Snoozy Late Brunch @Skyve Elementary Bistro & Bar

During the long weekend, all I could think of was to avoid the crowded scene as there would be high influx of people going everywhere possible (Singapore is just too small so most people if not travelling overseas, could only hangout in shopping malls and aircon places).

I'm such a bum who likes to laze around..haha  It took my Hubby some time to drag me out of my bed and to bring me to Skype for brunch cos' it was  already 2ish when we got there.  We were lucky to get the only remaining table with sofa seats without reservation, but no so lucky for the couple who came after us, had to take the outside seats.

Skyve Elementary Bistro & Bar
10 Winstedt Road
Block E #01-17
Singapore 227977
Tel: 6225 6690
*Reservation is recommended!

 

Main entrance from the road-side.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ THE MENU ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Their brunch menu is available from 10am - 4pm daily!  Yippee I can sleep in more and still have brunch items in the afternoon!

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ THE INTERIOR ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The first thing I notice stepping into the bistro, was that strong scent of truffles..

 

The indoor seating area are segregated into 3 sections.  The first 2 sections are all sofa sittings, suitable for couple dating or group gatherings.  The last section all the way back is the largest section in proper table setting, which can be rearranged for special events to create a different ambience.

 

A little "extra" to share with you, is their common toilet.  Hope you won't get turn off by the sight of below picture.  I must let you know first otherwise ladies might get frightened or "scream" when you see a male entering/inside the toilet!  Their toilet is meant for both sexes, which last 2 cubicles are reserved for the ladies, and first 2 cubicles for the gentlemen.  A side note, I do like their retro theme employed and toilet bowl-shaped alike washing basin used.  However, may not so convenient or at ease for the ladies to powder their nose or comb their hair inside this common WC.

 

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ THE TASTE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
Skyve Sous Vide Eggs Benedict - Was alright.  Though you can see the amount of oiliness lingering in the plate.  The serving portion may not seem alot, but it certainly can fill up your stomach while enjoying the quiet and nice ambience.

 

Truffle Scrambled Eggs - Don't be mistaken!  The main role of this breakfast is the scrambled eggs, however the Portobello mushrooms are humongous!  Can't really go wrong with simple scrambled eggs.

 

Iced Mocha (left) & Iced Cappuccino (right) - Not their forte for sure.  Bet the Barista overlooked that our drinks are iced, not enough coffee taste, not enough sugar syrup in my iced cappuccino.  Bland.  The iced mocha was slightly better as you can still taste the chocolate presented in it.

 

Finally, it's my dessert time after a hearty meal!  There isn't many choices available to choose from....just 4!

 

Carrot cake - It's real worth it, for its size and quality!  Took me by pure amazement, the cake is layered with rich cream cheese but not overwhelming.  So you can crave and dive your fork more for more bites.  The cake layers are packed with many many thin slices of red carrot and walnut, plus caramelised whole walnut garnished on top of the cake.  Have never seen any shop's carrot cake can be this tasty and good quality (not even Cedele).  Very filling and good quality for the price you pay!

 

Brunch @Chye Seng Huat Hardware 再成发五金

It's always nice to sleep in during weekends..  So after the huge struggle to wake up, we headed for a late brunch @再成发五金 Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH) Coffee Bar earlier this month.  It wasn't that crowded around 1ish on a Saturday, but you got to act fast to find your own seats.  The service staff are very occupied, so you have to self-service sometimes, and get the menu yourself if need be.
[ *Tip ]:  Run for the bar-top seats (in the centre of the shop) if you like to see 'first-hand' those baristas in action!

 

Orders are taken in and placed at the 2 cashier counters near to the main glass door.  PS:  It is really small and cramp in the shop.

 

I feel that it is more of the novelty in its shop name and the shopfront actually assumed the outlook of an old traditional shophouse with metal grills and folding white panel door.  The location is not easy to find, for you can walk past it without realising (also not many parking lots available in that area).  I have to applaud their marketing team for they did such a risky, yet innovative and successful branding for CSHH!  Oh I love the 'triangular'-shaped brown paper bag used for takeaways.  Very smart and nostalgic!  Kudos!!

[*Important Note ]:  The folding panel door is "FAKE" and seal-fixed to the wall.  There are 2 "real" entrance - (1) at the right-hand side grey-coloured door, which normally leads to the upper floors; & (2) thru' the corrugated metal gates outside & next to the building, where there's a "No Parking" sign.

Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH Coffee Bar)
150 Tyrwhitt Road
Singapore 207563
Tel: 6396 0609

 Operating hours (nailed on the exterior side wall):

 

Apparently, they roast their own coffee beans.

  

Have heard about CSHH for some time and there have been many reviews on it, especially its coffee.  Some good, some bad.  It's the same for most places, depending on your own experience, on what and which stuff you choose to order.  Typically, not everything from the "same brand/shop" will be good, only certain item(s) from each brand/shop will be recommended.  As such, hear me out on my choices as follows..

 

Very simplified menu - with limited choice for main course (left-most column), coffee (middle column) and other drinks (right-most column).

 

Espresso + Milk = Latte --> Not "power" enough for me.  The coffee was fragrant, but taste was overpowered by the milk poured in.  Also, the coffee ain't hot enough when served, thus it turned cold pretty quick.  As you know, no coffee taste good when cold, unless it's iced coffee.

Blinis with Cream Cheese & Smoked Salmon - Luv it!!  It's pancakes with cream cheese + smoked salmon.  I don't usually take cream cheese with pancakes due to health preferences, but totally taken in this time!  For the cream cheese is slightly sour, well-matched with the pancakes and saltish smoked salmon to increase your appetite.

 

Scrambled Eggs with Bacon - Satisfactory =)  (Oh I liked the baked beans, different from the usual canned baked beans!)

 

Hazelnut Ginger Tea Cake - I really like it cos' I'm a fan of ginger! haa

There are ginger bits and hazelnuts in smaller chunks hidden in the cake, but not much of hazelnut on the whole.  I exceptionally like the irregular crumbs stuck on the top layer of the cake (wonder how they managed to have those crumbs up there?!?).

 

From the "Hand-Brewed with Love" menu, one gets to select according to own preference from Bright / Balanced / Bold.  Guatamela was recommended by the staff as the Brew-of-the-day for balanced taste was sold out.  Rather nice and smooth on the palate, with a tad acidic aftertaste.

 

In short, their cakes and coffee seemed average.  I do recommend people to give it an attempt, for its interesting concept but not-so relaxing ambience.  Despite how "remote" this place is hidden, tourists are attracted to this joint.  How can we, Singaporeans miss that out?!?

All-Day Brunch @Au Chocolat

[Postdated, 28 Mar 2013]
Thru' sheer chance from a Facebook post, we met again exactly 3years 0day from our first meet-up.. Such a rare coincidence that we could meet at a common timing in such short notice!!  Therefore I suggested a restaurant I have yet to try out, and is nearby Gardens by the Bay (where they would be visiting in the morning), Au Chocolat Singapore @MBS.

Au Chocolat is a locally-created concept restaurant, inspired by French antiquated streets.  It has 2 segmented corners - the Bistro and Confiserie (confectionery / candy store in french).  [My Tip]:  Call to make an advance reservation, so you may get the "booth" seating in the Bistro --> more comfy!

Au Chocolat
@Marina Bay Sands
2 Bayfront Avenue
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Bay Level L1-03
Singapore 018956
Tel: 6688 7227


My newly-wed Hong Kong couple friends, Canice and Nick both decided on the Set Lunch that includes an appetiser, main course and complimentary dessert of the day.  (I have noticed that the Set Lunch Menu has changed this month in April, so you can expect to try out new dishes.)  They ordered a salad and tomato soup for appetiser (there are only these 2 options to choose from).

Uncertain how big the serving would be, so we ordered 3 different main course to share - steak sandwich, cheese macaroni and eggs Florentine.  Steak sandwich was different, cos' steak is usually made into a burger instead of sandwich.  Though it had "uniqueness", the sandwich was too big to bite off straight, so luckily we were sharing hence it was divided and cut accordingly (not as convenient as most sandwiches would be).  It tasted ok, fries were nice, but steak was a little too overcooked for chewing.

 
The cheese macaroni also tasted alright, serving portion too much for one to finish.  So instead, would recommend it for sharing.

The eggs Florentine I ordered were really nice (in actual, there were 2 eggs)!  Just nice to satisfy my brunch appetite! *grin*
 
Both the service staff (the one who took our orders & asked to serve our dessert) told us different name for the dessert of the day - "Brownie".  But turned out it was actually a cheesecake with chocolate base and 2 big chucks of chocolate at 2nd half of the cake.  Hmm..cheese overpowering, don't really blend well.

I would come back soon to try out their Weekend Brunch Menu (heard their truffle fries are good!) for the dishes includes many variety of sweet and savoury items!