The UrbanWire

Just mention the word ‘business’, and the prospect of profits, power suits and hard work springs to mind. But what if you’re getting none of the first, nor the second, but boatloads of the third? (Read more)

Standing in line for Hock Lam Teochew Beef Noodle with a plate of Hill Street Char Kway Teow and 2 rolls of Kway Guan Huat’s Popiah balancing precariously on her left arm, this writer was at the HungryGoWhere.com Big Eat Out! on Nov 22, where 9 of Singapore’s most-beloved heritage hawkers came together to cook for charity.

(Read more)

His skin, the colour of burnt amber, weeps profusely at the scorching ministrations of the sun’s fiery touch. He toils the hard, unyielding earth daily and struggles to support his family on US$350 (S$525) a year – earning US$0.50 per pound of his produce. If he’s lucky. (Read more)

Tucked away in a secluded corner of Dempsey Road, Karma Kettle & Rhapsody is run by newlyweds Dhiraj and Priti. Having dabbled in the F&B line in India, the couple decided to set up a colonial-Asian fusion restaurant in Singapore.

All the dishes at Karma Kettle & Rhapsody are original creations of the bosses. As their focus is on creating healthy colonial dishes with Asian influences, it’s no wonder you won’t find anything deep-fried on the menu.

Choices of drinks, however, are not restrictive at all.

With more than 50 types tea and the 3-page French liquor selections, customers will be spoilt for choice. “Iced Rambutan” ($6.50) is great for hot sweaty afternoons. This pale-pink drink is a tall glass full of finely blended ice and rambutan pulp, likely to cool off  customers feeling the heat of our humid Singapore weather.

Try the popular “Kathi Rolls” ($11.90) as a starter. It’s an Indian wrap with chicken, peppers and red onion. The tender chicken contrasts well with the crunchy onions and customers can try dipping the rolls into the garlic chilli sauce mixed with mint leaves for a refreshing taste.

The restaurant’s signature dish, “Lavender Chicken” ($17), is another must-try.

The pan-fried chicken, topped with lavender flower sauce, has a hint of lavender scent. The fragrance seeps into the garnishing, which consists of asparagus and carrots. Pasta or mushroom fans will love “Across The English Channel” ($16), a cheese-dusted linguine with 4 types of fragrant mushrooms in a fricassee sauce. The sauce is placed next to the pasta so customers can choose to enjoy the flavours separately.

The best thing on the menu has to be the restaurant’s “Royal Belgium Truffle Cake” ($7). With thick layers of pure Belgium chocolate between moist chocolate cake layers, drizzled with chocolate sauce, it’s definitely hard to resist. The cake isn’t too heavy or too light, and it melts in your mouth.

While the restaurant can get a little cramped, thanks to its popularity, the staff and owners make up for it with cheerful and enthusiastic service.

Karma Kettle & Rhapsody is definitely the place to bring your date, family and friends. The only drawback is that larger groups will have to make reservations to ensure sufficient seating.

Review by: Charmaine Choo in hype magazine

Oomphatico’s serves a whole range of food from all over the world – all the recipes of which were concocted by Lara “Jay” He-quet, the cafe’s manager and creator, when she travelled around the world.

Most of the ingredients used are organic, as Jay believes that “organic is good for you [and your] body”. Her food also has gluten and dairy-free options for those with allergies.

Try the two signature drinks at Oomphatico’s – the “Joy Juice” ($7.50) and “Macabanana” ($8.50). The “Joy Juice” is made of shaved ice topped with jelly and sweet syrup. It’s very sweet and flavourful. Definitely a “pick-me-up” after a long day at work! If it’s too sweet for you, you can mix the drink thoroughly with the ice.

The “Macabanana” was a beautiful surprise. Macadamia nuts are pulverised with bananas to make a thick and creamy smoothie. For those who prefer a not-so-sweet drink, this is definitely your beverage. The macadamia nuts give an interesting kick to the smoothie.

The “Khao Phad Supparod” ($18.50) is essentially just pineapple rice. Pineapple rice usually has a strong sour taste due to the pineapples. This dish, however, has a milder taste, which is a pleasant suprise and definitely pleasing to the palate. Other than pineapple, the rice is chock-full of flavour from the raisins, cashew nuts, fresh prawns, chicken chunks and chicken floss.

Oomphatico’s pizzas are much better than those you find in fast-food chains. The “Mighty Meat Pizza” ($16.50) has an extremely thin crust that’s topped with beautifully smoked pork sausages, mozzarella cheese and chopped mint leaves for that extra “oomph”.

Recommended by Jay and fellow diners is the “Pancake Lasagne” ($14.50). The lasagne noodles are made round and they sandwich a meat sauce that is topped with pesto and sour cream. It’s relatively light so you don’t feel bloated after eating an entire serving by yourself.

Overall, eating at Oomphatico’s is delightful - the ambience is great and the place is beautifully furnished with whimsical pieces of furniture. However, it can be difficult to get the waiter and even more challenging to ensure that they follow up on your requests.

OOMPHATICO’S Address:
163 Tanglin Road
Tanglin Mall #01-03 & #01-35/36
Tel: 67339088

Sick of dates at boring restaurants or cinemas, which are only getting more expensive? UrbanWire was scouting around for a unique dating destination and stumbled upon Singapore’s HortPark.

(Read more)

First Impression

Gone Fishing, a philosophy cum arts café, is a far cry from the boring, overrated coffee joints you’ll find in town.

On the 3rd Wednesday evening of every month, this cosy space transforms into a philosophy corner.

Hosting the café since Oct 2003, resident philosopher Lau Kwong Fook, who holds an MA in Philosophy from the University of Canterbury, hangs around Gone Fishing from 8pm to 10pm to lead discussions on issues such as clear thinking with just about anyone who is interested to hear what he has to say. He is now a freelance philosopher (giving talks to individuals, groups and organizations), editor and philosophy trainer. He even hosts a blog for reports and updates on the monthly philosophy café sessions held.

(Read more)

A three and a half hour flight will take us to the city of Hong Kong. Infamous for its ghastly pollution and overcrowding, it’s hardly an ideal holiday location. But once you step onto Central Piers, you’ll see a gamut of skyscrapers flaunting renowned brands like the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Corporation (HSBC) and the Bank of China . The buildings represent the country’s constant growth.
Just like its towering buildings, the standard of living in this financial hub is much like Singapore. Hopping on its high-speed “bullet” Mass Transit Railway or MTR (their version of our MRT) only costs HKD$6.90 (S$1.30) for a single trip. (Read more)

Here’s a shoutout to all you ice cream lovers out there: Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day is back!

From noon all the way to 7pm on Tuesday, Apr 29, head down to any of the following participating Ben & Jerry’s outlets for a free cone or cup of your favourite flavour of Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream!

Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day is held in conjunction with the 30th birthday of the beloved American brand of ice cream.

Everyone is invited!

Ben & Jerry’s Singapore Brand Champ Tan Lee Ken invites one and all to go and grab their free scoops!

In the official press release, he says, “Free Cone Day is our way of saying thank you to our loyal fans, and with 30 years to celebrate, we’re planning to smash last year’s record of giving away over 42,000 scoops. So whether you’re in the East or West, North or Central we invite you to stop by any of our participating Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops for a free scoop.” (Read more)

Good news! The beautiful people at Home Club are giving away a pair of free drinks each to 5 lucky UrbanWire readers!

(Read more)

Tucked away snugly in a quiet corner between a bubble tea store and comics café at newly revamped 4th level of Suntec City Convention Centre is Cottage Waffles. True to its name, the European-like eatery has a cosy interior with its red brick walls and the tantalizing scent of cooked waffles.

The recipe for these mouth-watering waffles hail from Chatelet, a town in Europe. The enterprise idea struck when the business owner from Hong Kong took a liking to the sweet delights and bought over the recipe to start the first flagship store in Singapore. From there, Cottage Waffles was born. (Read more)

In the celebratory yuletide season, feast on Goodwood Park Hotel’s Christmas Epiphany that is made up of 12 different dining events from Dec 1 to Dec 31 which are be available at The Deli. Here’s UrbanWire’s take on some of the specially selected delicacies, just for you! (Read more)

Next to the burger, fries often play an overlooked supporting role when it comes to the standard fast food meal. Seldom are they recognised for their importance when it comes to nutrition (or the lack of it). (Read more)

Joining the line of after-dark restaurants in place of Gelare along Holland Village is Olio’s new outlet. In addition to a spanking new menu, they have also spruced up their carte du jour with several new items. (Read more)

Fans of Anthony Bourdain’s hit travel show, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, will probably recognise 44-year-old food writer, Michael Ruhlman. After all, he did appear on not just 1, but 2 episodes (Las Vegas and Cleveland) of the popular series that chronicles the culture and cuisine of various locations around the world. (Read more)