Johan Paris Boulanger Patissier @ Westgate

Located at basement level, next to Isetan. Usually popular, and a queue at cashier is common. A quick look-around revealed that the shop seemed to have more sweets as compared to savouries. Had tried their mini-cheese cakes and caneles and those are expectedly sweet.

Recently tried the butter melon pan and onion bread @$2.60 each.

melon pan

Hmm, I think melon pan is similar to polo bun and mexican bun. Much prefer the onion bread. It's not actually called onion bread but I can't recall what was its actual label.

bread unwrapped

two types of cheese

Popped the bread into toaster for a minute before eating. Totally loved the fragrance of the onions. The slightly chewy bread worked well with the cheeses. Yums.

Ichiban Boshi @ Novena Square

Located at Level 2 of Novena Square. Usually packed during weekdays lunch hour. Colleague had cravings, and thus this was where we ended up lunching.

From past experience, the Ichiban Boshi's donburi are usually heavy on rice. So took a different combination this time round.

Been ages since my last sushi, so ordered two favourites: hamachi and hotate.

hamachi (yellowtail) sushi

plump and sweet scallops

Hamachi and hotate sushis are very genteel. Fish was firm and scallops were soft and sweet. Yums.

Also had a bowl of salmon soup. Soup was basically miso base and colleagues said that it tasted the same as their complimentary ones that came together with the rice sets.

salmon soup @$9.90++

fried salmon

Soup was served hot, with plenty of fried salmon chunks in it. Other ingredients included kelp, tofu and onions. Soup was soothing to the stomach. However, the chunks of fish had bones in it, so do eat with care. After a while, its taste can become quite monotonous.

This meal cost about $22 for one pax and though it doesn't looked like it, it was rather filling.

Rubato Italian Kitchen and Bar @ Greenwood Avenue

Located at 12 Greenwood Avenue, Hillcrest Bukit Timah. The restaurant space was formerly occupied by Othello. Last visit to this vicinity was in early 2013. Time flies.

wine menu

al-fresco dining area

It's a comfortable familiar place, though out of the way for me. Not feeling very hungry, we got ourselves oysters and grilled squid as starters. Mushroom risotto as main and a dessert. Choice of drink? Prosecco. If you'd like beer, the current promo is one pint (Erdinger, I think) for $12.90++.

prosecco @$9++

For oysters, there are two types. Tried the Australian ones from Coffin Bay @$4.80++ per piece.

oysters

The oysters were fresh, clean tasting with a hint of metallic tang. I think I like plumper, creamier ones with a stronger taste of the sea.

closer view

Food here in general, arrives fairly quickly.

Mushroom & Co - risotto @$17.90++

Grilled Squid @$13.90++

Grilled squid was nicely smokey, and drizzled aplenty with olive oil. Citrus plus smokey with a dash of salt and pepper on seafood, equates to good flavours. Likeable.

risotto - closer view

The risotto was a winner for us. No grain was wasted. Creamy, well cooked and served hot. Very comforting.

For desserts, had the Modern Tiramisu. Hmm, it sure looks different from traditional ones. Taste wise, well, one can immediately taste that it is tiramisu without a doubt. But, it was pricey.

Modern Tiramisu @$15.90++

Service staff was friendly, and helpful. Cosy ambiance and pets allowed at the al-fresco area.

Spent $121 for the meal for 2 pax.

4 Fingers Crispy Chicken @ Westgate

Located at Level 2 of Westgate, Jurong East. Felt like eating fried chicken, so ended up in a queue. Not that long, just about 12 pax ahead of mine. So half the queue was inside the shop, and the other half was outside.

queue for fried chicken

after queueing for 10 minutes...still queueing...

For one pax, 6 chicken wings with fries might be enough for a small eater. But had wanted to try drumstick too, so got the 1 drumstick and 3 wings ala-carte @$7.95.

With just one cashier counter, the process of getting the food orders keyed into the system was painfully slow.

Every patron will be given a beeper after payment has been made. After which, just wait.

beep when ready

Queued for 20 to 30 minutes to order, and then another 10 minutes for food to be ready.

take-away chicken

drum senior and drum junior

Had tried soy garlic prior and this time round tried the hot mix. Hmm, soy garlic was tastier or maybe the Plaza Singapura branch was more generous with the glaze?

The chicken seemed much bigger when it was just fried. At home, it looked a tad smaller. Since I went shopping for a short-while after buying it, it was cold and limp when I got home. Into the toaster these wings went, and it was crispy again in no time!

Bavarian Radler (less than $4 from Fairprice supermarket) - refreshing with fried chicken

Marché Mövenpick @ JEM

Located at Level 1 of JEM, Jurong Gateway Road. Been walking past and thought its ambiance was quite nice.

interior

dinner menu

Ordered just a pizza and spicy drumlets for food. Marché has this 1-for-1 Kölsch beer, all day long promo so we got that.

Kölsch beer

spicy drumlets @$9.90++

Spicy drumlets wasn't really spicy. Thought it looked quite pale and indeed, flavours were also a tad muted. Based on observation, almost every table ordered pizza.

service staff helping to 'cut' th pizza

smoked duck breast @$22.90++ with hoisin sauce, spring onion and red chili

Duck breast pizza was served piping hot, and tasted asian.

duck breast pizza

Do request for cheese topping. It's not given by default.

cheese topping

Dinner and drinks cost a total of $52+.