Cuba Libre at Frasers Tower – 4-course Vegetarian Valentine menu for dinner

The long weekend of Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day overlap this year and there is nothing like an elaborate dinner on one of these days to spend time with your loved one. Having stayed in Singapore for a while, I have found it difficult to get a full-course vegetarian meal on occasions at wallet-friendly prices. Fret not as Cuba Libre at Frasers Tower in Singapore have launched a special 4-course vegetarian Valentine menu for a limited time. This occasion-specific dinner will be available from Feb 12th – 14th 2021 at this specific outlet. Do not miss the chance to spend quality time with your loved one with some great food!

Their menu is priced at $45++ per pax without alcohol and allows wine pairing at a slightly higher price. This Latin American vegetarian menu has been curated by Executive Head Chef, Alex Morano for couples to enjoy in the cozy ambiance at Cuba Libre.

Vegetarian Valentine menu for dinner at Cuba Libre at Frasers Tower in Singapore

The first course was the Chef’s Kale Salad which had kale, avocado, green apple, lemon zest and parmesan cheese shavings. The freshness of the kale coupled with the crunch of apples and the tang of lemons made this a flavorful dish and it disappeared from the plate in no time. There is an option to add egg to this salad, if you want. I opted for the eggless version.

Chef's Kale Salad at Cuba Libre in Singapore
Chef’s Kale Salad

For the appetizer course, we had the Impossible Baked Meatloaf. The verdict is clear on the Impossible series items that people who consume meat would be able to tell on how close the texture is compared to the real version. For me, a vegetarian by birth and choice, the Impossible series has a different meaning when it comes to taste. This dish was chewy and too dry for my liking . The pickled peppers, beet sauce and pesto by the side helped it a lot and I wish there were more of the accompaniments.

Impossible baked meatloaf at Cuba Libre
Impossible Baked Meatloaf

For the main course, it was heartening to see the traditional Wellington made in the vegetarian version. The presentation was top-notch with farm-fresh ingredients. The filling consisted of lentils and mushrooms tied together inside a crisp puff pastry. The pumpkin gravy as the base with the sprinkle of chilli flakes added the perfect balance and brought the whole dish well together. A substantial main course dish that was quite filling.

Mushroom Lentil and Nut Wellington at Cuba Libre
Mushroom Lentil and Nut Wellington

For desserts, there were panellets – chocolate balls with freshly grated coconut filling. The exterior crust with almond breaks gently and forms one wholesome bite. This dessert has some lovely textural contrast between the shell and the filling.

Panellets de Coconut and Chocolate at Cuba Libre
Panellets de Coconut and Chocolate

The creamy strawberry cheesecake was a delicious dessert. It had almost no crust and was so smooth with the taste of fresh strawberries in the sauce that you would be left wanting more.

Strawberry Cheesecake

For the visual appeal of all dishes in terms of presentation, for their unique take on curating a 4-course vegetarian menu with no compromise on taste and for their nice ambiance, Cuba Libre’s Valentine’s Day menu is highly recommended. Rev up the romance with the right meal!

In a NutshellDeelightful Rating
Cuisine Type: Latin American★★★★
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
182 Cecil Street, #01-06/07 Frasers Tower, S069547
Timings: Mon-Sun: 10.30 AM – 10 PM
Website: https://www.cubalibre.asia/

Please note that this was a tasting hosted by Cuba Libre but the views and opinions expressed in this post are solely mine.

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Miznon – first Israeli restaurant in Singapore

As global eateries embark on their journey to make their presence felt in Asia, it’s heartening to see Miznon open their first outlet in Singapore. The chain was founded in 2010 in Tel Aviv, Israel by renowned chef, Eyal Shani who is known for his unique take on Israeli street food.

I was very interested to see the vegetarian food options in Israeli cuisine and decided to pay them a visit. Inspite of the ongoing rainy weather in Singapore, I was pleasantly surprised to see people queuing to try the magic in every bite which the chain endorses in the tees of their staff, #MiznonMagic.

The restaurant has an open kitchen which looked vibrant with the colors of the fresh produce and has an instantly friendly vibe. There is cheer in the atmosphere and the chefs worked like clockwork to dish out the consistent stream of orders.

Miznon Singapore
Miznon Singapore

The Orders

Potatoes are used in abundance in Israeli cooking – these could be the normal potatoes or the sweet potatoes. Both the versions are done well and different to taste in terms of seasoning used at Miznon.

We tried the ‘Run Over Potato’ which was a slimmed down version of the baked potato. The potato was flattened out with a pounder and topped with butter, sour cream, garlic and herbs. It was sprinkled on the top with a generous amount of salt in the crystalline form , so be prepared for that to hit you while eating. On the whole, the taste was good and different.

Run over Potato at Miznon Singapore
Run Over Potato at S$11

The mains consist of a few vegetarian options in the form of Pita Pockets. First, we tried the ‘Falafel Burger’ which is definitely one the of the best ones that I have eaten in Singapore. The Falafel patty is more flatter, bigger and the portion completely fits into the depth of the pita bread – so you get the consistent flavours as you finish the pita. The tomato steak, sour cream, pickles and onion make it a wholesome stuffed pita experience. Definitely recommended.

Falafel Burger at Miznon Singapore
Falafel Burger at S$13

As opposed to the Falafel Burger which had the vibrant colours of the produce, the “White” , as the name suggests, is an all white dish in terms of stuffing in the pita pocket. You will find cauliflower in ample use at Miznon, even in the visual display. This dish contained the filling of cauliflower with tahini, chili, tomato salsa and spring onion. A special mention to the pita breads which were fluffy and easy to chew.

White Cauliflower at Miznon Singapore
White at S$16

Unfortunately their other recommended dish, ‘Bag of Green Beans’ was sold out – saving some items for my next visit to try along with Israeli wines. if you eat eggs, then ‘Eggs No Steak’ should also be a good vegetarian option to try at Miznon. Last but not the least, I purchased the Miznon special Tahini and will try to use it in cooking at home and share some recipes.

Tahini at Miznon Singapore
Tahini at S$12

It’s very early days, so hope they really are able to cater to crowds and maintain quality which is one of the key factors to sustain in the food scene in Singapore. For a vegetable forward menu, for a cuisine that lends itself well to vegetarian and vegan food items, for the quality of the ingredients and for the fun ambiance, Miznon is definitely worth visiting.

In a NutshellDeelightful Rating
Cuisine Type: Israeli★★★★
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
Address: 6 Stanley Street, #01-01, S068725
Timings: Mon-Sat: 11AM – 11PM
Website: https://miznonsingapore.com/

Acapulco Mexican Bistro and Bar – Telok Ayer [Permanently Closed]

After office hours, the busy Robinson Road turns into a convenient spot to relax and unwind. Filled with watering holes and restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, people have umpteen options to head to for a nice meal and drinks. In this stretch is Acapulco Bistro and Bar, a restaurant which specializes in authentic Mexican cuisine. The restaurant is small but has a festive atmosphere and an awesome live band that plays on Fridays. If you like good food along with classic English songs, head here right away!

The Orders
The menu is filled with handcrafted, traditional dishes from Mexico and the whole vibe of the restaurant lends itself to make it feel like a home-cooked meal. All the main Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos and quesadillas have vegetarian options, hence there is no hassle while placing the order. First, we ordered the ‘Burrito Bowl’ and directly sprung into the main course. Burritos are all well and good but sometimes you just don’t want to deal with the messy and tearing sides of the tortilla wraps. This burrito bowl was served with Mexican rice accompanied by capsicum, tomato, onions, pico de gallo and melted cheddar cheese. This flavoursome bowl with well spiced veggies has you covered for a delicious meal.

Burrito bowl

Burrito bowl at $12.50


If you want to simplify your ordering process and not think too much, then most of the times you can rely on ‘Veg Fajitas’ for a quick and easy meal. They offer the Norteno Fajitas which is nothing but Tex-Mex, a blend of styles born from the Norteno border of Mexico and Southwestern border of the US. In this version, the veggies were seasoned to perfection and served along with a flour tortilla. The guacamole and sour cream on the side brought the whole dish together making it tasty mouthfuls of goodness for me.
Veg Fajitas

Veg Fajitas at $12.50


Since I was not in the mood for cocktails, I went for the ‘Apple Juice’. Refreshing, crisp, and light – a glass to enjoy while soaking in the music.
Apple Juice

Apple Juice at $6


I have tasted many veg quesadillas in Singapore at various restaurants. Most of them have stringy cheese oozing out of them along with some veggies as fillings. All you can taste in these is the cheese. In Acapulco’s ‘Veg Quesadillas’, you can actually taste the (generously filled) veggies which is such a welcome change for a vegetarian like me. The melted cheese, chopped jalapeno, sour cream, pico de gallo and guacamole made for perfect dipping for these absolutely well-made quesadillas. Highly recommended.
Veg Quesadillas

Veg Quesadillas at $12


A special mention to the live band – https://www.facebook.com/Clique-The-Groovy-People-369261880123695/ who were absolutely fabulous. For their authentic Mexican taste, use of loads of veggies in their dishes and friendly vibe, Acapulco Mexican Bistro and Bar is a must-visit.

In a Nutshell Deelightful Rating
Cuisine Type: Mexican ★★★1/2
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer / Tanjong Pagar
Address: 138 Robinson Road, #01-03 Oxley Tower, Singapore 068906
Timings: Mon-Sun: 11am – 11pm
Website: https://www.acapulco.com.sg/

Cha Thai – Telok Ayer [Permanently Closed]

As you step out of Telok Ayer MRT, you can see a prominent takeaway counter serving Thai Iced Milk Tea. Next to is the entrance of Cha Thai restaurant which has recently opened – and is all set to woo you with its opening promotions and Thai cuisine. The restaurant has neat decor and is well-lit. Though their menu does not have too many vegetarian options, they were ready to customize it according to our eating preferences which was good.

Cha thai restaurant

Cha thai restaurant


As a vegetarian, I like Thai food because of the abundance of vegetables and fruits in the dishes. So I ordered one of my favourite dishes which is the ‘Thai Green Curry’. Since it is not explicitly mentioned on the menu, you can ask for the vegetarian version which is then made separately by the chef. They are also nice enough to balance the tofu to vegetables ratio as per your preference. The green curry had thick coconut cream and was quite tasty and had sufficient veggies in it. The Thai jasmine rice has to be ordered separately.

Veg Thai green curry

Veg Thai green curry at $18


Next we ordered their ‘Baked Pineapple Rice’ which had immense visual appeal because of its presentation. Their rice is spiced with the curry, then baked and mixed with pineapples and roasted cashews. The rice was delicious and warm and can pair well with the green curry.

Baked pineapple rice

Baked pineapple rice at $18


For the drinks, we ordered the ‘Butterfly Iced Pea Tea’ just because of its unusual name. The colour was a beautiful purple and the taste was a combination of sour and sweet. Nevertheless, it was refreshing.

Butterfly iced pea tea

Butterfly iced pea tea at $4


Since their kitchen was closing early before the long weekend, their dessert items were not available. They served us complimentary chilled ‘Jasmine Jelly with Fruit Cocktail’. Not much to write about the dessert as it was not that good.

Mango dessert

Jasmine jelly with fruits


Since they are situated in the prime CBD area, their prices are quite high for Thai food offerings. If you work in the area, they have some combo lunch sets. On the whole, for delicious Thai food and friendly service, Cha Thai is worth a visit.

In a Nutshell Deelightful Rating
Cuisine Type: Thai ★★★
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
Address: 80 Telok Ayer Street Singapore 048466
Timings: Mon-Sun: 11am – 10pm ; Express Takeaway: 8am – 6pm
Website: https://www.facebook.com/chathaisg