a croissant a day

... is something that would be pretty incredible, no? In a way, it's good that there's no bakery that's within walking distance of my place (nahh a Four Leaves outlet doesn't really count!) because I can imagine myself getting one every day for tea and slowly...but surely...expanding...O_O

That said, how lucky are the residents of Tiong Bahru? Apart from the all these awesome eateries and stores, they're now within stone's throw of a recently opened bakery by the Parisian baker, Gontrand Cherrier (who also happens to be Rachel Khoo's good friend! :D according to her little snippets in her recipe book). When I was in Paris just a few months back on the way home from Montreal, Donald and I happened to miraculously step into one of his bakeries in Montmartre and it was one of the best experiences ever. That afternoon, the bakery was quiet and when we entered, there were rows and rows of gorgeous looking tarts, pastries, breads, the WORKS, all ready and waiting for us to pick out and savor. I tried a grapefruit and pistachio paste tart that was SO GOOD (and that was the first time I'd tried pistachio paste!), I was hooked. Naturally, when I heard that he'd opened a bakery in Singapore I was thrilled. And it's part of the Food Collective group of restaurants too. I've only tried Open Door Policy and Barracks@Dempsey but the other places sound awesome too.



Couldn't resist getting a chocolate almond croissant. It looks pretty monstrous right? But I go for taste more than looks when it comes to desserts. After all, most of the time spent eating a dessert is with one's eyes closed. X) This one I must say was pretty decent, but I suppose once you've eaten extremely light and crispy chocolate almond croissants in THE land of croissants, nothing can really compare. This one was just a little heavy/dense in my opinion. That's the problem with eating something really good in a particular place; just like how HK-ers always complain about local dimsum because it can never match up to their standards. DUH. There's no argument there. But in order to still enjoy/appreciate something of decent quality, it's a matter of adjusting your standards and dealing with it.

 

Couldn't help myself - had to get a chocolate bun too! 

Didn't manage to get that many photos of the place though the branding and interior decor was quirky and slick. I'd definitely like to go back there again to get a closer look at the (maybe more pictures then too!). Also ended up getting a fruit and nut loaf back home which was pretty good. But I would say, for bread, head on over to Baker and Cook! 

Tiong Bahru Bakery 

56 Eng Hoon Street 

Singapore 160056 

Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm 

closed on Tuesdays 

Verdict: I would definitely like to go back again to give it another shot but ONLY when it's NOT SO INSANELY CROWDED!!! 

Yes, you've heard me, unless you've got the patience of a monk or old sweet granny, I would advise you NOT to go on a Sunday late afternoon. I know, what was I thinking right? But my mum, sis and I were all free for tea and this place was new and...I couldn't help myself. In the end, we ended up waiting a fair bit just for a seat and if not for the fact that my sis is an excellent seat-nabbing vulture, we might have ended up waiting for a lot longer. There were just too many people inside, the atmosphere being completely opposite from the peace and quiet in the Gontrand Cherrier bakery that I'd been in in Paris. And the seats are packed rather close so instead of having some meaningful conversation, a large part of the time was spent inadvertently (really!) eavesdropping on the next table's conversation (a group of men who looked like they'd just come back from a Club Med trip). Exciting stuff.

(dress: Urban Outfitters, hat: Brixton, from Rock Star by Soon Lee.)

It's been so so so so so hot and humid lately... so I thought I'd bring out my favorite summer hat. :) I don't see why more people don't wear hats in SG! It's the perfect accessory for outfits and helps with shielding away some sun. I'm still always envious of people who live in temperate countries because of their layering opportunities but then when I snap out of my green-eyed/ heat-induced stupor, I figure might as well make the most of living in the tropics by slipping on a cheery sun dress and getting my Vit D on. 

Monday tomorrow. EEPS. 

xx

Tiong Bahru: Open Door Policy

Probably the most telling of how far along in its gentrification efforts Tiong Bahru has become, Open Door Policy is the latest culinary venture of Singapore's Spa Espirit Group that aims to bring fine dining to the neighborhood at more affordable prices. (All this is seriously just googling heh. Just thought I'd give a bit of overview incase you were too lazy to google yourself ;p) It's next door to Books Actually and while I'd heard from a few people that the food was pretty decent albeit overpriced, I really wanted to try it out for myself. So finally, Donald and I headed over there one day for a late lunch. I suppose that was a wise choice because there was hardly a crowd at all and we were able to get seated really quickly. A couple of features I really like? The brick walls on the side and the glass-roofed sky light. We decided to be adventurous and tried two main courses: 
1. Wild Mushroom risotto with truffle crumbs 
 2. Pan Seared Sea Bass with Artichoke, Potatoes and Rocket Salad. 
So since I'm not a seasoned food critic nor do I claim to represent anyone else's taste in food but my own, I must say that the mushroom risotto was not the best risotto that I've had. I tend to like risotto that's lighter both in texture and flavor and this one was rather heavy in terms of consistency and the truffle flavor. I always feel that truffle works best in minimal amounts; just enough to make it tantalizing. Too much and it loses its effect. The sea bass was decent though. I remember it being soft on the inside with really hot and crispy skin on the outside. Nonetheless it was rather salty, but with the risotto it worked out alright.
 

 

 dress: Fancy French Cologne, necklace: Mikkat Market, bag: Urban Outfitters  

And because there isn't much flexibility in the day-to-day school/work dress code I have to contend with, I focus all my energy in having fun dressing up for the weekends when there's time for restaurant-going/cafe-visiting. :) I first saw this dress on one of my favorite online stores (ok, I do have many!), Fancy French Cologne, and it struck me immediately as a dress I loved because of the zany print that really only made me think of one word - Vintage. :D My sis thinks I look old (and from her tone of voice I could only presume she meant Granny-old) but I suppose fashion is all a matter of perspective isn't it? Oh and having at least a layer of thick skin. So to match what I thought was a more vintage feel of the dress, I pulled out an old Urban Outfitters handbag that I'd bought quite a while back. 

Open Door Policy 19 Yong Siak St 

Singapore 168650 

Just to sum up Open Door Policy -- I think based on that first experience I can only say the food is decent but it IS somewhat overpriced. So do go if you're willing to splurge because the ambience is great and you'd definitely enjoy being in that restaurant.

Tiong Bahru: Dripz Bakery Cafe

A short walk away from the relative bustle of Yong Siak St lies Dripz Bakery Cafe, which (like most other neighborhood gems) is tucked away along an otherwise quiet and nondescript Tiong Poh Road. It's a bit of a walk from the main road or the nearby mrt station but pick an afternoon with good weather/after the rain and it's a pleasant enough stroll to enjoy. I still think that the biggest impediment to discovering places in SG is the absurdly hot weather but...sometimes it's really worth it to just soldier on! 
This cafe has, to me, a more pared down feel compared to The Orange Thimble (also a short walk away) but it's got a good selection of drinks and probably even wider array of desserts to choose from.

Dripz Bakery Cafe 

82 Tiong Poh Road, 

#01-05, 

Singapore 160082 

I suppose the one good thing about this place is that it's got a bit of a heartland vibe to it such that you'll want to take your entire family to it for a relaxing afternoon of cakes/pastries/tarts- you name it, without having to worry about dressing up (as you might sometimes do with certain cafes/restaurants that have a bit more of a luxurious air to 'em). I didn't get to try very much apart from the blueberry tart because I'd eaten a super heavy lunch before that but go on a relatively empty stomach because there are SO many cakes to choose from!

Tiong Bahru: Strangelets

Third installment here of the Tiong Bahru series! Though who's really counting? 
There's not a lot I can say about this store but mainly because I'm not good enough with words. Bottom line is - This. Store. Is. Totally. Worth. A. Visit! Strangelets is a design store that's just next door to Books Actually and opposite from 40 Hands cafe at Yong Siak St in Tiong Bahru and while I'm not entirely sure of the definition of a 'design store', if anything, this place would fulfill my notions of that term. It's full of unique pieces that have been thoughtfully and artfully displayed around the store for an aesthetically pleasing/camera-friendly view. Ranging from apparel, accessories (gorgeous bags galore!), notebooks, cutlery, home accessories... you name it.

Stickers to decorate your switches with! :D Seriously, who would think of that? (If I had to hazard a guess it would be the Japanese. Those geniuses do have a knack for designing beautiful things that are absolutely unnecessary.)

I suppose this store would be perfect for someone who is: 
 -looking to add some unique finishing touches to his/her abode 
 -looking to spice up his/her wardrobe with that key investment piece (trust me, those bags in there are gorgeous but they also cost an arm/leg if you're a normal person who's not pooping money) 
 -looking to spend some time in a quiet, intimate store looking at beautiful items (just this last point is usually enough for me)



Oh and one of the best parts? Propaganda  Popaganda Popsicles! Totally outrageously expensive for a popsicle BUT in my defense, I was super thirsty and how can you resist trying one of these for the first (and possibly last) time in your life? 

Strangelets

7 Yong Siak Street

Singapore 168644

Mon-Fri 11am to 8pm, Sat-Sun 10am to 8pm

Tiong Bahru: The Orange Thimble

Presenting the next part of this mini-series of Tiong Bahru triapses - The Orange Thimble! :) It's definitely a cafe I would go back to over and over again mainly for two things - 1. the atmosphere and 2. the desserts. I love how Tiong Bahru's transiting from an old sleepy area to one with a lot more activity going on in it what with the presence of cafes and stores (I like how Books Actually, 40 Hands and Strangelets are collectively known as the Holy Trinity of Tiong Bahru now lolll). It's such a nice place to take a leisurely stroll around especially when the weather's not stiflingly hot. The Orange Thimble is actually a bit of a walk down from the more well known Yong Siak Street where the aforementioned 3 stores are but it's really near Tiong Bahru Market so that might be an easier way to approach it for the first visit.


Like countless others before me, I have a bit of a fixation on that lamp that looks like it's been yanked off the top of a taxi. AND, I also just HAD to take a shot of this right outside their doorsteps. It's little things like these that really do make a difference to the entire feel of the place. You just feel like you're on the threshold of an enterprise that is at the very least, more creative in their approach to their business. PLUS, it definitely comes in handy in terms of publicity through social media because I'm pretty sure everyone and their mother with an iPhone and Instagram is going to be snapping a photo of this, hash-tagging it/GPS-locating it on their phones and spreading it like wildfire one Instagrammer at a time. :P Choices choices... If I'm not wrong, we had the English Breakfast Burger which was not spectacular, to be honest. I've read other reviews too and based on the other entrees we ate as well, I'd say this place is not someplace you'd want to go to purely for food. (Remember the two things I mentioned at the start!) But perhaps in the near future they'll be updating and improving their main menu. Something worth trying though would be this chocolate cake of theirs! :) Can't remember the exact name but it's something like a thick delicious nutella tart. This, I had a hard time resisting and it was yummmmmy. But then again, nutella-anything would be delish.  Left: Blueberry Cheesecake! 
Right: Couldn't resist taking a photo of this - its the Guy-Girl sign on the bathroom door.
Left: Pretty good latte art here. 
Right: In accordance with their mantra - "where art meets cafe" - there's a small 'art gallery' deeper inside the cafe closer to its backyard which features photographs and works by local artists.

 

Skirt: Fancy French Cologne, Top: Ruche, shoes: ModCloth 

(I do like my glasses! Most versatile accessory yet) 

To sum things up in 3 words - Warm, homely, relaxed. A great place to go to for an afternoon coffee and dessert with friends. 

The Orange Thimble 

56 Eng Hoon Street, #01-68, Singapore 160056 

Their website --> HERE 

Hmm at the moment this blog seems to revolve solely around cafes and... more cafes! O_O but it should become more varied. There are so many things I would like to blog about (all the great magazines and books that I've come across recently for one) but... all the SG cafes to get through first. Singapore's just getting more and more fun to explore in my opinion :) with a ton of new cafes sprouting all the time. Perhaps they've already been there all along but we've just not noticed them. 

Tiong Bahru: Books Actually

Ohh it feels like it's been a million years since I've last blogged!! So many things have been happening and in fact, I'm overseas right now, in Seattle! :D Going to be away from SG for just over 2 months and already have tons of photos to share BUT before I do that, I sooo wanna finish up with the SG photos I've taken over the past 2 - 3 months. :p Yeah, all these posts are very much belated but once I get through them, then I shall move on to the Seattle ones! And eventually, the Montreal ones! x) But I know that if I don't make the effort to sieve through and polish up those photos taken in the past few months, I never will. And that self-imposed guilty feeling will just be sitting on me like a huge turtle shell I can't shake off. Hmm, weird analogy. But I'm half sleepy now. 


Anyway, back to what I really intended on talking about. I finally managed to explore a little bit of Tiong Bahru in the past few months and seriously, I'm loving that place! :) I know it's touted as a real gentrified up and coming hipster hangout but remove all these labels and it's just a pleasant place to roam around in in the afternoon, complete with rest points in the form of cafes and quaint little stores to escape the insane humidity that is everyday SG weather. 


So I'll be doing a little "Tiong Bahru Series" of the couple of interesting places there that I'd definitely recommend you check out if you haven't been there yet. Besides, if you're in Singapore you've probably heard of these places already anyway. Just providing some photos as further incentive for you to go there! :) 


First on the list is Books Actually, a well-known independent bookstore that used to be a focal point at Ann Siang Hill but has since moved over to reside along Yiong Siak Street in Tiong Bahru. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't fall in love with it on first glance. It's cosy, packed with a wide variety of books with a good selection of local literature, chock-a-block full of trinkets that you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else, and best of all, they don't mind people taking photos! :) I think most first timers in there would inevitably whip out their cameras to take a snap at something as there are so many interesting bits and bobs to enjoy in this place.


  
When I visited last year in November (holy crap, my procrastination has reached a new high. ><), they just so happened to be celebrating their 6th anniversary (what a coincidence huh) so there were cupcakes and snackeroos available. I was heading for the cupcakes but... kitty cat got to them first. :) I believe this cat belongs to the owners but I didn't manage to find out its name. 


 
All sorts of quaint brick-a-bracks for sale! On almost every shelf there's something else aside from books that surprises you. 
And if you venture further into the bookstore, there's a backroom FILLED with an incredible collection of...ALL SORTS OF THINGS. I'm not quite sure how to categorize everything. But there are toys, home decor accessories, vintage cameras, notebooks, stationary, cards, prints, maps...and of course, more esoteric books. 
When was the last time you saw such a giant protractor huh? :) I think the last time I saw one was when I was in primary school... primary 1 perhaps? No more since then! 


 
I thought this bunny here looking out the window at the front of the store was really cute. I think I might get one for myself next time. Strangelets (the store a few doors down) actually sells a few if I remember correctly. I just think it would be so dang fun to have a couple of them at home that switch places every other day. Perfect for screwing with the mind of whoever's staying with you. >:D MUAHA.    

Books Actually

Tiong Bahru Estate 

9 Yiong Siak Street 

On a minor note, Books Actually stocks a lot of books by local authors. I actually found a book of poetry written by my senior, Carol Chan, entitled The World Must Weigh The Same, published by Math Paper Press which is incidentally, the publishing house set up by the owners of Books Actually. I'm in love with the simplicity of the book design and each book is so thin and flat, it's perfect for carrying around in the bag to read anytime. Am one of those very gullible consumers easily influenced by how the products looks. So ahem, do check it out! :) She's such a talented writer and after years of having not seen her, it was so nice to see how she'd taken her writing to the next level. 

P.S. Another bookstore that's wonderful in a similar cosy, welcoming manner is Littered With Books at Duxton Hill. Unfortunately, they don't allow for photos inside (because it's SO DANG GORGEOUS INSIDE everyone will be busy snapping away and no one will buy anything - it seems that's their assumption -.-) but here's their website. I've been there before twice and while I didn't get any books, I did get their custom made canvas tote bag which is DA BEST. Extremely durable and fits a ton of books. Some photos of the place here taken by some blogger who managed to get photos inside!! 


Ok, another update tomorrow! :)