MARINA BAY: With one of the best names in the business, Pita Pan is a vegetarian restaurant, serving up traditional Mediterranean dishes in a no-nonsense, busy setting in Marina Square and Marina Bay Sands.

A few friends and I stopped off at the new Marina Square location for a hearty veggie meal, starting with a Mediterranean platter. This thing was huge, filled with dolmades, hummus, baba ganoush, mixed vegetables, pickles, falafel and more.

At less than $30 it was a meal in itself for three people, and would make a great cheap snack for a party of four.

Next up was the traditional Mediterranean dish shakshuka, a sizzling hot iron pan filled with spiced tomato-and-onion stew, topped with two eggs. Usually served with lamb, the vegetarian alternative was a lot lighter and easier on the waistline too!

We also shared a few falafel pockets (we overheard one patron asking for the ‘meatballs’ at the counter) which were very good, and available in traditional, basil and sundried tomato flavours.

But my pick of the bunch had to be the kumara chips. Known here as ‘sweet potato fries’, the sweet, golden-brown slivers brought back memories of making my own as a child.

If you want a vegetarian meal that is heartier than your usual salad at a good price, head down to Marina Square or MBS and check it out.

CLOSED
Pita Pan
Marina Bay Sands and Marina Square
Tel 6688 7450

ROBERTSON QUAY: When it comes to coffee, there are many different terms and definitions for green, organic and fair-trade practices swirling around the coffee industry – so many that it’s easy to be confused.

A number of coffee companies use their own “fair trade” brands and to show they care about the growers. But just because a company doesn’t show “fair trade” on their coffee, doesn’t mean it’s produced by exploited workers, says Alvaro Sanchez, head roaster at Toby’s Estate, a café and roaster on Robertson Quay.

“If we sell any coffee as organic, it will mean organically grown and processed. The catch can be that depending on the country, they have different guidelines to classify something as organic. Getting a universally recognised certification can be prohibitively expensive for some of the smaller farms, even if they produce their coffee using organic methods.”

Founder Toby Smith and the roasters from Toby’s Estate travel to plantations to meet the farmers, and the millers who process the coffee. The idea of a starving farmer in rags is nowhere near the truth for such coffees – a great product is not produced by someone struggling to survive.

“Paying a higher price to the producer will benefit their overall living conditions, by trading directly or minimising middlemen, we also ensure more money goes to the producer, which in turn can be better off and maintain the high level of quality we require year in and year out.”

Because pesticides and fertiliser are expensive, farmers use minimal or no chemicals if they can help it. In Toby’s coffee, the only chemical sometimes used is a fungicide to prevent diseases like rust, which is currently blighting hundreds of farms in Latin America.

For many farms trying to be “fully organic”, a bout of rust will disease all their plants, affecting taste and production.

One way to ensure coffee is grown ethically is to grow it yourself.  “Toby has recently bought a coffee farm and is now growing great Panama coffee. We are actually one step ahead of direct trade – we grow our own! We have two tonnes arriving in a month’s time” says Sanchez with a smile.

Toby’s Estate
8 Rodyk Street, Robertson Quay
Tel 6636 7629

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ROBERTSON QUAY: Think wine experts are the only ones who sniff and sip? For coffee buffs, cupping is the equivalent of wine tasting. Coffee roasters sniff, sip and slurp to assess and select coffees from samples they receive from brokers and growers around the world. Toby’s Estate offers public coffee cupping classes in their café on Tuesdays, for everyone from coffee noobs to nerds.

The process involves smelling and tasting different batches of beans and judging in terms of taste, body and aroma.

The cupping session is relaxed and educational, and one of the expert roasters will take you through a tasting of single origin coffees from around the world.

 You will also be able to distinguish between roasting techniques and altitude variation as Toby’s lead you through different processing methods and varietals of coffee, which in turn produce different flavour notes.

Apparently after you’ve been cupping for a while, you develop sensitivity to the tiniest differences between samples of coffee. The more you learn, the more you’ll be able to notice the different flavour and aroma notes in the coffee – with the amount we all drink, knowing more about coffee can only be a good thing.

Cupping at Toby’s Estate
8 Rodyk St, #01/03-04, Robertson Quay
Tel 6636 7629

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CHINATOWN: Lolla is the permanent shop-front incarnation of Lolla’s Secret Supper, a pop-up style underground supper club founded in 2008 by Pang Hian Tee.

Clad in a facade of calming blue Peranakan wall tiles and whitewashed window grilles, with distressed concrete walls bearing stencilled designs inside, Lolla has been turning out some of Singapore’s best small-plate fare combining the finest ingredients and seasonal produce with Mediterranean influences.

The most coveted spot in the restaurant is the 13-seat zinc-topped bar counter that surrounds an open kitchen.

The counter generally fills up before dusk, but the 22-seat communal table in the basement serves as a fine backup option. We were lucky enough to score coveted seats at the bar counter, where we watched the chefs at work.

Food here is simple. They excel with items such as well-executed scrambled eggs crowned with generous shavings of bottarga and understated, yet scrumptious gratined leek fondant. We start our meal with the tuna belly tartare and the signature dish that “everyone” has been raving about, the sea urchin pudding.  Both dishes are ocean fresh with the sea urchins being plump, buttery absolutely divine.

We chose two mains from the special board that changes weekly: pork collar with cherries and purple cauliflower with peaches, as well as lamb short ribs and duck fat potatoes.

The pork and lamb were expertly cooked and well complimented by the cauliflower and potatoes.

Although the dishes are certainly not large, there is plenty for two people.

For dessert, a unique smoked dark chocolate ice cream or doughnuts with lemon curd to share make for a perfect end to the meal.

Those that like their vino will be pleased with Lolla’s impressive collection of artisanal wines and Champagnes, not surprising considering one of the partners owns a wine business and plays a part in underground dining club Lolla’s secret suppers.

The fuss-free, delicious food, friendly service and groovy atmosphere from this ‘small-plate concept restaurant’ makes this a go-to-place for dining alone, as a couple or in groups.

Lolla
22 Ann Siang Road
Tel 6423 1228

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TIONG BAHRU: I’ve recently moved to calm, tranquil Tiong Bahru, and walk past this pizza joint every night after work. It was just a matter of time before I stepped inside to try it out.

Two Face Pizza & Taproom is based on a unique concept: by day, it’s a traditional kopitiam, tables scattered outside on the corner of Eng Hoon Street and Tiong Poh Road for people to enjoy Yong Tau Foo and other local fare.

But as evening falls, the hawker transforms into a hip pizza joint, with a relaxed vibe, good prices and plenty of menu of items on offer.

Pizza comes in flavours such as smoked duck, truffle mayo and arugula and there are lots of pasta items on the menu too.

Their drinks list includes more than your usual Tigers and house pours. They have an extensive range of Belgian craft brews and a good range of ciders, including the girly (but delicious) Kopparberg Elderflower and Lime cider.

You’ll spend about $30–$40 each with a few drinks, which makes for a fairly cheap, relaxed night out.

Two Face Pizza & Taproom
56 Eng Hoon Street, #01-48

Tel 6536 0024

CLARKE QUAY: I don’t tend to frequent Clarke Quay, and especially not when considering dinner. With nicer neighbourhoods such as Dempsey Hill, Duxton Hill and Club Street offering great food, the lights and sounds of Clarke Quay seem better suited to a bowl of fries over a beer.

So it was with a pleasant surprise that I walked straight past the velvet ropes outside meat-market mega-club Attica, and upstairs to the Coriander Leaf’s elegant surroundings with views of the Singapore River.

The whole ethos behind Coriander Leaf’s menu is pan-Asian, so it features both traditional and interpreted dishes from the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia. This means you can get anything from tandoori chicken to vegetable shashlik, among other offerings from Thailand, Vietnam and beyond.

We started by sharing a few Asean platters as appetisers, with mainly Thai and Vietnamese fare such as Tom Yum Soup, fresh spring rolls, crab cakes and pomelo salad.

I followed this up with a duo of Labeyrie Duck, which had a wonderfully crunchy confit of leg, tender seared duck breast, accompanied by a spicy chiura couscous and red pepper marmalade. At $34++ it didn’t make it a cheap night out, but anyone who’s dined in Singapore shouldn’t be shocked by these prices.

I followed this up with a black rice pudding, served with coconut ice cream – nothing like nan used to make and again quite hard on the pocked at $14++.

However the Cappucino martinis and pistachio and fig ice cream with a rich, tasty chocolate mousse, enjoyed by other guests went down a treat.

So don’t write off Clarke Quay – if you’re looking for Asian food which will have something to please everyone, brush past the clubs and enjoy a different night-life experience.

Coriander Leaf
3A River Valley Road, Clarke Quay
Tel 6732 3354

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DEMPSEY: Many of you will be familiar with The White Rabbit, the restaurant located just off Dempsey housed in an awe-inspiring and beautifully restored old chapel.

Set amongst lush, green gardens, The White Rabbit is a joint venture between The Lo and Behold Group (Loof, Tanjong Beach Club) as well as David See and Varian Lim. The Rabbit Hole is the uber-chic watering hole in the al fresco area towards the rear of the building.

There are two ways to enter The Rabbit Hole: You can walk through the main entrance at The White Rabbit restaurant. Or follow the fairy lights, along the garden path accessed via the car park and walk through the trellised archway to discover the al fresco bar – a very relaxing ambience, especially after a slight rain.

The eclectic mix of shabby chic (including crisp white garden furniture, sofas, arm chairs, bar stools and tables) lends itself to creating a magical environment.

The drinks menu includes vintage-inspired classic cocktails, as well as some new concoctions peppered throughout such as the Black Forest Mojito (freshly muddled berries, Chambord and mint) based on the popular Cuban Mojito, which was created in 1940. Cocktails get a breath of new life with creative twists and customisations to your taste.

Wine buffs will be suitably impressed with an extensive menu, ranging from French Champagne and wines from France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia and the United States, and there is plenty of beer and spirits, including a wide range whiskeys and cognac.

Unfortunately there’s not really any bar food available except for French fries, but they are very, very good.

If you are planning to take a group to The Rabbit Hole, you can pre-order some food if you make a booking a week in advance. Check their website or Facebook page for updates on local DJs who spin their tunes on Friday and Saturday nights.

Discover for yourself the magical Rabbit Hole, perfect for after-work drinks, post dinner drinks or as a fabulous celebration venue.

The Rabbit Hole
39C Harding Rd
Tel 6473 9965

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BOAT QUAY: Cats. To some, they’re haughty, indifferent pets who couldn’t care less that you feed them and put a roof over their heads. To others, they’re furry little balls of joy that make the world a better, brighter place.

If you’re in the latter group, I suggest you head down to Boat Quay and experience the latest North Asian craze which has arrived at Singapore’s shores – the cat café. Starting in Taiwan and quickly spreading to Japan and Korea, cat cafes are places for cat lovers to surround themselves with their feline friends while sipping coffee and catching up with their human counterparts.

Neko no Niwa (Cat Garden in Japanese) is Singapore’s first cat café, which opened late last year in Boat Quay, next door to the Prince of Wales pub. Head upstairs and you’ll find a fairly large, well-lit space, with 13 cats are in their own room, separated from the counter by a sliding glass door.

There’s jazz tinkling lightly through the speakers, and the dozen or so people in the room speak in hushed tones as the cats stalk through a play area with scratching posts, ramps, climbing posts, and hidey holes.

The coffee is cheap at $3.50 for a large latte, or $2.50 for a small. It’s some of the cheapest coffee of its kind in Singapore, but not up to the same standards as anywhere in Melbourne or Auckland.

The food is limited – desserts, cakes and ice cream are the main menu items – but buying food and drink is optional. Visitors pay $12 for an hour with the cats and $5 for every additional half hour.

There’s high demand to see and play with the cats – co-owner Sue Lynn Tan says they’re booked up to a month in advance for the weekend sessions.

All cats are former strays or abandoned pets, and Sue Lynn says the café lets potential cat owners find out if they’re ready to own a cat.

Inspired by other similar cafes in Japan and Korea, Sue Lynn quit her corporate job to open the café. She’s had a great response so far.

‘It’s fantastic. I didn’t expect the response to be so overwhelming. I’m glad there are so many cat lovers out there.’

Neko no Niwa
54A Boat Quay (Level 2)
Tel 6536 5319

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TELOK AYER: Ann Siang Hill and Club St may have it in the bag as the hip district but just down the steps at the bottom of Ann Siang Hill Park, the Amoy St and Telok Ayer area is muscling in as Singapore’s latest foodie destination. A whole string of new restaurants have recently opened up in the area.

 Nestled among the conservation shophouses at the top of Amoy Street, Burlamacco Ristorante is an Italian restaurant conceptualised, owned and managed by a veteran in the business, Gabriele Piegaia. Behind the unassuming facade is a cosy yet stylish space soaked in earthy tones and ambient lighting, with lively paintings adorning the walls and natural sunlight falling effortlessly through a skylight.  Accented with some old world charm, the fifty-seater features a built-in floor-to-ceiling glass cellar storing more than 120 Italian wines to complement every meal.

We decided to leave the menu choices to Chef Gabriele assuring him there wasn’t anything we wouldn’t try – who wouldn’t take advantage of being in the hands of such an accomplished chef!

From the antipasto menu, the chopped red tuna tartar topped with avocado ($26) was simply melt-in-the-mouth. The stew beef tripe with vegetables and Parmesan ($20) sounded much sexier in Italian, ‘Trippa di manzo alla Burlamacco’, but the taste was divine in any language and certainly not from the same kitchen as Grandma’s tripe.

We followed on to the pasta menu, first sampling the lobster linguine ($30), which had just the right hint of heat but not so much as to detract from the delicate inflections of the lobster. The black squid ink risotto ($28) was a delight on the palate, and decadently presented with a flake of gold to garnish.

For a table of carnivores there was no resisting the slow cooked beef short ribs with Marsala wine sauce ($40), hearty and homely and served on a bed of potato puree to soak up the richness of the sauce.

Their dessert menu is comprehensive, and Gabriele’s selection of four could not have been better suited, with one of the party proclaiming the panacotta to be the best they had tried outside Italy. For me, the chocolate lover of the group, the choice would have to be the Crostata; heralded as “a chocolate tart eruption” and nicely rounded off with wild cherry ice-cream.

One final word of advice; do not leave Burlamacco without sampling the homemade limoncello – the challenge will be to resist a second!

ANZA members receive 15{be2ed48eb5164722cedb437b4154e2fbc822e42c70fc3ff0c38ae00e24820875} off the total bill when dinning from the A La Carte Menu Sunday to Thursday. 4 dine for the price of 3 when ordering the degustation menu. Visit the Member Benefits – Entertainment page for more information.

Burlamacco Ristorante
77 Amoy St
Tel 6220 1763

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