Clean Eats

Japanese aburi cha, melted cheddar sourdough toast, smashed avocado, poached eggs.

For brunch, there is a version of avocado toast – Japanese aburi cha, tender and sweet, on crisp sourdough toast blanketed with melted cheddar, smashed avocado and poached eggs. Excitement ensues. It is everything we love on a breakfast plate. Unfortunately, our excitement was short-lived, when we sliced into the poached eggs only to realize they were undercooked, rags of raw white and yolk pouring forth.

Then we have beef cheek, braised for 24 hours, tender without quite mustering a distinct character. The meat bears no identity, holding no flavor on its own, rescued only by an army of baby corn, Korean bean sprouts, mixed nuts, semi-dried tomato, of course, an onsen egg.

We reckon you'd do better with the Genki [unagi bowl; $16].

Tuna tataki, asparagus, edamame, pickled cucumber, cherry tomato, onsen egg, furikake.

It is a travesty to break an onsen egg as perfect as this, gleaming like the radiant sun. But when you do, out pours forth the sunshine, a thick river of rich yolk armoured with generous slices of tuna tataki, and a variety of veggies that add flavor and crunch, ready for battle [with your tastebuds].

We concede defeat.

I just got back in town and found this hidden gem in the heart of Tanjong Pagar! Singapore's first smoothie bowl bar, Seed & Soil is a great spot to grab a smoothie bowl in place of your usual meal. Cold pressed juices and smoothie bowls start from $8, with a variety of 10 and four respectively.

My top picks: Cacao Warrior [banana, raw peanut butter, raw cacao, almond milk], and Pitaya Sunrise [red dragonfruit, pineapple, banana, coconut water]. Both filled with antioxidants, the former is rich in cacao and crunchy peanut butter, bursting with chocolatey and nutty flavors that make it such a pleasure to eat – it's like having dessert for lunch; while the latter is bright and fruity, a refreshing palate cleanser amongst this god-forsaken humidity.

P.s. Love their cute little "One for the Road" reusable pouches when you grab a takeaway!

Happy New Year! Wishing that Aloha Poké was open today so we can satisfy our craving for their mouthwatering poké bowls!

Choose between fresh chunks of salmon or tuna sashimi in the original, wasabi or spicy glaze, and opt for your choice of toppings.

Find out why we love it at GourmetAdventures.net.

Three weeks ago, we attended Grain & Traders' friends and family launch, and we were sold. The concept revolves around quick fix healthy bowls that are nutritious and delicious. Pictured here is Mr. Pirom: seared tuna, wild mushrooms, apple kimchi, crudités slaw, and cha soba noodles.

It's everything you'd want in a bowl of deliciousness.