Cafe Hopping

[Verdict: Terryfic 👍🏻] I dare say you can’t go wrong with the Kouign Amann from @tiongbahrubakery. They are apparently the first (or one of the first) to bring in this sinfully delicious Brittany viennoiserie onto Singapore’s shores. If you haven’t already tried this, please do.

It’s a huge piece and it’s so good that you’ll finish it all. Don’t count the calories or sugar in it to prevent a shock-induced heart attack. Quite a good deal for $5++.

Why is it sinful?

Copious amounts of sugar is sprinkled between many layers of laminated dough made with quality French butter. That same dough is then swirled to give its distinct appearance.

The end result is a crispy, flaky exterior that’s coated with caramelised sugar. On the inside, it’s fragrant, soft and buttery.

If you’re wondering why it can be a bit salty within the crispy pastry, that’s because salt is one of the key ingredients.

[Verdict: Terryfic 👍🏻] My obsession with yam is probably well documented. Naturally the Orh Blanc Tart ($8) from @patisserie.cle has piqued my curiosity for a very long time. It’s a cross breed between the traditional orh nee (yam paste) and French Mont Blanc.

Instead of chestnut paste, yam paste takes centerstage in this creation. Beneath the yam paste lies a light coconut cream, vanilla chantilly and candied gingko nuts.

All of these are encased in a buttery, crisp sable tart shell. It’s recommended to eat this on the day of purchase to fully enjoy the tart. Keep it for the next day and it becomes a little soft and dry.

What I enjoy about this is how smooth and fragrant the yam paste is. And being a recreation of the Teochew classic, there is neither that layer of oil that can be off putting to some nor the copious amount of sugar.

The absence of that off-putting bitter taste in the candied gingko is another plus point.

The end result is a tart that’s enjoyable and not cloying. A perfectly curated dessert for any occasion. It’s well-executed and I’m sure it’ll impress traditionalists too.

[Verdict: Terryfic 👍🏻] I love eating egg tarts. When I saw @microbakerykitchen Sourdough Egg Tart ($3.50), I told myself I’d get some to try since I can’t go to Hong Kong to try @bakehousehk ones any time soon. They are only available on the weekends in limited quantities. So get it if you see it.

At first glance it looks like any other Portuguese egg tart with that scorched top and puff pastry. But you’ll notice the difference once you bite into that thin, flaky, crispy crust. That mellow tang of sourdough in the pastry is just so welcoming that you’ll be so eager for a second bite.

They got it right with the egg custard. It’s smooth and supple that will get you yearning for more. So eggy yet not too cloying and sweet.

Nothing can beat the legendary Pasteis de Belem in Lisbon as that’s a class on its own. Nevertheless, I’ll have this again.

Last December, Apiary collaborated with Bailey’s to offer ice cream flavours infused with Bailey’s Original Irish cream.

Charcoal Waffle ($6.50). Although I’ve been to Apiary on multiple occasions, this is my first time having their waffles. Surrounding the waffles, is homemade chocolate sauce and maple syrup.

Personally, I prefer my waffles to be more crispy than what’s served here. It was lacking in Apiary’s version. That aside, the waffles were soft and fluffy.

Bailey’s and Brownies (Premium Scoop). A great pairing of flavours theoretically. Bailey’s original Irish cream ice cream with homemade brownies. Love how they are so generous with the little soft, moist brownie bits that was prominently in every scoop.

However, the Irish cream taste was very faint. It’d be great if they were more generous with the amount of Bailey’s in the ice cream.

Bailey’s Cherry Cupcake (Premium Scoop). Bailey’s Red Velvet Cupcake with morello cherries and chocolate cupcakes. The fruity sweetness from the morello cherries were more prominent than the Bailey’s cream unfortunately.

Bailey’s Iced Chocolate ($7). At least I could taste the Bailey’s shot in this iced chocolate. Would’ve done it with coffee if we went earlier in the day.

So with every scoop of ice cream purchased, they are supposed to give you a Bailey’s drizzle cream. Unfortunately, it wasn’t served to me.

Have y’all gone to PIVOT for their desserts and tamago sando? Decided to drop by one day for a quick coffee and cake. And I ordered their bestseller OH! Gee Cha ($8.50) since it’s my first time here.

A houjicha mousse cake that’s light on taste. Beneath the mousse is a rather fluffy houjicha genoise. In the middle lies an Apple compote that adds a fruity element to the cake. It’s decorated with houjicha leaves and houjicha crumble.

I’m not a diehard houjicha fan but this wasn’t great. The roasted, earthy taste that’s typically associated with the roasted green tea was at best faint in the mousse and the genoise. The essence of vanilla from the light and sweet houjicha mousse was much more prominent.

Unfortunately, it’s the chunky apple cubes and added sweetness of the compote that stood out here. If they could make the houjicha flavour stronger, I would rate it a few notches higher.

Good old traditional baked cheesecake that’s infused with honey and osmanthus flower. And damn it’s been awhile since I had a cheesecake with a digestive biscuit base. The cream cheese was rich and creamy that doesn’t feel too cloying. And you can’t fail to notice the fresh, floral taste of the osmanthus. And I love baked cheesecakes for its sweet, crumbly digestive biscuit base.

Thank you @theforagecafe for having us!

Forage Signature ($9.10 - Left). I can see why it’s their signature. Extremely refreshing and a wonderful palette cleanser. It’s a more refined and healthier version of bubble tea without all the added sugar since honey is used to sweeten the tea. Iced citrus jasmine tea with special multi-floral honey. It’s then served with two toppings - yuzu blossom jelly and passionfruit burst pearls.

Wild Milkyway ($9.10 - Right). The cafe’s take on milk tea. Da Hong Pao (大红袍) oolong milk tea and wild honey grass jelly. It was a tad milky and masked the earthy notes of the tea. The honey grass jelly is a good addition for the humid weather.

Thank you @theforagecafe for having us!

Went down to @theforagecafe in the FAR EAST not too long ago to try some of their honey-themed creations including their signature honey buttermilk waffles, honey-based drinks and honey-infused desserts.

Owned by the same people behind @13honey, every item served has some element of honey in it.

Chilli Cheese Chicken Waffle Sandwich ($17). Breaded fried chicken cutlet, baby spinach and topped with a mild chilli cheese sauce. Don’t forget to drizzle it with some honey for a sweet touch.

The great thing about the chicken cutlet is that it isn’t too oily. The chicken thigh was fairly juicy but I thought it could do with a little more crisp. But I wished the cutlet serving was larger to fit the entire waffle. When you finished the cutlet, it’s as good as eating waffles with honey. More cheese sauce would be great too.

I love the honey on its own as it adds that natural sweetness to the savoury waffles.

Thank you @theforagecafe for having us!

Went down to @theforagecafe in the FAR EAST not too long ago to try some of their honey-themed creations including their signature honey buttermilk waffles, honey-based drinks and honey-infused desserts.

If it’s too far for you, you can choose to order in. Use this PROMO CODE “TFCIN10” when you order directly from their website.

Owned by the same people behind @13honey, every item served has some element of honey in it.

Jalapeño Beef Ragu Waffle Sandwich ($20.20). One of the bestsellers and I just love how well this hearty combination works. Served with crispy bacon, wholesome jalapeño beef ragu, mozzarella cheese, sunny side up and some nachos to go along with.

The waffle size was perfect for this dish considering the medley of ingredients. It’s amazing how it retains its crisp on the exterior while the batter itself is so fluffy. The meaty beef ragu was flavourful and I loved that slice of crispy streaky bacon cause who doesn’t love bacon?

I love the honey on its own as it adds that natural sweetness to the savoury waffles.

Thank you @theforagecafe for having us!

If you’re up for some jiggly, wobbly, fluffy soufflé pancakes in the East, then be sure to check out King’s Cart Coffee Factory at Joo Chiat Road. Choose from Original to Tiramisu to Pandan Kaya.

We had the Original ($16.50+; Pic 1) which was a soufflé pancake with fresh cream, maple syrup and assorted fruit (strawberries, kiwis, raspberries and blackberries). While the pancakes were soft and airy, it was a bit denser than I thought it’d be.

Do have it with fresh fruit, fresh cream and maple syrup for sweetness. Otherwise, you’ll feel like you’re eating eggs. You may find this a bit on the high side for what it is, but if you’re going to a cafe, do consider that their overheads can be quite high.

A chill place to go in the East, I’ll be back to try their brunch items and the other pancakes at an appropriate time.

Your typical latte with coconut cream and gula melaka added. Some toasted coconut flakes have been added for aesthetics and give it additional texture. I found this to be a bit diluted and not sure if it’s because it only had a single espresso shot.

It’s not fair for me to rate their coffee based on these specialty drinks as I haven’t tried their standard espresso/ cold brew yet.

I love coconut drinks so was quite intrigued by the coconut cold brew. Just think of the coconut juice and coconut flesh being put in a nice glass, and that you don’t need to scrape the sides for the flesh. Add some cold brew concentrate for your refreshing caffeine boost. Quite a good concoction if you want something different.

It’s not fair for me to rate their coffee based on these specialty drinks as I haven’t tried their standard espresso/ cold brew yet.