[Cafe Pal has permanently closed as of 12 March 2017.]
Found a gem in the conveniently located (Middle Road opposite the National Library, next road to Purvis Street), quiet, cosy and unassuming Cafe Pal. It marries modern Thai food and tea. MY TWO CURRENT FAVORITES. I was so thrilled to have finally discovered it. Cafe Pal was known as Momo & Moomoo. Now, along with a name change, it has re-branded. Its management structure has of course changed, and with it, a little of its business operations. All for the better, methinks.
Cafe Pal offers refreshing fruit teas, and importantly, a range of Taiwanese oolongs, Chinese tea, and Japanese tea. They take pride in the quality of the leaves and final product. I love their presentation. The quality can be tasted in the final brews. There're also light cakes available for dessert. Umm...I didn't pay attention to the rest of the cakes on the menu, but there's an orange chiffon cake which arrived at our table fresh from the oven.
Beyond Pou Chong (包种), Dong Ting (冻顶) and Gao Shan (高山), I'm not familiar with Taiwanese oolongs. These are generally light, and almost floral. They go well with food. Visiting with the H for tea, we tried the Da Yu Ling (大禹陵) which is similar to what I'm acquainted with. But for an extended afternoon of sipping, I like the Oriental Beauty (东方美人), also known as '白毫乌龙' which is non-roasted but fermented, and has more pronounced layers of flavors in its golden-brown brew.
I don't know why this has slipped under my radar for so long. Went there twice way back, wasn't impressed and forgot all about it. But Yhingthai Palace Thai Restaurant has gotten my renewed interest, all thanks to Cafe Pal. The last visit was for tea. There was no space for food. I was determined to return another time to try its food. The man and I popped in within the week. Keeping it within the family, items on the cafe's lunch menu are made one street away, in the kitchens of Yhingthai Palace Thai Restaurant. Once our orders were put in, they were carefully plated, covered and brought over quickly.
The man and many friends love the simple dish of minced basil chicken (not beef or pork) rice with an egg sunny-side up. Frankly, we like the version served up at the hawker stall at the basement foodcourt of Orchard Cineleisure Mall. The balance of spice, sour and lean meat is perfect. Rarely do we have restaurants do it well. Even the stalls at Orchard Towers and Golden Mile don't do it as crisp. They tend to overload on the salt and MSG. Haven't ventured out farther yet. We found the version at Cafe Pal, and presumably Yhingthai proper, to really hit a spot.
Phad Thai comes in many versions, all proudly made by different chefs/cooks. I don't fancy those that are too wet or too sweet, preferring those that lean towards the salty and finished slightly dry. And I really like the version done by Cafe Pal/Yhingthai Palace Thai Restaurant. Nom nom nom. Next visit, I need to check out its soups and other dishes.
Tea and Thai food. :) I like.
Found a gem in the conveniently located (Middle Road opposite the National Library, next road to Purvis Street), quiet, cosy and unassuming Cafe Pal. It marries modern Thai food and tea. MY TWO CURRENT FAVORITES. I was so thrilled to have finally discovered it. Cafe Pal was known as Momo & Moomoo. Now, along with a name change, it has re-branded. Its management structure has of course changed, and with it, a little of its business operations. All for the better, methinks.
Cafe Pal offers refreshing fruit teas, and importantly, a range of Taiwanese oolongs, Chinese tea, and Japanese tea. They take pride in the quality of the leaves and final product. I love their presentation. The quality can be tasted in the final brews. There're also light cakes available for dessert. Umm...I didn't pay attention to the rest of the cakes on the menu, but there's an orange chiffon cake which arrived at our table fresh from the oven.
Beyond Pou Chong (包种), Dong Ting (冻顶) and Gao Shan (高山), I'm not familiar with Taiwanese oolongs. These are generally light, and almost floral. They go well with food. Visiting with the H for tea, we tried the Da Yu Ling (大禹陵) which is similar to what I'm acquainted with. But for an extended afternoon of sipping, I like the Oriental Beauty (东方美人), also known as '白毫乌龙' which is non-roasted but fermented, and has more pronounced layers of flavors in its golden-brown brew.
I don't know why this has slipped under my radar for so long. Went there twice way back, wasn't impressed and forgot all about it. But Yhingthai Palace Thai Restaurant has gotten my renewed interest, all thanks to Cafe Pal. The last visit was for tea. There was no space for food. I was determined to return another time to try its food. The man and I popped in within the week. Keeping it within the family, items on the cafe's lunch menu are made one street away, in the kitchens of Yhingthai Palace Thai Restaurant. Once our orders were put in, they were carefully plated, covered and brought over quickly.
The man and many friends love the simple dish of minced basil chicken (not beef or pork) rice with an egg sunny-side up. Frankly, we like the version served up at the hawker stall at the basement foodcourt of Orchard Cineleisure Mall. The balance of spice, sour and lean meat is perfect. Rarely do we have restaurants do it well. Even the stalls at Orchard Towers and Golden Mile don't do it as crisp. They tend to overload on the salt and MSG. Haven't ventured out farther yet. We found the version at Cafe Pal, and presumably Yhingthai proper, to really hit a spot.
Phad Thai comes in many versions, all proudly made by different chefs/cooks. I don't fancy those that are too wet or too sweet, preferring those that lean towards the salty and finished slightly dry. And I really like the version done by Cafe Pal/Yhingthai Palace Thai Restaurant. Nom nom nom. Next visit, I need to check out its soups and other dishes.
Tea and Thai food. :) I like.
3 comments:
Not sure if they are related, but Tea Bone Zen Mind @ Hoot Kiam (shifted from Seah St) does a tea sampling session with snacks. Then there is a relatively new Arteastiq Tea Bone China @ Millenia Walk (by Arteastiq) which serves, weirdly, Chinese soups, pastries/snacks with teas.
Chinese teas are the new coffees. (:
Wow this place sounds and looks good! Love that their desserts seem to pair the teas well. Orange chiffon is definitely a 'tea-cake'!
ice: they're all not related now. :) Hopped into these cafes already. Thanks!
Y: Pretty decent. We can pop by whenever!
Post a Comment