Brunch at Bar Zini

Panini Prosciutto Sandwich

Choosing Bar Zini for brunch this Saturday, just shows how powerful a blog could be. A friend's blog, Love My Foods & Sugar, has just been updated a post of a recent visit to Bar Zini. I was also opening up Time Out Sydney for inspiration and saw yet another recommendation for Bar Zini. It was a Saturday, the weather was gorgeous after a week full of rain and I just didn't feel like going to Surry Hills and fight for parking space and wait for a table. A quick read of Time Out Sydney showed me that there were a few cafes near Bar Zini in Pyrmont which would be handy in case we didn't get a table.

H2O

J and I arrived just a little over 11 am and the menu said breakfast available till 11 am. So we ordered a panini sandwich from the lunch menu. Apparently though, we could have still ordered the breakfast menu. The table next to us were having this baked egg that looked and smelled delicious! The sandwich consisted of tomato slices, prosciutto cotto, greens, and mozarella. So very simple, yet oh so very good. I was warned that Bar Zini would have a limited choices, but what they lack in choices they more than made up in taste and quality.

Espresso Machiatto

The espresso machiatto were short and lethal. It certainly woke me up. I was also impressed with their drink menu and I love the neighborhood bar feel to it. Once my liquid of happiness buddy is back in town, I will try my very best to drag her here. What's better than a good fun night full of liquid happiness and the possibility of a tasty panini sandwich?

Bar Zini

78 Harris St

Pyrmont, NSW 2009

+61 2 9660 5718

"The" Usual?

Han's: The Tasty Town

For the past month and a half, I have been stopping by Han's on my way to work to get my breakfast: fried egg and ham sandwich on toasted bread. Everyday, religiously I entered, walked to the counter and ordered my breakfast, day in day out. The lady behind the counter knew my face and my order by heart. These days even before I open my lips to order she shouted a fried egg order to her kitchen staff. So all I have to do is approach her, listened to her confirming my daily order, nod and pay. The only thing that changes is the type of bread: white or wholemeal. Then I'd step aside and watch the ladies assemble my sandwich, layer by layer: ham, tomato and cucumber and reminding them not slap the butter to my bread but to give it a light gentle touch of butter. Once assembled the sandwich is cut diagonally and wrapped before given to me.

Fried egg and ham sandwich

Clutching it close to me like a lifesaver I walked the final steps to the office, taking the elevator, walked to my desk and settling for the morning. I log into my computer, wait for it to load and devour the sandwich while reading my inbox. The sandwich is such a simple sandwich that you just can't go wrong. The fried egg reminded me of the days when my mom would give me fried egg and rice for breakfast. It gave me a sense of nostalgic and comfort which perhaps explain my daily attachment of this sandwich. Sometimes I wish that the ham is slightly thicker, that the tomato slice would always be just the right ripeness or that the cucumber slice would always be slightly sweet instead of being bitter some days. But for the price, the nostalgia of fried egg and the humility of such simple sandwich its a good bargain.

It suddenly dawn on me that now I am a regular. I had always wanted to go into a restaurant and have the waiter knows what I'm going to order like when you go to those boutique hotels where they know exactly how to fold your towel and where you would like your pijama to be placed. Well, this ain't a boutique hotel, but they know my order. And that is good enough for now.

Han's Cafe - The Tasty Town
1 Pickering Street
#01-03 Great Eastern Centre
Phone: 64383959
Singapore
Mon - Sat: 7am - 10pm
Sun & PH: 7am - 10pm

Ham and Cheese Sandwich

The menu at Quattro Stagioni

On my way home from work that day, I decided to stop by Liang Court to get a light bite for dinner as I wasn't that hungry but knew that if I were to skip dinner I'd be hungry later. Earlier that day, I was looking at the Wisconsin state cheese promotion where the tourism board claims that Wisconsin is for cheese what California is to wine. Click here if you want more details. Do let me know if you go there or if you have been there, tell me if it worth going.

The back of the store and the bar-like seats

Needless to say, I had this nagging feeling for some cheese. So I decided to try this little deli that I have been curious to try but haven't had the chance. Seating myself on the little bar like table at the back, I studied the menu and decided to have Aosta. The girl made it right in front of me. So I saw how many slices of ham goes into my sandwich (2 slices :-\ ) and how much cheese (enough but I prefer more!).

Aosta sandwich consisted of Cotto ham, Fontal cheese, tomato slices, lettuce and mayo. I asked for sliced whole grain, toasted. I was very surprised to see how thin the toast slice was as the sandwich cost me SGD 8. It worked fine that night as I wasn't too hungry but still, it was a rather expensive sandwich! There was only one person working that night so I had to wait for a while to get my sandwich, but since I wasn't that hungry it helped me worked an appetite.

Aosta: Cotto Ham, Fontal Cheese, Tomato slices, Lettuce and Mayo on

sliced whole grain SGD 8

When the sandwich finally came, the presentation wasn't great nor was the size however the taste was really nice and light. The cotto ham was mild and the cheese too was very mild but creamy and comforting. Later on I found out that Fontal cheese is used to make fondue, so that's probably why the taste is mild. The tomato slices were fresh and juicy, overall the sandwich was just nice.

Certosa: Parma Ham, Imported Stracchino Cheese, Rucola on Ciabatta

The next day, I wondered Liang Court again and since I was still in the mood for some cheese, I decided to try the Certosa; parma ham, imported stracchino cheese and Rucola on ciabatta as I was feeling a little hungrier than the previous day. The presentation and service that day was better as there were three people serving and working. The sandwich tasted delicious but the parma ham and the cheese had such strong taste that I couldn't finish the whole sandwich. It was such a shame...

Grapefruit San Pellegrino SGD 2.20

The grapefruit San Pellegrino was nice too. Not sure why, but lately I have been craving grapefruit juice. What I really would like is to find those grapefruit spoon and then have half of a grapefruit each morning. It's a great way to start your day.

Quattro Stagioni Deli

Liang Court Shopping Centre

B1-27/29

177 River Valley Road

Singapore 179030

On the way to catch a flight, a transit @Starbucks

I just have to say, plane food these days sucks. I used to like Singapore Airline's plane food, but lately the quality has been going down. Lufthansa serves cold sandwiches which is ok, but I like my food to be hot. Emirates has the best food these days. So I was very happy when I found out that Starbucks at Jakarta Airport terminal 2 has amazingly good tuna sandwich! Oh, and they reheat it for you!!!

It's a wholegrain bread and stuffed between are thick tasty mix of tuna, veggies, cheese and almonds! Let me just say that the almonds is the one thing that really brought this otherwise simple tuna sandwich over the top. It's just so damn good with the almonds. The veggies and the wholegrain really makes me feel like I eat healthy. Please don't remind me of the cheese part. Let me enjoy my 'healthy' meal.

The sandwich is definitely the perfect snack before flight especially when your flight is around those meal hours, there is no way you can eat on time; consider the take off, waiting till they serve you and not to mention, God forbid there is any delay. For people like me who get headache if they eat late, it's always good to have something to eat before flying. And, there's that chance that the airplane food is gonna be crappy...

Starbucks Cafe
Jakarta International Airport Terminal 2
(Just after the immigration)

Taking a break from rice @Quiznos

So there's this new sandwich shop opens near my office which I didn't even notice till a colleague of mine S pointed out to me. One fine noon we went there for lunch, eager to sit outside to enjoy the sun and the warmth in exchange of our frosty office. She ordered Honey Bourbon Chicken sandwich set with a soup. Originally I wanted to order a turkey bacon guacamole, a recommendation from a reputable source and a die hard fan of Quiznos in the States, but alas, it does not exist here in Singapore. I ended up ordering Mesquite Chicken set with salad instead.

My mesquite chicken was tasty; it involves bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, red onion and ranch dressing. My whole wheat bread was toasted, so it was warm and toasty. Yum! That is how I like my sandwich: W.A.R.M. and of course toasty. The sandwich did not disappoint though I didn't really taste the cheddar. The salad was a really nice decent salad. In a country where it's hard to find a good salad, I was very happy that afternoon. They even put some sweet onions instead o the usual lettuce and tomato! I get to choose from a range of salad dressing options too! I opted for honey mustard. Oh, did I tell you that the salad's size was also decent? Not just a few pieces of lettuce?


Chicken Mesquite 6" at SGD 5.90 plus SGD 2.70 for the combo drinks and a choice of: salad/chips/soup


Close ups of the Mesquite Chicken

I didn't try the Honey Bourbon that S ordered, but I did tried her soup which was broccoli cheese. Not a fan of broccoli cheddar to begin with, but this was decent. Though I am a die hard food fan, sometimes I do think of the calories and this was one of those moments. One thing that fascinate me about the honey bourbon chicken is that, they you coriander leaves! According to S, it was also one of the ingredients that really brought out the flavor of the sandwich. Coriander is definitely one of my favorite herbs. It really brings out the taste in whatever it is that you're cooking or eating. Not to mention the fragrance!


Honey Bourbon Chicken Combo with Broccoli Cheddar soup at SGD 5.10 for 6" sub. Notice the coriander leaves!

Quiznos was definitely a good break from Subway. Usually I would go to Subway whenever I need a break from rice and noodle diet that this country is in to get some sandwich. I love the simplicity of Subway and the way they allow you to pick and choose whatever you want on your sandwich, but Quiznos kinda gives you the impression that they are a premium deli cause you can't really make it at home. Well, you can technically. But are you really gonna make honey bourbon chicken just to make a sandwich? It's becoming one of my favorite lunch destination. Oh! And I do hope they bring out turkey bacon guacamole soon!

Quiznos Sub
49 Pekin St
#01-01 Far East Square
Singapore, 048781
+65 6557 2270
www.quisnoz.com
(Closed on Sundays)