Another hidden gem in Tiong Bahru

We have always loved the this old housing area in Tiong Bahru - Tiong Poh Road, Eng Hoon Street, Seng Poh Lane, etc. Love the out-of-the-world retro feel and appearance of this estate and the tranquility it gives.

Turns out that there is yet another hidden gem besides Forty Hands. But Forty Hands is not much of a hidden gem anymore, with its growing popularity and stream of customers. When Forty Hands is swamped on weekends, maybe you can try Orange Thimble on Eng Hoon Street.

There are more seatings at the back, really nice and quiet area for a weekend for reading and enjoying a cup of coffee.

They sell Coke and some other soft drinks in the glass bottle form.

Ice cream served in tradtional Chinese bowls and spoons.

Latte served with old school biscuits.

 

The Orange Thimble
56 Eng Hoon Street, 01-68, Singapore, Singapore 160056
Tues / Wed / Thurs / 11am - 9pm
Fri / Sat / 9am- 10.30pm
Sun / 9am-9pm
Mon / off day
Click here for The Orange Thimble site
Click here for The Orange Thimble on facebook

New All-Day Breakfast Choice - 1-Caramel

We used to visit 1-Caramel when it was still at Handy Road because I loved their Strawberry Shortcake (best I ever had so far). 

We learnt that it closed in late April and they were going to shift to Rochester Park, business were to resume on 6 May. I had a strong craving then, and really wanted to go for my Strawberry Shortcake fix so we went in the first week of May.  But we were hit with disappointment, not just with the fact that that they didn't have sliced cake items anymore (no Strawberry Shortcake), plus a few other things well - poor direction to the new shop, etc, basically they didn't seem like they were ready for business and the service staff telling us that they didn't have special coffee drink items and that they couldn't serve us even Iced Latte (but in the end they managed to but from the other Rochester restaurant below) just made it worse. We were told that night that all-day breakfast would be available soon. And we decided to re-visit the place again today, thinking and hoping that they would be ready for business for real. And gladly, they were. :)

The menu made the coffee looked really good.

(Don't you think he looks like the Father Goose in Kungfu Panda? ;D)

 Heehee...

For Her: Cafe Latte at $8+. For Him: Picolo Latte at $8+.

Feedback from Him: The Picolo Latte is like Latte with a stronger coffee taste.

My Big Breakfast Platter at $20+ - the size of the platter shocked me. I doubted my ability to finish it.

Eggs Benedict with Ham at $12+.

A small, cosy place. Can sit about 14 pax.

I am purposedly showing this 'after' picture here. I must say, all the items were goood  - beans, spinach, tomato, potatoes, bacon German sausage! One thing you have to know is, so far everything when I have brunch, I normally don't take the sausages as I don't like them but this one was really good, really. And the fried potato cubes were so tasty. And surprisingly, I didn't finish the scrambled eggs. I actually ordered sunny side ups. So if I had sunnies instead, this breakfast may be the best I ever had. Will definitely go back for the same platter with sunnies.

Slurp. Look at the spread of cakes.

Such a lovely cake!

1-Caramel Dessert Boutique
1 Rochester Park, Level 2, Singapore 139212
Tel: 6774 1302

Opening Hours

For cake collection: 11.30am -9.00pm

For dine in:
Mon-Fri: 1130am – 1030pm
Sat & Sun: 10am -1030pm (Brunch is available till 4pm)

Click here to visit 1-Caramel website

 

It takes two hands to clap, but forty hands for a cuppa

Forty Hands is a new brunch place we found at Yong Siak Street. Interesting and meaningful name to the cafe, where forty hands stand for how many hands coffee beans will pass, from the plants to the cups. And it is nicely tuck in this quaint and uniquely vintage looking neighbourhood.

Forty Hands
Blk 78 Yong Siak St #01-12 
Singapore 163078

Open on Tuesdays and Sundays: 8:30am -6:30pm
Wednesdays and Thursdays: 8:30am - 10pm
Fridays, Saturdays: 8:30am- 12 midnight
Closed on Mondays
Click here for Forty Hands page on Facebook
Click here for Forty Hands website

Pretty cookie jars at the counter.

Look at the menus!

They have Tau Sar Pau at $2.50 EACH!!!

Saw the boss personally make the coffee at the counter (not this one).

Seemingly simple and cheap decor.

My Big Boy Breakfast at $15.

But the one and only disappointing thing was, they did not serve nice, cold, non-melted butter to go with the bread. Or rather, butter was only given upon request and when given, I only remembered seeing a puddle of fats and I called for the waitress. And to my horror, when I asked her what was the stuff in container, she replied that it was butter, just that it was metled. I was taken aback by her response, and asked for a change. But it was not much better, just not so melted and she actually cut a small slab from this rewrapped piece of butter from their fridge behind the counter. Well, had no choice but to make do with it (but ended up eating plain bread). The photos you see here were actually from our second visit and I still got melted butter FYI.

And his Eggs Benedict at $12.

The hot latte was so smooth and does not have a bitter after taste. Yummy! Hot Latte at $5.

And this's a very cool book store opposite, Books Actually. Which I think they have another outlet at Ann Siang hill. Sells vintage items and rare books.

 

Very in love with Verve

Verve Bar & Bistro was the place which I (Whiskateer No. 1) discovered and brought Whiskateer No. 2 for one of his birthday surprises in August. Though it was a new place to us (not many reviews or sharing of any opinion from friends), we tried it and we loved it.
All the pasta were handmade and I dare say, it was the best pasta I had tasted. I had shared the pictures and comments via Blackberry with you girls then. It was when you could distinctively taste the white wine, the broth and taste of other ingredients - all in the same plate. And with Whiskateer No.2's demanding and picky taste bud, he actually had only praises for the food we had.

Verve Bar & Bistro
Blk 7, Lock Road
Gillman Village
Singapore 108935
Click here for Verve website
Click here for direction to Verve Bar & Bistro

Besides pasta, this place had the best Appletini so far - for it just goes so well with the rim of cinnamon.

And service is just as important as the quality of food. This place has attentive & smiley staff taking your orders and serving you.

Just last weekend, we decided to revisit this place to try out other dishes on their menu - the food still impressed us just as much. But sadly, we seemed to be the only customers at that point of time - dinner time on a Sunday. We find that puzzling and saddening for a restaurant with such yummilicious pasta, drinks & praiseworthy service deserve better. Thus, we would like to share with you about Verve here. Do patronise when you have craving for pasta.

Last but not least, this restaurant, set in Gillman area, reminds us a lot of Dempsey. Yet, it is still tranquil (not so commercialised) at the moment and that makes a lovely ambience.

And I love their tagline - Simple Things Done Right.

Crab Meat Linguine in Light Tomato Cream Sauce

 They are not stingy about ingredients at all. When you order things like the above, you really will get a lot of fresh, tasty crab meat.

Liguine Bolognaise

Iced Latte

 The latte was good just that you couldn't get rid of the bitter after taste no matter how much sugar syrup you used. Maybe it's because it was Illy.

Freshly made Belgian Waffle with Vanilla Cognac & Chocolate Mashmallow

I was no fan of this dessert but Whiskateer No.2 enjoyed the waffle in Belgian style. The chocolate ice cream wasn't much of one with mashallows - not much mashmallows in it. And the vanilla cognac tasted just like vanilla.

Chilling out by the River at Kith

 Kith Cafe
7 Rodyk Street  #01-33
Watermark @ Robertson Quay
Singapore 238215
Tel: +65 6341 9407
Click here for Kith Cafe website
(Map of the cafe can be found on their website.)

 This cafe has a small interior with the blackboard being the menu. There are both indoor and outdoor seats, with Wi Fi available (password provided on the blackboard).

Iced Latte

Someone couldn't keep his hands off the iPhone.

Interesting furniture but think they need to stock up on more magazines (and up-to-date ones) as good magazines go well with a Latte at a cafe on a weekend afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iced Honey Milk Latte for the Sweet-toothed Whiskateer No. 2. And this picture should be named as "Simply can't let go (of the iPhone)" - not the coffee.

 Whiskateer No. 2: Pretty normal or standard Latte. (Same goes for Whiskateer No. 1's Iced Latte.)

Yummy "Wafer Biscuits".

Someone just couldn't keep his hands off battle zone.

Big Breakfast @ $14

 

 

 

 

 

 The best part of the Big Breakfast - the toast with butter. Bacon was crispy. Generally quite good set for all-day breakfast.

Prawn Aglio Olio @ $14

Whiskateer No. 1: Not too spicy for an Aglio Olio, kind of bland yet tasty.
Whiskateer No. 2: Aglio Olio in its simplest form.

Interesting CQ Mag. See who is the Breakthrough Talent of 2010.

He is both a Mr Sneeze & Mr Skinny at the same time.

Total Expenditure for 2: $40.50