Victor's Kitchen & Kooka Cafe

After learning our lesson from last time (greeted by 10% of the total menu when we visited Victor's Kitchen at 3.30pm on a weekday), we decided to reach there as early as we can. We reached at 11am which was quite a close shave before the lunch crowd comes in at 11.45am. I didn't take any photos cos I was busy eating from the giddy bus ride and an empty stomach - I cannot take long bus rides without proper breakfast. 

By the time we got there, 40% of the full menu was cancelled out so it was better than last time. We ordered minced meat porridge with dried vegetables, siew mai, har gao, deep fried prawn dumpling, fried beancurd skin wrapped with prawns, hot chrysanthemun tea and HK iced tea. The names which are bolded are the yummy ones. 

The porridge was a little more watery than I had expected for a Cantonese chok... something like a crossover between Teochew porridge and Cantonese chok. It is good in a way that I still have space for other foods served later. As compared to a Cantonese chok, the one opposite my house, it has a clean aftertaste and doesn't stick onto the mouth like a sticky porridge would. A sticky porridge tends to make me thirsty - maybe the MSG? - and I'll end up full by water. Overall, the porridge is a good "base" to go along with the heavy dimsums. 

I didn't like the siew mai and fried beancurd skin wrapped with prawns because there is this "pork taste" that leaves me jelak and turned off after a while. I love the har gao and deep fried prawn dumpling (or wanton) cos it is so full with prawns and filled with a lot less pork than the two dishes I mentioned earlier. Don't expect the fried dumplings to be half of your palm size because less is more and you savour it... not gobble it! Chrysanthemun tea is alright and I haven't got to drink HK iced tea cos I was busy eating.

Directions to Victor's Kitchen: Take 147 (leaving Hougang Bus Interchange) and sit and relax until you see Hotel Ibis Bencoolen, alight at the stop when the bus turns to the right to alight at Sunshine Plaza. If you are reaching there by foot, locate Hotel Ibis and you will see Sunshine Plaza. 

From Victor's Kitchen, my trusty Google Map led me to Kooka Cafe along Purvis Street. It took us a 15 minute walk to locate it and to digest our oily brunch. Kooka cafe is a relaxing, dim-litted cafe that serves light brunch, pastries and coffee. The cutleries and iced water are self-service and they sell art pieces that are hung on the walls. 

I ordered Pear & Almond Tart and Long Black while Xiaoli ordered Blueberry Cheesecake (MUST TRY) and Homemade Iced Tea.

Blueberry Cheesecake and Homemade Iced Tea. Credits to Xiao Li

Blueberry Cheesecake was light and its accompaniment of blueberries just pop in your mouth! Have it with some fresh cream and it tastes so amazing. I could have this all by myself and not feel sick at all.

Pear & Almond Tart

For your coming visit to Kooka Cafe, if you had a heavy lunch or not, you must try the Pear & Almond Tart. It is light and not diabetically-sweet. Just remember to eat with the fresh cream SPARINGLY otherwise you will start missing them :(

Long Black on top right corner with delicious Lemon Biscuit

I have never loved fresh cream so much before.

Fabulous Red Velvet Cake

I finally got the chance to visit Fabulous Baker Boy for their famous red velvet cake! *does a little happy dance* Today was filled with great food and great company with Charlotte, my pretty and sweet friend from Changi Youth Ambassadors back in poly days. Ah... I miss the times spent at airport so much though it felt more like an 3.5 hour torture by being a mobile information counter. 

Apple Cider Cake, Ab Fab Red Velvet Cake & Garlic Fries

Cakes were going at $7.50 per slice and there are snack foods to order. We arrived at about 12.30pm - the glaring sun was unbearable but the open space concept made great ventilation - and ordered Apple Cider Cake, Garlic Fries ($9.50) and Red Velvet Cake. Charlotte wanted to try the Nutty Monkey but we wanted to try more flavours and the staff said the Nutty Monkey cake is a tad heavy.

The drinks and garlic fries were served first, followed by the cakes. The garlic fries were normal fries garnished with garlic bits and salt and pepper and I would say it taste okay... not something I would order the next time I go there because it doesn't seem to be worth the money. Apple cider cake was rather light and refreshing after I had so many bites of the red velvet cake.

Oh my goodness... you CANNOT COMPARE the red velvet cake to the one I eat at Coffee Bean. The cake is so fluffy and soft and as much as I thought that a layer of chocolate would add immense sweetness and chocolate overload to the already sweet cake, it was balanced out nicely! Coffee Bean red velvet cakes have crumbly texture that leaves quite a mess after eating. 

We sat there and chat over a few hours. Overall it is a quiet - not so quiet when a bunch of aunties sat next to our table - and relaxing place to be. You can pick the sofa seats too but I wouldn't recommend that during lunch hours cos those seats are close to the sun.

Directions to Fabulous Baker Boy: From Clarke Quay MRT station, walk to the mrt exit where you will see Cheers. Walk across the bridge, cross road to MCYS building, walk along the path until you see "The Foothills" entrance. Enter from there and walk further up to find Fabulous Baker Boy.