Foodography: A Singapore Food Blog

Nov 02 2024

Food

Sunday Bake Shop, Tokyo

When I reached about 10 minutes before its opening at 7.30am on a Sunday morning, there were already several people in the line ahead of me. That is how popular Sunday Bake Shop is among both locals and foreigners. It only opens with the full line up of bakes on Wednesdays, Fridays, and of course Sundays, so you’ve got to plan your schedule carefully.

The bakes on display featured a mix of classic British-style pastries such as scones, Victoria sponge cakes, lemon drizzle cakes and pastries infused with Asian elements such as matcha, coconut, and other seasonal fruits. Given that the descriptions of the pastries were all handwritten in Japanese, and that there was a line of people behind me, I was pressured to make my choices fast based on the visuals.

Eventually, I chose the Carrot Cake (JPY450, SGD3.9), Matcha & White Sakura Cream Cake (JPY540. SGD4.7) and Strawberry & Spelt Crumble (JPY540, SGD4.7). I was also gunning for their famous pancakes but was bumped to find out that they were only available on Wednesdays.

Though there were window counter seats and a communal table for dining indoors, I decided to grab the al fresco long bench for the warm sunlight.

Right behind the quaint wooden storefront windows was the coffee counter from where I received my order of Flat White (JPY530 SGD4.6, +JPY50, SGD0.4 for oat milk). When I was there, the espresso beans used were the Honduras Caballero by Fuglen Coffee. The coffee had a gentle tone and soft mouthfeel, pairing well with the bakes.

My personal favourite was the Carrot Cake, which I later realised was a signature item. The cupcake itself was fluffy and moist, packed with large bits of organic carrots, walnuts and spices, and topped with a sweet and light cream cheese.

The Matcha Cake was a seasonal spring item. The slice of rich matcha loaf cake was topped with butter cream with bits of pink Sakura.

Lastly, the Strawberry crumble had an interesting mix of flavours – tartness and sweetness from the strawberries and a slight salty flavour from the spelt. There was also a layer of chocolate near the bottom which surprisingly complemented the crumble.

If you’ve some money to spare, you can grab their signature cat-shaped shortbread to go.

6 Chome-35-3 Honmachi, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0071, Japan

Sun (7.30am – 5pm), Wed & Fri (7.30am – 6pm) – normal business days with full line up of bakes

Tue (8am – 3pm), Thu (7.30am – 3pm), Sat (7.30am – 3pm) – only coffee, no indoor dining

Closed on Mon

Oct 26 2024

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Bangkok

PAR RIS, Bangkok – One of the Hottest New Café Openings in Sukhumvit with Korean-style Bagels

Last month, I visited one of the hottest café openings in Bangkok amongst the Thai café hoppers and influencers. It wasn’t hard to understand why. Even before entering, the all-white façade of the entrance tempted me to stop and snap several pictures.

Stepping in, I immediately grew to the rustic French vibes of the interior, and I would have felt like I was transported out of Southeast Asia for a moment, if not for the crowd of Asian influencers. The owners paid close attention to the details – from the exposed ceiling to the cream washed walls, to the wooden furniture, and to the vintage trinkets cleverly placed at several spots. I particularly loved the arched wall framing the coffee counter.

I tried a few drinks, and my recommendation is to skip the Caffe Latte (THB160) and Matcha Latte (THB195) and go for their signature Pistachio Cream Coffee (THB180). It comprised an espresso shot with pistachio milk and pistachio syrup, topped with pistachio cream and roasted pistachio bits. The sweet, nutty flavours were subtle and well balanced with the natural acidity of the coffee.

The food menu showcases bagels in different flavours, and you can have it plain, with cream cheese toppings, or as part of bigger plates. I noticed that the bagels here seemed to have taken inspiration from Korean-style bagels (vs. classic American style bagels), especially for the Sweet Corn Hokkaido Milk Bagel (THB240). Seasonal sweet corn desserts can be typically found in Korea’s cafes during the summer, and I was surprised to find one in Bangkok. The bagel was crafted from a base of Hokkaido milk, filled with sweet corn cream, and finished with caramelized corns on top. The cream was neither too heavy nor sweet.

For something more substantial, there is the Breakfast Plate (THB380) which came with a sesame bagel, fluffy cloud eggs, Italian grilled pork sausage, wild rocket, sweet maple ponzu yuzu dressing and mixed berries. Despite the visually pleasing use of colours, somehow the different components didn’t complement one another well, and the sausage was not warm enough.

For those feeling less peckish, you can also opt for one of the plain bagels (choice of plain, chocolate, Hokkaido milk, sesame) with different cream cheese toppings. I had a hard time choosing between the available cream cheese toppings, with interesting flavours like butterfly pea & honeycomb, fig, lemon zest, parmigiano & bacon, earl grey milk, pistachio. Eventually I went for the Plain Bagel (THB75) with a side of Fig and Honey Cream Cheese (THB155) since it was fig season. The consistency of the cream cheese was on the richer and thicker side, and I liked the mix of sweet and savoury.

My tip: Come as early as possible to avoid the afternoon crowd, which can upset the vibes.

16, 3 Soi Ekamai 21, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

8am – 5pm (closed on Tues)

Tagged bagels, breakfast, food, recipes, travel

Oct 20 2024

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Bangkok

Someday in Copenhagen – Scandinavian themed café in Bangkok serving innovative coffee

I would have never expected a café to be located right at the entrance of a carpark, in an area away from the bustling streets of Bangkok. That was where I found Someday in Copenhagen, a Scandinavian, minimalistic themed café.

With the huge letters of “HEJ DENNIS :)” being plastered on one of the facades, I couldn’t help but wonder who Dennis was. I later found out that Dennis is the owner, who used to be a barista at the famous Fuglen in Oslo.

Despite a focus on the grab and go concept, the coffee stand offers some tables and chairs for dine in – there was an air-conditioned area to escape the heat and the more hipster outdoor area where vehicles could be driving right into the parking lot anytime.

The menu has a series of classic and innovative coffee/non-coffee options, together with some pastries. Out of the items I had, my favourite one was their Signature Iced Honeycomb Latte (THB150/SGD5.9, +THB20/SGD0.8 for oat milk). As the honeycomb melted, there was a subtle sweetness released into the latte gradually which I liked. The iced latte itself was also very smooth and drinkable. I also tried the Hot Latte (THB130, SGD5.1) which was dull in comparison to the honeycomb latte.

From the range of pastries, I had the Caramel Roll (THB130, SGD5.1) and the Pain Suisse (THB155, SGD6.1). I preferred the former, with flaky and crunchy layers on the outside which when cut, revealed a gooey and melty caramel core. The Pain Suisse had a filling of orange chocolate within, but I wished they could be more generous with the filling.

The no-frills concept of the café was interesting, and it stands out with its unpretentiousness amongst the other heavily decorated cafes in the city. If you’re willing to go a little out of the way (definitely a Grab is needed), not minding the dingy surroundings of the café, you will be in for a treat.

41/19-20 Soi Sriaksorn, Chuea Phloeng, Sathorn Thung Mahamek Bangkok 10120

Mon – Fri 8am to 4pm

Sat – Sun 8am to 5pm

Tagged Cafe, coffee, food, latte, travel

Oct 13 2024

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Cafe, Copenhagen, Denmark, Travel

La Cabra Coffee Roasters in Aarhus, Denmark

It had all begun in 2012, when La Cabra was founded as a modern coffee company. Shortly after, the first physical location of the café was born out of Aarhus, Denmark.

Today, La Cabra is a widely recognized coffee roaster round the globe with a new roastery in Copenhagen and cafes in New York, Bangkok and Oman. To complement their coffee, La Cabra Bakeries were also set up near their café locations to serve sourdough bread and modern pastries.

It was Saturday afternoon when I arrived. The café was lively, with most of the crowd basking in the spring sunlight in the alfresco dining area, and the rest taking refuge in the modern Scandinavian, wabi-sabi interior. Designed by their in-house team, the interior is decked in beige and wooden tones, with clean lines contributing to the overall theme.

Grabbing a table outside was harder than expected so I settled for the indoor table by the window.

From the drinks menu, I tried both the Espresso with Milk which comes in 3 sizes – Small 120ml (DKK40, SGD7.7), Medium 150ml (DKK45, SGD8.6) and Large 220ml (DKK50, SGD9.6), and the Matcha Latte (DKK55, SGD10.5). Both were high quality, though I would just head for the coffee if I had only one choice. There were 3 coffee selections when I was there, and the friendly baristas explained them and recommended me the most suitable one to go with oat milk.

All of the bread and pastries on display are made by their own bakery. Since I was determined to try and rank cardamom buns from different bakeries in Denmark, I could not leave out the Cardamom Swirl Bun (DKK35, SGD6.7) here, which is one of their signatures. Their cardamom bun was probably the most visually aesthetic out of all that I’ve tried, with a crisp brown layer. It was also chewy and sufficiently spiced with cardamom.

The Basque Cheesecake (DKK55, SGD10.5) with notes of lemon was alright, but didn’t have the creamy, borderline lava-like was centre which I liked.

Lastly, I also had the Seasonal Bun (DKK45, SGD8.6), which was incredibly soft and generously filled with lemon and white chocolate cream. It was a good balance of tartness and sweetness, without one flavour overpowering the other.

For my Singaporean readers who wish to experience their high quality coffee and bakes without taking the long haul flight, you may visit both their coffee shop and bakery in Bangkok.

Graven 20, 8000 Aarhus Centrum, Denmark

Mon to Sat 8am – 6pm

Sun 9am – 5pm

Oct 05 2024

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Food

Dearborn at New Bahru – Quality breakfast dishes at the hippy enclave in town

With its first store established in Everton Park some years back, Dearborn has recently opened its flagship within the hippy red blocks of New Bahru. Dearborn prides itself as a breakfast club, microbakery and breakfast provision shop, serving not just its signature granola flavours and baked loaves of bread but also a range of breakfast dishes.

It is nearly impossible to get a seat on the weekends without waiting in line if you do not come right at the opening time – so I opted for the outdoor table, which I don’t recommend if you’re sensitive to heat.

On both occasions I was here, I started off with the Piccolo ($5, +$1 for oat milk), a single shot with 4oz of milk. I loved how it did not bear the strong, distinctive bitter taste that piccolos normally do.

If there was one dish you need to try here, it would be their signature Potato and Egg ($15), which is also vegetarian friendly. It features a 63-degree sous vide egg buried underneath potato puree, topped with sourdough croutons, chive oil, silky potato espuma and puffed grains. It was the smooth, creamy and savoury potato puree that elevated the dish, and it felt like a fine dining course.

The Advanced Granola Bowl ($15) was another favourite of mine. This was a combination of locally-made Annie’s coffee yogurt, house-made hazelnut & maple butter and cherry compote with their best-selling dark chocolate hazelnut and sea salt granola, resulting in a mixture of sweet, nutty and tart flavours complemented with the crunchy texture of the granola.

It was a mistake to order the Basic Granola Bowl ($9) after having tried the advanced bowl, because the basic bowl now felt extremely basic… I chose the strawberry macadamia granola for this, and I have to say that the dark chocolate hazelnut granola was still superior.

The Peanut Butter and Jelly ($7) was one of the best I’ve had. The salted praline peanut butter with feuilletine was crunchy, a good balance of sweet and salty, and doesn’t stick to your teeth like commercial peanut butters. The buckwheat English muffin it was spread on was just as good.

I was really craving some meat so I had the Dearborn Breakfast Sandwich ($17). The highlight for me were the fluffy sweet potato rolls used as the top and bottom bun. The homemade pork sausage, American cheddar, egg and spicy pepper relish sandwiched between the buns were however just alright, nothing much to shout about.

Apart from the inconveniences of a strict 1-hour limit for both indoor and outdoor dining (I was still eating but got reminded that I had to leave within a few minutes), strict seating arrangements (3 pax table is strictly for 3 pax) and the small portions, I honestly liked Dearborn for the quality of the breakfast items, standing out from the other cafes.

My top picks? The Potato and Egg, PBJ, and Advanced Granola Bowl.

46 Kim Yam Road #03-04, New Bahru, Singapore 239351
Wed to Mon 9am – 3pm

Sep 14 2024

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Copenhagen, Denmark, Food, Travel

Apotek 57 – Seasonal Eatery and Bakery Within the Beautiful Frama Store in Copenhagen

Nestled within the famed multi-disciplinary design brand and furniture FRAMA store in Copenhagen is the equally popular Apotek 57, a seasonal eatery and bakery. Design lovers would adore the café interiors which are adorned with FRAMA products, including the furniture, lighting, tableware and cutlery.

They bake bread and pastries in their kitchen fresh every morning, using only ingredients sourced from organic farmers and suppliers that follow their values. The menu is vegetarian with vegan, gluten and lactose free options.

Being the first one in for breakfast, I grabbed the prized spot by the window where I could catch the morning light and admire the historic Nyboder yellow houses across the street.

From the all day breakfast and lunch menu, I had the Sweet Waffle (DKK145, SGD27.9) which was topped with a delicious rhubarb compote, whipped mascarpone, maple syrup and rose. Despite the hefty price tag for a small piece of waffle, I was thoroughly satisfied with the dish. The tartness of the rhubarb, savoury and creamy notes from the mascarpone and sweetness of the maple syrup stroke a good balance. The waffle was on the denser side and felt substantial enough for a hearty breakfast.

There were also items such as the Breakfast Plate (with sourdough bun, whipped salted butter, Danish cheese, soft boiled egg, jam), Turkish Eggs, Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Kimchi Toast which were very tempting but which I skipped considering it was only my first café stop of the day.

Amongst the available baked goods and pastries that day (cinnamon bun, cardamom bun, coffee bun, croissant), I had the Cinnamon Bun (DKK35, SGD6.7) which I felt could be fluffier to my liking.

For coffee, only filter coffee was available so I went for the Matcha Iced Latte made on oat milk (DKK50, SGD9.6) instead, but it was unfortunately their interpretation was vastly different from my preferred matcha lattes I had tried in Asia.

The FRAMA studio store is interconnected with the café so you could also do some (window) shopping before or after your meal.

Fredericiagade 57, 1310 Copenhagen, Denmark

Mon to Fri 8am – 4pm

Sat to Sun 9am – 4pm

Aug 31 2024

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Cafe, Copenhagen, Denmark, Food, Travel

Kafeteria SMK – Aesthetic Museum Café Known for Pancakes and Pastries in Copenhagen

Founded by Frederik Bille Brahe (who also owns Atelier September and Apollo Bar in Copenhagen), Kafeteria SMK is a café situated within the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was the first agenda on my itinerary after offloading my luggage at the hotel.

With extremely high ceilings and large glass windows on one side overlooking the lush greenery of the museum’s main entrance, the space is bright, wide and airy. The aesthetics matched that of the art museum and was indeed very Scandinavian.

After grabbing the window seat, I headed to the counter where I had a hard time choosing from the mains menu and especially from the display of pastries.

As per my prior research, their pancakes were seemingly popular so I went for the Buttermilk Pancakes with Mascarpone and Maple Syrup (135 DKK, SGD26). These were on the thick and denser side, well-accompanied with a generous layer of maple syrup at the base and mascarpone and jam at the top. It can however get too heavy halfway through.

From the selection of pastries, I had the Cardamom Bun (45 DKK, SGD8.7) which was fluffy and soft on the inside, and also the Chocolate Cake (45 DKK, SGD8.7) which was a tad dry but still gobbled up thanks to the smooth cream and nut butter on top.

To balance the heavy amount of carb and sugar, I also got some greens – the Green Asparagus with Stracciatella, Rye, Mustard and Ramson (145 DKK, SGD28). It was surprisingly very tasty – the crisps were nutty and enhanced the texture of the dish, while the stracciatella cheese and mustard added flavour to the asparagus without overpowering it. The quality of the rye bread was also great.

The café is accessible to all without the need for reservations or museum tickets, but I highly recommend exploring the museum before/after a meal at the café – as the largest art museum in Copenhagen, it houses a large collection of visual art from a time as old as the sixteenth century to modern times.

Please do not be alarmed by the prices – they are on par with the cost of living in Denmark.

Statens Museum for Kunst, 48-50, Sølvgade, 1350 København, Denmark

Tues to Sun 10am – 6pm

Tagged Cafe, Copenhagen, Denmark

Aug 24 2024

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Cafe, Food

butter tgt – New Café in Tanjong Pagar with Homemade Bakes

The newest kid on the block in Tanjong Pagar is butter tgt, a new venture by home baker @youkneadcakes on Instagram. Somehow “smooth like butter” always plays in my head whenever I think of butter…

I have already been there thrice – for the peaceful, quiet me-time in the morning, for my new-found favourite corner spot where the low wooden round table is. That time and space is perfect for reading while sipping coffee and munching on bread, before the crowd starts streaming in and the chatter from conversations starts to fill the space especially on weekends.

The menu here features a range of breakfast items such as toasts and granola, together with their rotational bakes displayed in a glass counter at the cashier.

On my visits, I tried their White ($6, +$1 for oat milk) and Mocha ($7, +$1 for oat milk). They use their house blend, the Butter Blend (Ethiopia & Tanzania), which has notes of dark berries and nutty chocolates. I thoroughly enjoyed the coffees which were not too heavy on the palate.

For non-coffee options, there are the Matcha latte ($8) made with kiku ceremonial matcha by Niko Neko Matcha and Hot Chocolate ($7.5) made with the Alto Beni by Fossa Chocolate, with caramel, woody, browned fruit notes.

From the food menu, I’ve had the Avocado Toast ($12) – a simple slice of toasted sourdough, with avocado and house made garlic butter. For something more substantial and savoury, try the Grilled Cheese ($16) sandwich made with 3 types of cheeses (gouda, mozzarella, cheddar) and which also comes with a thick tomato soup on the side.

Though the café is famed for their Madeleines (set of 3 for $7.5, baked to order with 15 mins wait), I unfortunately have had better ones in Singapore so I would skip it if I were to come again.

On the other hand, the Banana Bread ($6) which was recommended to us had the right balance of moisture and fluffiness while not being overly sweet, so it turned out to be one of my favourite items. The Sea Salt Chocolate Chunk Cookie ($5.8) was also a sinful treat which I relished.

Despite the simple, no-frills food and drinks, I had good experiences overall thanks to the unpretentious concept, cozy ambiance and friendly hospitality.

Wed to Mon 8.30am – 5pm

76A Duxton Road, 2^nd floor, Singapore 089535

Aug 17 2024

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Food

Vernacular Coffee – Spacious Café in Guillemard Specialising in Single Origin Coffee

Taking over the premises of the now relocated Brawns and Brains is Vernacular Coffee which opened its doors last December. I’ve visited the café twice – once when it was opened and again recently after it launched a brunch menu with main courses.

Still preserving the original slant high ceiling structure and conical light fixtures, the café paints a moody ambiance with its painted dark green walls and ceiling, a mixture of brown and black tables and stools, and cement floor.

The café prides itself on its selection of 8 unique single origin options sourced from various countries that are on display at the ordering counter. On my first visit, I had the Espresso Flight ($9.50) which comprises a cup of espresso and a cup of 4oz white coffee. I chose the Hta Ngo Shan from Myanmar which has notes of muscat grape and green apple. I took alternating sips from each cup since the espresso shot was too bitter on its own for me, and it was interesting noting that both are made from the same beans.

I also had the White 7oz ($6) with Kiaragana AA Kenya which was the lightest roast available. For non-caffeine drinkers, there are also single origin options for hot chocolate and tea to explore.

From the Croissanterie menu, which is also displayed in a glass case at the café front, I had the Scrambled Eggs & Spam ($10) and the White Grape, Camembert & Parma Ham ($12). Both pastries had crisp and flaky layers which I enjoyed. However, I wished that the portion of the fillings could be more substantial considering the price point.

Recently, a brunch menu was launched and I got to try the Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict ($28), which came with spiral croissant as the base. The different textures and layers of the pastry, avocado, poached eggs, smoked salmon, sour cream, salmon roe and hollandaise sauce complemented one another and the dish was overall well executed.

The ice cream sandwiches looked tempting, but I would have to save it for another day.

100 Guillemard Rd, #01-02, Singapore 399718

8.30am – 5.30pm daily

Tagged Cafe, food, singapore

Aug 10 2024

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Cafe, Food, singapore

Big Short Coffee – New Coffee Bar in Joo Chiat with Creative Specialty Drinks

Just last week, I popped by the new Big Short Coffee in Joo Chiat – this specialty coffee bar serves innovative coffee specialty drinks by experimenting with techniques from molecular gastronomy, cocktail mixing, science labs and ingredients not normally used in coffee.

The creative drinks rotate on a seasonal basis and they are currently serving drinks from their Chapter 1: summer 2024 menu.

I tried 4 drinks from the summer menu. My first cup which also turned out to be my favourite was the Happy Valley Punch ($8.5). The highlight of this drink was the clear, clarified coconut milk, made using a milk clarification technique commonly used for cocktails. The natural sweetness of the coconut milk striked a balance with the acidity of blood orange and bergamot, and together with early grey and a shot of their own Big Short Blend espresso (50/50 brazil & Columbia blend natural process), made a refreshing drink with a subtle sweet tone.

The house blend espresso (a 50-50 blend of Brazil and Columbia naturally processed beans) has a lighter roasting style to accentuate the natural flavour and sweetness of the beans. It is also used in the normal coffees (white, black, mocha etc.) that are the mainstays of the menu.

Young Harry ($8) is a combination of a cold brew with jasmine green tea and raw fresh coconut water topped with roasted pistachio cream and corn flowers. This was much less sweet, with bitter tones from the tea.

Those who enjoy nutty flavours will like the Bee’s Knees ($8) – I loved the addition of roasted pine nuts in it. The unexpected combination with cold brew, fresh strawberry puree, coastal wildflower rare honey (from Western Australia) and fresh honeycomb was pleasantly unique.

Inspired by the coffee slushy the owner tried in Italy, the team recreated their own version, called the Crema Al Caffe ($8). Their house espresso blend is churned in the slushy machine with fresh and condensed milk, brown sugar and vanilla bean, resulting in a smooth and creamy emulsion. The slushy is then topped with almond and hazelnut praline, providing an added crunchy texture and nutty dimension to the sweet treat.

Work is going on behind the scenes by the R&D team to launch the Chapter 2: autumn 2024 menu and I honestly can’t wait to be back for that.

8am – 5pm Wed to Mon (closed on Tues)

2 Fowlie Rd, #01-01, Singapore 428505

Tagged Cafe, coffee, singapore

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