Kooka Cafe
by Cheryl Kho
@ 30 Jun 2017
Purvis Street would have to be one of the most interesting places in Singapore as different cultures are exhibited on both sides all in one area.
One of them is Kooka Cafe. With music playing softly in the background, a relaxed feeling is created. Owners Lauren Chambers and Bei Jia are no strangers to the industry. Surrounded by office buildings nearby, lunch operations here are light and hearty. The sandwiches are served in old school Hainanese breadm lightly toasted and slathered with a little butter for the flavour.
First up, was the roasted chicken sandwich. The chicken chunks were roasted with rosemary and garlic and with the right dose of pepper - simple codiments such as pesto mayonnaise, tomatoes and cheddar were enough to make this a very special sandwich. We then had the ham and cheese sandwich which is far from ordinary. Gruyere cheese was used in the combination with honey baked ham and tomatoes. The distinctive taste of the cheese matches well with the ham and a acidity from the tomatoes balances out the flavour on the palate. With the roasted vegetable sandwich, it was filled with pesto spread, marinated olives, goat's cheese, roasted zucchini and pumpkin. The pesto spread was what gave this sandwich its special appeal. Lastly, we had the falafel wrap which was filled with hummus, tzatziki, chickpeas, beetroot and alfafa sprouts and is one of the few vegetarian options on the menu.
Kooka Cafe manages to exude a special charm amidst its surroundings. Home-made pasteries are also recommended as Chambers is a great baker herself. We had a little treat and we have to say, we will definitely be visiting again. CK
