DanielFoodDiary.com

It is really strange that Singaporeans really love their hotpot considering how warm the weather is. There was even a short queue outside newly-opened hotpot restaurant Shabu Sai at Orchard Central (right opposite Kiseki Buffet). Hotpot brings people together. Hotpot brings out gossips, I mean conversations. Nevermind its mildly offensive name when called in Hokkien, [...]

Don’t get me wrong. I am all for upping the status of Singapore street side food, making it more ‘atas’ and upmarket. While many are willing to pay bigger bucks for easier-to-prepare food, such as burgers and pastas, the same cannot be said local food such as satays and Hokkien mee – which can be [...]

Sicilian cuisine has always been unfamiliar ground to me. My main knowledge it that while it is predominantly Italian, it also has Spanish, Greek and Arab influences because Sicily only became part of Italy in 1860. Gattopardo Italian Restaurant & Pizzabar at Hotel Fort Canning is one place to appreciate authentic Sicilian cuisine to fuller [...]

What do you look for in a Japanese fine dining restaurant? Really nothing short of brilliant – Quality cuisine, freshness and skills, attention to details, premium service experience, and that unspeakable X-factor. EZOCA at Quayside Isle has almost all of that, especially when it comes to authenticness. As what EZOCA’s owner Katsutaka Kobayashi says, “Many [...]

Artisanal coffee house Jewel Coffee opens its Café + Bar concept at Rangoon Road in the heart of Little India. I am very curious, why ‘Jewel’? Owner Adrian Khong replied in jest, “I was praying very hard for a name. Then while worshipping in Mandarin, I kept singing ‘Zhu-Ah, Zhu-Ah’ (stands for God). ‘Zhu-Ah’ sounds [...]

The true Ramen Champion Keisuke Takeda does not repeat concepts and ramen. Not at all. From his signature Ebi Soba Prawn Ramen in Japan, to his other three Singapore branches – Crab Broth Ramen at Millenia Walk, Tontotsu King at Orchid Hotel and Tori King at 100AM Amara Hotel, every bowl of ramen is distinctly [...]

Does Singapore need another coffee joint? The answer apparantly is YES. This new kid on a block is not exactly a stranger to the café scene as owner Andrew Lek is former barista from Strangers’ Reunion. Department of Caffeine, otherwise known as D.O.C, took over the defunct Broadway Café at Duxton Hill and upped its [...]

You have to give it to Cocotte’s Head Chef Anthony Yeoh, young at 30-something, but creates some very creative and mouth-watering dishes. He not only innovates for the sake of being innovative and different, the dishes actually taste superb. Cocotte, which means ‘pot’ or emmm… ‘prostitute’ in French has offerings which is a melting pot [...]

Name me 5 Best Indonesian restaurants. Perhaps that came with a little difficulty. While we are almost familiar with our neighbours’ cuisine such as Ayam Panggang, Sate, Tahu Telor and Nasi Kampung, Indonesian restaurants are always considered less hip and under the radar locally. And how many can tell the difference between authentic Indonesian cuisine [...]

Private Chef Mervyn Phan of Cookyn Inc is probably an auntie and OL ‘killer’, I hear so many ladies raving about his cooking classes, mild-mannered personality, and some say good looks. So when he finally opens his own restaurant GRUB at Bishan Park, it is little wonder why it would pack. I think his students [...]