It is not every day you find a restaurant that fuses an unconventional mix of flavour profiles, but Akira Back at JW Marriott Singapore South Beach is one of those places that prides itself on its unique approach and sets itself apart from the rest of the pack in more ways than one.

The restaurant by celebrity Chef Akira Back features innovative dishes centred around modern Japanese cuisine with Korean accents. Kicking off its new weekend brunch menu, guests will be enticed with an unlimited variety of appetising tempura and sushi rolls in addition to their stellar 3-course meal.

Available at S$98++ per person on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 3pm (last order at 2.30pm), Akira Back’s brunch menu offers four new options for mains and two desserts to choose from (one of each per pax), allowing guests to mix and match elements encompassing different flavour accents and cultural influences so as to achieve a customised and delectable meal.

Through his many travels, Chef Akira Back has acquired a multitude of culinary inspirations which he applies to the food he creates, dishing out incredible and whacky creations that intricately fuse elements from the places that he has visited, without being too overbearing on the palate.

Look forward to a bit of excitement and adventure when you dine in this signature restaurant at JW Marriott Singapore South Beach because you will not find an experience quite as exquisite as this elsewhere.

STARTER – AB PIZZA (TUNA OR MUSHROOM)

The weekend brunch menu kicks off with a starter of the highly acclaimed AB Pizza which you can have topped with either tuna or mushroom. Created by Chef Akira himself to help ease Americans into eating raw fish, this fusion of East and West is truly one of the best things you could ever put into your mouth.

The pizza comes on a thin, crisp tortilla base spread with an umami aioli, topped with thinly sliced tuna and a dash of truffle oil. Fine sprigs of micro shiso are also added to enhance the visual appeal of this dish.

Every bite fills the palate with robust umami-packed goodness, which is nicely underscored by the gentle crackling of the thin crust.

MAIN OPTION 1 – HAMACHI KAMA

Hamachi Kama refers to yellowtail (Hamachi) collar, which is the fattiest and juiciest part of the fish. It is usually grilled or broiled, allowing the fat to render so as to achieve perfectly crisp skin.

Here at Akira Back, this dish is done to the utmost perfection. The flesh is tender enough that you can easily scrape it off the cartilage with chopsticks, and the ginger balsamic dressing that comes served on the side does well to cut through the richness of the fish collar.

MAIN OPTION 2 – CHIRASHI DONBURI

Neatly and intricately placed atop furikake brown rice, we were impressed by the colourful assortment of cubed sashimi, tamago, fish roe and avocado. The chunks of fish are much thicker than you get in most places and the addition of avocado, although not uncommon, adds a creamy buttery texture to the dish that we really enjoyed.

MAIN OPTION 3 – SPRING CHICKEN

The Spring Chicken is the ideal main to have if you want something relatively light without sacrificing flavour. The chicken pieces are marinated overnight in miso, resulting in tender and outrageously succulent meat. It is glazed with yuzu kosho—a fermented condiment made from green chilli, salt and the juice and peel of the yuzu fruit.

The miso really tenderised the chicken and added enhanced its flavour without being too salty; the glaze brightened up the flavours of the dish with its citrusy notes while giving it a subtle spicy kick at the same time.

MAIN OPTION 4 – PORTERHOUSE STEAK

The Porterhouse Steak (available with a supplement of S$20) is one that will delight steak aficionados. A generous bone-in, Porterhouse cut of Australian Angus beef is seasoned with a house-innovated coffee-spice blend that, once grilled, boasts a deep earthy and smoky flavour.

As much as the steak tastes amazing on its own, try it with the bordelaise sauce, which is made with fermented black garlic, for a heightened umami note.

This massive steak is ideal for sharing between 2 people (hence the one-time supplement of S$20) and steak lovers should know that you really get bang for your buck with this cut. It was the highlight of our brunch and it would be yours, too.

FREE-FLOW TEMPURA AND SUSHI ROLLS

The best part of this stunning brunch is the wide variety of unlimited cooked-to-order tempura and sushi rolls that come as part of the brunch menu.

Take your pick of seafood and vegetable tempura such as the classic ebi (shrimp), ika (squid), anago (conger eel), shiitake, enoki and loads more.

And if you are really out to indulge, go for the nine different varieties of sushi roll types, from the hosomaki—the humble thin rice rolls containing one singular ingredient —to the uramaki, inside-out rolls otherwise commonly known as California rolls.

One of our favourites is the signature Godzilla Roll, which filled with unagi, and topped with sliced avocado and bits of diced strawberry. It took us a while, but we soon figured out how this unassuming dish bore a resemblance to the iconic dinosaur-like monster—think avocado as its green skin, and the strawberry signifying Godzilla’s frenzied eyes.

DESSERT OPTION 1 – AB CHEESECAKE

No brunch would be complete without rounding off with a sweet treat, but at the same time, you would not want something too heavy. Which is why, the menu has been carefully and thoughtfully planned out to include two desserts—the AB Cheesecake and the Pillow. You have a choice between both.

The AB Cheesecake is as rich as a cheesecake should be but the mild acidity from the coconut-lime sorbet and the apricot compote does well to cut through that.

DESSERT OPTION 2 – PILLOW

The Pillow, on the other hand, is essentially an Earl Grey-perfumed white chocolate mousse with morello cherry that is served with chocolate ice cream and a honey-nougat wafer–the perfect indulgence for chocolate lovers.

Weekend brunches are always something everyone looks forward to and with this enticing line-up at Akira Back, there is no questioning where you should be headed to this weekend.

Enjoy this stellar weekend brunch at S$98++ (per pax) on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 3pm. Alternatively, you can drop by Akira Back during weekdays for their lunch, as they have also introduced new 3-course set lunches as well.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 3 miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

Akira Back
30 Beach Road
JW Marriott Singapore South Beach
Singapore 189763
Tel: +65 6818 1914
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade/ Raffles City

This post is brought to you by JW Marriott Singapore South Beach.

Be My Guest Cafe at Tai Seng serves up a wide array of western-fusion cuisine, cakes and pastries as well as weekend brunch. Some of the dishes on the menu include their Green Curry Seafood Pasta, Lion Prawn Mala Mee Kia, and the Wolfberry & Osmanthus Cheesecake.

Dishing out innovative fusion dishes at affordable prices, Be My Guest Cafe truly is a cafe worth stopping by at if you happen to be in the area.

Their menu is straightforward and features a selection of fusion dishes with strong influences from East and West. If you add on S$4 during lunchtime, you get a meal which entitles you to a soft drink as well as either a cake or tart.

After hearing so much about their Lion Prawn Mala Mee Kia (S$13.80), we just had to try it for ourselves. The dish comprises angel hair pasta and six decently sized prawns tossed in a mixture of chilli padi, Szechuan pepper and prawn roe.

The prawns were sweet and immensely flavourful and the pasta was seasoned well. We liked the tiny chunks of mala peppers that provided a nice crunch and a hint of spice as well as the prawn roe that acted like little nuggets of salt.

One of the highlights of this humble establishment is their Green Curry Seafood Pasta (S$13.80). Beautifully tossed in a Thai green curry sauce, this pasta dish is so fragrant that it just fills up the entire room.

Linguine pasta is served with a generous portion of clams, mussels, squid and prawns, all nicely coated in the luscious, flavourful sauce made up of what seemed like coconut, kaffir lime leaf and chillis.

To balance out the spicy and the savoury flavours, we got a slice of their Wolfberry & Osmanthus Cheesecake (S$4.80) which is essentially a floral jelly inspired by the Chinese gwai fa jelly, atop a decadent cheesecake.

You have a luxurious cheesecake that is rich and creamy, and a refreshing floral jelly that seems to balance it out well enough without overlapping in terms of flavour.

Overall, we were utterly impressed by the food here and coupled with the absence of GST and service charges as well as the great service rendered to us, there is no doubt that we will return. Perhaps next time, to try their other dishes like their chilli crab pasta and crispy pork belly that we noticed other tables ordering.

Be My Guest Cafe
1 Irving Place
#01-20 The Commerze @ Irving
Singapore 369546
Tel: +65 9221 4405
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 8.30pm
Sat: 11am – 8.30pm
Sun: 11am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Tai Seng

]]> https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/09/be-my-guest-cafe/feed/ 1 https://www.ladyironchef.com/2016/12/dino-cake-house-cafe/ https://www.ladyironchef.com/2016/12/dino-cake-house-cafe/#comments Sat, 10 Dec 2016 01:00:13 +0000 Julee Ooi http://www.ladyironchef.com/?p=117506 Continue reading →]]>

Established in 1993, Dino Cake House & Cafe is one of the most underrated cake shops in Singapore.

It currently has two outlets in Singapore. Their main outlet resides at Upper Thompson, offering main dishes and a wide range of pastries while their other takeaway outlet is a hidden gem in Bukit Timah Plaza.

It is one of those places that we can never get sick of, because simplicity always works.

Located near popular Korean eatery Ming Jia Korean Food, you can take away your cakes and other pastries from the Bukit Timah outlet, and enjoy them in the comforts of your home or office.

Durian Well (S$3) is generously topped up with D24 durian flesh, and it is one of the all-time favourites. We are such fans of the King of Fruits and this creamy cake cup is what we needed to end the day on a good note.

Dino Cake House & Cafe’s New York Cheese (S$3.80) is moist and rich in cream cheese flavour. The buttery crust at the bottom has been made with just the right thickness and we like how the crumbly texture goes well with the smooth cheesecake. Fans of cheesecake will enjoy this!

Their Royal Chocolate (S$2.80) is what you will expect from a classic chocolate cake—soft chocolate sponge with a layer of dark chocolate fudge in between.

The sliced cakes at Dino Cake House & Cafe are affordably priced at less than S$4 and you can also get whole cakes that come in many different flavours such as Tiramisu (500g, S$16), Rainbow Cake (500g, S$28.80) and Blackforest (500g, S$16).

Besides that, you can also purchase other pastries such as tapioca slice, chocolate chip and mixed nut cupcakes, pineapple tarts and cornflakes cookies.

Dino Cake House & Cafe
1 Jalan Anak Bukit
#B1-K70 Bukit Timah Plaza
Singapore 588996
Tel: +65 6464 7115
Mon to Fri: 10am – 8.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 8.30pm
Nearest Station: Beauty World

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.

The beloved local brand, EwF, for casual burgers and fries is back at its space in Bugis Junction, this time with new burgers and fries!

EwF is known widely for their tasty yet affordable burgers, with prices as low as S$7.90. To complete a meal, you only have to top-up an additional S$2 for a serving of fries and a drink of choice. It is little wonder they’ve enjoyed popularity for as long as they have been around!

Now, EwF is back with new fries and burger options that are better than ever; think Shrimp Salsa Burger and Mexicana Fries. The other good news is the revamped EwF menu does not have any pork and lard!

From now till 31 September 2016, quote ‘Ladyironchef’ to receive a complimentary meal upsize when you order any burger or fries set at EwF Bugis Junction. In addition, there will be cone fries going for only S$1 every alternate Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the month of September!

THE FANTASTIC EWF BURGER IS GREATER NOW

As we were digging into the burger, we noticed the burger is slightly taller than before. We found out that EwF has decided to fatten up the beef patties in their signature burgers.

Yay to a bigger beef burger (S$7.90 for single patty, S$9.90 for double patty)!

HAR JEONG KAI NUGGETS

Perhaps unknown to some,EwF also serves the wicked Har Jeong Kai (prawn paste chicken) in bite-sized nuggets (S$6.90).

This deep-fried goodness is so tender and soft, with a lingering fragrance in the air and in our mouths, it makes us wonder why no one has done it before. But EwF is a genius; we are hooked to this already on the first bite.

SHRIMP SALSA BURGER

Meanwhile for the Shrimp Salsa Burger (S$7.90), we have a sea of salsa that sits atop a shrimp patty. We enjoyed the refreshing touch of salsa for it gave the burger a much-loved crunch. This burger is a relatively lighter option and with more veggies, and it is no surprise the females on our table loved it so.

CHAR-GRILLED CAJUN CHICKEN BURGER

If you are not a seafood person the Char-grilled Cajun Chicken Burger (S$7.90) is one to consider. It is built pretty similarly to the Shrimp Burger, with a chicken patty soaked with Cajun seasonings and accompanied by garlic aioli, green pesto and salsa.

SUPER CHEESY SLIDER

With all the magnificent burgers right in front of us, The Slider (S$7.90) also left us with an impression. At times when a typical burger is too big and messy to deal with, sliders come in to save our day.

The beef is well-marinated and shares its space with crispy turkey bacon and green pickles encased in a soft bun. Here comes the best part: the fillings are drenched in sticky, melty cheese.

EWF FRIES AS MAINS

Well, it is high time someone came up with this idea. Who said fries always have to be an accompaniment?

At EwF, fries are main courses too! Lunch can be a plateful of fries with Cajun Chicken on Fries (S$8.90) or Mexicana Fries (S$8,90) doused in cheese sauce. The Mexicana Fries come with fresh guacamole – which, of course, we couldn’t love more.

SUPER AWESOME EWF CHEESECAKE

EwF is also launching a dessert in conjunction with their reopening.

The Super Awesome EwF Cheesecake (S$6.50) is so soft upon slicing in, the cheesecake crumbs fall all over into a wonderful mess. The flavours are not overly intense, so this is also for non-cheese lovers! There was a slight salty note too, and it was only a matter of seconds before we devoured the creamy cake.

FREE UPSIZE

From now till 31 September 2016, simply quote ‘Ladyironchef’ to receive a complimentary meal upsize when you order any burger set at EwF in Bugis Junction.

S$1 CONE FRIES

EwF is having an amazing S$1 Cone Fries deal on 7, 13, 21 and 27 September 2016. A different flavoured cone fries will be available each week. It is a deal too good to be missed. Mark the dates down!

EwF
200 Victoria Street
#04-05, Bugis Junction
Singapore 188021
Tel: +65 6338 0135
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

This post is brought to you by EwF.

Cheesecake is a universal favourite. However, you either love it or hate it. For us, cheesecakes are the kings of cakes and pastries. Nothing can beat cutting through a smooth and rich cheesecake, before hitting the crust base.

Recently, bakeries and restaurants have taken the liberty of infusing other flavours into this classic favourite. There are a few outstanding cheesecakes in Singapore that are totally worth getting fat for.

From cool flavoured cheesecakes to traditional ones, here is a list of the 10 Cheesecakes in Singapore You Must Try.

#1 BAKERZIN – NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Some things stay gold forever, like Bakerzin’ New York Cheesecake. It is one of the most classic versions ever, and we have been fans for the last decade. Always consistently dense and creamy, they never disappoint.

Bakerzin
101 Thomson Road
#01-07/60 United Square
Singapore 307591
Tel: +65 6251 5550
Mon to Fri: 10am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Novena

#2 CAKE SPADE – STRAWBERRY TOFU CHEESECAKE

At S$5.90, this cheesecake is one of the more inexpensive ones on the list, but also one of our favourites. The jelly-like consistency of the tofu cheesecake layer in the middle really balanced out its perfect crust and the acidic contrast of strawberries on top. Also, because it is a tofu cheesecake, it is less heavy and rich – perfect for those who prefer lighter cheesecake options.

1 Tras Link
#01-06, Orchid Hotel
Singapore 078867
Tel: +65 6444 3868
Mon to Thurs: 12pm – 9am
Fri to Sat: 12pm – 10.30pm
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

#3 CHEF ICON – PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE

If you thought that Chef Icon’s iconic Boston Cheesecake is the bomb diggity, then you are in for a better treat. The Peanut Butter Cheesecake (S$7.80) is basically all the goodness of the Boston Cheesecake, with the addition of peanut butter. Fans of peanut butter will be happy to know that the peanut butter itself is not overwhelming and cuts out the richness of the cheese slightly.

5 Kampong Bahru Rd
Singapore 169341
Tel: +65 9337 3900
Mon to Sat: 8am – 7pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

#4 D’ GOOD CAFE – MAPLE SEA SALT CHEESECAKE

We were initially skeptical about this cheesecake’s price tag. For S$9, the slice of cake was practically screaming “I’m that good!” It wasn’t wrong. The sweetness of the maple is well-balanced with the rich cream cheese and the sea salt. Don’t forget a good cheesecake always comes with an amazing crust – d’Good has aced theirs.

273 Holland Ave
#02-01/02
Singapore 278992
Tel: +65 6219 9807
Mon to Thu, Sun: 10am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

#5 D9 CAKERY – AMERICAN CHEESECAKE

We were wowed by the beautiful cakes and pastries on display at D9 Cakery at Hilton Hotel, but the ever so plain-looking American Cheesecake (S$9.25) is still the best classic to turn to when we need a perk-me-up. It is the ultimate balance of fluffy and rich, and has one of the best and smoothest textures ever. It is worth every penny.

581 Orchard Road
Hilton Singapore
Singapore 238883
Tel: +65 6730 3390
Daily: 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#6 FLOR PATISSERIE – STRAWBERRY SOUFFLE

Pardon its name, the Strawberry Souffle (S$7.30) at Flor Patisserie is actually modelled after a light and airy Japanese Cheesecake, and this is used as the base of the slice of heaven. The addition of fresh berries gave a nice acidic kick to an otherwise one-dimensional taste.

2 Duxton Hill #01-01
Singapore 089588
Tel: +65 6223 8628
Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 7.30pm
Sun: 10.30am – 6.30pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

#7 MARMALADE PANTRY – SEA SALT CARAMEL CHEESECAKE

Some people love their cheesecake rich, some prefer it airy and light. What Marmalade Pantry has done was to combine both textures to produce an immaculate decadence. And whenever we find ourselves in town, it is so hard to resist the idea of popping by for a slice of this treat.

2 Orchard Turn
#03-22 to #03-34
ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6734 2700
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#8 PATISSERIE G – LYCHEE ROSE CHEESECAKE

The supposed hint of lychee and rose in this was just the right amount, so much so that you could actually taste all the flavours, without one overpowering the other. This Lychee Rose Cheesecake (S$8.50) is not the prettiest, but makes a damn good treat when paired with a warm latte.

Millenia Walk #01-40
9 Raffles Boulevard
Singapore 039596
Tel: +65 6338 7578
Mon to Thu: 7.30am – 9pm
Fri 7.30am – 10pm
Sat: 11am – 10pm
Sun: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Promenade

#9 PIQUE NIQUE – BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE

For berry lovers, this one’s for you. A nice layer of blueberry covers the entire face of the cake and even within the layers of the cheesecake layer. The tangy sweetness of the blueberries nicely evens out this cake, for S$8.50 per slice, it makes a good tea break in between shopping.

391 Orchard Road #08-05 Ngee Ann City Tower A
Singapore 238873
Tel: +65 6238 6705
Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 9pm
Sun: 10.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#10 SUN WITH MOON – TOFU CHEESECAKE

You might have seen photos of Sun With Moon’s Tofu Cheesecake (S$6.50) on your social media feeds before. Yes, it is the cheesecake with the odd wooden box cover. While we thought that the box was actually a successful gimmick, the real star of this dish is the cheesecake itself. Bouncy like a tofu, but smooth and silky like a perfect cheesecake. A mini scoop of blueberries is placed on top of the cake for a variation in taste.

#03-15 Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Rd
Singapore 238880
Tel: +65 6733 6636
Daily: 11.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

For more recommendations, read our guide to the best desserts you must try in Singapore.

If you were at the Orchard area last weekend, you would have spotted nydc’s ‘Mini Cafe’ along the streets. To celebrate its new menu launch, the good people from the New York Dessert Cafe set up a ‘Mini Cafe’ where friends, couples and young families can have a little fun, share nydc’s joy while snapping photos and stand a chance to win attractive prizes when they participate in nydc’s Instagram Contest. Check out the photos by searching #iheartnydc on Instagram.

After snapping some photos at the ‘Mini Cafe’, 3 lucky winners joined me at nydc’s Wheelock outlet to sample some of the dishes from its new menu which now offers over 30 dessert items, 20 hot food items, four kids’ meals and 40 beverages. What makes nydc a place to return again and again is surely the variety on its menu. With so many gorgeous desserts and tantalising savoury food to choose from, there is always something for everyone.

Here are some of the highlights of nydc’s new menu.

The Small Plates are a good way to start the meal. You can either have them as snacks (to save room for desserts), or share them as appetisers. All items from this section are priced affordably under S$10.

A must-try is Mushroom Munchies (S$7.80 for 6 pieces). The ingredients – button mushrooms, ham, garlic mayonnaise and mozzarella – are simple, but they come together to make it a very satisfying appetiser. The Lolli Pork Ribs (S$9.80 for 4 pieces) is nydc’s take on pork ribs with chocolate soil. I like the pairing of savoury ribs with a sweet chocolate-y taste.

Dishes from the Big Plates section include salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas and pastas. For those who love all-day breakfast, you will be delighted to hear that nydc also serves two breakfast items for the entire day.

The star of the menu and what I would highly recommend is the Piggly Wiggly Burger (S$15.80). The burger is made up of strips of juicy and tender pulled pork coated with a very addictive BBQ sauce.

Another dish which I really enjoyed was the Good Ol’ Fish & Chips (S$15.80). The fish was deep-fried to a beautiful shade of golden brown, and it was done just right – not overly greasy or too oily. This was comfort food at its best.

We also had the Double Beef Booster (S$14.80) which came with a generous serving of pastrami; the Sloppy Joe (S$14.80), a minced beef stew burger done exactly the way a good burger should be – a messy experience with all the ingredients oozing out.

We were stuffed at this point, but there was no way we would skip desserts, especially when there are 30 sweets to choose from. We were really spoiled for choices, and there were so many desserts that we wanted to try. In the end, we went for a combination of nydc’s signature desserts, and some of the new items.

The Goldmine Cheesecake (S$6.80), a classic New York cheesecake with chocolate chunks and chocolate fudge topping, has kept the loyalty of regular diners. The Choco Bull’s Eye (S$6.80) and the Peanut Butter Crunch Time (S$6.80) are also two desserts that you must try at nydc. The former comes with an espresso chocolate ball within the dessert, and you can challenge your friends to see who would hit the “bull’s eye” first, while the latter is a heavenly combination of peanut butter pudding with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

A meal at nydc is not complete without having their famous mudpies. Try the much-lauded Jedi Mudster (S$11.80) – a luscious pairing of double chocolate chip and macadamia nut ice cream on an oreo base with chunks of homemade cookies. If you are in a big group, order the 3-Some (S$11.80) to share. It comes with three layers of chocolate chip cookie dough, strawberry and strawberry cheesecake ice cream on graham crackers.

For guys who cannot do without their burgers, go for the dessert rendition – I Scream Burger (S$9.80). Featuring three scoops of chocolate chip, vanilla and strawberry ice cream sandwiched in a brioche bun, this is one attention-grabbing burger that even non-dessert lovers will be pleased.

The High & Mighty (S$8.80), another top-seller at nydc, consists of 24 layers of chocolate fudge and fluffy sponge. Unlike the usual chocolate cakes which are too sweet and dry, nydc’s rendition is moist with just the right touch of sweetness.

nydc started in 1995 with the flagship outlet in Holland village with the goal of providing a place where people would just let their hair down and share their joy and sorrow over good desserts and fun food. Its aim still remains true today. WIth their tagline “Celebrate Life Everyday”, nydc is more than just a dessert cafe that is known for its iconic mudpies and cheesecakes, it is a place where families and friends gather not just to celebrate special occasions, but also to enjoy precious time on normal days, life is indeed worth celebrating over good food at nydc.

Here is a good opportunity to try nydc’s new menu items as they are celebrating Singapore’s 48th birthday at nydc with a special $48 Bundle Deal which consists of 1 dessert, 1 Small Plate, 2 Big Plates and 1 Lemonade pitcher. Cheesecake lovers will be in for a treat too – nydc’s iconic cheesecakes are going for $48 (U.P. $66) this month. Promotion runs 9 to 31 August 2013.)

nydc
30 Lorong Mambong
Tel: +65 6469 2998
Sun to Thu & PH: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Fri, Sat & eve of PH: 11.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

#02-19 Wheelock Place
501 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6736 3253
Sun to Thu & PH: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 11.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#02-47/48 Bugis Junction
200 Victoria Street
Tel: +65 6333 3161
Sun to Thu & PH: 11.30am – 10pm
Fri & Sat & eve of PH: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse is quite a household name among steak lovers, with over 130 restaurants worldwide. It’s rich history dates back to almost half a century ago, when a single mother mortgaged her home to buy a neighbourhood restaurant called Chris Steak House. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Fast forward 50 years, and Ruth’s Chris has managed to find its way onto our shores. The restaurant, like the rest of the Marina Mandarin Hotel, is dimly lit and cosy. There is no fancy tableware or glitzy décor to speak of and is reminiscent of an authentic American steakhouse.

If your partner loves steak, why not surprise him/her with a dinner here during Valentine’s Day?

We knew we were off to a good start when we caught a whiff of the Cajun Style Crab Cakes ($35), two generous hemispherical mounds that came sizzling in a fragrant herb butter, each packed firm with succulent crab meat tasting like they came fresh from the sea.

The sauce stole the limelight in our next appetiser of BBQ Shrimps in Creola Butter ($35). “You must have it with the bread,” our waiter told us, pointing to the pool of sauce of the BBQ shrimps. Good advice, as it would have been a sin not to mop up the lusciously creamy reduction, almost like a thicker version of good lobster bisque. If we were to nitpick, we didn’t exactly enjoy the alkaline shrimps, which were unremarkable.

For all the rave reviews, it’s inevitable that we had high expectations of the steaks which were fortunately met, if not surpassed. We had the Filet Mignon ($85) and the USDA Prime Ribeye ($85 for 340g) done medium rare, both of which were exceedingly tender, pink and fully packed with beefy juices. The former is slightly more forgiving on the conscience and would please those who appreciate a leaner cut. But go for the Ribeye; it is happiness on a plate as the beautifully marbled cut literally melts in your mouth.

The idea that good beef should only be seasoned with salt and pepper sits well with us; there’s no better way to fully savour what is said to be the top 2% of America’s beef than to have it unadulterated.

Unless you are one who needs the obligatory greens or carbohydrates, we’d advise passing on the sides. The Asparagus with Hollandaise ($25) and Steak Frites ($25) we had were unspectacular and boring. You’d be better off saving whatever precious stomach space you have left for something else.

To wrap up the meal, go for the Cheesecake ($25) and the Banana Cream Pie ($25). The banana cream pie was an absolutely stunning, with each slice of banana encased by a thin layer of crispy, caramelized sugar atop dense cold cream, and then a buttery tart that held everything together perfectly.

There is nothing fanciful about the Cheesecake, just an honest, no-nonsense version that is pretty much the epitome of this American classic. In other words, it was rich, it was creamy, and it was huge. So much so that we had to surrender a quarter of the way through.

There’s no shortage of steak restaurants in Singapore, and to make us excited over one takes more than just good food, yet Ruth’s Chris does just that. It impresses with authenticity and needless to say, the steaks are spectacular. The only downside is the rather steep pricing. But dining at Ruth’s Chris is more than just a meal; it’s the experience of dining in this widely acclaimed steakhouse that has served and impressed steak lovers worldwide.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
6 Raffles Boulevard
Level 4 Marina Mandarin Hotel
Tel: +65 6336 9093
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 11pm
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

Words by Sarah Lim, photographs by ladyironchef

“Brad, my friends are throwing a Poolside Cake Party. Wanna come?”

Sometimes, we need to do crazy things to stay sane. Like eating 20 whole cakes at one go… The Cake Party is kind of like a mini competition. Everyone brought their best cakes, or rather, what they think is the best cake in Singapore. We got a good mix of cakes from Hotel Delis, to Patisseries, Bakeries and Cake Shops in Singapore.

It was really fun when everyone arrived with their cakes, we were like kids being locked up in Disneyland. Just imagine the excitement as we lined up the cakes on the table. It was cake, cake, cake, cake, cake, and more cakes for the whole night.

The question on everyone’s mind: which is the Best Cake in Singapore?

I figured that it would too cruel to show you every single photo of the cakes that we had, so I will keep this short.

We had about 20 tasters in the group, but most of them gave up after having a few slices.

We agreed that Flor Patisserie’s Strawberry Cake was the best cake amongst the ones that we had that night. It might just be one of the most simple-yet-sophisticated cake.

You might argue that our sample size of two is not big enough to make inference about the best cake in Singapore. But since we ate our way through 20 cakes at one go, I dare say that’s significant enough.

It was a close fight for the prestigious ‘Best Chocolate Cake in Singapore‘ title. We had worthy contenders from Lana Cake Shop, Choc-a-bloc, Jewels Artisan Chocolate, Vicky’s Cake Shop, and Truffs The Chocolate Artisan.

We also declared Lana Chocolate Cake as the Best Chocolate Cake in Singapore. Somehow, their combination of the sponge and chocolate fudge tasted just right. Unfortunately, we missed out comparing the chocolate cake from Awfully Chocolate’s and Jane Cake Station with the rest. I’d probably do another separate taste test of the three chocolate cakes. But that’s a story for another time.

The cakes in this post do not represent all the Best Cakes in Singapore. There are definitely other cakes that I’d include: in this list Bakerzin’s Chocolate Amer, Cedele’s Carrot Cake, Hilton’s Cheesecake, Canele Patisserie’s Matcha Cake, Da Paolo’s Tiramisu, Goodwood Park Hotel Deli’s Durian Cake, Jane Cake Station’s Chocolate Fudge Cake, Laurent Bernard’s Pleasure, Max Brenner’s Warm Chocolate Cake, Obolo Patisserie’s Noisette, Tampopo Deli’s Chiffon Cake, The Cheesecake Cafe’s Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cheesecake, 1 Caramel Patisserie’s Chocolate Praline Cake, 3 Inch Sin’s Warm Chocolate Cake and so many more!

Big O Cafe & Restaurant
501 Orchard Road #02-04/05
Wheelock Place Singapore
Tel: +65 6737 8472

Cedele Bakery Cafe & Restaurant
391 Orchard Road
#B1-37 Takashimaya Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6235 2380

Centre Ps
78 Guan Chuan Street
#01-43 Singapore
Tel: +65 6220 1285

Cheeky Chocolate
201 Victoria Street #04-13
Iluma @ Bugis Singapore
Tel: +65 6238 6031

Choc-a-bloc
Blk 86 Bedok North Street 4
#01-179 Singapore
Tel: +65 6446 6096

Emi Cakes
Blk 328 Clementi Avenue 5
#01-190 Singapore
Tel: +65 6775 1361

Flor Patisserie
2 Duxton Hill #01-01 Singapore
Tel: +65 6223 8628

Galbiati Gourmet Deli
400 Upper Bukit Timah Road
The Rail Mall Singapore
Tel: +65 6462 0926

Lana Cake Shop
36 Greenwood Avenue Singapore
Tel: +65 6466 8940

Jewels Artisan Chocolate
181 Orchard Road #02-31/32
Orchard Central Singapore
Tel: +65 6509 8998

Patisserie Glace
12 Gopeng Street #01-33/34
ICON Village Singapore
Tel: +65 6400 0247

Privé bakery café
2 Keppel Bay Vista
GF Marina @ Keppel Bay
Tel: +65 6776 0777

Swee Heng Bakery
1 Jelebu Road
#01-22B Bukit Panjang Plaza
Tel: +65 6763 9949

The Line Shop
22 Orange Grove Road
Shangri-la Hotel
Tel: +65 6213 4275

The Patissier
4 Mohamed Sultan Road
#01-01 Singapore
Tel: +65 6737 3369

Truffs The Chocolate Artisan
179a Telok Ayer Street Singapore
Tel: +65 9088 2736

Vicky’s Cake Shop
28 Holland Grove Road
Tel: +65 6466 4000

“I know a place that has the potential to be the best dessert buffet in Singapore, but I’m not telling anyone until I check it out.”

I tweeted this about two weeks ago, and I think it’s time to let the world know about the Dessert Buffet at One Ninety Restaurant Four Seasons Singapore. If you are lazy to read this post, just know two things: a) the dessert buffet is $12++ $18++/pax, and b) it is available from Monday to Friday 12.30pm – 2.30pm 2pm – 3.30pm.

Even though the dessert buffet at One Ninety Restaurant Four Seasons Singapore doesn’t have a wide variety of desserts, I think it is one of the best dessert buffets in Singapore for a number of reasons:

One. It is only $12 $18++/pax.

Do I really need to explain this? A slice of cake at Canele Patisserie will easily cost $8++. Just a word of caution, the root of all problems is expectation — don’t expect too much. Almost all the desserts for the buffet are shown in the first photo.

Two. This is Four Seasons Singapore.

We are talking about having lunch (okay, desserts) at a Five Star Hotel in Singapore. It is a nice feeling to enjoy an afternoon tea buffet in the dimly lit One Ninety Restaurant at Four Seasons Singapore, and watch the world go by.

Three. There’s no need to rush, take your time and indulge in the desserts.

Unlike the Japanese Dessert Buffet: Let’s Sweet at Bugis Junction which has a 60 min time limit for buffet lunch, and 80 min time limit for buffet dinner, there’s no need to rush to finish your desserts at One Ninety Restaurant.

Four. I think I’m wasting my time if you are still not convinced by now, so I shall tell you about some of the desserts that we had at the dessert buffet.

I’m not going to elaborate much on the cakes since the selections change every now and then. But some of the items that we had at the dessert buffet are: Chocolate Pot de Creme which is somewhat like a chocolate mousse with yummy whipped cream, the pretty but dry Fruit Cake, Caramelized Pineapple that tasted like fruit punch, Macanese Sarradura Pudding otherwise known as the tofu-cake-that-has-digestive-biscuits, the unexciting and soggy Tiramisu, the christmassy Cinnamon Star and Stollen (loaf-shaped cake), squarish Pumpkin Tarts that are arranged nicely on a wooden board, amazing Chocolate Praline Cake which is beside the equally good Grandma’s Chocolate cake (moist and sweet), simple and cute mini fruit tarts, the oh-my-god-so-good Lingon Berry Cheese Cake, and a few desserts shooter which I can’t remember now because I ate them before noticing the name.

* * *

Is the Dessert Buffet at One Ninety Four Seasons Singapore worth taking a day of leave? Well, if you are trying to clear your leave before the year ends, I think it will be a great idea to have a whole day of feasting (it’s the Christmas festive period after all).

Eat Kaya Toast in the morning, and head to Four Seasons at Orchard road for the dessert buffet, enjoy an all day breakfast at Wild Honey, and go to Koh’s Grill & Sushi during dinner for some Japanese food.

LATEST UPDATE: Come on, why are you thinking so much? It’s only $12 $18++/pax! If you cannot have just desserts for lunch, the One Ninety Lunch Buffet with unlimited appetizers & dessert, which comes with a choice of main course is at $48++/pax.

Singapore Food Restaurant Review
One Ninety Restaurant
190 Orchard Boulevard GF
Four Seasons Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6734 1110

// Read my list of dessert places in Singapore.

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Before I go into my raves for desserts, I want you to know that Marmalade Pantry at Ion Orchard serves pretty good desserts. Hint hint, just the perfect place to indulge for afternoon tea in Singapore – if you still don’t get what I mean.

Desserts are pleasure guaranteed, with no further explanations needed or what so ever. We can have desserts for breakfast, like pancakes with ice cream & maple syrup, If not desserts for lunch, dinner or supper, or all three combined. But you know what I really like? I think desserts, are meant for afternoon high tea.

Having come up with a list of Dessert Places in Singapore, I’m sure you can tell that I have a soft spot for sweet stuff. Marmalade Pantry has shifted from Palais Renaissance to their current location, and they are an extremely popular place  for high tea in Singapore, alongside TWG Tea Salon at Ion Orchard.

I’m a very visual guy, and the appearance of Marmalade Pantry’s Sea Salt Caramel Cheesecake ($7.80) didn’t exactly help to give me confidence. But oh boy, we were so wrong. The cheesecake was good, it was so, so good! Marmalade Pantry’s rendition was softly sweet, with a hint of the sea salt caramel induced within the eerily light cheese-cake.

The Old Fashioned Chocolate Fudge Cake ($7.80) on the other hand, was disappointing with the less-than-moist texture. Despite the chocolate-y flavor, the cake was dry and nothing could be done to save it. Maybe a scoop of melty vanilla ice cream would do the trick. Maybe. But we will never know.

I’d definitely order the Chocolate Truffle cake, but it seems that they have pull it off the menu and it is now only available at Toast Cafe Takashimaya.

If you are craving for something chocolate-y, I’d suggest to go for the Nutella Cupcake ($4.20). With a smooth, creamy layer of hazelnut spread on top of the chocolate cake, this is your gateway to heaven. Marmalade Pantry has some of the best cupcakes in Singapore, and the Limonta ($4.20) is the one reason I go back to Marmalade Pantry over and over again.

Marmalade Pantry also has an Afternoon High Tea set at $20 each which is available from 3pm to 5pm daily with a minimum of 2 sets per order. The afternoon tea indulgence includes Gryphon tea, a selection of egg and cress, beef & horseradish and green land shrimp finger sandwiches, buttermilk scones, and a cupcake.

Desserts will save the world.

Restaurant Review
Marmalade Pantry
2 Orchard Turn #03-22
ION Orchard Singapore
Tel: +65 6734 2700

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Three. It is the natural number following two, and preceding four. It also represents the three of us, the memories; of the fun, joy and laughter that we shared throughout the years. No, although we didn’t meet frequently, but somehow our conservation always continue smoothly from the previous meeting which was a few months ago, as though we just met yesterday.

Friends, are like the macarons you see. They come in all shapes and flavours, just like friends who has different characters and personality. And how long have we all known each other; with each finger representing a year, I count almost nine out of the ten fingers I could afford on both of my hands.

Friends. There isn’t a need to contact with each other all the time. A simple greeting, uncomplicated chit-chats, and a sincere well-wishes, are the ingredients needed, just like how a good macaron is defined by having chewy shells, with flavourful fillings.

Friends, we automatically updated and filled in on each others life, the gossips and chit-chats that make a whole afternoon passed by in a blink of the eye. A place to sit, some desserts to go along with a cup of tea, are all we need.

She giggled, you chuckled, and we smiled. Much as we used to complain about dragging ourselves out of bed on a Saturday morning just for the practice, thinking of the silly times we had, those were the days.

All of us had moved on, to new pasture, and a different world. But we still managed to meet up even though the rest often had excuses to miss our gatherings. Yes, always the three of us.

Bakerzin is currently having their Macarons promotions, selling at a dollar for each macaron (usual price $1.60++). And since it is a promotion, their usual flavours will not available, instead there’s ten different flavours to choose from. We had seven out of the ten, namely; lemon, coffee, Peach, Pistachio, Sakura, Blueberry, and Chocolate.

In short, not all the macarons impressed. We like the coffee, with the strong after-taste lingering on our tongue. The pistachio was chewy and sticky. The first bite of the chocolate was overwhelming bitter, but the taste became sweeter for the second bite. The different macarons have different texture, the lemon and the blueberry’s shell crumbled easily, while pistachio and chocolate have slightly crispy ones. But still, a dollar a macaron is cheap, and you can’t complain.

I was sceptical about choosing the Mango mousse ($6.20) initially. But since I’ve try most of the other cakes available at Bakerzin, we decided to take a risk and go ahead with it. And I must say the mango cake, or rather mousse was better than what we thought. Two layers of thin sponge with thick layer of mango mousse in between. The mango mousse, was naturally fulsome with mango.

With a name like Lavande ($6.90), we were perhaps expecting something more of the lavender flower, but it never came. Instead, the cake was very rich, with the goodness of dark chocolate fudge, and the velvety lavender-infused chocolate mousse. The very subtle lavender flavour in the cake meant that it was simply a chocolate cake, with a slight hint of flower.

As with most tastings, we always leave the strongest for the last. Sweet Pleasure ($6.90) is what my friend call it, my-kind-of-cake. How very true. A top layer of chocolate, jivara milk chocolate ganache, a layer of chocolate mousse, and hazelnut praline dacquoise. All in all, it did seem like a ferrero rocher cake. And having tried about thirteen of Bakerzin’s cake so far, sweet pleasure together with the chocolate amer are two of my favourites.

Friends are one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. One year technically isn’t very long, and with the advancement in technology, there’s always msn and email to bridge the gap of the two countries. Have fun in the coming months, my friend, my senior, my big sister. The three of us, yes as always, three, will meet once you got back.

***

Total Bill was $37.25 for 3 cakes, 7 macarons, and 3 drinks. With the promotion of getting a drink at $1.90 each with the purchase of each slice of cake during tea time. As you will know by now, I don’t like to repeat visits, but the one-dollar a macaron was too tempting for me to resist. Having tried thirteen cakes on two visits, it is unlikely that i will visit Bakerzin in the near future, but yeah, you shouldn’t missed their current promotion until end of Feburary.

Read about my previous visits to Bakerzin here, and here

Bakerzin
9 Raffles Boulevard
#01-23 Millenia Walk
Tel: 6837 2422

It’s all about you. It’s all about you baby. Yesterday you asked me something I thought you knew. So I told you with a smile, ‘It’s all about you‘. Say ‘if you made my life worthwhile it’s all about you’. It’s all about the company, it’s all about the cakes, it’s all about the laughter, it’s all about the fun, it’s all about the sugar-rush, from the desserts.

It’s all about pistachio and strawberry. The fraisier ($6.90++) was the first one we started with. The very subtle & mild pistachio butter cream, worked for me, but it might just disappoint the pistachio purists. A simple dessert, with the almond sponge cake enveloping the butter cream. I’ll pick this again, yes I will.

On my first time trying the Strawberry shortcake ($6.50++), I was disappointed by Canele’s rendition. Well still basically a shortcake sponge with cream and strawberry, Bakerzin’s version appealed more to me. But, for people with stronger taste buds, go for other highly-flavoured cakes instead of this.

It’s all about New York. No, you do not need to go all the way to NY just for a slice of the famous New York cheesecake ($6.50++). Possibility one of the most popular cheesecake, this one here came with a coat of tangy strawberry glaze, topped with a sole berry. Light and airy, a few of us preferred this to the stronger lemon cheesecake.

Lemon, cheese, and cake. I’m talking about the Bloom cheesecake ($6.50++) of course. Cheesy flavour with a strong hint of lemon. In the battle between the supporters of the heavy-cheesy, and the light subtle dessert, I’m leaning towards the light airy camp in this case. It’s not that I do not like the cheesy type, but the bloom somehow was overwhelming, although I like the lemon zest.

It’s all about the love of coffee, and chocolate. The Sumatra ($6.50++) coffee mousse with the combination of dark and white chocolate. I ain’t a coffee lover, so it didn’t quite worked out for me.

It’s all about childhood, birthday, and nostalgia. I remember the time when I was a kid, eating my black forest cake to celebrate the-day-I-was-borne. The Foret Noir ($6.90++) was the biggest in slice, with chocolate flakes showered all over the chocolate almond sponge cake soaked in kirsch. You know, the only reason why I detested eating black forest cake was the presence of brandied cherries within. Why can’t we do a black forest without them inside!

It’s all about chocolate. It’s all about chocolate baby. The sweet, o so sweet chocolate mousse with the flourless chocolate sponge. The “oomph” and “ahh” all came out. Heavenly chocolate. I can’t imagine somebody who will dislike this, and chocolate. The Chocolate Amer ($6.20++) was by far, one of the best cakes among the 10 that we tried.

With crunchy walnuts, chocolate ganache, and caramelised bananas. Ambrosia ($6.50++). I’m always against the marriage of banana and cakes. And now, there’s even a third party, walnut involved. Not my cup, or rather slice of cake.

I called this the cousin of Foret Noir. Having similar ingredients like chocolate mousse, and brandied cherries, the Coeur Noir ($6.50++) has dark chocolate glaze instead of the chocolate flakes, and a hazelnut dacquoise base.

Bakerzin’s signature, warm chocolate cake ($4.90, usual price $9.80). The chocolate ooze out like lava erupting from volcano. Like I mentioned before, when you eat the warm chocolate with the cold ice cream. The chemical process between the two combined together, was magic. At the current promotional price, i’ll agree its a good deal to try this out.

I must say the arrays of cakes Bakerzin offered, make them one of the leaders for gourmet cakes. But I still think that in terms of appeals, Bakerzin loses out, with Canele having stronger marketing and branding. I’ll like to thank the warm hospitality of area manager, Miss Janet Chua, who was around at the Novena branch.

Bakerzin
101 Thomson Road
#01-07/60 United Square
Singapore 307591
Tel: 6251 5550

While co-owner and partner Mac excel in decorating the desserts, June enjoyed researching the use of new flavours instead. Perhaps it is the unique combination and strength in the partnership that gave Obolo Patisserie its success. ladyironchef decided to organise a dessert outing there and it went on smoothly with the support that the partners provided.

The interior of Obolo is very small, and could only fit in 15 people. Mac and his team rearranged the tables and did the settings for us, with the print of our dessert degustation menu, Obolo’s christmas catalogue, and a small gift in the form of cookies.

Our dessert degustation menu consisted of 12 desserts platter, namely 7 petite cheesecakes & entremets, 2 petite tartlets, 1 dessert shooter, and 2 les macarons. As always, i requested sampling portions for the menu as it’ll allowed us to try a variety of the desserts available at Obolo. Therefore, the pictures that you’ll be looking at are all mini-size, and does not reflect the actual size of the desserts.

Tartlet filled with milk chocolate & passion fruit ganache. The chocolate-passion was a sourish petite tart, mainly from the passion fruit used. Most of us found it too sour for our liking, and the sourness from the passion fruit completely overwhelmed the milk chocolate. I preferred it sweet.

Dark Chocolate ganache mousse, cassis ivoire mousse, praline feulletine base and moist dark chocolate-almond biscuit layers. Having tried Le Cassis before, i still enjoyed the contrasting taste between the slightly sour blackcurrent and the sweet of the chocolate ganache. I’m a big fan of the crunchy praline feulletine, but i thought that the layer was too thin, and not enough! Nonetheless, Le Cassis is definitely a hit with most of us.

Baked cheesecake infused with mango and passion fruit. While i didn’t really fancy passion fruit as i found it too sour, but in this instance the mango actually provided a better balance in the overall taste. The layer of biscuit crumb base would be nicer if it was thicker. The Mango-passion cheesecake had mixed reactions, with some finding it too sour, and some giving a thumbs up for the creative use of flavours.

67% caramel chocolate mousse, dark chocolate ganache, pecan chocolate fudge cake base. We were debating whether the nuts at the base were walnuts, but it’s actually pecan. The caraibe was one of my favourite of the night with the velvety chocolate mousse, dark chocolate ganache and chocolate fudge base. It was all about contrast and layering, really.

Tartlet filled with dark chocolate ganache. One of the few real chocolate of the night, the Chocolat Noir was better than the one that i had at Cova. One of the main feedback from the rest was, there was more sour than sweet dessert for the night. Mac explained that for decoration purposes, they liked to add in berries. But it ain’t the season for berries, and those that looked nice actually taste sour.

Some would prefer her to be drenched with liqueur, but the purist certainly say no! If you asked me, I’m on the purist side. The light mascarpone creme, dark chocolate ganache & chocolate genoise infused with coffee. Pull-me-up, of sugar and espresso. The tiramisu au chocolat.

Remember Pineapple tarts? You reminded me of Chinese New year, even though its only two months away. Pinada cheesecake, despite given a make-over, I still missed my pineapple tarts. The rum-soaked raisins didn’t help also.

Looking at the pistachio ivoire mousse, your eyes must be green with envy. Not to mention there’s still the cherry-raspberry gelee to deal with. I never like jam, definitely not the gelee in between the way of the dark chocolate ganache mousse, and the chocolate almond biscuit with kirsch. Almost prefect, the Nikta.

All the way from the states, there’s the New York cheesecake. Smooth, creamy, with a hint of lemon. At the pinnacle, seats the stunning strawberry. She’s the one that teased me all right, during our precious encounter. And now that I’ve conquered you, what do you have to say?

Appearance is secondary, they say inner beauty is more important. Nonetheless, the outer beauty sure makes a good impression. Sprinkle with gold dust, the ginormous strawberry garnished the top. There was tangy mascarpone mousse, and there was red berry gelee. Add in some kirsch-mixed berry compote, and i give you Summer Berries.

Miss macha was a last minute substitution, simply we got sick of Mr passion fruit. By common consensus, the shell was very thick, chewy, and a tad sweet. It’ll be better if she was lighter. But you couldn’t deny the fact that the macha macaron’s filling was prettily done.

Always a safe choice, the pairing of hazelnut and chocolate. Certainly a crowd teaser with that fulsome filling. Once my favourite, always my favourite. I don’t care what they say, i’m in love with you.

I’ll like to thank everyone who attended the dessert outing last night, and hope you all had a great time. There were old friends, and new faces, but everybody’s welcome! Also my thanks to Mac and June who supported and hosted us, for without them, this outing wouldn’t be possible.

For the rest of you folks who missed out on this dessert outing, not to worry. Details for my next food outing will be out tomorrow! So do let me know ASAP if you can make it for the lunch.

ps: read fen’s detailed review at sgcake.com
evan’s beautiful photos at bossacafez.com
jia xin at foodies queen

Cheers,
Brad