New Restaurants, Cafes And Bars: November 2015

Showcasing traditional Teochew cuisine, Paradise Teochew Restaurant is Paradise Group's latest venture, and their first entry into the Teochew cuisine market. This semi-casual 196-seater restaurant is situated on the third floor of the Chinese Swimming Club, with large glass windows that allow natural light in, along with a view of the swimming pool. Start your meal with familiar classics in the Teochew Four Varieties Combination ($9/pax, min three pax) — a platter of Braised Sliced Duck, Pork Roll, Prawn Ball and Scallop. Don't miss the exquisite Steamed Diced Chicken wrapped in Egg White Crepe ($18), and the unique Crispy Pumpkin, Yam and Sweet Potato Strips ($12). This is the perfect spot to bring your folks to for Sunday afternoon dim sum, or perhaps for a celebration and for some truly authentic Teochew fare!

Taking over an old clinic space at 20 Foch Road (hence the name), 20F Specialty Coffeehouse in Jalan Besar boasts both day and night concepts. Passers-by would notice the fusion of old and new in both the facade and interior of the café — where old-school window grills and gorgeous vintage tiled floors meet industrial bronze fixtures and colourful chalk drawings on concrete walls. The Duck & Waffle ($22) is the signature item here, available for both lunch and dinner, featuring a harmonious marriage of crisp buttermilk waffles, savoury duck confit and berry sorbet. For a substantial brunch option, go for the Pulled Pork Flatbread ($17), a Mexican-inspired dish of spicy pulled pork, chipotle mayo, guacamole, an oozy sous vide egg, plus nachos on the side. Pair it with a latte ($5) pulled from Liberty Coffee's Speakeasy blend. Degenerate drinkers (yes, you) would be happy to know that they serve cocktails like the Red Sangria ($18). These vibes are just perfect for an after work chill-out sesh on Fridays (or Mondays...).

Ciao adds yet another late-night option to the Kampong Glam neighbourhood with their homely Italian fare. Open till 1am, this is just the place to chill with a small group of friends over some pizza and Italian cocktails after work. Go straight for the Tartufina ($15) and don't bother resisting the winning combination of mozzarella and truffle paste; the heady aroma will instantly make your night better. The Calamari ($18) here is lightly pan-fried and finished with earthy pine nuts, sweet cherry tomatoes and briny olives, making for a nice side dish to share. Finish off with Zia Luisa's Tiramisu ($12) made using a recipe from chef's very own mother! They're open till 2am on Fridays — sounds like a good plan for a decadent supper, aye?

From the same folks who brought us Yoogane, Andong Zzimdak at Raffles City's basement specialises in Korean stews. You might be tempted to order the Mini Seafood Pancake ($9.90), but it might be wise to opt for the Chicken Karage ($9.90) instead and share these light and crisp nibbles and leave precious stomach space for the hearty stews. Then, dive into the ginormous portion of Andong Jjimdak (small $45.90, large $55.90), a mildly spicy chicken stew with a soy-based sauce that originates from the Andong province of South Korea, and brims with carrots, potatoes and translucent, chewy sweet potato noodles. This is the kind of soulful food that is best shared among a small group of friends — you'll definitely leave with full, warm, happy bellies.

After a short pop-up stint at Junction 8, Jenny Bakery has finally opened its doors in Singapore (their very first outpost, we're so flattered!) in the heartlands of Ang Mo Kio. For those of you who've had the privilege of tasting a Jenny Bakery cookie before, it's certain you know just how crumbly these babies are. For those who haven't, either get in that queue or hope that someone in that queue likes you a lot, and is planning to pick one up for you. Go for the 4 Mix Butter Cookies which comes with Hard Butter, Coffee, Raisin, and Oat flavours, and decide which you like best ($25 for 320g tin, $45 for 640g tin). Directly flown out of its factory in Hong Kong, these butter bombs command a fairly ridiculous queue, so come early — they sell out fast!

On a cool night, or after a long day, there are few things more comforting than sitting down on a table full of dishes and a warm bowl of Teochew porridge in hand. This eatery manages to retain the down-to-earth nature of this traditional food, while allowing you some air-conditioned comfort. The porridge ($0.70) is just the way you expect it to be, with a good amount of porridge water. Go straight for their delicately Steamed Mullet (market price), perfectly light and flaky and served with salted vegetables, a staple that will bring memories flooding back to any Teochew nang. There are also many other sides to choose from, like the Big Sotong ($6.90) — served chilled with a sweet, tangy home-made sauce. If you ever find yourself hungry at wee hours of the morning, you'll be glad to know this spot is open till 5am! Pro tip: Go for the Supper Buffet ($16.80/pax) from 11pm to 5am, entitling you to porridge over 30 dishes to choose from.