I would say the only thing that’s not perfect about the place is the location. Wild Honey is, like so many things in Singapore, sadly located in a mall. A place like this with a nice outdoor location would be absolutely perfect, and would probably find me there once a week for brunch or brinner. It’s nice when inside though, you don’t really feel like you’re eating in a mall.

Chairs are comfy and stylish. There are real linens on the tables… little details that add to the warm cozy feeling.

The menu is a culinary trip around the world. A glimpse into the way various cultures start their day, or at least an idea of how they’d start their day with western ingredients

I went off my usual grid, ordering the Tunisian breakfast. Just sounded too good to not try. A sizzling skillet of spicy egg and sausage. Yum. Very, very good. A destination breakfast item.

Joanna had the Mexican Breakfast. A mountainous breakfast burrito with a side of guac. A faithful interpretation of the classic.

We also added a plate of grilled mushrooms. Woodsy and flavorful. A nice compliment to both breakfasts.

This isn’t a place to come in groups however. You can’t reserve tables and most of the seating is in smaller pairings. If going on the weekend for breakfast hit it early before the crowds start rolling in at 11 or you will have a while to wait to get a table.

If they eventually move out to a house slightly outside of town on along the river with ample outdoor seating… well I’ll virtually live there

Wild Honey
333A Orchard Road
#03-02 Mandarin Gallery

Normally I slowly go through the meal and build up to the main point. This time, in case you get bored reading through all the various dishes and miss the finale, I’m going to start with a conclusion. The Spruce brunch does and does not live up to expectations.

The food, service, and general concept are all there. All good. Some great even. The popularity and booking procedure though keeps it from being a perfect brunch place for us. You see because they’re so popular, (deservedly so) they’re super busy. Families, groups, etc all pack it in from first serving to final serving. So if you make an early booking…. you’re eating on a time-line. For me at a brunch that’s a big no-no. Brunch is about unwinding with friends, relaxing and enjoying a lazy Sunday meal. No deadlines, no pressures. Catch up on the week, make some jokes, tell some stories. Maybe we stay as long as it takes to eat or maybe we order extra coffees and chat for hours… never know. I like having that option, not knowing that in 1 1/2 hours I’ll be needing to get up for the next group.

So that’s the only issue I have here. The food is excellent, and if you take a later booking I’m guessing this wouldn’t even be an issue… well apart from the general noise from so many happy diners, but that can’t really be avoided. In a sad twist of fate, the success that any restaurant needs to succeed is actually the thing that keeps us from enjoying this more. Others probably don’t share our leisurely Sunday plan and I would encourage those to enjoy Spruce, it deserves the attention more than some other “brunch hot spots”. Book in advance though, this brunch doesn’t seem to be losing momentum and seats are hard to get.

Back to the food. Everyone was satisfied. Pick your favorite, though it’ll be hard as you hungrily stare at the menu, and enjoy as there’s not a dud in the group.

Famous Spruce Burger for Breakfast

Spruce Breakfast Sandwich with roast potatoes

The Steak and Eggs Benny on Toasted Ciabatta with Black Pepper Hollandaise

Soft Scrambled Eggs with Basil Cured Salmon and Avruga Caviar

The Spruce Garden Brekkie

And you’ve got to try some of the breakfast pastries and cakes. The sea salt chocolate cake was incredibly rich, but incredibly tasty. Mmmmm….

Spruce
320 Tanglin Road
Singapore
247980
Telephone: +65 6836 5528

Like HCMC today, the Bangkok foreigner scene of old thrived close to the river. These days, however, I never really think to set foot down there. It’s the kind of place you visit once, the first time you come to the city… King’s Palace, check. Emerald & Reclining Buddha, check. Either the Oriental or Shangrila for tea or brunch, check. Then for most who live in the city (unless they work nearby) the river is a distant memory. This has more to do with the difficulty and time it takes to get down to the river than what’s on offer. But, if you wait till Sunday brunch time, with no traffic… the other side of the river is accessible in about 20 minutes tops and you don’t even have to wait for a ferry. This is the perfect time to venture out to Trader Vic’s massive brunch/lunch buffet spread.

Trader Vic’s is… well Trader Vics. Check out their pages if you don’t already know. Sure they’re a chain, but so are Four Seasons and Orientals. And they can be a bit dated in decoration style… unless you still rock a photographer’s vest, the sandal and sock look, cargo khaki shorts, or all of the above. But ignoring all that, this place has some great food.

I was seriously floored by the selection and availability of foods here. I walked in and saw immediately to my left a sushi bar complete with fresh sashimi and rolls. The quality of the fish was high for a buffet and featured real tuna… deep red and not neon pink like most of the cheap sushi buffets. Nearby there was also an oyster and caviar bar with freshly shucked oysters and a wide sampling of exotic caviar.

Then to my immediate right I saw not one, but two beautifully cured pig legs. I loved the Italian sausage and meat section and ate more than my fair share of prosciutto, mortadella, and others.

Next… well it’s Southeast Asia and we have seafood in abundance. Trader Vic’s has it fresh and ready to hit the grill. Fresh crabs, prawns, lobsters, and fillets of fish are available for grilling… mmm.

Speaking of grilling, Trader Vic’s pulls a trained Benihana chef over for the lunch feast. Here you can have a steak (or other meat, but really with steak are you gonna have chicken?) expertly cooked and cut in front of you. Sadly they don’t toss prawns in your mouth while waiting in line, but it’s a free bonus that’s very welcome.

Then there’s some beautiful meats sliced freshly at the carving table. Yup, that was a bone in ribeye in the background there with fresh sauces.

A first for me at a foreigner friendly Sunday eating extravaganza – roast duck. I’m not Peking Duck expert, but the birds on offer here were nearly as crispy and succulent as the lauded Made in China… and best of all it was part of a buffet so I was free to come and go as I pleased (and I pleased a lot )

Then there was the cheese spread. I loved the layout, thoughtfully done on a tree log. It featured cheeses of many regions and styles. The accompanying real honey comb honey was a nice touch to the section.

Another notable station was the Som Tam station – fresh ingredients pounded to order.

Last but certainly not least was the pastry spread. There’s a well skilled and happy to produce patissier somewhere in the kitchen here. Pastries ranged from delicate small bites to  French classic cakes. Also there was a range of seemingly home made ice cream on offer (not pictured).

Trader Vics really surprised me. I’ve visited some epic buffet spreads and this one sits near the top of the list. Not only is there a ton on offer, the price is super reasonable as you can opt in or out of the booze. I can’t believe the amount and quality of food I was able to enjoy for under 50 USD (around 1700 THB). I’d recommend it highly to anyone… whether first time Bangkok traveler looking to explore the river area or jaded expat needing a break from the Four Seasons or Sukhothai brunches.

Trader Vic’s
Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa
257 Charoennakorn Road
Thornburi, Bangkok 10600
THAILAND
Tel: 66 (0) 2476 0022
Fax: 66 (0) 2476 1120

An unlikely place for breakfast on Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Road

I first discovered The Robinhood Pub when I lived across the street at Emporium Suites. For me it was a go to place for a beer with friends or to watch a game. It’s just your typical unpretentious, down-to-earth English pub. The crowd is varied….expats and Thais of all ages…the burger is good…and the beer is reasonably priced. So when Paul told me they also served breakfast, I had to check it out. We love the Dubliner breakfast, so I wondered how The Robinhood would stack up.

Breakfast or brunch at the Robinhood is served Mon – Fri, 10am to 3pm and Sat – Sun, 9am to 3pm…a good thing if you have a lazy morning or are just craving breakfast food for lunch. Items are 160 – 290 THB (S$ 7 – 12 / $5 – 9 USD) and include things like French Toast, Pancakes, Eggs Florentine, Eggs Benedict, Omelletes, Steak & Eggs and breakfast sandwiches.

I ordered the Bacon & Egg Burger with Cheese featuring smoked bacon and 2 fried eggs with cheese and tomato chutney. (200 THB / S$8.38 / $6 USD). It was large and filling and probably a great choice if you have overindulged on a Saturday night. The tomato chutney I could have done without…it was rather uninteresting and lacking the characteristic concentrated flavours of a chutney.

Paul ordered the Mega Omellete with chorizo, cheddar and onion (220 THB / S$9.21 / $6.64 USD). Again another abundant serving. In general the omellete was well executed, but the chorizo was a bit disappointing…not as spicy as one would expect a chorizo sausage to be.

Overall I would say our meals were adequate, but if I had to pick a pub breakfast to recommend as a real destination meal, it would have to be the one at the Dubliner.

With that said, we still totally recommend The Robinhood for drinking, hanging out and chilling with friends. We especially enjoy it as a relaxing mid-afternoon break from Emporium Mall after shopping.

The Robinhood Pub
Sukhumvit Soi 33/1
(across from Emporium Mall)
Bangkok, Thailand
Telephone: +66 (0)2 662 3390

Well maybe there are some doilies… but the great thing about high teas, besides of course the good tea, is the food you’ll find at them… particularly the high teas in Asia. They’ll feature a sprawling buffet with regional food from all over the world.

We were recently invited back to the Regent Hotel (host location of Iggy’s and the wonderful Basilico’s Brunch) to sample something new they’re trying out. Instead of doing a standard hotel international spread for their high tea, the Regent opted to do a themed tea.

From 20 November to 6 December, 2009 they did the “Best of Britain” promotion. Seems fitting with the high tea concept. They changed the food menu up and offered a unique menu inspired by seasonal British cuisine. For me it was a perfect chance to not only indulge in a weekend buffet, but also to sample a variety of British treats… some of which I’ve just read about but never tasted.

The menu was exhaustive, so much in fact that I’ll list it at the end of the article.

The meat pies were delicious. The pastry crusts on the dishes featuring crusts were a far cry from the greasy, heavy pie crusts served in typical pubs.

The carving station was lovely as well. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the roasted meat was delicious and tender. Both were served with an assortment of lovely sauces to compliment each meat.

Then of course there were the pastries and treats. This is really the highlight of any good tea… a chance for the pastry chef to flex their fondant and flood the blood sugar of the guests. There were scones, puffs, meringues, cakes, and a wide assortment of British and classic sweet treats. A highlight to all the treats were the fresh fruits both on display and in the pastries. I’m normally more a fan of chocolate desserts, but the apple and rhubarb crumble was a delight. I’m sure many of  these will still be on the menu long after this promotion and are worth visiting for.

Another highlight for me, and this might sound trivial, was seeing the chefs out at the start of the tea with their cameras taking pictures of their food and setups. To me this shows a level of pride and accomplishment in their work. They want to remember what they’d accomplished and brag about it later… that to me is a sign of a kitchen excited by the chance to try new things and experiment. Also that they’re happy with the results… I certainly was.

I hope the Regent does more of these promotions in the coming months. A French inspired tea with signature pastries (please do chouxs) and maybe a foie gras station would be nice… I’m just saying

The Regent Hotel, Tea Lounge 1st Floor
1 Cuscaden Road
Singapore
Telephone: +65 6725 3245/6 (make reservations)
Mon-Friday Tea Time 12 noon to 6pm
Sat-Sunday Tea Time is 1:30-5:30 pm

Paul

Fresh Finger Sandwiches
Cream Cheese and Cucumber on White Toast
Smoked Salmon Pistachio Brioche
Ox Tongue with Pickles on Multigrain Toast
McLelland Cheddar on Dark Rye
Egg and Water Cress on White Bread
Mini Rolls with Ham and Stilton Cheese
Savoury Items
An assortment of English pies from Topping Pie Company
Shepherd’s Pie
Cornish Pastie
Sausage Rolls
Cheese Straw
Spinach and Goat Cheese Tart (absolutely lovely)
Ham and Mushroom Tart
Pate
Pork Pate
Mushrooms and Chicken Liver Pate with Melba Toast
Organic Seafood “Loch Fyne” Corner
Loch Fyne Organic Smoked Salmon
Loch Fyne Gravlax Rollmops Herring
Marinade Smoked Rainbow Trout
Smoked Mussels
Loch Fyne Bradan Roast Pate
Carvings (Served on Saturdays and Sundays)
Slow Roasted Loch Duart Scottish Salmon with Dill-Sour Cream
Yorkshire Pudding
Toad in the Hole
Roasted Welsh Lamb with Vegetables, Roasted Potatoes and Gravy served with Golden Mint Jelly and Chili Mustard Relish (Saturdays)
English Sunday Roast (beef), Vegetables, Roasted Potatoes and Gravy (Sundays)
Salad Bar
Assorted Leaves with Condiments and Dressing
Cheese and Accompaniments
Cashel Blue Mature Stilton Mini Cheddar Barre Orange Cheddar Rouge Elisabethan Scottish Double Gloucester Scottish Extra Mature White Cheddar Mature Scottish Cheddar Seriously Cheddar Smokey Red Hot Chili Crackers Fennel Crackers Celery Crackers
Freshly Baked Pastries and Tea Cakes
Yorkshire Cheesecake with Cottage Cheese
Black and White Chocolate Marble Cake
Victoria Sponge Cake with Strawberries and Cream
Sugar Glazed Lemon Cake
Maids of Honour Cake
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Fruit Cake
Rhubarb and Apple Crumble Berries Tart
Bakewell Tart English Muffins
Fondant Glazed Shortbread Meringues with Strawberries and Cream
Cherry Trifle
Chocolate Eclair
Crumpets
Christmas Pudding
Summer Pudding
Bread and Butter Pudding
Cranberry & Raspberry Jelly
Home-baked Scones
Cheese, Plain and Apple Raisin Scones served with Devonshire Clotted Cream, Lemon Curd and selected Tiptree preserves from Wilkin & Son’s Ltd:
Lemon Curd Blackcurrant Jam Morello Cherry Jam Apricot Jam Peach Jam Orange Marmalade Strawberry Jam
Organic Apricot Jams Organic Raspberry Jams Organic Strawberry Jams Organic Orange Marmalade
Asian Corner
Spicy Chicken Wings Satay with Condiments
Wok Fried Rice Noodles

A chill seaside locale for brunch in Singapore

It was a typical Singapore afternoon….hot, sunny and humid. What better to do than chill by the water over a leisurely brunch with friends? So off we set to Keppel Bay Marina to meet a group of friends at Prive Bakery & Café.  Iced cappuccinos, sunshine, muffins, friendly conversation, mimosas and chill atmosphere await…

Prive Bakery & Care serves all day breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, pastas, bakery items and desserts. Its really a rather long menu with a great many options – nothing fancy, just breakfast and lunch staples and basics.

In his effort to sample every burger in Singapore, Paul ordered the LA Burger A 200g wagyu beef burger with Monterrey Jack cheese, avocado, a fried egg, tomato, lettuce and dressed with aioli (S$26 / $18.75USD). Paul really enjoyed the burger and felt like it was a solid execution. Often time wagyu burgers are a bit messy…all that fat that creates the flavor prevents the meat from binding, and thus wagyu burgers tend to crumble unless they are blended with another type of beef.  But the LA Burger was well crafted and sturdy. With that said, it still didn’t beat Paul’s benchmark – the PS café wagyu burger that lives large in his memory.

I ordered a BLT. Prive’s rendition was a hearty version with grilled whole wheat break, smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheddar, a fried egg and aioli (S$13.50 / $9.75USD). Again, another solid execution….while it didn’t set my taste buds on fire, it was simple and satisfying.

Our dining companions had various pastas, omelets, sandwiches and such, and without boring you of the detail of the other 15 diners we were with…the comments were essentially the same. No one was unhappy, but at the same time, there were no oohs and aahs of spasmodic delight either.

At the end of the day, the main reason to come to Prive Bakery & Café is the view. Let me elaborate…in our opinion, Prive’s food is average….not bad….don’t misunderstand. But this is not destination dining. You’ll get a competent execution of culinary basics. Come here for the view and chill vibe…meet friends, have a drink a sandwich and relax on the marina edge.

Prive
2 Keppel Bay Vista
Keppel Bay Marina

Consistent high quality at this laid-back, Aussie-style Bangkok institution keeps everyone coming back

When I lived in Bangkok, I lived on Sukhumvit Soi 16. I moved into a new construction apartment building and so had to wait for the finishing touches to be completed. During my time in temporary housing, when I would tell people that I was moving to soi 16, unanimously the response was….”oh, you are so lucky to be living near Kuppa!” When I asked them why?…there was a mish mash of accolades like “the best brunch,” “they roast their own coffee you know,” “it’s great for a lazy lunch,” “oh my god, you have to try the desserts!,” “the Thai food is really good,” “it’s among the best Western food in Bangkok,” “we really enjoy dinner there” and so on and so on. I mean what does this place not do and serve perfectly? Could this be true?

Well, in a word…yes. In my time in Bangkok, Kuppa became my go to place for just about everything. Meeting a friend for coffee, Kuppa. Family in town, Kuppa for dinner. Lazy Saturday, Kuppa for brunch with a newspaper. Meeting the girls for lunch, Kuppa. Stop by and pick up dessert to take home, Kuppa. Buying coffee beans, Kuppa. In my time there, I think I have eaten nearly everything on the menu multiple times.

On a recent visit to Bangkok, Paul, Richy and I made our way to Kuppa for a chill meal to catch up and relax. We ordered a lot of our favourites and some new things. As usual, nothing disappointed.

We like to start with Som Tum Thai, Thai green papaya salad (115THB / $3.45 USD / S$4.80). Sure you can get it for less on the street, but it is excellent here and it is our favourite pairing to go with the Moo Yang, Thai grilled pork with sticky rice (215THB / $6.45 USD / S$9).

My favorite salad hands down…not just in Bangkok….but truly my all time favorite (my favorite so far is the butter lettuce salad at Craft in NYC – Paul) is Kuppa’s Baby Spinach, Avocado, Mushroom and Bacon Salad (295THB / $8.80 USD / S$12.30). It’s probably not the healthiest salad on the menu, but it’s perfectly fresh and absolutely flawless…ripe avocados, crispy bacon and sautéed mushrooms on a bed of spinach.  The juices from the sautéed bacon and mushrooms permeate the spinach making every bite deeply satisfying.

Sometimes, I like to order the grilled fish or the thin crust pizza as an entrée. But this time I chose the Grilled Australian Short Rib served with Grilled Asparagus, Mushrooms and Potato Wedges (850THB / $25.45 USD / S$35.46). I am a sucker for short ribs and these did not disappoint – fantastic tender yet firm texture and full of smoky, grilled goodness.

Paul ordered his usual, Fettucini with Avocado, Prawn, Pine Nuts and Cream Sauce (395THB / $11.84 USD / S$16.50). This used to be a special menu item, but it’s actually no longer on the menu… the folks here are so nice though that they make it for Paul, without hesitation, every time he requests it.

Richy went with the Lamb Cutlets on Basil Polenta with Ratatouille and Mint Yogurt (795THB / $23.83 USD / S$33.18). Richy said it was perfectly cooked and was impressed with the Basil Polenta and the interplay of herbs and creaminess throughout the dish… also represented in the Mint Yogurt. I love eating with Richy. This is a guy who absolutely savours his food like no other person I have EVER met. He is an incredible cook, meticulous and detailed in his preparations… and a fantastic eater. We often wonder where he puts it all since he manages to stay in such great shape in spite of an insatiable appetite. So when Richy is happy with a dish, we know it is good.

Dinner at Kuppa would not be complete without dessert. One of the best desserts I have ever enjoyed is Kuppa’s Concord Cake (150THB / $4.50 USD / S$6.26). Paul and I actually used to crave this dessert and take a walk down to Kuppa to bring a piece home for a late night treat. This is a destination dessert folks. Don’t miss its rich chocolately, fudgy goodness. I don’t know what the crispy curls on top are, but they are a textural highlight that counterbalances the soft and chewy cake.

We also like the Apple Pie and Crumbles here. Another regular thing we enjoyed was the Macadamia Nut Brownie. Also try the Bread Pudding….if you are going to share desserts this is an excellent partner with the Concord Cake as the bread pudding’s creaminess serves to offset the fudginess of the cake.

In recalling all my lovely meals there, I realize just how much I miss having Kuppa as my neighbor. Familiar, friendly, comfortable and downright delicious. And this is why I make a point to return on every trip to Bangkok.

KuppA
39 Sukhumvit Soi 16
Bangkok, Thailand
Telephone: +66 2663 0495

Homemade pastas, a whole room of cheese, chocolate martinis and more, oh my!

I must admit I love a champagne brunch. And this one has to be among the best in Singapore. My favorite had been the St Regis Hotel Champagne brunch… and until recently nothing else had really come close. But I think now Basilico’s is right up there in my rankings.

There are 3 options for the brunch, which first and foremost is very smart. The only reason we don’t do more of these hotel brunches is that many do not have an option…it’s usually free flow champagne or nothing. But Basilico’s presents a more flexible option which all of our guests really appreciated. As a result our usual brunch club grew to 9 people on this particular Sunday to accommodate drinkers and non-drinkers. The 3 options included:

• $175++ with Billecart Salmon champagne and unlimited wine, beer and chocolate martinis
• $99 with Mumm Champagne or Italian Sparkling Wine
• $49 with unlimited soft drinks and juice

But now to the main event…the food! Ah, it was glorious. There was a carving station with pork belly and wagyu beef. The beef was a bit rare for my taste, but everyone else seemed happy with it. There was lots of fresh seafood …the usual brunch favorites like lobster, tiger prawns, crab legs and such. But the real standout favorites were lots of Italian touches like fire roasted veggies, including my favorite, grilled asparagus. And there were loads of spectacular homemade pastas….now normally I would skip the carbs and go straight for the proteins, but in this case I made an exception. The antipasto offering was extensive with lots of hard to find Italian hams and even the elusive burrata mozzarella cheese that one hardly ever finds in Asia.

But the fin de siècle had to be the foie gras and cheese room. It was a little slice of heaven tucked away on the side. With about a dozen cheeses and foie gras seared to order with honey drizzle and shaved truffles. Nothing spells decadence like foie gras and truffles and champagne…nothing. I won’t say who, but many went back for seconds and some even thirds! I myself was fully captivated by trying lots of the cheeses. There were many I had not heard of and so I was excited to experiment. And as a lovely touch, there were lots of citrusy jams and sweet chutneys to pair with the cheese in order to create the perfect bite.

The dessert buffet was a bit smaller in its offering than some of the other stations / courses. But at the end of the day, you’re probably not eating much dessert after this. I particularly enjoyed the homemade sorbet and  chocolate truffles. It was a fantastic pairing with the chocolate martinis (available in white or dark chocolate.)

We absolutely and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and so did our guests. Even now a couple of weeks later, we are still trading stories of debauchery…who had the most foie gras, the extra chocolate martini, the most ambitious seafood eater… I’d do it every weekend if it didn’t mean losing the day again in a 4 hour nap. Maybe next time I will do the non-alcoholic version

Basilico’s
The Regent Hotel, 2^nd floor
1 Cuscaden Road
Singapore
Telephone: +65 6725 3232

It was only a matter of time before our Sunday brunch group broke from the main island and ventured over to the Disneyland-like island of Sentosa. I was apprehensive at first. The island is almost too planned and organized, meaning there’s little to be found or discovered. Plus with the cost of rent on the island I’m sure there’s never going to be an undiscovered hole in the wall serving up great food at amazing prices. We decided to set aside our cynical nature and answer one question – could we find good value on the island (factoring in extra travel costs, entrance to island fees, etc)? Surprisingly we did.

Braise was a bit hard to find… or maybe that was just our horrible Comfort Cab driver (don’t get me started on these guys lately). After driving around for 45 minutes or so and actually calling the restaurant 3 different times we managed to be dropped off near the restaurant and had to walk about 5 minutes in the rain to the restaurant. To be perfectly honest this had set me back and I worried if the restaurant could possibly please at this point.

Braise shares it’s location with Silkroad and is located on the second floor. We stepped inside to find a simple, modern space. The architecture featured walls of glass with tables and benches in white, giving an open, bright feeling to the dining area.

As I looked over the menu my spirits began to lift a bit. Braise offers a combo buffet / meal. The menu is divided up into courses with the first course of Entrees all you can eat. Dishes off the Entree menu varied and came out in large portions for the table to share. Dishes included a lovely Caesar Salad (lots of crispy bacon here surprised me… I’m normally not a Caesar Salad fan).

Pan Fried Crab Cakes with Curry Aioli

Spanish Olive and Parma Ham

Soup of the Day

Charmoula Squid

Crispy Soft Shell Crab with Orange-Ginger Dressing. This dish was a slight miss. The soft shell crab wasn’t crispy… probably had been waiting to come out for a bit and was a bit mushy in texture (not in a good soft shell crab way).

And a Pan Seared Foie Gras with Carmalized Banana and Chocolate Sauce (you only get one of these, which is honestly enough as the banana combined with the foie gras is actually a bit heavy and rich together and lacks anything acidic to cut the fattiness of the foie gras).

Once you’ve decided you’ve had your fill of the Entrees, you move on to either Eggs or Pancakes. You can choose to have your eggs done in a number of styles including Benedict, Scrambled, Fried, or Crispy with Sausage, Bacon, or Cured Salmon. The sides actually come out for all to share and enjoy and are again refillable.

Everyone who ordered pancakes had theirs come out a bit burned. To be fair, they didn’t taste as burned as they look in these photos and were actually quite light and fresh tasting… with just a hint of char.

After breakfast its time to move on to the mains. There’s a nice selection of dishes going from seafood to beef, though nothing for vegetarians. Those at the table who ordered the Sauteed Black Pepper Slipper Lobster with Angel Hair all seemed to enjoy their dish more than anyone else.

The Roast of the Day that day was a Wagyu steak. I was excited to eat it until it came out. I like medium rare to rare steaks but this one came out looking a bit odd and had an almost tartar like texture. It was decent, but not what it could have been.

There was also an Oven-Baked Codfish with Tapenade Crust & Mustard Beurre Blanc

Duck Leg Confit with Gratin Potato & Orange Sauce

As if all that food wasn’t enough, after the Mains it’s time for desserts. There are standard dessert fairs including a lovely Chocolate Lava Cake with Coffee Ice Cream.

Classic Tiramisu

and a nice change of pace with a Cheese Selection from a Trolley. Careful, this isn’t a playing it safe cheese menu and features some truly stinky cheeses (to the delight of Dutch friend).

All of this totals out at only 68++ per person if you’re opting only for mixed drinks and juices. For 118++ you can make it a boozy brunch with a free flow of Diebolt Vallois Champagne. It was a great Sunday brunch, despite our initial troubles finding the spot and longer than normal travel times coming to the island. It was a joy to sit and dine, watching Singaporeans frolic on the beach or playing net ball. The staff was courteous and attentive without being overbearing, allowing us to dine at a leisurely pace. I’d recommend it as a brunch destination, particularly with larger groups.

Braise
60 Palawan Beach Walk
Level 2 Sentosa, Singapore, Singapore
+65 6271 1929

Our normal breakfast group was a bit thin this week… which was unfortunate for those who couldn’t make it because it was a highly enjoyable meal / experience. Sunday brunch at Graze is something we’ll be returning to enjoy soon.

Graze is located way out (for us) in the Rochester Park area of Singapore. The drive doesn’t take that long and you’re rewarded with a peaceful and serene outdoor dining area. I called ahead to make reservations earlier in the week (recommended) and was given a choice of outdoor or indoor seating. I asked the hostess which she thought was better and she suggested outdoor. I’m glad she did as it’s very pleasant outside (it’s covered so don’t worry about rain interruptions).

We’ve been to a few brunch spots and I’ve had difficulty with the menus because sometimes nothing really sounds good to me at the time. Graze was different in that I wanted just about everything on the menu. Unfortunately there were only four of us so we were limited a bit in our sampling of the menu.

We started with very smooth and creamy cappuccinos and complimentary toast (come before 12 to order breakfast / brunch).

I led the way with my usual – a burger. I have a soft spot for fried eggs on burgers so couldn’t pass this one up (sadly no pineapple). The meat was good, but fell apart a bit…something I don’t actually mind so much as I can at least be assured it’s not a pre-fab patty .

Joe also picked his usual, Eggs Benedict. They’re offered two ways – Classic or Salmon with Smoked Spinach. Joe’s a classic guy and his tastes were rewarded with this selection. Among the best he’s had in Singapore so far.

Kalpana went a bit off the path of the tried and true breakfast assortment, selecting the Avocado and Tomato on Grain Toast with Olive Oil and Rocket Salad. The Avocado came in amazing, large, green chunks…would love to have a guacamole from this place.

She also ordered the Eggs on Request and asked them to be filled with chillis. The dish tasted good, but looked a bit odd in presentation.

Joanna went all in, ordering the Cast Iron Pan – Bratworst, Smoked Bacon, Mushroom, Tomato, Country Potato, Fried Egg, Baked Beans, and Plum Chili Salsa. It was a sight to behold, but unfortunately suffered slightly from the pan. Obviously not all the dishes are cooked to order in the pan, but once dropped some can get a little over-browned / pver-cooked on the bottom.

We should have ordered the Dessert Sampler as so many of them sounded great, but instead ordered separately. Joe and I both went for the chocolate creme brulee with honeycomb ice cream. It was super rich with a dense pudding texture …. not a creme brulee, but good

Joanna ordered the Green Apple, Roasted Pinneapple, and Sour Cherry Crumble with Bourbon Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. It was good, but the ice cream didn’t taste like Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and was very close to the “honeycomb” ice cream.

All in all Graze is a highly recommended brunch spot for us. I could see Epicurious being a more visited location for us, with Graze being more of a special treat kind of place (prices are a bit higher). The setting is perfect for a comfy Sunday afternoon, lazily enjoying a hearty breakfast. Service can be a bit slow, so come prepared for that and you’ll enjoy your time there.

Also of note is the Sunday BBQ. Starting at noon you can order off a special Sunday BBQ menu that looks amazing. We will definitely be going back to try this out. The mashed potatoes, corn on cob, and meat dishes coming out of the kitchen to the late comers looked incredible….so look for that review soon.

Anyone else have an experience with Graze?

Graze
Address 4 Rochester Park
Open Sun 9.30am-3pm Tue-Sun 6.30pm-1am
Telephone 6775 9000