Phone: 6735 6392
Prices: $$
Hours: Daily 11:00am – 10:00pm

GRUB @ Bishan Park: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bishan, Singapore

October 15, 2013 / Bishan, Food Reviews, Singapore / 0 comment

I’ve blogged about GRUB before, but that was over their weekend brunch. This time, we were there for an early dinner!

Here’s a little tip: GRUB opens at 5:30PM. By then, you’ll see the eager beavers skulking around the park, waiting to dash over to grab a table once the cafe opens. So, if you’re already there, you can be an eager beaver too and be seated right on the dot at 5:30PM, meaning you get a table straightaway (GRUB almost always has a queue).

What we do is pop over just before then, and let the kids stretch their legs in the park. That way, even when we get our table, I can do the ordering and the kids can continue playing in the park right up until the food arrives. We waste no time, the kids get maximum playing time, and everybody is happy.

As expected, there are heaps of people lurking around GRUB by the time we are ready to eat. And the kids sure are ready to have their dinner, since they’ve already used up a bunch of energy whizzing around the park.

I love their Crabbies ginger beer. It’s served icy cold and is practically the drink to have after a walk around the park.

We kicked off with their Compressed Tomato Salad, with Feta, Rocket and Pine Nuts (S$7). I’ve heard so many raves for this dish, but never ordered it because it’s… errmm.. salad. I have issues with ordering salad. Salad and I do not agree.

I was surprised by the tomatoes. The reviews are true – they do taste different! I hear they are marinated in a vacuum, thus making the tomatoes ultra juicy, soft and sweet. If you don’t normally like tomatoes, I reckon you’ll like this version.

The rocket leaves were horrific to me, I hate rocket.

Nice scattering of feta cheese and pinenuts, that complemented the tomatoes really well.

I had a Pork steak burger with apples, cashew chimichurri ($12). It’s a popular burger and one of my faves. The bun is super soft and fluffy, and the sauce is a fantastic and interesting mix. But what gets me is the PORK! It’s literally a steak of pork, all chunky and meaty. And it is soooooooooooo freakinnnnn soft. Absolutely tender, my kids can eat it (note: Carter only has two bottom teeth).

I swapped my fries for mashed potato, and you’ll see why later. Frankly, next time I’ll always swap it for the mash, because my kids can eat it, and it’s ridiculously yummy. The fact that it’s made of real potatoes on premises delights me, because I am still grossed out by the fact that most eateries in Singapore used re-constituted/powdered mash potato – I mean, how unappetizing is that? I certainly don’t want my kids eating that kind of food.

I always see people ordering the Grilled chicken leg with honeyed feta, roasted peppers, mash, rocket and corn salsa ($15). I guess it’s a healthy dish, so it appeals? I really like how it’s boneless, so it comes out almost looking like a giant sausage. The chicken is very moist, and the salsa is paired well with it. That said, in general I find chicken a very boring dish so I rarely order it for myself.

This is their signature GRUB cheeseburger with 100% freshly minced beef patty and Monterey Jack cheese ($13). It ain’t a huge burger, but the price point is really good, considering it comes with a big cup of fries. The patty is fresh and tastes distinctly like real beef. I feel the need to point this out since a lot of burger patties taste…. un-meat-like.

One of our favourite dishes? The Slow roasted pork belly with mango sauce, mash, and cherry tomato salsa ($15). A photo of this bad boy always shows up on blogs and social media channels, and I can see why. It’s blimmin’ AWESOME!!!!!

I must caveat – my photo looks positively unappetizing because it kinda got mangled (forgot to take a photo when it first arrived) and the light was not in my favour when we were dining there.. so in fact, most of my food photos don’t look very nice 🙁

But anyway. This pork belly is a real doozy. It is UTRA TENDER with just the right amount of fat through the meat. You can cut it with a fork, it’s that soft. But my favourite is the crisp exterior, which is seasoned to perfection. It’s paired beautifully with their creamy mash, and studded with sweet cherry tomatoes.

Leaving the best for the last, and here it is…….

MENTAIKO FRIES!!!!!

GRUB has just launched these and hooboy, they take the cake over truffle fries for me. You get a big bowl loaded with fries, and they drizzle their homemade mentaiko sauce all over it (they provide a pot of sauce on the side if you’re like us and want mooooorrrrre), then toss on a bunch of seaweed.

The combination is pretty mind blowing.

I find it very hard to describe here, but think fries dipped in a sauce that’s like mayonnaise-on-steroids. It’s creamy, but has a real punch of flavour in it. And coupled with the shreds of seaweed? (note I don’t normally like seaweed) It’s AWESOME.

I can’t wait to go back and order another bout of these.

Obviously, as you can tell from below, the kids loved it.

And since we had an early dinner, the kids still have a bit of time to run around Bishan Park afterwards, while the sun sets.

Oh, to be so young and carefree……

Big kids wearing Elly.
Hunter’s sunglasses by sons+daughters from nottoobig.
Ybike (blue) from Mothercare.
Last Bite: Go to GRUB for an early dinner, and let your kids stretch your legs in Bishan Park at sunset. Their burgers are always spot-on, but our favourite is the slow roasted pork belly.

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes. Strollers and wheelchairs have a gated side entrance.
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No. The premise of the cafe is that kids can eat off the main menu.

GRUB
Bishan Park
510 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 (enter off Sin Ming Ave, opposite Blk 408)
Singapore 569983
Phone: 64595743 (no reservations)
Prices: $$
Hours: Tue-Fri 5:30pm– 10:30pm, Sat-Sun and PH 9:00am–2:30pm 5:30pm–10:30pm

Our aden+anais sleeping bag giveaway is still on…!

October 14, 2013 / Giveaways, Singapore / 0 comment

Have you entered our aden+anais sleeping bag giveaway yet? It ends this Friday, and is super easy to join, so hop on over and pop yourself in the running.

GOOD LUCK!

THE PROVIDORE

October 14, 2013 / Food Reviews, Mandarin Gallery, Orchard Road, Singapore / 2 Comments

The Providore is an open-concept cafe in (relatively quiet) Mandarin Gallery on Orchard Road. I finally managed to pay it a visit last week. I love the cafe layout. They have jams, teas and coffee for sale in pretty jars and tins on one side, and a scattering of tables around the cafe.

I personally felt that the air-conditioning is pretty chilly in the mall, so I selected a seat near the glass doors with the hope that some fresh (warm) air would gust in whenever someone walked through the doors. It somewhat worked.

Their Latte was a delight. Served piping hot, it was rich and smooth and…… “LOOK! Heart!” said Hunter.

The Mocha was mixed with liquid chocolate – thumbs up. Cannot stand mocha drinks mixed with chocolate powder.

We enjoyed a quiet chat whilst waiting for our food to arrive. The open-concept layout of the cafe and laid back vibe seemed to go down well with Hunter, who was very well behaved and fun for most of our meal. He was rewarded later with some time on the iPad, and had us adults singing “Tayo tayo tayo!” loudly. AHEM.

The Grilled ham and cheese toastie ($14.50) came out looking exceedingly bland. This was also due to the fact that I asked it to be served on their “softest bread”, since it was meant for Hunter. The sandwich came out looking like… well… something I slapped together at home.

It was very dry and hard to swallow, though the flavours were good. I cut off all the crusts (which was dry and had no ingredients) and fed him the middle bit, and he did eat it – so I was relieved that at least someone enjoyed it!

The Providore have a rotating Lunch Specials menu, and one of the items there that day was Spaghettini with seared tuna ($25.50). I thought spaghettini was very very thin spaghetti, but this was regular spaghetti. Not that it’s a bad thing, but just odd that they mislabeled something like that. The pasta was good, with fresh tuna and lots of stewed tomatoes in the sauce. Hunter loved this.

I thought the Steak sandwich ($14.50) was a winner, and great value considering the woeful Ham & Cheese Toastie was the same price! It was a petite portion (especially the steak), but was beautifully executed. The bread was fluffy, soft and warm. And the steak – ohhhhh, delicious! So absolutely tender with no weird rind bits. They were a little heavy handed with the mustard (it made us reel), but we still really enjoyed this dish.

I saw the Red Velvet Cake on the menu and couldn’t resist. The cake itself was perfectly moist and just tangy enough – lovely. However, the layers of cream didn’t sit well with us – it was so sugary we had to scrape it all off (and believe me, I can take sugar!). In fact, it seemed that so much sugar was added to the cream/icing that it had reached saturation point – as we could actually detect crunchy bits of sugar through it. Ack. So, in short, superb cake, terrible icing.

Last Bite: The Providore offers a casual, open-concept approach that is great for kids. The food is average-to-nice, but what we really enjoyed here was their fantastic beverages.

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: Yes, in mall’s bathroom
Kids’ menu: No

The Providore
Mandarin Gallery
333A Orchard Road #02-05
Singapore 238897
Phone: 6732 1565
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon – Sun: 9:00 am – 10:30 pm

Why Dining Out With Kids Is An Extreme Sport

October 12, 2013 / Articles, Singapore / 0 comment

Why Dining Out With Kids Is An Extreme Sport

Reckon you’re the epitome of calm and zen?

Pretty sure you have the ability to control and contain any situation?

I thought I did.

Then out popped my 2-year-old and 1-year-old, and they brought the notion of competitive eating to a whoooooole new level. I’ve never had to skill up so quickly!

So here’s fair warning for the day you have your own kids, and step out all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in anticipation of a leisurely lunch.

If you would like to experience what it’s like to eat out with toddlers, why not follow the steps below?

When you first walk in:
Ask your waiter for a high chair. Leave it empty.
Set a chicken (a live one) down on the floor and shut your eyes for half-a-second.
Go chase the chicken.
When you find your chicken, place it in the high chair.
Ensure chicken sits appropriately and does not exit high chair for the next hour.
Congratulations. You are now ready to enter a restaurant with toddlers.

When you want to order food:
Hold your menu and look at it for one second.
Turn it upside down.
Flip it over.
Bang it on the table. If you have two menus, bang them together like cymbals.
Smack yourself in the head with it.
Throw it on the ground.
Pick it back up and colour on it with some crayons, or simply tear it.
Hold it as far away as you can and read only the first 3 items on the menu.
Congratulations. You are now ready to order from the menu with toddlers.

When you’re waiting for your food:
Put on your earphones and blast Justin Beiber’s “Baby” at top volume. On repeat.
Take out your bag containing 10 different toys. Make sure you do this calmly.
Place one toy on the table.
Smear your fingers in butter, and pick it up.
Throw it on the floor.
Repeat this with the other 9 toys.
Pack all 10 toys back into your bag. They are nowhere near as fascinating as the salt and pepper shakers.
Congratulations. You are now ready to wait for your food with toddlers.

When you want to feed a toddler:
Place a bowl on the lazy susan. Spin it.
Get a dozen eggs.
Place eggs, one by one, into the spinning bowl.
Go to the bathroom between each egg. Spend 5 mins in there coaxing yourself to do a wee.
Pick the bowl up and throw it on the ground. The eggs weren’t good anyway.
Find some cooked spaghetti strands, and repeat the process.
Throw all the food away.
Congratulations. You are now ready to feed toddlers.

When you want to enjoy your meal:
Admire how good your dish looks and smells when it arrives.
Let it cool down for 30 mins.
When sufficiently stone cold, proceed to eat. Set your timer for 2 minutes.
Congratulations. You are now ready to eat your meal with toddlers.

When you need to clean up after eating:
Place some jelly and biscuits in a blender. Leave the lid off.
Put blender under table and turn it on.
Use the restaurant’s allocated 1 napkin to clean it all up, your hands included.
Ask for your bill, pretending nothing ever happened.
Congratulations. You are now ready to clean up after toddlers.

Now you’re ready to walk out of the restaurant … leaving you feathery eggs and jelly works of art behind. Plaster on your most winning smile, blurt out “sorry for the mess!”, grab your chicken, and JUST LEG IT OUTTA THERE.

And if you’re already a parent? Take the easy way out, and visit a child-friendly restaurant in Singapore. Your toddler may not make it any easier for you, but hey, at least you’ll have company to commiserate with!

This article was originally written for Material World.

Here’s an aden+anais giveaway to celebrate over 1,000 followers!

October 11, 2013 / Giveaways, News, Singapore / 35 Comments

We have something very special to celebrate – we’ve turned ONE WEEK OLD!

Actually, we turned one week old three days ago, but errrrrrrrr who’s counting 😉

Thank you for visiting, and for reading Brunch With My Baby Singapore. We’ve only been live for 1 week, but I hope we’ve brought you a few ideas on where to eat out with your family. Stay tuned though, there are way more cafes to come. Waaaaaaaaayyyyyyy more. Obviously I eat out too much.

What have we achieved in our first week? We’ve hit over 1,000 followers on our Facebook! AWESOMESAUCE!!!! (If you haven’t already “LIKE”d us on Facebook, what are you waiting for buddy?)

Anyway.

LET’S CELEBRATE OUR 1-WEEK BIRTHDAY *AND* 1,000 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS WITH OUR FIRST GIVEAWAY!!!!

I’m so excited about this giveaway, because it is from one of my favourite baby brands – aden+anais! I’m also a little biased since their founder, Raegan Moya-Jones, hails from Australia.

They need no introduction, but here goes: aden+anais make superior muslin swaddles for your baby, in adorable prints. They also make sleeping bags, bibs, and other baby-related goodies, all with their trademark soft muslin. They’ve also branched out into skincare recently, which I’ve been using on myself and the kids. If you haven’t heard of aden+anais, you probably would have seen their muslin – made famous by Prince George!

My kids own a few aden+anais sleeping bags because they are just SO comfortable. They’re extremely breathable, yet provide comfort. They also come in a wide variety of colours and prints that are so adorable!

aden+anais are being wonderful and giving away one sleeping bag (worth SG$49.90) to a lucky reader!

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

a Brunch With My Baby Singapore giveaway

Giveaway will run from 11 Oct to 18 Oct 2013.
Winner to pick up at a Singapore address.
Winner may select an aden+anais sleeping bag from available stock.

You can find aden+anais stocked at all Mothercare branches and selected retailers.

THANK YOU aden+anais!

REVOLUTION COFFEE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Buona Vista, Singapore

October 10, 2013 / Buona Vista, Food Reviews, Singapore / 5 Comments

We had trouble finding Revolution Coffee on our first visit. I diligently typed in the address into Google Maps on my iPhone, and it took me on a never-ending loop around the area. In the end, I just used a bit of common sense (ie. there is only ONE building in the nearby vicinity), and we found it. The secret? Just look for the big building called “Infinite Studios” and you won’t go wrong!

Having only recently opened (mid-2013), it’s quickly become one of my favourite places to hang out with kids in tow. To guess why, just check out what Hunter is looking at………………………….

THERE’S A TOY TRICYCLE IN THERE!!!!!!

Hunter had sharp eyes and spotted it from far away, making a desperate bee-line straight for it. It’s a total hit with the kids. Only point to note – there is one tricycle, so if there is more than one kid that likes it… well…. you may have a small problem on your hands.

We had both kids keen on it, but did a pretty good job in “taking turns”. At least there was no bashing up involved!

I particularly like the little nook at the far end of Revolution Coffee, with low padded chairs and a dinky coffee table made from crates. If you have kids, you’ll like this area too since it’s a little tucked into the corner. Note, however, that a lot of things in this cafe is kid-grabbing height.. so if you have a grabber, you might want to keep an extra sharp eye out on them.

I’ll cut straight to it – the coffee is really good. Owner Ajie Permana brought the art of coffee making from Australia and it shows. I particularly enjoyed the Latte ($5.50), which was smooth and creamy, yet packed a real punch. Only downside? It came in a tiny glass, and I would have liked it double-sized.

Their menu is really basic. I was pretty disappointed because I personally like hot food, and the menu was mostly salads and sandwiches. Reluctantly, I opted for the Roast beef sandwich ($11.90). I was, however, delighted when it arrived. It was a sizeable chunk and had lots of tender roast beef in it, and was sufficient in filling me up.

The Spaghetti amatriciana ($9.50) was ordered specifically for the kids, and was described as pasta with tomatoes, so I expected it to be dull. We were so surprised when we discovered it was excellent! It was a large portion of pasta that was silky with a distinctive flavour – like it was handmade. I doubt their pasta is handmade (please correct me if I’m wrong), but it was delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed the stewed tomatoes that it came with – in generous portions and bursting with sweetness.

Hunter ate a huge amount of this dish, so I was happy.

Their Freshly baked banana bread ($4.50) appears to be their signature cake, as I hear it often sells out. However, the kids weren’t interested in it (we couldn’t tell whether it was because they weren’t impressed with it, or if they were already full from their lunch), and when I ate some of it, it didn’t stand out to me either. It is served with homemade yogurt but it didn’t wow me and I would have preferred some slightly-salted butter.

Their rendition of Affogato ($6) is so good it BLEW MY MIND. This is the must-order dish!! They take one of their cookies and crush it into a glass cup, top it off with vanilla ice cream, and serve it with an espresso shot for you to pour over. The coffee soaks into the biscuit, and the ice cream brings it all together to create an utterly spectacular dessert that is bitter yet sweet, crunchy yet smooth. It is such a winner.

The kids had a great time having free reign over the cafe (it’s not too crowded on weekdays) and cycling around outside. Hunter still remembers it as that cafe with a tricycle!

Last Bite: Revolution Coffee offers a casual spot for a simple lunch. Their coffee and affogato are total hits, as is the tricycle that kids can play on.

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

Revolution Coffee
Infinite Studios building
21 Media Circle, #01-03A
Singapore 138562
Phone: 6777 2110
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon – Fri: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sat – Sun: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

SINGAPORE POLO CLUB: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Thomson, Singapore

October 9, 2013 / Food Reviews, Singapore, Thomson / 1 Comment

We’ve been in Singapore for over two years, and only just discovered the Singapore Polo Club. And…. it is an absolute HIT with the kids! Seriously, it is more of an entertainment-playground that it is a cafe.

The Singapore Polo Club is open to the public on Mon-Fri. But, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5PM onward, there is something special for the little ones – POLO MATCH! With horses! (obviously)

So here’s what we do.

We rock up at 5PM and the kids get more and more excited as we turn into the parking lot, because they know what’s coming (we’ve been here a few times already). They immediately run into The Verandah, the el fresco cafe that overlooks a huge race track and makes it feel like you’re in the of nowhere – it is so tranquil and chill. It’s very casual so we can rock up in our sleeveless tops, shorts and flip flops, and feel right at ease.

The kids spend most of the time hanging on the balcony railing, all wide-eyed, fascinated with the horses trotting right past their noses. And yes, there’s a polo match that starts at 5PM which is great fun for the kids to watch. Only problem is that Hunter always pines for and asks to sit on a horse the whole time.

But, beyond the horse-y parts, there is also a swimming pool. Complete with a big tank of free-flow iced water by the side. Wonderful for a splish-splash in the afternoon before you sit down for an early dinner.

But wait, there’s more! There’s even a shaded playground that is neat and clean, and offers a great way to get rid of excess energy (parents, you’ll know by now kids need to do this, so they’ll be able to sit still for their meal afterwards).

The Singapore Polo Club also has a spacious bathroom (that is, oddly, well air-conditioned) with shower facilities as well as a changing table. Very handy if you have kids in diapers with you.

The food is reasonably priced (most dishes range from $10-$15 for the public, members are a dollar or two cheaper), and quite tasty. Both kids always eat very well when we’re there – partly due to the fact that they spend most of the time distracted, gawking at the horses!

The Chicken Satay is always a winner, as the kids love holding the sticks and nibbling on the meat. The satay sauce is not too spicy, so Carter actually eats it (not Hunter, he’s morbidly afraid of spicy food).

I personally love their KL Hokkien Noodles, which come in a large serving and is studded with lots of seafood. It’s lovely comfort food, very tasty, and easy for me to eat with one hand if I’m dealing with a kid with the other. I want to note, however, that one of the times I ordered it, it was a little too salty for our liking.

We always order this Horfun (with seafood or beef) with gravy for both kids. They pretty much polish this off between the two of them. The noodles are silky and slippery, and beautifully charred. The gravy is rich and thick with egg, and is very tasty without being overly salty. I also like to snip up the green veg and mix it in for them.

The only dish I didn’t like was the Fish and Chips. I’ve only ordered it once, so perhaps I just lucked out and it’s better other times. At first I was really impressed that it came in a HUGE serving size – two fat chunks of fish on a big bed of fries. The fish was moist and well-done, however, the batter was just so oily! Let’s be clear here – I love deep fried food and eat it all the time. But even for me, this was a doozy. It just oozed oil and I had to cut off the batter and dig out the fish. It was a shame as I’d ordered this, thinking the kids could have some too, but I didn’t dare let them near so much oil.

Last Bite: Bring your kids to the Singapore Polo Club to watch a polo match and check out the horses over a casual el fresco dinner. One of the best ways to spend a late afternoon and evening with the kids! Go on Tuesdays or Thursdays at 5PM onwards to watch the polo match.

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

The Verandah @ Singapore Polo Club
80 Mount Pleasant Road
Singapore 298334
Phone: 6854 3999
Prices: $$
Hours: Tue – Sun: 7:00 am – 11:00 pm

Happy 1st Birthday Brunch With My Baby!

October 8, 2013 / News, News, Singapore, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Today we celebrate Brunch With My Baby turning one year old! Our little site that started in New York and branched out to Singapore and Sydney, has hit its very first birthday today. Thanks for following us on our brunching adventures!

How Do You Measure A Year? (with apologies to fans of “RENT”)

In numbers
Our very first post — a review of our favorite kid-friendly restaurant, Balthazar — went live on this day last year, making us a the ripe old age of one. Since that first review, we have written nearly 300 posts, and have eaten at and written over 200 Restaurant Reviews from Manhattan to Brooklyn, and Sydney to Singapore. Don’t judge us. It was for the kids! ~~They were~~ we were really hungry.

In people
Our first interview for the Guest Brunchers section of the site was with the lovely and super business savvy aden + anais CEO Reagan Moya-Jones, about her favorite places to eat with her kids in the city. Since then, we have had the opportunity to meet and get to know 21 entrepreneurs in the world of food, kids, and fashion. Some highlights have included Chef Dominique Ansel and Rosie Pope.

In cool stuff
We are always looking for products that are perfect for urban parents and that make towing a child around the city a little easier. Since the site’s launch, we have reviewed and offered our readers 10 high value Giveaways, from a HUGE case of Chobani Champions yogurt, a whole line of new products from aden + anais, to a Britax carrier and even a Stokke stroller!

In experiences
In the past year, our kids have grown from easy-to-tote-around infants to rough and tumble toddlers; which means that we have experienced the best and worst of dining out. We’ve taken all of our experiences and turned them into nearly 10 Survival Guides, to help you navigate a meal out — or even an entire day out — with a baby or toddler with as much grace as possible.

In love
To our readers who have been with us from those very early days (thanks mum and dad!) and all those sleepless nights, we thank you for continuing to read about our adventures and supporting our brunching journey through New York, Sydney and Singapore. To our new readers, we hope this site gives you the courage to pack up Baby, put on some cute but walkable shoes, and take the train to one of your favorite restaurants from before you became a parent. It won’t be the same as it was before, and it probably will be a lot messier, but we promise, it will be worth it. And don’t forget to order wine 🙂

Love,

Christine, Alexis, Cheese & Little J, and the BWMB teams in Singapore and Sydney.

Opening photo by stevendepolo. Raegan Moya-Jones photo by Elizabeth St.

THE BOOK CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, River Valley, Singapore

October 6, 2013 / Food Reviews, River Valley, Singapore / 1 Comment

I can safely say The Book Cafe ranks riiiiight up there as one of the most kid-friendly cafes I’ve visited in Singapore.

Ironically, I’d been pushing off checking out this cafe for months, because I thought it was very baby-UNfriendly (I was under the impression that, being a book cafe, it was practically like a library and kiddos were not tolerated). Of course, the day never came where I’m *ahem* rid of both kids, so one day I just decided to bite the bullet and meet some girl friends there.

I’ve since been back 3-4 times, with either one or both kids, and I am delighted with this cafe.

It’s cozy and laid back, with friendly service and a casual atmosphere. The patrons seem to be split into three groups: the diners that park themselves for ages (studying or working on their laptop), the diners that are there for a quick business lunch, and the diners with young children in tow (<– points to self).

I’ll be frank – I feel really sorry for the people there trying to study/work. The cafe is split into two areas, with the couch section popular with the parents-with-kids. If you’re there trying to study/work, you’ll want to think again, buddy. I personally wouldn’t want to be there whilst kids are wandering around and distracting you!

That said, the couch section is AWESOME if you have kids in tow. The couches are low enough for kids to climb up/down, very comfy, and you’re able to spread out all your kiddie paraphernalia. It’s also pretty contained, so kids are pretty safe.

And, OH MY GOODNESS, they have toys. A big, fat box of toys for kids to dig around in and amuse themselves with. What a hit!!

I have a soft spot for their latte. I ask for mine in their big mug (usually reserved for their iced drinks), with an extra shot otherwise it’ll be too milky. It always hits the spot, and I love sipping on my big glass of coffee as I relax on the couch and oversee the kids, without having to chase after them like a crazy chicken.

Their food ranges from pretty decent to excellent. The prices are very reasonable, and the portion sizes satisfying.

For example, this Chicken and mushroom alio olio is a children’s portion, at $7 I believe? It’s as big as an adult-sized portion at other cafes! It had more ingredients than it did pasta 😉 Hunter really enjoyed it.

The Olive rice with chicken was also very filling. Tender grains of rice flecked with a generous portion of tasty chopped olives, and packed in with chicken chunks. However, it was the same chicken chunks as the pasta above, so I was a bit bored of it by then as I’d already eaten some of Hunter’s meal.

But their Cheeseburger and wedges. OH MY. Their #1 dish and a must-order. Surprisingly, once of the best burgers I’ve had in Singapore!

The glossy bun is soft and fluffy, and I love the melted cheese and crispy lettuce. But it’s the patty that rocks – cooked medium by request, it was so juicy and full of that real meat flavour (compared to some fast food places with very odd tasting meat). The whole thing was juicy and dripping, and just packed with deliciousness. I’m smacking my lips just thinking about it! I’ve had it about 3 times now, and it’s been good every time, so consistency is there.

The Book Cafe is one of the rare places where I can sit down and relax for an extended period of time, whilst the kids potter around and play. More often than not, I’m trying desperately to keep them amused, or chasing after them in a cafe. For this reason, I really appreciate The Book Cafe’s concept and kid-friendliness.

Believe it or not, they have their own baby change table! So convenient and what a relief for mums with a messy poo job at hand. Plus, their regular adult toilets have a drop-down mini toilet seat, for potty trained kids.

Hunter and Carter really enjoy visiting The Book Cafe, and Hunter remembers it as “the toy cafe”. He thinks it’s his second home 😉

Last Bite: The Book Cafe offers a couch section with a large box of toys, sure to be a hit with your kids. With free WIFI and a wide menu, they are a popular spot for parents with kids. Check out their cheeseburger, it’s a stunner!

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

The Book Cafe
20 Martin Road
01-02 Seng Kee Building
Singapore 239070
Phone: 6887 5430
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon – Thu: 8:00 am – 10:30 pm, Fri – Sat: 8:00 am – 12:00 am, Sun: 8:00 am – 10:30 pm