Foodography: A Singapore Food Blog

Truffle ramen and truffle edamame? Yep, you did not hear it wrong. These are now served at Kanshoku Ramen Bar, the offshoot of Kanshoku Ramen which first opened at The Metropolis two years ago.

Traditional ramen in broth is available, with choices like the Black Garlic Ramen ($14.9), Flaming Hot Tonkotsu Ramen ($14.9) and the Signature Kanshoku Ramen ($13.9). But the truffle lovers in us were there for the trendy alternative the other day.

Served dry, the Black Truffle Ramen ($16.9) is a must-try. The thin ramen noodles are tossed in some truffle oil and topped with black truffle shavings and two slices of well-marinated charshu. Considerably, the amount of truffle served was generous but not to the extent where it can get too strong and overpowering. Not sure if I can ever order a bowl of traditional ramen for myself here when the truffle option is so tempting and tantalizing. I particularly liked how the marinade on the slices of charshu gave it more flavor. We also added ajitama for $2 to our ramen. There was initially some confusion over the availability of the truffle ramen, but all I know for now is that it’s served on a daily basis at the orchardgateway outlet.

The other truffle dish here is the Black Truffle Edamame ($4.9), which is coated with truffle oil and black truffle shavings. It might possibly be the best side dish amongst the others on the menu.

Sadly, the too ordinary Nagoya Chicken Wings ($6.9) fell short of our expectations.

Drinks-wise, Kanshoku has a selection of sake and craft beers. A pity we couldn’t try the Yuzu Lemon Juice ($5.4) and Matcha Latte ($5.4) which were not available that day.

Kanshoku means ‘to finish eating every last bit of your food’ in Japanese. And so we did.

Update: Kanshoku has recently launched its all-new Truffle Broth Ramen ($17.9, add $2 for an egg). Expect 3 layers of truffle goodness in it – truffle pate, shaved truffle and truffle oil infused with their tonkotsu broth. Compared to the dry version, this is a lighter option and is probably comprised of the suitable level of truffle for those who found the dry version a little too ‘gelat’. As usual, I managed to wipe clean yet another bowl of ramen here.

Thanks Melvin for the invite!

277 Orchard Road

OrchardGateway

#01-06

11am – 10pm daily

Montana Brew Bar entered the cafe scene last year with interesting waffles and burgers at affordable prices, making it one of the cafes that stand out more. I too myself have been a fan, having tried their food at the old premises. Great news for the foodies out there: Montana has gone big and better, having switched units at PoMo and occupying two levels now.

Don’t be confused by the differing themes of the two levels. The new Montana is based on a 3-in-1 concept within the same restaurant. The first level is occupied by South Bronx, a casual burger bar serving up burgers and booze while the second level is occupied by Montana Brew Bar serving waffles and pasta as well as Fabulous Dough serving donuts. Collectively, they make up Montana Singapore.

Fans of the old Montana Brew Bar need not worry as their signature waffles are making a comeback – with the same old quality and consistency. My all-time (both past and current) favourite has to be the Truffle Jalapeno Mac & Cheese Waffle ($12). Months of research and experimenting resulted in this waffle-lised mac and cheese which is topped with white truffle oil and served with jalapeno tomato dip on the side. Though the hints of truffle are quite faint, this waffle can still be easily ranked as one of the best savoury waffle in Singapore.

Look out for a strong contender of the Mac & Cheese Waffle – the Assam Crab Waffle ($18). Inspired by the kedah laksa, this assam-spiced waffle is topped with seasoned crab meat and pineapple cucumber salsa. Fortunately, the sourness from the assam is not too overpowering and the waffle is not overly spicy. Overall, a very refreshing dish.

The last savoury waffle we had that day was the Bulgogi Beef Waffle ($16) made of gochujang rice waffle with sous vide bulgogi beef, orange sesame coleslaw, sous vide poached egg and bonito. The rice waffle is pretty soft and came with a spicy aftertaste that sets in slowly. A decent dish but compared to the previous two, this waffle was underwhelming.

From the dessert waffles menu, the Red Velvet Waffle ($11) – a red velvet waffle stack with vanilla ice cream and white chocolate rose sauce is making a return, looking as tall, steady and aesthetically pleasing as before.

The new Black Velvet Waffle ($14) is NOT a charcoal waffle. It is instead a black sesame waffle with black miso caramel and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream coated with black chocolate. The subtle flavour of black sesame in the waffle won me over immediately. It also gave a tinge of sweetness to the waffle.

Marnier Brew ($6.50) – grand marnier coffee with a coconut sphere. This is essentially cold brew infused with coconut water once the sphere melts. Unlike normal cold brews you find in Singapore with a strong, sour and acidic taste, this one is much milder in taste. The coconut water helped to sweeten the cold brew in an unusual yet interesting way.

Over at South Bronx, we shared some sides like the Beer Battered BBQ Chicken Wings ($7) and Mac & Cheese Fritters with Tomato Relish Dip ($8) which weren’t too bad at all.

All burgers are served with triple fries comprising curly, straight cut and criss cut fries to accommodate everyone’s preferences.

Sir Spam-A-Lot ($12) – fried egg, luncheon meat patty, smoked bacon, grilled pineapple ring, spicy BBQ mayo.

The Original Rump Shaker ($12) – South Bronx original, house-made beef patty, signature sauce, smoked bacon, melted cheese slice. Preferred the beef patty burgers to the luncheon meat patty burgers.

Our favourite amongst the three burgers is probably The Mac Daddy ($16) – beef patty topped with jalapeno mac and cheese. I never knew mac and cheese could work well in a burger, but somehow it complemented the beef patty rather well. There was a spicy kick to the dish, thanks to the jalapeno.

Montana is one of the cafes you must visit this year if you haven’t done so. Despite the major renovation and revamping works, their prices remain affordable even for students. As for food quality, it has remained as consistent as ever. After all, they do take feedback very seriously.

Thanks Amanda and Montana Singapore for the invitation!

Montana Brew Bar

1 Selegie Road

#02-25

PoMo

8am – 10pm daily

South Bronx Burgers

1 Selegie Road

#01-02

PoMo

Mon – Thu, Sun 11am – 10pm

Fri & Sat 11am – 12am

Quick summary of some places I went to in Hong Kong this time round. (You can check out pics and a summary of my trip last year here). Feel free to drop a comment or even email for any tips or advice! Happy to offer or receive them both.

Central/Sheung Wan

Oddies Foodies (Read the full review HERE) – Their signature Nightwolf – eggettes on soft serve might just be the most instagram-worthy dessert in Hong Kong and you definitely will not want to give it a miss. Exclusive to this second branch is the gelato with flavours like Dark Matter (dark chocolate) and Interstellar (mango) and their frozen Jar-Letos.

45 Gough Street

12pm – 10.30pm daily

Sheung Wan MTR Exit A2

Little Bao (Read the full review HERE) – My essential brunch spot in Hong Kong. Nuff said.

G/F, 66 Staunton Street

Sheung Wan MTR Exit A2

Mon to Fri 6pm – 11pm

Sat 12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 11pm

Sun 12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 10pm

Mak’s Noodles – One of the world’s cheapest Michelin starred restaurants. The texture of the noodles here are much springier than I expected and the soup is on the salty side. The beef tendon and wanton were pretty good though.

77 Wellington Street

11am – 9pm daily

Central MTR Exit D2

Austin

DimDimSum Dim Sum Specialty Store – Cheap and good dim sum. We were a little upset that the liu sha of our Piggy Custard Buns didn’t flow out, but every other dish we ordered made up for it. Other stuff we tried include the Pineapple Buns with Pineapple Custard Filling, Rice Flour Rolls with BBQ Pork and Har Gow.

23 Man Ying Street

G/F, Man Wah Building

Daily 10am – 1am

Austin MTR Exit A

Seng Seng Pho Cha – This Korean eatery was not on my list of places to visit; I chanced upon it while heading to DimDimSum as they are along the same street. After seeing Koreans dining there, I thought I should be back another evening to try it out for myself. Our favourite there was their Cheese Corn Fried Chicken. On that chilly night, the chimaek (fried chicken and beer) we had felt heavenly.

18 Man Ying Street

Man Ying Building

Daily 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 2am

Austin MTR Exit A

Wan Chai

Honolulu Coffee Shop – They are most well-known for their egg tarts, which I agree are quite different from the usual egg tarts you’ll find in Hong Kong. Their version comes with an incredibly soft egg custard surrounded with flaky outer pastry crust. The macaroni with pork chop in soup is also surprisingly satisfying.

176-178 Hennessy Road

Daily 6am – 12am

Wan Chai MTR Exit A4

Yau Ma Tei

Mido Cafe (Read the full review HERE) – Just a cha chaan teng that I go to every time I’m in Hong Kong. No big deallllll.

63 Temple Street

Yau Ma Tei MTR Exit C

8.30am – 10pm daily, closed on Wednesdays

Jordan

Horizonte Lounge

1 Cheong Lok Street

29/F, Hotel Madera

5pm – 1am daily

Jordan MTR Exit B1

Tsim Sha Tsui

Unar Coffee Company Shop No. 2 – Tucked away at a corner of the pier where people travel to Hong Kong Island from Kowloon, this coffee shop is almost impossible to locate without any help. This is a great pit stop for coffee after a walk along Victoria Harbour or after shopping at Harbour City. For a unique experience, try their Iced Cucumber Latte which is quite refreshing (a bit of an acquired taste though).

Salisbury Road

Shop KP 41, 1/F, Star Ferry Pier

8am – 8pm daily

East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Exit L6

Jean-Paul Hevin Chocolatier – Not too bad, but with Laduree and Pierre Herme around in HK as well, it will be a tough fight for them.

Shop 212, Ocean Centre, Harbour City

10am – 10pm daily

Tsim Sh Tsui MTR Exit A1

Kennedy Town

Sunday’s Grocery (Read the full review HERE) – This grocery store in the up and coming hipster neighbourhood of Kennedy Town is brought to you by Yardbird, a famous yakitori joint in Sheung Wan. Expect western style takeaway food such as fried chicken and sandwiches made with quality ingredients. They are not as simple as a “takeaway store”.

66-68 Catchick Street

Tues to Sun 11am – 9pm

Kennedy Town MTR Exit C

Meet Lazy Susan. She’s Spa Esprit Group’s new F&B concept – an all-day dining pop-up joint at House @ Dempsey currently and at Open Door Policy soon after. Scouted for this very first pop-up of theirs is Chef Haan Palcu-Chang of Mama Flo’s in Toronto, who is a true mixed culturalist. Thus Lazy Susan’s menu takes its inspirations from food styles of asian traditional breakfasts to hawker fare, cafes, dim sum meets diner.

Don’t be surprised if you walk into House and the place looks a little different to you than before. The new pieces of decor are centred on red and give the western-based House an Asian touch. Take note that currently the House menu is only available on Monday to Wednesday and the restaurant will only serve food from the Lazy Susan menu for the rest of the week.

We tried both cocktails from the drinks menu. For something more light and pleasant, the Tiffin Punch ($12 per tiffin, $45 for set of 4) is recommended – it comprises gin, lychee liqueur and grapefruit.

Go for the Tiger Mama ($10) if you would like a spicy kick – spiced vodka, Chambord, cranberry juice, ginger beer. Definitely not for the weak.

BBQ Jackfruit Bum ($12) – looks like a pulled pork burger but it’s not. This is in fact a vegetarian burger, with the patty made of braised jackfruit slathered with gula melaka BBQ sauce and pistachio-studded guacamole. It may not taste as exciting as pulled pork but it’s still interesting nonetheless.

Wing Bean Toast ($12) – sourdough toast from Tiong Bahru Bakery topped with creamy white mozzarella, wing beans, XOXO sauce and hibiscus leaves. The toast cools and hardens quickly once you leave it out for some time, so the taste did not come out quite as expected.

Cheese Mantou in Chilli Crab Sauce ($14) – deep-fried halloumi cheese blocks to dip in Lazy Susan’s own chilli crab sauce creation. A seemingly simple dish that got me hooked on it. Talk about comfort food.

Marry Mee Goreng ($12) – sunny yellow noodles flash fried with fresh seafood, laksa leaves, chives and red chillies. I typically avoid the traditional mee goreng as it can be very heavy on the palate with a deep and spicy flavour but Lazy Susan’s rendition is lighter and more refreshing.

Stinky Meets Crispy ($22) – probably the highlight of our tasting that day. Apparently the chef has only tried har cheong gai once and went on to create this dish of har cheong gai and sunny side-up on rice flour waffles, drizzled with sambal maple syrup. We were impressed by the crisp har cheong gai that even though the batter (for the waffle) could be further tweaked to better compliment it.

Khao Bun ($12) – pork sausage patty infused with lemongrass and turmeric with pickled veggies and coriander in a steamed bun. The lemongrass flavour was a tad too strong for me.

Luncheon Meat Croquettes ($8) – fried glutinous rice balls stuffed with aromatic luncheon meat, Chinese chives and tart Sichuan pickles, all rolled in healthy quinoa. I liked how these rice balls, unlike our Chinese equivalent, are not laden with flour. Rather, they are filled with quinoa and it does feel slightly healthier.

On general, we felt that the 3 desserts on the Lazy Susan menu were rather underwhelming with small portion sizes yet hefty price tags on them. Among the three, the Cornfield Cake ($8) was our favourite. The grilled corn-cake that was served with fresh creamed corn and balanced with a big sprinkle of sea salt flakes was saved by the sea salt which gave the otherwise bland cake a sweet-salty touch.

Meanwhile, we felt that the Mango Pudding ($8) – was normal and really not worth the 8 bucks which could get us a good slice of cake from House’s dessert menu.

Like A Bibik ($8) is a baked sago cake in pineapple and dill relish, drizzled with gula melaka sauce for a sweet finish – some will like it, some will not.

I say: Go for some plates to share, try the har cheong gai and maybe skip the desserts. Expect an array of flavours and watch out if you don’t take spicy food.

Thanks Janet and Spa Esprit Group for the invite!

3 – 27 December at House @ Dempsey

8D Dempsey Road, Singapore 249672

Thurs & Fri 12pm – 11pm

Sat 11am – 12am

Sun 9am – 11pm

5 – 24 January at Open Door Policy

19 Yong Siak Street, Singapore 168650

Mon to Sun 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm

Upon the thought of cha chaan tengs in Hong Kong, Mido Cafe (美都餐室) would be the first to pop up in my mind. This two-storey cafe is located on a relatively quiet street in Yau Ma Tei, a stone throw away from the MTR station. The cafe is full of nostalgia, and it feels as if you’ve been transported back to the traditional coffee shop days. A tiny flight of stairs leads the way up to the second floor which is usually crowded and abuzz with small talks.

Just like other cha chaan tengs, the menu here boasts a wide variety of dishes ranging from simple breakfast items such as toasts, sandwiches and macaroni to dinner items like rice and mixed grill. Despite growing up in an Asian city with a Chinese majority, I’ve almost never had such food for breakfast. And so I ended up relishing every moment of my breakfasts in HK. We have never had a bad Almond milk (HKD$15/SGD$2.70 for hot, HKD$17/SGD$3.10 for cold) or Milk tea (HKD$15/SGD$2.70 for hot, HKD$17/SGD$3.10 for cold) in Hong Kong, so I guess it is alright to skip that daily cup of joe and go for them instead. Apparently the Yuan Yang – a mix of coffee and tea (HKD$15/SGD$2.70 for hot, HKD$17/SGD$3.10 for cold) is good here as well (didn’t get to try it though).

Pineapple bun with butter (HKD$12/SGD$2.20)

Condensed milk and peanut butter toast (HKD$10/SGD$1.80)

On that chilly morning in Mido Cafe, the Pork chop and macaroni in tomato sauce (HKD$60/SGD$10.90) was true comfort food. It was served warm in a creamy tomato base which was neither too salty nor heavy on the palate. Despite the large serving portion, we didn’t get sick of it. The pork was sufficiently tender as well. Having tried the Ham with macaroni in broth (HKD$30) on my previous visit, I can say that the macaroni in tomato sauce is very much more worthy of a try.

So grab that table by the window and enjoy the authentic cha chaan teng experience. It makes a perfect break away from the usual western brunch suspects, away from the hustle of fast-paced, metropolitan life.

63 Temple Street

Yau Ma Tei MTR Exit C

8.30am – 10pm daily except Wednesdays

I know it’s hard to tell from my social media, but I’m a huge fan of Korean food. Needless to say, I was thrilled to try out this hidden gem in Clarke Quay – 8 Korean BBQ, which is named after their signature, must-have 8 Colours Set (on to that later).

The restaurant occupies a relatively large space, including an al fresco area with a view overlooking the Singapore River. The raw industrial designs are complemented with their brick walls… word has it that these bricks were sourced from Korea.

And so we started our meal with the essential banchan (Korean side dishes) followed by the Seafood Bean Paste Stew ($18) which is mildly flavoured. Their Kimcheese Fried Rice ($20, good for 2-3 pax) which came next on a sizzling hot plate was rather special, boasting a twist on the kimchi fried rice. On top of kimchi fried rice, there are added mozzarella, egg, bonito flakes and Mangalitsa bits, which all leads to a flavourful rice dish. The rice also has a nice crisp to it.

Then our eyes started feasting on it as the server brings out a humongous, long tray of Mangalitsa pork strips. The 8 Colour Set Version 2.0 ($98, good for 3-4 pax) features 8 thick strips of Mangalitsa pork belly, each of which is seasoned for 6-8 hours in different marinades. We were advised to follow this order of eating them: original, garlic, red pepper paste, yucha, plum, blackberry, honey ginger and galbi. The marinade is neither too mild nor too intense, making it enjoyable. The thick and fatty mangalitsa was slightly chewy and oddly complements the seasonings used pretty well. Some of my favourites are yucha, blackberry and honey ginger as they gave a slight sweetness to the savoury pork – this combination was surprisingly good. I would say this is a must for all who come, but if pork isn’t really your thing, there are still the tentalizing options of USDA Prime Beef and Kagoshima Wagyu on the menu.

Ending on an even sweeter note, we had the Bibimbap Bingsu ($28, good for 3-4 pax). This large bowl of bingsu is made to resemble a bibimbap in a hot stone bowl, with each ingredient being replaced by stuff like fruits, granola, crushed oreo and red beans. Beneath the ingredients is the shaved milk ice which you mix the toppings thoroughly with. Though not exceptionally good, my friends and I didn’t leave any crumbs or ice behind.

The overall experience I enjoy at Korean restaurants appeal to me very much, and is this why I feel that 8 Korean BBQ is one of the underrated BBQ places that you should try. From the warm and helpful service staff to the quality of the pork to even the simpler details such as the cool, just right temperature setting (you know it can get pretty warm when barbecuing), they encapsulate my wonderful dinner there. Extra points given because you barely get the smell of smoke on your clothes after leaving!

Special thanks to Cherry and 8 Korean BBQ for the invite.

6 Eu Tong Sen Street

#02-79/90

The Central

Opens 11.30am – 2.30pm for lunch, 5.30pm – 10.30pm for dinner

The newest venture by the Spa Esprit Group is taking flight quickly as seen by the mad rush of people to be amongst the first few to try out this place. Well I, just like a normal foodie out there, was hot on my heels to head down all the way to Dempsey to visit this “farm”. Yes, they do produce as much edible plants as they can in the backyard for their dishes. This venture is also a collaboration between Spa Esprit, Edible Garden City an Ryan Clift from The Tippling Club – these big names alone are enough to grab attention.

The 35 000 square feet of space occupied is quite amazing. From the main entrance, it feels like I’ve stepped into a garden, what with the vines of edible plants all around. You’ll pass through an alfresco area holding several tables, including a table tennis table. The area would be perfect for families to laze in for Sunday brunch, if not for the sweltering 34 degrees weather these days. The alfresco area leads to a small “hut” where the coffee roasters and baristas are. Good news for you if you’re a fan (just like me) of the roasts from Common Man Coffee Roasters. Then you will eventually reach the main indoor dining area, flanked by a bar and open kitchen of two sides and floor-to-ceiling windows on the other 2 sides of the restaurant. Absolutely dreamy.

On my first occasion there, I tried the brunch menu (available from 11am – 5.30pm on weekends). Having tried a truffle scrambled egg that turned out odd from a restaurant which shall not be named, I had a doubt about the one here, but that doubt faded the moment I tucked into a bite of their Truffle Scrambled Organic Egg with shimeji and portobello mushrooms, baby spinach and sourdough ($24). The truffle was well-infused and came in a generous portion in the eggs. The scrambled eggs were also creamy enough. I proclaim this to be my favorite scrambled eggs dish in Singapore ever, even though the mushrooms on the side were quite normal

However, both my friend and I thought that their Buttermilk Pancakes with creme patisserie, poached strawberries, ice cream ($22) was less value-for-money. The pancakes lacked sufficient fluff and were pretty average but were saved by the vanilla bean custard in between the pancake layers as well as the strawberry toppings. It’s a pity since it looks photogenic. I guess people will still order them anyway.

You have been advised: Don’t leave without trying their desserts. Their most talked-about dish here (from what I observed) is not any main course or brunch item but surprisingly their Lemon Tart with basil ice cream ($17), so there. Aesthetically speaking, it seems more like a mille feuille than a tart, but it was exactly the alternating layers of  lemon filling and flaky, crisp puff pastry resembling a mille feuille which won me over. Being slightly sweet and neither overly sour nor dense, the lemon curd was perfect for my tastebuds. Basil ice cream came on the side and it made the dessert even more refreshing. Our meal ended on a pretty high note thanks to this.

No doubt that prices here are above that of your average weekend brunch dishes, as some might have lamented. Well to me, the ambiance and highlights of the meal more than made up for those prices. You’ve just got to pick the right items from the menu. If  brunch is too overrated for you, opt for the lunch/dinner menu which features a range of seasonal pastas and main courses. Who’s up for another trip back here with me?

130E Minden Road
Singapore 248819

Mon – Fri 12pm to 3pm (Lunch), 6pm to 10pm (Dinner)
Sat, Sun & PH 11am to 10pm

I bet most of you would have heard about this classy French-inspired Japanese patisserie by now, ever since their grand opening in the lush Dempsey Hill last year (they’re located right next to House @ Dempsey, yet another one of my favorite hangouts in the area). I’ve long wanted to be here but somehow haven’t gotten the chance till last month to do so. I remember looking longingly at their glamorous entrance to the restaurant, laid out for you with a hot (close to neon) pink carpet. Stepping on it almost makes you feel like a celebrity attending a glitzy event.

And if you’ve heard about Henri Charpentier, you would’ve probably come to know about their top 2 main desserts on the menu – their Crepe Suzette ($22) and Dome ($29). The highlight of both desserts is that the waiters will flambé (alighting the food with alcohol) personally next to your table. This factor alone justifies the price tag. For the Crepe Suzette ($22), the server would first prepare the zesty sauce in the pan, followed by adding 40% Grand Marnier cognac. Finally he adds in the two slices of crepes. Don’t tear your eyes off the burst of dancing blue flames. The resultant crepes are thin, soft and silky, sliding right into your mouth, and the sauce is buttery, orange-y and with an alcoholic touch to it. The bitter aftertaste of the alcohol is overshadowed by the sweet and zesty sauce too. Wish I could’ve more.

As for the Dome ($29), strawberry liqueur is first heated by the server and then poured over the chocolate-coated sphere, resulting in a flambé engulfing the ball. The chocolate sphere then melts to reveal a chocolate parfait biscuit of fraise d’ amande. Before digging in, the server pours some strawberry sauce over the melted dome. The entire dome was a great mix of fresh, molten strawberries and melting chocolate. The interplay of smooth, creamy textures from the strawberry and chocolate mix and crunchy textures from the almonds enhanced the dessert pretty well. I momentarily forgot about the crepes I had earlier.

We also got to savour the Afternoon Tea Set ($35 per pax) which is available on weekdays from 1-6pm – expect a three-tiered dessert stand of macarons, madeleines, financiers, glass shooters, creme brulee, mini almond tarts, apple scones, smoked salmon and parma ham canapes, a piece of crepe suzette and a beverage. Amongst all, the madeleines and financiers stole and shared the limelight. Both were adequately soft and very authentic – comparable to the ones in France. The apple scones were very soft and fluffy on the inside too. Unfortunately some of the other items were not up to standards, especially the macarons which had no crisp in their shells. Their meringues also lacked a distinctive flavor.

Otherwise, there is also the Sandwich & Cake Set ($35) comes with a soup of the day, a piece of crepe suzette, ratatouille and a slice of cake – I picked the Matcha Opera which was rather memorable. The alternating layers of matcha and sponge cake complemented each other in such a way that the cake is neither overly rich nor sweet.

If you’re looking specifically for a strawberry shortcake as a birthday cake, look no further than their Chantilly Fraise ($64.20 for 15cm cake). It had very soft and airy sponge layers with a mild sweetness to it. I rarely have strawberry cakes because of the heavy cream content, but even the fresh cream layers on this cake were not overbearing at all. I shared this with my relatives and everyone kept wanting for more! On a side note, they also offer delivery services which might be a better option to consider when getting this cake since it is a little unstable.

Apart from the few subpar goodies, the experience here is stellar. The ambience makes you feel at ease and the service staff is attentive. I don’t deny that the desserts are expensive, but I think they are worth the money. P.S. Check out the heated toilet seats. Truly Japanese.

9A Dempsey R0ad

Open 11am – 10pm daily

This is a Crystal Wee X WAttention collaboration.

With over an astounding number of 450 branches in Japan, Chateraise is not an unfamiliar brand for Japanese households to get their daily fix of goodies for breakfast and tea. We’re lucky enough to have Chateraise being brought in to Singapore, and I was there with the team at WAttention (a Japanese lifestyle magazine) at the Westgate store which opened just recently in April this year. With the Isetan Scotts store scheduled to open soon, non-Westies can also takeaway their Japanese fix at a more convenient location.

Their latest item highlighted to me was the White Zebra ($4.70). This mille crepe made of 18 sheets of flavourful butter-rich crepes has soft, fluffy layers unlike western style mille crepes. I think it’s impossible to get sick of it since it is only as dense as a sponge cake. The layer of honey on top was just perfect to go with the crepe.

Between the Baked Cheesecake and Souffle Cheesecake, I would recommend going for the latter – one of my favorites among those that I’ve tried from Chateraise which has a milder cheesecake flavour making it not as cheesy. It is also a lot airier since it was made souffle style. I also find it interesting that instead of a biscuit crumb base, a sponge cake base is used. On the other hand the baked cheesecake was a lot denser.

The Mont Blanc, however, was pretty average. The whipped cream which tasted just like any other normal icing could be richer with a more distinct flavour of chestnut.

They say that you can tell how good a Japanese bakery or patisserie is by looking at and tasting their strawberry shortcake, a must-have for most Japanese bakeries out there. The aesthetic of Chateraise’s Strawberry Cream Cake definitely scores, and the strawberries in it were generally sweet with a tinge of sourness which suited the cake pretty well. What was unfortunate was that I felt there was too much cream, albeit for a “fresh cream cake”. The layer in the middle had an unproportionate amount of cream compared to strawberries. P.S. If strawberries are not for you, there is also a blueberry flavor for this fresh cream cake!

I wished I had more stomach space at that time to try more of their pastries, especially their cartoon inspired ones (think of cakes shaped to look like bears)!! At such affordable prices, I believe even a trip to the west will be worth it for these decadent cakes.

3 Gateway Drive

Westgate, Isetan Jurong East B2

Sun – Thu 10am to 9pm

Fri, Sat, eve of PH 10am to 9.30pm

This is a Crystal Wee X WAttention collaboration.