Sambusak + Egg & Tomato Sauce Got to learn about the existence of the new Crust & Crumbs that seemed to have opened their doors at the ground floor of Bras Basah Complex — it did seem that the former tenants of the same space, GAMO, have had a rather short run, considering how Crust & Crumbs had taken over the former premises of GAMO; one can also find the outlet of Toast Box that had been formerly the spot where the iconic Music Book Room used to be at in Bras Basah Complex. While the overall look of the space of Crust & Crumbs does not seem to be too different from that of GAMO with the large use of wooden furniture and fittings matched against cement-esque walls with dining chairs featuring a rattan accent and grey cushions, there is quite a drastic change in terms of the layout of the set-up. The counter is now found right beside the door towards the left as one enters the premises; one would be immediately greeted with the extensive variety of bakes that they have to offer which are stocked in display cases, shelves and display chillers surrounding the counter — one can even find frozen dough to bring home for home-baking that is stocked and retailed in one display chiller right in front of the dine-in space. The dine-in space features a mix of counter seats, high tables and normal dining tables and chairs; there are only two dining tables that can accommodate up for two (2) to three (3) pax each however. Seatings are also available outside the shop, with the furniture used for its outdoor seating being the ones that existed during GAMO’s tenancy of the space. Crust & Crumbs is a bakery that seems to be focused around its Jewish bakes; the menu being segregated into categories such as Breads, Sandwiches, Salads, Crunch Cakes, and Our Specials — some examples of the bakes that can be found at Crust & Crumbs include that of the Romanian Bagel and Rogelach. Beverages available at Crust & Crumbs comprises of simply espresso-based specialty coffee.
Skimming through the selection of savoury bakes available, we found ourselves going for the Sambusak + Egg & Tomato Sauce; an item that does seem to be fairly unfamiliar here considering the lack of Jewish bakeries around the island. We were being told by the staff that the Sambusak itself is something close to that of a pizza crust — the insides being filled with two cheeses and a tomato spread; it comes along with a range of dips and condiments that one can stuff into the Sambusak to enjoy, with the dips and condiments inclusive of two different dips, pickled chilies, pitted olives and a hard-boiled egg. Served on a wooden platter, the Sambusak is sliced into two upon serving for the convenience of the diners. Digging into the Sambusak, we did feel that the Sambusak was more bread-like, though notably coming with a clean and firm bite without much tension to pull apart — this also means that each bite comes off pretty neatly with the cheese being a mix of stretchy, melted cheese and cream cheese that provides a variance of textures and a savouriness altogether. The tomato puree spread in between provides a slight tang that made it pretty easy to eat, and our preferred condiments to go with the Sambusak was the two dips and the pitted olives. Each dip provided a different flavour profile that we truly enjoyed; the one with the lighter shade being pretty refreshing especially after pairing the Sambusak with the heavier-tasting condiments, while the one u. A darker shade comes with savoury and smoky spiciness that can be described as being quite close to that of Lao Gan Ma-style chili. The pitted olives worked well in delivering a tangy savouriness that provided quite a bit of depth to the Sambusak.
We had also tried the Chocolate Rogelach which does look very similar to a typical croissant in the way that it is being presented — there are sources that suggests that the Rogelach even pre-dates the creation of the French croissant. Whilst we had not tried a proper Rogelach to comment on how authentic the one served at Crust & Crumbs is, the Chocolate Rogelach does come significantly less flaky and buttery than the traditional French croissant — the result is this pastry that comes with a firm bite that again comes off pretty neatly with every bite. The addition of chocolate here also means that each bite comes with the familiar sweetness of chocolate — whilst not mentioned anywhere, we also do suspect the use of hazelnut somewhere here considering the slight hint of nuttiness amidst the sweetness of the chocolate. We were a little disappointed that the Flat White served at Crust & Crumbs was served in a disposable paper cup even for dine-in orders; while there is no latte art that comes with the cuppa, the cuppa does come with a medium body and an earthy and nutty flavour profile that works as a good cuppa to start the day with. Whilst there has been plenty of bakeries that had opened their doors of the late (think the likes of NOMAD at Depot Heights Shopping Centre), we do feel that Crust & Crumbs does have a certain niche that sets that apart from most hipster bakeries that have sprouted up in recent times; their emphasis on Jewish bakes and pastries does remind us a little bit of how Yugoslavia Bakery & Cafe specialises in Slavic bakes and pastries as well — something that does seem to be unique to this island. For those looking to have something substantial enough for a meal here such as the Sambusak + Egg & Tomato Sauce, prices of such items are priced well under $15; a spot worth hitting for those looking for bakes with a slightly different character than what is usually found elsewhere!
