Cafe: Tiong Bahru Bakery

There is simply too much to love about Tiong Bahru: the restored walk up apartments, mix of old and new, traditions and modern styles, indie boutiques and cafes. With the opening of Tiong Bahru Bakery by Monsieur Gontran Cherrier, i'm finding it hard to spread my lovin because this one has won my heart. 

Tiong Bahru Bakery is the first overseas tie up for Gontran, one of the top baker in Paris, celebrity chef and published author, with the Spa Esprit Group to provide artisan bakes in Singapore. How they managed to convince him, i don't know, but as long as i'm getting my buttery croissants, i honestly don't care.

The 40-seater bakery churns out freshly baked breads, pastries and sandwiches by the minute. They have to, or they wouldn't be able to feed the hungry human chain that snakes around the shop. No worries, the queue moves extremely fast but you will have a problem getting a seat with people chilling out with their croissant and coffee by Forty Hands.

If you are there to have brunch, i would suggest you order a sandwich or pick from the selection of open-face focaccia as a main. An interesting sandwich would be the Squid Ink Bun with Smoked Salmon and Ham (S$6.50). I sampled the bread but there wasn't any hint of the smoky ink but the presentation of the black buns with generous slices of meat is definitely appealing.

People have been raving about the croissant at TBB, claiming it to be the best in town. But this skinnyfat girl says the hidden gem is the Kouign Amann (S$3.50). If you like salted butter, caramel and pastry, you would love this! Eating this is like unwrapping a present. The exterior is flaky and crisp with the caramelized sugar bits. I thought i was eating Garrett's Caramel popcorn. As you unravel the buttery swirls, the delicate insides is moist, pillowy and a little salty. It's everything i want in a dish and more.

Being my greedy self, i ordered the Chocolate Almond Croissant (S$3.50) instead of the plain one. Duh! It has all my favorite fillings even though that compromised on the classic croissant texture. I have no issues with the taste of the minced up almond nut paste and chocolate bits but there isn't enough chocolate and it's not spread around evenly. If you have a sweet tooth, this is it for you. Should have tried the plain or chocolate croissant though.

Will be back for more bakes and the Kouign Amann is definitely on my must eat list. If Tiong Bahru is a little out of the way for you, they also have a centrally located branch at Raffles City Shopping Center. It may not be as fresh but it's still a good option for lazy folks out there. Enjoy your afternoon tea!

Tiong Bahru Bakery
56 Eng Hoon Street, #01-70
Tel: +65 6220 3430

Hours: 8am-8pm (Closed Tue)

Cafe Review: Wheat Baumkuchen

After a long yoga session(s), i often crave for light and clean tasting food. My all time favorite? Cold udon or cha soba (if the former is unavailable). I suppose it's due to the fact there isn't too much seasoning or oil used in preparing them. It's kinda bland if you only have the noodles and i do wish for a little more flavors in them. And that's when i discovered Wheat Baumkuchen. 

Tucked away in the hot and humid neighborhood of Toa Payoh, this cafe is a cool breath of air serving cold tossed Japanese style noodles amidst all that hawker food. It is easy to miss this because you wouldn't be expecting it next to all the duck rice and nasi lemak stalls. I wouldn't say that it's the best place to dine at because it's really stuffy. Thank god for the air conditioned interior. 

The dishes are cutely named after artic animals. Thank god they are not serving us whale or penguin meat. We had a whale of a time trying to figure out if the Whale set serves pork or chicken. 

We started with the Ice Cube (S$3), a huge chunk of Silkened tofu with a Thai Chili Sweet Sauce. It came with very simple garnishes like shredded Japanese cucumber and crab sticks. This dish is very appetizing and we kept going back to this in between bites of our noodles. Highly recommended. 

The Whale Set (S$6.20)- White noodles in roasted sesame sauce with black pepper chicken and mushrooms. The white noodles are actually Yang Chun noodles, a flat white chinese noodles. This dish packs a peppery punch that is quite fiery but oh so addictive. I love the crunch of the al dente noodles of this one. 

The Penguin Set (S$6)- Green soba noodles in roasted sesame sauce with shredded chicken, lettuce and quail eggs. Love the presentation of all their noodles dishes. They are really very particular about how the dishes are served. Each is like a piece of art. I like the fragrant sesame taste though i wish for a little more flavoring. Not a fan of the soba noodles here because it feels kinda overcooked. You can request to change the type of noodles that come with the set. 

The Dolphin set (S$6)- Ramen noodles in miso sauce with prawns, lettuce and quail eggs. I was half expecting my beloved prawn pasta salad from Fish & Co. but other than the similarity in the noodles, the taste was very different. The miso taste is very subtle in this one. I do prefer the bite of the ramen noodles.

For a pastry store that accidentally ventured into selling Japanese cold noodles, i have to say that Wheat Baumkuchen does it well, surprisingly. I believe that the noodles are more popular than the traditional European layered cake made famous in Japan. These cakes are like kueh lapis but the healthier version of it. The taste is also 'healthier' ie. dry and bland.

The Almond Nutella cake has the aromatic smokiness of the nuts which we love. The Valrhona Chocolate was not rich enough and tasted too dry. Go for something with a little cream e.g. Tiramisu. I find that this was more moist and had a nice creamy cheese flavor to it as well. The Coffee flavored one sat well with my family too.

This would be where i'd head to if i want a twist to my regular soba. It's healthy but extremely satisfying. Thanks Lilian for introducing me a new pre/post yoga meal. And you lucky CBD folks can also enjoy the noodles at One Raffles Place. I'd pick this over salads anytime. ;)

Wheat Baumkuchen
190 Toa Payoh Lorong 6
#01-530 HDB Hub
Tel: +65 6356 5529
Daily: 10am - 9pm
(Closed PH)

1 Raffles Place, #B1-15 One Raffles Place (OUB Centre)
Tel: +65 6535 0277
Weekdays: 8am – 8pm

Restaurant Review: Backyard@Dempsey

I have a love hate relationship with Dempsey. I like that it's near town but secluded, and i also love the quaint and sophisticated vibe. Of course the flip side of the coin is that it's pretty inaccessible (i've only walked there once and i died) and it could be quite pretentious (i don't feel quite comfortable at certain restaurants. They practise certain sort of colour discrimination). 

It was with much delight when Backyard@Dempsey opened its doors. I feel perfectly at home here, wandering the open grounds and lounging on the wooden deck, enjoying a drink (or 2) with friends, laughing loudly making noise without being judged by anyone. You don't even need to dress up. Shorts and slippers are welcomed too (stamp of approval from the boss). Perfect isn't it?

I was a little concerned about the alfresco dining concept here as Singapore nights can be pretty humid. However, the lush greenery and the cool dewy air together with the constant movement of air from the strategically placed fans kept us cool all night.

Under the encouragement of Val, W & i ordered the Backyard Jungle Juice (S$11/14) and Longan Mojito (S$10/13) to kick start our weekend (thurs is the new fri. heh). The Jungle juice was a Pomegranate, Mango and Gin mix which was a refreshing and exotic tropical blend. It tasted innocuous due to the sweetness but i was quite the happy and vivacious camper after a few sips. Alcohol is such the social lubricant. Spirits, shots, beer, wines and cocktails are available and happy hour is till 7.30pm. Now hit me with the cheap drinks! Whoo!

We had 2 soups. The Cream of Shitake Mushroom (S$6.30) was a creamy and peppery start to dinner. Nice slices of shitake mushrooms in this one too. The Lobster Bisque (S$7.30) was adequate but kinda lacks in the umami flavor of a rich seafood broth. There is some smokiness in the soup but just a little diluted for my liking.

Seriously who can resist Spam Fries (S$9.80)! I'll have this over french fries anytime. This is a lightly battered juicy chunk of Ma Ling luncheon meat. The wasabi mayo dip is not too pungent or sharp and goes very well with the artery clogging fries. Excuse me, where is my instant noodles?

The BBQ wings (S$2.10ea min 3/order) are nicely grilled and smoky. I'm not a BBQ sauce fan as it could be quite overpowering sometimes. Even though i'm into strong flavors, i don't like my food to be overseasoned as well. This was just right for me. Great for sharing too.

Meat lovers would really rejoice at Backyard because it's packed with meat. If you hate your vege, you should should still give the Chargrilled Vegetables with Truffle Oil (S$13.80) a shot. Love the smoky flavors from the grill and the sweet juices from the aubergine and zucchini. This has got to be the least vegee veg dish.

Not a big fan of the pastas. I thought it to be a little over creamy and overcooked. It's quite the dry and sticky sort. The Grilled Chicken Spaghetti (S$12.80) was quite bland even with the cajun spices, till i bit into the jalapenos. It really does give the dish the much needed vinegar kick. Tom Yum (S$15.30) was a little dull though. 

Now on to the other mains.

The Kroenbourg Beer Battered Fish & Chips (S$14.30) is one of my favorite. Moist and fresh bassa fillet is battered (there's the breaded version too) and fried. The meat is slightly sweet and very succulent. This is equilvalent to the top Pacific Dory grade.

The mains come with fries and coleslaw. You can change it to other sides like sauteed mushrooms, cheese baked potato (highly recommended), mash (pretty awesome too). I would top my fries with the Chili Con Carne, which is a flavorful mix of beef, tomatoes, onion, jalapenos. You can add this to corn chips, hot dog etc. I'll so order the chips with salsa, melted cheese dip and on top of that the chili con carne. That'll only set me back by S$12.80. Say wert?!

If you love your steaks, pick from the selection or ribeye here. The US Black Angus Prime Ribeye 250g (S$45.80) was nicely grilled and tender. It comes with a thick mushroom gravy but it tastes quite perfect on its own. The truffle salt topping (S$2.80) is also quite interesting and there are others like blue cheese to choose from.Wagyu Ribeye with a 4-5 Marbling is also available for S$52.80. What's awesome is that Backyard has a Tuesday Steak Night and that's a 20% off all steaks. Awesome! The carnivore in me is doing a rodeo dance right now.

Backyard Sunrise Burger with Baked Cheese Potato (S$13.30) is made with NZ Beef patties, served medium well, and topped with streaky bacon, cheddar cheese and a sunny side up. Very hearty and satisfying. It's massive but not as ginormous as the Dressed up Dog (S$13.80)

Now, this fella is wrapped with the same toppings as the burger. We had the slightly spiced pork sausage which was uber satisfying. Get your hands dirty and grab hold of that dawg. I would not let anyone steal mine.  

We were thoroughly stuffed by the time desserts were gonna be served but well, women do have a separate stomach for sweets. The Affogato (S$7.30) is served with a smooth scoop of Devonshire Clotted Ice Cream instead of regular vanilla. This has a much smoother texture and it's also less sweet. Not too sure about the calorie count though.

I'm not a Panna Cotta fan so i can't judge what's the perfect PC. It's smooth but a little firm. I would prefer it to be a little more milky and gelatinous.The Blueberry and Honey Walnut Panna Cotta (S$7.30) were alright though I would rather save the space for their savory sides.

This tasting is one of the most comfortable and relaxed one that i've been. The combination of hearty and affordable food, chillaxing atmosphere, drinks (lots of it), great conversations and awesome hosts really made for a wonderful night out. Thank you Han, Val and Jerome for the invitation! I will definitely be back. They have bands playing on Friday nights. Definitely the perfect way to unwind after a week at work. Cheers! 

i'm not that short i'm just making space for Val at the back. :P

Backyard@Dempsey

130E Minden Road

Singapore 248819

Tel: +65 6479 0388

Daily 11.00am - 12.00am

Cafe: Dean & Deluca

Dean & Deluca needs no introduction. Since its humble beginnings in SoHo (1977), it has expanded and established itself as the upscale grocery store chain in NYC. I was pretty stoked when it announced that it was coming to our sunny shores. Finally an alternative to Jones (which is terribly overpriced). 

Well, D&D opened its doors in June. So why did it take me 2 months to write my review? Well.. all that hype kinda deterred me from visiting. I heard horror stories about long waits and screw ups with the order system and all. It's really not how i want to kick start my weekend brunch. So i waited for a bit. Gave them time to sort things out, get settled down. 

Well i must say the smart me made a wise choice. I slowly eased into the D&D dinestyle. I tested the waters with their iced mocha and left the place swooning and buzzing with the caffeine packed chocolate espresso drink. Absolutely thick and delicious melted chocolate that arrests my heart. It's really quite the perk me up. If you love your chocolates, try the Marble latte which is a mix of White and Dark Chocolate. 

Each time i only had space for their pastries and cakes from my favorites Baker & Cook, Bread Project and Maison Keyser. Twitter and Instagram followers of mine would know that D&D is my current pre-yoga hangout. I've had the outsourced Salmon and spinach quiche and tarts. The small bites are perfect for all the downward dog and chaturanga. The in house bakers are still in the process of expanding their repertoire of bakes. My first taste of their Chocolate Pain was unspectacular though. Would love for it to be more airy and layered inside for it was just a little flat.

I only recently plunged into the deep end with their All Day Breakfast offerings 1 lazy weekend afternoon. I love how quiet and peaceful the place is. Absolutely no competition with all the people armed with their DSLRs trying to get shots of their food (guilty as charged).

The Sautéed Brioche French Toast (S$22) was intimidating when served. 2 one-inch thick slices of French Toasted Brioche, nicely coated with the Salted Caramel and a little charred on the exterior. This is topped with the Bananas, Fresh Berries and Vanilla Ice Cream. It looks like a diabetic's nightmare. But fret not. The caramel is more smoky than cloyingly sweet and that went well with the crispy and pillowy butter brioche. I LOVE the brioche. The ice cream lends a touch of creaminess to gel the various flavors and textures together. Perfecto. 

I love Eggs Ben and i love my Jamón Ibérico so obviously i order the Eggs Iberico (S$25), a twist on the popular Eggs Benny. 2 Poached Eggs with Sautéed Mushrooms, Jamón Ibérico and Hollandaise Sauce on Sundried Tomato Bread. Sounds perfect yea?

Well.. sadly, it wasn't. This dish was unsatisfying on many levels. The texture of the bread did not complement the eggs. It crumbled like a spoilt wet sponge after soaking the essence of the egg yolk. I also couldn't taste the sundried tomato at all. It seemed very much like a sad brown toast. The hollandaise sauce was too bland and diluted for my liking. My first set came with overdone poached eggs but the problem was quickly rectified when i sent them back. Overall, it was like eating different ingredients separately. 

There are quite a lot of other dishes available from salads to burgers to sandwiches and more All Day Brekkie options like waffles and bagels. I will slowly get down to tasting them since it's so convenient for me. As for you my dear readers, either be an early bird or simply have breakfast for dinner. That's probably the best way to beat that weekend queue. 

Dean & DeLuca Singapore
181 Orchard Road
#04-23/24 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6509-7708
Daily: 11 am to 10 pm

Restaurant: E.Clat Gourmet

Mohammed Sultan, Robertson Quay-This is a place i'd go to for a nice relaxing evening out with friends, over a glass of red or bubbly. Dinner would be somewhere by the waterfront, exquisitely prepared and amazingly comforting. Or perhaps a fun night with the cute chefs at Foodbar Dada ;) If it's for brunch, the options are aplenty. Kith, Toby's, Smitten all provides great coffee and delicious food albeit the slightly higher price bracket.

Now, a new player on the block E.Clat Gourmet has decided to join the F&B scene at Robertson. They do have lofty ideas of trying to be a Gourmet Canteen, providing fine dining for the masses. Now, that could be read both ways depending on the emphasis. Fine dining for the masses (gourmet food for everyone) and fine dining for the Masses (food that the masses think is good). So which is it? Read on to find out.

E.Clat is located on the 3rd floor from ground in the Sultan Link Building is easily missed by the Robertson crowd. There are no efforts to direct traffic to the restaurant and it's hard to get to it even if you locate the building. When you finally do, you will find yourself in a canteen style restaurant but with plush cushion seats (they really try their best to stick to both Canteen and Gourmet). Well, it's comfortable enough and there is an nice alfresco dining area though it doesn't boost much of a view.

I think for a restaurant to stand out, the entire concept has to be consistent and unique. Here at E.Clat, it is just plain confusing. They offer a mix of cuisine from English to Italian to Local and now they are toying with the idea of Thai food? They muddle it further by the varied groups of target audience that they are trying to reach- office workers, dinners and students?!! Werd?? I was glad that the menu they prepared for our tasting was a little more consistent. I certainly wouldn't be able to stomach all the apparent differences.

Putting the concept aside. Let's discuss the food.

The tomato bruschetta (4 for S$6.90) was plain normal. I didn't like the home made foccacia. It lacked the aroma of the herbs and olive oil and it was stale instead of airy. Gardenia has better prepacked foccacia. #Truestory.

The Cheesey Onion Fries (S$9.90) was a disaster. Over fried and hard crinkle fries topped with an easily coagulated cheese and onions fried in gravy. The sauce isn't too bad but the fries were uncooperative in my attempt to soak them in the sauce. All the tables left this dish pretty much untouched. I really admire the boss' enthusiasm in trying to get us to have more of this. I think he created this dish. :/

Fellow blogger friend Alexis was craving for a good Eggs Benny (S$10.90) but this was a disappointment. The price was right but the food wasn't. Tasteless ham on the same stale foccacia, topped with nicely poached eggs but accompanied with a bland and watery hollandaise sauce. I prefer a full bodied and creamier sauce than this. Coffee Bean does a better one at a similar price (or cheaper). #Truestoryagain.

The signature Black Pepper Beef Pasta (S$12) was a little oily and bland for my liking. More sauce with a fiery punch would be most welcomed. I ended up eating only the beef slices, which were adequately marinated.

Seafood Baked Rice in Tomato sauce (S$10.90) didn't have fresh ingredients. The prawns and mussels tasted muddy. And where art thou, you tomato sauce? The dish as a whole just didn't work for me.

The Rum & Raisin Panna Cotta(S$8.80) was too firm. Interesting rum and raisin mousse though. Would love more rum in the raisins to stand out against the milkiness of the dessert.

Am i being too critical? Not really. I mean, i'm accessing the dishes based on their gourmet framework. It's not all that doom and gloom. E.Clat does have some redeeming qualities.

The Beer Battered Fish & Chips (S$16.90) was a delight after all that ahem. The exterior is crisp and airy and the fish was succulent and moist. Our tasting was buffet style and i actually went back for seconds. You go figure the subtext but i hardly touched much of the other dishes. Skip the fries (read above for reason).

The Smoked Duck Pizza (S$18.90) was 12 inches of fabulous. The handmade crust was thin and crunchy (when hot) and was topped with tender smoked duck (by Chef Andy himself), rockets and dollops of truffle mayonnaise all around.

I'm not sure who else other than office workers and students would be drawn to the restaurant if it continues with its operation and concept the way it is. There is some potential in this place if they streamline things a little, focus on their pub food and make it into a residential bar. To bring the cool and hip crowd over, they really need to make it a destination instead of an afterthought.
By the way darlings. If it's mass, it's mass. Don't pretend to be gourmet. It could be just really good mass food and it's a-ok. We should never pretend to be something that we are not. Because people will know. #qotd

E.Clat Gourmet

63 Mohammed Sultan Road #03-14

Sultan Link Building, Singapore 239002

Tel: +65 6604 7998
Weekdays: 8.30am - 9pm
Weekends: 10am - 3pm (Sunday operation begins in Sept)

Desserts: Creamier

What's your favorite childhood dessert? One of my favorite is the $1 ice cream slab sandwiched between a slice of rainbow colored bread (it still is). It's not that the ice cream is tasty, it's the whole experience. The delightful tone of the bell, shillings dropped into outstretched little hands, the thrilling click of freedom coming from the impenetrable fortress (aka my gate) and running out into the wild open for a taste of that ice cold sweetness. Oh yes, the little joys from the perspective of the little one.

These days, it's hard to elicit the same kinda excitement in me. Too many so called artisan ice cream stalls charging exorbitant prices with sub standard ice cream have made me cynical. I stick to my favorite Salted Caramel or Alfero who whip up homemade goodness that's inexpensive and is equally charming. Adding to that list is Creamier, a cooler than cool ice cream parlor in the sleepy estate of Toa Payoh.

The 3 stores have similar characteristics. All are located in residential estates, does great ice cream and are really affordable. There are 2 categories, the Standard (S$2.90sgl, 4.90dbl) and the Premium (S$3.90sgl, 6.50dbl). Extra scoops are at S$2/2.50. I'm not sure what's what so i just ordered whatever i felt like having.

The flavors are quite interesting, at least those that caught my eye were. Avocado, Earl Grey Lavender, Orange Banana Sorbet, Tahitian Vanilla (full of vanilla beans!) etc. What's really good is the creaminess of the ice cream and the intensity in flavors. The Chocolate Mint ice cream was like liquid After Eights chocolate. No kidding. It's the darkest chocolate mint ice cream i've seen (it's not even green).

We had that with the chocolate lava cake which was either of a really high cocoa content or it has some alcohol in it. My taste buds were really confused but it was that same dry and bitter mouth feel. Pair this with a sweet milk base ice cream and it'd be alright. Don't expect too much lava flow, it's the slightly coagulated sort. 

The Earl Grey Lavender was a tad too sweet for my liking and that kinda masked the Earl Grey flavor. Lavender is an interesting and suitable twist to the typical tea laced dessert. Have it on a Belgium waffle  (S$6/6.50 with sgl scoop) if you wish. Or pair it with a cup of hot coffee. Beans are sourced from a premium roaster that remains undisclosed. They also have my favorite Kopparberg Cider. Heh. 

So yea, this is another addition to my favorite ice cream list. Will be heading to them when my ice cream man doesn't come ringing. Same old charm with a modern twist. That's my kind of ice cream.

Creamier

• Blk 128, Toa Payoh Lorong 1, #01-835
• Singapore 310128
• Tel: +65 6250 1476

Tue-Thu: 12 - 10pm

Fri-Sat: 12 - 11pm

Sun: 12 - 10pm

Cafe Review: Carpenter and Cook

Once upon a time, there were 3 girls with a dream, a dream of having their own little place, decorated with curated pieces of vintage and filled with the buttery aroma of cakes and bakes. It'll be a place where friends will share secrets over a pot of tea, where lovers reunite, where lost treasures are found. But dreams will remain as dreams unless you have the courage to pursue it. So they did. And Carpenter and Cook was born. 

The shop is exactly out of a fairy tale. The nostalgia and charm of a time lost and then rediscovered. The interior is warmy and cosy, peppered with an eclectic mix of handpicked and restored furniture. There is just this air of positivity and hope. I guess it must have come from Phoebe, Shenn and Eunice, who obviously have put in their heart and soul into the place.

There is something romantic about old furniture. Who did it belong to? What was the owner like? Why did they buy it? Who was it for? Each piece comes with a history that we may never know about; each a mystery.

I pondered these over the freshly baked tarts (S$6.20) and a cup of mocha. The bakes are as dreamy as everything else. These are made by the Cordon Bleu trained hands of Shenn and each bite was as delicious as you can imagine. For me, my search for the best tart ends here. 

The crisp and buttery tart base is everything one would look for. It doesn't fall to pieces when you cut or bite into it. Neither is it too soft that it fails to hold the filling. 

The Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel tart was a bitter sweet delight. I like that it isn't too cloyingly sweet. A hint of sea salt gives way to a smokey caramel and then you hit the bitter notes of the chocolate in the aftertaste. There is a clear separation of the chocolate and the tart but it melts from the warmth of your lips and becomes a rich elixir that goes down easily. 

The Lemon Cream tart was a custard and eggy delight. It's a little sharp but that's it's character. I guess a person's taste preference is also an indication of what they are like. Obviously i'm not the sweet and docile girl. I declare this to be the best tart in Singapore. It can't get better than this.

Carpenter and Cook is a place where dreams are renewed and hopes given a booster shot. And of course, tummies satisfied as well. This is a great place to throw a Mad Hatter Tea Party with the girls (they do teas and private events too) or simply where you can be left to your own devices and thoughts. I will certainly be back to finish the rest of their cakes and quiches and savory treats (they are rolled out of the kitchen ever so often) while i work on a plan to actualize my dreams.  

It's time to stop dreaming and start acting. Have a great weekend ahead.

Carpenter and Cook

19 Lorong Kilat, #01-06, Singapore 598120
Tel: +65 6463 3648
Tue – Fri: 12pm – 10pm
Sat: 10am – 10pm
Sun: 10am – 7pm
Closed on Mon