Ah, cakes. Ever since I was a bovine, juvenile synthesis of a mortal known as a child, I’ve always had a sweet tooth and enjoyed tearing at the purity of my cavities with the innocent likes of chocolates, candies and other devilish confectionaries. The end result was a series of fortnightly trips to the dentist over the course of two years in my youth. Now, only perfection remains as the very teeth that I possessed to destroy have become polished tools of mastication that glisten with glorious lustre. As to whether I remain to write on psychedelics synthetic and organic, the answer still remains a mystery to my being. Now where was I? Oh yes, cakes.
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Situated in a lovely little concrete neighbourhood at Telok Blangah, Out Of The Cake Box is a quaint little bakery that prides itself on its unique desserts that interprets local flavours, with pleasantly surprising results. The destination is a simple stone’s throw away from the station, making it the perfect pit-stop to indulge in some delightfully playful creations that remind us of a time that was.
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Their Carrot Cake ($6.50++) is a perfect example of their efforts to incorporate traditional Singaporean flavours with classic dessert-making techniques. Every bite of the curious creation featured a spiced moist carrot sponge layered with hazelnuts and salted caramel cream cheese frosting, resulting in a sweet and savoury spoonful that is reminiscent of a traditional carrot cake serving. -
Next up was the Rose Lychee ($5.50++), a light and effervescent cake with an ethereal texture that played beautifully well with its subtle floral qualities. With rosewater sponge, fresh lychee cream, juicy lychee bits and strawberry jelly, this cake hit all the right spots for dessert on a warm summer afternoon.
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The Millionaire Tart ($6++) was aptly named, for it was rich. Pure decadence arrived in the form of a slow-baked chocolate custard made from a blend of Belgium chocolate and dark chocolate on short crust pastry, with a savoury counterbalance lent by a topping of sea-salt caramel.
Walk in and you will find yourself completely immersed in a pastel paradise akin to that of a pristine dollhouse. With marble countertops and spheres of soft white light, one may escape from the hustle and bustle of the Tanjong Pagar CBD district, and seek solace in the charming little dessert boutique that is Nesuto (Japanese for “nest”). The humble patisserie, which is the brainchild of Plentyfull’s ex-head pastry chef Alicia is home to a sublime collection of expertly-crafted cakes and pastries, in which no effort was spared in their creation. Fresh, premium imported ingredients are utilised to their fullest potential with classical and contemporary French cooking techniques.
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Nesuto’s cakes are a reflection of innovation and sophistication that excite, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Le Chocolat ($9) is an example of such, a rich and decadent Valrhona dark chocolate mousse, resting atop a crumbly brownie base before finally being finished with a few shards of pure chocolate. Miss Ispahan ($9.80) was beautifully presented, a lone lychee rose rested atop a blissfully creamy dome of a layered raspberry jam core and a smooth rose and lychee cream exterior.
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A second visit was obligatory. On the day of our visit, we were presented with a new cake that appeared to be in its R&D phase. The Orelys Cassis ($8.60) featured a mirrored presentation to its darker cousin, Le Chocolat, with a completely different set of ingredients. The dessert crafted at Nesuto made full use of the Orelys’ discerning qualities and paired it alongside a blueberry cassis confit core atop a brownie base.
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As for my personal favourite in the house of the Nest, the clear winner stands to be their C3 Cheesecake ($9). Smooth, nutty and well-rounded, the cheesecake boasts recognizable flavours of Valrhona caramelized white chocolate and dark chocolate infused within the simply rich cheesecake. Sea salt adds a new dimension to the cake, bringing about a savouriness that truly complimented the sweetness and the richness, creating a perfectly balanced cake in its entirety. Wonderful place that does not fail to please.
Level 5 Burppler · 61 Reviews
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