My favourite thin-crust pizza in Bangkok

The first week I was in Bangkok a friend took me to Limoncello. Having just moved from New York, I was impressed by the authenticity of the thin crust pizza being served. I hadn’t expected to find this in Bangkok and frankly at the time, I thought, well I guess they must know how to do good Italian in this city. Well….yes and no. Not everything is good, but there is lots of high caliber Italian in Bangkok (Zanotti, Vino, Guisto, Vicolo 4, etc) – and it turns out Limoncello really is special. After several years in Bangkok, it remained among our top Italian food destinations.

We were in Bangkok recently and revisited our old fave which is tucked away in a sub soi on the hopping and always popular dining / nightlife street of Sukhumvit Soi 11. As you might imagine, the thing to get here is the thin crust pizza. In fact one whole side of the menu is nothing but pizza, 20+ varieties.

You really can’t go wrong with any choice of Limoncello’s wood fired pizzas, but I tend to favour the more unique varieties…the ones you don’t see everywhere like those with ricotta, eggplant, salami, artichokes, etc. As usual our pizza was perfectly crisp with a fresh tomato sauce, high quality mozzarella and imported salami and seasonal veggies. A tip for pizza lovers – do you every wonder why some pizzas are greasier than others? Well this often has to do with the quality of the cheese. A high quality mozzarella doesn’t separate easily and thus releases less oil in the cooking process vs. a low quality cheese which separates and gets oily.

Also at Limoncello is a comprehensive pasta menu authentically and competently executed. I have had the squid ink fettucini, the homemade gnocchi, the pasta Bolognese, the ravoli and many more dishes. This particular night we were feeling decadent so we decided to also share the meat lasagna. As expected, it did not disappoint – it was rich and meaty, yet also delicate and creamy in all the right places. It was all in all an absolutely flawless preparation of this classic comfort food dish.

Limoncello also has fish, meats, chicken, salads and more. But to be honest we don’t really go there for the fish But if you have a carb hater or someone with other special requirements, it’s good to know that “healthy” and other food can be had there as well. I will say this…we did order a gratinated creamed spinach with garlic side dish and it was in a word “bland.” I never met a creamed spinach I didn’t like, but this one just didn’t capture my imagination.

Some people also love the desserts there (tiramisu especially) but we never seem to have room for dessert when we visit Limoncello Limoncello is located just off of Sukhumvit Soi 11. You walk down the soi as if going to Bed Supperclub. You’ll see the following sign jutting out on your left with the BTS at your back:

Walk down this street just a little ways until you see the actual restaurant:

Pizzeria Limoncello
No. 17 Sukhumvit Soi 11
(across from Grand President Hotel)
Bangkok, Thailand
Telephone: +66 2 651 0707

“Fa cosi caldo qui o e la tua presenza?”

For those of you who don’t know, I’ll be entering a full-time culinary diploma program starting in April. I’m using my remaining months to continue to eat at great restaurants, travel, and take all the short-term cooking courses I can find. One of the more exciting courses I found while searching for classes in Singapore was offered out of Basilico’s at the Regent Hotel, Singapore. Each month they are focusing on a different Italian food region and teaching signature plates from said region. Having previously gorged ourselves enjoyed the sprawling Italian brunch, I knew that the chefs knew their regional foods and had the fresh ingredients required to pull something like this off. For February they went with a theme instead of a region… teaching a 3-course romantic meal that was every bit as indulgent as it was sensual. And as you prepare for your Valentine’s Day, you might consider cooking this rich, romance inspiring meal at home, rather than going out.

We were greeted upon arrival to Basilico’s with a refreshing drink (in appropriate Valentine’s Day color ).

As soon as our full group had arrived (classes are usually more intimate… only 5 in our class) Chef Angelo came out to make introductions and usher us into the cooking area. Chef Angelo is a bit more reserved than some other Italian chefs I’ve met in the past… quiet at first, but he quickly opened up and revealed a subtle sense of humor and dash of Italian flair.

The courses run in my favorite room at Basilico’s: The foie gras and cheese room from the Sunday brunch . The students surround the chef’s demo table and work at individual burners. These are the common kinds you’ve more than likely worked on if you’ve taken any kind of cooking class in the past.

With a brief introduction to our work environment, we were quickly started our first dish: Il Risotto Crab e Prosecco. This was a Southern Italian style risotto where pasta and risotto with fresh seafood is a must, we’re told. Mine turned out like soup a touch on the runny side… but it sure packed great flavors. I think if I had let it reduce a few minutes longer it would have been perfect.

A classic risotto starts with browning the onion in oil and adding the rice, toasting it. A stock is used and stirred in slowly and bit by bit so that the rice and other ingredients absorb the stock. In this case the recipe was made special with the inclusion of Prosecco and Crab and homemade fish stock. But really you can do any kind of risotto with this basic approach. Normally something like a Risotto would leave a lot of dead time in a cooking class due to the long preparation time. Chef Angelo took the time to teach us a handful of useful Italian “love phrases”. The subtitle above translates roughly to: “Is it hot in here or is it just me?”

The next dish on the menu was the Angus Beef Tenderloin. The description just doesn’t do this one justice however. For instance there’s no mention of the steak-sized portion of foie gras we cooked with the steak in red wine and a dab of truffle paste (mostly used for the potatoes underneath the steak, but I let mine mingle in the sauce a bit to bump the flavor). This was a hearty, soul-satisfying meal. If you can’t win a girl over cooking her a dish like this… she’s too fussy, find someone else   It was also quite simple – both the steak and the foie gras were sauteed in a pan and the sauce was made with a reduction of red wine and premade demi glace. Very nearly a one-pot meal, except for the potato, asparagus and tomato which were oven roasted. Chef Angelo showed us a trick when oven roasting – he put the tomatos and onions over a bed of rock salt. This infused both items with a lovely, savoury aroma and took them to the next level. He also said to try it at home with red onions in the skins.

For dessert was a surprisingly light tasting Zabaione Con Frutti Di Bosco. This dessert is historically served to give the one consuming more ” erotic power”… certainly another bonus to this Valentines meal. This was the most labor intensive part of the meal – we whipped 4 egg yolks, 2 spponfulls of sugar and a dash of Amaretto for what seemed like 15 – 20 minutes in a metal bowl held over a boiling water bath. I could actually see myself studying pastry full time if not for the treat of spending my life hurriedly whisking away. In reality it wasn’t that hard and the resulting dessert was well worth the efforts.

The class was great. It took just 2 hours to prepare and consume the 3-courses. Ingredients were top notch and while a lot of it was “dump and stir” (meaning the ingredients were pre-portioned and pre-cut)… there were elements left up to us. I like that instead of giving us perfectly measured amounts of salt and olive oil Chef Angelo had us instead pinch or pour out an amount that felt right to us… tasting as we went along. Little touches like that empower those who take the class, in my opinion, to have  the courage to try them again at home.

Also I loved the rustic nature of the dishes. These were elegant meals in taste, but simple in preparation. I can easily see myself making these dishes at home (maybe sans the foie gras). I’m already planning a pumpkin risotto with crushed black pepper as an adaptation of Angelo’s recipe. I’ll attend the classes in the coming months as well. According to Chef Angelo next month they’ll be covering Gnocchi… something I’ve been dying to make myself.

In the meantime, I can highly recommend the recipes above to you so you can make your special someone this fantastic 3-course Italian meal on Valentine’s Day.

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

Homestyle, satisfying Italian served alfresco on a cozy Silom rooftop terrace

Vicolo 4 opened in 2008…however, unless you know Silom Soi 4 well, it’s not really the kind of place one stumbles upon. It’s tucked away on the second floor over top of a bar with very little signage. But it is so consistent in its presentation of homestyle Italian that Bangkok insiders often hear about it by word of mouth. When I was growing up in the southern part of the US…this was most often a formula for success. A hole in the wall tiny place, that regulars love. Nothing pretentious or flashy…but just delicious homemade dishes and friendly service that keep people coming back again and again. In fact when we are in Bangkok, we always make a point to stop by and here’s why you should too.

These guys have been at it for a while, even though this location is new. Formerly in a Bangkok apartment building, their restaurant was the kind of place friends stopped by for a meal and then ended up hanging around until the wee hours drinking wine and listening to the owners play guitar and sing songs. Today, at their Silom Soi 4 location you might have a chat with Lippo and his new baby or the chef Armando. We usually look at the menu but also ask what is fresh today and what they recommend – they will tell you that the ravioli turned out perfectly today and you should really try those or that they have some special imported Italian cheese that they have been able to lay their hands on for the pizzas.

When we visit, Paul and I usually like to order a pizza and a pasta dish to share. These are their two specialties… homemade breads / pizza crusts and homemade pastas. On our last visit we had the Pizza Arrabiatta with Spicy Salami and the homemade Tortellini of the day – stuffed with mortadella, parma ham and a little beef, topped either with mushrooms and an Alfredo cream sauce or a Bolognese sauce.

As usual, everything was spot on. The tortellini, despite their small size, were bursting with the flavor and just so tender and fresh that they nearly melted in the mouth. The thin crust pizza was appropriately both crispy and juicy and the arrabiata sauce packed a punch without being overwhelming. Combined with a bottle of wine, the night breeze on the terrace, some friends and good conversation, it’s hard to imagine a more relaxed and satisfying evening.

Also worth mentioning is that despite the small size of the restaurant, they have a surprisingly well rounded wine list of Italian wines…starting at 1300 THB per bottle and containing some sophisticated options like Barolos and Amarones.

When you go to Vicolo 4, it has the feeling of being a bit like a secret only a few people know. I am torn between spreading the word and keeping it to myself But in the end, where there is good food and good people, we will let you know.

Vicolo 4 (formerly Quattro Formaggi)
Silom Soi 4 in Bangkok
(just next to Tapas nightclub on the left hand side of Soi 4, enter via BarBar and go to the 2^nd floor, look for the sign that says “Italian Restaurant”)
Bangkok, Thailand

Transplanted from the younger, more modern, and hipper Siam Square, It’s Happened to be a Closet brings its kitschy style and cozy cafe environment to the luxury malls of Bangkok. Can something so artsy, design oriented, and in your face work in a mall littered with high-end shops like Prada, Hermes, Gucci, etc?

I’d say yes.

When rounding the corner on the second floor of Emporium Shopping Center, IHTBAC immediately stands out amongst the international clothing stores normally found on the floor. The black exterior cafe front juts out into the pathway of the mall… combined with the accent colors and mismatched chairs, the store / cafe stands as a complete 180 of the normal clean, glass fronted shops found in the mall.

The store portion features varied designs from simple and basic to truly out there with prices ranging similarly. IHTBAC manages to keep the same slightly claustrophobic / mad-collector feel of the larger Siam Square space (down to the TV’s blasting musicals). Neither Joanna or myself have done too much rooting through the clothing… however cool it might be, the sizes are all Asian.

Since we couldn’t shop we plopped down out front on our last return trip to Bangkok and tried the food. The menu was varied and featured different ingredients and preparation styles. There’s a section with meats for grilling which looks promising, but we went for the more refined dishes. An example of some of the dishes on offer was the snow fish. It was not as amazing as the snow fish at Giusto, but I didn’t have a hard time cleaning the plate

IHTBAC is a welcome addition to Emporium to me. The food is good and it gives a different vibe to the otherwise slightly stuffy shopping center. Best of all is the opportunities for people watching. If you can snag a tabble outside in the mall you can sip a coffee and watch as clueless tourists rub elbows with high society Thais.

It’s Happend to be a Closet
Emporium Department Store 2nd Floor
Bangkok, Thailand

Glorious cheese is the star in this Tokyo restaurant

As much as I absolutely adore Japanese food, we took a break from our much loved Yakitori and Katsudon to try an interesting concept in casual dining. A restaurant entirely based around creamy, fresh mozzarella flown in daily from the Paestum and the Agro Pontino areas of Italy (how extravagant!).

Secretly I will confess, we went because we were hoping they would have our beloved burrata… they didn’t. But we stayed because the rest of the menu looked so attractive. All cheeses are provided with a DOP certification (Protected Origin Denomination) to assure that they are made in the regions claimed and in the traditional Italian style of using milk from the water buffalo. And it turns out that mozzarella is not the only focus here – there were a great number of dishes using wonderful Italian cheeses and we struggled to choose between all the tempting options.

In the end we went with a Selection of Mozzarella platter (¥2900 / $31.50 USD / S$44 )…a kind of antipasto assortment featuring 2 kinds of Prosciutto, Mortadella, Artigianale Romano and 3 kinds of homemade mozzarella di bufala:

• Paestum – delicate
• Affumicata – smoked
• Pontina – strong

Sampling the cheeses this way in a mixed platter is such a wonderful idea…comparing and contrasting the delicate differences between the cheeses is half the fun of the dining experience.

Our antipasto platter was followed by Ravioli with Ricotta and Spinach in a sage and butter sauce (¥1600 / $17.40 USD / S$24 ) and a Risotto with Grana Padano (¥1300 / $14 USD / S$19.70). While I will say, the cheese platter was truly standout, the entrees were less so.

In fact I enjoyed the same dish, Ravioli with Butter and Sage, at Mrs Jones in Hong Kong so much more. Not that the entrees were suboptimal, just nothing special….good serviceable Italian. But destination dishes? Would I go back just for the pastas / risottos? Well….no. So perhaps you will learn from our experience and stick to the star of the show while at Obika – the fresh mozzarella.

In fact, my perfect visit to Obika would involve popping by for a mozzarella based antipasto platter and a couple of glasses of Barbera d’Alba to start the evening. Bellissimo!

Obika Mozzarella Bar
Multiple locations: Tokyo, Rome, Milan, NY.
HB1F, Roppongi Hills
Tokyo, Japan
Telephone: +81 (0) 35 786 6400

Burrata Cheese is a luxurious version of the more widely known mozzarella cheese. Burrata is traditionally an artisan cheese crafted from mozzarella and cream. It’s not a super common cheese as it’s best eaten within it’s first 24 hours of life and is considered past it’s prime after a mere 48 hours!

Specifics on the making of Burrata from Wikipedia -

When making Burrata, the still-hot cheese is formed into a pouch, which is then filled with scraps of leftover mozzarella and topped off with fresh cream (panna) before closing. The finished Burrata is traditionally wrapped in the leaves of asphodel, tied to form a little brioche-like topknot, and moistened with a little whey. The asphodel leaves should still be green when the cheese is served, to indicate the cheese’s freshness.

If you ever see it anywhere, be sure to give it a try. The first time I had it was at Spasso’s served as an appetizer. We were close to canceling our food orders and just dining on this cheese with bread and tomatoes…it’s that good. It’s great when eaten in an Insalata caprese or by itself with maybe some oil and bread. I’m obsessed with looking for it these days, asking at every Italian restaurant I dine at.

Any artisan cheeses you love or cheeses in general? Let us know in the comments… always looking to try something new

Paul

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

Ristorante Sadler is located in the Legation Quarter near the southeast entrance to Tiananmen Square. This group of building formerly housed the US Embassy from 1903-1949. Now the buildings have been repurporsed into lovely shops and restaurants, including Maison Bouloud by D. Bouloud.

I’m beginning to form a theory about the outsides of restaurants. The fancier the entrance, the worse the food. It just seems to me that every time I’m unimpressed with the front, I love the food . Ristorante Sadler was no exception. The entrance we took through some covered outdoor tables seemed underwhelming at first glance. The menu positioned out front was simple and to the point.

Once inside, the restaurant had a quiet refinement….from the crisply laundered table cloths to the cuff-links on the floor manager.

We placed our orders, exited by our choices on the set menu. After ordering we were quickly presented with a bonus Amuse of Panela Cheese Foam.

Next out was a bread plate of epic proportions. The breads were a meal on to themselves complimented with a lovely, grassy olive oil or fresh pesto.

Joanna started with the Spaghetti with Fresh Tomatoes, Clams & Bottarga.

I couldn’t resist the Homemade Gnocchi with Pesto and Cheese.

For her main, Joanna enjoyed the healthier choice of Steamed Seabream Fillet.

I went with the Beef Tagliata (the manager informed me that this means cut) with Grilled Vegetables.

For desserts Joanna selected the Cheese Cake “Amalfi” Style with honey, pears & ricotta cheese.

I had the…well, it had a fancy name, but I can’t really justify retyping it… it was a fruit cocktail (though a nice one)

The meal was simple and elegant. It wasn’t about complex flavors dancing around some modern ideal… it was classic food done to near perfection. The service was incredible. Personal attention from the management and servers to assist us in food and wine selections. All the while making us feel welcome and that they wanted us to enjoy our time spent eating there. If I’m ever back in Beijing I’ll make a point to stop by again.

Ristorante Sadler
Ch’ienmen 23, 23 Qianmen Dong Da Jie,
Tian’anmen
second building on the right
6559-1399

A simple Italian restaurant in a quiet alleyway saves the night!

Be careful with printed guidebooks, dear readers. The Luxe guidebooks (they are usuably reliable) led us to a certain area of Hong Kong looking for a particular seafood restaurant. After searching back and forth, back and forth near the alledged location we were finally informed that the restaurant had been closed for a while.

At this point it was nearly 10 p.m. and we were beginning to get hungry and grumpy So we quickly surveyed our options. We wanted a blog worthy meal, but weren’t sure of the reputation of any of the nearby restaurants. We noticed a small Italian restaurant in a downward sloping alley on Wyndham Street. (Quick word of caution, don’t wear heels if venturing down this road as it’s sharply angled and cobblestone which could equal a quickly injured ankle if not careful). Amazingly there were still a solid amount of customers dining and arriving to dine… I don’t know about Hong Kong, but in Singapore that’s a really good sign.

We took our seats in the back of the restaurant and were quickly handed menus. We ordered wine and it also came quickly…so glad the service was quick as we were hungry and ready to eat The servers were also light and not stuffy at all…hamming it up for the camera and teasing us about the identity of “Mrs Jones”.

I went for the Prawn Risotto (105 HKD). The risotto was nicely cooked with a good texture, but the overall dish suffered a bit from over seasoning. The consistency of the rice was right on and the fish inside was perfectly cooked, so I can imagine the kitchen executing the dish perfectly on a different night.

Joanna went with the Pumpkin Ravioli (85 HKD). I should have also ordered this dish…a beautifully made ravioli filled with pumpkin and mascarporne with sage butter.

For dessert I went with the Panna Cotta. It was much better than the version of this I had at Vino. Flavors were delicate, but present.

Joanna had the Limoncello Semifreddo with Glazed Strawberries. Flavor was good, but was a bit too frozen. There was nothing “semi” with this dessert, it was fully freddo

Overall we were quite happy with the meal despite the minor item listed above. The ambiance was pleasant, service was good, and the restaurant had a positive energy. We arrived hungry, tired of searching, and a bit grumpy from everyone’s misdirections and left satisfied and upbeat.

Mrs. Jones
Harilela House
79 Wyndham Street
Central
Hong Kong

Paul

Made it through the whole article without the obligatory reference to the song!

Every time we go to the area known as Chip Bee Gardens on Jalan Merah Saga we make a new discovery…With a bevy of lovely little restaurants, gourmet food stores, art galleries, bakeries and cool specialty kitchen / baking supply stores, one can spend a whole afternoon puttering around. And we often do!

A destination in and of itself, here are some of our favorites on Jalan Merah Saga.

Original Sin (Pictured Above)
A wonderful vegetarian place that’s perfect for an alfresco lunch or dinner. Paul loves the pumpkin risotto. Also they often have credit card promotions to be sure to ask if there are any current promotional offers.
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43 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-62 Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 6475 5605

(Click Here for Our Original Sin Review)

NEW! The Daily Scoop
The Daily Scoop features over 40 flavors of ice cream – some traditional (strawberry and chocolate and the like), but what really excited us were the creative, gourmet flavor combinations like none we had seen before in Singapore. There was Lychee Martini, Utterly Avocado, Ginger Crumble (with crystallized ginger and gingersnaps), Durian, Wasabi Mango, Green Tea & Red Bean, Hei! Sesame and more.
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The Daily Scoop
43 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-78 Chip Bee Gardens
(Another location at 41 Sunset Way, #01-04 Clementi Arcade)
Telephone: +65 6475 3128

La Fromagerie
From Julien Bompard, a brand new and cute-as-a-button cheese shop in French rustic farmhouse style. Endless arrays of cheeses and cheese-loving accouterments are available, with a small but well-edited selection of wines. And if you are inclined and have time, sit and try the cheese tasting or fondue menus.
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43 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-64 Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 6732 6269

Da Paolo Dolci
A bakery and dessert offshoot of the famous Italian restaurant (dolci = desserts in Italiano) offering lovely little sweet treats – try the tiramisu.
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43 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-68 Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 6479 0336

Da Paolo La Terrazza
The eponymous Italian eatery’s other outlet for Italian food. Although frankly we would recommend the Da Paolo Pizza Bar over La Terazza – it’s a little more fun and festive but ultimately your choice depends on what kind of mood you are in.
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44 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-56 Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 6476 1332

Da Paolo Pizza Bar
Yet another offering from Da Paolo, but this time with an emphasis on thin crust Italian pizza. As mentioned above it’s a little more fun and festive as it is continuously busy, seemingly at all times of day. Eat on the terrace if it is not too hot. This was voted best pizza by Time Out in 2008.
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44 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-46 Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 6476 6059

NEW! Yakiniku Nagomiya
I’ll be honest, we’ve never eaten here…it’s brand new. The menu offers classic Japanese charcoal BBQ . Please write in and let us know if you have tried it and how it went.
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44 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-52 Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 6285 0368

NEW! Mai Thai Restaurant
Updated in Sept…..Just last weekend we noticed a new face on Jalan Merah Saga. A Thai restaurant!  A quick perusal of the menu shows my favorite dish Kra Pow Gai (chicken with chillies and basil). Being former residents of Bangkok we will surely try this and report back to you.

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44 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-58 Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 6474 3108

Michelangelo’s
A bit more on the formal side…than say Da Paolo Pizza. Great for a special occasion or date. Upscale Italian at upscale prices. But for more accessible prices, again here often there are credit card promotions, so do ask your server so as not to miss out on a good deal.
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44 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-60 Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 6475 9069

Bunalun
Very precious food stuffs at very precious prices. I love the simple graphic packaging. Check out the chef prepared meals and deli offerings.
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43 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-70 Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 6472 0870

Bistro Petit Salut
Dining with some French friends at a French restaurant is always tricky – will it ever come close to authentic? In this case Bistro Petit Salut stood its ground. Paul and I really enjoyed the steak for two. Plus they also often offer good value set menus.
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44 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-54 Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 6472 0870

Pantry Magic
Very lovely kitchenstuffs for home chefs – from silicone bakeware to grilling supplies to hard to find international cookbooks, they have it all.
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43 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-80 Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 6471 0566

Shermay’s Cooking School
Tucked away upstairs is a cooking school with a well-edited gift shop. Here you can take cooking classes and attend demonstrations on everything from Asian cuisine (Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Singaporean, etc) to Western cuisine (French, Italian) to Baking (Pastries, Cupcakes, Chocolate, etc). $69 – 129 SGD / class.
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43 Jalan Merah Saga
#03-64 Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 6479 8442

Block 43 Studio
Near Shermay’s Cooking School you can also attend art classes, workshops and artist’s lectures in topics ranging from Creative Photography to Portrait Drawing to to Abstract Paining to Fine Arts Appreciation.
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43 Jalan Merah Saga
Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 6471 1359

The Butcher

There’s a wide variety of high quality meats at this old fashioned style butcher. Plus they have a wide array of bbq sauces, spices, and everything else you need. Even if you’re not a perfect backyard grill master, they’re on hand and equipped to steer you in the right direction. But if you don’t feel like cooking there are a number of prepared ready-to-eat meals available. We tried the Indian curry meal and it was stunningly good for pre-made food. Check the website for home delivery options if you don’t feel like driving out.
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44 Jalan Merah Saga #01-50
Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 64720073

Phoon Huat
From frozen fruit pie fillings to carton-shaped baking pans to cake decorating supplies to spices to countless varieties of flours and sugars….if you need it for baking, it is here. Look no further for baking supplies. Beyond that, the prices are super reasonable…better than the supermarket actually!
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Blk 44, Jalan Merah Saga, #01-48
Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 6471 5250

The Sloane Clinic
If all the decadent food stuffs on Jalan Merah Saga have had their way with your figure, then you might want to check out Sloan Clinic medical spa. From antiaging solutions to acne treatments to figure slimmers, there is an extensive offering. I personally have never visited Sloan Clinic, but I will say they have been around for 7 years. And 7 years in a business this trendy, with medi-spa’s opening up on every corner every week, longevity probably means something.
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43 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-66 Chip Bee Gardens
Telephone: +65 6471 1108

All Breeds Pet Store
Actually we discovered this street during a visit to the pet store where we got Mischa the cat. They are super nice here…and really patient (it took us many visits to decide!). So whether you are looking for a puppy or kitten or already have pets and need supplies, we definitely recommend All Breeds Pets. Plus if you join as a VIP, you can get a 10% discount on purchases.
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44 Jln Merah Saga #01-44
Telephone: +65 6471 1108