There are just those days when lunch wasn’t enough and you’re just itching to stuff your face with some messy, sinful chocolate cake. Not just any chocolate cake, though. It’s got to be one so rich and decadent that you end up with a sore throat.

Four words — chocolate lava mug cake. Or maybe five, if you toss in the word “microwave” at the front. That’s right, in less than 10 easy steps and with the help of a microwave, you’ll have a divine treat set before you.

Here’s a quick recipe on how to make your very own chocolate lava mug cake at home!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE CHOCOLATE LAVA MUG CAKE IN THE MICROWAVE

- 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour
- 1.5 tablespoons of icing sugar
- 1.5 teaspoons of cocoa Powder
- 4-5 tablespoons of milk
- A pinch of salt
- A pinch of baking soda
- ? teaspoon of baking powder
- 2 teaspoons of melted butter/oil
- A few chunks of baking chocolate

STEP 1

Sieve the flour, cocoa powder and sugar together.

STEP 2

Add in salt, baking powder and baking soda.

STEP 3

Mix well until combined.

STEP 4

Add in melted butter or oil and mix.

STEP 5

Add in the milk while stirring, one tablespoon at a time.

STEP 6

Mix until a smooth batter forms.

STEP 7

Pour it into a microwave-safe mug.

STEP 8

Place the baking chocolate into the center of the batter.

STEP 9

Microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes.

And there you have it, Chocolate Lava Mug Cake!

Don’t forget to spam a honey lemon drink after this.

Gourmet burgers are nothing new to Singapore’s dynamic food scene, but what is it about these fancy burgers that motivates people to spend so much more for them as opposed to their fast food restaurant counterparts? The answer lies in its jazzed-up sauces but more importantly, the use of premium ingredients.

Bringing its signature West Coast flavour to Singapore, 25 Degrees Burgers & Liquor Bar is a gourmet American burger joint from Los Angeles which serves up a myriad of gourmet burgers, milkshakes, beer and wine at reasonable prices and is even rumoured to be a cult favourite among many Hollywood stars.

Drop by during the day and enjoy their lunch special where you can get a signature burger and fries for only S$12++. This promotion is valid from Mondays to Fridays between 11am to 3pm. Be sure not to miss out on their daily happy hour between 3pm to 7pm too. During this golden period of the day, you get to enjoy 1-for-1 deals for fries and other food items, a selection of beers, as well as cocktails.

Looking and feeling like a sleek, contemporary, American diner, 25 Degrees Burger & Liquor Bar Singapore’s small yet cosy space serves to provide a warm and friendly environment to diners. Their long table and open-air concept also allow patrons to socialise and watch the bustling street while enjoying a delicious meal.

Boasting a straightforward menu, there are five signature burgers with varying toppings and condiments—all of which cost only S$14++. The five signatures are conveniently named ‘Number One’ to ‘Number Four’ and lastly the ‘Veggie Burger’.

Apart from that, the menu also includes a craft-your-own burger option for fussy burger connoisseurs who want something more.

NUMBER ONE

The Number One (S$14++) comprises a beef patty, caramelized onions, a mixture of different cheeses from prelibato gorgonzola to crescenza, crispy bacon, arugula and is given a generous slathering of thousand island dressing.

As far as gourmet burgers are concerned, nothing rarely ever goes wrong when caramelised onions and bacon are involved and the Number One proved just that. The beef patty had a crispy crust with a juicy, pink interior and the arugula coupled with the thousand island dressing balanced out the intensely meaty flavours.

NUMBER TWO

Number Two (S$14++) is a beef burger with an Italian touch. It features a beef patty, plump roasted tomatoes, burrata, a slice of crispy prosciutto and pesto. Compared to Number One, we would say that this burger is a much milder alternative.

The tomatoes were soft yet not overly cooked to a mushy consistency, and the melted burrata cheese over the top provided an element of creaminess. We particularly like how the addition of pesto in the burger added freshness to the overall taste.

NUMBER THREE

For a burger with attitude, you should go for Number Three (S$14++). It features a beef patty, mezzo secco jack cheese, green chilli, chipotle and avocado. This burger may pack a punch initially but the spice is balanced out by fresh slices of avocado. Those who are looking for a spicy kick will not regret trying the Number Three!

NUMBER FOUR

For a slightly more unconventional option, you can also opt for Number Four (S$14++) that uses a yellowfin tuna patty instead. Served with crisp butter lettuce, crispy fried onions and a spicy aioli, this is one alternative should you not prefer beef—although we would much rather stick to our beef.

VEGGIE BURGER

Vegetarians do not fret, because the folks at 25 Degrees have got you covered. Swopping out a beef patty for a veggie one, the Veggie Burger (S$14++) comes with butter lettuce cucumber, mint, and jalapenos.

As much as vegetarian dishes—let alone vegetarian burgers—get a rather bad reputation, we must admit that the Veggie Burger was indeed delicious. Whether you are a hardcore vegetarian or merely someone curious to know how vegetarian burgers taste like, this is a good dish to start with.

SONORAN HOT DOG

What could possibly beat a hot dog wrapped in bacon? That’s right—nothing.

The Sonoran Hot Dog (S$18++) comes with an enticing bacon-wrapped dog, American cheese, caramelized onions as well as an array of condiments. Delicious and sinful, this huge hot dog was made even better with a squeeze of mustard and their homemade garlic aioli.

CRISPY SIDES

Burgers alone aren’t fun. We need sides of fries and whatnot, too!

The Truffle French Fries (S$6++), Curly Fries (S$5++) and Onion Rings (S$5++) are crowd favourites but our ultimate favourite would have to be the onion rings.

Lightly battered, the onion rings were sweet and super crunchy. While the rings are great on their own, they are made even more irresistible with their selection of homemade dips which you can get at an additional cost of S$3++.

AMERICAN MILKSHAKES

No experience at an American diner is complete without a huge milkshake. This classic milkshake (S$10++) that comes in a variety of flavours is something you absolutely must order when at 25 Degrees Burger & Liquor Bar Singapore.

Sweet, decadent and oh-so-satisfying, there was no way we could resist slurping down one of these bad boys with our burger. Complete with a cherry on top and lots of whipped cream, your burger experience cannot get any better.

WARM MELT CHOCOLATE CAKE

If you are not already stuffed enough as it is, finish your meal with one of their sweet treats. The Warm Melt Chocolate Cake (S$14++) is essentially a lava cake that is topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The rich and intense chocolate makes it the perfect treat for all chocolate lovers!

Remember to drop by for their lunch special where you can get a signature burger and fries for only S$12++. This promotion is valid from Mondays to Fridays between 11am to 3pm.

If you are checking out their beer promotions instead, 25 Degrees Burger & Liquor Bar Singapore’s daily happy hour last from 3pm to 7pm where you get to enjoy 1-for-1 deals for fries and other food items, beer as well as cocktails.

25 Degrees Burger & Liquor Bar Singapore
200 Middle Road
Singapore 188980
Tel: +65 6809 7990
Daily: 11am - 3am
Nearest Station: Rochor / Bencoolen

This post is brought to you by 25 Degrees Burgers & Liquor Bar Singapore.

Living in the heartlands of Singapore does not mean artisanal gelato is inaccessible. Barely a year old, Double Scoops is an artisanal gelato cafe situated right in the heartlands of Ang Mo Kio, offering premium low-fat gelato at very reasonable prices, alongside a plethora of desserts.

Gelato is always a good idea, especially with Singapore’s humidity. Gelato is loved for being a healthier option as opposed to ice cream because of the lower fat content and use of better ingredients.

This humble gelato parlour has won us over with their no-frills concept that focuses on serving quality desserts. From now till 31 March 2016, readers of ladyironchef can flash this post or quote “ladyironchef” to enjoy 50% OFF the 2nd Waffle/ Shibuya Toast (of same value or lower) purchased from Mondays to Fridays.

The cafe takes up one shop space along the row of shophouses and is a cosy and modern space amidst the rustic neighbourhood charm. The interior is minimalistic yet comforting – great for a midday or post-meal hang out spot over sweet treats, coffee and light savoury bites.

We love how the cafe is so ideal for photos. Natural sunlight streams in through the glass panels in the day. Every table is evenly spaced out and nobody will feel intruded. Potted plants are placed sporadically. Light music on the loop. The brick wall makes a great backdrop for our desserts.

Among the many, Double Scoops is indeed the best artisanal gelato cafe in Ang Mo Kio.

LOW-FAT GELATO WITH ONLY 8% FAT

Double Scoops makes their own gelato in-house daily. Smooth and fresh, the flavours are aplenty. Some are on rotational basis, but the mainstays that you totally have to try include Thai Milk Tea, Baileys, Sea Salt Gula Melaka, Orh Nee and Speculoos.

If it is your lucky day, you might have a chance with the limited flavours of Salted Egg Yolk and Matcha Kit Kat.

The gelato are good on their own, and can be served in cups or cones. But to up the game, we say go for the waffles and thick toast with ice cream. Double Scoops – but of course, right? No pun intended.

FUN DRINKS

Your regular selection of coffee is available, starting from S$4. Brewed tea ranges from Chamomile to Peppermint. But for some fun, we suggest going right for a Soda Float (S$4.50) or an Ice Cream Shake (S$6 with a choice of 2 scoops).

An Ice Cream Shake is a great to-go option if you are in a little rush to sit down for a scoop of gelato. Talk about best summer treats!

SHIBUYA TOASTS

Everyone’s no stranger to thick toasts, yes? We love ours topped off with ice cream. Double Scoops offers two choices – a classic Shibuya Honey Toast (S$10) and a Nutella Banana Toast (S$11), each with one scoop of gelato of choice.

While honey toasts are evergreen, it was the Nutella one that tugged our heartstrings. But of course, right? Nutella is always wonderful, especially when lavishly drizzled over a thick toast alongside smooth, premium gelato. We had ours with a scoop of Earl Grey Lavender ice cream and the fragrance sure balanced out the sweetness of the dessert.

We do recommend sharing the toast as the serving is really generous!

WAFFLE SELECTIONS

You can have both Charcoal Waffle (S$5.50) and Classic Waffle (S$3.60) here.

With the rise of sexy black desserts, we were initially more drawn to the former. However, we actually preferred the batter on the classic waffle as it was fluffier and more fragrant, with a nice crisp exterior.

That is not to say that the charcoal waffle option is to be overlooked though. If you want something more interestingly-flavoured, this is it. Accompanied with a beautiful rich valrhona white chocolate ganache sauce, the charcoal waffle is also jazzed up with crunchy maple pecan granola and strawberry bits.

You can choose to top up your waffles with a single, double or triple scoop (S$3.30, S$5.80, S$8.80 respectively) of gelato. The more the merrier, of course!

You can also top-up for caramelised bananas and popcorn alongside your gelato. The caramelised bananas were torched well and added a nice textural variation to the classic waffles and ice cream dish.

A premium gelato flavour that we enjoyed our waffles with is the Bailey’s flavour. We have had many Bailey’s ice cream and gelato in our lives, and this by far, took first place for us. The flavour and texture were just right, and the alcohol was generous yet did not overpower.

CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE

Need cake?

The Chocolate Lava Cake here at Double Scoops is pretty decent. It comes with a drizzle of raspberry sauce and your pick of gelato. This is best eaten immediately for the nice mixture of warm chocolate fudge and cold ice cream, and when your lava still flows.

GELATO FLOWER POT

The Gelato Flower Pot here may be nothing to shout about, but your kids are definitely going to love it. Your gelato of choice is packed into a mini plastic ‘flower pot’ and topped off with bits of crushed oreo and served with gummy worms.

We like the thoughtful touches of a plastic ‘spade’ spoon and garnishing of a herb as the ‘leaves’ of the plant.

50% OFF DESSERTS AT DOUBLE SCOOPS

From now till 31 March 2016, readers of ladyironchef can flash this post or quote “ladyironchef” to enjoy 50% OFF the 2nd Waffle/ Shibuya Toast (of same value or lower) purchased from Mondays to Fridays.

Double Scoops
Block 226A Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 #01-627
Singapore 561226
Tel: +65 6452 0208
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Ang Mo Kio

This post is brought to you by Double Scoops.

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

Daniel Boulud’s name is synonymous with fine dining in New York, and his signature Manhattan restaurant DB Bistro Moderne at Marina Bay Sands needs no introduction.

While the general taste is not fantastically out of the world, the food is always consistently good. These days, sadly, even the better restaurants have neglected this point. There is nothing more disappointing than to return to a restaurant only to find that your favourite dish is not as good as before. And it is especially not acceptable at fine dining restaurants where we have to pay so much for a meal.

However, this is not the case at DB Bistro Moderne. we have dined there on many occasions and we are glad to say that they have always maintained a high standard.

The Wild Mushroom Soup ($15) came first. It was decent, but nothing much to speak about. This was followed by the Seared Foie Gras ($39) with a brioche toast and spiced apple marmalade. The foie gras was a mouthful of delicious richness bite after bite. I would be hard-pressed to find a better one in town.

The Lobster Salad ($36) – with avocado, tomatoes, green beans, artichoke and basil aioli – while good, was nothing fantastic. DB Bistro also features other salads such as the Frisee Salad Lyonnaise ($24), Roasted Beetroot Salad ($25), Iceberg & Blue Cheese ($23).

For appetisers, we would recommend the Ratatouille ($20). The classic vegetable stew was hearty and very comforting. It was the perfect start to the meal and whetted my appetite for the main courses.

Rested on a bed of greens – tomatoes, artichokes, carrots and salsa verde – the Line Caught Tuna ($39( was meaty and very fresh.

The Saffron Tagliolini ($24 appetiser, $36 main course), on the other hand, did not leave a strong impression. It was not mindbogglingly good, but it was decent with the delicious spanner crab. The other pasta option on the menu is the Tagliatelle Nero ($24 appetiser, $36 main course), but if I was you, I would skip the pastas and go for the main courses.

Coq au Vin ($34), a traditional French dish, is one of the highlights of the menu. DB Bistro’s rendition was very good. I would strongly recommend to go for this.

Our favourite dish was DB Bistro’s Duck Confit ($36), cooked so that the skin was crisp, but the meat tender and flavourful, and served with savoy cabbage and olive oil crushed potatoes.

The DB Burger ($42), pictured in the first photo, also lived up to its name. A juicy and superb burger with seared foie gras in the middle. This was heaven on a plate. Definitely one of the best burgers around. That said, I am not sure if I would pay so much for a burger.

We had the Australian Flank ($45) and USDA Prime Ribeye ($80). The former was pretty decent, but in no way comparable to the latter. The ribeye was tender and full of flavour, with a good proportion of fat to lean meat. If I close my eyes, I can still imagine the tender steak. The fries were excellent, too.

For their winter menu, DB Bistro had a Chestnut Souffle ($15). It was nicely paired with a blackcurrant sorbet, which provided a good counterbalance to the hot chocolate sauce. However, on a recent visit, we found out that it was replaced by a Durian Royal Souffle ($15) with mangosteen sorbet.

We also sampled the Chocolate Passionfruit Fondant – a luscious mix of the rich and sweet dark chocolate with a slightly sourish passionfruit.

The de-constructed Apple Mille-Feuille ($15) — apple confit, phyllo dough, mascarpone mousse, green apple sorbet — was also delightful with its contrast of textures and flavours.

If you are too full for desserts, you must at least order the Madeleine ($8) for the table to share.

A meal at DB Bistro Moderne, I must say, is not cheap. But it offers an excellent value considering that it is all delivered well on the plates in a sexy venue. For those who are on a budget, go for their pre-theatre dinner (5.30pm – 7pm) at $68++/pax for a three course prix fixe menu.

DB Bistro Moderne
10 Bayfront Avenue
#B1-48 Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Tel: +65 6688 8525

Mon to Fri (Lunch): 12pm – 5pm
Sat & Sun (Brunch): 11am – 5pm
Sun & Mon (Dinner): 5.30pm – 10pm
Tue to Sat (Dinner): 5.30pm – 11pm

Spanish food has been making big waves on the food radar, with new tapas bars popping up every month. If you are a fan of tapas, Salt Tapas & Bar at Raffles City by celebrity chef Luke Mangan is one place that you should check out. It serves Aussie-style tapas with the freshest ingredients.

Many people have the perception that Salt Tapas & Bar is very expensive. This is true. Most of the tapas are in the $20 to $30 range, and you can easily spend at least $100 for a meal here. But what you might not know that it has a fantastic lunch set for just $33.50++/pax. It includes a flat bread to share, and 3 tapas per person. When you consider the fact that most of the dishes on the set lunch menu are from the ala carte menu, you will agree that it is a very good deal.

The set lunch menu is essentially a scaled down version of the main menu. Both are divided into different categories: ‘Nibbles’, ‘Butcher’, ‘Garden’, ‘Sea’, ‘Paddock’ and ‘Sweets’, Below are some of the dishes that we ordered from the set lunch menu. I have also included the ala carte portion prices.

Salt Tapas & Bar has several options under their ‘Garden’ menu which include Heirloom Tomato Salad ($11), Beetroot & Red Capscium ($12) and a Rocket & Pear Salad ($9).

We started off with a superb Tuna Tartare ($19 for small, $27 for large) with wasabi mayo and ruby grapefruit from the ‘Sea’ menu.

We also had the Crispy Soft Shell Prawns ($15) with chilli and garlic aioli, and while it was not a scene stealer, it did not disappoint with its crisp and crunchy texture.

Another dish that was even more addictive than the Soft Shell Prawns is the Salt & Pepper Squid ($20) with lime mayo. The crunch squid was well-seasoned with salt and pepper, and it was perfect with lime mayo. Simply put, I’d not leave Salt Tapas & Bar without trying this.

From the ‘Paddock’ menu, we had the Wagyu Sausage, Sumac Spiced Veal and Confit Pork Belly. The Confit Pork Belly ($27) with lentils and chorizo was a let-down. It was a tad too tough and not as tender as I’d hope it would be.

The Wagyu Sausage ($14 for small, $25 for large) with polenta, capers and tomato was good, but what stood out was the accompanying polenta. We suspect they added in a lot of cream and butter to give the polenta a creamy and smooth and velvety texture. Also good was the Sumac Spiced Veal & Meatballs ($14 for small, $22 for large) which came with a very yummy fontina mash.

Desserts are also worth a mention. Not many places serve good churros in Singapore, and if you have been looking for it, you must try Salt Tapas & Bar’s Churros & Chocolate ($11). It is one of the few that has managed to impress me so far.

You also cannot go wrong with the Gooey Hot Chocolate Tart with caramelised banana and white chocolate ice cream ($14).

Salt Tapas & Bar
252 North Bridge Road
#01-22A Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6837 0995
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

This guide to the best chocolate lava cakes in Singapore was last updated on 14 April 2015.

Molten chocolate cake, warm chocolate cake, hot chocolate fondant, chocolate lava cake – call it whatever you want, a warm molten chocolate lava cake with a scoop of ice cream is immensely satisfying, and a must-order whenever we see it on the menu.

Here is a guide to the best chocolate lava cakes in Singapore.

#1 CHOCOLATE ORIGIN

The chocolate lava cake from Chocolate Origin is decent, but not extraordinary. However, there’s really nothing to complain about when it is only $5. It is worth a try if you want a quick fix in town.

313 Orchard Road
#B3-10A 313 @ Somerset
Tel: +65 6884 4019
Daily: 10am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

#2 CHILI’S

Only two words to describe Chili’s Molten Chocolate Cake ($15) – gigantic and immensely satisfying. If you love chocolate lava cake, you must try the one from Chili’s.

163 Tanglin Road
#02-23 Tanglin Mall
Singapore 247933
Tel: +65 6733 3317
Nearest Station: Orchard

#3 EMBER RESTAURANT

It is not a secret that Ember at boutique hotel 1929 has one of the best set lunches in Singapore. But what many do not know is the restaurant also does a very good Chocolate Molten Cake ($14).

50 Keong Saik Road
Hotel 1929
Singapore 089158
Tel: +65 6347 1928
Nearest Station: Outram

#4 FIVE AND DIME

Absolutely brilliant. A molten chocolate lava cake with a salted egg yolk custard center… This tastes as good as it sounds; it makes you wonder why other places did not come up with this wonderful creation.

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

#5 LA CANTINA

The only reason why we would travel across Singapore and go all the way to La Cantina in Changi for a meal – other than to have the signature crabmeat linguine – is the Chocolate Lava Cake ($9.50). This should speak volume of how good it is.

1 Netheravon Road
#08/09-02 Changi Village Hotel
Tel: +65 6546 9190
Mon to Fri: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Pasir Ris

#6 MAX BRENNER

What else do we need to say? The picture above tells it all. Max Brenner’s Chocolate Souffle ($16) is sinful, and so damn good. Definitely one of the best in town.

8 Raffles Avenue
#01-06/08 Esplanade Mall
Tel: +65 6235 9556
Sun to Thu: 10am- 10.30pm
Fri to Sat: 10am – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

#7 MEZZA9

mezza9 has a slew of delicious desserts – such as banana & nutella crepe (S$15), stone fruit tart (S$17), and pink lady apple tart (S$17) – but our favourite is definitely the Chocolate & Praline Fondant, which comes with a scoop of caramel ice cream.

Grand Hyatt Singapore
10 Scotts Road
Mezzanine Level
Tel: +65 6730 7188
Nearest Station: Orchard

#8 MORTON’S STEAKHOUSE

At $30, Morton’s legendary Hot Chocolate Cake is not cheap. And of course, many people will be put off by the price. Is it really worth paying $30++ for a chocolate lava cake? As compared to most places that only charge $15 tops, it sets all wondering if in direct proportion, is Morton’s rendition truly twice as good?

Morton’s version is, hands up (pun intended), one of the best, if not the best chocolate lava cake you can get in Singapore.

Yes, you heard us right. Hall of fame standards. It is that good.

5 Raffles Avenue
4F Mandarin Oriental Singapore
Singapore 039797
Tel: +65 6339 3740
Mon to Sat: 5.30pm – 11 pm
Sun: 5pm – 10pm

#9 MUSEO

MUSEO is an enchanting restaurant that sits on the mezzanine level of Quayside Isle at Sentosa Cove that works perfectly for all occasions. By day, the restaurant is filled with sunlight and the chinaware glistens like gems; by night, the low-light setting calls for a romantic dinner for two.

If you are looking for a place to have afternoon tea with your girlfriends, MUSEO is just the place to go. Get the Vodka Chocolate Lava Cake (S$13). It is a true crowd-pleaser, and worry not, that amount of hard liquor ain’t enough to get you drunk.

MUSEO’s vodka chocolate lava cake is also listed in our guide to the best chocolate lava cakes in Singapore.

31 Ocean Way #01-22
Quayside Isle, Sentosa Cove
Tel: +65 6734 8066
Sun to Thu: 11.30am – 10pm
Fri, Sat & Eve of PH: 11.30am – 1am
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

#10 OSIA

Over at Osia Resorts World Sentosa, they serve a slightly different rendition in the form of a soup. Yes, that’s right, a CHOCOLATE SOUP!

Osia’s Hot Chocolate Soup ($22) is one of the signature items on the menu. For regulars, it is a must-order dessert to end the meal, while we know of many new customers come to Osia just to try this.

8 Sentosa Gateway
Level 2 Crockfords Tower
Resorts World Sentosa
Tel: +65 6577 6560
Sun to Wed: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Thu to Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

#11 QUAYSIDE FISH BAR & BISTRO

Quayside Fish Bar is one of our go-to places for good quality seafood in Singapore. Besides daily fresh imports of wild-caught seafood and fish from different parts of the world, Quayside Fish bar also serves excellent desserts.

In particular, we love their White Truffle flavoured Chocolate Lava Cake (S$12). What makes the chocolate lava cake here different from the rest is that it is lightly drizzled with truffle oil, giving it a distinctive and pleasing scent.

31 Ocean Way #01-11
Quayside Isle, Sentosa Cove
Tel: +65 6268 8633
Tue: 9am – 12 midnight
Wed & Thu: 12pm – 12 midnight
Fri: 12pm – 1am
Sat: 9am – 1am
Sun: 9am – 12 midnight
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

#12 RELISH BY WILD ROCKET

Relish’s Dark Lava Chocolate Gateau ($12.80) – which comes with flambe banana and vanilla ice cream – always hits the spot.

1 Maju Avenue
#02-07/09 myVillage at Serangoon Garden
Tel: +65 6634 3422
Nearest Station: Seragoon/Lorong Chuan

#13 THE CONNOISSEUR CONCERTO TCC

This may come as a surprise to some, but The Connoisseur Concerto does a very good Dark Chocolate Cake ($11). In fact, we’d go so far as to say that it is among our top 5 chocolate lava cakes in Singapore. If you are a regular, be sure to try it next time.

3E River Valley Road, #01-01
Clarke Quay
Tel: +65 6336 1121
Fri, Sat & Eve of PH: 11am – 4am
Sun to Thu & PH: 11am – 12midnight
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

#14 WIMBLY LU

Wimbly Lu is one of our favourite places for desserts. They have an impressive selection – such as the popular waffles and root beer float cake – but what we will go back for again and again is the Molten Lava Cake ($6).

15-2 Jalan Riang
Tel: +65 6289 1489
Tue to Fri: 12pm – 11.30pm
Sat to Sun: 9am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Lorong Chuan/Serangoon

#15 WOOLOOMOOLOO STEAKHOUSE

Wooloomooloo Steakhouse’s Hot Chocolate Cake ($25), also known as the sore-throat inducing dessert, is one of best in town. It is pricey for a dessert, but trust us, it’s worth every cent.

2 Stamford Road
Level 3 Swissotel the Stamford
Tel: +65 6338 0261
Daily: 12pm– 11pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

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

TCC High Tea Set

The Connoisseur Concerto (previously known as The Coffee Connoisseur) is one of the popular Coffee Chains in Singapore. What makes TCC different from its competitors is the unique design at each boutique cafe.

TCC has been rolling out a different high tea set every month, and at just $12.90++, it is one of the most value for money afternoon tea sets. For those of you who are keen to enjoy the promotion at The Connoisseur Concerto, it is available from 2pm to 6pm daily.

The picture of the high tea set above is the one that I had two months ago. The Connoisseur Concerto is currently serving a Spring tea set for March and it comes with different scones, sandwiches and cakes with tea/coffee.

I like the idea that The Coffee Connoisseur TCC is changing the cakes and pastries for the high tea set every month. In addition, the affordable prices make it possible for everyone to enjoy a leisure afternoon tea.

Besides sharing the High Tea Set, we ordered another two desserts from TCC’s ala carte menu.

Two of my friends are big fans of chocolate lava cake, and they have tried many places for this popular dessert. When I asked them where can I get the best molten chocolate lava cake in Singapore, they replied: TCC.

After trying The Coffee Connoisseur’s Dark Chocolate Cake ($11), I have to agree with them that it is amongst the better ones that I’ve had.

DO NOT order TCC’s Bread and butter pudding ($11.5). You have been warned.

* * *

With so many cafes in Singapore, The Connoisseur Concerto is a good place to have a) desserts for afternoon tea, b) a hangout place to meet friends and c) late night dining at their 24 hours outlet located in Orchard road.

I am not too sure about the main course there, but most of my friends who frequently eat at TCC seem to agree that they have pretty decent food. How about you? What do you usually order at The Coffee Connoisseur Cafe?

Singapore Food Blog Review
The Connoisseur Concerto TCC
360 Orchard Road #01-01
International Building Singapore

65 Airport Boulevard, #01-22
Changi Airport Terminal 3 Singapore
Tel: +65 6214 0680

3E River Valley Road, #01-01
Clarke Quay Singapore
Tel: +65 6336 1121

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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

Sometimes, all it takes is chocolate and cake to make me happy. I’m very sure that I’m not the only one who feels this way, so if you like chocolate and cake too, you should drop by Jewel Artisan Chocolate for their afternoon high tea.

They are located on the second level of Orchard Central. At just $14.80++, I’d think that Jewel Artisan Chocolate has a pretty value for money tea set for those who are not willing to splurge $38++/pax to have afternoon tea at a Five Star Hotel.

I was caught in a dilemma for the title of this post. You see, afternoon tea typically refers to a light mid afternoon break from 3pm to 5pm and there’s usually sandwiches and scones, while high tea is an early evening meal between 5pm to 6pm. Technically speaking, Jewel Artisan Chocolate’s tea set cannot be classified under both afternoon tea or high tea since it is an all day affair from 11am to 6pm in the evening.

Oh what the heck, I’m calling it Afternoon high tea, you can figure it out yourself. The $14.80++ High Tea Set at Jewel Artisan Chocolate Orchard Central includes: 1 x truffle/praline, 1 pc macaron, 1 slice of 85% Dark Chocolate Gateau, 1 dollop x Ice Cream/Sorbet, and 1 pot x Gourmet Tea.

The two of us decided to share an afternoon tea set plus an additional Dark Chocolate Lava Cake from their cake menu ($10.80/serving). If you do not fancy the ubiquitous chocolate lava cake, there’s also the chocolate tart, chocolate crumble, chocolate gateau or chocolate mousse to choose from.

The mini slice of 85% Dark Chocolate Gateau which comes with the afternoon tea set was rich, smooth, and very cakey (if there’s even such a word). For the macarons, there are choices of Black Palm Island Salt, Raspberry, Butterfly Pea Bloom, Green tea, Passionfruit, Dark chocolate, Hazelnut and Butterscotch. We had a macaron from the tea set, and it was so addictive. In the name of research, we ended up ordering another two macaron ($2 each).

I wasn’t too impressed with the Butterfly Pea Bloom. Other than the seemingly-artificial colouring, the combination of kaya and pandan almond cream didn’t really go well together for my taste bud. The Raspberry wasn’t too bad, but it was the Black Palm Island Salt (atas name for Salted egg yolk) macaron that was truly phenomenal! It’s impossible to describe the intriguing flavor, please go to Jewel Artisan and try it out for yourself. It’s possibly one of the best macarons in Singapore.

It’s a shame that there wasn’t any vanilla ice cream on the menu to go along with the Dark Chocolate Lava Cake ($10.8), so we had two scoops of hazelnut and dark chocolate (one for the tea set and the other comes with the lava cake).

The chocolate lava exploded as I cut off a corner of the cake. Warm and luscious dark chocolate with a scoop of cold ice cream – life can’t get any better than this.

Jewel Artisan Chocolate High Tea is a good option (11am to 6pm daily) if you are not able to make it during lunch time for the $12++ dessert buffet from One Ninety Restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel. Now, if only the chairs are more comfortable, I will be back all the time for a pot of tea, a nibble of truffle and a slice of cake.

Singapore Food Restaurant Review
Jewel Artisan Chocolate
181 Orchard Road #02-31/32
Orchard Central Singapore
Tel: +65 6509 8998

// Read my list of dessert places in Singapore.

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Updated: 3 Inch Sin is no longer in operations.

Stepping into 3 inch sin, I could feel something stirring inside me.

It was a feeling that I never had before, I actually felt sexually aroused by the aromatic scent and the food I saw in the shop. I could almost hear the little imp that’s sitting on the left side of my shoulder whispering: “Go on, succumb to your wildest imagination and tempt fate. You know you want the molten chocolate lava cake!”

During my first visit to 3 Inch Sin, we ordered the Mini Molten Flavors ($7 for selection of 3 mini cakes). The flavors for 3 inch sin’s molten chocolate lava cake include: Original, mint, bitter orange, coffee, hazelnut, raspberry, peanut butter, white chocolate, lemon and cherries jubilee.

Half-wishing that we could try everything on the menu, the two of us chose the original, hazelnut, and raspberry. Among the three flavors that we sampled, I liked the Raspberry molten chocolate cake the least. While the slightly sourish berry flavor provided a good counterbalance to the sweet chocolate cake; I’m sorry but (molten) chocolate lava cakes are meant to be (sweet) sweet.

I have always been a big fan of hazelnut (everything and anything should be hazelnut). Needless to say, the Hazelnut molten lava cake was excellent — the timeless classic combination of hazelnut and chocolate never fails to deliver.

The Original Chocolate lava cake was all about chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate. Come, sing with me: warm molten chocolate in a chocolate-y chocolate cake, warm molten chocolate in a chocolate-y chocolate cake…

If you are going down to 3 inch sin after looking at this blog post, I’d recommend you to order their normal size (3 inch) warm chocolate cake ($6 + $3 for a scoop of ice cream) instead of having the 3 Mini molten flavors. While the mini molten lava cakes offer variety in terms of flavor, it does not have a melty center (in short: the chocolate lava cake doesn’t flow) as the cake is too small.

Two weeks after my first visit, I went back to 3 inch sin at Cluny court again. This time, I had the original chocolate lava cake in the normal 3″ size. It was more than good, it was beyond-the-description-of-any-word.

The molten chocolate cake concealed a melty center, with lots of chocolate that’s incredibly sweet and lovely. Paired with a scoop of the cold, chilling vanilla ice cream; nobody, I repeat, no body can resist the warm chocolate cake.

Happiness is when your molten chocolate lava cake flows.

Are you looking for the best chocolate souffle or warm chocolate lava cake or whatever you call the chocolate dessert that has a melty center? Head to the new 3 inch sin at Millenia Walk.

Sorry Max Brenner, I still love you. But now, I love 3 inch sin more.

Restaurant Review
3 Inch Sin
9 Raffles Boulevard
#01-103 Millenia Walk
Tel: +65 6333 4562
Daily: 11.30am – 9.30pm

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There is only one word to describe Max Brenner’s Chocolate Souffle – addictive.

It may seem like an ordinary chocolate dessert, but it is much more than that. Put it in front a bunch of rowdy kids and you will have silence immediately. Magic.

Try it out by placing the molten chocolate cake in front of a group of adults, and they will be admiring it like kids in Disney land. But do make sure that there’s enough for everyone, otherwise you will be looking at the ugly side of human beings instantly.

Ever since the last visit to Max Brenner Chocolate Bar, I am not ashamed to say that I have been thinking about it regularly. Day and night. Night and day.

“Shall we go to Max Brenner again?”

I’m not going to try and describe it, because there’s hardly any vocabulary that will do it justice. Max Brenner names this as a chocolate souffle, but it is actually a chocolate lava cake. After finishing the dessert, we sighed, and moaned and wished that we could order a second serving.

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar
1 HarbourFront Walk #01-116
VivoCity Singapore
Tel: +65 6278 4218
Nearest Station: Harbourfront