Peri Peri

I've passed by Nando's a hundred times and wondered about the kind of cuisine they serve, never had a chance until now to explore it. I was somehow under an extremely wrong impression that it serves Malaysian food. Among others, someone said it's Indian food which horrified me even more, another confidently said - TexMex, I gullibly believed. But no, its origin is pretty twisted. It is a South African food chain serving mainly Portuguese-Mozambiquan dishes with an amalgamation of western, middle-eastern and Mediterranean cuisines.

Nando's pungent sauces suit my palette

Its signature dish called Peri Peri Chicken is worth every cent. Peri Peri is actually a kind of capsicum also known as African Bird's Eye Chili and is the main ingredient in the marinade. The chicken is marinated along with spices and one of Nando's many Peri Peri sauces (you can choose from Mild, Lemon & Herb, Hot or Extra Hot) for 24 hours, grilled and served. If you're a bread person, the wraps, pitas and burgers with sides make a good deal. The spicy rice is too high on turmeric, you can literally taste the turmeric. The potato wedges dipped in garlic sauce are finger licking good. If you're a chicken lover, quit going to KFC for the umpteenth time, visit Nando's for the rustic seasonings, unique salads and the 'something specials'.

Peri Peri Chicken with fries and corn on the cob

15$ will get you a fulfilling meal. I give Nando's a 4 out of 5.

Picture Sources: Internet

Mind Games

Go here for the games, don't go here for the food I say! The food is not abhorring but it's not great either - a diplomatic way to say it, but the board games make it worth the experience. The Mind Cafe, Singapore, is no ordinary cafe, and proves that the proverb 'Don't judge a book by the cover' holds true. It boasts around 2000 board games (and many more to be added soon)- from the common favorites such as UNO and snakes and ladders to some unheard, but equally fascinating ones. Do pay it a visit with a relatively large group of friends. As for the food, no high expectations please! The waiters were confused, ran out of few desserts and main courses, messed up some orders, cropped me out of the group photo where everyone was supposed to be in. *grumble grumble* Anyway, the games are fun.

Looks scrumptious

This kept many awake throughout the night

Dubious salmon-containing pasta dish

:)

:D

:P

Candid

Dirty mind

Once a klutz always a klutz

Everyone doing what they do best

Are you one of them?

Mustard, a Punju-Bong fusion!

Mustard, the only commendable Bengali restaurant (and that too, half Bengali) is one which serves both Punjabi and Bengali fare as "mustard" is a common ingredient for many popular Bengali as well as Punjabi dishes. It has a pretty decent list of authentic Bengali items to choose from - Mochar Ghonto and all that jazz and an award-winning Chingri Maacher Malai Curry (prawns cooked in coconut milk, and in this case served in a coconut and also having coconut oil as one of the major ingredients) is not worth the hype and is pretty much dubious. The snack we ordered was pretty good and the main courses just average. The dessert tasted totally different from what it's supposed to taste like. So if you're craving for Bengali food in Singapore, do give Mustard a shot, but let me warn you, the portions are going to be paltry, the taste mediocre and it's going to burn a big (I mean really big) hole in your pocket. Unless of course, you have an aunt who owns the restaurant, I know a guy like that, but not well enough to get free meals from Mustard. :P

Fish cutlets with aam-kasundir chaatni 

Ilish Maachher Paturi

Kosha Maangsho

Malai Curry

Kesar Pista and Phirni

Miss Molly's Cafe lovin'

We actually found Miss Molly's by accident. Geniuses that we all are, we confidently traveled all the way to Tanjong Pagar to visit this extremely popular cafe called Department of Caffeine, on a Wednesday, which is incidentally the only day on which it is closed. Epic fail! Got an earful from a friend or two, since I was the one who had suggested that we go on that particular day. Moving on, after passing by a series of dubious-looking cafes and pubs, Miss Molly's caught our eyes! There were no customers yet, Miss Molly's being our final destination, was contemplated upon, but everybody finally gave in and we entered.

Molly's is a cozy little niche with a fabulous decor and ambiance, the coffees are nice, not extraordinary, but good enough to ask for a second helping, frappes are flavorful and the spam fries steal the show. Basically they are normal fries mixed with 'secret condiments' and curry leaves and definitely deserve a thumbs-up. The dishes served here are broadly Western dishes with a touch of local spices. It summed up to approximately 8 $/pax. I'll give it a 3.5 out of 5.