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Our pick of bewitching Halloween events include the revamped Bodmin Jail, spooky canoeing, ghostly walks and glitzy discos

Paranormal paddling, New Forest
Paddling around New Forest creeks and the Beaulieu River at night sounds evocative enough, but with stories of resident ghosts en route, including a spectral monk and the “Lady in Blue”, canoers will doubtless feel more than a little spooked. Fancy dress is encouraged for the two-hour trip around the private estuary near Lyndhurst in Hampshire, exploring nature-rich waterways and saltmarshes. After disembarking the illuminated canoes, participants will be rewarded with hot chocolate and Halloween sweets.
• £29 adult, £22 child, 26 October-31 October (more dates may be added) newforestactivities.co.uk

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Celine’s Gelato has gone from a mobile gelato cart to a physical shop at Novena Regency.

If you are unfamiliar with this building, it is right opposite Novena Church and houses prawn-ramen specialist Menya Kanae, Korean Jjajangmyeon restaurant Mukjja and Sinn Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Note that Celine’s Gelato is located on the inside of the Novena Regency building, and foot traffic is relatively lower.

It doesn’t help that their social media account states that they are a Gelato mobile catering company instead of a cafe (with limited seat-down space).

As an ex-cabin crew on Singapore Airlines for 5 years, Celine has been exploring and trying gelatos worldwide, before fulfilling her dream of opening her very own gelato cafe.

In the meantime, she started her gelato mobile cart business that caters to events before this brick-and-mortar shop.

There are 6 rotating flavours available at any one time due to the limit of gelato canisters in their gelato cart.

Classic flavours range from Chocolate,B lack Sesame, Cookies & Cream, Choco Hazelnut, Mango Passion Sorbet, Key Lime; while Premium flavours include Pistachio and D24 Durian.

The Chocolate is their best-seller, made fresh with 72% Veneguela cocoa.

The prices are reasonable, with Classic flavour starting from $5 for a single scoop and $7.50 for double scoops, whereas premium ones are priced at an additional $0.50 each.

Takeaways are also available in 473ml Pints (Classic $16.90, Premium $19.90) and 500g Tubs (Classic $18.90, Premium $22.90).

Surprisingly, Waffle is priced at only an additional $2 and a Gelato Cone will cost $0.50.

My waffle with 2 scoops of gelato (1 classic, 1 premium) is very inexpensively priced at $10, which is one of the most affordable Waffle + Gelato combo even compared to many other neighbourhood ice cream cafes.

The Black Sesame gelato was my favourite – nutty, earthy, and rich, complemented with finely grounded sesame texture and the aroma of roasted sesame seeds.

Each scoop of sesame gelato is akin to eating the solid form of the traditional sesame paste, comforting and memorable.

If you are not even a fan of durian, note that the durian gelato was pretty pungent even when the lid was removed.

Smooth and creamy texture without feeling icy, the durian taste was pronounced.

However, it was overall slightly on the sweeter side, especially when icing sugar was sprinkled onto the waffles as a finishing touch.

I was glad that I opted for the chocolate shavings at an additional $1 using 72% Lindt dark chocolate, as it added a hint of bitterness to counter balance the sweetness from the durian flavour.

Witness how the chocolate is being shaved by hand at your table, adding a little interactive and perhaps luxurious touch to the dessert.

The waffle ($2) was decent, with a chewier texture with slight crisp on the edges.

My only qualm was that the gelato and waffle were served in a small tableware, making it difficult to cut the waffle.

Apart from gelato, drinks are also available on the menu. Think Kopi (Hot $1.50, Iced $1.90), Tea (Hot $1.50, Iced $1.90), Milo (Hot $2.20, Iced $2.50) or unique ones such as Milkshaes (Classic $8.50, Premium $9).

Celine’s Gelato has one of the most affordable gelato with waffles in the market. A hidden gem indeed.

Celine’s Gelato
275 Thomson Road, Novena Regency, #01-30, Singapore 307645
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Other Related Entries
10 NEW Gelato Cafes In Singapore
Pints & Cones (Serangoon)
Salted Caramel Artisan Ice Cream (Lor Kilat)
Butterknife Folk (Funan)
Carmen’s Best (Capitol Singapore)

* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

A simple, easy recipe for truly authentic Thai Pineapple Fried Rice that I learned from a fast-talking street vendor hawking delicious Thai dishes from his stall on the streets of Bangkok. My version of this traditional Thai Fried Rice doesn’t involve fancy sauces with heaps of additives, rather staple pantry ingredients stir-fried to smoky perfection .. just the way the Thai do it!

A Memorable Trip To Thailand

Almost 19 years ago, Nick and I took a short flight from Singapore straight into the colourful chaos of Bangkok. Having grown up in Bombay (Mumbai), I was no stranger to chaos. But the chaos in Bangkok was unlike anything I had experienced – more colourful, more ornate and heavily driven by two-wheelers and smiling eyes peering over face masks (yes, even back then!). The people of Bangkok were just so happy (except maybe that lady to the right who photobombed our special temple photograph!).

 

Nick and I were just kids, fresh-faced, newly married and trying to navigate the treacherous terrain of running our own home on a very limited budget. Sadly, the lack of digital cameras and mobile phones back then meant that we didn’t have a lot of pictures of the trip. Only the carefully frames snapped on our film camera. But the memories are all still there. Getting up early to experience the floating markets and buying garlands off a boat shop that bobbed gently against our boat, visiting temples with intricate gilded domes, visiting a precious gems factory and buying our first (and only!) sapphire, getting lost in the maze of the Chatuchak markets, walking through the obstacle course of the Bangkok city hub with incense sticks and idols of Gods and row after row of delicious, cheap fast Thai food.

 

My first taste of Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

Nick and I ate a lot in the short time that we were in Thailand. We tried so many new dishes. Pad Thai, Gai Pad Krapow, Tom Yum Goong, Som Tam, Laab, and of course Pineapple Fried Rice! Pineapple Fried Rice – a flavour-packed stir-fried rice dish dotted with pineapple pieces and cashew nut and serve in a half scooped out pineapple boat was the highlight of our eating adventure. It was fried rice with new, usually delicious flavours and had the drama and theatre of being served in a pineapple. 

 

On one of the occasions we had pineapple fried rice, I remember asking the smiling vendor who had but a cursory grasp over English, what it was that he was adding to the wok. He kept reassuring me that it wasn’t suh-picy. When I eventually managed to make him understand what I was asking, he told me that he was making royal fried rice with jewels fit for a king! The shrimps were rubies, the pineapple pieces were yellow diamonds, the peas were emeralds and the golden tinted rice was well, gold.

 

I don’t know if he was making it up, a spiel he gave all tourists who asked. Or whether it was an old wives’ tale he had heard in childhood. But it made sense. The Thai love their gemstones, their gold and their mythology. Even ordinary homes and shopfronts are decked up in fake gilded decor. It is the land of kings and temples and Gods and folklore. And upon research, I discovered that the pineapple has been long hailed as a royal fruit often gifted to kings in the past. A rice dish studded with the colours of gemstones and served in the royal fruit would then indeed be considered a royal dish. 

 

Making the perfect Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

A good pineapple fried rice has a few key components

1. jasmine rice
2. brown onion
3. pineapple
4. shrimp or prawn
5. cashew nut
6. curry powder or turmeric

After having countless Pineapple Fried Rice versions both in Singapore and Thailand and later in Australia, I created my own very-close-to-perfection version after cooking and testing dozens of versions. I am a huge fan of Bangkok-born and raised and UK chef extraordinaire Vatcharin Bhumichitr or Vatch. In his street food book, Vatch pretty much nails the flavours and texture of the Pineapple Fried Rice. And it is his recipe that forms the base for my version.

My Thai pineapple fried rice is often made on a weeknight when I don’t always have fresh pineapple on hand. And if it is not pineapple season, there is no point using a fresh pineapple as the fruit isn’t sweet enough to add that glorious burst of sweetness to the dish. My go-to pineapple solution is canned pineapple pieces. I just drain and use. Makes this dish a lot faster to put together too.

A lot of restaurants and recipes add curry powder to the fried rice. That street vendor in Bangkok didn’t and nor does Vatcharin Bhumichitr. So, I don’t either. Curry powder is quite strong and has an overpowering taste that masks the beautiful taste of pineapple and prawns. You want that smokiness of fried rice to come through along with just enough heat and warmth. I remedy this with a touch of ground turmeric. You can leave the turmeric out but ever since I started adding it to my pineapple fried rice, I found that it looked amazing!

 

Thai Pineapple Fried Rice Wok Clock

Make sure you are using a large wok that has enough room to toss and turn 4 cups of cooked rice and 2 cups of other ingredients. My wok is about 35cm in diameter and has a bit of a flat base for my induction cooktop (yes, it is possible to get smoky charred stir-fries on induction). Adam Liaw has a great short video guide on how to choose the best wok for home cooking. As always, get your wok clock ready, starting at 12 o clock and going clockwise in the order in which ingredients will go in your pan.

1. Oil
2. Onion, Garlic, Cashew nut, Chilli
3. Egg
4. Mushroom, Prawn, Pineapple, Peas, Spring Onion
5. Cold Cooked Rice
6. Soy Sauce, Fish Sauce, Sugar, Salt, Pepper (I mix these in a bowl to make a sauce)

A word about using rice for pineapple fried rice – It is important to use jasmine rice for that delicate Thai flavour. I cook my rice in a rice cooker. You can cook it as per packet instructions. For jasmine rice, I use 1.5 cups water per 1 cup of rice. This is less than what is stipulated on the packaging but gives me a firmer cooked rice grain which is what you want for fried rice. It is also important to cool the rice completely before using it in your stir fry or else your stir-fry will be wet and gluggy.

This Thai Pineapple Fried Rice is a stunning addition to your weekly cooking. Simple, fuss-free but oh so special. I just serve it in bowls along with a quick green curry. During peak pineapple season when the pineapples are big and sweet, I scoop one out and serve this rice in a pineapple boat. Extra special! Happy cooking!

 

 

 

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A hotpot feast with gorgeous waterfront views? Little Sheep Hot Pot at One Fullerton is a popular hot pot restaurant chain which has almost 300 branches all over the world.

Founded 18 years ago in Inner Mongolia, you can be sure that the dishes served here have an authentic Mongolian taste. Standing out from the regular hot pot restaurant, Little Sheep Hot Pot is well-known to serve broths that do not require a separate dipping sauce.

Not only will you enjoy mouth-watering platters and soups, but you also get to dine with a picturesque view if you opt for outdoor seating.

Trust us, the rich, palatable broth base is just enough to satiate your tastebuds. Each broth base blends a harmony of flavours, spices, and ingredients such as goji berries, jujubes, black cardamon pods, ginseng, and herbs.

We ordered their famous broth, the Mushroom Soup (S$9++), which is arguably one of their richest broths, with an earthy flavour that complements the superb meats perfectly.

We recommend pairing this broth with their signature meats, the Kurobuta Pork (S$10++), Signature Lamb Rolls (S$9++), or the USA Beef (S$14++). The meats are thinly sliced, tender, and juicy.

Enjoy a hearty meal with your friends and family while you take in the views of the spectacular Marina Bay waterfront. Feast your tastebuds on the wide array of meat platters offered, paired with equally delicious broth, and feast your eyes on the lovely view of the bayfront. Enjoy!

Little Sheep Hot Pot
One Fullerton
1 Fullerton Rd, #01-05
Singapore 049213

Typically approaching year-end, there will be more and more NEW F&B openings you can look forward to. But…

Considering we only include cafes personally visited (even then some we do not post at all), there are more than 20 NEW café openings this month alone.

The more recent cafes openings in Singapore include Infinity Cafe (Marina Bay Link Mall), Pints & Cones (Serangoon), The Wonderment Collective (Geylang), Firewood Chicken and Bagel (East Coast Road), Salted Caramel Artisan Ice Cream (Lor Kilat), GLASS Roasters (Faber Drive), Cupping Room Coffee Roasters Singapore (Takashimaya), TRYna Café (Tekka Place), Flash Coffee (Oxley Tower), and Joy Luck Teahouse (opening at Bugis Junction).

Here are 10 more:

Cafe Ma Maison
333A Orchard Road #02-33/34 Mandarin Gallery Singapore 238897
Tel: +65 6235 6411

Japanese Cafe With Pretty Fresh Fruits Shortcakes And Fruits-Sando
For those of you who remember, Café Ma Maison used to exist at Liang Court’s basement. The new space at Orchard Road replaces where gorgeous pastry shop Antoinette used to be.

In terms of “Special Cakes”, there is an attractive display of Classic Strawberry Shortcake ($7.80), Chocolate Walnut ($7.80), Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake ($7.80), Earl Grey Tea ($7.80), Fresh Fruit Shortcake ($8.80), and Japanese Matcha Mousse & Red Bean ($8.80).

While my heart told me to go for a Strawberry Shortcake, I thought it has become quite a regular offering in Singapore’s cafes and so opted for a more uncommon and colourful Fresh Fruit Shortcake.

I loved the array of fruits of grapes, blueberries, kiwi, strawberries and oranges, in between moist yet flurry sponge. But my favourite part was still the light, airy cream.

Also included is a small savoury items menu, with Omu-Katsu ($20.80) of Omu-Rice with Pork Cutlet, Truffle-Flavoured Katsu Sandwich ($14.80), and Mentaiko Spaghetti ($18.30). Café Ma Maison (Mandarin Gallery)

Parallel Coffee Roasters (Duxton Hill)
39 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089617
Tel: +65 9750 8997
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Tues – Sat), 10am – 4:30pm (Sun), Closed Mon

Cafe Haunt Hidden At Duxton Hill, With Inexpensive Coffee From $2.90
This is where you can find an Iced Long Black for $2.90 and Iced Latte for $3.90. Especially when coffee shops around the CBD and town area are selling a dollar or much more (I ever paid $7+ for an Iced Black elsewhere).

Plus point: the hot and iced versions are the same price.

The recommended Sourdough Sandwiches are the Smoked Turkey, Classic Honey Chicken and New York Pepperoni (each $11.90).

Parallel’s Acai Bowls ($11.90) come with choices of Superstar, Antioxidant, or Amino Bowl.

I was recommended the Amino Bowl with a blended açaí base served with strawberries, blueberries, goji, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds. Parallel Coffee Roasters (Duxton Hill)

Kream & Kensho
33/35 Kampung Bahru Road Singapore 169354
Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Japanese-Inspired Cafe With Instagrammable Drinks And Chio Interior
Kream & Kensho aims to have a brunch café and coffee place by day; dining with beer at night. (“Kenshō” is a Japanese term which implies “initial insight or awakening”.)

In terms of its interior and décor, they managed to hit the spot right with something contemporary with soft pastel finishes and a touch of Japanese here and there. And good choice of music.

On its menu include Donburi, Salad, Sides and Dessert, such as Momo Salad ($14), Charred Watermelon ($14), Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Tomato Soup ($12), Kombu Truffle Fries ($15), Chicken Katsu Don ($10.90), Gyu Don ($12.90), Aburi Salmon Don ($12.90), and Tendon ($10.90).

But the café is still fine-tuning the food options, so you may end up with a different menu if you head over.

Kream & Kensho do offer interesting and not the run-on-the-mill drinks such as Ginger Brown Sugar ($5.50), K&K Milk Tea ($6), Cheng Tng ($6), Kyoho Soda ($6), Momo Tea Soda ($6) and Yuzu Matcha ($6.50) which are good for the gram. Kream & Kensho (Kampung Bahru Road)

Wan Wan Thai Cafe
127A Bencoolen Street, Singapore 189637
Opening Hours: 12pm – 3am (Mon – Sun)

”After You” Style Shibuya Toasts And Thai Desserts Near Bugis
Located on the 2nd floor directly above Aroy Dee Thai Kitchen along Bencoolen Street, Wan Wan Thai Cafe is well hidden from many passerby on the ground floor.

The space looks totally different in the day and night, which transform from a white minimalist space, to a dark and moody vibes at night.

Their Toasts comes in various flavours such as Milk Tea ($9.90), Mango ($12.90), Coconut ($12.90), Milo ($8.90), Kaya ($8.90), Banana ($9.90), Banana Caramel ($10.90), Chocolate ($8.90), Nutella Banana ($10.90), Strawberry ($11.90) and Fruity ($13.90).

I had the Kaya Toast ($8.90) that comes with a scoop of coconut ice cream on top of a crispy, golden-brown toast.

The toast was crispy, buttery fragrant and moist and the flavour combination with a layer of kaya reminded me of our local kopi-tiam breakfast.

The cookie crumbs add a crunch to the overall texture, yet not being too sweet. Wan Wan Thai Café (Bencoolen Street)

O’Brew Culture
Tampines 1, 10 Tampines Central 1, #02-K2, Singapore 529536
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Korean Dalgona Specialty Cafe With Low-Carb Cheesecake
Specialising in Korean Dalgona Coffee, O’Brew Culture has a small seating area with 3 tables and is located on the 2nd storey of Tampines 1 (beside The Alley).

Service is swift and prompt considering that it is solely managed by a single staff from taking orders to drinks preparation.

Their menu focuses on artisanal coffee with the usual selection such as Espresso ($3), Long Black ($4) and White ($5), and interesting options such as Rose/ Vanilla/ Hazelnut Coffee ($5.50), Rose Chocolate ($6), Vanilla Pistachio ($5.50) and Dalgona ($5.90).

Instead of the usual Dalgona Coffee ($5.90), interesting flavours include Matcha, Chocolate and Rose Milk, topped with the traditional Dalgona snack.

Sprinkled with Dalgona pieces on top, the Dalgona Matcha was the preferred drink, adding some malted, caramelised sweetness to the underly bitter matcha drink, prepared using Uji Matcha powder. O’Brew Culture (Tampines 1)

Crank N’ Chain
31 Ocean Way, #01-22, Singapore, Singapore 098375
Opening Hours: 6.30am – 8pm (Tue – Fri, Sun), 6am – 8pm (Sat), Closed Mon

Bicycle-Themed Café With Gluten-Free Food At Sentosa Quayside Isle
Crank n’ Chain is the newest addition to Quayside Isle in Sentosa, located right next to the drop-off point.

With a total of 3 tables, Crank n’ Chain focuses more on gluten-free takeaway bites such as Orange Almond Cake ($6), Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake, Salted Chocolate Cake and Banana Vanilla Bean Cake from The Whole Kitchen.

Definitely not on the cheaper side as a small slice of moist and flavourful Orange Almond Cake is priced at $6, packed with orange slices, almonds, honey, sea salt, sprinkled with black sesame seeds.

For a cup of joe, the menu offers Espresso ($4.50), Long Black (5oz $4.50/ 8oz $5.50), iced Black ($6.50), Flat White (5oz $5.50/ 8oz $6.50), Iced White ($7.50) with optional Almond Milk (additional $1). Crank n’ Chain (Sentosa Quayside Isle)

City Donut
2 McCallum Street, Singapore 069043
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Donut Specialty Shop With Orh Nee, Ondeh Ondeh And Milo Dinosaur Donuts
Looks like donuts are getting some fanfare in Singapore of late, with the opening of shops such as City Donut at Telok Ayer Arts Club, Korio at Far East Square, and Haritts Donuts at Havelock Road.

The menu focuses only on donuts, with local flavours ranging from Original ($1.30), Coffee ($1.80), Pandan Kaya ($2.20), Pulut Hitam ($2.20), Milo Dinosaur ($2.20), Wholemeal Yogurt ($2.20), Pandan Ondeh Ondeh ($2.80), Orh Nee ($2.50) to Citrus Yuzu ($2.50).

Their bestseller is the Pandan Ondeh Ondeh Donut ($2.80), not in the usual shape of a ring donut.

Instead, palm sugar or gula melaka is mixed with grated coconut to fill up the core of the Pandan Ondeh Ondeh Donut before sprinkling more desiccated coconut on the surface.

The green pandan infused ball-shaped donut was soft, fluffy and fragrant.

However, I personally felt that the Pandan Ondeh Onden Donut had a texture more similar to a bun, lacking that distinct character of a doughnut. Plus it is not deep-fried (but of course this is healthier). City Donuts (McCallum Street)

% Arabica – Jewel Changi Airport
Jewel Changi Airport, #01-K208 78 Airport Boulevard, Singapore, 819666
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

4th SG Outlet At Jewel Changi Airport With Clean Minimalist Look
% Arabica has opened a new outlet at this popular destination, a stone’s throw away from the iconic Rain Vortex.

The design and look should appeal to many, in that signature clean and minimalist looking, complete with white-washed furnishing.

The price of % Arabica’s drinks are generally to the higher side – Caffe Latte is priced at $7 for short, $8 for tall, while the iced version is priced at $8.

Other items include America ($6 for hot, $6.60 for iced), Spanish Latte ($7.80 for hot, $9. for iced tall), Matcha Latte ($8.60 for hot, $9.60 for iced tall).

Decent coffee, slightly pricey, but cool ambience. % Arabica (Jewel Changi Airport))

C Cafe
477 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427683
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon – Sun)

Brunch & Magic Tricks Cafe At Katong
The café for your East Coast Plan is located right next to Homeground Coffee Roasters, opposite Sinpopo Brand at Katong.

The 40-seater space is white and minimalist, with a Magic Table in the middle of the cafe for the magic-enthusiast owners to pull a magic trick or two to interact with the diners.

Their menu is specially designed to look like a deck of cards, with brunch items such as Avocado on Sourdough Toast ($18), Breakfast for Champions ($24), Toasties – Chicken/ Leg Ham/ Smoked Salmon ($18) and Chicken on Waffle ($18).

For those seeking small bites instead of a full meal, Salad ($15 – $17), Chicken Wings (6pcs for $8, 10pcs for $12), Spam Slam ($10) and Truffle Shuffle ($12) are available.

Unlike most dessert menu featuring cakes and ice cream, C Cafe offers healthier options such as Chia Seed Pudini ($8), Greek Yogurt ($8) and Tropical Acai Bowl ($12). C Café (Joo Chiat)

Kings Cart Coffee Factory
328 Joo Chiat Road #01-05, Singapore 427585
Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm (Sun – Thu), 9am – 10:30pm (Fri, Sat)

Cafe With Devilish Chocolate Cake And Coconut Affogato At Joo Chiat
One more to the East Coast Plan. Showcasing a series of coffee-centric food, bakes and desserts, Kings Cart Coffee Factory focuses on specially crafted recipes using coffee as a key ingredient.

Customers may also find food pairings which can further complement or enhance the taste profile of specialty coffee.

I was recommended to their Coconut Cold Brew ($9) which features an espresso shot into fresh coconut juice with chunky coconut flesh.

The concoction came light and refreshing, which coupled well with occasional fruity and floral notes from the dosage of Ethiopia Yirgacheffe single origin beans espresso.

I also took a liking to their Coconut Affogato – its espresso shot with coconut ice cream provided a bitter-sweet blend of flavour, with toasted coconut flakes for an additional bite texture. Promising space, can get quite crowded during the weekends. Kings Cart Coffee Factory (Joo Chiat)

Other Related Entries
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Sep 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Aug 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore July 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore April 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore March 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Feb 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Jan 2020

* Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary, Nicholas Tan @stormscape and Lewis Tan @juicyfingers,