Max Brenner Chocolate Bar

I have heard about this place for a long time, ever since I first passed by when I went to watch a musical at the Esplanade. What really intrigues me is the many variety of chocolate drinks and dessert like Italiano and Americano.

The most interesting thing on the menu is the Sacao, which is melted hot chocolate placed on a small jar above a fire, with chocolate bits around it. You can either put all the chocolate bits into the melted chocolate to melt it all, and then use the small spoon to eat it up bit by bit. It comes in choices of dark, white and milk chocolate.

I ordered a Chocolate Lick, which is essentially chocolate bits placed around a round bowl of chocolate.

How do you eat this? Dip the ice-cream stick into the milk chocolate, then roll it over the chocolate bits and let the bits stick to the liquid. Heavenly! Unfortunately, I never did manage to stick more than one bit at a time, so in the end I gave up and just put the bits into the milk chocolate and dipped it up a few at a time.

If you ever want to have dessert after a play, Max Brenner is a good place for a chocolate indulgence. Take note of the opening hours though, think it closes at half past eleven the latest.

Food : (what food?) 4.5 out of 5

Ambience : 4 out of 5

Price : 2.5 out of 5 (it is a tad pricey for just a chocolate meal)

Makansutra Glutton's Bay

Gluttons Bay - an open court with rows of food stalls specialising in local fare, just outside the Esplanade. This open food court is highly recommended by local food gurus, and the food is real good! We had barbecued chicken wings, local carrot cake (both black and white), stingray, satay, fruit, vegetables, murtabak, noodles and a few other dishes.

I have no gripes about the food, except it is a tad pricey. Yes, I know it is catered to tourists, and it is a popular place to generate tourism revenue. But what about locals like me? We can get just as nice food at normal hawker centre!

The verdict? A nice place, but not too much to hype about!