Cliff(y) Goes Dining

Homemade citrusy iced tea: a perfect thirst quencher! I chanced upon Refuel Café while looking for an air-conditioned lunch spot after walking around Bedok Reservoir to escape from the afternoon heat. Established in 2014, Refuel Café serves all-day brunch menu among others. What began as a humble neighbourhood spot has since grown with additional outlets at Bukit Merah and Yishun.

'Kolo mee' with smoked duck better than the premium version! I'm a sucker for  kolo mee , a dry egg noodle dish hailing from Sarawak, Malaysia, which I very much prefer over other types like wanton noodle. Traditional Sarawak Kolo Mee has got two branches that are located pretty near each other at the point of writing: one at Fusionopolis that I visited, while the other is at Biopolis.

Affordable Korean BBQ buffet with a good spread! Located at School of the Arts near Dhoby Ghaut, Bencoolen and Bras Basah MRT stations, I'm Kim Korean BBQ has been a popular go-to spot for affordable Korean BBQ buffet since its establishment in 2014. Don't forget to grab at least one friend as the restaurant requires a minimum of two paying diners.

My introduction to French style ravioli! Bar-Roque Grill brings a taste of France with a menu deeply rooted in Chef Stéphane's cherished memories of his home in Alsace. The restaurant at Tanjong Pagar takes pride in sourcing their beef from O'Connor farms in Gippsland in the southeastern part of Australia, and dry-aging their cuts in-house.

Ever had a cocktail that's only served on the ground before take-off? It was a short hop home from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam aboard our flag carrier. As Book the Cook service isn't available on any Singapore Airlines flights departing from Vietnam, let's delve into the in-flight menu of the day prepared by the catering partner at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Free-flowing Vietnamese sticky rice, anyone? Without having done any prior research, I couldn’t help but find it amusing that the hotel I stayed at happened to share a similar name with the lounge I visited at Tan Son Nhat International Airport before flying back to Singapore. With such a tasteful ambience, I was curious to see if the food and beverages would be just as delightful.

When childhood candy dreams hop into mooncake reality! As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches on 6 October, it's time once again for the annual tradition of this blog: delving into a selection of mooncakes. While snowskin varieties have often taken the spotlight, I'm turning to the baked classics this time round, and what better way to do so with something that stirs up childhood nostalgia: the beloved White Rabbit brand!

Vietnamese sticky rice for breakfast! I had a quick stopover in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam before flying home with Singapore Airlines the next day. For the night, I stayed at Le Saigon Hotel (3*), which is located not too far from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The stay came with a buffet breakfast that offered quite a good spread for a simple hotel.

Gelée glimmers, sky-high shimmers~ It was my first Business Class experience with ANA, flying from Narita International Airport to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Passengers could choose between a Japanese or Western set menu for dinner, followed by a variety of lighter dishes and snacks available that can be ordered at any time throughout the flight.

How much do you like ANA's signature curry? I arrived at Narita International Airport early before my flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, giving myself enough time to stop by one of ANA's bigger flagship lounges for Business Class passengers. Besides the buffet spread, guests can also enjoy freshly prepared dishes from the noodle bar.

A taste of Japan's most luxurious lobster! Since I was in Mie Prefecture, I couldn't pass up the chance to to try one of its culinary treasures:  ise ebi (Japanese spiny lobster). What makes it truly special isn't only its exquisite taste, but also the cultural significance it carries. In Toba City, Kagetsu is one of the restaurants where visitors can savour this celebrated seafood.

Trying Ise 'udon' for the first time! Welcome to another prefecture of Japan: Mie! Before heading to the revered Ise Grand Shrine, I stopped for lunch at Okunoya. It was there that I had the chance to sample not only Ise udon  (Japanese wheat flour noodle), but also Matsusaka beef, one of the top three varieties alongside Kobe and Omi beef.

Sweet and sour chicken with a confused identity... Back in Nagoya, I stayed at Nagoyaeki Access Hotel (3*) that's located just 300 m from Nagoya station. While the hotel doesn't offer buffet breakfast, guests who book a room with the breakfast plan get to choose from a small selection of set dishes. Rice, soup and drinks are available free-flow at the self-service corner to complement the meal.

Hi, everyone! I hope all of you're safe and sound wherever you're. Pikachu and Melon are going to travel again soon, so they'll be taking a break from blogging for the time being. They're so excited! Do look forward to more entries in the near future!

"Cheese Meat Mania!" While searching for a restaurant in Gifu City to satisfy my gyukatsu  (lit. beef cutlet) craving, I stumbled upon KU-DETA. Just a few minutes' walk away from JR Gifu station, this cozy eatery caters to not only meat lovers, but also fans of rich, cheesy dishes. Though I didn't drink during my afternoon visit, the restaurant also boasts a curated selection of wines and cocktails.

Virgin experience with cheesy hot cross buns! Blessed Easter Sunday! It's a cherished tradition of mine to indulge in hot cross buns for the occasion every year. This year, I bought some from Marks & Spencer, a British multinational retailer founded by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer in 1884. Also included in this blog post are a few other treats from the store.

Moreish deep-fried chicken chunks atop a bed of cold 'soba'! Managed by Gourmet Kineya, Oraga Soba is a casual chain restaurant that prides itself in serving handmade soba (Japanese buckwheat noodle) at wallet-friendly prices. Besides offering a selection of hot and cold soba , the atmosphere shifts slightly in the evening with additional offerings like kushikatsu (Japanese deep-fried skewers) that pair nicely with drinks.

A non-French restaurant atop Mount Kinka! Don't ask me why, but having a French name, Le Pont de Ciel (lit. The Sky Bridge) on top of Mount Kinka in Gifu City is a restaurant that serves Japanese cuisine. Surprisingly affordable given its offering of sweeping panoramic views of the city and beyond, the restaurant is a great spot to enjoy your lunch or tea break without breaking the bank.

Do their signature chicken wings live up to the hype? Yet another popular delicacy in Nagoya that one should not miss is deep-fried  tebasaki (lit. chicken wings). Since its humble beginnings in 1980 with only 13 seats, Sekai No Yamachan is a name that stands out among locals and visitors alike, offering delectable chicken wings with bold flavours.

Am I, or are you, as sweet as a sweetfish? After soaking myself in a hot bath, I donned my yukata , ready to enjoy the evening with kaiseki (Japanese multi-course meal) dinner that was a much a feast for the eyes as it was for the palate. It was an immersive journey through seasonal delights, truly a perfect end to a relaxing day in Gifu.

Hearty breakfast in a tranquil setting! In Gifu, I stayed at Hotel Park (3*) somewhere along Nagara River. Its breakfast was a delightful way to start the day, offering a traditional Japanese set meal that reflected both balance and seasonality. Served in a peaceful dining area, it was a quiet indulgence that allowed me to appreciate the thoughtfulness behind each dish.

A serendipitous find of homely food near the Great Buddha of Gifu! My first meal in Gifu Prefecture was at a quaint family-run restaurant for lunch. The warmth of the place, along with the kind gesture of the couple running the eatery, instantly made me feel at home. I didn't confirm with them, but my guess is that the restaurant is called Azuma Tei. Deciphering Japanese kanji characters can be very tricky since they often have multiple readings.

First time having 'miso katsu'! Nagoya is renowned for miso katsu , a regional specialty of pork cutlet doused in dark sauce featuring hatcho miso , which is made of 100% soybeans, salt and water. Since its founding in 1947, Yabaton has played a major role in popularising the delicacy, expanding its reach beyond Aichi Prefecture to cities like Tokyo and Osaka.

What's your preferred way of enjoying 'hitsumabushi'? Happy Lunar New Year 2025! To wrap up the month, let's talk about hitsumabushi , a specialty of Nagoya featuring grilled unagi (Japanese freshwater eel) served over rice. While there are many restaurants in the city to enjoy the dish, I decided to join the queue at Hitsumabushi Bincho located along Kinshachi Yokocho near Nagoya Castle for lunch.

Free-flowing 'unagi' for breakfast! Nagoya is the largest producer of  unagi  (Japanese freshwater eel) in Japan. For two mornings at the cozy Smile Hotel Nagoya Shinkansenguchi (3*), my BFF and I enjoyed unlimited servings of unagi . When else could we enjoy such an indulgent experience without burning a hole in our pockets?

Heart-warming Nagoya curry udon! Headquartered in Nagoya, Japan, Wakashachiya is a restaurant chain known mainly for its curry udon (Japanese wheat flour noodle). My first memorable encounter was actually at its outlet inside The Central at Clarke Quay, which closed down many years ago. Naturally, I was thrilled to be reunited with it upon reaching Nagoya.

Mouth-watering 'buta kakuni' onboard! Happy New Year, everyone! Let's begin the year with a series of posts on my trip to Nagoya and nearby regions in Japan. My journey began with a smooth flight from Singapore to Narita International Airport aboard Japan Airlines JL712 before taking a domestic flight. What were served onboard?