Tag Archives: coffee

Paddy Hills

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So the other day we were looking for a place to have breakfast before heading to Children’s Centre for Creativity at Gillman Barracks and a friend of mine suggested Paddy Hills at South Buona Vista Rd. The address sounded really familiar but we couldn’t figure out why until we arrived at our destination – it’s where our favourite duck rice place used to be!

I like that they open at a decent time on weekends because so many cafes only open at 10 or 11 am these days. The place gets lots of natural light and the food is very photogenic and Instagram-able. The menu is interesting, the coffee is good, and the hot chocolate is awesome. They have a good number of high chairs for babies/ kids as well as children plates and cutlery.

However, they are quite expensive. The kids had 3 Little Pillows ($22) and it was pancakes with berry soup, yuzu sorbet, and goodness knows what else. It was so fancy that Adrian remarked that it reminded him of a Balinese spa. We also had Hash Hash ($24) and the beef shank tasted good but wasn’t particularly filling. Adrian wanted his usual hearty big breakfast but there wasn’t anything like that on the menu.

The staff could have had a bit more initiative. I walked in with three kids (Adrian was parking) and there were only a couple of tables occupied at that time. They saw me coming in but didn’t get me a table so I dragged two tables together by myself while carrying the baby. They also didn’t offer us children’s cutlery until we asked if they had any. Since my kids just need boring old pancakes with maple syrup, Adrian wants his Big Breakfast, and I’m after Eggs Ben, we probably won’t be going back there for breakfast again. Still open to trying lunch or dinner there though!

fooling around while waiting for food

hot chocolate

Hash Hash

3 Little Pillows

secret message that appears midway

murdering the pancakes

great light in the cafe

posing outside

Paddy Hills
38 South Buona Vista Rd

Weekday 10.30 am – 5 pm; Weekend 9 am – 5 pm; Dinner 6 – 9.30 pm daily

Dakota Crescent: Tian Kee & Co. and Dove Playground

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Dakota Crescent is slated for development by the end of 2016 so we decided to pay a visit before it’s gone for good. We haven’t been there in more than 4 years but the sleepy housing estate still feels largely the same. The Tian Kee & Co. provision shop is now a little cafe and we had breakfast there before heading over to the Dove playground. I still think it looks more like a Seal than a Dove though!

The food at Tian Kee & Co. was pretty decent and these days I’m delighted if a cafe serves proper hot meals and not just sandwiches, cakes and pastries. There are so many hipster cafes now that only assemble food but don’t actually cook anything. The kids loved the rainbow cheesecake and inhaled it in a matter of minutes.

The Dove playground is actually in better condition than it was in when we visited some years ago. At that time, it was pretty grubby and Adrian didn’t even let Anya touch it. Either that or we have lowered our standards now that we have 3 kids! Haha.

Blk 12 Dakota Crescent

Tian Lee & Co.

this is his ‘sleeping hamster’ pose

baked macaroni cheese

Adrian’s breakfast thing

lasagna

Eggs Royale

rainbow cheese cake

laughing at something or other

the whole family

Dove playground

the slide is not very slippery

swinging around

crossing the bridge

looking down

attempting to slide down the fireman pole

with Auntie Fifi

Mother’s Day at Wheeler’s Yard

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A few days ago, Facebook reminded me a post I’d written 2 Mother’s Days ago about how I felt unappreciated and also wanted to make it clear that my life as a mother is hardly Instagram-worthy. After being a mother for so many years, I think I’ve come to terms with what I can expect for Mother’s Day.

This year’s Mother’s Day was pretty good, actually. Adrian insisted on having my favourite HaiDiLao Hotpot for an early Mother’s Day dinner even though he hates steamboat. The kids all made nice cards, and we even managed some rather decent photos at the very photogenic Wheeler’s Yard on Mother’s Day. So all in all, I had a lovely time and I’m so thankful for my family.

open

two cooperative kids

Wheeler's Yard

family photo!

on the other side of the door

loads of natural light

bikes galore

on a Vespa

waiting for his haircut?

lounging about

watching the rain

Coast and Company

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The older kids were at a drop-off birthday party one Sunday (I love drop-off parties!!) so we went to Coast and Company a few minutes away to grab a bite and a drink. Now my main grouse about the cafes popping up all over the place these days is that many of them don’t serve proper food! They look really nice and you can get a decent cup of coffee, but you have to eat cakes, muffins, sandwiches or something that has been hastily assembled/ microwaved.

Coast and Company is much the same. The whole bicycle thing going on definitely makes it more interesting than your usual cafe (especially if you do cycle) but the menu is limited, the food is so-so and everything is pretty expensive.

bicycles out front

Coast and Company

bicycle inside

the crowd

on the glass

bicycles at the back

bicycle art

more bicycle stuff

everybody needs some time to coast

coffee

Mexican Coke (yes, it DOES taste better!)

beef rendang hotdog

outside

On The Table at Pasir Panjang

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I haven’t done a cafe post in the longest time, not because we haven’t been to any new places, but because it’s really hard to take decent photos when there are 3 restless kids to feed!

We checked out On The Table at Pasir Panjang on Saturday. It’s by the Lola’s Cafe people but in a much better location for us. There’s quite a bit of parking at the side road and a bus-stop right outside the cafe. Pasir Panjang MRT Station is about 250 metres away. We were the only customers there at about 10.30 am but the crowd started coming in from 11 am.

On the Table

I love the happy yellow seats in the cafe, especially the elastic string chair. The kids were ~~fighting~~ taking turns to sit in it and I could barely get them to settle down and eat. The place is also significantly bigger than Lola’s Cafe so it’s easier to get a table even during peak periods.

strange barefooted children running around

springy string chairs

David doesn’t want to share his chair

happy yellow chairs

We had a rather satisfying brunch: the food is very decent and the coffee (from Dutch Colony Coffee Co.) is great. I liked that my Eggs Ben ($13) was served on super-soft brioche and with a substantial side salad. Adrian (and the kids) enjoyed The Big One ($16). The bacon is the juicy fat type that I like and the mushrooms were really flavourful. The kids also shared waffles ($8) which stayed crisp till the end even under all that ice-cream.

lots of beer

Eggs Ben

big brekkie for Adrian

waffles and ice-cream

We’ll definitely be back because the good food, excellent coffee, friendly service and reasonable prices are simply irresistible. I’m hoping to see some good ol’ IKEA plastic plates, cups and cutlery for the kids when we return so I don’t have to worry about them dropping and breaking stuff!

On the Table
118 Pasir Panjang Road
Tue – Fri: 8 am – 10 pm
Sat & Sun: 10 am – 10 pm
Closed: Mon

Common Man Coffee Roasters

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The husband and I are always hunting for the perfect brunch place. Ideally, it should have good food, great coffee, accessible location, convenient parking and reasonable prices. To be more accurate, I’m eternally on the look-out for such a place and he’s happy to tag along and order the breakfast platter and a latte.

We checked out Common Man Coffee Roasters and there were quite a few things we liked. The food is above average and so is the coffee. It’s centrally located and can hold quite a number of people. Parking is okay but may prove troublesome on weekends/ public holidays and rainy days. It’s open every day and opens early at 8am. Service is prompt and friendly and food comes fast. BUT it’s really a bit too pricey for our liking! Our mains were $20-something each. The common man will not be able to eat here.

Common Man Coffee Roasters

inside

filled up very quickly

love the latte glass

his breakfast platter

my eggs ben

sulky Batman

Tubbers

Common Man Coffee Roasters
22 Martin Road #01-00
Singapore 239058
6836 4695
Mon – Sun: 8am – 7pm

Brawn & Brains at Guillemard Rd

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We had a workshop to attend at Guillemard Rd the previous Saturday so we popped into Brawn & Brains at the old Singapore Badminton Hall for a bite. It’s a tiny little place in some random corner but was quite crowded when we got there just after opening time.

There are a few things about Brawn & Brains that I’m not particularly fond of: there are no highchairs for kids, orders have to be placed at the counter, the menu is very limited, hot items are only available an hour after it opens, we had to share a table, it’s SO small, etc.

Yet I can’t help but be charmed by this little cafe. It’s unpretentious and cozy, the people are sincere, and the few things they have on the menu are nicely done. We had superb coffee and light, fluffy croissants that morning.