Cafe hoppin'

Most people like to wind down and head out for lunch on Fridays, but I reckon it's all the more important to eat something happy on Mondays. Pretty meaty, this Spaghetti Vongole Alio Olio ($16.80), with a very generous amount of crab meat and clams.
PS. I'm kicking myself for having been too lazy to snap a photo of our Le Grand Noir – a whole globe of dark chocolate mousse on a hazelnut feuilletine base – because it turned out damn good.

I've always passed by this place with nary a second glance, and finally stepped in to give the Ondeh Ondeh eclair ($6.80) a go. Well, that was pretty decent but it was actually the Mount Fuji ($8) that stole my heart. I'm always skeptical of matcha-azuki cakes since they tended to be too harsh and powdery for my taste, but I really loved the bittersweet balance of the matcha white chocolate ganache here. And that snowy cap of whipped cream is so prettyyyyy. What's more, I think I'm in the good books of the chai gods because the espresso-spiked Dirty Chai Latte ($6) here was pretty darn good too! Whoop!

It's such a yoga/hippie trend to rave about chai latte, and while I've always been intrigued (I love masala milk teas!) all the chais I've had in Singapore were plain meh. The milk tends to overpower the spices, and spices also come across as punchy but disjointed. Even Kith Café's version seemed disappointing. And don't even get me started on the ridiculously underwhelming at the self-professed chai specialist, Chaitime. UGH.

I've near given up on chai lattes in Singapore, but somehow I found myself ordering it at Montana, telling the cashier and barista that I hate milky drinks and could you please dial up the spice. The barista was spot on.

There's a gentle fragrance, and creamy froth has been fully infused with the spices. And hey, pretty latte art to boot. (=

Disclaimer: I've never been to India and don't completely know what an authentic chai is, but I've used masala milk teas as a bench mark in terms of balance. I'd be the first to admit that it's all likely I've gotten it my idea of chai wrong, but this right now is The One for me.

It's not quite mind-blowing, but works surprisingly well, and it's a welcome twist to my usual coffees. I'm super fussy about my avocado milkshakes and this was spot on. Heh. It's a generous glass for just $8, and might even suffice as breakfast. Now that I've tried this, I think Vietnamese coffee might work even better than the espresso shots. Gotta persuade them to lemme have a go the next time!

I really wanted the chocolate-lined waffle cup latte, but that was already sold out. It's an off-menu rarity, since the waffle cups are hand-carried from the States. The cold brew is served in 5 shots – literally. I love the pun, but the presentation is really for the photogenic factor. Nonetheless, the coffees are smooth and the shop is beautiful. But mind you, it's a 3-seater coffee stand so don't expect to troop down with friends to chill.

Totally kicking myself for not coming by earlier. Coffees are pretty smooth too, and they've got booze and a decent selection of food. Bye bye Windowsill!

I was scared shitless that it'll be too milky, and it is indeed a little more milky than I'd like, but I made it through the whole cup. #achievementunlocked Heh. Of course, I had to order a Wicked to congratulate myself. X=

I was scared shitless that it'll be too milky, and it is indeed a little more milky than I'd like, but I made it through the whole cup. #achievementunlocked Heh. Of course, I had to order a Wicked to congratulate myself. X=