I love the concept of weekend brunch. By brunch I mean a breakfast/lunchy sort of menu that starts from about 9am-ish; not the bloatingly enormous, buffet brunches that start at lunchtime. Aren’t they just lunch but by another name?

A proper, early brunch in Singapore is surprisingly hard to come by. There are lots that start at around 11am but very few who offer what is commonplace in the States.

Violet Oon’s Kitchen to the rescue. I know I have banged on about this place before here and that Violet is a long standing family friend etc etc but, that aside, I do love this place. I love it because in a city groaning with restaurant chains and conglomerates, VOK is family run. And the food is fabulous.

I could sit happily in her chic but really quite laid back, black and white restaurant, eating and reading the papers for a good portion of any Sunday morning.  And now, with their new weekend brunch menu that starts from – hurrah – 9.30am, I can.

We were kindly invited to try it out last Sunday and it was a huge hit. I rather missed the point by making a lunchtime booking and when I go back, it will be earlier.

The brunch menu included some local/Asian dishes as well as all the usual suspects.  We tried the local big breakfast – which was a take on Nasi Lemak – as well as the Vietnamese pulled pork burrito (above; yum).

There’s also all the standard, more expected brunch bunch (which sometimes with a hangover is what you are looking for…although I do recommend the pork burrito, even with a devilishly sore head).  Faves including good old bangers and mash, smoked salmon and scrambled egg, and crab cake benedict – a new creation (below).

Violet must be the only person on the planet who can cook good local AND good angmoh food. The plus of making a lunchtime booking was that we could also dip into the lunchtime menu.

On that basis, I couldn’t not order my favourite, her pulled beef rigatoni which I don’t think I will ever be able to eat too much of. The chicken tenders which are also on the other menu – served with truffle mayo and a spicy BBQ sauce – were meant for the children but I ate half. At least.

The one thing I didn’t sample from the brunch choices and regret not trying, was the brioche French toast with banana in gula melaka sauce. It sounds lush with a strong cup of coffee. Even as I write this at 945 in the evening, I think I could probably squeeze in a few big bites.

So, although you may not think you need to wear those elasticated trousers, specially reserved for the occasional trip to the all-you-can-eat hotel buffet brunches, because the food here is so good, they just might come in handy.

Brunch is served at Violet Oon’s Kitchen on Saturdays and Sundays from 9.30am-3pm. The regular lunch menu is also available from 11.30am.

My brunch was courtesy of Violet Oon’s Kitchen.

Violet Oon’s Kitchen, 881 Bukit Timah Road  T: (+65) 6468 5430

The very front of the restaurant – which used to have alfresco seating – will soon be offering colouring and other activities for children so that you can read your paper in relative peace.

Big Breakfast and Pork Burrito pictures are courtesy of Violet Oon’s Kitchen