Vanda SG x Orangetag Coffee Brewery — Restaurant in Silang

I ABSOLUTELY love this place.i call it one of my happy places. So back in May my mom and I found it by accident, looking for plants, Vanda with its gorgeous garden-scape ambiance, looked like it was part of the garden store next to it. The curb appeal has a Secret Garden vibe to it which makes you want to enter and explore.

After over an hour of plant shopping and while our purchases were being loaded in our car, we decided to get something to eat at Vanda. We learned they were NOT officially open yet save for the coffee brewery & pastry. Per their recommendation we got their signature frappe & a slice of blueberry cheesecake. Frappes & cheesecakes are NOT typically something we order. They tend to be too sweet and on a blistering, extremely humid day, sweet is never refreshing. Much to our happy surprise both were sweetened to perfection. We were refreshed & satiated. I was quite astonished at the plating of our cheesecake -- a gorgeously patterned, unusually shaped plate garnished with a sprig and flower of Blue Ternate (edible, good for brain health, beneficial for skin and hair and yes, we ate ours!). My curiosity was extremely piqued my curiosity: "Who are these folks who have hit the trifecta of ambiance, quality food AND attention to detail in plating??!".

Let me introduce: Kate and Bob. Kate has years of training and working in the highly meticulous, perfectionist market of Singaporean dining. She was so good at it that she had several offers (pirated) to move to different parts of North America but instead, she felt, "Hell now, I'm running my own show when I am ready to go back home!" And boy, is she ready. It was her ideas which created the way Vanda looks & feels. Singapore in Silang. Meanwhile, Bob, her first cousin, had a coffee brewery so successful that it expanded to three locations (these became pandemic economic casualties). Having tasted his signature frappe I can attest to the formula. My mother & I, btw, were the first customers bec, as mentioned, they were NOT quite open yet...if the quality is already this excellent BEFORE the grand opening, this will be something else when they are!

A couple of days ago my mom & I happily returned here (yes, garden supply shopping once more) to have our coffee & cheesecake (after seeing the Torralba's garden next door). Not only did we enjoy our coffee & cheesecake but our conversation with Kate was lively, intelligent, heartwarming and inspiring. Vanda is her heart and soul and she brings her A-game in how she runs the place, how she shares her knowledge with her staff, and her commitment that her guests truly experience what it means to be served 100% with head and heart by each of the staff. The Singaporean culinary chef who has been written up and recognized in Singaporean dining is arriving the first week of July...and (drum roll)....the grand opening is on JULY 19th!

Mark your calendars, folks, bec this is NOT to be missed. I plan to be there to enjoy Singaporean fine dining in a casual ambiance. The stage is set for acoustic music and some poetry reading for those who (like me) are so inclined. I promised Kate I'd debut my own poetry (maybe, possibly read one or two from my favorite poets too?) as my way of cheering on and supporting someone who courageously follows their dreams with heart, body, mind & spirit and is generous in sharing their knowledge & wisdom with others.

See you all there!

PS. I am NOT affiliated with Vanda in any way other than as a paying guest. PPS. Book your RESERVATION to be able to guarantee a seat (or seats). There will be a 30-min grace period before the table is given...

This establishment was like taking a culinary journey back to Singapore.The shrimp paste fried chicken, in particular, stood out because it is well-seasoned and juicy. Equally impressive dishes were the seafood laksa (we did request it to be mildly spicy) and fried wonton which tastes really authentic. Unfortunately, chendol was unavailable since they have do wait for their ingredients to be shipped directly from Singapore. Despite its unassuming atmosphere, the restaurant exudes a cozy charm. Ample parking and open areas make it an ideal spot for enjoying the chilly...

This place is such a gold mine! The place is so relaxing and the crew is so polite. We didn't know what to have and the guy on shift gave me some "insights". We had lemon cheese cake matched with the Sagada brew that night... which is amazing. I would say I was overwhelmed for someone who walks here the first time, I'm definitely going to go...