Alice Boulangerie is one cafe-cum-bakery that really left a deep impression on us. In recent times when everyone is trying to outdo one another with trends and patterns, Alice Boulangerie chose to stay classy with honest bakes – ironically, this is what we are lacking in the current climate when everyone is so caught up with fanciful and Instagrammable-everything.

Conveniently located in the Tanjong Pagar, Alice Boulangerie is a space which we would consider to be relatively Nordic and minimalistic, with simple wooden and rattan furniture and classy pendant lamps. No frills about its decor, but most definitely cosy enough for some quiet me-time, a simple lunch meeting, a date and a wonderful spot to simply lay back and relax.

With an impressive culinary and baking team, you are set for great food and bakes. We tried quite a few items and nothing actually disappointed us; how impressive! It is most definitely a spot we would return to again and again – whether it is for their hearty mains or stellar bakes.

Sitting within Icon Village, Alice Boulangerie is a comfortable spot in Tanjong Pagar to grab a cup of coffee alongside your favourite pastry or to have a simple lunch.

They may be well known for its beautiful pastries and croissants, but not many people know that they have a savoury food menu to cater to the working crowd in the CBD and they dish out a selection of all-day breakfast, mains and pastas.

Tiger Prawn Capellini

Out of the main courses that we tried, The Tiger Prawn Capellini (S$28++) was definitely our top pick. Plump and juicy tiger prawns, angel hair pasta cooked in a flavoursome and robust prawn stock, cherry tomatoes – this was so satisfying and we found ourselves salivating at the very thought of it.

Fourth of July Cheese Burger

Another main course that we enjoyed was the Classic cheeseburger (S$26++). Alice Boulangerie uses USDA Homemade beef patty served with soft brioche buns—that are freshly baked in their own kitchen daily—streaky bacon, chipotle coleslaw, and fries. A simple and no-frills burger that hits the spot, we’d say.

The Steak Shack

Next up was the 200g Australian grass-fed striploin (S$35++), which was accompanied with Australian asparagus, sautéed mixed mushroom, creamy buttery mash potato, and roasted garlic bulb. You can choose between herb butter or red wine mushroom sauce for the steak. Toothsome in every bite, and definitely super filling.

Remember to save some room for desserts and pastries, because everything that comes out from Alice’s pastry team is AMAZING! You will probably need to visit Alice Boulangerie several times to try everything on the menu, but we are telling you it is very well worth the trips.

Grab a counter seat by the kitchen and watch the talented bakers & chefs prepare the croissants and pastries; it is so therapeutic to watch them in action.

From the classic plain Croissant, to Pain Au Chocolat, and their iconic bi-coloured croissants, it goes without saying that everyone comes to Alice Boulangerie for their famous croissants. You’d be sorry to leave without trying one!

Alice Boulangerie’s croissants come with the most gorgeous and on-point honeycomb structure. Absolutely stunning, flaky and buttery with every bite.

The chefs at Alice Boulangerie have years of experience and are passionate and obsessed with perfecting the recipes for their food and bakes. Fun fact: they supply to a lot of events and parties, too!

Pistachio Chocolate Croissant

The signature Pistachio Chocolate Croissant (S$7++) is filled pistachio crème patisserie house praline and hazelnut ganache. This is a croissant of our dreams; decadent with a well-balanced sweetness and absolutely gratifying – definitely a must-order when you are at Alice Boulangerie.

Strawberry Cheese Croissant

Filled with freshly made strawberry jam, smooth luscious cream cheese, and garnished with strawberry chocolate shavings, the Strawberry Cheese Croissant (S$7++) is a crowd favourite. It is both pretty and yummy, and we would gladly have one anytime.

Do note that the bi-coloured croissants are available in limited quantities from 11am until they are sold out. The early bird gets the pretty croissants because honestly, nobody wants worms.

Mushroom

If you love cream puffs, you’ll love the new Mushroom (S$9++). Alice Boulangerie has reinvented the classic cream puff and they present their rendition in the shape of a mushroom. What you get is a classic choux puff piped with gula Melaka Chantilly cream, coconut pastry cream as well as gula Melaka caramel. Such a decadent and thoughtful creation!

Acorn

In line with Alice Boulangerie’s branding and its squirrel mascot, the team has recently introduced the beautiful Acorn (S$13++)—a chocolate acorn shell made with 70% dark chocolate that is made up of layers of chocolate mousse, yuzu crémeux, almond dacquoise, and almond walnut praline with salted caramel mousse.

It took the chef months of research to perfect the recipe and baking techniques to produce this seemingly-simple dessert. What you get is a crisp outer layer of dark chocolate that holds the shape of the acorn really well, while keeping the interior soft yet firm so that it doesn’t crumble nor do the layers get mashed up.

Alice’s Christmas Log Cake

This is probably going to be the cutest log cake you’ll see for Christmas this year.

Launching in early November 2022, Alice’s Christmas Log Cake (S$85++) is a beautifully constructed moist chocolate flourless sponge layered with chocolate mud biscuit, an exotic fruit crémeux, caramelized banana, and hazelnut praline crunch, then topped with a 3D squirrel made from orange dark chocolate mousse. The kids will definitely love this!

Alice Boulangerie
12 Gopeng St, #01-05/11 Icon Village, Singapore 078877
Tel: 8874 3300
Daily: 8am – 6pm
Online Delivery: https://aliceboulangerie.cococart.co/

This post was brought to you by Alice Boulangerie.

Artisanal French Bakery Maison Kayser has opened its 6th Outlet at Stars of Kovan in the Kovan neighbourhood.

Maison Kayser is Eric Kayser’s eponymous bakery chain from France with sweet and savoury bakes and it has been named by Paris’ Figaro newspaper to be the best.

Besides their famous croissants, they also serve a selection of classic French breads, viennoiseries, sandwiches, soups, and salads.

The new outlet is located at Stars of Kovan and it has taken over the former premise of Sugartree Gelato—an ice cream shop by the same team behind Two Bakers—which has moved to Daily Ground in Bukit Timah.

Look forward to Maison Kayser’s popular French-style eclairs, breads, tarts and a whole plethora of sweet treats.

There are a few seats in the small bakery cafe and you can enjoy a cup of coffee/tea with your bread and pastries.

Maison Kayser
988 Upper Serangoon Rd
#01-28 Stars of Kovan
Singapore 534733
+65 9010 7389
Daily: 7.30am – 5.30pm

Read our guide on the cafes in the Kovan and Lorong Ah Soo neighbourhood.

The Bread Rack is an artisan bakery cafe near Serangoon and Kovan which specialises in freshly-baked sourdough, croissants and baguette.

It opened earlier in January this year and it has already garnered a following amongst residents in the neighbourhood for its delicious croissants and pastries.

The Bread Rack is located at Space@Kovan which also has other food places including Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee, PokPok Keh and P.Osh brownies.

They bake everything on premise daily and you can be assured of the freshness of their bakes.

Other than a selection of croissants, sourdough, baguette and country loaf, you can also get croissant sandwiches as well as breakfast platter.

We had the Butter Croissant (S$3.8) and Almond Croissant (S$4.8). The crisp layers flaked away nicely as you bit into the super buttery and airy croissants.

The Bread Rack certainly has one of the best croissants you can get in Singapore.

The Bread Rack is a fantastic addition to the Serangoon and Kovan neighbourhoods and gone are the days where you have to travel all the way to town in order to get a good croissant from the more popular artisan bakeries.

They are currently offering a 10% off on every purchase and an additional 5% off on hot food & beverage set during this period. The promotion is valid for both takeaways and deliveries and you can Whatsapp them at 88755407 to place your order.

The Bread Rack
9 Yio Chu Kang Rd
#01-55, Space@Kovan 545523
Tel: +65 8875 5407

Opened by the same team behind Glyph Supply Co, Dough Coffee is a new Korean-inspired bakery & coffee shop at CHIJMES. It is quite easily one of the nicest cafes in Singapore right now, and long queues can be seen daily.

We paid Dough Coffee a visit and it made us miss Seoul a little more than ever.

Dough Coffee makes their own bread, pastries and pasta in-house.

Other than the bread and pastries, it has a small and concise selection of All-Day Breakfast, Pasta and Mains including Breakfast Platter (S$28), Spicy Kimchi & Tomato Pasta (S$22), and Wagyu Burger (S$26).

Matcha Mochi (S$5) is a popular option and it is baked using premium ingredients including ceremonial-grade matcha, milk mochi, azuki, Japanese flour and AOP butter. Sadly, it sounds a lot better than it tasted.

The Kouign Amann (S$5), on the other hand, was totally worth the price tag. The buttery pastry that is lavishly sprinkled with powdered sugar was beautifully layered on the inside.

We can’t do without our Iced White (S$$6), especially when the weather has been so merciless. The espresso shot was nutty and had a nice bitter aftertaste to it, and we would definitely pick up another cup if we were in the vicinity.

Dough Coffee
30 Victoria St, #01-30, Singapore 187996

Spearheaded by owner, baker and theatre actor Juwanda Hassim, The Fabulous Baker Boy is relaunching their multi-concept F&B brand at the Aliwal Arts Centre in January 2021 with a bigger 70-seater space and expanded menu.

Formerly located at the foothills of Fort Canning, The Fabulous Baker Boy closed its previous premise due to the Covid-19 situation. Fans of the bakery café will be thrilled to know that they are making a comeback next year.

The artisanal baked goods menu will be expanded to include sourdough breads, croissants, quiches, danishes and cookies as well as The Fabulous Baker Boy’s signature range of Diva and Divo cakes. There will be at any one time 14 different cakes to choose from.

The Fabulous Baker Boy’s all-day brunch and lunch menu will also feature new items such as Pumpkin and Ricotta Ravioli with burnt butter and sage, and Sourdough Pizzas. Popular favourites such as Corn Beef Hash, Chicken & Waffles and Ju’s Prawn Pasta will still be available on the menu.

The Fabulous Baker Boy
Aliwal Arts Centre
28 Aliwal St, Singapore 199918

The quieter sister of Keong Saik Road, Bukit Pasoh Road deserves equal credit for being a foodie’s lane. Lined with hip bars and charming cafes, this preserved street has won our hearts over with its laidback, rustic aura.

And, if you haven’t heard, this stretch has received another addition to its family of establishments.

Meet Bakery’s Bench Bakery — a new artisanal neighbourhood bakery that churns out stellar bakes and gourmet sandwiches. From cranberry scones to croque monsieur, they’ve got everything you need for a dignified brunch. Caffeine junkies, not to worry, they also have a respectable selection of coffee brews and tea beverages.

Their interior brags of elegant Scandinavian vibes, replete with muted greens and lush plants. The granite floor and walls lend a subdued industrial touch to the whole space.

We especially adore the aesthetic of the main counter, which sees dangling lamps and hanging pastries.

The server shared that all their bread and croissant pastries are made with a sourdough base, which endows them with a tarter, deeper flavour.

Starting off with the Savory Swirl (S$4.50), this spiral danish pastry is stuffed with pesto and sprinkled with parmesan cheese. While the pastry itself was gorgeously flaky, it could have used more pesto filling and cheese.

One of their signature pastries is The Sticky Bun (S$5), a cinnamon bun glazed with caramel and toasted pecans. Resembling a gooey caramelised block of gold, it set our expectations pretty high for how it was going to taste.

And, trust us, it was every bit as good as it looked. The dough itself was fluffy with a soft, buttery chewiness. And when accompanied with the sticky caramel and crunchy pecans, it made for a dreamy indulgence.

We also tried the Hazelnut Twice-Baked Croissant (S$5.50). Speckled with hazelnut bits and icing sugar, the croissant had a deliciously crisp exterior.

However, we wished they were more generous with the hazelnut-infused frangipane filling, which was merely concentrated in the middle. Also, they could work on the overall flakiness of the croissant, which was slightly lacking.

Although Baker’s Bench Bakery’s pastries aren’t out-of-this-world amazing, they speak of incredible thoughtfulness and soul. We can’t get enough of their alluring atmosphere and warm service.

We can see this place getting really packed soon, so you might want to head there soon before this place gets big.

6 Bukit Pasoh Rd
Singapore 089820
Wed – Mon: 8.30am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

Dessert aficionados, prepare your sweet tooths for a spanking new dessert spot in town on 21 October 2019, Monday!

Now Bakery stemmed from a common passion for fluffy, creamy roll cakes and they put plenty of love into each and every one their bakes. Each decadent roll cake is meticulously handcrafted using only the finest ingredients that are imported from Taiwan and Japan, so you know that you’ll only be getting the best roll cakes.

They have 3 different cake series with an extensive variety of flavours so even if you’re a picky eater, fret not as there is something for everyone!

In celebration of their new outlet at Capitol Piazza, they will be having an opening promotion from 21 October to 27 October 2019, where their roll cakes will be going for 50% off. Additionally, on 21 & 22 October 2019, they will be giving away 50 pieces of roll cakes for free from 11.30am onwards.

BLANCMANGE

Now Bakery’s Blancmange series features delicate and moist roll cakes that are each stuffed with Blancmange, a creamy milk pudding filling that has a smooth and light finish.

For those of you who enjoy the classics, we recommend that you get the Chocolate or Vanilla Blancmange cakes. Being chocolate fanatics, we absolutely adore the Chocolate Blancmange which is made with 75% cocoa. This provides the cake with a rich, chocolatey flavour that isn’t too cloying.

If you’re looking to try something a little more different, try their Sesame Blancmange cakes which are made from black sesame. The nuttiness of the sesame pairs well with the fluffiness of the roll cakes, creating a medley of flavours and textures that both the older and younger generation will love and appreciate.

An interesting flavour that will pique the interest of coffee lovers is the Gula Melaka Coffee Blancmange cakes. This classic flavour with a twist features a combination of saccharine Gula Melaka paired with aromatic premium coffee beans, producing a unique concoction that is surprisingly addictive!

Fans of matcha will be thrilled to know that there is also a Green Tea Red Bean Blancmange cake that is made using imported premium matcha powder and red bean. The earthiness of the matcha pairs pleasantly well with the sweetness of the red bean and we can see this becoming a hot favourite.

CLASSIQUE  

If you need some gift ideas for a loved one, we recommend that you get something from Now Bakery’s Classique series.

Made from a flourless recipe, their Classic Chocolate Classique cakes are incredibly rich and aromatic. They are also formulated with 75% cocoa, giving the cake just the right amount of sweetness without it being too overpowering.

The Almond Sesame Classique cake features a unique buttercream filling that is made from black sesame paste as well as almond. This winning nutty and earthy combination is definitely a treat to one’s palate!

Don’t miss out on the Almond Coffee Classique cake. Nutella is mixed with premium coffee and almonds, creating an interesting conglomeration of textures and flavours.

For something a little more old school, you can opt to get the Pandan Classique cake which is chock full of a decadent pandan filling that is made using Madagascar vanilla beans and pure pandan juice.

A savoury and unconventional option would be the Sushi Cake Roll. Here, ham, chicken floss and mayonnaise are wrapped in a layer of dense sponge cake and seaweed, creating a bizarrely good cake sushi roll that is a nice change from your regular rice sushi.

Now Bakery
13 Stamford Road #B2-22
Singapore 178905
Nearest Station: City Hall

This post was brought to you by Now Bakery.

If you’re a fan of the crisp layers of croissants and the way the flaky pastry just seems to melt on your tongue, Au Croissant will be right up your alley. Tucked away in Aperia Mall (that’s just a stone’s throw away from Lavender MRT), this hidden gem of a bakery specialises in their quirky flavours of croissants along with other wonderful breads and pastries.

We first savoured the Custard Cruffin (S$3.80)! The cruffin was definitely a stunner with a hint of creamy custard oozing out the top of the golden-brown pastry. It is also lightly dusted with icing sugar and if you ask the friendly staff to toast it for you, the icing melts into a nice glossy glaze that coats the crispy shell.

What we loved was that the cream was light and airy – not too sweet and cloying – such that it contrasted with the indulgent pastry encasing it.

Au Croissant also makes a variety of fun flavours of their croissants such as the Banana Kaya, Purple Sweet Potato, Gula Melaka and Peanut Butter Croissants. They all cost S$4.80. We tried the enticing-looking Black Sesame Croissant (S$4.80).

The golden-brown pastry is glazed with a smoky black sesame crumble layer and then topped with more white and black sesame seeds. We were also surprised once we bit into the croissant, revealing that there was another layer of black sesame paste hidden inside.

It was smoky, sweet and buttery all in a single bite. We devoured this sweet treat in minutes!

The bakery is located nearest to Lavender MRT, just a 5 minute walk away from Lavender Exit B. Drop by Au Croissant if you’re craving some fun-flavoured croissants or toasty freshly-baked goods!

Au Croissant
2 Kallang Avenue
#01-35 Aperia Mall
Singapore 339509
Mon to Sat: 7.30am – 7.30pm
Sun: 9.30am – 6.30pm
Nearest Station: Lavender