Daily Affairs Cafe, Singapore

Daily Affairs is an unpretentious bistro/ cafe with very affordable prices.

The cafe is helmed by chef/ owner Oh Qihao who has worked in a plethora of international hospitality names such as Hilton,  Swissotel Stamford,  Ramada and so on.  He takes the standard found in these 5-star hotels up a notch and offers up polite,  refined cuisine that far outstrips the humble surroundings of this cafe.

Located in Cairnhill Community Club, just 5 mins from Newton MRT,  the bistro is centrally located without the crazy crowds of Orchard Road or Raffles Place.

Cream of Mushroom (S$6)

Trio Mushroom, Truffle Oil, Garlic Cigar

Dense and creamy (you get none of the mediocre watery stuff here).  Nevertheless,  no aspect of it was overdone.  You get a whiff of the truffle oil; the soup is creamy but not too creamy.  Even the garlic cigar, which is basically garlic bread, is not overpoweringly, nauseatingly garlicky.  The flavours in this soup remain polite and refined.  Considering this soup is typical Western cuisine,  the sheer fact that Chef Oh has created a delicate, refined version of it,  I thought that was quite original and ground-breaking.

Flamed Torch Teriyaki Ribeye Cube (S$15)

I was genuinely sad when I finished every morsel on the plate.  Once again, the flavours- the sesame,  teriyaki,  the meaty oomph of the beef,  the lightness of the greens, are all perfectly,  delicately balanced yet magically brought together into a cohesive whole by the light umami of the egg yolk.  Chef Oh is inventive.

Modern Caesar Salad (S$8)

65 Degree Egg, Dough Fritters

The colours are amazing.  The dish is original- why would anyone need croutons when Chinese dough fritters work just as well?

8 Hour Braised Beef (S$16)

Aged Hua Diao Wine, Mashed Potato

The braised beef was unlike any I have tasted,  thanks to the clever, inventive use of Aged Hua Diao wine, which gives the beef a distinctive, inimitable flavour. Chef Oh has also suitably provided mashed potatoes to mop up the rich, delicious sauce.  BTW,  the braised beef goes excellently with the housepour Pierre Jean Merlot (France; S$13 per glass).  I found the housepour delicious and extremely drinkable.  And the best part of all,  Daily Affairs is having  all-day, everyday 1-for-1 promotion for all alcoholic beverages including beer and housepours.

I rounded off my meal with a Cappucino (S$3.50).  Specifically roasted to Chef Oh’s requirements,  once again,  there is none of that brashness you find in coffees elsewhere. The coffee here is more muted and refined.

Verdict: polite, refined cuisine always scores high in my books.  This place is unbelievable value for money.  I am so sad I have to share this place with the world.

Note: as mentioned above, Daily Affairs is having all-day, everyday 1-for-1 promotion for all alcoholic beverages including beer and housepours.