Tastings

Off the set lunch menu: Everyone's favourite Truffle Fries ($12+). The shoestring fries are nicely fried to a crisp & are fragrant with that truffle smell we all love - topped off with a nice sprinkle of shaved parmesan, it was a delightful finger food item.

Thanks The Laneway Market for the hospitality & Ni Zhen for the invite! 💕

Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available at the bar
☀ Al fresco seats available
🍽 Burpple Beyond partner
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope
🙋 Service charge applicable
🚫 No GST

The soup of the day that we were served was the Mushroom Soup. I find myself regularly dissatisfied with soups that I get at restaurants.. But this wasn't the case. It was a good amount of chunky & not watered down - the latter being my absolute pet peeve with soups.

Thanks The Laneway Market for the hospitality & Ni Zhen for the invite! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available at the bar
☀ Al fresco seats available
🍽 Burpple Beyond partner
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope
🙋 Service charge applicable
🚫 No GST

If I worked nearby, I'd take advantage of this Weekday Set Lunch that The Laneway Market has. You get the soup of the day, a main course, & an iced lime red tea. If tea isn't your cup of tea (lol) (it isn't mine), you can top up $1.50+ to change your drink to hot/iced black/white coffee.

I actually wanted to get a bottle of Old Hen Creamy White Cold Brew, which isn't part of the set lunch... But they ran out! So I opted for the Iced White Coffee, which I was told was just "regular coffee". & that it was... It was alright, nothing fancy. Gave me the shot of caffeine I needed. But I do prefer it over the tea so I'd recommend the top-up.

Thanks Laneway Market for the hospitality & Ni Zhen for the invite! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available at the bar
☀ Al fresco seats available
🍽 Burpple Beyond partner
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope
🙋 Service charge applicable
🚫 No GST

Warm afternoon on the day of our tasting at The Laneway Market. Sat outside where the lighting is good for photos.. You would think it gets too damn hot - but the fans they have were great in keeping us cool in the shade. Doesn't hurt to dress light/comfortable, though.

Thanks Laneway Market for the hospitality & Ni Zhen for the invite! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available at the bar
☀ Al fresco seats available
🍽 Burpple Beyond partner
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope
🙋 Service charge applicable
🚫 No GST

Cuba Libre's latest portfolio diversification comes in the form of their lunchtime Latino Bowls - perfect for the health-conscious CBD folks. With 5 themed bowls spanning a total of 7 options, there's bound to be something that tickles your fancy.

Choose from the Cuban ($11++), Peruvian ($11++), Mexican ($12++), Caribbean ($12++) or Verduras ($10++). The Cuban has 2 variants - beef or pork as the meat, & the other ingredients of the bowls are different too. The Verduras also has 2 options, both vegetarian (the meaning of Verduras, to begin with.. Is vegetables 😊).

I enjoyed some Latino Bowls more than the others - my favourite being the Peruvian one for its excellent execution of the fish escabeche. Marinated lovingly for 24 hours, the Seabass has no fishy taste or smell. & I didn't have any digestive problems that I usually have with fish. Yum!

My surprising favourites are the black bean rice & plantain chips. "Not surprising" favourites are the usual suspects which I enjoy & were nicely done - chickpeas, butternut squash, pico de gallo & guacamole. With a good variety of ingredients across these bowls, there's bound to be something that tickles your fancy.

Thanks Cuba Libre for the hospitality & Burpple for the invite! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope

Out of everything I tried, I liked the Mojito Chicken ($20++) the best of the lot! With chicken being one of my least favourite meats (it's aiiiight but Does Not Really Spark Joy), I actually REALLY enjoyed how moist these skewers were. But don't expect it to come served like this (i.e. skewers) because it doesn't! Instead, you get an actual chicken thigh.. With the same delightful rum reduction & tangy mango sauce. Hopefully this variant that is served still maintains the tenderness & moisture that I love 😍

The Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms on the side were also glazed with mount gay rum - I can't say no to mushrooms & these were no exception. So addictive & juicy, I had to try to hide my toothpicks in an attempt to destroy evidence of how many of them I was eating 😂

We were spoiled for choice with Mojitos in all sorts of flavours: passionfruit, lychee, classic, strawberry, & Jose Cuervo (bring out the tequila baby). Again, we "just" got regular glasses of these babies... Which we thought were normal, until we were told that @cubalibre.sg sells these in 32oz JARS (that's almost ONE FREAKING LITRE)... Gee whiz. For only $24++ a jar (& the classic one being slightly cheaper at $22++), that's pretty damn value for money.

Thanks Cuba Libre for the hospitality & Burpple for the invite! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope

The drink pairing of choice for the shrimp skewers & olive was a lovely CastellBlanc Cava Brut. A nice glass of bubbly, it is light & refreshing - slightly sweet, but more crisp-melon-citrusy than anything else.

Thanks Cuba Libre for the hospitality & Burpple for the invite! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope

While the shrimp in the Shrimp Skewers ($10++) were good, it was the creole sauce that really stole the show. An unassuming creamy shade of orange, the moment I tasted it, my eyes lit up.

It was like a chilli crab sauce but BETTER - so amazing that I disobeyed the orders to eat the succeeding slice of bread which was meant to be a palate cleanser... & slathered the remaining sauce all over it. Waste not, want not!

Yes, I liked the sauce so much that it gets a post of its own 😜

Thanks Cuba Libre for the hospitality & Burpple for the invite! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope

Started our evening with Shrimp Skewers ($10++) glazed with white wine, & served with a slice of lime & an amazing creole red chilli sauce.

For its price point, I do think it's a great offering on their bar snacks menu - you get 6 of them in a serving. They'll be gone in a flash, but you can damn right be sure they're worth it.

Not everyone will be a fan of the Olives served on the side - they are quite a polarising food to begin with. However, these weren't as acidic as I thought they'd be; a good mix of a few variants, & seasoned with fine herbs & honey balsamic dressing. They are more palatable than I am used to. Nice!

Thanks Cuba Libre for the hospitality & Burpple for the invite! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope

<< Dessert >>
These 4-course set meals come with a dessert as the last course; either the Alphonso Mango Sorbet or the Avocado Ice Cream with Gula Melaka Sago. Unfortunately, both of these fell short of expectations with the flavours executed quite oddly. The sourness was overpowering for both dessert, & they were served way too hard for it to be enjoyed conveniently. However, if you think about this deal as a 3-course (omitting the dessert) 1-for-1 deal, some might see it as not too shabby.

Thanks Coriander Leaf Grill for the hospitality & Burpple for the invite! 💕

BURPPLE BEYOND SET MENU A ($60++)
1. Watermelon, Mint, Pomegranate, Turkish Cheese
2. ‎Falafel with Spiced Tahini Yoghurt, Coriander Oil & Harissa Salsa
3. ‎Angus Striploin Steak
4. ‎Alphonso Mango Sorbet

BURPPLE BEYOND SET MENU B ($60++)
1. Salt and Pepper Squid
2. ‎‎Falafel with Spiced Tahini Yoghurt, Coriander Oil & Harissa Salsa
3. ‎Charcoal-grilled Red Snapper Fillet
4. ‎Avocado Ice Cream with Gula Melaka Sago

BURPPLE BEYOND SET MENU C ($60++)
1. Watermelon, Mint, Pomegranate, Turkish Cheese
2. ‎Paneer Shashlik
3. ‎Falafel Burger
4. Alphonso Mango Sorbet

<< Main Course >>
The Falafel Burger was not bad, with spiced tahini yoghurt drizzled on top & sandwiched in between a brioche bun. Simplicity at its best, but my own preference lies with the non-vegetarian main courses.

Thanks Coriander Leaf Grill for the hospitality & Burpple for the invite! 💕

BURPPLE BEYOND SET MENU C ($60++)
1. Watermelon, Mint, Pomegranate, Turkish Cheese
2. ‎Paneer Shashlik
3. ‎Falafel Burger
4. Alphonso Mango Sorbet

<< Main Course >>
The Charcoal-grilled Red Snapper Fillet was really something special. I find it quite rare to discover a place that does fish really nicely. & for a fish dish to be tied as a favourite with a steak dish, that certainly says something!

The way in which this fish was cooked locked in the moisture & gave it a slightly smokey flavour (same goes for the wok-fried eggplant though to a lesser degree). Served on a bed of steamed rice & with green chili pesto on the side, this really was a winning combo.

Thanks Coriander Leaf Grill for the hospitality & Burpple for the invite! 💕

BURPPLE BEYOND SET MENU B ($60++)
1. Salt and Pepper Squid
2. ‎‎Falafel with Spiced Tahini Yoghurt, Coriander Oil & Harissa Salsa
3. ‎Charcoal-grilled Red Snapper Fillet
4. ‎Avocado Ice Cream with Gula Melaka Sago