Food - Penny University

Coffee is apparently something that many people need to survive. Having been part of the working class for the past 2 months though, I am kinda glad to say that I do not need that. What I need is just plenty of sleep (10 hours for optimal performance) and good food to get me through each week.

Anyway, on this lazy Sunday, I got out of bed at 12pm and lazed around playing Angry Birds Star Wars (this week's App of the Week) until I decided to meet my friend for a very late lunch at Penny University!

"Penny University is an artisanal cafe born out of a love of coffee discovered in London. We source our beans from local roasters, serve specialist cakes and bread freshly baked daily in the area, support and collaborate with local bakers and aim to be a haven for people of the East Coast and beyond."

-Penny University

Now artisanal coffee, as a trend, has been around for a while. We've seen the likes of Chye Seng Huat Hardware Store and 40 Hands pop up around the island, in "hip" neighbourhoods in the past few years, and my impression of Penny University fits in with this.

Situated conveniently along East Coast Road, near Parkway Parade and the food heaven that is Joo Chiat, it was crowded when we arrived, chock full of customers getting their fix of cake, coffee and conversation. Most of the customers were young folks, around their mid-twenties to mid-thirties. When my friend and I entered, we were a little confused because there were some customers sitting outside with no cups of coffee or food that we could see. Therefore, logically, they should be queueing up for a table as well. But there was no one to show us to a table, and given the small space (around 6m, because well, I'm an architecture student), the customers making their orders at the counter were lined up right in the doorway.

We showed ourselves to a table at the back, and my friend went to get a menu. Prices at Penny U are quite reasonable and relatively affordable. A cup of coffee or a pot of tea costs about $4, and I heard the coffee here is good. I'm not really into coffee, so I ordered a pot of my favourite Earl Grey, for $4 with free refills. We ordered a smoked salmon bagel ($8), with a poached egg ($1.50) and a carrot cake ($7.50), for the total price of $21. Quite affordable, no?

The items arrived slowly, and individually as they were prepared one by one. First came the carrot cake, which was just sweet enough without being overwhelming. The sour cream frosting was great, and though smaller in size compared to Cedele's Carrot Cake, this was a good choice.

The tea arrived next, quite a while later, and I was told to allow it 3 minutes to steep. I was also given only one glass, and asked for another. It turns out though that the pot was good for one person. Oh well. Just after 3 minutes though, the tea was not hot enough. I think tea should be steaming; not boiling hot, but steam should be rising from it, in order for its flavours to be properly enjoyed.

Meanwhile, the decoration is really nice!

Then, we waited around for about 15-20 minutes for the smoked salmon bagel. This was my main gripe with the place. I understand that it's very popular, and naturally it will take quite a while for the kitchen to prepare its orders. However, it was unpleasant having to sit there with the carrot cake done with, and enough tea for one person, while the servers rushed around.

Finally... after checking with two waitresses, my food arrived.

Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese, Oregano, Capers on Bagel ($8)

 I quite liked this sandwich. The smoked salmon was salty, and delicious without its fishiness being too overwhelming. The poached egg was also quite well done, and simply delectable on its own, or eaten with the other half of the bagel, which is what I did.

Is there anything else like it?

In all, I had quite a good experience. The food was quite good, and the prices definitely affordable. However, I think I probably will not want to visit on a weekend. I get it that it is popular, but I like my order to be served efficiently as well. Moreover, with so much chatter going on within the relatively tight space, it was not easy to have a long conversation. After all, tea and coffee are good for long, frivolous conversations, aren't they?

If you're in the area and the place is not too crowded (or if you like crowds), Penny University is worth a visit. However, it's not the type of place that I will want to visit again. And again. And again. For that, and better service, I will head to Group Therapy. More on that cafe when I visit again, hopefully soon!

Penny University Artisanal Coffeehouse

402 East Coast Road

Singapore 428997T

Facebook: Penny University

Contact No: 9008 9314

Opening Hours:

Mon - Thu: 12:00 - 23:00

Fri - Sat: 12:00 - 01:00

Sun: 12:00 - 23:00

Food - My Birthday Dinner at Dean & Deluca

It was my birthday yesterday. After two years of birthday parties, I felt weird that my birthday dinner this year was gonna be a quiet affair. Birthday dinners would usually be enjoyed with the family, but this year, I decided to have dinner with my friend, and asked him to plan it for me. He'd let slipped over the weekend that we were going to Dean and Deluca for dinner, and even though I really wanted to be surprised, I have also been wanting to try Dean and Deluca for a while now.

In case you didn't know, Dean and Deluca is a famous gourmet brand from the US. The US seems to have an abundance of such brands that we don't have over here in little old Singapore, but this has changed slowly over the past few years. I remember when I used to think A&F, American Eagle, Hollister and GAP were cool, but thank goodness I was over it before some of these brands decided to grace our shores with their presence. Heh. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Dean and Deluca was opening its first flagship store here at the very quiet peaceful Orchard Central. I enjoy good food, and I'd heard that Dean and Deluca serves good food.

My friend and I reached D&D (okay, very lazy to keep typing the full name) at about 645pm. It was mostly empty, with a few customers sitted here and there. There was no menu; we looked at the menu boards suspended above the food counter, and at the food displays. There is a great variety of choices, and I'd heard that the beef lasagne al forno was worth a try. It should also be noted that D&D offers all day breakfast, so if you crave pancakes at dinner time, you know where to head. In the end, we ordered a grilled chicken salad, lasagne al forno and sauteed brioche french toast with caramelised bananas.

Customers have to get the cutlery and water themselves, but the food will be served to them. I seem to be visiting such establishments quite often huh? Anyway, it is no trouble for me and I do not mind it much. The salad came quickly, and it was no big deal. It's just a simple salad consisting of grilled chicken (healthier choice), greens, grapes, green apple and walnut with balsamic vinegar. I think my standard salad of baby butterhead lettuce, ham, cherry tomatoes with japanese sesame seed dressing is much more satisfying than this.

Half-eaten Grilled Chicken Salad.

 Next up, the lasagne al forno. The lasagne has been pre-baked, and all they do when you order it is heat it up in an oven and then plate it with some greens. It's not bad, if not for the fact that the base is a little tough. I am not sure if it's normal, since it is the base and thus more susceptible to over cooking. However, it did make it a little troublesome to slice and eat. The lasagne was, in general, quite tasty, but it is a generous portion that should be shared instead. I would have enjoyed it more if they had Tabasco sauce. Most mains are better with a generous dashing of Tabasco sauce.

My friend decided to have a sweet breakfast item for his dinner. Yes, he ordered that knowing we were gonna have dessert somewhere else after that. But I think it was a good choice. The brioche was warm and soft, a very nice combination that works as breakfast food and dessert. The caramel was slightly salted as well, if I'm not wrong, and wasn't too cloying in its sweetness. The entire dish was easy to eat and enjoy, although again, it is a generous portion that should be shared.

Definitely something I will wake up for, and then head back to bed. ;)

On the whole, I enjoyed dinner at D&D. Price wise, be prepared to spend about $20+ per person. We shared the salad and had one dish each, all of which came up to nearly $50. It's not that expensive, but I happen to know a better restaurant with much more interesting items on the menu (and choice) just a short walk away - Jones the Grocer.

D&D is worth a visit though, if you are interested in its house brand items and other gourmet items the brand sells in its grocery section. I saw a few snacks that would definitely be interesting, but a little bit out of my price range for snacks at the moment. For example, a packet of cajun mix nuts cost $9.50. I was also very interested in its cheese and charcuterie section, where they offer a very wide range of cheeses and meats. I'm not a very big fan of cheese and meats, because they tend to stink and I'm not the type who finds the smell of cheese appetising, but I've developed a greater interest in such foods recently. Hopefully I'll have a chance to taste some of these myself soon! I left D&D's cheese section and about half an hour later, I was at Jones the Grocer, thinking about ordering its cheese board and a glass of wine... Right, maybe another time!

Dean & Deluca
#04-23/24 Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road
Singapore 238896

Facebook: Dean & Deluca SG

Contact No: 6509 7708

Opening Hours:
Mon - Sun: 11am - 10pm