PUBLISHED June 27th, 2012 08:57 pm | UPDATED May 9th, 2018 03:13 am
Talent Cafe is somewhat a regular spot for me, and for some reason it’s always those regular spots that you never end up writing about. So, it’s time to share.
For me, Talent Cafe is a hidden gem. Although it’s located in Tanjong Pagar, it’s actually on the other side of the tracks from Duxton and the main stretch of eateries on Tanjong Pagar Road, but seek and you shall find.
Taking up residence in a light and airy double-fronted shophouse, the minute you walk into Talent Cafe you’re welcomed by an uplifting, inspiring vibe. And the reason? Well, the very cool thing about Talent Cafe is that it’s actually owed by a talent agency and all it’s walls are adorned with striking photography from the artists their agency represents. Yes we’re talking internationally acclaimed and award-winning photographers from all around the world including the likes Michael Meyersfield….Warwick Saint….Ronny Ee…and the list goes on. Literally every single nook and cranny is filled with arresting photography and that gives the place an incredible energy.
Against that backdrop of artistic energy is where soul food is served. Think fuss-free comfort food made with ingredients bought fresh from the market daily.
Some of my particular favourites include the Tomato Basil Salad ($9) made with sweet, juicy chunks of watermelon, fresh tomato tossed with basil leaves, cilantro, feta cheese, pine nuts and balsamic vinegar, this salad is the true taste of summer served up in a bowl.
N.B. The following photo is a tasting size only – the real deal is much bigger!
I’m always a fan of meatballs, and the Thumbs-Up Meatballs ($14) here are nice and rustic – a decent size served up with a piquant tomato sauce….
When you’re feeling quite ravenous, I think we’d all agree that there’s nothing like a bowl of hearty pasta to tackle that hunger head-on. Now I know carrot is not exactly what you’d expect in a pasta, but trust me this really works in the Carrot Cream Chicken Pasta ($18). The carrot and cream-base pasta mixed in with a substantial amount of chicken, white beech mushrooms and topped with cheese, for me truly is soul food and very easy to eat.
N.B. Tasting size again…
Wash all this down with a zingy Detox Juice ($7) , then make way for some dessert.
It’s no lie when I say that I’m a bit of an apple crumble fiend, though sad to say that I’ve had some pretty disappointing apple crumbles during my time in Singapore. But happy days because the
Apple Crumble ($8) at Talent Cafe is in my mind, just as it should be. Unfussy, lots of apple balanced out with just the right amount of crumble, a lovely tangy, cinnamon flavour and just the right home-made texture leading to that beloved crunch-squidge sensation that an apple crumble should always have.
They say that talent is for sharing, and by using it’s walls as a constantly evolving exhibition space for the artists they represent, and then using that as a backdrop against which they serve satisfying comfort food, well that makes for a happy place indeed. And on top of all that, this happy place also happens to host various nights featuring local up-and-coming talents – expect bands, open-mics and more… but you have to stay tuned to know what’s happening when!
Written by Ms Demeanour
On this occasion the meal was hosted by Talent Cafe