Whale and Cloud - The Little, Initimate Cafe Hideaway

The address reads 48 Niven Road, and the signage displayed 48 3/4. Yes, it was not lost on me that this little whimsical ode to Harry Potter was only one of the fantastical touches to Whale and Cloud.

There wasn't a proper signboard either, just an OPEN word displayed on the side wall. The door is like an entrance to a hidden world. And what an amazing little world it is!

Club Vivaa at Jurong Kechil - Chilling Out to Local Comfort Food

Little did I know that hidden from the main road of Upper Bukit Timah where Beauty World is, houses a cosy little chill out bar that serves good old fashioned local food.

What is even more impressive is that it is run and operated by Julie, who does all her own cooking as well as managing the club and bar joint's operations. And she is the the mixologist there too.

Penang Kia Prawn Mee in Compassvale, Sengkang - From Flying to Cooking

The two main faces at this newly opened Penang Kia Prawn Noodles stall have been making news lately, largely due to the fact that both husband and wife used to work in Singapore Airlines as SQ cabin crew.

They are now situated in the heartlands of Sengkang, hidden in a coffeeshop among the HDB flats. There was also an elderly gentleman in the kitchen, and I assume he is the father of the wife and he used to run a Hokkien mee stall too.

The Assembly Ground - From Retail to Bistro

A lot of us remember the old CD and record stores from the 90s and early 00s. Mention names like Sembawang CD and Supreme Records, and we all remember patronizing these places for the latest music and movies.

The last of these, Gramaphone, had their final store in Cathay Cineleisure, which occupied the ground floor near the main entrance. Sadly, Gramaphone is gone today.

Thai Village at Indoor Stadium Walk - More Than Just Shark's Fin

Most of us tend to associate Thai food with tom yam, pineapple rice and pad thai, but there is also Teochew Thai cuisine which is often overlooked.

Teochew Thai food is quite close to classic Teochew Chinese cuisine, but is infused with Thai flavors and seasonings. Teochew Thai is also famous for shark's fin, which has become a controversial issue of late.

Salmon Tartare with Soy and Pickled Japanese Cucumbers - A Simple Dish to Make at Home

A lot of you might not be aware that citrus acid is a method of cooking, just like frying or boiling. Although it does not create natural heat in a protein, it does change the molecular structure of the fish or meat.

Thus, ceviche is a very popular way of adding citrus to raw seafood or fish to create a simple and delicious appetizer or dish.

Witbier Cafe - Pairing Beer With Comfort Food

I used to frequent Kandahar Street to buy home the wonderful swiss rolls from Rich and Good Bakery. In the last few years, along that same stretch, a number of chill out bars have popped up to provide a nice after hours place to relax and unwind.

Witbier Cafe was among the first to headline that area, and among the owners of this establishment is a beer importer with a passion for good food.

The Tastemaker Store - A Simple Cafe Elegance, Something Old and Something New

Beo Crescent along Havelock Road is known in the 70s and 80s for having a number of old school hawker and coffeeshop delights, and some of these eateries are still there.

But it has not been spared the current trend of having old shophouses remodeled into cooler hipster cafes as well. Like it or not, hipster cafes are making their way into more heartland areas.