[Tasting] Supply & Demand | Modern Italian Trattoria & Pizzeria @ Orchard Gateway

Supply & Demand is an Italian restaurant, serving hearty Italian fare with a smattering of Southeast Asian twists. A chic place located at Level 2 of Orchard Gateway. Nearest MRT would be Somerset Station.

signboard

It was rather busy when we visited on a weekend at about 2pm. Hence, do make a reservation to avoid disappointment. Nice ambiance, cosy and with high ceiling inside the restaurant. Space between tables could be pretty tight, but that depends on where you are seated.

interior

It was pretty awesome to listen to live entertainment during the day time. We had Amanda on that weekend and loved her singing! Song requests are possible though we were too shy to ask.

live-music schedule board

Amanda

Eh, enough ogling at cute singer. Let's take a look at the menu. Hardcover menu, with some sort of an emblem printed on it, this has an old school charm. Plenty of things in the menu, but since this was an invited tasting, we left the selection to Chee Sheng, our host for that day.

feels like those old library book

what shall we try?

Oh, important to note that at the moment, Supply and Demand have an all-day promo for oysters. $2 per piece (instead of usual $4.90) if you order a drink and capped at 6 pieces per pax. I supposed they meant alcoholic drink? Do enquire if you're there. But the oysters were so good! Plump, juicy and briny.

Taylor Shellfish Farm Oyster @$2++ (usual $4.90++) per piece

"The truffle fries are pretty popular here." Yes, we did catch a whiff or two of the truffle smell while we were there but we're gonna try something different. Let's have the Okonomiyaki Sweet Potato Fries and the Indomie Goreng Fries instead. Yup, these are the ones with an Asian twist.

(left to right) Okonomiyaki Sweet Potato Fries and Indomie Goreng Fries

Indomie Goreng Fries @$12/$17 (petite/regular)

The seasonings on these two fries were really strong, hence be ready with your drinks. A beer may be a good idea. The Indomie Goreng had a spicy kick towards the end, so don't be like us but to have the fries as soon as it landed on your table. I think these fries would appeal to the younger crowd.

Next we tried some appetiser from the Chichetti section. Would you like some beef carpaccio, crostini and baked brie? Well, yasss! Let's get those.

Beef Carpaccio @$15++

Beef carpaccio was sliced tenderloin with yuzu wasabi emulsion. While the  tenderloin wasn't melt-in-your-mouth, it was of a lovely thinness that was easy to eat. Again, this was strongly flavoured. My remedy, was the huge mug of Lychee Mango Fizz from the Signature Coolers of the beverage menu.

Signature Coolers - Coconut Mint, Ginger Peach Mule, Coconut Lychee Cooler and Lychee Mango Fizz @$8++ each

I would totally recommend the Peach and Parma Ham Crostini. This was one mouthful of deliciousness. Ok, one mouthful could be too much to handle. I had it in two. The crostini had a dollop of lovely cream cheese as its base, and then a chunky sweet peach and topped with savoury salty parma ham. And, I liked the fact that it was one generous piece of parma!

Peach and Parma Ham Crostini @$14++

Next up, the baked brie which I would suggest to have it as dessert. First of all, this was one well plated item. It looked like a flower in bloom. Oven baked brie cheese, drizzled with honey and topped with almond flakes and crumbles served with a side of toasted flat bread.

Baked Brie @$17++

While the brie was not melty, I still loved it. Cut a good piece and savour it on its own. Revel in the taste of sweet honey and the more you chew, the more savoury salty mild flavour of brie rises. Take a bite of the flat bread and contrast those with a slight crunch. Yums.

"Where are the carbs?" You asked.

Not to worry, because here comes the pasta and the pizza! The seared beef pizza was really beautiful and Instagram-able too. The dough is made in-house daily and is of a thin crust variant. Again, remember not to leave the pizza out for too long.

Manzo Scottato e Pera (Seared Beef with Pear) @$25++/$29++ (regular 9" or large 13")

The beef was not tough but unfortunately, there was some tendon on the piece that I had, and that was rather hard to chew through.

I like to use my hand

For meatless pizza, the Avocado e Pesto pizza was on point. Tasty garlic cream sauce, savoury pesto sauce topped with loads of peppery bitter rucola, with a scattering of onions and avocado pieces, oregano, mozzarella and some sweet cherry tomatoes.

Avocado e Pesto @$25++/$29++ (regular 9" or large 13")

For the pasta, we tried the squid ink and the carbonara. The squid ink pasta was very al-dente with little liquid, garnished with cherry tomatoes and finished with some shavings of grana padano cheese. One could choose to have it without any other toppings, or with seafood or seared scallops.

Nero di Sepia with seared scallops @$19++/$29++ (petite/regular)

I preferred the carbonara as it was more flavourful. The sauteed crispy bacon was indeed superbly crispy and its glorious salty porky flavours upped the ante for this pasta. The yolk infused cream coated the noodles and I liked the smoothness of the noodles when slurped. And, load it up with plenty of shaved cheese to impress the tastebuds further. The mushrooms gave the dish a touch of earthy flavours. So delectable.

Carbonara Cremoso @$14++/$19++ (petite/regular)

Thank you Kris for extending the invite, Chee Sheng for hosting the lunch and S&D Orchard Gateway crew for taking care of us.

Supply & Demand

Address: 277 Orchard Road #02-13/14, Orchard Gateway, Singapore (238858)
Website: http://supplyanddemand.com.sg/
Business Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11:30am-3pm, 6-10:30pm
Sat-Sun: 11:30am-10:30pm

[Tasting] Godmama @ Funan SG

Have you visited the just re-opened Funan? After undergoing a $560 million renovation and redesign, the new Funan opened its doors once again on 28 Jun. Plenty of food, cafes and lifestyle shops in there, as well as the old favourites like camera and tech shops.

Funan v2.0

Was invited to a brunch tasting at Godmama, a new restaurant that serves Peranakan inspired food. Spanking new, and has both outdoor and indoor dining area. At 11am, the sun could get a bit hot in our sunny Singapore hence, we sought refuge in the cool confines of the air-conditioned dining area.

interior - lovely handpainted artwork

Met up with co-owners Christina and Derrick, and found out that Godmama is inspired by Christina's mama and godmother, and hence the name. Head Chef Fred too has Peranakan roots and the menu at Godmama is a new play on familiar flavours, catering to the younger generation.

Lychee Kris Earl Grey @$8.50

Iced Mocha @$7.50

Kris just had to order her namesake drink, the Lychee Kris Earl Grey, which is under the premium tea selection by Ette Tea Co. My iced mocha was really 'gao' (thick!). Wow.

All-Star Egg Skin Popiah @$6.50

For appetiser, we had the Godmama's Special - the All-Star Egg Skin Popiah. The perennial favourite of stewed sweet turnip, encased in a soft egg crepe with the usual sprouts and lettuce. It was wrapped with a dash of chili on the skin, which gave the dish an instant lift. The chili got power!

Next up, we tried the innovative Ayam Buah Keluak Burger. A firm piece of chicken patty that was well-grilled, dabbed with pureed sambal buah keluak (black nut), topped with onions and tomatoes and a sunny side up. Served with sesame burger buns and a side dish of emping belinjo (crackers). Do ask for some sambal belachan for the emping!

Ayam Buah Keluak Burger @$21.90

side profile

If you'd like more carbs, how about a plate of Buah Keluak Bolognese Pasta. This is a beef bolognese linguine tossed in Godmama’s classic nyonya buah keluak sauce. Quite a substantial dish, and you'd be hungry no more. The beef bolognese was pretty good and one could get that yummy beefy taste immediately. It was a pity that the buah keluak flavours were rather toned down.

Buah Keluak Bolognese Pasta @$19.90

The Godmama’s Otak Otak Benedict is another signature dish in the brunch menu. Poached eggs ontop of a large otak square, with a piece of their lovely artisanal sourdough bread at the bottom.

Godmama’s Otak Otak Benedict @$19.90

The mackerel otak otak was not spicy and the fish quality was good. This dish be enjoyed by both the young and old. I'd prefer a spicier version though.

Babi Assam Baked Eggs @$16.90

If you're looking at just one item for brunch, I'd recommend the Babi Assam Baked Eggs. Served piping hot, this dish has Godmama’s signature belly of pork simmered in an aromatic tamarind stew. The pork pieces were cut small and the babi assam stew was rightfully tangy that made it such a joy to eat with the freshly baked sourdough bread. Break the egg, mix it around, tear a piece of that bread, dip, dunk and get some of those pork pieces on top and enjoy. Guaranteed yums!

For dessert, I had my eyes on Banana Pengat Buttermilk Pancakes. Pancakes is just so right to eat for brunch. Banana pengat? Yes please!

Banana Pengat Buttermilk Pancakes  @$17.90

doused with sweet  Peranakan coconut milk and banana compote and coconut crumble with vanilla ice-cream at the side

Warm fluffy buttermilk pancake stack, with delectable sweet banana pengat sauce. Loved the local flavours! Warm sweet sauce, soft airy pancakes with cold vanilla ice-cream was a good way to end the meal.

Thank you Kris for the invite and Godmama for hosting the tasting. Congratulations on your store opening!

Godmama

Address: Funan Mall, 109 North Bridge Rd, #04-07
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godmamasg/
Contact: 6970 0828
Business Hours:
Sun to Thur - 11am to 2.30pm, 6pm to 10pm
Fri to Sat - 1030am to 4.30pm, 6pm to 12am

[Tasting] Rookery @ Capital Tower

Rookery is a cafe and bar located right in the CDB area. Founded by 3 individuals – Daniel, Michelle and Sue-shan, this casual joint with a cosy vibe, consolidates their respective love for whisky & beer, wine and coffee into one place.

Was invited to a tasting there recently and coincidentally, it was Ladies Night (Wed). For the blokes, not to worry as Rookery has got ya covered as well. Happy Hour (HH) runs daily till 8pm! After scanning through the drins' menu, it was observed that the price difference (for selected beers and wines) during HH is between $3 to $5. A pint of Asahi for just $9.90? Yes, please!

Ladies Night on Wed @ Rookery

Live band on selected days (not Wed!)

For the tasting, we got to try the brunch items, some tapas and dinner items.

Brunch

What's brunch without eggs? How do you like yours? Poached or scrambled? Whichever way that you choose, Rookery has it. I'm with the scrambled eggs camp, for sure.

Smashed Avocado on Toast

Smashed Avocado Toast @$15

The smashed avocado toast came with perfectly poached egg topped with furikake, sitting gently on top of the toasted sourdough bread lavished with guacamole of tomatoes and corn.

runny yolk

Signature Scramble

Signature Scramble with Smoked Salmon @$20

Wow. Loved the way the scrambled eggs are cooked and presented here. So inviting and can't wait till all the photo taking are over to sink my teeth into that delicious mound of eggy pillow.

If you are not adverse to pork, don't waste time and just go get the Signature Scramble with Glazed Bacon Chop. But why stop at one though? Heck, order another one of those deliciously thick, satisfying sweet glazed savoury bacon chop. Regrets are only when one haven't had enough!

Signature Scramble with Glazed Bacon Chop (yums!)

Fried Chicken Sandwich

That's a misnomer as the fried chicken sandwich is one part fried chicken and one part glazed bacon chop. One could have two yummy meats in one bun!

Fried Chicken Sandwich @$21

Best of both worlds: Fried Chicken Thigh and Glazed Bacon Chop

Succulent double meat with honey mustard mayo, gouda cheese and lined with crisps lettuce and tangy sliced tomatoes.

Fuel up with this power combo!

Marmite Mushroom Toast

Marmite Mushroom Toast @$16

Ahhh, you do not prefer meat? Not to worry, as the marmite mushroom toast makes a delectable brunch item too. High in flavours, yet lighter on the tummy. Perfectly toasted crispy baguette, loaded with earthy savoury flavours. Pretty yummy!

Roasted Cauliflower & Quinoa

Oh, you'd prefer something lighter without the bread and meat? Then, the roasted cauliflower & quinoa dish would be perfect for you.

Crunchy, sweet cauliflower in sesame dressing served with grilled halloumi cheese. Good flavours and quite filling.

Roasted Cauliflower & Quinoa @$17

Lunch/Dinner

Grilled Mackerel @$24

Listed under 'Seasonal Specials', the Grilled Mackerel is served with baby potatoes (underneath), garlic and tomatoes in white wine stew. The baby potatoes were a tad under-cooked.

Scallops @$22

Five (5) Hokkaido scallops seared to perfection with its balanced bouncy, firm chew that exalted the sweetness of the seafood. Served with plenty of seaweed and miso butter sauce. Oily? Yes, but it was too darn delicious! We used up all the toast provided to scoop up the sauce because it was simply divine. And then, we broke off some parts of the sandwiches and the marmite mushroom toast to finish off till the last drop of the seaweed and miso butter. So satisfying. Yes, we'll worry about the calories later!

The flavours of the sauce are strong but it was so good with an alcoholic drink.

Meatballs

Meatballs @$17

Beef meatballs in tomato based sauce, with parmesan and herbed breadcrumbs served with toast (yes, I 'used' these toast for the seaweed & miso butter too!)

Surprisingly, the meatballs had less of a 'beefy' taste. Texture was dense and firm. The tomato sauce was lighter than expected.

Gambas al Ajillo

Tiger prawns (halved), grilled and loaded on garlic and chili oil. Fragrant and reminiscent of the zichar steamed prawns with garlic. The prawns were cooked just right and loved the colours of this dish!

Gambas al Ajillo @$18

US Kurobuta Bone-in Pork Chop

US Kurobuta Bone-in Pork Chop @$29

The pork chop is of a thinner cut and served medium with a side of curly fries and mesclun salad. Enjoyable, tender meat with light seasonings of salt and pepper.

Crabmeat Pasta 

For those who loved their noodles, we tried two variations; the Crabmeat Pasta in tomato cream based sauce and the dry tossed Sakura Ebi Capellini in kombu and decorated with furikake and chives.

Crabmeat Pasta @$24

The blue swimmer meat was cooked into the slightly sweet tomato cream sauce and liked that the tagliatelle was not too al-dente.

Sakura Ebi Capellini

Sakura Ebi Capellini @$14

I'd go for the Sakura Ebi Capellini for its stronger flavours and overall umami-ness of the dish. Perhaps, this preference could also be due to the cocktails that I was imbibing...

Signature Cocktails @$13 (Happy Hour) / $17

Elderflower Mojito (rum, mint, lime, elderflower liquor, brown sugar)

Tokyo Martini (vodka, choya umeshu, dry vermouth, sour plum)

The Elderflower Mojito was refreshing and not too sweet. Lovely to have this for brunch as well. The Tokyo Martini tasted predominantly of umeshu.


Thank you Ivan for the invite and Jereme Liang and Rookery for hosting the tasting. It was a good introduction to Rookery and its delectable array of dishes available for brunch, lunch and dinner. Not forgetting the happy hour cocktails and drinks!

Rookery @ Capital Tower

Address: 168, #01-08 Robinson Rd, Capital Tower, 068912
Website: http://rookery.sg
Contact: 6327 9369
Business Hours:
Mondays to Fridays - 8am to 11pm
Closed on weekends (Sat and Sun)

[Food Tasting] Kafe Utu @ 12 Jiak Chuan Road

Was privileged to be invited for a tasting at Kafe Utu, thanks to Kris (@msginginly). It was a discovery trip as am a noob pertaining to African cuisine. Located at the hip Jiak Chuan Road, Kafe Utu is easy to spot.

Kafe Utu exterior

menu

The interior is charming, with a cosy vibe while its staff are friendly and welcoming. Feel free to wander around and notice the larger than life photographs of native African women at the cafe area or venture upstairs to the lounge area to chill-out with furniture that were specially flown-in from Africa. Intricate wood carvings, a mirror and treasure chest that has more than 100 years of history are all part of the charm.

photographs of African natives

secret hideout

exquisite decor

intricate carvings

Kafe Utu is an afro cafe cum lounge serving brunch, offering delectable East and West African food as well as specialty coffee served with only fresh Hokkaido milk.

coffee counter

high-end espresso coffee machine

steaming it up

bean here, done that

Let's take a look at the wonderful coffee that Kafe Utu makes, from the good hands of Barista Mark Chan. The Bidi Bado was a rather interesting cup of mocha rimmed with natural peanut butter, pink peppercorns and toasted almonds which I enjoyed. Tasted nutty, buttery and intense.

Bidi Bado Abracadabra (UTU Style Mocha) @$7

Matcha @$6

Malindi Latte @$6

Utu Ink @$6

The Owner, Mr Kurt Wagner, grew up in Kenya and wanted to bring a piece of home to Singapore. There are many items in the Kafe Utu that are handmade and housemade.  From the doors that are hand carved specially for Kafe Utu and flown-in from Kenya, the uniquely shaped water glasses that are hand blowed, to the ceramic coffee cups and saucers, and many more.

Wondering about East and West African cuisine? Come satisfy your curiosity (as I had) at Kafe Utu.

West African Spicy Greens @$28

Liberian Peanut Chicken Stew @$28

My goodness. I have found my favourite rice dish and that would be the West African Spicy Greens where one gets cassava leaves, chicken thigh, smoked fish & habenero, served with coconut rice. Simply delicious!

Swahili Fish Curry @$29

Did I mention that Kafe Utu serves amazing salads? Well, it does! Both the pumpkin kale and the mama's fresh garden salad were so good that I almost polished everything off. So tasty! Oh, how can I not mention the beetroot burratini. Beetroot had never tasted this good before! Picked beetroot, white truffle oil, burratini & fresh basil leaf forms the winning combination.

Pumpkin Kale @$18

Mama’s fresh garden salad @$25

Beetroot Burratini @$18

peek-a-boo

If you are more of a soup person, do try the refreshing tomato soup, served cold. Good till the last drop and whets the appetite for more!

Marinated Roma Tomatoes @$16

The brunch items in the menu were rather extensive.  The Pulled Pork Breakfast was rather satisfying with the generous portion of shoulder pulled pork in house hickory smoked BBQ sauce, spice mix, curried avocado and served with corn salsa, potato hash and topped with a wobbly poached egg.

Pulled Pork Breakfast @$24

Utu Bowl @$20

For a non-meat option, the Utu Bowl is moreish as it has quinoa, orange zest pickled carrots, apple cider pickled cabbage, fresh kale, marinated goat’s cheese, sous vide egg, roasted pumpkin, fresh avocado & spiced pumpkin seeds.

Or for something lighter, opt for the Quinoa Chia Seed Pudding.

Quinoa Chia Seed Pudding @$18

For brunch, if you are not into coffee, why not try the Fresh Berries Smoothies. Comes in a tall glass with paper straw.

Fresh Berries Smoothies @$9

Let's have a look at the dessert. The Mandazi is a Swahili coast classic of fried bread with coconut flakes and cardamon. Its texture is much denser than a doughnut. The Nakupenda is a variation of this dessert topped with ice-cream. Loved the ice-cream/soft-serve at Kafe Utu. So smooth and creamy.

Mandazi @$8

Nakupenda @$8

I have much love for the tiramisu here as well. Maybe it was because the house espresso was so good.

Tiramisu @$8

Canele @$5

The best dessert for sharing had to be the Ricotta Hotcakes. Beautiful looking, delicious tasting and so instagram-able.

Ricotta Hotcakes @$23

In the evenings, Utu Lounge comes alive! Enjoy cocktails, delicious tapas and just chill. Cassava chips, potato wedges, padron peppers and buttermilk fried chicken. The dips for the wedges are the Congo Bongo, mango chili marmalade & House Chili ranging from mild to hot respectively.

Fresh Cassava Chips @$12

Potato Wedges @$14

Buttermilk Fried Chicken @$15

Padron Peppers @$14

The cocktail bar is actually upstairs. The bar uses fresh products and homemade syrups, nothing artificial and premium spirits. Just so you know, there won't be any Hendricks, Bombay or any of the likes. Find Chris and let him know your drinks preference.

Chris with The Calamansi & Cucumber Mojito @$18

Gin & Tonic redefined

Malaika @$16

Eden @$16

Mganga @$18

My drink was the Eden which is made of organic gin, pineapple juice and lemon juice. There was egg white beaten into that concoction as well in its early stages.

The most interesting drink was the Malaika with its "so pretty in pink colour" plus the wicked chili padi, delicious fresh watermelon, fresh lemon juice, vodka and soda water. Spicy and sweet all at once!

Had a wonderful experience at Kafe Utu, thanks to the cheerful and friendly staff that took care of us that day. Thank you Kris for the invite, Mr Kurt Wagner for your hospitality, team Utu comprising of  Kynna, Mark, Chris and many more (but I do not know all your names, my apologies).


Looking forward to the next dining experience. Stay happy!

Kafe Utu

Address: 12 Jiak Chuan Road Singapore 089265
Contact: +65 6996 3937
Website: https://kafeutu.com/

Business Hours:   

Kafe Utu
Closed Monday
Tuesday – Sunday: 8am – 5pm

Utu Lounge
Closed Monday
Tuesday – Thursday: 6pm-11pm
Friday & Saturday: 6pm-1am
Sunday: 1130am - 5pm