Pura Brasa, a Spanish restaurant chain, opens its seventh outlet in Singapore. It is also its first restaurant outlet in Asia. Created by Josper®, the internationally renowned brand of charcoal ovens, the restaurant aims to inspire Josper's customers and teach them how to implement the grills and ovens and the variety of applications they have.
Located at street level of Tanjong Pagar Centre, Pura Brasa is gaining popularity in Singapore. Through a friend's recommendation, we dined at the restaurant without table reservations on a weekday night. Almost 8pm, the restaurant was almost filled.
The ciabatta bread sticks with tomato and olive oil were amazingly delicious. The bread sticks were crispy on the outside and yet soft in the inside. The tomato tasted refreshingly delicious and there was a light sweetness in it. Every bite on the bread was heavenly. (Food rating: 4.5/5)
The Grilled Octopus on "trinxat de la Cerdanya" were served with potato and cabbage. The server carefully cut the octopus tentacles into bite sizes.
The Spanish Omelette with spicy sausage "chorizo" and "all i oli" was delicious. The omelette was served in a shape of a cup. When cut, the delicious sausage broth seeped. The texture of the omelette was somewhat similar the Japanese souffle egg omelette. Served together with the dish was more ciabatta bread sticks with tomato and olive oil. (Food rating: 4/5)
A definite must-have dish when you are at Pura Brasa. The tender lamb ribs with mango "all i oli" was fabulous. The "all i oli" or Mediterranean sauce made of garlic and olive oil was a good complement to the lamb ribs. The lamb ribs was tender and succulent. Lightly salted, the lamb was amazingly delicious. Thinking back makes me salivate again. (Food rating 4.5/5)
The Charcoal Seafood Paella by Josper® was one of its bestsellers. The paella was rich with seafood sweetness. The rice were cooked to perfection with every rich grain being chewy and delicious. The seafood was plentiful and generous. This dish requires skills and precision and the chefs at Pura Brasa had nailed it. Kudos to Pura Brasa! (Food rating: 4.5/5)
Address: 5 Wallich Street #01-16 Tanjong Pagar Centre Singapore 078883
Price: $$
Food rating: 4/5
Recommended dishes: Ciabatta bread with tomato and olive oil, Seafood Paella, Tender Lamb Ribs.
After hours of walking around the Xinyi district, we had waffles with chocolate ice cream at FREAKS cafe & bistro. The waffles was crispy without fragrance. The chocolate was so-so.
The Tiramisu has more chocolate with mousse and lacked texture. (Food rating: 2.5/5)
Address:台北市信義區松高路11號4樓-誠品信義店4F (捷運市政府站3號出口步行約5分鐘)
No. 11號, Songgao Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
Price: $
Food rating: 2.5/5
I posted my first food review on Du Hsiao Yueh in 2013. This post received many readership. We are back five years later. This time, it is at outlet along Yong Kang Street (永康街). We ordered almost the same items as we did the last time around.
Generally, Du Hsiao Yuen has a very long history and is a renowned brand to most locals. However, it is highly pricey. You may get something similar from elsewhere.
Generally, Du Hsiao Yuen has a very long history and is a renowned brand to most locals. However, it is highly pricey. You may get something similar from elsewhere.
We ordered their specialty noodle dish, Tan Tsi Noodles (擔仔麵). The noodles still taste like the prawn noodles soup back in Singapore. Compared to the Singapore's version, the broth was less fragrant and rich. Crispy pork lard cubes were served in the broth. The noodles were perfectly cooked like the al dente style. The prawn broth was sweet and addictive. Somehow, It tasted as if there is MSG in the soup. Or perhaps not. (Food rating: 3/5)
Similar to Tan Tsi Noodles, this was served with broad noodles. The soup / broth was the same. Between the two, the Tan Tsi Noodles is the better choice.
Traditional Braised Minced Meat with rice (魯肉飯) was fragrant and the rice was chewy. Interestingly, the braised minced meat was a mixture of lean meat and fats. (Food rating: 3/5)
Taiwanese Sausage (台灣香腸) made from lean meat, was served with garlic slices. If you were to eat with sausage slice with a slice of garlic, you will find the taste was heightened and delicious. However, this sausage was very expensive compared to the one we tried in Shilin Night Market. (Food rating: 3/5)
The deep fried pig intestines was special. The intestines were deep fried until it was crispy. Dip the intestines into the prune powder. The pig intestine tasted sweet and salted at the same time. (Food rating: 2.5/5)
Stir-fried water lotus vegetable (水莲菜) with chopped garlic was interesting. The vegetables were crunchy and in beautiful green. (Food rating: 3/5)
Address: No. 9-1, Yongkang Street, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Pricing: $
Food rating: 3/5
Recommended dishes: Tan Tsi Noodles.
If you are looking for a quiet and cosy place for afternoon tea with your girlfriends, perhaps the Rose House is a pretty good choice. Founded by Taiwan's renowned rose artist, Huang Tenghui, in 1990, the British-themed tea cafe chain is easily spotted around town. With its frilly interior decor, the cafe is has bone china in cabinets and along the walls.
Offering a wide range of tea, coffee and drinks, Rose House's signature rose tea and fruit teas are a refreshing and tasty accompaniment to conversation at the table.
I had my first encounter with Rose House in Flushing, New York. Seeing it in Taipei brings back tons of fond memories. Located along Yong Kang Street, the cafe was crowded with diners and we had to wait at least an hour to get a seating.
Rose water (玫瑰水), priced at TWD130, is one of the popular flower teas in Rose House. With aromatic rose fragrance, the drink was light and enjoyable. Food rating: 3.5/5.
Rose Afternoon Tea
Rose flavoured Coffee Latte
We ordered a Classic English Afternoon Tea (威廉王子下午茶) for two at TWD599.
Lower Tier: English Sandwish, Special Quiche, and Selected Savoury.
Middle Tier: English Scone, Classic cake, Stylish Sweet, and Rose Jam
Top Tier: Marcoon with Royal Dessert, Chef's Special, Selected Cake, Creme Brulee, Rose biscuit
Address: No. 3之1號, Lishui Street, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Rating: 2.5/5
Pricing: $
Recommended dishes: Rose Tea
Named Ambi Cafe or 無聊咖啡, this cafe is opened by Taiwanese renowned celebrity, Jacky Wu's daughter, Sandy Wu. The interior was very simple with minimalist design and service. Apart from being served, diners have to return the dishes to the Return Point. All cutlery and condiments are self-served. The essential selling point of this cafe is that it was opened by Wu Zhongxian's (吳忠賢) daughter. Housed in the basement with a simple signboard installed on street level, diners need to alert to be able to find the cafe. This is also a form of making this cafe exclusive and seclusive.
We've ordered a couple of popular cakes for afternoon tea.
Blue Jeen Tart (above) is made of blueberry with using saffron flower dye. Deep hidden in the cake, you will find blueberry jam. The cake was alright but it was just a little flaky. The decor was simple and exquisite. (Food rating: 2.5/5)
The Exquisite Desert Mousse (沙漠綠洲), one of Ambi Cafe's popular desserts, was served with mochi, peanut crumbs, and marshmallow. The decoration was beautiful and depicted the dessert. This dessert reminded me of Epiphyte's "Terrarium". Compared to the Terrarium, the Exquisite Desert Mousse can do better. However, the mochi was chewy and the peanut powder or crumbs are not bad. (Food rating: 3/5)
This Matcha dessert, Grinch Babe or (鬼靈精抹茶蛋糕) was derived from the
Grinch. Arranged like a pyramid, the madeleines were filled with matcha
syrup. Additional matcha syrup/cream was poured on top of the
masterpiece for the finishing touch. The meringue droplets were cute and sweet. Even non-green tea lovers like it. (Food rating: 3/5)
Address: B1, No. 37, Lane 187, Section 1, Dunhua South Road, Daan District, Taipei City
MRT: Exit 2 of Zhongxiao Dunhua Station 敦化南路一段187巷37號B1
Opening hours: 14:00 – 21:00 (closed on Tuesday)
Price: $
Food rating: 3/5
Ambience: So-so
Price: $
Food rating: 3/5
Ambience: So-so
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