Tucked in the corner of Teck Lim Road next to Keong Siak Road is Chez Suzette, a beautiful French cafe which specialises in hearty French food, crêpes, freshly baked pastries, artisanal coffee as well as a range of specially curated French wine.

From the French-style decor and furniture to the plates and utensils, Chez Suzette totally nailed it.

Prices range from S$19 for a Croque Monsieur, to S$36 for a main of Braised Beef Cheeks. There are also other classic French dishes including Escargots (S$16), Traditional French Onion Soup (S$16), and Duck Leg Confit (S$29).

We had the Duck Leg Confit (S$29) which was served with ratatouille. While the skin wasn’t as crisp as we’d like, we enjoyed every bit of the Duck Leg Confit.

Another dish that we ordered was the hearty Rolled Turkey with Mushroom Stuffing (S$22) and it came with mashed potato, baby carrot and a turkey sauce. The Rolled Turkey wasn’t dry at all and it was, in fact, quite tender.

To end off your meal, the signature Crêpes Suzette (S$15)—with a homemade sauce made of caramelised sugar and butter, orange juice, and zest—is a must-order dessert. Top it off with Grand Marnier Flambé (additional S$5 supplement) and watch the staff flambéed the Crêpes Suzette table-side. Get your camera ready!

There is also a retail and workshop space at Chez Suzette which features curated items from local artists and craftsmen.

Drop by Chez Suzette and enjoy a leisure lunch of French classics and wines with your friends.

Chez Suzette
5 Teck Lim Rd, #01-01, Singapore 088383
Tel: 8690 4810

Pâtisserie CLÉ is opening a second outlet at Lucky Heights neighbourhood near Siglap and Bedok.

First established as an online pâtisserie in 2018 by local pastry chefs Germaine Li and Joy Chiam, Pâtisserie CLÉ (clé is French for ‘key’) specialises in French cakes, tarts, and bakes.

The local brand opened its first physical space in Paya Lebar Office and the second outlet will be located in Lucky Heights neighbourhood where fans can get a range of tarts and
entremets as well as a new selection of viennoiseries.

The star highlights are unique creations that pay homage to the Lucky Heights neighbourhood and they include The Lucky Clover—a twist on puff pastry swirls with generous sprinkles of fragrant spring onion, garlic and bacon—and the Truffle Ziggy, a savoury bite filled with truffle cream, wild mushrooms, arugula, cherry tomatoes and feta cheese, which is inspired by the iconic zig-zag stairway in the Lucky Heights neighbourhood.

Pâtisserie CLÉ is perhaps best known for its Tart Gift Box with a choice of eight tarts and you have to try the signature Orh Blanc Tart which is an interesting fusion of the French Mont Blanc dessert and the local orh nee flavour.

Do note that Pâtisserie CLÉ Paya Lebar will be closed momentarily for renovations. It will be re-opened in April with a refreshed look.

Pâtisserie CLÉ
79 Lucky Heights, Singapore 467627
Tel: +65 8127 3925
Wed – Sun: 9.30am – 6.30pm
Closed on Tue

French Fold is a new all-day dining concept by the Merci Marcel group which focuses on  French crêpes, speciality coffee and curated cocktails.

Located at 204 Telok Ayer Street, French Fold is housed between Napolean Restaurant and My Awesome Cafe. You can now have French crêpes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Photos by French Fold

French Fold aims to offer their interpretation of traditional French galettes as well as an array of French crêpes with modern flavours. Using imported buckwheat flour, the French galettes are gluten-free and paired with ingredients imported from France.

The food is complemented with an extensive drinks list comprising of both alcohol and non-alcoholic options. French Fold is a place where you can have a cuppa in the day and a cocktail during the evening. And all-day French crêpes, of course.

French Fold by Merci Marcel
204 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 068640

Run by the same guys behind the now-defunct Ronin and Punch at North Canal Road, Gather is their new concept at Raffles Hotel Arcade that opened its doors on the 1st of February.

Gather serves both sweet and savoury French crêpes, sandwiches, baked goods, coffee and other beverages. Being a treat loved by most, crêpes are no stranger to us, but what makes Gather stand out amongst the rest? Read on to find out!

Being situated in a British colonial designed building, Gather boasts an old-school charm. The simple interior and open concept was inviting and comfortable;  it is a cosy place to unwind and spend some private time.

They have a merchandise corner as well for those who might be interested in take-homes such as soap, fragrance oil and so on.

We had the Parma Ham (S$18) that came with Italian parma ham, Gruyère, cheddar and egg. It was absolutely delightful with a crispy outer layer and when layered and folded, it had a chewy and fluffy texture. The parma ham and cheeses paired well with the light batter, while the egg in the middle helped to reduce the saltiness.

You’d expect this combination to be too overwhelming with sodium that it might be cloyingly sick but we promise you, it isn’t.

You get to witness the skilful crêpe making process over the counter as they freshly prepare it upon ordering at their open-concept kitchen.

Currently, they have six types of savoury and three types of sweet crêpes on their menu. Main or dessert, up to you!

Breakfast is never complete without a cuppa. The White (S$5 for 5oz) had a nice froth and was fragrant, but no wow-factor from it nor a differentiating flavour from other coffee shops. Still, it is a decent cup of coffee for a casual caffeine fix.

The crêpe itself was enough to make us want to revisit this cafe again. Good ambience and great hospitality from the staff there! They were really cheerful, welcoming and polite, constantly making sure everything was of satisfaction and made appropriate recommendations.

Also, they are still in their soft launch period until the 5th of February where payment is by a tipping basis to pay-as-you-like. Give these guys a visit ASAP for some great food and vibes!

Gather
328 North Bridge Road
#01-12 Raffles Hotel Arcade
Singapore 188719
Mon to Sat: 8am to 10pm
Sun: 8am to 6pm

Desserts are taken extremely seriously in France, hence it is unsurprising that the French are blessed with the world’s best patisseries. French desserts are well loved by foodies all over the world and its recipes have travelled far and wide.

The celebration of French cuisine is no longer limited to its national borders. Instead, French desserts have traversed beyond continents and it is now possible to savour classic French treats in almost every cosmopolitan city, including Asian countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

From creme brûlée to éclair and soufflé, here is A Crash Course to Knowing 10 Classic French Desserts. Next time, you’d ace your ordering instead of being baffled by those “unfamiliar” names. Bon appétit!

Source: Clafoutis

#1 CLAFOUTIS

Clafoutis is a fruity baked dessert placed in a buttered dish. The treat is characterised by an eggy, thick flan-like batter and most traditional recipes will use black cherries as the main fruit. The finished product is then dusted with icing sugar.

#2 CREME BRÛLÉE

Creme Brûlée—also known as Crema Catalana and Burnt Cream—is essentially a dessert comprising cream, egg yolks, custard and vanilla bean. The rich mixture is poured into a ramekin, baked till set and placed into the refrigerator. After that, sugar is placed atop and then torched till a golden brown caramelised surface is achieved.

#3 CRÊPE SUZETTE

Soft and thin, the divine French Crêpe Suzette is a delicacy well-loved by natives and foreigners alike. Grand Marnier is poured above the delicate galette, blowtorched and transformed into a viscous caramel sauce. The end result is a plate of flambé crepe quarter topped with tasty condiments of your choice.

#4 ÉCLAIR

French éclairs are distinctive in its shape and texture. Each oblong-shaped choux pastry is stuffed with cream and then coated with icing or sauce. There are numerous flavours and toppings out there, but the classic rendition would be an éclair topped with a layer of chocolate ganache.

#5 LEMON TART

Lemon Tarts are refreshing citrusy desserts. Each tart consists of smooth semi-sweet lemon curd contained in a delightful buttery pastry. We love how every bite of this zesty treat leaves a lingering tangy aftertaste.

#6 MACARON

Macarons exist in all kinds of colours and flavours. Each artisanal bite-size macaron is a piece of art itself. Think two light and crisp meringue-based almond shells glued together with either buttercream filling or ganache.

#7 MADELEINE

The Madeleine, or also known as French Butter Cake is a traditional small cake originating from the Lorraine region in northeastern France. The treat—baked with a génoise cake batter—has a distinct shell shape. These tiny buttery cakes are typically dusted with icing sugar before they are served.

#8 MERINGUE

Meringue is made primarily from sugar and whipped egg whites. Sometimes, lemon or cream of tartar is added to the sugary treat too. Sink your teeth into a crisp meringue and you will be blown away by how it melts in your mouth.

Source: Chef Eddy

#9 NOUGATINE

There are several types of nougats across Europe, but the brown-coloured Nougatine’s origin is France. The texture is firm and crunchy and the recipe excludes egg whites. It takes a certain level of baking skills and patience to produce these delicious treats.

#10 SOUFFLÉ

Soufflés have always been a crowd pleaser due to its delightful taste and texture. The egg-based basked dish has been around since the early 18th century and is prepared with egg yolks and beaten egg whites. Served fresh from the oven, the perfect soufflé has a wobbly top that will eventually melt into the ceramic dish to reveal its gooey contents.

Laurent’s Café is an underground gem in the heart of Orchard Road offering a menu of brunch items and desserts.

The cafe by renowned French chocolatier Laurent Bernard might be easy to miss as it sits on the basement level of a mall, but if we told you The Heeren, would you know where already?

Beautiful and authentic French fare and world-class desserts are what you can expect from this cosy and inviting space. Laurent’s Café is indeed those under-the-radar spots in town and it might easily be our favourite cafe in the Somerset area already!

And the best part? You can now enjoy 50% off your second main course every day from 6pm to 10pm when you quote ‘ladyironchef’ upon making a reservation. This offer is valid till 31 May 2016. More details at the end of this post.

AUTHENTIC AND HEARTY FRENCH FARE

A decade ago, French chocolatier Laurent Bernard founded his first desserts cafe here in Singapore and ever since, he has been winning everyone over with his artisan chocolate desserts, especially the popular Dark Chocolate Soufflé.

Today, his love for the kitchen has extended to culinary, and Laurent Café is where you can savour his very authentic French fare that are both hearty and affordable. In their menu, expect all-day brunch items, sandwiches, salads and even full-on roasts. You will be spoilt rotten for choice.

The Croque Monsieur Sandwich (S$19) comes in a really generous portion. The toasted breads are stuffed with gruyere cheese, ham and silky béchamel. The exterior has a nice crunch from the toasting, and the filling is a burst of classic French flavours that is no less comforting. Fresh green salad is also served on the side.

The Iberico Eggs Benedict (S$22) has got to be our favourite. While Eggs Ben are becoming all too common, Laurent Bernard improvises his and uses premium Iberico ham instead of the ubiquitous ham types. Together with sautéed forest mushrooms, organic eggs, Hollandaise sauce and homemade English muffin, every bite was an explosion of flavours.

If Eggs Ben ain’t your thing, you have The Farmers Breakfast (S$24) that is a combination of everything delicious.

Organic scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes, sausages, baked bacon, sautéed mushrooms and toasted bread. It was an odd thing but we actually really loved the baked bacon and sausages in this dish. Comforting and lip-smackingly delicious, this dish can do no wrong.

There are pasta choices too, and they include selections such as Spaghetti Carbonara (S$18), Spaghetti Bolognese (S$18) and Spicy Linguine Aglio e Olio (S$19).

We tried the latter and very generous amounts of chilli bits were actually tossed in, so if you love your pasta fiery, this should please! Lots of juicy prawns and plump garlic chunks accompanied the pasta, making it a really filling dish!

Out of all that we’ve tried, the classic French Crispy Duck Leg Confit (S$26) took our breath away. Boy, were we left speechless!

Crispy skin and a warm interior, the duck fats left the meat still juicy, and the baked Lyonnaise potatoes on the side looked more than unassuming but were surprisingly very flavourful. If you are not the biggest fan of duck, this might covert you to one.

Other mains to choose from are Braised Pork Belly (S$25), Burgundy Beef Stew (S$22) and Provencal Chicken Thigh (S$23), so there is something for everyone, no matter what meat you prefer.

SIGNATURE CHOCOLATE TREATS & MORE

No matter how full our tummies were, we will not pass up any chance of getting some of Laurent’s chocolates.

A classic dessert dish that is well-loved by many is the Homemade Waffle (S$13) that is served with ice cream, berries and cream. The Liege waffles are baked to a lovely texture that is slightly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

And how can we leave Laurent’s Café without a serving of the famed Dark Chocolate Soufflé (S$18.50)?

If you haven’t had Laurent’s soufflé, you haven’t really had a soufflé. Perfectly puffed up and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and cream, the eggy dessert is definitely the best rendition you can get in town.

Laurent’s Café also has a selection of desserts and cakes on display to have in-store or to go. Of course you have to try the signature Strawberry Tart (S$11.10) and Pure (S$11.10) if it is your first time.

The former had the sweetest Korean strawberries surrounding it and the reason Korean strawberries were used, is because they are currently in season. The chefs at Laurent’s Café will only use strawberries that are in season for their desserts at any point in time to ensure the best quality and freshest sweetness. We were also told that they will not sell this tart completely if no good strawberries are in season.

Well, what can we say? Just one bite and we were completely sold.

The Pure (S$11.10) chocolate mousse cake is basically every chocolate lover’s dream. Made from Chuao beans (a kind of high quality cocoa beans from Venezuela), the cake wins our heart with the rich but balanced chocolate center.

Take 50% off every second main dish every day from 6pm to 10pm* only at Laurent’s Café when you quote “Ladyironchef” and ‘like’ Laurent Bernard’s official Facebook page. This promotion is applicable for any main course on the menu and the 50% off promo code only applies to the second dish that is of same or lower value.

*Reservations are required for dining on weekends and you have to quote “Ladyironchef” upon making your reservation. For walk-ins on weekdays, you have to quote “Ladyironchef” upon seating to enjoy this special offer.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 2 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.

Laurent’s Café
260 Orchard Road #B1-02C
The Heeren
Singapore 238855
Tel: +65 6235 2340
Daily: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

This post was brought to you by Laurent’s Café.

Antoinette is a Parisian style tea salon, helmed by chef Pang Kok Keong, who is arguably one of the most talented pastry chefs in Singapore. His fourth outlet at Palais Renaissance, Le Jardin d’Antoinette, is modelled after Versailles’s expansive outdoor garden. It is the perfect place to go with your girlfriends to enjoy a quiet afternoon.

I’ve tried the whole collection at Antoinette’s, and below is a complete guide to their cakes.

Let me eat cake.

From front to back: Violette, Versailles, Charlotte.

Violette ($8.50)

Our cake party started with the Violette, which consists of violet buttercream, violet flower cake and homemade raspberry marmalade. Dense yet not too heavy, it’s a very cake-y cake. I love the smell of the violette extract which perfumes the cake sponge, akin to rose with a tinge of raspberry.

Versailles ($9.0)

We also had the Versailles, a simple flourless chocolate sponge with 58% dark chocolate. While the flavour was intense, we liked the fact that it was not too overwhelming.

Charlotte ($8.50)

Named after Chef Pang’s older daughter, Charlotte — as its name suggests — is a princess-y cake made up of finger sponge soaked with strawberry syrup, strawberry jelly, and a plain vanilla cake base.

Le Royale ($8.0)

Le Royale, one of the most popular cakes at Antoinette, is also something not to be missed. If you like chocolate and hazelnut, this is definitely a winner.

Saint Honore L’amour ($8.50)

Easily the prettiest cake on Antoinette’s dessert menu, Saint Honore L’amour is a choux pastry filled with rose petal cream, and accompanied by strawberry compote, fresh raspberry, and adorned with fresh rose petals. Light, smooth and easy on the palate.

Antoinette ($9.0)

The namesake creation, an earl grey tea chocolate cake, is one of my favourite desserts. Trust me on this, it is that good. If this is your first time trying their cakes, you cannot leave the French patisserie without having it.

Strawberry Baba ($8.0)

One of the few desserts that I do not enjoy is the Strawberry Baba – which comprise strawberry baba baba pastry, citrus rum syrup, vanilla crème chantilly – as I find it to be an acquired taste.

From bottom clockwise: Kyoto, Chloe, Framboisier.

Kyoto ($9.0)

A very Japanese-esque cake. I liked that the chestnut cremeux was very light, and it added a nice finish to the green tea mascarpone mousse,

Chloe ($9.0)

One of the newest additions to Antoinette’s repertoire, Chloe is the latest crowd pleaser. After trying the cake, it is easy to understand why. The combination of yuzu cremeux, white chocolate vanilla mousse, light sponge cake and almond sable was brilliant. The Chloe is definitely one of the must-try cakes at Antoinette.

Framboisier ($8.50)

Antoinette’s take on cheesecake. The graham cracker crust is usually at the base of the cheesecake, but in this instance, Chef Pang has opted to place the crumble cubes on top cream cheese vanilla mousse cake. All in all, it is a very pleasant rendition – you can’t go wrong with it.

Mont blanc ($8.50)

If you like chestnut, you should go for the Mont Blanc. For me, it is decent, but with so many other choices, I would probably not opt for this. That said, I am not a big fan of the chestnut dessert, so don’t take my word for it.

From front to back: Religieuse Café Caramel, Tarte exotique.

Religieuse Café Caramel ($8.00)

This is the profiterole version of chocolate éclair. Essentially, it is a fluffy and light choux pastry filled with coffee cream. A chocolate dome filled with caramel sits atop on the choux pastry, and it provides a good balance to the bitter coffee taste.

Tarte exotique ($8.50)

If I were to simply describe the tarte exotique, it would be: Mediterranean with a local twist. This tart has many interesting and contrasting flavours like almond tart, gula Melaka cremeux, finger sponge with gula melaka, coconut mousse, exotique coulis – which managed to come together very harmoniously.

Strawberry shortcake ($8.0)

Fans of Japanese strawberry shortcake will be happy to see it on Antoinette’s menu. That said, while I have included it in my list of the best strawberry shortcakes in Singapore, I think it is good, but not extraordinary.

Forbidden fruit ($9.0)

The forbidden fruit is unanimously our favourite pick of the lot. This is a reconstructed apple tart in the form of a cake. Built with a financier cake base, green apple mousse, maple cremeux, vanilla caramel apple slices and green apply jelly; it tastes as good (or even better) than it looks.

Antoinette
390 Orchard Road
#B1-08/09/10C Palais Renaissance
Tel: +65 6735 6392
Daily: 11am to 10pm
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

Paul Bakery has opened in Singapore with much fanfare, and it’s not difficult to understand why the French boulangerie/patisserie is packed with customers everyday.

For those who have been to Europe, Paul Boulangerie is the place for them to relive those wonderful memories of having a warm croissant and a cup of coffee during winter. For others who have heard much about Paul from their friends, the new restaurant in Singapore gives them the chance to try something before they go Europe.

The question on everyone’s mind is no doubt whether Paul Boulangerie in Singapore is the same as Europe.

Let’s be realistic. It’s impossible to replicate the experience in Singapore. I mean, even if you’re just having a croissant from Paul by the roadside in Paris, it’s still going to taste better as compared to dining in the restaurant in Singapore. Everything tastes better when you are on a holiday.

We had a Lemon Tart ($6.1), Mixed Fruits Tart ($6.4), Chocolate Cake ($5.1) and Eclair Chocolat ($5.6). All of them were decent, but not blow-my-socks-off good.

That being said, I am still glad that Paul Bakery is finally in Singapore. At least now I have a place to get my Pain au chocolat while saving up for a trip to Europe. Besides desserts and bread, they also serve proper food; it is a nice all-day dining restaurant in Orchard.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Paul Bakery
391A Orchard Road
#03-16/16A/17 Ngee Ann City Tower A
Tel: +65 6836 5932
Sun–Thu: 8.30am – 10pm
Fri–Sat: 8.30am – 11pm

For more recommendations, read my list of dessert places in Singapore

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Antoinette is a Parisian pâtisserie and salon du thé by Chef Pang Kok Keong, who is one of Singapore’s best pastry chefs.

Sugar Daddy Group – which currently includes Antoinette and Pique Nique – is Chef Pang’s first business venture after a career of working for different hotels and Les Amis group’s Canele restaurants.

I was over the moon to hear about Antoinette Patisserie. Needless to say, I was very excited to try all the desserts. My first visit was a media tasting session and we had the chance to try quite a few dishes.

Since then, I’ve been there on numerous occasions as a regular customer, and ordered various items on the menu. My goal was, or still is, to try all the cakes by Chef Pang.

Cakes make me happy. I want to eat cakes.

Antoinette currently has three outlets at Penhas Road (near Lavender MRT), Mandarin Gallery and Scarlet Hotel. While the French tea salon at Mandarin Gallery has a great location, it is much smaller than Penhas Road.

I’d definitely recommend going to Penhas Road instead of Mandarin Gallery as the latter does not allow reservations and there is always a queue during peak hours.

If I could only choose one cake, I would definitely go for Antoinette ($9).

Even up till now, I could still remember my first encounter with it. The Chocolate Earl Grey cake caught my attention with its glossy surface; I could almost hear it calling out to me.

I took a fork and tapped it lightly, unsure of how soft or hard it would be. My fork easily went through the milk chocolate mousse infused with earl grey tea cake. The only words to describe it? Luxurious, chic, and heavenly.

I will go so far as to say that my hunt for the best cake in Singapore ended with the Antoinette chocolate earl grey cake. It is rock-my-socks-off good!

If the Antoinette cake was divine, the Saint Honore L’amour ($8.5) – made up of choux pastry, rose petal cream, and strawberry compote on an almond tart – would be the perfect representative of love and romance.

Another interesting option is the Chocolieux ($9.5). When the staff brought it to our table, we thought that we were having ice cream as it was molded into the shape like a magnum. How wrong we were.

It was actually a dessert (I find it difficult to call it a cake) made up of dark chocolate cream, hazelnut nougatine, dark chocolate biscuit and almond chocolate.

On my fourth (or fifth time) there, we tried Strawberry Shortcake ($8) and Café Caramel ($8).

The Café Caramel ($8) – an almond tart composing of caramel a la fleur de sel, genoise cafe, and coffee mousse – was well executed, but nothing special.

To be honest, I was a little unsure about the Strawberry Shortcake as I didn’t have a good impression of the one Chef Pang made at Canele Patisserie. It was actually not too bad. I’d include it in my list of best Strawberry Cakes in Singapore, but it is not my favourite.

I marvelled at the Religiuese of Caramel with fleur de sel ($8) when it arrived at the table. It was so beautiful! I found it to be a little too sweet, so you might want to order this to share.

Among the cakes at Antoinette Patisserie, I also had the Exotique ($8.5) – mousse exotique with coconut cremeux and poached pineapple; Pudding Maple ($6.5) – maple flan with caramel, in a cup; and Strawberry Baba ($8) – baba pastry, citrus rum syrup and vanilla crème Chantilly.

If you prefer savoury food, you must try their Chicken Burger, which is one of the better burgers that I’ve had. Besides desserts, Antoinette also has All Day breakfast ($9 – 20) such as Eggs Florentine, Baked Omelette; French Toast ($10.5), Crepes ($15 – 20) and Pancakes ($10 – 15); entrees ($10.5 – 23) like Salad and Foie Gras Terrine; and main courses ($16.5 – 38) which include options like Bouef Bourguignon and Gnocchi Carbonara.

Antoinette, without a doubt, is my favourite patisserie in Singapore. But then again, I am a big fan of Chef Pang, so I’m definitely biased. Don’t take my word for it, go there and try the cakes for yourself. Service can be very patchy depending on the time you are there, but really, who cares so long we can have good cakes.

The French patisserie is a great place for a quiet afternoon high tea. If I lived near the Lavender area, I could imagine myself dropping by the Parisian tea salon every other day.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Antoinette Patisserie Tea Salon
30 Penhas Road
Tel: +65 6293 3121

333A Orchard Road
#02-33/34 Mandarin Gallery
Tel: +65 6836 9527

33 Erskine Road
#01-02/03 Scarlet Hotel

For more recommendations, read my list of best dessert places in Singapore.

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If you have been reading my food blog for a while, you would know that I love cakes and I am always on the lookout for dessert places in Singapore. With so many new patisseries, cake and pastry shops opening this year, I think dessert lovers are living in exciting times.

Bonheur Patisserie at Duxton road, is a fairly new confectionery in Singapore which specialises in customised wedding cakes. They also have a dine-in cafe where you can order a slice of cake for a nice afternoon high tea.

Currently, they have an on-going Weekday High Tea Set (before 5pm): 1 cake and 1 drink for $8.5. Otherwise, you can always drop by after work and enjoy the Weekday after 7pm promotion: buy 3 cakes and get 1 free.

We were quite fascinated by the dome-shaped Tiramisu ($6.5) which you see in the first picture of this post. Both the Tiramisu and the Light Peach Sakura ($6.5) had a biscuit-like crust base, and we had lots of fun digging into the desserts. If you like tarts, go for Bonheur Patisserie’s Chocolate Hazelnut Tart, which was pretty good with its crisp pastry shell and bitter-sweet chocolate filling.

Amongst the cakes that we’ve tried, my favourite was the Strawberry Balsamic ($6.5). The pretty cake was deceptively light, with a nice touch of balsamic strawberry.

On my second visit, we shared four cakes: Mango Cheesecake ($6.5), Carrot Cake ($6.5), Caramel Opera ($6.5) and Chocolate Pound Cake ($6).

I thought that Bonheur Patisserie’s Carrot Cake was exceptionally ordinary, and so was the Chocolate Pound Cake. Thankfully, the Caramel Opera was not too bad, with the fatal (extremely sweet) combination of caramel, chocolate and coffee.

The Mango Cheesecake was the crowd-pleaser. With a smooth mango flavour and crusty base, the cheesecake was delightful and not too overwhelming.

The Tangjong Pagar/Duxton area really is a mini dessert paradise. Besides Bonheur Patisserie, Kki Cafe, Patisserie Glace and Flor Patisserie are also located in the same area. So if you are craving for cakes, I’m sure you know where to go now.

For more cakes, read my list of Best Dessert Places in Singapore | Best Cakes in Singapore

Singapore Food Blog Review
Bonheur Patisserie
70 Duxton Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6221 1148

Operating Hours:
Mon to Thu: 10am – 8pm
Fri to Sat: 10am – 10pm

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Note: Kki at Ann Siang Hill is currently closed, and it is currently looking for a new premise.

I first heard of Kki Cafe at Ann Siang Hill from a friend, and then another friend mentioned it too. I was about to visit Kki, but suddenly, all the media and food blogs in Singapore started to write about it. I am not sure about you, but I am not one who will follow the crowd, so I decided to wait for the hype to die down.

Finally, my chance to visit Kki Patisserie came. After having dim sum at Majestic Restaurant, my friends wanted some cakes for desserts, so we dropped by Kki Cafe. Given that there are so many new dessert places in Singapore, is Kki Cafe worth the trip?

It took us a while to decide on the cakes. Even though we’ve read about the popular cakes at Kki Cafe like Antoinette and Little Red Hiding Hood, we were feeling adventurous so we randomly picked three cakes.

Amongst the three cakes that we had, my favourite was the Emily ($9). Just look at the first photo of this post: the cake had a beautiful shade of red, and the subtle champagne mousse was gorgeous.

The Souffle Cheese ($6), on the other hand, was exceptionally ordinary. It was light and moist, but I thought that the flavour was somewhat missing.

We also enjoyed their rendition of the Noisette: Hazelnut Dacquoise layer with Chocolate & Praline Cream. It was a slice of delicious cake!

So all in all, would I go back to Kki Cafe at Ann Siang Hill for cakes? I don’t think so.

Kki Cafe has very pretty Japanese desserts, but there are many lovely cake shops in the area like Flor Patisserie, Bonheur Patisserie, and Patisserie Glace that have equally good cakes at a lower price point.

Having said that, I think Kki cafe is a nice place to enjoy a slice of cake while reading your favourite book. There is also The Little Drom Store, a quirky vintage store selling all sorts of random things.

Read: Dessert Places & Patisserie | Best Cakes in Singapore | Best Cafes in Singapore

Singapore Food Blog Review
Kki Cake Cafe
7 Ann Siang Hill
Tel: +65 6225 6650

Operating Hours:
Daily: 12pm – 7pm
except Saturday 12pm – 4pm
& closed on Monday.

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Located at Chip Bee Gardens, Chez Petit Salut is the sister restaurant of Au Petite Salut, and it is a great option for causal dining if you are craving for French food.

Like the main restaurant at Dempsey road, the French bistro offers two different set lunches: 3 course set lunch at $30++.

We had two normal 3 course set lunches and for starters, we had the Salmon Tartar, which was light and refreshing – the perfect appetiser to start our lunch. When it comes to escargot, there are typically only two reactions: a) I love it or b) eew snails are so disgusting! My lunch partner belonged to the latter camp, and refused to touch the escargot so I had everything to myself.

It took us a while to choose the main course. You could have the excellent Onglet Beef with French Mustard Jus and mashed potatoes, or the Penne pasta with roasted vegetables, or the catch of the day. It is impossible to not be tempted by the Chicken Leg Confit and the Braised Lamb Shoulder, and it’s hard to say no to my favourite Mushroom Risotto.

We eventually settled on the Mushroom Risotto and the Catch of the day which was an Escolar. The fish was very fresh and well-cooked, it fell apart nicely when we teased it with a fork. The portion was quite small for guys, but it is probably just nice if you don’t want to fall asleep in the office after lunch.

As much as I love risotto, I’d usually avoid this dish when it comes to choosing a main course for set lunches. It seems a little silly to choose risotto when there are meat and seafood on the menu. But I was glad that I ordered Chez Petit Salut’s Mixed Mushroom Risotto with light cream emulsion and Parmesan Cheese. It was rich, and creamy: thick flavourful rice done al dente, with the earthiness of the fresh mushrooms giving it an additional flavour.

I think this is easily one of the best risotto that I had before.

Amongst the six desserts available on Chez Petit Salut’s set lunch menu, we didn’t want the Fresh Fruit Salad, Homemade Strawberry Shortcake, and Financer with chantilly cream, so it left us to choose two desserts between the classic Creme Brulee, Choux Buns and Homemade Cheesecake.

We agreed that the Gateau au Fromage Blanc was too good to miss, and since I had Au Petit Salut’s creme brulee before, we went for the Choux Buns with vanilla ice cream.

Filled with vanilla ice cream and glazed with a sweet and thick coating of chocolate sauce, the choux buns were gone before you could pronounce profiteroles. While they were not fantastic, we wanted to end the meal on a sugar high, and the Choux Buns did just that.

The Homemade Cheesecake was accompanied by a mixture of fruits, a delightful end to a great lunch at Chez Petit Salut.

For more recommendations, read my list of French Restaurants in Singapore

Chez Petit Salut
44 Jalan Merah Saga #01-54
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6474 9788
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

When it comes to chocolate desserts, no one does it better than Laurent Bernard Chocolatier. Formerly known as The Chocolate Factory, the newly renamed Laurent’s Café & Chocolate Bar has two branches at Robertson Quay and Portsdown road. Whenever I’m having dinner at the Robertson Quay restaurants, I always find it hard to decide between Canele Patisserie or Laurent Bernard for desserts.

For those of you who are having a chocolate craving, I’m sure Laurent’s Cafe & Chocolate Bar can satisfy you with the chocolatey truffle cake, my favourite Plaisir Sucré, the delicious chocolate tart and of course, their famous Chocolate Souffle.

One of my favourite cakes from Laurent Bernard Cafe is definitely the Pleasure ($9.80). The classic Plaisir Sucré comprises whipped chocolate cream and ganache in between the beautiful and delicate chocolate sheets, and a base of hazelnut and praline; it is out-of-this-world.

The Trianon ($7.80) reminds me of the Plaisir Sucré. In place of the chocolate sheets, it has the dark yet rich chocolate mousse, and the base of hazelnut dacquoise is excellent. Look at the picture on top, the dessert looks so gorgeous!

Having the Chocolate Soufflé ($16.50) may takes time and patience, but straight out from the oven, it’s instant gratification. Once you start digging your spoon into the souffle cup, it’s almost impossible to stop, that is, until you are down to the last smear of the spoon.

The chocolate souffle is moist, dark, rich, and intense while the accompanying raspberry sherbet is sour, tangy and provides the perfect balance to the dessert.

There’s a waiting time of 15-30 minutes for the chocolate soufflé, and like they say: good things come to those who can wait. But sometimes, I’m not so sure. Between the chocolate soufflé and warm chocolate lava cake, I’m inclined to go for the latter – who can resist the magnificent oozing effect? Not me.

Chocolate bars are my Disney land, somehow they know how to make me happy. If you are in the Esplanade or Vivocity area, go to Max Brenner Chocolate Bar, and if you are somewhere near Robertson Quay or Portsdown road, then it’s a must to go Laurent Bernard Chocolatier to satisfy your chocolate craving.

Laurent Bernard Chocolatier
#01-11 The Pier at Robertson Quay
80 Mohammad Sultan Road
Tel: +65 6235 9007
Mon: 6pm – 11pm
Tue to Thu: 1pm – 12 midnight
Fri & Sat: 1pm – 1am
Sun: 1pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

Updated on 25 Aug 2014: Canele Patisserie is now closed. 

I have been eating a lot of cakes recently. Hold on, please allow me to rephrase that: I eat a lot of cakes all the time, but recently, I have been having them way too often.

Canele Patisserie currently has three locations: Robertson Walk, Orchard Paragon and Shaw Centre. It has been a long time since my last visit, but it’s mainly because I wanted to check out the other patisseries in Singapore. Are you game for more cakes?

If someone ever tells you that it is wrong to eat cakes at night — THEY ARE LYING! I bet they are secretly having that slice of moist chocolate-y cake without you! Listen to the food blogger: life is short, and we should always eat whatever we’re craving for. Remove all the mirrors at home, get a bigger pair of jeans, or simply exercise more the next day — everyone should have their cake, and eat it. I can’t possibly imagine a world without cakes.

The Macha ($7) is one of my favorite at Canele Patisserie, besides the Le Royale. I’m no fan of Japanese Matcha, but Canele’s interpretation won me over with its smooth and delicate green tea mascarpone mousse. Right in the middle of the cake, there’s also the hidden chestnut cream, and together with the almond crumble; they were the perfect complement to the green tea mousse.

I never had Canele Patisserie’s St Marc ($8) before. There was a thin layer of dark chocolate cream sandwiched in between the vanilla creme Chantilly. I couldn’t quite describe it, but the cake was very pleasant and likable.

Peanut butter and chocolate are always a good combination, but I didn’t enjoy Canele’s Charlie Brown ($9). It was essentially a slice of cake with 64% dark chocolate cream, chocolate brownie salty peanut caramel, and peanut butter feuilletine. The sticky salty peanut caramel was a good contrast to the crunchy peanut butter feuilletine, but the whole cake was too heavy and overwhelming.

Canele Patisserie is definitely one of the best dessert places in Singapore. If you have a sweet tooth, you must try Canele’s Macarons – they are absolutely delicious! What is your favorite cake at Canele’s?

Singapore Food Restaurant Review
Canele Patisserie Singapore
11 Unity Street #01-09
Robertson Walk Singapore
Tel: +65 6738 8145

1 Scotts Road #01-01A
Shaw Centre Singapore
Tel: +65 6738 9020

290 Orchard Road #B1-25
The Paragon Singapore
Tel: +65 6733 8893

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