Bread & Hearth | ThumsbForFood

We realise that Keong Saik Road is the up and coming area to hang out at with many new openings in the area. Quite naturally, we decided to join in the bustle and explore the area. 

Bread and Hearth is one of the new opening in the area. We have heard much about its artisan bread and bakes such as their tarts and pies. We swing by Bread & Hearth on a weekday afternoon and there wasn't many patrons in the bakery cafe. 

The sitting capacity is actually quite limited. We saw that most people takeaway their bread and actually not many dined in.  The interior is simple and fuss-free. 

The bread and bakes are displayed in the glass counters neatly. They seem to have quite a wide variety of bread. You can also taste-test their bread before deciding which you would like to buy. We weren't very impressed when tasting the bread because it was a little bit cold and lack lustre. Probably, they could warm up the samples to whet appetites. 

Variety of croissants and Bread

Tarts and bread on display

We felt the drinks menu was kind of limited. It was quite simple like either coffee or tea. Price wise, it's the usual cafe prices. I thought it would be nice to include some juices as well.

Drinks Menu

We tried their Salted Caramel Tarte. The tart wasn't too sweet but the texture was quite rich and sticky. We felt that the crust was a bit too hard. It was really quite a chore to cut through the crust and we were afraid it will fly off the plate. I would appreciate the salted caramel taste to be more prominent.

Salted Caramel Tarte

We ordered their Flat white as well. The coffee was very mediocre. We felt it was a little too watery and lack depth in flavour. Probably wouldn't recommend the coffee if you're really picky over the quality of it.

Flat White

We did not have the chance to try their bread as we were quite full that day. Will hope to pop by another time to takeaway some bread!


Bread & Hearth
18 Keong Saik Road
Singapore 089125 

Cheers,
Y

Roosevelt's Diner & Bar | ThumbsForFood

Roosevelt's Diner & Bar is an all-day diner and bar that serves up a wide range of American-style dishes and drinks at affordable prices in an ambient setting. When we stepped into Roosevelt's we felt that we entered a diner in New York; with it's full length windows, industrial-chic interior and cozy ambience.

We were there at evening time and the restaurant was lighted up with warm, orange ceiling bulbs and candles were placed on every table. Patrons could truly feel relaxed and at ease in this warm environment. We also really liked that the furniture were nicely spaced out as it allows diners to have sufficient personal space to engage in conversations comfortably.

We got to find out that apart from dinner, Roosevelt's has an all-day dining and drinks menu; suitable for all ages, all occasions and anytime of the day. 

They have Brunch menu on weekends. On Sundays, you can opt for their free flow Champagne brunch at $55++ with any main ordered. To cater for families with children, they have the Kids' Menu as well. They have a wide variety of food choices ranging from light Sandwiches to main courses such as Steak and Ribs. With their extensive choices, I'm sure that there would be something for everyone! 

We got to find out that Roosevelt's pride themselves for their extensive Wine Menu. Apart from that, they also serve up a few types of Beer and cocktails. 

As both of us enjoy White Wine better than Red, we sampled all 3 of their Whites. The lightest of the three is the Blanc-Combard ($6 for 75ml) from France. It is slightly acetic with some fruity aroma. The next in line is the Sauvignon Blanc ($7 for 75ml) from New Zealand. It has a fruity taste and I feel is the least spicy wine of the three. The strongest is the Chardonnay, slightly woody with fruity flavours and a buttery note. 

My personal favourite of the three is the Sauvignon while Z's favourite was the Chardonnay. White wine pairs well with Seafood. We personally find the price of wine in Roosevelt's very affordable. It also comes served in 150ml as well as in bottle form. For those looking for something for higher quality bottles, they also have a collection of that. 

We tried the Lindeman's Fruit Beer that Roosevelt's carry. They also have Estrella and other fruit beers in their menu. 

Lindeman's Peach Beer ($11) is a favourite amongst ladies for it is light and sweet in nature. 

Lindeman's Peach Beer

Lindeman's Peach Beer

Our host, Amanda's favourite is the Cherry Beer. We find that Cherry is an acquired taste. So, for those who love Cherry, this would be the beer of choice. Similar to the Peach Beer, fruit beers are generally lighter in alcohol content and usually more popular amongst ladies.

Cherry Beer

We ordered the Garlic Prawns ($12) as one of our Side Dish. Roosevelt's sides range from $7-$12 each. We would love to try their other sides such as Truffle Fries and Fried Oysters the next time we are here. Z's favourite is the Garlic Prawns. She likes is so much that she had 2 servings. The prawns are evenly cooked with an aromatic garlic flavour. The prawns are crunchy whichI would prefer to the soggy ones. 

Garlic Prawns

Another side that we tried is their Jalapeño Bacon Mac and Cheese ($11). The Jalapeño flavour was really strong and it added a spicy note to the dish. What was different from Roosevelt's Mac and Cheese is that the added a layer of Bread Crumbs on it, which made the whole Mac and Cheese drier in nature. Personally, I would like the Mac and Cheese to be less dry.

Jalapeño Mac and Cheese

\

We tried their Popular Japanese Sesame Salad ($12) consisting of tofu, mixed greens, cherry tomatoes and seaweed. We felt the winning point of this dish is the Seaweed. The Sesame sauce was also very light, making this salad a refreshing dish to start a meal. This dish is recommended for those looking for something healthy and tasty. 

Japanese Sesame Salad

We were also recommended their Truffle Fish Pie ($19). They fish pie had generous chunks of snapper coated with their signature beer batter. We really love the crust of the pie and the crispy crust went really well with the creamy contents of the pie. Personally, we would have liked the Truffle taste to be stronger. However, we also note that some people would probably enjoy this version better. I also really like that the dish was served piping hot out of the oven, making the pie outstanding in taste.

Truffle Fish Pie

Truffle Fish Pie

We also ordered Teddy's 100% Beef Burger ($20) that was quite raved about from other online reviews. They also have a Candied Bacon version for those who prefer something sweeter to contrast with the savoury beef patty. Teddy's patty is not as dense as other burger patties and makes it more chewy in texture. The whole burger is quite a huge portion and we feel is good for sharing.

We would love to try their other mains such as Baby Back Ribs and Steak in future! For the portion and quality of the food, we find the prices of the mains quite reasonable. 

After the mains, we ordered some other drinks to go with our desserts. Z chose the Elderflower Gin Fiz ($16) as recommended by the staff. She found the drink really refreshing and light. It is a suitable drink to pair it with some sweets.

Elderflower Gin Fiz

I was too tempted by the Milkshakes on the menu and decided to go for the Salted Caramel Milkshake ($8). It was really a huge cup and I could barely finish considering the amount of food that I had eaten. I got to say this is one of the better milkshakes I have tasted. It is not as sweet and does not have an artificial milk taste. Do try this if you are a fan of milkshakes.

Salted Caramel Milkshake

For our dessert, we ordered the Flourless Chocolate cake served with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream as well as Mixed Berries and Apple Crumble also topped with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. I like that they pair their dessert with Ice Cream as it gives the desserts a balance. 

The Flourless Chocolate Cake was really rich. It was made of Dark Chocolate and dense in texture. I enjoyed the cake and would think that this will be a favourite amongst Chocolate lovers. The Mixed Berries and Apple Crumble is served with Granola and a handful of fruits. The Berries were slightly sour and complemented really well with the caramelised apple.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Mixed Berries and Apple Crumble

Overall, we feel that the desserts offered by Roosevelt's are really good for sharing as they are served in quite a generous portion.

Roosevelt's also have a lunch menu (11am-2pm) for those working in the area which comes with a free cup of artisanal coffee or tea with every order from the menu. For Roosevelt's full menu, you can click here. 

Overall, we had a good dinner, completed with great drinks, desserts and good company from our host, Amanda. We would like to extend our thanks to Roosevelt's for having us and hope to return to Roosevelt to try more items from their menu. 

Roosevelt's Diner & Bar 

331, New Bridge Road
#01-02 Dorsett Residences
Singapore 088764

(Located near Outram Park NEL Exit)

Telephone : 6538 3518
email : info@roosevelts.com.sg

FB: Roosevelt's diner&bar
Insta: @rooseveltsdinerbar
twitter: @rooseveltsdiner

Opening Hours:

Mon to Thurs 830am - 10pm(last order 930pm)
Fri and Sat     830am -  midnight (last order 1030pm)
Sun               830am - 10pm (last order 930pm)
Sun brunch   11am - 4pm(free flow housepour wines and bubbly brunch
available)

Cheers, 

Y

Windowsill in the Woods | ThumbsForFood

Windowsill in the Woods located in Jalan Besar scores not only for it's cozy ambience and garden-like decorations, but, also for it's delicious pies and food. 

Exterior of cafe

The first thing you would notice upon stepping into Windowsill's door is the variety of pies placed in the glass cabinets. It's another reason why the entrance was often crowded and clogged up. Who could resist not stopping in front of the glass displays and take a look at the colorful pies that are lined up in there?

Pies on display

More delectable pies

I found this part of the cafe particularly alluring. The outline is a house with full length windows which allowed natural light into the cafe. For those who would like a touch of al fresco feel in the comfort of cool air, this would be the corner you would look for.

Windowsill in the Woods also offers a selection of Gryphon Tea. I appreciate cafes that serve up a variety of floral, black and green tea as they allow patrons who favor tea over coffee more choices. 

Variety of Tea available

We chose the Aloe Vera Rooibos. Just to share with you the benefits of Rooibos! It helps in circulation, has antioxidants and prevents certain types of cancer. A pot of tea is good to share among 3 people and you could ask for refilling of hot water. I find drinking from a transparent glass particularly calm and soothing.

Aloe Vera Rooibos

We were recommended Smore's Pie ($8) and Strawberry Lemon Meringue Pie (about $7.50-8). I got to say, we swooped up the pies within a short time. It is difficult to find good pies in Singapore that has both good crusts as well as fillings and toppings. So, when we tasted Windowsill's pies, we were blown away.

Smore's Pie (right of the picture below) is made up of a chocolate layer infused with some marshmallows near the best and topped with roasted marshmallows and graham biscuits. The pie was not too sweet and the chocolate was not overpowering. Even though I am not a fan of chocolate, I would say that I could easily down 2 pies on my own. 

Strawberry Lemon Meringue Pie (left of the picture), is made with a lemon layer infused with some strawberries near the base and topped with some torched meringue. What I like is that the lemon layer was not too sour. It was smooth and when eaten with the strawberries and meringue, was a perfect combination. Personally I like Lemon flavor but some lemon tarts and pies tend to overdo the sourness of the lemon. But, Windowsill could create a good balance.

The pies are a must-try for those heading to the cafe! They do take online orders for their pies for those who would like more to savour in the comfort of home. Orders can be placed at their website.

Windowsill pies

Smore's and Strawberry Lemon Meringue 

Usually, a cafe that serves good desserts would have mains or savory items pale in comparison. So, when I tasted the savory items, I was quite surprised that it was really delicious. Maybe it was the choices that we made, but, I would definitely recommend patrons to also try them out! For those looking for a place that has both delicious mains and desserts, Windowsill would be a must-try.

Atas KBB ($12) caught our eyes when we looked at the menu. What is KBB? It's actually Kung Ba Bao! For Chinese, it would probably be a familiar term as we eat Kung Ba Bao mostly during Chinese New Year. It is actually buns that are wrapped with pork. Traditionally, steam buns with braised pork. So, it really intrigued us as to how Atas (aka High Class) KBB would turn out. 

As you can see below, Windowsill took a traditional item and turned it into something chic, creative and different. Firstly, instead of steamed buns, we were presented with golden-brown fried buns. Instead of the usual slice of braised pork, you could see that the 3 buns presented had different fillings alongside with the pork. It was a palate feast going through the three different concoctions and textures. For those who are up to try something new, I would highly recommend ordering this!

Atas KBB

Atas KBB

Chicken Wing (cheese stuffed- 2 for $11) was our next savory choice. They have other stuffings available such as Mushroom & Bacon (2 for $13), Lamb Meat (2 for $14) and Caramelized Onions (2 for $10). The portion was quite generous and the wings were topped with tomato sauce. My friend suggested that they could have some spicy options for those who enjoy spicy wings. 

The cheese-stuffed wings were delicious but I felt that the tomato sauce could be placed at the side instead of on top of the wings for it made the skin a little soggy. I appreciated that they served the wings with a portion of greens as it provides some balance to the sinful chicken.

Cheese-stuffed Chicken Wings

In a nutshell, Windowsill in the Woods is a great cafe to hangout with friends not only for the ambience, but, also for it's pies and it's food. If you are in the area, you can swing by to Tiramisu Hero Cafe too!

Windowsill Pies
78 Horne Road Singapore 209078 

Tel: +65 9004 7827
Opening Hours: 11:00am-9:30pm (Tue-Thurs), 11:00am-10:30pm (Fri), 

10:00am-10:30pm (Sat-Sun)

Cheers, 

Y