The buzz: After months of anticipation, the New York fine food purveyor’s first Singapore outlet is now in business.
The vibe: Housed in a sprawling, airy space with parquet flooring, half of the venue comprises a 50-seater SoHo chic café while the other is the impressive retail section chock-full of gourmet goods that they’re well-known for.
The food: In the café, you’ll find ready-to-eat items from prawn, avocado and mango salad ($22.50) to white truffle oil-scented triple mushroom soup ($10) and barbecue chicken paninis ($22). There’s also an all-day breakfast menu sporting dishes made a la minute including hard-to-resist corn flake-crusted brioche French toast with salted caramelized bananas ($22), oatmeal flapjacks with berries ($18) and eggs ibérico ($25). Home cooks will be excited about the extensive range of products sourced from all over the world like spices (from $8.50), tea (from $12) and coffee beans (from $16), not to mention cheeses (from $8) and charcuterie (from $6.50).
The drinks: Caffeine addicts will love all the usual suspects with espressos going for $3.90, but it’s the NYC staple, dirty chai latte (from $6), essentially a chai latte spiked with a shot of espresso, that’s a must. Want something nice and cold? Then give the ice-blended shakes such as the interesting mango and sticky rice ($6.50) concoction a try.
Why you’ll be back: Whether you’re looking for a pit stop before continuing your GSS shopathon, a homesick New Yorker seeking a comforting slice of home or just plain curious, this gourmet grocery giant-bistro makes for a good spot to grab some grub and a cuppa. Plus, the sheer variety of foodie items stocked makes it the go-to for pretty, delish gift ideas.
Don’t miss: French toast. It’s one of I-S Magazine’s 50 things to eat in Singapore before you die (2012).
