Putting on the Kilo

Bored at night with nowhere to go and staring into blank space?

Located along the lower stretch of the Kallang River, Kilo is situated at Kampong Bugis in an old industrial building that houses Loysel's Toys as well. When you first arrive, you might be wondering where Kilo is until you see a nondescript grey lift hiding rather shyly in a corner and Kilo's discreet logo beside it.

K (the two triangles) marks the spot!

As the Lions went up, they were quite surprised that the lift opened right into Kilo's cosy premises. The raw industrial feel of the restaurant with unfinished surfaces and simple cement flooring gave the place a casual but trendy vibe. Ventilation was totally au natural, a lovely change from the "canned air" that the Lions were used to in most restaurants. When dining, you can admire the view of the Kallang River and take in the cool evening breeze. This is definitely a good place for a romantic night's out.

The Lions came in a group of seven so that they could sink their teeth into a variety of food. Mr Business Times was getting hungry so in came the orders....

Fresh Figs topped with Danish Cheese, Roasted Walnut and Bacon
This fig dish was a hit with the ladies due in part to the lovely presentation.... Taste-wise it was a well-balanced combination of both sweet and salty. The chef had also artfully used bacon to simulate the figs' skin.

Laphroaig Beef Tartare with Raw Quail Egg Yolk and French Fries
Cute Cute absolutely loved this dish. Rawr! The beef was so tender and it was perfumed with a subtle hint of peaty Laphroaig whiskey. The best part was breaking the raw quail egg over the beef and feeling it go smoothly down the throat.

Squid Ink Rice with Prawn and Squid + Egg Yolk
The squid ink rice was Cuchi's favourite dish as it was umami-packed and infused with the fresh flavours of the ocean.The egg yolk was an interesting addition and it gave the dish further textural dimension.

Angel Hair with Cream of Bistro
Now this dish did not live up to the Lions' expectations but the rest of the group loved it...The Angel Hair pasta tasted rather bland to him and the small ebiko prawns did not give the dish the much-needed boost of flavor. Overall, it was alright but not a dish the Lions would order again.

Grilled Lamb Rack with Marsala Wine Sauce, Crostini and Roasted Vegetables
Cuchi found the lamb rack wonderful. It was tender and had none of the unwelcomed gaminess. The interesting sweet marsala wine sauce also complimented the lamb well.  A masterful showcase of both Eastern and Western influences.

Salmon Sushi + Crispy Chicken Skin
Finally something that everybody loved! The Salmon Sushi looked deceivingly humble but was executed with finesse. The salmon was fresh and the crispy chicken skin right smack in the middle was a delightful crunchy surprise.

Chilli Lime Spicy Pork Salad
The portion of spicy pork was generous and the mixed greens were crunchy and fresh with a refreshing hint of citrus lime.

The overall experience was memorable. The ambience was outstanding and the food fantastic. Think the Lions need to shave some kilos off their bellies before coming back for seconds.

Here is our review for Kilo:

Food Quality: 8.0 pawprints out of 10

Ambience: 7.5 pawprints out of 10

Specials that you should try: Be Adventurous!

For those who are interested in going there, here is the address:

Kilo

66 Kampong Bugis

#02-01

Singapore 338987

Tel: 6467 3987

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kilo/161743873881681

Kakis where you can meet your good friends

While flying back to Singapore, Cute Cute spotted a little enclave just off Changi Village. As curious as a kitty, he flew down to check out what’s going on there. Apparently hidden away from the main road is a watering hole called Kakis. 

Feeling bored and wanting to go out with his kakis

Cuchi was extremely excited to find another secluded place and she asked Mr Astro Hair and Ms Penang along. Kakis is very secluded and could be overshadowed by the buzz of Changi Village but if you take a closer look, Kakis is found within this eco garden which sells vertical plants.

The main draw of Kakis is its settings. Greenery, both real and fake, are abundant everywhere. The drinks are also inexpensive making it worthwhile to have a few more drinks. Service staff there are also very warm which makes you feel at home. The Lions were taken good care by Guna who shared a fair bit about himself and surprise surprise, looks like Mr Astro Hair knew Guna for his services too.

Guna would recommend some small bites to accompany your drinks and the Lions ordered chicken wings and bruschetta with spicy tuna and non spicy tuna.

Kakis is just the place if you want to spend the night catching up with friends or even watch soccer. They have a corner for soccer fans. Nice, cosy and quiet, Kakis has a serene feel that would make your visit there pleasant.

Here is our review for Kakis

Food Quality: 6.5 pawprints out of 10

Ambience: 8.0 pawprints out of 10 

Specials that you should try: Bruschetta and Wings

For those who are interested in going there, here is the address:

Kakis

  289 Farnborough Road

Singapore 509747

Checkered at Othello's

Ring Ring..... Cute Cute answered his phone and to his delight, it was an old friend of his, Tweed Coat Doc. Pleasantries were exchanged and a lunch get together was settled. After pondering on where to bring his friend, Cute Cute decided to fly to Greenwood to have their lunch there. Had been a long time since he visit there too. Lion and Doc did notice the changes and went exploring around before they settled for Othello's.

Othello's outer decor was rather interesting, the interior has a minimalistic feel, the checkered tiles are also very prominent. And lo and behold, they serve Old Speckled Hen draught here!

After gawking for a while at the furnishings, Cute Cute and Doc made their orders. Of course, Cute Cute did order a pint of Old Speckled Hen to quench his thirst.

Carrot Soup (Soup of the Day)
First up was Doc's carrot soup. Somewhat of a rarity, the soup was thick and creamy with added carrot strips.

Caesar Salad (Plain)
The Salad portion was actually quite big and the shaved Parmesan cheese serving was generous. Not too bad for a plain Caesar Salad, the only qualm lion had was that there was not enough dressing. But for those who like your Caesar Salad "naked", Othello's is the choice.

Poached Salmon with lemon coconut cream sauce (Chef special of the day) 
This dish was selected by Doc and although the presentation looked very ordinary, Cute Cute was surprised by the poached salmon. Nicely cooked on the outside but the inside still retains the slightly raw component that emits the salmon oil. Not heavy and very light, the poached salmon is worth a try.

Fried Duck Leg Confit
Presentation of the dish was unique, lion had never seen duck confit served with fennel. The duck skin was very savory and the meat inside was soft. However, there was only a slight hint of marination of the duck confit. The outside was full of flavor but the inside was not marinated long enough for the flavors to seep in. But still, it was a good dish. The baby potatoes that were supporting the duck confit were soft and tasty, a good combination with the duck.

Cappuccino and Americano
Of course, what else but coffee to end off a good lunch. The Americano was ordinary. The cappucino looked nice and frothy though...

Othello's a nice place to chill out and have a good meal. The beers are rather reasonable and the food though not remarkable, it's still good.

Here is our review for Othello's

Food quality: 7 pawprints out of 10

Ambience: 7.5 pawprints out of 10

Specials that you should try: Poached Salmon, Duck Confit, Old Speckled Hen Draught

For those who are interested in going there, here is the address:

Othello's

12 Greenwood Avenue

Singapore 289204

Tel: 6468 0939

http://www.othellos.sg

BYOF at The Straits Wine Company, East Coast

After racking their brains to find a quiet cosy spot for a catching up session with Mrs T Affleck, the lions remembered driving past a rather obscure line of old shophouses along East Coast Road. There, they stumbled upon and briefly explored The Straits Wine Company outlet housed in the two-storey conservation building.

Deciding that it was a good spot to meet up with the gregarious and vivacious Mrs Affleck who loves her tipple, they descended upon the little wine haven.

The first floor housed the collection of affordable quality wines from Australia, France, Italy, Spain and South America. The second floor was a surprisingly understated area that was furnished just like a living room with lovely rattan furniture at the balcony and simple mod-retro sofas and chairs perfect for chilling out.

The main draw was that patrons could BYOF (Bring Your Own Food!) at no extra cost while savouring a selection of wines. The lions decided to "tapao"food from the neighbouring Peranakan restaurant.

Wine pairing with Peranakan food: Ayam Bua Keluak, Lor Bak,
Itek Sio, Ayam Ponteh, etc

The lions would rate this place 10/10 simply for the laid-back ambience alone. They were totally at ease and comfortable just like being at a friend's home.

For those interested in checking this cosy nook out, head for 180 East Coast Road, Singapore. It is also advisable to make reservations during weekends. You may want to contact them at 6344 1973.