The Blooming Gallery Tea Cafe & Bar is a rustic cafe hidden in The Ei8ht Thonglor shopping mall. Walking into the cafe is like wandering into a mini secret garden where you will be surrounded by colourful flowers and lush greenery.

Imagine having beautifully plated desserts while sipping on premium tea or aromatic coffee in a glasshouse where sunlight is able to filter in during the day—this is the perfect gathering spot for high tea with your girlfriends.

If you are looking for a place to rest your tired feet after doing some shopping in central Bangkok, drop by The Blooming Gallery Tea Cafe & Bar in Thonglor district.

The founders of the cafe were inspired by a famous French artist, Oscar Claude Monet and you can see that being reflected on the menu itself. Do not be surprised to see that many of the dishes in The Blooming Gallery are named after this artist’s impressionist paintings.

 A Path In The Forest (THB380/S$15.63) is their signature dessert and this four-layer dessert is made up of cheesecake, matcha mousse, crumbles and fresh cream. Get your cameras ready when they serve this dessert to you because the staff will sprinkle Matcha powder imported from Kyoto on the top most layer.

It is highly recommended to dig into the base of the dessert and have all the layers in one mouthful to taste all the different flavours and textures. While we enjoyed the light and fluffy cheesecake with earthy Matcha powder, there was nothing outstanding worth raving about.

Another gorgeous dessert that caught our attention was The Blooming Garden (THB350/S$14.40). The warm chocolate pistachio lava cake was served with pistachio gelato atop a layer of pistachio powder.

The rich molten chocolate was slightly overwhelming for us as it masked most of the pistachio flavours but fans of chocolate will definitely enjoy this sinful dessert!

The Blooming Gallery
LG/F, Eight Thonglor
Sukhumvit Soi 55, Thonglor
Bangkok, Thailand
Tel: +66 02 063 5508
Sun to Tue: 10am – 10pm
Wed to Sat: 10am – 12 Midnight
Nearest BTS: Thonglor

]]> https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/08/the-blooming-gallery-bangkok/feed/ 0 https://www.ladyironchef.com/2016/10/togather-cafe-singapore/ https://www.ladyironchef.com/2016/10/togather-cafe-singapore/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2016 03:00:56 +0000 ladyironchef http://www.ladyironchef.com/?p=110497 Continue reading →]]>

The East of Singapore is where one will find plenty of hidden treasures. While there are many concept cafes out there, To-gather Cafe in Bedok (next to Fengshan Market) is one gem where you can unwind from work.

Walk into the cafe and you will notice that cursive writings of inspirational quotes and song lyrics fill up the walls in the most elegant manner. There is also a wall featuring post-it notes with messages and compliments penned down personally by customers.

Inspired by an all-time favourite childhood song “The More We Get Together”, the owners of To-gather cafe aims to create a homey ambience concept where people gather together over a good meal and artisan coffees. The cafe offers delectable signature dishes and the most flavourful desserts to end your meal with.

The best part? Most of the main courses are affordably priced under S$12. To-gather Cafe is one place where you can have a good meal without breaking the bank.

GRILLED TENDERLOIN OF BEEF

We are mentioning this dish first because everyone agreed unanimously that this was the best.

Everything about the Grilled Tenderloin of Beef (S$24.90) just clicked together—the soft tenderloin steak grilled to pinkish medium rare doneness, with an addictive black pepper sauce and fragrant truffle oil, complete with mash potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

BRAISED BEEF PASTA

If having a beef steak is too much for you, go for the Braised Beef Pasta (S$11.90). We enjoyed the warm creamy spaghetti jazzed up with colourful bell peppers, button mushrooms and caramelised onions. The star ingredient of this pasta dish is the slow braised beef brisket. We always appreciate the flavours of a long simmered sauce; rich, aromatic and very tender.

The star ingredient of this pasta dish is the slow braised beef brisket. We always appreciate the flavours of a long simmered sauce; rich, aromatic and very tender.

PORK CORDON BLEU

The Pork Cordon Bleu (S$11.90) at To-gather Cafe is coated with a crispy crust of bread crumbs and we were greeted by a generous portion of ham and cheese stuffing when we pulled the pork loin apart.

It is important that the chef has the skills to ensure that the top layer has been deep fried to form a crispy casing, while the meat inside remains juicy. We are glad to say that the one at To-gather Cafe is worth trying. The Pork Cordon Bleu comes with fries and fresh salad drizzled over with light mustard sauce.

GRILLED PANDAN CHICKEN CHOP

Chicken chop may be a common item on most menus but Pandan Chicken Chop? Now that’s something we have to mention. The folks at To-gather Cafe have reinvented what used to be a run-of-the-mill food item into an interesting dish you cannot help but notice.

The marinated grilled chicken chop (S$9.90) is marinated with, of course, pandan and doused in a light coconut sauce. To spice things up a little more, a spoonful of pineapple salsa—made from scratch within the premises—is placed atop the chicken chop.

This is something the older folks can try if you are planning to visit with your family!

ARTISANAL COFFEE AND DESSERTS

The baristas at To-gather cafe have the usuals to serve you—Caffe Latte (S$4.20) and Cappuccino (S$4.20); and if you are more inclined towards tea, try the Matcha Latte (S$5.20). If you do not know, yes, Matcha Latte has no coffee in it.

You know what is the one dessert that got all of us swooning? The Homemade Hojicha Swiss Roll with Thick Hojicha Shot (S$5.90), a new item that is launched earlier this month. The idea of serving the dessert with a shot of Hojicha Latte is so that you can take sips in between bites because Swiss rolls tend to be dry; yes, we were so incredibly impressed by this “little touch”.

By the way, the Hojicha used for this dessert is made of premium Hojicha powder imported directly from Japan!

To-gather Cafe’s Matcha Lava Cake with Vanilla Gelato (S$7.20) has been making its rounds on Instagram in the last two years. It comes with a distinctively rich matcha flavour and a single scoop of vanilla gelato,

Come November 2016, To-gather Cafe will be celebrating its third birthday! And in conjunction with their birthday celebrations, they will be returning to society by donating a part of their proceeds to a social enterprise that provides clean water for rural communities.

Bring your family and friends over to this nostalgic cafe for a meal in the heartlands. After all, this is what To-gather Cafe is all about—the more we get together, the happier we’ll be!

And while you are at it, don’t forget to check out all the murals on the wall! They are done by local artists and it does not hurt to have a photo or two of it on your Instagram account!

To-gather Cafe
#01-25/27
84 Bedok North Street 4
Singapore 460084
Tel: +65 6445 1011
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bedok

This post is brought to you by To-gather Cafe.

That moment when the lava oozes out of a Molten Lava Cake is almost unbeatable. We are all familiar with a chocolate lava cake, served warm with a center that gushes out once you cut it open.

What most do not know is that there are so many more flavours of lava cakes out there just waiting for you to try. We picked out the bests of many to share with you the best unique lava cakes in Singapore.

From Matcha to Peanut Butter, Misugaru (Korean grain) and Mao Shan Wang - here is a list of the 10 most unique lava cakes in Singapore. Now, it is time to explore!

#1 ARTISAN BOULANGERIE CO. – RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE

This might look like the most boring or mild of the lot, but we can assure you that the cake itself is top notch. The cake did not taste overpowering with either chocolate or raspberry, and ABC managed to balance out all the flavours nicely in their Raspberry Chocolate Lava Cake (S$9). The warm cake will go perfectly alongside an iced cuppa.

118 Killiney Road
#01-01
Singapore 239555
Tel: +65 6444 8130
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

#2 EAST 8 – MOLTEN LAVA PEANUT BUTTER DARK CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE

It was exciting digging into this beauty. While the cake (S$15) looked simple on the outside, molten warm peanut butter flows out magnificently upon digging in. The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is not new, but we loved how East 8 took the road less travelled and grabbed the opportunity to create this stunning lava cake.

10 Coleman Street
#01/21-22
Singapore 179809
Tel: +65 6338 8289
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri: 12pm – 12am
Sat: 6pm- 12am
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: City Hall

#3 FYR CYCENE OND DRINC – PISTACHIO LAVA CAKE

Served with pandan ice cream, this dish has all the goodness of a perfect molten lava cake, minus the richness of chocolate. Good news for those who do not like decadent cakes! The distinct flavours of cinnamon added a nice touch to the dessert and the subtle hint of pistachio was weaved in together nicely. FYR’s Pistachio Lava Cake (S$10) has kept us longing for more.

19 Boon Tat Street
01-01
Singapore 069619
Tel: +65 +65 6221 3703
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 11pm
Sat: 9am – 11pm
Sun: 9am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

#4 FIVE & DIME – GOLDEN CUSTARD LAVA CAKE

Five & Dime were one of the first to hop onto the salted egg yolk bandwagon by introducing their Golden Custard Lava Cake (S$12). Anything that oozes out with salted egg yolk goodness gets our heart, and Five & Dime totally aced this dessert dish.

Five & Dime’s Golden Custard Lava Cake is listed in our guide to 18 to-die-for salted egg yolk dishes in Singapore.

297 River Valley Road
Singapore 238338
Tel: +65 9236 5002
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10am
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

#5 HAHA THAI – RED VELVET LAVA CAKE

We were surprised to see a Thai restaurant serving lava cake, let alone Red Velvet Lava Cake (S$10.80) with a side of coconut ice cream! The cake looked unnervingly red when it first reached the table, but just like any good red velvet cake, the Red Velvet was subtly sweet with a distinct chocolatey taste. The refreshing coconut ice cream cuts the richness of the cake to make it more palatable.

Ngee Ann City
391 Orchard Rd, #05-29
Singapore 238873
Tel: +65 9437 0443
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#6 ICE EDGE CAFE – MAO SHAN WANG LAVA CAKE

The Mao Shan Wang Lava Cake (S$14.80) at Ice Edge Cafe shall be the Archilles’ heel for all durian lovers. The cake itself was surprisingly light and far from overwhelming. We made it even more badass with a scoop of Mao Shan Wang ice cream to be served with the lava cake. Best decision ever.

2 Kovan Road
Singapore 548008
Tel: +65 6858 5729
Daily: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Kovan

#7 OSIA – VALRHONA HOT CHOCOLATE SOUP

This simple molten lava cake is served alongside black pepper ice cream. Yes, you heard us right. Black pepper. Somehow the marriage of black pepper ice cream with a classic chocolate cake worked perfectly well. Don’t worry, it is still safe for the kids.

Resorts World Sentosa
26 Sentosa Gateway #02-140/141
Singapore 098139
Tel: +65 6577 6688
Daily: 12pm – 10.30pm
(Closed on Wednesdays)
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

#8 SYNC KOREAN TAPAS BAR – MISUGARU LAVA CAKE

The Misugaru Lava Cake (S$8.90) is made up of 10 different Korean grain that bears a taste primarily made up of barley and lotus. This is probably the ‘healthiest’ tasting of the lot – significantly lighter on the palate, and nothing overly “heaty”. We love that it is topped with fruits for a kick of acidity!

12 Maju Avenue
Serangoon Garden
Singapore 556690
Tel: +65 62820612
Daily: 3pm -12am
Nearest Station: Serangoon

#9 TO-GATHER CAFE – MATCHA LAVA CAKE

Matcha has always been a popular flavour and To-gather Cafe has gained some popularity with their take on a Matcha Lava Cake (S$7.20). The matcha flavour was distinct, and it makes such a pocket-friendly option!

Blk 84 Bedok North St 4
#01-27
Singapore 460084
Tel: +65 6445 1011
Mon to Thu, Sun: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Bedok

#10 VIOLET HERBS – VALRHONA CHOCOLATE FONDANT WITH TRUFFLE OIL

When you are dining at Violet Herbs, make sure to get the Valrhona Chocolate Fondant (S$16). The surprise of this dessert lies in the fact that it comes with truffle oil – an unexpected ingredient that actually makes the dessert even more fragrant.

81 Tras Street
Tanjong Pagar Conservation Area
Singapore 079020
Tel: +65 6221 3988
Mon to Sat: 11:30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

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.