Showing posts with label cafes. Show all posts

What to do in Singapore: Pasarbella

Everytime I've been to Pasarbella, I've never had my camera with me-- which is unfortunate considering how unbearably photogenic the entire place is.Pasarbella is a food market with plenty of individual stores and a grocer's section with organic goods. I love the entire vibe of the place and the concept of it. When there's live music playing, the ambience is A+.

There's so much food to choose from. If you're the indecisive type like I am, be prepared to spend a good 15 minutes paralysed by the sheer amount of choice. Food can be a little pricey, but it's really good.

My top recommendations:

Bacon and onion quiche with quinoa salad from Nana's
Penne al granchio from Da Paolo
Pulled pork sandwich from Sea Salt Carribean
Red velvet cake from Dutch Colony Coffee

Lunch time on weekends is when it's the most packed. I'd advise going earlier in the morning before the crowd hits! It's also pretty inaccessible if you don't drive, but there's a shuttle bus from Botanic Gardens MRT. Also, be sure to bring your camera- you're going to want to take pictures!

Pasarbella @ The GrandStand
200 Turf Club Rd, Singapore 287994
+65 6887 0077

cafes, food, Pasarbella, review, singapore, singpaore

• London // Honest Burger Soho •

Had to wait about an hour and a half for a table to open up but in the end it was all worth it. Easily one of the juiciest, tastiest, yummiest burgers I've ever had. Still dreaming about having another one.. :'(

cafes, family, food, London, travel

• London // Fortnum & Mason •

Met up with Grace on the 27th to have posh tea at the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum & Mason. We climbed 5 storeys of rickety stairs (we should have taken the lift) to get to there, and in my mind, the higher the level, the more upscale it is.. and it was true. Super clean, elegant, posh and also expensive (boooo).

They were also really proper- so much so that their company policy disallows sharing of food, so you have to order your own main, your own pot of tea and your own desserts. It was super embarrassing because we tried to order TWICE and both times we failed because we were transgressing their policy in one way or another (lose face lol). In the end, we got our own mains and very very discreetly shared tea and dessert.

My cheese & ham souffle was about 17 pounds (34SGD) while Grace's smoked salmon with cream cheese blinis were 18 pounds (36SGD). EXORBITANT RIGHT especially for how tiny the portions were. But, I concede, the food was really filling. The tea was also really flavourful and by the time we got to desserts, I was so full I could only manage measly bites!

Overall, it was good getting to experience ~fine dining~ for once and pretend that I was aristocratic or something HAHA a girl can dream right? & it was so nice seeing Gracey after so many months! We rattled on & on about so many things. :-)

Fortnum & Mason is also a kind of department store. They sell everything you could ever possibly dream of owning and never using because it's so expensive- glassware, homeware, china, candles, soap, perfume, whisky etc. OH and candy & biscuits & treats in general (my favourite hall in the store) :p

cafes, food, London, travel

• York •

York is such a beautiful place. A quiet, peaceful town with cobble-stoned paths and fresh, crisp air. The streets were glistening with the patter of rain, but what's a little drizzle when you're in a town as lovely as York?

It's also home to Betty's Tea Rooms where I had, I dare say, the best meal of the entire trip. There was this warm, fuzzy feeling inside of me from the moment I stepped in, and it lasted hours after we left. Rows upon rows of golden-crusted pastries and scones, gem-like macarons, fudgy brownies, baskets of biscuits and rustic bread loaves, and shelves full of white, milk, dark chocolate in every form you could ever hope to imagine. I was in heaven.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any better (the feast for the eyes was enough on it's own), the food came and it was to die for. Among the 6 of us, we ordered Eggs Ben, Rostis, tea stands, pasta, sandwiches and cake slices. I usually take my tea black (like my soul?) but this time I had it with milk and sugar. It was SO good.

I'm not a tea snob so I think it's ridiculous when people try to describe different types of tea with phrases like "a smooth blend of jasmine, ceylon and orange sencha leaves. a floral tea that is strong, full-bodied with top notes of citrus and a woody, musky undertone. Best for drinking after a meal." TEA IS TEA. I'll drink any type of tea, and I love tea, but not so much that I would write a full-length essay about how different earl grey is from english breakfast! :p Anyway, that was just a thought. The experience at Betty's was truly amazing and if you're anywhere near York, I'd recommend taking a day trip there just for tea at Betty's.