Cake lovers, rejoice! A new parlour has opened. Located in the heart of Toa Payoh, The Twisted Trio is currently in its soft launch stage, but it is set for a grand opening this Sunday. It is a 5 to 10-minute walk from the MRT.

This new, modern cafe is founded by 3 pastry chefs (with 3 different personalities, thus the name!) who initially worked together before deciding to open their own dessert shop with cakes that cater to all tastebuds.

The chilled desserts include the Watermelon Rose ($8) and Burnt Cheesecake ($7). As the founders wish to accommodate to the tastebuds of the local elderly in the neighbourhood, the cakes are not too overwhelmingly rich and sweet, with lesser cream. So you don’t have to feel sinful while enjoying the treats here.

We definitely recommend the Watermelon Rose due to its unique floral taste. The pastry cream is fluffy and not too rich. The fruits on top and the watermelon layer add a refreshing bite to the cake. Put these two together, and you have a modern, novel take to the usual cake.

However, we feel that the Burnt Cheesecake could have been more charred. Nevertheless, it was still light, spongy, and not extremely sweet. Perfect for a not-so-heavy dessert after a hearty dinner.

As for the desserts that were displayed out in room temperature, we tried the Dark & Milk Choc Brownie ($4). The brownie was crumbly and delicious, with a special blend of both dark and milk chocolate. This definitely goes on our best brownie spots in Singapore list.

We spotted a variety of room-temperature desserts, including Pound Cakes ($12) with flavours such as Earl Grey, Banana, and Matcha. Banana Muffins ($2.50), Scones ($3), and Orange Yogurt cakes ($4) are also displayed. This cafe really leaves you spoiled for choice. And if that isn’t enough, you can also place an order for your very own customized cakes in this cafe.

Feast your eyes and tastebuds on the various desserts offered at this mini parlour, and you will not be disappointed. Pair your dessert of choice with a coffee, and your sweet tooth cravings will definitely be satisfied.

The Twisted Trio
Blk 85C Lorong 4 Toa Payoh #01-384
Singapore 313085
Mon – Fri: 10.30am – 6.30pm
Sat – Sun: 9.30am – 6.30pm
Nearest MRT: Toa Payoh

Located in the heart of Kovan—just a stone’s throw away from Kovan MRT Station—is Ice Edge Cafe.

The cafe-cum-restaurant has been around for a decade and has gained a huge following over the past years with its hearty savouries and stellar sweets. Dishes served here are very affordable and generously portioned; there is even a perpetual one-for-one lunch promotion* on weekdays!

You might have heard of their legendary Mao Shan Wang Lava Cake, Waffles and Homemade Brownies, but Ice Edge Cafe is more than that. It offers a menu of wallet-friendly dishes (most mains are priced under S$20). If you haven’t been, you are missing out, dude.

From now until 15 December 2016, quote “ladyironchef” to get a FREE Waffle with a scoop of gelato when you spend S$20 per table. This offer is valid during dinner daily.

#1 BUFFALO WINGS

Ice Edge Cafe’s Buffalo Wings (S$9.80+) come in a platter of six.

Each deep-fried chicken wing is coated in a hot peppery buffalo sauce that is infused with vinegar and butter, and garnished with herbs and spices. If you can’t handle spices well, steer clear of this.

The Buffalo Wings are part of Ice Edge Cafe’s 1-for-1 menu.

#2 CALAMARI WITH THAI MAYO

We absolutely love the Calamari with Thai Mayo (S$12.80++) that is on the starters menu. Green salad and Thai mayonnaise dip are served alongside succulent, deep-fried battered squid rings.

#3 JAPANESE BONITO PRAWN SALAD

If calories matter, then the Japanese Bonito Prawn Salad (S$12.80++) is for you. This is a salad of assorted leafy greens, Japanese seasoning, fresh prawns and crispy wakame. Pretty simple, but no less fresh and healthy.

The Japanese Bonito Prawn Salad is part of Ice Edge Cafe’s 1-for-1 menu.

#4 SEAFOOD AGLIO OLIO SPAGHETTI

The Seafood Aglio Olio Spaghetti (S$16.80+) is an Ice Edge classic. Served with clams, juicy prawns and squid, the pasta is served al dente and tossed with chilli padi and garlic. It comes in a very generous portion too!

The Seafood Aglio Olio Spgahetti is part of Ice Edge Cafe’s 1-for-1 menu. Each pasta works out to be just S$8.4+ during lunch!

#5 TOM YAM SEAFOOD LINGUINE

Tom Yam Seafood Linguine (S$17.80+) is an interesting East-meets-West pasta invention which has successfully incorporated the traditional Thai soup into an Italian classic. The pasta is cooked firm to the bite and enhanced with the garlic’s aroma. It is then complemented with clam, squid and prawn.

And it is very spicy. But that is precisely how we like it to be. Definitely our favourite pasta in the entire menu!

#6 BUTTER CREAM SALMON

Over at Ice Edge Cafe, salmon fillets are cooked to perfection—think crispy skin and runny flesh. The fish flakes easily when pierced through with a fork, and topped with a slap of buttery herbs cream and pink peppercorn. The Butter Cream Salmon (S$19.80+) is also served with grilled asparagus and a house salad.

It honestly looks like nothing, but it is the kind of comfort lunch you’d wish for on a boring workday.

#7 PESTO CREAM CHICKEN

The chef-recommended main course Pesto Cream Chicken (S$17.80+) looked pretty messy but this plate packs a punch. It comprises a juicy chicken thigh pan-fried till golden brown, then topped with fresh pesto, and accompanied with carrots, cream, herbs, potatoes and spices.

The Pesto Cream Chicken is part of Ice Edge Cafe’s 1-for-1 menu. S$8.90 for a main course? Lunch doesn’t get any better than this.

#8 CORDON BLEU

By now, you would have noticed that the menu is comprehensive; from American, Italian to Swiss, you can expect a myriad of cuisines.

Ice Edge Cafe’s take on the Cordon Bleu (S$18.80+) is a beautiful one. Slice into the deep-fried breaded chicken and you will see the intersection of bacon and bursting nacho cheese. This is actually our favourite main, for it was satisfaction in every bite.

#9 PIZZA PRAWN MENTAIKO

The Pizza Prawn Mentaiko (S$16.80+) is a work of art and damn, ain’t it photogenic?! The pizza comes with a thin crust. Herbs, prawns and mozzarella cheese are scattered all over the flat dough, before Japanese mayonnaise and mentaiko cream are drizzled in circular motions.

#10 MAO SHAN WANG LAVA CAKE

The divine Mao Shan Wang Lava Cake (S$14.80+) is a must-order when at Ice Edge Cafe. And we’ve heard many stories of how people from all over Singapore travel to Kovan for this legendary dessert. It is safe to say the folks at Ice Edge Cafe pioneered the durian lava cake trend.

The King of Fruits has been integrated into a dense lava cake and warm molten durian will ooze out upon forking it. No efforts have been spared in the making of this signature dessert, and the end result is a robust, divine dessert that bursts with aroma. The lava cake comes with a scoop of gelato of your choice.

#11 WAFFLE

Super crisp on the outside and featherlight on the inside, the Waffles here are superb. Choose to top your waffle with one, two, three or four gelato scoop(s). Prices are S$10+, S$14.50+, S$19+ and S$23.50+ respectively.

There are many flavours to choose from for your gelato (which is also what Ice Edge Cafe is well-loved for), and unique flavours include Salted Egg, Japanese Yuzu and Cotton Candy.

#12 BROWNIE WITH GELATO

Like the idea of death by chocolate? Well, then you have to get the warm double chocolate brownie with chocolate sauce. This decadent dessert comes with either one or two scoop(s) of gelato; the former is priced at S$9.80+ whilst the latter would set you back S$14.30+.

And it is important to know that Ice Edge Cafe takes pride in their desserts, and this brownie is baked fresh in-house daily.

#13 CHEESECAKE

We can always do with a good cheesecake, yes? There are three flavours of cheesecakes available on a rotational basis, i.e. Blue Berry, New York and Oreo. Each rich cheesecake costs S$6.80+.

Of course, you need to top it off with a scoop or two of gelato.

From now until 15 December 2016, quote “ladyironchef” to get a FREE Waffle with a scoop of gelato (worth S$10+) when you spend S$20 per table. This offer is valid during dinner daily.

*The 1-for-1 Lunch Promotion is available every day on weekdays (excluding eves of and Public Holiday), and it is redeemable from 11.30am to 3pm. The higher-priced item will be charged. 1-for-1 items can be mixed and matched, and no splitting of bills is allowed.

Ice Edge Cafe
2 Kovan Rise
Simon Plaza, #01-10
Singapore 548008
Tel: +65 6858 5729
Daily: 11.30am – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: Kovan

This post is brought to you by Ice Edge Cafe.

Time flies. It has already been four years since artisanal ice-cream parlour Salted Caramel first opened its doors in Upper Thomson!

The popular of this ice-cream shop that is jam packed with customers every night till date still hasn’t died, and their formula to success in this cut-throat industry is no mind-blogging secret – they pride themselves on handcrafting ice-cream free from artificial enhancers and preservatives.

Salted Caramel has long become a favourite go-to dessert destination for Upper Thomson residers, as well as for those who do not live in the vicinity. Thankfully, their ice-cream prices remain extremely affordable despite its success. And yes, the salted caramel is still our favourite flavour.

The unpretentious ice-cream store’s prices are humbly justified. A single scoop (S$3.60), double scoop (S$6.40) or even a triple scoop (S$9.20) all cost well below S$10.

For a more substantial dessert, you can choose to add on a brownie (S$3.50) or a waffle (S$4) to your choice of ice cream. The selection of premium flavours will have you spoilt for choice, but our personal favourites are hands down Earl Grey, Horlicks Tim Tam, Milo and of course, Salted Caramel.

The turnover rate of cafes in Singapore is insanely brutal and soaring rentals have made it even harder for new establishments to thrive in this cut-throat food and beverage industry.

But by now, we all know that Salted Caramel is far from just a fad. Its novelty of being new has clearly worn off, but its regulars have been returning religiously for more. In fact, the ice cream parlour is now regarded as a household name amongst those who live in Thomson.

Salted Caramel Singapore
246F Upper Thomson Road
Singapore 574370
Tel: +65 6753 1718
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri to Sat: 12pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Marymount

Awfully Chocolate is a familiar name for chocolate lovers. Who can resist their famous dark chocolate cake, and the signature ‘hei‘ ice cream?

When I heard from my friends that the folks at Awfully Chocolate have started a new restaurant, Loola’s by Awfully Chocolate, I was excited for two reasons. First, it is located at the beautiful Esplanade with a great view of the Marina bayfront line.

What caught my attention, though, is the array of desserts at Loola’s – with most of them not available at the regular Awfully Chocolate stores.

If you are looking for a place to satisfy your sweet tooth, Loola’s by Awfully Chocolate is worth a try.

On the dessert menu, you can find sweet temptations like chocolate mille crepe, hazel crumble, brownie, cupcake, chocolate tart, and churros. While the desserts are not exactly cheap – most of them are priced between $12-15 – I appreciate that they are well-made, and given that Loola’s has a very nice ambience, it is a price that I am willing to pay.

Besides serving desserts, Loola’s by Awfully Chocolate also has savoury food and you can get starters like capellini with truffle oil dressing ($15), crab cheese souffle ($18); main courses such as braised beef shortrib ($32), pan seared pork belly ($28), and Hoegaarden mussels ($25); as well as all day breakfast items like French toast ($18), egg benedict ($20), and egg white omelette ($22).

I went to Loola’s twice and I had the chance to sample quite a few desserts. The Loola’s brownie ($12), a very moist and dense rendition, was one of the better brownies that I have enjoyed in recent memory.

I am a big fan of anything-citrus, so I was happy to see the lemon yogurt cake ($12) on the menu. A generous slice of citrus infused moist cake with lemon cream cheese, and accompanied by a scoop of dark chocolate ice cream. It is an ideal afternoon cake. I’d have it with a cup of coffee.

The chocolate tart ($12) has a rich and deep chocolate filling in a nice and firm cookie base. It is further elevated by a scoop of good vanilla ice cream. You can’t really go wrong with chocolate and ice cream.

We also had a pear tart – part of the daily dessert menu (the items rotate on a regular basis) – which is decent, but nothing to write home about. Another dessert that you must try is Loola’s dark chocolate riser ($14) -  a dark chocolate souffle with vanilla bean emulsion.

I especially like the fact that Loola’s by Awfully Chocolate opens all day, and it is very quiet during non-peak hours from 3-6pm. Definitely a place to stay as long as you like, order a few slices of cake, and chat for hours with your friends.

I would probably go back for their savoury food, but if you beat me to it, do leave a comment to let me know which are some of the must-try dishes.

Loola’s by Awfully Chocolate
8 Raffles Avenue
#02-14 Esplanade Mall
Tel: +65 6336 9563
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 12am
Fri: 12pm – 1am
Sat: 10am – 1am
Sun: 10am – 12am