Flavour Flings

It's amazing how you can find great food (among other things) without having to go so far out of your way. Nowadays, even your own neighbourhood might already be one of those examples of how normal HDB neighbourhoods can become more than just your run-of-the-mill dwelling areas.

I'm sure you've read about neighbourhoods like Tiong Bahru becoming the new hip enclave where the cool go to their fave cafes to 'chillax' and the likes. Well, seems like Hougang is also a neighbourhood you should be keeping an eye on!

We caught wind of a little nook tucked away where you can tuck into breakfast even at night!!
Flavour Flings is a little cafe in a quiet corner of Hougang and it boasts a menu which makes us wish we had bigger stomachs than our appetites! Example - They even have a section of their menu titled 'The Soft Yolks'... HOW TO RESIST YOU TELL ME??

Okay okay no need talk so much okay let us show you the awesomeness.

Machamp's Breakfast ($18.00)

The Machamp's Breakfast (it's pronounced literally as MAH-CHAMPS) is a complete deal for all your peeps who like a big hearty breakfast. I mean come on look at that thing it's got everything!!
(And I'm not calling it hearty just because of the heart-shaped butter on top)

So let's run it down and see what makes this breakfast of (ma)champions tick.

So you've got your scrambled eggs which were done to perfection by the way (at least to us). Nice and firm but still a little runny and you have a winner. Side that up with Chicken Bratwurst sausage which has been glazed with caramel and also some sauteed mushroom for that nice earthy kick.
And if that's not enough, you've got some toast with 'Onion Marmalade' (which is figured is onions sauteed and caramelized with some balsamic glaze) and to make sure you're full, they add a pair of 'pancake coins' and a side of salad.

Wow what a mouthful right! Wait til you actually put it in your mouth! LOL

The eggs were a delight and mushrooms are always welcome on our plate (and in our tummies). I personally enjoyed piling them on the toast and taking a nice big bite. But let us tell you that those pancake coins are truly something else. Nice and fluffy and tasty especially with the maple syrup and the butter. Yeah yeah we know it's a lot but trust us if you're gonna go big, then let this one be it.

Atlantic Shirred Eggs ($16.00)

Under the section titled 'Egg Caseroles' you'll come across something I was REALLY looking forward to.. I'm talking about Atlantic Shirred Eggs.What exactly does 'SHIR' mean anyways?
Well, it is defined as "to bake (eggs removed from the shell) in a shallow dish or in individual dishes" and that's exactly what they do here! LOL

So you've got cream, spinach, shallots, smoked salmon and (of course like duh) a couple of eggs.
All thrown into a shallow baking dish an plonked into the oven for a nice bake.

I was looking forward to this dish because I'm sure you probably know what a sucker I am for smoked salmon (I'm a sucker for a lot of things apparently) and if you're gonna combine it all in a dish with cream and eggs plus served with some toasty country loaf bread then you had me at hello.

I have to say that the dish comes off as a tad on the salty side probably because of the very generous amount of smoked salmon so maybe sharing might be good because this is actually a very big serving now that I think about it.

And if you're thinking that the eggs are gonna be hard and dry because they're baked, you could not be more wrong! Check this out...

Nice and runny yolk! ZOMG damn power right!

Well if that's not enough eggs for you.. There's more!!

Eggs Royale ($15.00)

You could also go for Flavour Flings' take on the classic Eggs Royale.

You've got the bomb of a poached egg sitting pretty atop some smoked salmon and bathed in Hollandaise sauce. But instead of a muffin, they use some Brioche here so you know you're in for a buttery good bite. Perfect for mopping up the runny eggs! And to round things off, some sausages and potatoes with a side of greens.

You could also go for the Eggs Benedict version which subs out the smoked salmon for some turkey ham if you'd like. Well, whatever you choose, the eggs are the star here!!



Let's take a moment to compose ourselves. And wipe the drool off our faces. LOL
I think it's hard to deny that that's a great poached egg am I right?

So far it seems like their all-day breakfast items are the bombs and they have such a wide variety to choose from. Eggs this and eggs that! All kinds of salads and toast and sandwiches! They've even got pasta!!

And believe or not - they have a section dedicated to French Fries!
They had all kinds of fries on offer but we went with one of our faves...

Beef Chili Cheese Fries ($10.00)

Oh yeah it's Chili time!
There's nothing like a nice big hearty serving of fresh and piping hot fries smothered in beef chili and cheese! YUMMY!

The Chili itself is pretty spicy so prepare for a nice kick but don't worry it'll mellow down when you have it with the fries and the cheese! There are 2 types of cheese in there by the way. We're talking about generous servings of Parmesan and Mozarella for that nice melty cheese feeling.

Just how cheesy are we talking about here exactly?

Oh definitely super cheesy!!

Yeah it ain't easy bein' cheesy we know.
If you're into more like the classic type of cheese fries, go for the Nacho Cheese Fries which is fries, nacho cheese, mayonnaise and spring onions.

They also have something they call Ballpark Garlic Fries (Garlic, Chili Flakes and Extra Virgin Olive Oil) but we felt we should definitely mention their Ice Cream Fries. Wait, PARDON? Yep you read correctly the first time - Ice Cream Fries.

If you remember going to McDonalds as a kid or teen and dipping your fries in your ice-cream sundae then you childhood was awesome! Well, they're giving you the chance to relive that awesomeness at Flavour Flings with a scoop of ice-cream, chocolate sauce and some walnuts.
Ice Cream Fries! Go for it!!!

So we are just about stuffed right about now when suddenly one of the owners comes over and says "Hey how about some pancakes? Why don't I get you some pancakes? I get you 'The Awesome One' okay?".

Well, when someone says they're gonna bring you an Awesome anything, you say YES PLEASE!

The Awesome One ($11.00)

You know that a dish is confirmed power to the max when you're already feeling so full but yet you manage to make space and finish it! After all, they say we have an extra stomach for dessert right?

You've got 2 light and fluffy pancakes that despite being so fluffy, have such a great bite and flavour to them. We just dug into them with our forks and used the knife to scrape on the salted caramel!

And then of course you have the toppings!

You've got some sweet Banana slices with Almond flakes. The powdered sugar is a bonus but the salted caramel is the bomb and goes so well with the banana and the pancakes! If you have a sweet tooth like us then you're gonna love this!

They also have just the Basic Stack (Maple syrup and Butter) if you're into the more simple pancake setup or maybe have it with some ice-cream? Go for the Spam of Nachos pancakes if you're feeling adventurous! It's got nacho cheese and cherry tomatoes with your pancakes!

Other desserts include Creme Brulee, French Toast, Profiteroles and even Macarons.

Caffe Latte ($5.00)

We decided to take different routes to wash down our meal. One hot and one cold!

Mein Bruder aka The Coffee Guy went for the classic Caffe Latte which was not bad apparently.

Iced Chocolate ($6.50)

My Darling Wife and I decided to go for the road often travelled and had the Iced Chocolate.
And boy oh boy was it chocolatey!! This ain't no Chocolate Milk okay!

CHILD FRIENDLY FACTOR
There's not much space in the cafe for kids to run around and it's best for the kids be careful because of all the lovely DIY decor around. But there is a basketball court just outside so tell them makan first then later can go out and play LOL. They do have baby chairs available so bring the little kiddies!

Overall Child Friendly Rating 3/5

Adam's Verdict:
Machamp's Breakfast 4/5 -- Atlantic Shirred Eggs 2.5/5 -- Eggs Royale 4/5
Beef Chili Cheese Fries 3/5 -- The Awesome One 4/5 -- Iced Chocolate 3/5
Maryah's Verdict:
Machamp's Breakfast 4.5/5 -- Atlantic Shirred Eggs 3/5 -- Eggs Royale 4.5/5
Beef Chili Cheese Fries 4/5 -- The Awesome One 4.5/5 -- Iced Chocolate 3/5Azlan's Verdict:
Machamp's Breakfast 4.5/5 -- Atlantic Shirred Eggs 4/5 -- Eggs Royale 4/5
Beef Chili Cheese Fries 3.5/5 -- The Awesome One 4/5 -- Caffe Latte 4/5 -- Iced Chocolate 4/5

It is great to know what there are more and more of such makan spots cropping us so we have a place not only to chillax but also to have some power makan. We had the honour of meeting the co-owners of Flavour Flings, Mr Firdaus and Ms Delphine. Such nice people and a lovely couple and we wish them all the best!

Feel like having breakfast? Brunch? Lunch? Tunch? Tea? Dinner?
Well, at Flavour Flings, all also can! Just make sure you come with a big appetite because you will be spoiled for choice!!

Okay now you can scroll back up and watch the poached egg video again. LOL

Flavour Flings

Blk 121 Hougang Avenue 1 #01-1348
Tel: 6286 0051
www.facebook.com/flavourflings

Operating Hours:
11.00am til 9.00pm Weekdays
9.00am til 9.00pm Weekends
Closed on Tuesdays

FIX

Image courtesy of FIX

All you cafe lovers are gonna be so hyped about this one I tell you.
I am personally not a cafe guy myself but boy oh boy did we enjoy ourselves at FIX!

Have you guys passed by a place called GRUB located at Bishan Park? Well, if you have and you long to eat there, unfortunately it's NOT certified Halal... But the great news is that the same people who brought GRUB to life have opened a new hotspot!

Located at the HomeTeamNS-JOM Clubhouse in Balestier, FIX is a great little cafe set by the poolside (YES! POOLSIDE!) and offers "Original Handmade Goods" for our enjoyment. Well, they can handmake everything but more importantly - it's gotta be delicious right?

Well, it IS!!
Let us give you a rundown on some of the goodies!

Brunch FIX ($14.00)

All you breakfast/brunch kakis can rejoice! Got something good for you here...
If I'm gonna have breakfast/brunch (especially early on the weekends), it had better really really good to make me wanna drag myself out of bed...

A nice hearty start to the day with the Brunch FIX!
A nice big serving of scrambled eggs, a nice thick cut of smoked turkey ham, sauteed mushrooms and a slice of Brioche french toast is definitely enough to drag my lazy butt out of bed!!

The brioche was nice and soft and buttery I wish they had more than one slice so I can pile on the eggs and take a nice big chomp. Mushrooms are always welcome on my plate (and in my tummy) but I think my favourite part of the platter was the smoked turkey ham!

ZOMG that's a nice thick slice of smoked turkey ham how can I say no to that.
Nice and tasty flavour. Nice and just the right touch of salty. I'm sure you know what I mean right.

But if you're the 'get-your-hands-on-the-food' kind of person, FIX has just the thing...

Beef and Kimchi Naanwich ($10.00)

Chicken Tikka Naanwich ($10.00)

Mushroom and Feta Naanwich ($10.00)

Smoked Turkey Ham and Cheese Naanwich ($10.00)

Lo an behold! The Naanwich!!

The Naanwich is a cross between a sandwich and a wrap so you can choose either to have it as an open-faced sandwich and be neat with a fork and knife or you can get down and dirty and have it a wrap. And the bread is basically a, you guessed it, Naan!

I honestly tried the gentlemanly approach and started out with the knife and fork but after awhile, I realized that the best way to enjoy this was to just pick it up and take nice big chomps!!

The Beef and Kimchi was a big surprise! First of all, when you mention beef in a Korean style, you're gonna expect a Beef Bulgogi kinda deal but these were nice and big chunks of tender beef! And the kimchi went really well to give you a nice full flavour! A must have if you're a fan of kimchi and Korean food!

Chicken Tikka and Naan together like... Chicken Tikka and Naan!
Add in a nice tangy Acar in there and you have a winner! This was my Darling Wife's favourite Naanwich!!

The Smoked Turkey Ham and Cheese Naanwich was my fave of the day. I just simply could not get enough of that smoked turkey ham!! But if they had added some of those sauteed mushrooms in there... FUYOH!!

I also thought the Mushroom and Feta Naanwich was really nice because it had 2 of my fave things but maybe I was looking for something with a bit more bite since I was so hungry! This Naanwich is actually suitable for vegetarians!!

Anyways, in case you didn't spot it, there's a nice 3/4 boiled egg on the top for you.
Perfect eggy-creamy topping!

PS don't forget your side order of Nachos!

3-Cheese Penne Gratin ($10.00)

But if Naanwiches aren't your thing (how can they not be?!), fret not!
Besides alternative mains like the Butternut, Feta and Spinach Quiche and the Fish $ Chips, why not take the creamier (a little more sinful) route?

I'm not sure what are the 3 different cheeses in the 3-Cheese Penne Gratin but I don't think it matters that much if you're a cheese lover like me because as long as there is cheese, you can't go wrong. And all the better if it's a nice and gooey cheese!

Just how gooey do we mean?

REALLY GOOEY!!

Crispy Soy Chicken Drumlets ($7.00)

If a lighter snack is what you are after, we highly recommend the Crispy Soy Chicken Drumlets!
These drumlets are coated perfectly to give you a nice crispy crunch when you chomp down. Even if you're taking your time with your meal, these drumlets still retain their crunch even after they have cooled down a little. A sign of a truly good crispy coating! (That means wanna bungkus also can!)

The soy glaze that coats the chicken is not at all overpowering and has a nice flavour. I think it's good that they don't completely cover the chicken drumlets with the sauce/glaze.

Now if only they'd release a winglets version... *hint hint*

Lemon Curd Milkshake ($7.00)

Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Banana Milkshake ($7.00)

Black Sesame with Brittle Milkshake ($7.00)

Butterscotch with Toasted Coconut Milkshake ($7.00)

FIX also has a series of Specialty Milkshakes to suit all tastes with some really unique and interesting flavours that you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

I personally like the Lemon Curd Milkshake while my Darling Wife preferred the Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Banana Milkshake. Mein Brudder, in the biggest surprise of the day, chose the Black Sesame with Brittle Milkshake as his favourite!

So you can see that there's something for everyone! And you might even find something you never thought you'd like!

But if wanna minum air panas also got!!

They've got a selection of coffees and teas to suit your tastes if you don't feel like a milkshake.
Or perhaps some 'homemade' drinks like Iced Lemon Tea or Iced Lemongrass Tea?

But let me tell you something you should definitely not miss...

Pick your choice of dessert!

Butterscotch Arabica Choux ($6.00)

This is not your average dainty bite-sized Choux (pronounced Shoo). As you can see it almost matches up the coffee cup!

You'll get a hint of coffee in the Chantilly cream which is generously piped in and a caramel surprise awaits you in the middle! This is definitely going to be one of the more popular options especially if you're a coffee lover.

Twice-Baked Sourcream Cheesecake ($7.00)

Passionfruit, Mango and Coconut Chiffon Cake ($7.00)

Cheesecake lovers (like me) will have a hard time saying no to the Twice-Baked Sourcream Cheesecake because it not only looks good and sounds good but it tastes so good too! Definitely a must have in my book.

Looking for a more fruity flavour? Then try the Passionfruit, Mango and Coconut Chiffon Cake. I was surprised at how light this cake was but yet still so full of flavour. The combination of Passionfruit and Mango really do go well together!

Strawberry Pistachio Rose Tart ($6.00)

For something a little more on the heavy side of dessert, why not try the Strawberry Pistachio Rose Tart which has a Pistachio-based tart and stopped off with some fresh sweet Strawberries. And where is the 'rose' bit you ask? Well, the pink cream you see on top is a very delicate rose-flavoured cream which will mellow down the tang of the strawberries for you.

Try it and you will see what we mean :)
PS that's one of my favourite pictures in this whole post LOL

Cacao Barry Chocolate Truffle Cake ($7.00)

Don't worry... FIX has not forgotten all you chocolate lovers out there...
I could almost hear the whispers of "Eh why no chocolate cake ah?"...

Well, this is a really really rich and decadent slice of chocolate cake let me tell you that!
Every bite we took was really a mouthful of chocolate goodness! You definitely won't be complaining about any lack of chocolate after a slice of this!

Donuts ($7.00)

But the surprise hit among the desserts we had was the Donuts.
Can you believe it? The Donuts came out of nowhere and knocked our socks off!

They're little bite-sized donuts that are covered with powdered sugar and you have a choice of dips which is where the fun really begins...

Lemon Custard Dip & Salted Egg Yolk Dip

Yes. That's right. SALTED EGG YOLK DIP.

The Lemon Custard was bursting with zesty and tangy lemon flavour and definitely makes you pucker up when the sour notes hit you. So if that's not your thing, then try the Salted Egg Yolk Dip.

Most of you will probably know that we have a thing for Salted Egg Yolk...
We've had it with our seafood and even as the filling in a pau but this was the first time we've had it as a dip (and for donuts no less) and it definitely won't be the last time!

The Salted Egg Yolk flavour really shines through and is not overly sweet at all. It went so well with the donuts and we were so surprised! Perhaps it has to do with the quality of the ingredients and they are not afraid to ensure you get a high quality meal!

Just look at that consistency! Not at all watery!
Full marks for the idea and full marks for the taste! Simply put - THIS WAS THE BOMB!!

Another thing we really like about FIX was the whole concept of the place.
The food was 'handmade' and so was most of the furniture and decor too!

FIX has got a bit of an industrial / DIY / built-to-last kind of feel and we feel their message comes through loud and clear not only in the decor but even in their food too. For example - the Naanwich.
You can choose how you wanna eat it. You can have it as is or you can choose to FIX it up.
See what we mean?

I can just imagine dropping by and having some great food by the poolside. Might even take a dip and enjoy a nice cool milkshake while soaking in the sunshine.

In need of some good food? In need of a chillax session? In need of a FIX?
Head down to Balestier now. You won't regret it.

PS please note that FIX is in the midst of receiving their Halal certification.
We will update again once the certificate has arrived! Won't be long now we hope!

FIX

31 Ah Hood Rd
HomeTeamNS-JOM Clubhouse

Tel: 6256 1484
www.facebook.com/fixsg

Operating Hours:
9:30am - 10:30pm Daily

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: All-Day Breakfast

The Halal Food Blog Team never had a good impression of food at The Coffee Bean.
Sure, it was a great place for a coffee (or an Iced Pure Chocolate!) but the food was... lacking.

I guess it all boiled down to one experience. Our first dining experience at The Coffee Bean in fact.
It was a few years back and it was at the outlet located at Changi Airport T2.
It was pasta and it was horrible.

And we always joked about going back to The Coffee Bean for another "great" meal.
So you can imagine our caution when we heard people telling us about the "fantastic" and "delicious" breakfast menu at The Coffee Bean.

One weekend, we woke up (in the afternoon) and walked over for some All-Day Breakfast goodness.

Salmon Brioche Eggs Ben ($11.90)

You guys probably read our review on Swensen's Breakfast so you know I'm a sucker for Eggs Benedict.

The Coffee Bean actually does have a more traditional Eggs Benedict on the menu but I thought I'd go for the brioche instead. In case you were wondering, Brioche is actually just a type of bread with a higher egg and butter content which gives it a unique crumbly but rich texture.

As always, smoked salmon is my preferred topping of choice (which is why I didn't choose the traditonal Eggs Benedict) and the smoked salmon here was of a superb quality. I really really enjoyed it!

The Hollandaise sauce was not too bad and went well with the brioche but it does tend to overload after awhile because of the richness of the brioche. But the side salad is just nice to cool your palette with some fresh and sweet flavours.

But what about the egg???

When I said in our Swensen's review that I was disappointed with the eggs there, can you imagine how I felt here? Probably like 10x worse.

It's supposed to be a poached egg. I complained that the Swensen's one was not runny enough but this one was worse because it was not runny at all! Yikes! Oh well. At least I enjoyed the smoked salmon.

And by the way, don't let looks fool you. It's REALLY filling because of the brioche.

Country Breakfast ($11.50)

The Country Breakfast was a bit more traditional.
Scrambled Eggs with some baked beans, hash browns, a black pepper sausage, brioche and a side salad.

When I look at this, I can't help but think to myself that it's something that most of us can whip up at home.
Scramble some eggs, get some hash browns, sausages, veggies and beans from the supermarket and maybe use some bread or a muffin. Sounds simple right?

Hahaha it ALWAYS sounds simple but most of us just want a hassle-free breakfast without cleaning up am I right? Well, if you're looking for a hearty choice this is probably it.

Nothing special or spectacular taste-wise I guess. Hash browns were a little soggy actually but the eggs were cooked better than the ones I had that's for sure. Overall quite okay lah for breakfast.
But the black pepper sausage was delicious by the way. Black pepper kick early in the morning!

And by the way, the price of your breakfast gets you a choice of either a hot or cold beverage.
You can choose from a list they have. We had the tea!

Adam's Verdict:
Salmon Brioche Eggs Ben 2.5/5 -- Country Breakfast 3/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Country Breakfast 4/5

I have to say that the menu offered does look very promising and I can see why so many people have actually been raving about the breakfast at The Coffee Been and also Beanstro.

I have a feeling there's going to be a Part 2 to this post. Maybe even a Part 3 and 4?

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

EHub @ Downtown East
1 Pasir Ris Close #02-08

Tel: 6582 0208
www.coffeebean.com.sg/coffeebean

Operating Hours:
8am til 10.30pm Sundays til Thursdays
8am til Midnight Fridays & Saturday