Healthy superfoods bowls served naked, for the naked super you. Tuck into hearty, value-for-money meals at the newest concept to hit the hip dining enclave of Duxton Road - Ninja Bowl. You lucky CBD folks now get carb-free/low-carb Japanese-inspired superfood meals, as well as delicious all day brunch items. 

Each of the 8 bowl starts out carb-free but you have the options of healthy fillers. I'd go for the super high protein White Quinoa ($3); Ninja Rice (blend of blend of vinegared Japanese pearl rice and brown rice with furikake); Garden greens for $2. 

Fans of Japanese chashu will love the Buta ($14). I thought their slices of homemade cured aburi pork belly were better than many ramen places in Singapore. That velvety blend of meat and fats with a smoky char, sweet balsamic tomatoes, sour-sweet ume-pickled apples, roasted pumpkin seasoned with seaweed flakes and sesame seeds, were gelled nicely with  a runny onsen egg. So much love for this one!

The Kabuki ($14) will make you love chicken again for the tender pieces of deboned chicken thigh are marinated in miso, soy sauce, garlic and honey. Sous-vide and then seared, expect juicy morsels accompanied by baby corn, homemade pickled beets, an onsen egg, snow peas, and a final sprinkling of fried shallots. 

The salmon poke ($16) pales in comparison after all that bursts of flavors in the other bowls. I couldn't quite taste the soy and ponzu sauce that the salmon chunks are supposedly marinated in. Each bowl comes with greens and a sprinkling of quinoa already, but I'd certainly recommend a carb base to help fill you up. Fish lovers could also tuck into bowls with pan-seared tuna tataki, or a saucey slice of unagi.

Drinking options are aplenty in the Telok Ayer-Ann Siang area, but how about brunch fare? Getting on the brunch wagon is Mr & Mrs Maxwell's with their new all day breakfast menu available from 7am to 7pm daily. But.. does it work? Or are they better remaining as a drinking type of restaurant bar at the hippy The Club Hotel? 

Tuck into comfort food such as Corned Beef Hash or an English Fry up here. But ascomfort food goes, you're eating it for sentimental reasons. Would I pay $16 for something I can make at home? I guess not. The Lobster Omelette ($16) on toasted sourdough only had a few pieces of crustacean and they did not add to any flavor to the omelette. It was.. just another average omelette on toast. 

I had my hopes up when i spotted Ricotta Hotcakes ($14) on the menu, only to have them dashed when i took the first bite.

The pancakes lacked the fluffiness and felt more like a dense eggless sponge. So nope. Just nope. Not even after i slathered on the truffle honey and ricotta cream cheese. They deserve a better vehicle into my mouth. 

The Angus beef Club Burger ($24) with Cheddar, Emmental, caramelized onions, and candied bacon, salvaged brunch a little. I can't resist a fat juicy patty! Do it the meatless way, for the buns aren't worth the calories, even when buttered and toasted.

While the Crêpe Suzette ($16) wasn't the best that I've tasted, the intense sweetness and tartness excited my palate at the very least. If you're a sucker for theatrics and unwilling to pay more for the same live experience of crepe making at Henri Charpentier, then this will do. The crepes could be thinner and the flavor more nuanced, but the generous amount of orange liquor helped make everything better. 

About the Baked Alaska ($16), well, I don't get this dessert still and MMM's flambéd version with cotton candy didn't change my mind on this dessert. Isn't it just ice cream with the melty marshmallow sorta meringue? #notimpressed 

The drinks were a tad more interesting than the food. Fresh juices and smoothies such as Citrus Beauty ($9), Greek Goddess ($9, pick this!) or Banana Cheesecake ($12). The Truffle Martini ($18) didn't do it for me (tasted of burnt coffee) but my dining companions seemed to enjoy it. Must be the alcohol talking. 

Verdict? The Club is a chic hotel and it has other F&B offerings worth checking out, like The Disgruntled Chef or the exotic Peruvian bar Tiger's Milk. As for brunch, you're better off taking your calories elsewhere e.g. Gaest, Sarnies, or My Awesome Cafe.

Mr & Mrs Maxwell's
28 Ann Siang Rd Singapore 069708
Tel: +65 6808 2181
Sun - Thu: 7am - 11pm
Fri - Sat: 7am - 12am

Of all the brunches in the world and all the breakfasts that i've eaten, Jack's Wife Freda (New York City) is up there at the top of my list and it certainly lists as the best in NYC. It's not your regular brunch food and the cuisine is a lovely mix of exotic from the likes of South Africa, Israel, and Jewish comfort food.

You know the funny thing is that i chanced upon Jack's Wife on Instagram and that is how i was led to this cozy spot in SOHO. The queue can be crazy as they only take reservations for larger groups. I only managed to get in on our 3rd attempt and it was a reward for an 8am run on the Williamsburg bridge. So highlights here for breakfast/brunch- Grilled Haloumi, Green Shakshuka with challah toast, Rose Water Waffles with Lebanese yogurt (labneh), and their secret weapon, the DUCK BACON.   

Don't cry for Meat Argentina. The truth is... Argentinean cuisine is more than just meat. In fact over at Bochinche, chef Diego Jacquet will expose you to the bold Argentinean flavors with quality seafood, cheese, and greens, other than meats.

The ideal start to a night includes a round of drinks with with the small plates. With the daily Happy Hour on from 5.30 - 7.30pm (wines and cocktails go for $10), you know dinner is off to a good start. Go with the refreshing Mr Hendricks ($19), a classic lemony cucumber cocktail; or shake things up a little with Spicy Lolita ($19) made using a house spiced vodka. Argentinean wines are available too and I highly recommended the smooth and full bodied Cadena 2012 Mendoza Malbec.

Be there on Wednesdays at HH and you'll get the delicious Provoleta with Almond and Oregano honey ($17) free with 1 HH drink! You know where you'll find me on Wednesdays!

That salty sweet baked cheese is best complemented with the Iberico Cold Cuts ($22) which have been cured for 30 months (my favorite is the lomo). I would also have some of Chef's special salted butter (which he makes in small batches each day). If you miss that, the olive oil is amazing too with the Rosemary focaccia and ham.

There's no better way to catch up with my girls than over coffee and brunch and we headed to Populus Coffee and Food Co. at Neil Road. The sister of Department of Caffeine is pretty new to the cafe scene but they are already drawing a crowd (do make a reservation to avoid the wait). 

Coffee is actually a focus here and they even have 3 different blends of espresso- Monolith (comforting and reassuring), Caldera (upligting and refreshing), and Duxton Vice (cheeky and adventurous). It's obvious which i chose! No doubt which i am. Coffee is priced from $4.50. Filter coffee of African origins are available too. My iced mocha was more milky than anything and i couldn't taste the coffee even though the chocolate wasn't sweet. 

A brunch hit is the Populus Scrambled ($18) which features eggs with fresh herb melange, marinated feta, and streaky bacon on top of a toasted croissant. The eggs could have been more runny. These were a little more cooked than i like but at least it didn't soak the flaky and buttery croissant. The bacon could do with more browning though. It's a decent brunch option however.

Perfect sweet mornings would begin with the Baked Pistachio French Toast ($19). Well this is actually a candy crusted brioche bread pudding with red wine poached pears, lemon curd, yuzu mascarpone, pistachio crumb, thyme infused pure maple syrup and flowers. Loved the moist fruit chunks (probably apple and pear) in the soggy-ish brioche, complemented with cornflakes bits.

The Buckwheat Pancake ($20.50) in a skillet could be described as a thick pancake or a flat fluffy cake, which wasn't too dry but it wasn't moist either. It was just.. undecided? Likewise, I couldn't decide if i liked this or not. It was simply a canvas for that tangy berry fruit compote, passionfruit curd, and cornflake crumb. It also felt like they kept reusing the same ingredients in the Pistachio French Toast. In fact, we saw many common elements in our dishes. Share this. I imagine I'd get sick of it after a bit.

For something that contrasts with your other dishes, perhaps go with the Harissa Baked Eggs ($19) with sumac! The Moroccan heartiness with spicy harissa chicken sausage would certainly brighten your weekend.

For something more lunchy, go with the grain bowls which use a base of quinoa, Bulgar wheat and pearl barley, like the savory Pulled Pork Grain Bowl ($18). I thought it was a seemingly Asian dish with the pickled cabbage apple slaw and furikake though the preparation and ingredients used were more Mediterranean. 

Our surprise birthday desserts were the Dark Chocolate Sundae ($13) and the Earl Grey Chocolate Cake. I was surprised by the rich flavor of the chocolate ice cream even though it had a very light texture. It's a return of the common ingredients of curd, berries puree, cornflakes, yada yada yada which got really old by the end of the meal. The cake sponge in the mix was meh at best.

Give me something no frills like the Earl Grey Chocolate slice anytime. Loved the intense earl grey flavor and it had the dense brownie type of texture. 

The Populus Coffee & Food Co. certainly gives its neighbor, The Lokal, a run for their money. Well more options for us i guess. I think i prefer this. 

The Populus Coffee & Food Co.

146 Neil Rd Singapore 088875

Tel: +65 6635 8420

Daily 10am - 7pm 

Sunday Champagne Brunch is no new concept but it's all about providing that quality experience to the diners. While Hilton Singapore may not have the most extensive spread, they make up for it in terms of the cosy ambience and quality selections in some of their a la minute sections. 

Highlights of the new buffet spread include live seafood, meat carving and grill stocked with fresh imported ocean catches, premium Australian cuts and gourmet delicatessen from Europe.

I typically start with the cured meats and cheeses and i was very happy at the Smorgasbord Station, which featured thinly-sliced à la minute charcuterie of imported whole leg Iberico ham, Lomo Ham and Saucisson sec cured meat.

I went absolutely crazy with the bleu cheeses! There are more than 20 types of cheeses specially flown in from Italy, France and Switzerland. Best bleu spread ever.

At the live Seafood Station, you get to taste sashimi and half shell scallops from Australia, Canadian-Maine Lobsters, yabbies (a type of crayfish) from Spain and shucked oysters from Australia, Canada and France. I skipped this section as they didn't smell too appealing. 

I thought the hot food fared better. With eight cooking stations, there is plenty to pick from. A la minute specialty dishes such as pan-fried foie gras with apple and passion fruit (really enjoyed the tartness but the foie gras was overcooked), fresh homemade Italian maccheroni pasta with juicy Maine lobster meat and yabbies...

And HELLO homemade Scotch egg with black truffle hollandaise! Even though some of my dining partners felt that the sausage crust was a tad salty, i thought it was perfect with the yolk (it's overcooked and they certainly could do better than that). The amount of sodium is perfectly acceptable if you think of it as a sausage #YOLO.

Hearty, meaty offerings include Australian grain-fed prime rib, honey mustard-glazed pork rack and slow-grilled herb-roasted baby fowl. 

I enjoyed the meats from the open-flame charcoal grills. Cuts of wagyu flank steaks, lamb chops and Rangers Valley grain-fed beef tenderloins are sizzled over white-hot charcoal. Do not go expecting medium rare meats though, they all turn fairly medium-medium done. Don't skip the delicious sides of vegetables like roasted tomatoes on the vine, caramelized pumpkin, and asparagus gratin! 

I believe the Asian Station could be skipped. Oh but don't miss the liu sha bao! I was surprised at how good it was. That was truly a hidden gem in the dim sum corner. 

Dessert is a highlight at Hilton Singapore. 

With over 30 sweet treats like the luscious caramel hazelnut chocolate fountain -tears of joy-, cakes, mousse, tarts, pralines and macarons... it's pure heaven for the sheer amount of variety. 

The Hilton Singapore Sunday Champagne Brunch is available every Sunday from noon to 3pm, only at Opus Restaurant, located on the ground level. 

Hilton Singapore
581 Orchard Rd Singapore 238883
Sunday Champagne Brunch: 12 - 3pm
Tel: +65 6730 3390

Adult: $88 (non-alcoholic)/$108/$138 (free flow of Louis Roederer champagne, selected white & red wines and beer)

Child: $39 (aged 5 to 12 years old)

Oriole Coffee + Bar has been around in the Somerset area for a bit now but it was never a choice cafe for me until recently. With its refreshed food and beverage menu at its Pan Pacific outlet, there are now more choices for my picking!

All day breakfast FTW! I really liked the Humble Baked Egg Skillet ($16), which is a hearty mix of tender and flavorful roasted lamb stew with sweet potatoes, sous vide eggs and Emmental cheese to add on that creamy and stringy texture. They really ought to serve bread with this massive pan.

I highly recommend that you have this to share because it's really quite a huge portion. While i don't see myself having this at 8am in the morning, this is certainly perfect for brunch, or dinner.

Sunday Champagne Brunch is what gets us through the work week and i was won over by the enhanced spread at The Line at Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore. I wasn't expecting much since the standard was meh the last time i visited (it was still known as the best buffet line then) but newly appointed Chef de Cuisine Vincent Wong upped the buffet game and i was won over. How could i not with their 16 theatre kitchens that include foie gras presented 10 ways, 13 types of fresh seafood on ice and 30 types of New and Old World cheese served with unlimited Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut. GASP.

While the typical Singaporeans pile their plates with the huge seafood spread, i started with the foie gras and cheese!

Well there were only 8 types on the table but plenty of options. There's the classic, chocolate chips, honey apple, pimento, fig, yuzu, berries, and port. Of the lot, you can't go wrong with the classic. I also liked the fig, berries, and port wine versions. Of course, some Spanish Iberico ham to go with can never be wrong.

People have the cheeses for dessert but i like to start and end with cheese. It was a fantastic cheese tasting with a selection of hard and soft, mild and sharp types. Pair them with the fresh fruits, nuts, and jams for a complete experience.

The different types of sashimi available. DO NOT MISS THE SALMON ABURI SUSHI. SERIOUSLY. They were morsels of creamy umami i swear. 

The spread of seafood on ice includes oysters from Ireland, Sydney and France, and crabs including Alaskan Red King crab, Alaskan Bairdi Snow Crabs and Sri Lankan Crabs. If you like your seafood baked, there's the Oyster Rockerfeller with France Prat Ar Coum oysters from Brittany and Lobster Thermidor.

Knock yourself out at the meat station. Featured here is the 48-Hour Slow Roasted Wagyu Beef Leg with a Mustard Crust which was sadly dry. The Australian Stockyard Tomahawk Steak fared a little better. Other meats include the 200 Day Grain–fed Australian Stockyard Striploin with Truffle Jus, Herb-crusted Lamb Rack and more. 

If not, the Mediterranean grilled meats were quite dandy with the heavy spices. 

I thought the satays gave the ones at Pan Pacific's Edge buffet a run for their money.

Save space for desserts. Pastry Chef Hervé Potus went overboard with his stellar chocolate selection (in a good way)! Love the tarts, the cones, the cakes, the truffles. Of course there were other types of pastries, tarts and cakes, fruit trifle, Singaporean desserts and “kuehs” and ice cream. They also have frozen yogurt alongside the ice cream!  

The Line’s Sunday Champagne Brunch is priced at $158 per adult and includes unlimited Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut. Cheers!

Shangri-La Hotel Singapore 

22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350

Tel: +65 6213 4398

Sunday: 12 - 3pm

Jalan Besar is certainly a good spot for cafe hopping/brunch these days though i must say that the options at Tiong Bahru and Duxton fares better. Nevertheless, there is charm in this industrious enclave. The Refinery took the decor of its workshop neighbors and put it in their 3 storey space, providing patrons with a hippie-chic restaurant-bar-designer studio concept (gosh all that hyphens).  

Level 1 is the restaurant which has a Japanese yakitori thing going on but for the for the weekends, there's a brunch and you know how we live for weekend breakfasts right.. 

First things first, coffee. The Flat White ($4.50) was pretty smooth and balanced, a tad milky though, and way too little coffee. The small cup was gone before any food arrived.

Looking for an excuse to eat, drink and be merry? Then you gotta check out the big fat Italian brunch at Zafferano. Started in Sep 2015, the twice monthly brand new Saturday brunch by Head Chef Marco Guccio will have you feasting on an extensive menu of hearty Italian favorites.

Indulgence is the key to this brunch so be prepared to stay at the table for hours.