Review : Boufe Boutique Cafe

Tucked somewhere in Phoenix Park is a beautiful cafe painted in white and black. I've always wanted to come visit and the IG photos of this cafe lured me to set our next Lifegroup break at Boufe Boutique cafe. The staunch minimalist in me couldn't contain my excitement. I may sound biased because I've always loved the idea of black and white walls mixed with white interiors. Okay I'm sounding like a broken record here but feast your eyes at the photos below and you'll understand why I can't refrain from raving.



Accessibility - We took a cab from Orchard MRT which cost us around S$10 since "gothere" took us to Ridley Park instead. There are buses which can take you but would entail a 10 minute walk to the property.


Food - I'll give this a 4.5 since I enjoyed the french toast and its presentation. We all tried Chef's recommendation - Eggs Benedict and Salted Egg Crayfish. My friend didn't like the salted egg because of the smell and the taste came in too strong for her taste buds. The eggs Benedict were quite an average. Matcha green tea was a sure win, I just wish it's served in a bigger cup for my indulgence though.


Price - It's within the same price range as most cafes in Singapore. We each had to pay around S$27 for per plate and beverage. This includes GST and service charge

Ambiance - I'd give this a 4.8 because I'd wish they have added more chairs or tables in the outdoor area. I love the swing adorned with grass vines, the simplicity of the walls where they hung the menu. The inspiration wall for photo op and the overall minimalist interiors. Everything is picture worthy and when you post processed your photos i.e overexposed it a bit; you'll end up with a stunning photo like the one below. #bragging.



Overall it was a good dining experience. The staff was kind, welcoming and willing to take a few snaps per our request. Boufe Boutique cafe should be on the top of your list if you want good food, beautiful ambiance and a worthy gastonomical experience. Unfortunately,they don't accept reservations during brunch. I would strongly recommend making a reservation if you intend to have dinner plans as they easily get packed on weekends.

xoxo,

Jhesy 

Review : Luxe Singapore

Finding "a hole in the wall restaurant" and chancing upon instragrammable cafes have been my fancy as of late.

My friends say that I value aesthetics more than quality and quite frankly, that is somewhat true at times but not most often. I adore quaint set ups, minimalist interiors injected with rustic vibe that any cafes or restaurants with this theme would surely lure me in.

I've been in a couple of boutique cafes in Singapore and one thing they have in common - pricey. That shouldn't be surprising considering SG is one of the most expensive countries as per Yahoo. Yes, they would all cause a dent in your wallet hence dining frequently is highly discouraged. But food is a basic necessity and not really considered a luxury isn't it? So let me take you to this cozy cafe which I found just a few blocks from my workplace.

When I was sourcing for a place to catch up, chill and just pass time, I'd pen down these 3 things to consider.

1. Location

2. Reviews on Food and Price

3. Ambiance

I decided to meet up with a friend to go over my laptop dilemma ( my entire photo library has decided to quit on me ) and I panicked at the very least realizing years of memories now down the drain. ( be sure to BACK UP your photos  - note to self ). Was going over a list of several cafes in Tanjong ( I was bit biased as I didn't want to wander off from the city ) and found Luxe Cafe which is located at Keong Saik Rd at the Working Capitol Bldg. It's a 10-min leisurely walk from Cantonment Center.

As I turned left at Keong Saik Rd, I immediately saw "Luxe" written on the white pillars of the Capitol Bldg. This Sydney based cafe is nothing short of spectacular. The door opens to a lounge with vibrant colored sofas adorned with a center table and candles. It looks so inviting that it could easily pass of a hotel lobby. I was greeted by the waiter and ushered me to my reserved seat. The photos from their website did justice to the minimalist interiors of the restaurant. It was  mix of sophistication, class and relaxed ambiance. Uncluttered and luxurious.

The menu is limited however they are very much willing to prepare the avocado toast even though it's  30 minutes past 7pm.  They're all friendly, warm and generous. I was looking for something light yet filling and within my price range. The Seared Salmon in Chilli Caramel Dressing (S$28) was my first bet. It was prepared with utmost gusto. A mix of flavors and textures which rolled perfectly on my tastebuds. I just wish the serving was a bit more considering the price.

My friend on the other hand ordered the Luxe Burger with Grass Fed Beef (S$28). He said it was good but forgettable. There's really nothing amazing or special with the taste.

To cap things off, we ordered the much hyped about dessert - Pandan Madeleines ( S$8 ). It was moist, soft and not too fluffy. But forget about the bread, the main show stealer was the "kaya". It was by far the best Kaya I ever had in my 4 years in Singapore. It tastes like vanilla with a hint of zest and a bit of pandan. It was oh so good!

Luxe exhibits an Aussie cafe vibe. The spaces are wide, clean and woody. We thought we're ready to head off when the waiter asked if we are keen to have a slice of cake. We're a bit reluctant but then he said it's from Sunday and they won't be selling it. It was Tuesday and who am I to say no to a FREE slice of delicious chocolate cake. Needless to say, I devoured it in a jiffy.

Luxe Sydney tops the list of the cafes I've been to in Singapore. The service is well executed and you can see the heart put into every dish. It's minimalistic interiors makes it the perfect place for a relaxed weekend brunch and after work drinks. It is well situated, smacked in the middle of Outram MRT and Tanjong Pagar making it a popular spot for yuppies so booking a reservation is highly advertised.

There are still a bit of things to improve on but overall, I'd give this cafe a 4-star rating for its overall ambiance, food and service. It's your ticket to experience that little piece of luxury right in CBD.

Xo,

Jhesy

Into the Woods

Sundays are best spent with God and doing something impromptu like say,  a photo op in a park tucked away from the city.

After church service, the squad decided to lounge at Starbucks and spent hours discussing table topics. Several cups of latte/tea later, we then decided to leave the cafe and made our way to the train station. We didn't have a destination in mind until one of us blurted Punggol Park.



It is one of the leisure parks in Singapore developed with the theme " family leisure". If you're looking for a place to sit back and relax then this is a sure hit. If you can't stay put and would like to stroll on a bicycle or on foot, you may also do so. The park has tracks for cyclists to enjoy and the area is surrounded with shady trees and bench facing the lake which offers a sense of tranquility.




We didn't get the chance to explore the entire area as our lazy selves opted to stay under the shade and used the trees as our backdrop for photo op.It was not as humid as we expected and the light summer breeze was a perfect milieu for us to immerse ourselves in the serenity of the surrounding as another weekend came to a close.

White Top : Cheris | Plaid Cigarette Pants : Scape | Mandals : S&H ( SM ) 

♥♥,
Jhesy

Common Man Coffee Roasters : An Aromatic Brew Experience

Last weekend, a good friend extended this brunch invite to Common Man Coffee Roasters which I could not afford to pass. Singapore is a home to one of the finest, artistic and yes, expensive cafes which will cater to every brunch lover cravings. They can put a hole in your pocket but most will surely satisfy your tastebuds and gusto for weekend food escapades.

Co Ords from Aldrin & Laura

Common Man Coffee Roasters has been earning rave reviews for its unique set up, scrumptious bistro-quality food and top aromatic brews. Situated along Martin road, the cafe has a rustic vibe with wood accents. The glass windows make the place look spacious along with the coffee bar allowing patrons to watch the baristas make your preferred blends. The entire cafe is decorated with clever and quirky details from the door down to the toilet hand soap.








Why Common Man? As it turns out, the name of the cafe stems from the belief that great coffee and knowledge around it should not be a privilege but should be made accessible for everyone to consume and enjoy.

I have a love-hate relationship with coffee. After a series of acid re-flux attacks and countless advised by doctors to give up coffee completely, I have decided to just let it go and divert my affection to tea instead. To be honest, I sorely missed it. The aroma, the bittersweet taste and its immediate effect to keep my senses up are just some of the things I love(d) about coffee. I am no coffee connoisseur but my taste buds can absolutely sense whether it will fit to my liking or not. Whether too strong or too bland.

Common Man doesn't take reservations on weekends and a good 15-20 minutes waiting time is expected when queueing on a Saturday ( lunch time ). Hence their door tagline " Queueing is common ). Should your wait time exceeds 25 minutes, the first round of coffee will be on the house.

For a cafe named common man, price is definitely not very " common man". ( see menu below ). Breakfast is served all day and lunch is from 11:00 am to 05:30 pm. 




For starters, I ordered Crab Salad in Mango Mint Dressing (S$26).This is a mix of wild rockets,romaine, endive, sugar snaps, avocado (my fave), mint and pomegranate. It was a good serving but would have been better if they didn't put a lot of mint to the mix. The taste was just too strong for me. 



My friend ordered Tender Pulled Pork and Fries ( S$24). Frankly speaking, it looks like something you can order from McDonald's but my friend said it's quite good so I will take his word for it.



And on to coffee, we decided to order white Mocha coffee. For a price of s$5, I'd say it's worth it.Aside from the coffee art which is totally "instragram-worthy", it is aromatic with just the right hint of caffeine. Texture is light-bodied like tea and it has a sweet aftertaste which is quite ironic considering it's coffee. 



Common Man Coffee Roasters is one place I'd sure plan on visiting again. With just 5 bus stops away from place, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my visit won't be that frequent else it will surely cause a dent on my wallet. But overall, I think this place stands out from range of cafes in the city for its quality food and coffee. Common Man is certainly a pleasant retreat to have that good cup of coffee while engaged in a stimulating convo

♥♥,
Jhesy