Tag Archives: Dessert
A Fortnight in Instagram
A collection of food photos from the last 2 weeks that never made it to a proper food entry!
Baker N Cook @ Hillcrest Road
Opened by New Zealand celebrity baker and cookbook author- Dean Brettschneider, Baker N Cook joins the ranks of international bakeries such as Maison Kayser and Paul Bakery that have recently opened their flagship store in our sunny Singapore in the past few months.
Nestled among the restaurants and shops of Greenwood Ave, Baker N Cook blends in so beautifully with its surroundings at the junction of Hillcrest Road and Greendale Ave that you would almost miss it if you were not looking for it.
This artisan bakery/foodstore/cafe displays its wide variety of pastries, breads, pies and cakes on the counters, tempting you even before you walk through the glass doors. Freshly baked croissants, meringues and muffins are just some of many goods offered as part of their handcrafted signature range amongst others which include jams, chutney and granola which are packaged for easy takeaways. Get ready for a carb-laden morning/afternoon when you get here because you will definitely be spoilt for choice!
Between the four of us, we first ordered the Pain Au Chocolat $3.10 which was crisp, buttery and well-flaked. Unfortunately, being a chocolate croissant, I would have appreciated a little bit more chocolate inside and it would have been perfect if this was served still warm from the oven.
PS. Cafe (Palais Renaissance)
Always one to exude that chilled and laid back vibe with its large plate servings, mouthwatering displays of cakes and somewhat pricey menu, PS. Cafe is indeed a dependable choice to fall back on when you simply wish to unwind. They are afterall, one of the first pioneer concept cafes that first came onto the scene in the last couple of years.
This was my first time at the Palais Renaissance branch and the ambiance did not disappoint one bit. The somewhat dim lighting atmosphere unique to PS. Cafe was no different at this location and while it was tempting to stay at the air-conditioned part of the cafe, I was freezing after being in the cinema for the last 2 hours so the al-fresco area was naturally a better option for me.
I did however prefer the outdoor section of the cafe once I saw it. It was an open concept with natural light coming through and mirrors all around the place. If it werent for the renovations going on next door and ruining the view from the window, it would have been perfect.
Furthermore, because we came at such an odd timing of 5pm when there was almost no one, we had the entire garden-like outdoor patio all to ourselves. It is actually the perfect place for a date given the privacy, layout and ‘lush greenery’ all around you. But you have to come at the right time because the place can get pretty packed and crowded around dinner time.
Since the dinner menu only starts at 6pm, we decided to start to order the Chocolate Crunch Doorstop $15.90 first. It was three layers of chocolate mousse, caramelized nuts (pecans, almonds and walnuts) and a chocolate cake base topped with malteaser balls! I loved the first 2 layers. The chocolate mousse was not too sweet, light, smooth and airy (just as it was supposed to be) and I never say no to caramelized nuts! But the chocolate cake was a bit of a disappointment because it was simply too dry!
db Bistro Moderne (Marina Bay Sands)
Together with two other celebrity restaurants- CUT by Wolfgang Puck and Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza, db Bistro Moderne is the third celebrity restaurant in Marina Bay Shoppes that is located conveniently near the Sands Theatre where the likes of The Lion King and currently Wicked is playing. As such, these restaurants offer a great before or after theatre dining option. Servers are also considerate enough to ask if you are catching a musical so as to ensure that your food reaches you in time before showtime.
The original db Bistro Moderne which was set up by Chef Daniel Boulud in Midtown Manhattan is highly acclaimed and Michelin Chef Daniel has made a name for himself as having opened an unpretentious French-American bistro that serves food that is simply packed with flavour.
This branch at Marina Bay Sands has a very Parisian and chic feel when you first walk in. High ceilings, a stylish bar, smartly dressed waiters and an open window concept which allows diners to enjoy their food while watching the world go by, db Bistro Moderne is hardly modest in its setting and layout.
We arranged to meet here for Sunday branch and to be honest, this visit came tagged with many high expectations and much excitement.
The plan was to order a few mains and leave some room for dessert so we settled on the FRIED EGGS LYONNAISES $21 which was simply the star of the afternoon. The combination of the duck confit, mushrooms and bite sized potatoes was to die for. For starters, the duck confit was beautifully prepared and well-browned. The meat was moist and not overly salty, it was simply delightful. Potatoes were evenly cut and cooked to perfection that it was neither too hard or soft to the point of becoming mushy. Throw in a fried sunny side-up on the top, you’ve got yourself a winner.
Next to arrive was the TARTE FLAMBÉE $18 which was not actually on the brunch menu but on the dinner menu instead. We found out about this dish because we got curious as to what the person at the next table was having so we asked the waiter who kindly explained to us that it was not a brunch item but if we wanted, they could arrange to have it prepared for us. Gold star for initiative and service.
This modest looking flat bread was hardly eye catching but it was deceivingly oh so good. Bacon, onion and Fromage Blanc (creamy soft cheese) on dough was crisp, soft, salty and sweet all at the same time. The subtlety of the flavours were the perfect marriage and it was hard to believe that something so simple and flat could be so three dimensional in taste.
A Coffee Club Dinner
It was back to O’ Coffee Club at Holland Village to use up our remaining 3 groupons that we had bought last year. And as I had mentioned in my previous post, it was technically 50% off the bill- you pay $10 for every $20 spent!
There is really nothing not to love about this Coffee Club branch at Holland Village and I dont think I had mentioned earlier but the service here is really excellent. The waitresses/waiters are polite and efficient, very sincere in their service and A+ at making you feel comfortable and served. 3 times I have been here and though I have been served by different people each time, they have all left a very lasting impression and I have to commend the people who have trained them so well and of course the workers themselves for making such an effort at service.
Between the three of us, the first main we shared, was the Honey Glazed Chicken which had a crunchy French Onion crust and was served with mashed potatoes. You can never fault Coffee Club for their presentation and first impressions of their dish. It’s safe to say that the chefs do a good job at replicating what you actually see in the pictures of the menu. However, taste wise was a little disappointing. The seasoning and marinating of the chicken had not been properly done, leaving some parts of the chicken really salty and difficult to eat. The greens were very fresh though and mash smooth.
The Mega Club Sandwich was a definitely a good choice. Layers of classic Caesar salad with roasted chicken, smoked salmon and cheddar, this is one sandwich that is scrumptious in a healthy way if you excuse that cup of golden crisp french fries at the side…
