Created by Genevieve Lee, runner-up of MasterChef Singapore 2018, Sourbombe Artisanal Bakery started out as a home-based business with an e-commerce website during the pandemic in 2020 and it quickly made waves with its Sourdough Bomboloni—combining sourdough and the Italian ‘bomb’ shaped doughnuts.

Sourbombe Artisanal Bakery is opening their first physical store at Park Mall with a soft launch on 3 July 2021. The official opening date will be on 8 July 2021.

Sourbombe Artisanal Bakery’s 900 sq ft store at Park Mall will have a takeaway kiosk, retail section and a production kitchen that can cater to both online and retail sales. Online pre-orders and group buys will continue for fixed boxes of 9 Sourbombes, with the option of delivery or collection in-store.

You can also choose to visit the store to pick your Sourdough Bomboloni and get some drinks including cold brew coffee, house-made kombucha and dairy-free tea lattes.

Expect a total of 9 sourbombe flavours, including 6 best-selling signatures and 3 limited edition flavours, which will be introduced quarterly based on seasonal ingredients.

Photos credit: Sourbombe Artisanal Bakery

The 6 signature sourbombe flavours include:

• Cinnabombe (plain)
  The OG Sourbombe in full sour glory, dusted with cinnamon and sugar.
• Blueberry & Lemon Thyme
  A fruity summer bombe of lemon cream, blueberry jam and fragrant thyme
• Lavender Lime Mascarpone
  Velvety mascarpone infused with aromatic lavender and bright citrus lime
• Basque Burnt Cheesecake
  Molten lava explosions of cream cheese and blue cheese, the ultimate umami bombe
• Hojicha Caramel
  Fragrant Houjicha cold-steeped in milk and sprinkled with toothsome caramel crunch
• Passionfruit & Caramelised Banana
  A tropical paradise of ambrosial passionfruit mixed with caramelised banana cream

The bakery also has plans to launch a new range of experimental sourdough bakes—including sourdough croissants—later this year. We cannot wait to try them soon!

Sourbombe Artisanal Bakery
Park Mall, 9 Penang Road #02-03
Singapore 238459

Over the years and especially in recent times, a new wave of mod-sin gourmet interpretations have been taking Singapore’s dining scene by storm and we are now seeing more and more unique East-meets-West creations. The terminology ‘mod-sin’ stands for modern Singaporean and refers to the interesting marriage of local delicacies and western classics, and should be a harmonious blend of flavours that complement each other.

With that simple but important focus, redpan at Marina Square – a hidden gem we fell in love with lately – has created a comprehensive menu of fusion inventions that have successfully combined the best of both worlds.

A little fun fact: redpan is an exciting collaborative venture between local architectural company DP Architects and homegrown The Food Explorer Group, who is behind Grub.

From Truffle Floss Fries, Prawn & ‘Hae Bi Hiam’ Pasta and Banana Donuts ‘Milo Dinosaur’, redpan’s menu drove us crazy and we actually cannot pick just one favourite. Well, our lunch was good and these were what we had.

To enhance the theme and celebrate local design, the designers from DP created a multi-functional space that is warm, vibrant and conveys a sense of chic, with its custom-made wooden curves.

Design accents, like the custom-designed hanging glass feature comprising 2,000 glass pieces individually adjusted by hand over weeks, celebrate local creativity and craftsmanship complementing the food.

#1 CHAR SIEW CHILLI FRIES

Why settle for plain old boring French fries when you can have a deluxe version topped with a familiar ingredient? redpan’s Char Siew Chilli Fries (S$7++) is quite a showstopper with its homemade char siew ragout, jalapeño salsa and sour cream toppings. Think of it like the Singapore-style chilli con carne fries.

#2 TRUFFLE FLOSS FRIES

However, it is the insane Truffle Floss Fries (S$8++) that we will return religiously for. This mouthwatering rendition of Truffle Fries is one of the best we ever had. Cooked in truffle aioli and topped with chives and chicken floss, this starter is a blend of contrasting flavours that is totally worth every calorie. Damn, it’s addictive to say the least!

#3 PORK POPS

If fries are not your thing, then order the Pork Pops (S$9++). Presented in a red ceramic dish, the deep-fried marinated pork belly entree is complemented with a refreshing mango sauce that we couldn’t stop dipping our bites in.

#4 STEAK & CHINCHALOK

Chinchalok is a spiced Malaysian condiment made from chilli, lime juice, shallots and shrimp paste. Truth to be told, we were rather skeptical about the unlikely combination of fermented shrimps atop grilled steak. But we were to find out that the combination is an unconventionally brilliant one. The pickled onions might overpower the steak a little, but that was fine. We enjoyed this dish a lot.

#5 PRAWN & ‘HAE BI HIAM’ PASTA

Who would have thought that a Southeast Asian approach to a prawn pasta would produce such an extraordinary outcome? redpan’s Prawn & ‘Hae Bi Hiam’ Pasta (S$16++) is a huge plate of al dente tagliatelle tossed with handcrafted sambal and fresh sautéed prawns. You might want to know that the spicy shrimp paste is prepared with renowned Chef Mervyn Phan’s grandmother’s recipe.

#6 ‘HAR CHEONG’ CHICKEN CUTLET

redpan has extracted the key essence of Singaporeans’ beloved tze char dish prawn paste chicken wings (a.k.a. har cheong gai) and infused its flavours into a succulent chicken cutlet. Yes, that’s right – a plump chicken thigh that has been coated and marinated with aromatic shrimp paste before being deep-fried to a beautiful golden brown. The juicy cutlet is served with fragrant smashed potatoes, and you bet it totally won us over.

#7 100% NATURAL PORK BELLY ‘BAK KUT TEH’*

All hail the 160-gram seared pork belly (S$21++)! This main course is definitely far from what we all know of the local pork ribs soup. Instead, the fork-tender meat is a semi-dry version that is lavishly soaked in a thick, viscous peppery bak kut teh sauce and served with deep-fried crunchy dough fritters.

#8 BEEF SHORT RIB ‘SATAY’*

redpan’s Beef Short Ribs ‘Satay’ (S$32++) is another surprise and what we would totally use as a definition of mod-sin cuisine. Think 400 grams of soft, fleshy beef that has been sous vide to tenderness before being drenched in rich satay sauce and garnished with onions and pickled cucumber. Robust in flavour, and nothing short of delight in every bite.

#9 SALMON ‘KUNING’*

The Salmon Kuning (S$24++) features a generous slab of fish that is wonderfully delicate on the inside and finished off with a grilled crispy skin topped with kaffir lime aioli and curry powder. Not the most exciting dish, but we actually couldn’t stop eating this because it is a simple fish dish that is very comforting.

#10 CORNFED MAGRET DUCK BREAST*

Cornfed Margret Duck Breast (S$26++) is a fancy-looking poultry main that has been glazed with kechap manis (Indonesian sweet sauce), drizzled with cherry compote and decorated with yummy tropical pomegranates. Highly recommended and it is one of our favourites amongst the lot.

#11 RED DATE BUTTER CAKE

Desserts are incredibly pricey these days, so imagine our surprise when we discovered that redpan’s sweet treats cost no more than S$8++.

Red Date Butter Cake (S$8++) is an interesting hybrid between a sticky date pudding and butter cake. Served warm and moist, we love how the caramel date sauce and vanilla ice-cream elevated the richness of the cake.

#12 ‘TEH HALIA’ CREME BRÛLÉE

Teh Halia refers to our local beverage of ginger milk tea, and redpan is possibly the one and only restaurant in Singapore to serve such an exotic creation of ‘Teh Halia’ Creme Brûlée (S$7++). This dessert is really a classic creme brûlée infused with ginger tea. The taste of ginger is actually extremely subtle and the dessert remains sweet overall, so even if you are not a fan of ginger’s spiciness, this dessert is for you all the same!

#13 BANANA DONUTS ‘MILO DINOSAUR’

We actually haven’t met any Singaporean who does not like Milo Dinosaur. Guess what’s new, guys? Banana Donuts ‘Milo Dinosaur’ (S$7++) at redpan! This never-seen-before dessert is made up of banana spherical doughnuts that has a very lovely doughy texture that is slightly sticky. Served with milo crumbs, condensed milk and hazelnuts. Top up S$3.50++ to add a scoop of vanilla ice-cream, this is definitely the best dessert in the house!

*These items are only available from 5.30pm onwards.

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redpan
6 Raffles Boulevard
#02-03/04 Marina Square
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 6255 5850
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

This post is brought to you by redpan.

With all the colourful desserts and treats floating around social media, yet another one has joined the gang – galaxy donuts.

Yes, these crazily beautiful donuts are real and they are now available in Singapore. Created by the owner of popular Halal-certified cafe, The Lab SG, these galaxy donuts will be sold exclusively at Sinseh: The Grocery – just a few doors down from the cafe itself.

Also, these donuts can be customised to your preference! If you have specific colours or styles that you want, just walk into Sinseh: The Grocery during its opening hours to place your orders.

Because these donuts are new and exclusive, you would have to place your orders (quantity and collection time) via WhatsApp at +65 9875 7232. However, you can also walk into Sinseh: The Grocery to purchase (for small quantities only) but a lead time of one hour is needed.

A minimum purchase is imposed (check with the counter staff for the day’s limit) and customisation is only allowed for small batch orders. If you choose to eat it in store, you can add a scoop of ice cream and have a drizzle of chocolate sauce via an adorable syringe. Very photogenic indeed.

But are these just fads and yet another dessert that is nothing but food colouring and preservatives? We are having mixed thoughts; what about you?

Photos credit: The Lab SG’s Instagram page.

Sinseh: The Grocery
9 Jalan Pisang
#01-01
Singapore 199076
Tel: +65 6291 5743
Daily: 12pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Rochor

About the writer:
Cheryl is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She loves a good steak and an even better cuppa. She eats just about anything and everything. In her free time, she regularly starts on sci-fi or fantasy movie marathons.

It is a never-ending debate on which donut chain is better, and we have our thoughts and favourites too.

Donuts are snacks that we’ve had since we were kids, and regardless of variation, we are always up for a good donut.

So which is the best? There are three popular donut chains in Singapore that people always think of when they want a donut – Krispy Kreme, Dunkin’ Donuts and J.CO Donuts – and we have decided to compare them further. Here’s the ultimate donut showdown.

THE ULTIMATE DONUT SHOWDOWN – MEET THE CONTENDERS

Meet the contenders – Krispy Kreme is an American chain started in 1937 in New Orleans and has since been one of the most celebrated donut chains in the world.

Dunkin’ Donuts is another huge American chain that has been one of the most popular choices everywhere they go.

Lastly, J.CO Donuts is an Indonesian Donut chain that was so well-received that they had a massive expansion in Asia.

For this experiment, we picked out 3 different types of donuts from each place. They are the classic choices of Original Glazed, Chocolate and Jam-filled. Here is what went down in our mini taste test.

ORIGINAL GLAZED

Krispy Kreme: The glaze was even all the way through, and was not overly sweet alongside a very slight hint of salt. Dough itself was fluffy. The high price tag of S$2.20 is probably its only downfall.

Dunkin’ Donuts: The original glazed donut was huge and extremely fluffy inside. The odd shape intrigued us but the letdown came when we bit into it. There wasn’t much taste going on here. Only consolation was the huge portion for S$1.80.

J.CO Donuts: This was probably the biggest letdown. Apart from being small, it was not fluffy at all. The glaze did nothing for us and it just looked like a floppy mess beside the other two.

VERDICT

Our pick: Krispy Kreme wins hands down. We finally understand why their original glazed donut is such a hit. And it is definitely worth the high(er) price tag.

CHOCOLATE DONUT

Krispy Kreme: This is basically just milk chocolate over the original glazed donut. We really liked that the chocolate did not over power the tasty donut itself; if any, it enhanced the overall taste. Definitely one to eat again and again, and again.

Dunkin’ Donuts: We picked this double-chocolate one because the more the merrier, right? Totally not disappointed. Its only downfall is probably the donut itself. But since it is supposed to be a ‘cakier’ batter to pair with the intensity of the chocolate, we thought it worked as a decent alternative.

J.CO Donuts: Chocolate rice just doesn’t work as well as just smooth, creamy chocolate. But honestly, we were pretty surprised that this donut was actually rather delicious. The donut still wasn’t that fantastic, but the chocolate itself was way too good that we were sold.

VERDICT

Our pick: J.CO Donuts wins this round. The chocolate was spot-on and was almost too addictive.

JAM-FILLED DONUT

Krispy Kreme: Way too much icing sugar on top and it was almost impossible for us to not make a mess from having just a bite of this. Jam was mediocre and could be better.

Dunkin’ Donuts: The icing sugar did not overwhelm this time, and the jam was actually really tasty. Paired up with the fluffy donut, this classic match made in heaven sure is a splendid classic of Dunkin’ Donuts’ to love.

J.CO Donuts: The jam-filled one came with a slather of chocolate on top, and while those with a sweet tooth would appreciate this, we thought the richness was a tad too overwhelming. Pick one, J.CO! Either chocolate, or jam. Both don’t equate best of both worlds.

VERDICT

Our pick: Dunkin’ Donuts won us over. It was simple, and it didn’t try to be anything else.

FINAL VERDICT

Every donut chain has its star bakes, and the ones that fail terribly. But this is just our two cent’s worth, and whatever it is, we are still huge fans of donuts all the same. Be right back, gobbling up more donuts!

Our favourite cafe in the East – Fresh Fruits Lab – is now extending their hours to welcome all supper-goers!

We cannot be happier to know, because this simply means pigging out does not stop anytime soon with the many supper options put in place for us. On Fridays and Saturdays, and the eve of Public Holidays, Fresh Fruits Lab will open till 2am, and you can expect a supper menu that is nothing short of creative.

We are telling you that the late night dining menu is gonna make sinning worth the while. And that includes, behold, Unicorn Donuts! YOU HAVE TO TRY THEM, JUST BECAUSE. Fresh Fruits Lab is only serving only 40 #UnicornDonuts on Fridays, Saturdays, and the eve of Public Holidays from 10pm to 2am. Best supper food ever!

A series of tapas will be made available for supper, and they include bestsellers from the regular menu. Otah Sliders has got to be our favourite, as with the Beer Shrooms that are best with, well, beer. Yes, you can have your Truffle Fries too. Best supper food, right?

But you know what we truly, madly, deeply love?

THESE. #UnicornDonuts

We present you the insanely pretty Unicorn Donuts. Fresh Fruits Lab is the first in Singapore to introduce a donut ice-cream sandwich – well, it is quite literally so. Please, just take our money already.

It is in the whimsicality that reminds us of a unicorn – mystical, wild, and legendary. Premium ice-cream tucked in between fluffy homemade donuts, then lusciously covered in chocolate and all sorts of happiness. The Unicorn Donuts are a brilliant invention, and we couldn’t care less about other supper food anymore.

They come in an assortment of five flavours – The Original (S$6), Oreo & Cream (S$9), Fresh Fruits (S$9), Chocolate & Nuts (S$9), and the one that drove us nuts – Snack Donut (S$9). The fickle-minded ones and the gluttons can go straight for the Unicorn Donut Platter (S$19) that comes with two flavoured donut and an Original.

It is honestly not difficult to fall in love, and to know that they are limited by the day meant there is no hesitating about supper already; JUST DO IT.

The Unicorn Donuts are limited to 40 pieces from 10pm to 2am on Fridays, Saturdays, and eve of Public Holidays. You know this is one thing you must have on your Instagram timeline.

Fresh Fruits Lab
351 Changi Road
Tel: +65 6677 6741
Tue to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri, Sat, & Eve of PH: 10am – 2pm
Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/Kembangan
Website: www.ffl.com.sg

This post is brought to you by Fresh Fruits Lab.