Tag: Matcha

This Bakery Makes Millennial Lao Po Bings With Flavors Like Tokyo Banana, Thai Milk Tea And More

If you frequently travel to Thailand, you’ll probably have heard of or seen April’s Bakery around.

With 60 outlets scattered across the country, their home-made pies are now available in Singapore not just in Tampines, but also in the CBD. Located at the bustling food hall at the basement of One Raffles Place, this branch is much more accessible to those of us who, well, don’t live in the extreme east of Singapore.

While April’s Bakery has its roots in Thailand, their pies are unmistakably Cantonese at heart. Bearing some similarity to the traditional Wife Cake, or lao po bing, April’s Bakery puts its own spin on the pie by switching up its flavours and fillings!

Think Thai Milk Tea, Matcha Latte, Tokyo Banana, Sweet Potato… The list goes on.

Some of their pies come filled with a tasty paste and custard combo, while others have a purely paste filling.

Priced at at just $2, these affordable pies are perfect for breakfast or a midday snack when you get a case of the munchies.

The Story Of April’s Bakery

The original April’s Bakery in Thailand started out as a small, obscure bakery in Central Plaza Ratchada-Rama III shopping centre. Selling cakes, biscuits and pastries, its founder, Nathanaporn Euawanthanakhun, started baking pies after discovering a love for roast pork pies during a trip to Hong Kong.

That inspired her to come up with her own signature pie recipe, which eventually led her to expand her range to include flavours like Taro, Custard and Matcha Latte. To date, the bakery has over 30 pie flavours in Thailand, including both sweet and savoury varieties!

Pies For Every Preference

Unfortunately for us, April’s Bakery’s Singapore outlets currently only sell their sweet pies.

The signature flavour at April’s Bakery is Thai Milk Tea. Filled with a mixture of custard and paste, fans of Thai milk tea will likely enjoy this pie that’s rich and creamy, without being overly sweet.

Other custard-paste pies include the Matcha Latte, Custard and the Singapore-exclusive Tokyo Banana. Not available even in Thailand, this is hands down one of our favourites of the lot.

Some favourites among the health-conscious (and apparently, the gym-going crowd at One Raffles Place) are the Pumpkin and Sweet Potato pies that come with no added sugar. While much more subdued in flavour, the natural sweetness of Pumpkin and Sweet Potato really come through in these pies.

Durian lovers, here’s another durian-flavoured pastry to add to your must-try list. The latest flavour to hit the shelves at April’s Bakery, these will surely not disappoint.

While most of these pies are best enjoyed warm, we were told that you can also enjoy the custard-paste pies cold – and even with a scoop of ice cream!

If you’re working in the CBD area and are ever feeling peckish, grab one of April’s Bakery’s delicious pies. With such a wide variety of flavours, it’ll take you a while to work your way through all the pies to figure out which ones are your favourites.

Whether you’re in the mood for something sweet, something healthy, or something to fill you up, April’s Bakery got just the thing!

April’s Bakery
Address: #B1-38 1 Raffles Place, One Raffles Place, Singapore 048616
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 7am – 7pm
Contact: 8122 7604
Website

Also read This Cafe Created A Diner-Themed Dessert Menu, And Our Eyes Are Confused 

(Header Image Source: Burpple User Kat X, Burpple User Amanda Ang)

These Oishii Green Tea Desserts Will Make You Feel Matcha-m You’re In Japan

Matcha is love. Matcha is life.

Anyone with an obsession with matcha as unhealthy as ours will probably attest to the truth of this statement.

In the past couple of years, we’ve seen more and more Japanese joints setting up shop in Singapore. What that also means is more matcha-centric creations available right here on our shores. From hot lattes to cold parfaits, there are so many different ways to satisfy your matcha craving these days.

We rounded up a list of 7 places to get your hit of matcha, and we think you’ll love what we have in store for you.

1. Sun with Moon

This popular spot in town is well-known for its exquisite bento sets and signature kamameshi dishes. But something not as many people know is it dishes up some mean matcha flavoured desserts!

2. Non Entrée Dessert Café

If you haven’t heard of Non Entrée Dessert Café, where you have you been?

This dessert joint along up-and-coming hipster area, Rangoon Road, serves gorgeous cakes, and desserts with a dramatic flair.

Known for their unique local ice cream flavours (think: kaya toast ice cream) and deceptive bak chor mee dessert, one of their other signature items is the Avalanche Dessert.

[caption id="attachment_27131" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Matcha Avalanche (Image Credit: Burpple)[/caption]

For matcha lovers, Non Entrée’s Matcha Avalanche ($13.90) does not disappoint!

Photogenic, tasty, and a joy to watch in action, you and your friends will be fighting over who gets to do the honours. The matcha lave cake sits atop an almond nougatine which covers the bowl. Slice into the cake, and watch the matcha lava flow into the bowl, onto the roasted green tea ice cream and chocolate soil mixture underneath.

With its explosion of flavours and textures, this unique dish is definitely a winner!

Non Entree Desserts
Address: 204 Rangoon Road
Opening Hours: Tue – Thu: 2pm – 10pm; Fri: 2pm – 11pm; Sat: 12pm – 11pm; Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Website

3. Dolce Tokyo

An Italian-Japanese fusion café, Dolce Tokyo serves up a smorgasbord of Japanese desserts, alongside other savoury dishes. The sweets served here have more of a Japanese influence, with the usual suspects like the Iced Matcha Latte ($7) present on the menu.

4. Kooks Creamery

At this humble café in Serangoon, they serve up the delicious combo of cookies and ice cream.

You’ve heard of lava cakes, lava cream puffs… but have you heard of the lava cookie? The lava cookie is Kooks Creamery’s spin on the fun lava trend. A Matcha Molten Cookie will set you back $5.50, and it comes in a chocolate flavour too.

[caption id="attachment_27132" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Lava Cookie Set (Image Credit: Burpple)[/caption]

We recommend the Lava Cookie Set ($8.50), which consists of a molten cookie topped with a scoop of ice cream. Not enough matcha? Double up on matcha by pairing your cookie with Matcha Ice Cream ($3.60 per scoop, + $0.50 for premium flavours). After all, is there such a thing as too much matcha?

Kooks Creamery
Address: Blk 211, Serangoon Avenue 4, #01-02, Singapore 550211
Opening Hours: Tue – Thu: 12pm – 10pm; Fri – Sat: 12pm – 11pm; Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Website

5. Hoshino Coffee

Japanese Hoshino Coffee is best known for their hand-dripped coffee and delectable desserts.

In the sweets department, some of the crowd-pleasers include the Iced Matcha Latte with Green Tea Flavoured Softee ($9.30), and the Matcha Pot-baked Soufflé ($10.80).

One of their specials is the Pancake Soufflé Style with Matcha and Ogura Bean Paste ($13.50). This fluffy soufflé pancake is served with matcha sauce, black beans, mochi skin and matcha ice cream. Because they’re freshly made on the spot, you’ll have to wait for about 20 minute for this. If you ask us, it’s completely worth the wait!

Hoshino Coffee
Outlets: Capitol Piazza, Plaza Singapura, Suntec City, Holland Village, Ion Orchard
Opening Hours: Daily, 10.30am – 10.30pm
Website

6. Maccha House

As its name suggests, Maccha House is a haven for all matcha connoisseurs–self-proclaimed or otherwise. Offering a wide array of matcha drinks and desserts, you’d be hard pressed to find a matcha menu as extensive as this!

From the simple Hot Matcha Latte ($3.80) to the multi-textured and multi-flavoured Matcha Chocolate Parfait ($10), you’ll have a hard time settling on just one item.

[caption id="attachment_27136" align="aligncenter" width="710"] Matcha Tiramisu (Image Credit: Website

7. Nana’s Green Tea Café

Hailed Japan’s Starbucks, Nana’s Green Tea Café carries signature drinks like the Matcha Latte ($7.00), Matcha Shiratama Float ($9.00), Hoji Chocolate Latte ($8.00) and Genmai Cha ($5.50). Unsurprisingly, this green tea specialist also serves up some amazing matcha desserts.

[caption id="attachment_27137" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Matcha Anmitsu (Image Credit: Website

Matcha is truly a gift to the world.

With so many different matcha-flavoured treats from so many different places, now you know where to go the next time a matcha craving comes over you!

Also read 7 Oozy Choux Pastries That Will Have You Scrambling To Lick Everything Up

(Header Image Source:

Forget Sugar Glazed, This Cafe Serves Up Savoury Donuts Like ‘Cheeseburger’ And ‘Bacon’ At Only $2.90 A Pop

If the mention of donuts calls to mind sugary, sweet treats, this cafe’s savoury creations are about to turn your world upside down.

Six By Sera, a little place off Rangoon Road, serves up a collection of delicious savoury donuts! Now, we finally have an excuse to eat donuts as a full meal, and not just as dessert.

Oh So Savoury Donuts

The donuts here come in 3 scrummy flavours: Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese and Truffle Oil, Bacon and Mozzarella, and the Cheeseburger donut–a magical combination of minced beef, cherry tomatoes with a slice of melted cheddar, and jalapeño.

The best part? They are all selling at just $2.90!

Having one (or more!) of these beautifully presented babies as an afternoon snack will have us powering through the day for sure.

Pastries, Deserts & Coffee

Besides its unique savoury donuts, Six By Sera sells other amazing pastries as well, such as their signature croissants!

They are fragrant, buttery, flaky and airy–everything you could possibly want in a croissant.

Like the donuts here, the croissants comes in several unique, inventive flavours. These include the Smoky Pork Croissant ($12.90, served on weekends only), Scrambled Eggs & Bacon Croissant ($10.90), and Cheesecake Croissant ($6.60).

A local favourite with a modern twist would be the Chili Crab Croissant ($11.90).

Sweet tooths can also sink your teeth into their desserts, like the Mini Choux Pastries (in yuzu, raspberry and chocolate flavours), Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake ($5.90) and the lemon meringue tart.

Six By Sera is always coming up with new goodies too! Check out the Bandung Lychee Raspberry Macarons they created specially for Mother’s Day.

[caption id="attachment_26408" align="alignnone" width="960"] Image Credit: 89 Rangoon Road, #01-03 Urban Lofts, Singapore 218375
Opening Hours: Tue – Fri: 12pm – 9pm; Sat: 10am – 10pm; Sun: 10am – 9pm; Closed on Mondays
Contact no.: 9652 8141

Also read 10 Shiok Experiences And Eats To Turn Things Up A Notch The Second Half Of May [15-31 May]

(Top Image Credit: Six By Sera)

7 Oozy Choux Pastries That Will Have You Scrambling To Lick Everything Up

Is there anything better than sinking your teeth into a creamy, oozy choux pastry? No matter the shape or size, they’re a guaranteed flavour bomb!

For all you sweet tooths out there, we’ve put together a list of 7 places where you can get your hands (and lips!) on these tasty cream puffs!

1. Châteraisé Singapore

Originally from Japan, the immensely popular Châteraisé patisserie opened up in Singapore in April 2015. The outlets offer a huge variety of cakes and pastries, including their famed Double Fantasy Cream Puff ($1.90).

Filled with Hokkaido cream and egg custard, they occasionally offer flavours like sweet potato and matcha. This palm-sized pastry is possibly the best thing you can get for under $2!

Châteraisé
Outlets: Jurong East, Shaw House, Novena Square 2, Serangoon Nex, City Square Mall, CityLink, Chinatown Point
Opening Hours: Daily, 10am – 10pm
Website

2. Pulse Patisserie

Combining the classic French pastry with the local passion for salted egg yolk, the Salted Egg Yolk Cream Puff ($12 for a half dozen) was born. Pulse Patisserie’s bite-sized creations have a cookie crust top that gives it a crisp texture, perfectly complementing the unique sweet-savoury filling inside.

It’ll probably get messy, but where good food is concerned, who cares! These pretty, petite golden puffs are perfect for a snack, especially when accompanied with a hot cuppa.

Pulse Patisserie 
Address: 180 Depot Road #01-06, The Interlace, Singapore 109684
Opening Hours: Mon, Wed – Fri, 11am – 7pm; Sat, 9am – 7pm; Sun, 9am – 5pm
Website

3. Angela May Food Chapters

Among other sweet treats, you’ll find a range of sweet and savoury choux pastries at Angela May Food Chapters. Not afraid to push the boundaries of pastry, the puffs here contain unconventional ingredients like cucumber, jasmine, mint, sesame, ricotta, and even prawns!

[caption id="attachment_23746" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Image Credit: 6. Les Délices

Translating into “The Delights” in French,  choux pastries are the specialty of Les Délices. Crisp on the outside and hollow and chewy in the middle, it’s perfect for filling up with their delicious pastry creams.

[caption id="attachment_24786" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Image Source: Burpple[/caption]

Their signature puffs come in 3 different flavours – Valrhona Guanaja Choux, Matcha Choux, Earl Grey Choux ($5.90 each). Topped with a crunchy cookie layer, it’s definitely a treat for both the eyes and the tastebuds.

Les Délices
Address: 333 Kreta Ayer Road, Singapore 080333
Opening hours: Mon, 12.30pm – 5.30pm; Tue – Thu, 12.30pm – 10pm; Fri – Sat, 12.30pm – 10.30pm
Image Credit: Website

If any of these delicate creations grab your fancy, head down to these top spots for one (or more) delicious choux pastry to sweeten up your day!

Also read 10 Uniquely Singaporean Cocktails You Can’t Find Anywhere Else In The World

(Top Image Credit: Anakjajan)