Riders Cafe: Hidden Find

We were doing some online research for makan places around Bukit Timah area when we stumbled across this restaurant - Riders Cafe.

Secluded in a secluded Bukit Timah Saddle Club, it was an instant urban getaway with long winding roads and overlooking greeneries welcoming you from everywhere.

With wooden finishings and unshut windows, one can totally loosen up in such an environment. What's most awesome about this restaurant which offers a different dining experience from others is that you could actually spot horses trotting by while savouring your meals!

Buffalo Wingers (Half a Dozen),   S$8.95++,   

These Buffalo Wingers came in as a sweet tasting surprise - they weren't spicy at all! (At least to us.) But despite missing out on the usual fiery kick, these wingers still carried off their unique sweetness well. If the thick sauce coating didn't seem enough, dip them into the special mayonnaise for a even sweeter smack.

Mushroom Chorizo Pasta,   S$15.95++,   

In a bed of healthy looking Linguine, you could find thin shreds of cheese, slices of button mushrooms and also Chorizo (a mixture of several types of pork sausages). We thought that the pasta appeared too dry-looking for Aglio Olio style, but upon trying, the humble strands proved us wrong with their spring and flavour - everything nice and delicious in much less oil.

Ribeye,   S$28++,   

Man, this was definitely one good Ribeye! The grill, the tenderness, the succulence, the cut, the sauce, the presentation gets your cutleries and gastric juices running in full swing. Even the sides like asparagus, carrots, and roasted potatoes were not taken lightly of.

Death-By-Chocolate-Cake,   S$11.95++,   

Love on first bite, sick after fifth bite, hate at tenth bite. Chocolate cake with warm runny chocolate sauce is no doubt yummy, but when it's an overwhelming portion, errr... Our advice - share it!

VERDICT
We were in love with every little bit of Riders Cafe from the moment we stepped foot in until we left. Delectable dishes enjoyed over luscious sceneries with greens and horses - how often do you chance upon places like this in our lion city?

Riders Cafe
Bukit Timah Saddle Club
51 Fairways Drive, S(286965)
(+65) 6466 9819
Tue - Sun: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Mon: Closed
http://www.riderscafe.sg

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TCC: Eat, Drink, Chill

It's a friday night and you are out with your friends downtown. You want a place where you can have a nice dinner, do some catching up, and stay on long without getting the 'when-are-you-leaving-stares' from the servers. Then, you shouldn't give TCC a miss!

The relaxed ambience and comfy chairs already await you to snug onto them.

Oreo Mocha Frappé,   S$7.90++,   

We don't usually choose this, but doesn't mean that it isn't good! We just happened to have cravings for chocolatey drinks that particular day, and our personal favourites are Peach Me Up and Matcha Mambo.

Chocolate Raspberry Frappé,   S$7.90++,   

It's really a wonder how TCC did their drinks, because none of them ever seem to disappoint us. Chocolate Raspberry Frappé was a new menu item, and as usual, it got us squealing in delight with a sour fruity twist to its rich chocolate.

Smoked Salmon and Camembert Toast Salad
with Apricot Sorbet,   S$13.80++,   

A salad of smoked salmon and camembert cheese toast snaps in as a zesty start! Spread in blobs of homemade apricot thyme sorbet to give an uplifting sensation.

Tropical Tamarind Chicken,   S$17.50++,   

A tender piece of marinated chicken thigh soaked in warm tamarind cream sauce, which goes perfectly well with the tropical fruit salsa, asparagus, and the tastiest dauphinoise potatoes. What else could be better?

Banana Salmon Exotica,   S$20++,   

How does banana curry sauce with salmon and mashed potatoes sound? Weird, and perhaps too exotic for the general. Surprisingly, it turned out to be a taste so unique yet appealing in the piquant blend of everything.

Chicken and Turkey Bacon Lasagne,   S$16++,   

Fork your way through a blanket of golden brown mozzarella cheese, with underlying layers of pasta sheets and generous servings of diced chicken and smoked turkey chicken trapped between - meltingly baked goodness.

Seafood Aglio Olio,   S$18.80++,   

Spaghetti Aglio Olio subtly flavoured with chilli and garlic accompanied with succulent pan seared scallops and fresh prawns.

Chic-Mex Pizza,   S$12++,   

This was more like a pizza toast - crispy bread crust topped with chicken chunks and turkey bacon, spiced up with capsicums and jalapeños peppers. The cheese however seemed to be a tad dry.

Smoked Salmon Avo-bayon,   S$14.50++,   

Citrusy smoked salmon draped with luscious avocado mash and drizzled with a thin layer of sabayon sauce, served between delicious baked walnut rye bread. It's gonna be a big pulpy mess!

Beef D'luxe,   S$14.50++,   

You'll be amazed by how thick and juicy the homemade beef patty was. Grilled to tender excellence, the patty was well accompanied with nectarous braised apples, tomato slices, lettuce, and again, the delicious walnut rye bread.

Shrooms 'N' Cheese Sandwich,   S$13++,   

The best sandwich we've tried by far. Meaty portobello, button and oyster mushrooms with velvety layers of melted cheese - this dish is sure to win the hearts of mushroom and cheese lovers.

Cocoa Mosaic,   S$10++,   

An art piece so pretty that you wouldn't know where to start. Swirls of raspberry sauce and berries encompassing cubes of white, milk, and dark chocolate mousse melt subtly in your mouth. Sweet.

Devil-misu,   S$11++,   

It was quite sad to find out that the Ti-rum-isu in the old menu had been replaced by this. Along with the price hike, the Devil-misu was seemingly an upgraded version made from TCC's finest espresso and mascarpone cheese with a demonic kick of rum, served with berries and brandied cherries.

VERDICT
Nothing in TCC was labelled "yucky". Well, at least of all that we'd tried. We are loving everything here from the food, to drinks, desserts, and presentation. TCC had already earned itself a perennial favourite for hanging out and chilling among us and our friends.

TCC - The Atrium @ Orchard
#01-17, Atrium @ Orchard
60 Orchard Road, S(238891)
(+65) 6884 9223
Sun - Thur: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Fri - Sat: 11 a.m. - 1.30 a.m.
http://www.thecoffeeconnoisseur.com

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Jalapeno's Pepper: Flight and Dine

A Singapore Flyer ticket costs S$29.50, but with the 'Flight and Dine' package offered at Jalapeno's Pepper, you could actually top up approximately S$12 more (S$35.90++ in total) for a complete meal AND a Singpore flyer ticket.

Lively bright colours that caught our eyes upon entering.

Iced Lemon Tea and Cream of Pumpkin (Beverage and Soup
of Flight and Dine Package A),   S$35.90++,   

Normal glass of fountain drink, and a bowl of homemade Pumpkin Soup to start with, creamily smooth.

Fish and Chips (Main Course of Flight and Dine Package A),
S$35.90++,   

We hate Fish and Chips, but we don't dislike the one served by this restaurant. The deep fried batter was thick, clinging tightly on to the white fluffy meat underneath. The battered fillet didn't felt too fattish despite its doughiness, and there's a sweet taste to it. It came together with potato wedges, mixed salad and tartar sauce.

Grilled Chicken Primavera (Main Course of Flight and Dine Package A),
S$35.90++,   

The colours and flavours were incorporated very well into this bed of pasta. We like a dash of everything - sliced grilled chicken, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, carrots, zucchini, chilli flakes, and olive oil, tossed together with spaghetti in Aglio Olio style. A waft of the aroma will set your mouth watering.

Hazelnut Mango Roulade (Dessert of Flight and Dine Package A),
S$35.90++,   

The dessert was something like a swiss roll that was baked with real mango, soft and spongy, served with fresh fruits and a stream of strawberry sauce.

VERDICT
The sole reason we chose dining at Jalapeno's Pepper is because of the Singapore Flyer ticket tied into the meal package. To us, the meal was just a bonus so it didn't really matter. But in general, the food was reasonably decent.

Jalapeno's Pepper Steak & Seafood Café
#02-01, Singapore Flyer
30 Raffles Avenue, S(039803)
(+65) 6333 1017/8
Mon - Thur: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Fri: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Sat: 8.30 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Sun: 8.30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
http://www.jalapenospepper.com.sg

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