Hog's Breath Café: Carnivores' Hangout

What does a Pinky Pig got to do with a café famous for its Prime ribs? But that question didn't matter when we went ahead to enjoy the UOB 1-for-1 promotion over at Holland Village branch.

Be welcomed by Hog's Breath Café Holland Village's signature laidback ambience, as you step into a totally different snug and homely state; with wooden furnishings and idiosyncratic displays of memorabilia (such as retro gramophones, old record covers, posters of Aussie outback) to polish off the vibes.

Since it was a 1-for-1 main course promotion, being the gluttony (kiasu) us, five of us decided to whack six dishes at one go, where the following were what we ordered:

Chicken Caesar Wrap,   S$12.90++,   

This was something like the "Ang Mor" version of "Popiah" - with a flour tortilla acting as the skin wrap, and with fillings consisting of sliced chicken breast with cos lettuce, bacon bits, croutons, parmesan cheese and caesar dressing. Juicy yet not soggy, this Chicken Caesar Wrap had just the adequate balance between crunch, firmness, and succulence.

Cheese Burger in Paradise,   S$14.50++,   

Two slices of crusty burger bread - one topped with beetroot, tomato, and onion rings; while the other was stacked with a slice of thick tender beef patty, followed by sliced cheese, and a swirl of BBQ sauce. Served together as a side, was the Hog Tail Fries (a name given for the restaurant's curly fries), which stayed crispy till the very last bite!

Chicken Dijonnaise,   S$20.50++,   

We (were too busy eating and) didn't manage to take any photos of this dish. The marinated grilled chicken breast was rather tough, but it was delectably topped with avocado and smothered with creamy Dijon mustard sauce.

Jamaican Chicken,   S$20.50++,   

These grilled chicken breast were marinated in sweet Caribbean seasoning, and were softer than the ones in the Chicken Dijonnaise. Served over seasoned rice, and topped with warm creamy mango sauce; there were salad and a smooth velvety mashed potato to complete the meal.

Atlantic Salmon,   S$20.95++,   

What's likeable about this Atlantic Salmon was that it being grilled till a crisp layer was formed outside, yet retaining its freshness and fluffiness on the inside. For those who likes a slight tinge of sourness to your salmon, there's lime hollandaise sauce put aside just for you.

Tex-Mex Combo,   S$26.00++,   

Due to a few non-beef eaters, this was the only dish we ordered that consisted of Hog's Breath renowned beef steaks.

A generous portion where you will get to choose between chicken or chunky beef chimichanga (a deep fried burrito (Mexican wrap) that originated in Tucson, Arizona) - topped with cheese sauce and tomato salsa, to go along with a luscious sirloin steak - how "well done" you want it is entirely your call. And to further pile on the carbos, there was one big fat baked potato with mayonnaise, and even a hidden serving of Cajun rice.

VERDICT
Funny how we rated most of the dishes 'three-and-a-half hearts out of five'. We thought that all the food were above average, and we don't have a bad thing to say about Hog's Breath. In conclusion, a great place for the big appetites (and meat lovers), where your hunger will definitely be satisfied, but do not overeat, else you will end up like the mascot of this café.

Hog's Breath Café - Holland Village
267 Holland Avenue, S(278989)
(+65) 6466 0145
Sun - Thur: 11.30 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Fri - Sat: 11.30 a.m. - 1 a.m.
http://www.hogsbreath.com.sg

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Indulgz Bistro: Where Senzes R Quite Satizfied

After two advertorials done by a famous blogger, we were dying to try out the highly rated food at Indulgz Bistro. But since they were advertorials (meaning the restaurant treated the blogger to their food), it COULD be a biased view. Therefore, we decided to come take a look ourselves.

Surprisingly, the restaurant turned out to be much smaller than what we initially expected. However, the beautifully decorated interior gave us both a very warm and fuzzy feel.

The ambience and music here totally sets the right mood in for a romantic dinner for two, or a peaceful get-together with your friends.

Tomato and Fresh Basil Soup,   S$5++,   

This smooth and sour Tomato Soup sure served as a great kick starter, awakening your taste buds for more food ahead.

Beef Bolognaise Melted Cheese Fries,   S$8.80++,   

Both of us got hooked instantly on our very first mouthful. Beefy homemade Bolognaise matched flawlessly with the pleasingly warm Melted Cheese. The Thick Cut Fries, was soft and fluffy, but never soggy. Oh! How so sinfully delicious!

Prawn and Crabmeat Pasta in Lobster Bisque Sauce,   S$19.90++,   

Nice as it sounded, yet disappointingly, it tasted horrid to the max. The Linguini was dry and hard; thse Lobster Bisque Sauce was as tasteless thickened tap water; and the Prawn and Crabmeat were equally tasteless as well (or perhaps they're too small to be even seasoned/marinated).

Baked Honey Garlic Chicken,   S$19++,   

A decent main course we would say. It was a whole piece of chicken leg, and the thoughtful part was that, the bone was removed. The meat was tenderly baked, just that it wasn't distinguishly Honey Garlic Chicken. Sides like mashed potatoes and boiled carrot sticks were of the norm.

VERDICT
Overall presentation was nifty and attractive, but the food was nothing to shout about, really. And for that kind of average food standard, the menu was considerably overpriced. Anyhow, Indulgz Bistro is still worth a visit if you wish to impress a date. "Ho kua, bo ho jia" - (In hokkien, "Nice to look at, not nice to eat".)

Indulgz Bistro
#01-01, TQL Suites
9 Tan Quee Lan Street, S(188098)
(+65) 6238 7032
Tue - Fri: 11.30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sat - Sun: 12 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Mon: Closed
http://www.indulgz.com

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Miss Clarity Cafe: Cheap and Nice

Along the shophouses in Purvis street, there's a lively little restaurant called Miss Clarity; the bright and energentic decor brings forth a great place for gatherings.


Looking through the menu, each of the dishes has its own unique name, such as 'Old MacDonald Had a Farm', which reminds us of our childhood memories. To get our stomachs churning, we decided to settle on one set meal each.

Salad / Soup (Add Ons),   S$3 nett,   

With just an additional of S$3 to every main course ordered (which makes a set), you will get yourself a bowl of soup or salad, a drink, plus a dessert of the day - which we thought was damn worth it.

Cream of Carrot served was pretty good, reasonably thick and rich. As for the salad, it was nothing extraordinary, with the usual lettuces, carrot slices, and thousand island dressing.

Old MacDonald Had a Farm,   S$16 nett,   

Interesting name to fit this dish, it consisted of a "farm" for us to feast on, where there were beef steak, lamp chop, crispy chicken, chipolata (a kind of Italian sausage), bacon, ham and potato wedges, served with Clarity's special black pepper sauce topped with sunny side up.

Due to the complex medly of all the farm animals, the taste and quality also turned out to be a complex mixture. The pork was real tough, the beef and lamp were mediocure, but the rest of them were all pleasingly delicious. Portion was sure huge, and we only recommend this to big hungry meat eaters, or for friends who wants it for sharing.

Roasted Chicken Leg,   S$9.80 nett,   

Yummy! We both proclaimed. Perfectly roasted whole chicken leg - crispy on the outside, and hot steaming tender on the inside. Everything just sinks into your teeth so smoothly, together with the wonderful companion of the sauce and mushroom and potato fricassee, we can't help wanting more and more of it!

VERDICT
Be it a quick dinner, a friends' hang out, or a social gathering, Miss Clarity Cafe is just the correct place, where decor and food comes together to give a good blend of visual, mood, and of course, joy to your stomach without burning a hole in your pocket.

Miss Clarity Cafe - Bugis
#01-04
5 Purvis Street, S(188584)
(+65) 6339 4803
Mon - Sat: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sun: Closed
http://www.missclaritycafe.com

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Dian Xiao Er: Herbally Good

Would you join in the long queue just to try one of these Herbal Roasted Ducks?


Trust me, you will.



Since it's very first branch at Marina Square, Dian Xiao Er has been so well received that soon, everyone was speaking wonders of their famous roasted ducks. Crowds after crowds will gather outside the restaurant, and we're glad they opened a few more branches; and here we are, joining the queue of the branch at Vivo City.

Mongolian Spare Ribs (Small),   S$12.80++,   

Fried Spare Ribs covered all over by some thick spicy sweet sauce. We have no idea how "Mongolian" this was, but they certainly were crunchy and addictive.

Braised Assorted Mushroom with Broccoli (Small),   S$14.80++,   

Not exactly very bad, but for the price that you pay for this dish of bland broccolis, plus some unknown weird tasting mushrooms, we would recommend something else instead.

Duck Roasted with Angelica Herb (Small),   S$12.80++,   

Being their main specialty, this didn't fail to amaze us with its heavenly combination of Angelica (Tung Gui) herbs and roasted duck. The duck meat itself, was plump, tender and succulent, topped with a layer of finely roasted skin.

These fresh whole ducks, are marinated with herbs and spices for long hours, before they get roasted in a special oven from Germany. No wonder Herbal Roasted Ducks had never tasted this good before. Indeed, a must try!

Duck Roasted with Ten Wonder Herb (Small),   S$12.80++,   

Ten Wonder Herb is yet another version to choose from the series of Herbal Roasted Ducks. However, the taste of the this herb could be quite subjective - strong to the right amount for some, but overpowering for some.

Baked Fresh Prawns JiangNan Style (Small),   S$18.80++,   

Baked Fresh Prawns JiangNan Style, also a signature dish of this restaurant, is only exclusive to the Vivo City's outlet. Just like their ducks, they were a well balance of crispiness and juiciness.

Fried Man Tou (4 Pieces),   S4.50++,   

Hot and crispy on the outside, fluffy and loose on the inside. A great filling alternative for people who don't want rice.

VERDICT
'Dian xiao er' actually refers to 'waiter boys' in the olden times. When you step foot into this restaurant, it reminds you of ancient China - those scenes that you usually see on TV. Their extra effort for putting up chinese decors, and dressing up their servers in cute ancient uniforms, made the whole place very cosy and welcoming. The service is fast and efficient, and you don't really have to wait very long. Herbal Roasted Ducks didn't disappoint us in the least bit, and we would definitely return for more. (We're missing them already!)

Dian Xiao Er - Vivo City
#02-137/8, Vivo City
1 Harbour Front Walk, S(098585)
(+65) 6376 9786
Mon - Sun: 11.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.
http://www.dianxiaoer.net

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