Where To Eat & Drink: An Instagrammable Durian Cafe, Asian-Style Buffets & More
Our round-up of great dining spots to check out, fab drinks and the latest in food news this week
By Michelle Lee SM -
Always on the hunt for new dining spots? We bring you sound bites on where to eat, including new restaurant and eatery openings, the best places for your after-work tipple, and what’s new in the food scene.
This week, get your appetite raring for divine treats from 99 Old Trees' new durian cafe, Spice Brasserie's new buffet menus boasting local and Malaysian favourites, and Baker X's latest resident home baker.
Durian cafe and retailer 99 Old Trees has moved their quarters to Outram, along with spanking new interiors boasting a chic, industrial touch, snap-worthy murals (spot its adorable mascot Stinky the Hedgehog!), and both indoor and alfresco spaces.
Along with the new space, 99 Old Trees also has two new treats (under its retail brand Stinky) on the menu, both made with durians from its own farm in Pahang. A must-try is the Stinky Bomb ($1.80 each, for a minimum of five), a golden choux au craquelin that adds a crunchy, subtly salty contrast to the luscious and thick mao shang wang durian flesh and cream inside. We also had the Stinky Roll ($6.50 for a quarter piece and $25 for a foot-long roll), which sees soft Japanese sponge cake filled with fresh Mao Shan Wang flesh and French custard cream.
Also good are the Stinky Bowl ($5.50, $7 with extra durian shot), a creamy concoction of D24 durian mousse and puree, as well as the Stinky Chendul ($3), a traditional housemade Teochew-style chendol that you can add on with a blob of durian flesh ($2).
99 Old Trees is at 1 Teo Hong Road, Singapore 088321. Visit its website to order or for more information.
New buffet menus at Spice Brasserie at Parkroyal on Kitchener Road
If you have a penchant for local and Malaysian favourites, Parkroyal On Kitchener Road's buffet line Spice Brasserie has three buffet menus that showcase both signature and new creations.
For lunch on weekdays, there's the Sin-Ma Flavours menu, with plates that nod to executive sous chef Patrick Ooi's hometown of Penang as well as family recipes that have been passed down through generations. There's his take on Penang assam laksa, as well as familiar favorites like braised black vinegar trotter, and Hainanese pork chop. $25nett per person, Wed to Fri (Lunch)
If you're popping by on the weekend, you'll be tucking into the Lunch 茶 (Lunch 'Cha') menu of Malaysia- and Singapore-inspired fare. There'll be a DIY popiah station, Penang-style char kway teow and ice kacang to whet your appetite. $35nett per person, Sat and Sun (Lunch)
You can also look forward to a refresh of the Asian Street Food Dinner Buffet, with an expanded selection of fresh seafood. Apart from the beloved chilli crab with mantou, you'll be diving into three new crab flavours like tom yam crab and Mongolian sauce crab. There'll also be all-new Asian street finds alongside crowd-favourites of BBQ Black Char Siew and Banh Mi Crispy Pork Belly. $58nett per person, Wed to Sun (Dinner).
Parkroyal On Kitchener Road is at 181 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208533. Visit its website for reservations or more information.
Following the feature of White’s Bakery and Browned Butter Bakehouse Baking, studio and 10-seater cafe Baker X will see a new home baker taking up residency from Feb 8 to 20, 2022.
Helmed by founder Cherry Chiu, its strong suit are French style tarts and individual cakes. Sink your teeth into its Les Petite Tarts, in delectable flavours of Lemon & Basil, Chocolate, Chestnut Mandarin, Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake, Apple, and Golden Rocher ($4.50 each, $27 for a box of six of all flavours).
And only on the weekend, you'll get to try individual sized cakes and tart ($10 each except the Chocolate & Hazelnut Tart available at $11.50) such as the Strawberry Charlotte and Coco Loco, a compelling combination of coconut, lemon, and mint.
On Saturdays & Sundays only, Mon Cerise Patisserie will also offer the Taste of Mon Cerise individual sized cakes and tarts ($10 each except the Chocolate & Hazelnut Tart available at $11.50) such as the Strawberry Charlotte and Coco Loco, a delish marriage of coconut, lemon, and mint.
Baker X is at Orchard Central #04-29, 181 Orchard Road, Singapore 238896.
Delifrance has given its selection of viennoiseries a makeover, with what it bills its new Heritage range. The elevated range of pastries will be whipped up by combining refined traditional French baking techniques together with high quality ingredients — think flour from French flour mill Grands Moulins de Paris, natural French butter and free-range eggs.
The Heritage range comprises the new Butter Croissant ($3.60), Pain Au Chocolat ($3.80), and Kouign Amann ($4), and the butter croissant will be used for its well-loved range of croissant sandwiches, too. Or get a Heritage Croissants Box to share ($36; U.P $41.60), which will get you two croissants, two pain au chocolat, one matcha croissant, one Kouign Amann, one croissant sandwich, and two exclusive enamel pins.
To celebrate the launch as well as National Croissant Day on Jan 30, Delifrance will be rolling out its Butter Croissant and Pain Au Chocolat for $2, and the Matcha Almond Croissant for $3.50. Limited to two redemptions per item per person.