Miam Miam

France in Japan or Japan in France? Whichever way you want to call it. The food here is superb! No doubt that I've only gone for desserts for my entire meal. But there was so many other great looking dishes that I would have ordered if my appetite was larger. Miam Miam only recently opened upon the shores of Singapore and has been a huge hit since. Gathering pace and status, I was eager to try them out.

 <French Toast>

I quite like it. It was really light and fluffy. The eggs went straight through the yummy brioche. Sprinkled with icing sugar and scoop of cream, it really brightened up my otherwise sneezing day.

 <Caramelised Banana Pancake>

Okay, the photo doesn't quite do the pancake justice. It was a really thick slab of pancake. Probably an inch and a half in height. It was light but quite bland. In a way, it matched really well with the sweetness of the banans, maple syrup and softee ice cream. If you find it too sweet, just make sure you take a bite of the blue berries once every a few mouths to cleanse your palate.

<Valrhona Chocolate Souffle>

Rich, decadent and sinful! You almost can't go wrong with Valrhona chocolates. They are intense and bring along a whole lot of surprises to your taste buds. What's more, the souffle was baked to perfection too. Only thing I would complain is that the bottom of the pot looks kinda oily. It made me feel I have sinned even more. LOL...

Verdict
Ambience - Good
Food - Great
Cost - $20+
Overall - Must try!

Address
#02-14 Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria Street, Singapore 188021
http://miam.sg/

Opening Hours
Daily: 11.30am to 10pm

Magnum Singapore

 <Venice in a Jar>

<Mid-summer's Night Dream>

Fanciful names with fanciful plating. That is about as good as it gets. The specialty desserts sold at the pop-up outlets had no real depth to them in my opinion. They were all just relying on their looks to draw in the crowd. Not to mention the hefty price tag that comes along with them. In all negativity, at least the ice cream from magnum was still good. I'll probably just continue my foray with their original flavours from the supermarkets.

No location and opening hours provided as the outlets were just temporary.

Verdict
Ambience - Not good.
Food - Average
Cost - $8+
Overall - Stick to the supermarket Magnums

Juchheim Baumkuchen

Baumkuchen or "tree log" originated from Germany. It was brought over to Japan and it won over the hearts of many Japanese. It sort of resembles the "kueh lapis" that we are familiar with. The store in Singapore sold its flagship original flavour along with others such as chocolate and earl grey. I bought the earl grey one as my wife loves the fragrance of the tea. The cake is very dense but not oily. It is slightly dry but has a very good depth of flavour to it. You should chomp on each bite slowly to let the aroma permeate your entire mouth. Though texturally, I prefer a lighter and more moist cake. This cake is interesting enough to make me want to go back and at least try out another flavour.

Verdict

Ambience - N.A

Food - Average

Cost - $5+

Overall - Worth a try

Address

391 Orchard Road Singapore 238873, Singapore Takashimaya B2 205 3-1

http://www.juchheim.co.jp/english/store/

Opening Hours

11am to 9pm (Un-confirmed)

L'Atelier Tiramisu

<Classic Tiramisu>

 <Lychee Tiramisu>

<Dark Cherry Tiramisu> 

<Matcha Tiramisu>

Tiramisu overload!!! Thanks to my wife who bought a bucket-load of tiramisu for my birthday because I had cravings a couple of weeks back. LOL ^^ On to the goodies~~~

Classic: It was not bad. Had a decent balance between the sweet and the alcohol. The texture of the cake was just right. And the fingers weren't overly soaked.

Lychee: Smelled really good but tasted one-note. It was kinda too sweet for me and it got boring after a few bites.

Dark Cherry: My favourite out of all the flavours. It had the best balance of taste. It was sweet, had a good kick of alcohol but most importantly, it also has that slight citrus/sourness from the cherries. Every bite made me wanted to go back for more till the last.

Matcha: Totally for the green tea crazy people out there. It packs a real punch of green tea goodness at every bite. I'm not a fanatic and thus, found it quite one-note as well.

Verdict
Ambience - Average
Food - Good
Cost - $6.80 per slice
Overall - Try it!

Address
The Central @ Clarke Quay, #B1-09, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, Singapore 059817
http://latelier-tiramisu.com/

Opening Hours
Monday - Friday: 12pm - 9pm
Saturday: 1pm - 8pm
Sunday: 1pm - 7pm

PS.Cafe

 <Key Lime Pie>

Hoho! My first ever taste of a key lime pie! Been yearning for it for quite a while and it isn't as widely available like its cousin, the lemon curd/meringue pie. The instant I opened up the box, the smell of the lime hit me so hard that it left me stunned for a couple of seconds. It tasted really sour, but in a way that I liked. The consistency of the curd was good too. But I felt that they could improve or used a different pastry to contain it. It was so crumbly that only a spoon would suffice. And I wonder, if they would serve it with some sweet Chantilly cream if I dined there. It definitely needed some balance.

<Banana Butterscotch Cake>

I guess I should have warmed it up before I ate it and with some vanilla ice-cream. But even though it was hard from the overnight refrigeration, it tasted good. The caramel on the top had a good balance of sweetness and bitterness to it. The cake was also still moist inside and had a really good banana-ish taste to it.

Verdict
Ambience - N.A (Because I did a take-away)
Food - Good
Cost - $12+ per pax
Overall - Worth a try

Address
Level 3, Paragon S.C., 290 Orchard Rd, Singapore
http://www.pscafe.com/

Opening Hours
Breakfast hours: 9.30am - 11.30am
Lunch, Tea & Dinners hours:  11.30am - 10.30pm

Laurent Bernard Chocolatier

Tucked along the row of eateries along Robertson Quay, Laurent Bernard gets really packed especially right after meal times. It serves up predominantly pastries, cakes and desserts. However, special mention goes to their famed souffles. They bake up really fluffy and tasty souffles that I'm sure it satisfies most people.

<Grand Marnier souffle> 

Look at that syringe sticking out! You get to squeeze the liquor out to suit your own taste buds. The souffle was really light and fluffy on the outside and moist on the inside. The edges of the souffle also provides you with a different crunch as it was dusted generously with sugar before it was baked.

<Lemon Souffle>

Similar to the Grand Marnier souffle, this was also baked to perfection. What I would like to highlight is the taste. This was sublime! I loved how the light fragrant of the lemon slowly accentuated with each bite. The more I ate, the more I was engrossed in it. If you prefer something heavier, you might want to order their chocolate souffle which is served with Raspberry sorbet instead of cream. I had it during my previous visit and it was really good as well.

Verdict
Ambience - Good
Food - Good
Cost - $15+ per pax
Overall - Try it!

Address
The Pier at Robertson Quay, 80 Mohammad Sultan Road #01-11, Singapore 239013
http://www.nibschocolate.net/

Opening Hours
Monday: 6pm -11pm
Tuesday to Thursday: 1pm - midnight
Friday to Saturday: 1pm -1am
Sunday: 1pm - 11pm

Lady M

Lady M - A famous confection from New York opened their first outlet in Singapore at Marina Square. Quite a few celebrities raved about their love and support for the brand. So my wife and I just had to try it out to see what the fuss was all about. The decor of the cafe was simple, classy and inviting. However, as it was their first day of operations, quite a few things didn't go smoothly. Such as the flow of ordering and paying up your bills. It was kinda all over the place. I'll leave it at that and move on to the goodies~

 <Signature Mille Crepes>

Taste was really good and very vanillanish. Everything wasn't mushed despite how moist it was. Each layer also had a good distinction between them. However, when it first reached our table, the whole thing sorta slanted to one side and I had to guide the layers back in place before a picture could be taken. Nevertheless, flavours were good and was my favourite out of the 3 we had.

 <Checkers>

If you ask me what are the water droplets on top of the cake, I wouldn't be able to answer you. But I guess the temperature difference between the fridge and the air-conditioning of the cafe wasn't handled well. And for me, this cake was alright. I like the chocolate ganache but felt that the overall cake had a very strong buttery taste to it which I didn't enjoy that much.

 <Strawberry Shortcake>

This was my 2nd favourite. It had a really nice light strawberry taste to it and wasn't too sweet. The cake is really light and fluffy too. I reckon I can chomp down at least 3 slices of this on its own. However, my wife felt that the shortcake from Rive Gauche was more to her liking.

Verdict

Ambience - Good

Food - Good

Cost - $7.50+ per slice

Overall - Worth a try

Address

Marina Square Shopping Mall, 6 Raffles Boulevard, #02-103, Singapore 039594

http://ladym.com.sg/

Opening Hours

11am to 9pm

Alfero Gelato

 <Melon and Nuts' about You Gelato>

I'm back once again to confirm its status as one of the best Gelato in Singapore. And boyyyy, was I convinced again. Alfero Gelato is definitely one of my favourites! I do have a hard time deciding whether I would rank it higher/lower than De Conti's Gelato. Each has its own goodness. Alfero's has a much much creamier texture but is also slightly sweeter. De Conti's has a slightly chewy but rough texture and not too sweet. Hm! I think I'm straying off a little here. Back to the 2 flavours tried. The melon gelato was awesome! The aroma and taste of the melon was so strong and fresh, it simply swept me off my chair. The Nuts' about You had a very serious nutty flavour you could almost whiff it from a chair away. (I almost wanted to say "a mile", Haha!)

<Waffle with Vanilla Gelato>

I would say loving vanilla is an acquired taste. I'm not an expert on vanilla, but from what I heard and understand is that the very best vanilla has a very strong aromatic/pungent flavour that could put some people off. Made from premium vanilla beans from Tahiti, this gelato served with a hot crispy waffle should satisfy every dream of those with a sweet tooth. Simply divine!

Verdict
Ambience - Good
Food - Awesome!
Cost - $6 per pax
Overall - Must Try!

Address
6 Raffles Boulevard , 02-226A/B Marina Square, Singapore 039594
http://www.alferogelato.com/

Opening Hours
12pm to 12pm

De Conti - Caffè & Gelato

 <Pistachio Coffee>

Coffee is smooth and robust. Coupled with the pistachio paste and dark chocolate sauce at the bottom. Making it a truly wonderful experience. The frothed cold skimmed milk that laid on top was so velvety that I couldn't get enough of it. Overall, an awesome cup of coffee!

<Dark Chocolate Coffee>

Comparing this to the pistachio's version, you get less of that robust coffee flavour. It was probably overpowered by the huge layer of dark chocolate. For friends who prefer a heavily chocolaty taste drink but yet need that caffeine boost. This might just be the answer.

 <Italian Hot Chocolate>

My second experience of a "real" hot chocolate was also a truly heavenly experience. Not as thick as the I had from Au Chocolat, but this is why I love it too. It is easier on the throat and tummy.

 <Strawberry Sorbet and Dark Chocolate Gelato>

A well balance order. The fresh strawberry taste of the sorbet was neither too sweet nor sour. Most importantly, it doesn't taste artificial. The dark chocolate gelato was gooey, thick, chewy and sinful. Just how a gelato should feel and taste. Awesome!

 <Pistachio Gelato>

This is their signature gelato and my gosh, I totally agree with them. The texture of this gelato is perfect and you get a very light nutty flavour with each spoonful. The best pistachio gelato I've had! One word to sum it up - Divine!

<Hazelnut and Dark Chocolate Gelato>

Well, I've described the dark chocolate gelato above. So I'm gonna zoom straight into the hazelnut gelato. Similarly, it has this truly decadent texture and chewiness to it. The nuttiness of the hazelnut fills your mouth every time you put it in. Its not too sweet either. Yummmmy!

<Cookies Gelato>

Cookies and cream, how often do you get that overpowering milk flavour or thought to yourself? Hm.. where are those cookies? Not with De Conti's version. The darkness of the gelato tells you that it is jam packed with cookies and with every mouthful, you actually taste the fragrance of cookies!

<Croissant with Gianduja sauce and Pistachio Gelato>

Let's start off with what is Gianduja. It is actually a chocolate mixture that contains 30% hazelnut paste mix into it. So what they did was to squeeze the mixture in the form of a sauce into the croissant. The gelato was as usual, awesome. However, the croissant was actually typical and it didn't blow me nor my friend away. 

Verdict

Ambience - Good

Food - Great!

Cost - $6 per pax

Overall - Must try!

Address

Tampines 1, #02-K2

10 Tampines Central 1, Singapore 529536.

http://decontisg.blogspot.sg/

Opening Hours

10am to closure of shopping mall

Blackball

Hailing all the way from Taiwan, this dessert stall has customers swarming at its counter. I couldn't resist the temptation as well and decided to get a bowl to try it out myself.

<Blackball Signature>

Consisting of grass jelly, black sugar ice shavings, yamQ, yam balls, golden sweet potatoes, sweet potato balls, red bean and pearls. It was an explosion of senses and taste. This dessert is really tasty and refreshing. The one that really stood out for me was the black sugar ice shavings. You only get it if you request for "Icy" style dessert.

Verdict
Ambience - Average
Food - Good
Cost - $2.5 to $5
Overall - Must try!

Address
112 East Coast Road, 112 Katong, #02-27 S428802
http://www.blackball.com.sg

Opening Hours
11am to 10pm

Perla's Pastry Boutique

Perla's Pastry Boutique, a pastry branch from Pasticceria Da Valentino which focuses on serving authentic Italian cuisine the Italian way. I believe they recently opened this pastry outlet at the basement of Takashimaya last year. There wasn't any seats available at this take-away outlet, but my wife and I were glued to its quite decadent looking pastries on display.

 <Strawberry Tart>

Close to perfection. The strawberries were fresh, sweet and sour. The custard's consistency was just nice and velvety. The tart itself was alright, but it wasn't the kind of buttery crust that one would die-for.

<Chocolate Tart>

The tart was too crumbly in my opinion as the entire thing collapsed while digging in.. I could have sworn this tart is better off eaten with a spoon. And the chocolate tasted artificial as well. I wouldn't recommend this tart.

Verdict
Ambience - N.A
Food - Average
Cost - $7 to $15
Overall - Worth a try

Address
#B2-08-04A Takashimaya Shopping Centre, 391A Orchard Rd., Singapore,
http://www.valentino.sg/

Opening Hours
11am to 10pm daily

Alfero Gelato

<Durian and Hazelnut gelato>

Simply Delicious! Voted the best gelato cafe in Singapore and South East Asia for 2012. If you are at Marina Square or around the area, you've got to try it! The gelato is so creamy, soft, "chewy" and velvety. The best gelato quality I've had in years. For what it lacked in variety, I suppose it made up with quality. Taste-wise, I think the durian gelato is good but the Mao Shan Wang from Udders still triumphs.

Verdict
Ambience - Average
Food - Great
Cost - $4 to $10
Overall - Must try!

Address
6 Raffles Boulevard, 02-226A/B Marina Square, Singapore 039594
http://www.alferogelato.com

Opening Hours
10am to 10pm daily

Rive Gauche Patisserie

Rive Gauche Patisserie has been around since the day when Tampines 1 was first built. This is my first time purchasing anything from them. From the second picture clockwise, we have at the top left Guanaja followed by Strawberry Shortcake and finally Passion. All the cakes were pleasantly tasty and they look gorgeous. But I would like to focus on Passion as it has a good balance of texture and taste. Inside it lies a thick layer of chocolate mousse, a small layer of cake along with another layer biscuit. And the reason why they named the cake Passion is because it has an aftertaste of passion fruit! *Yums*

Verdict
Ambience - N.A
Food - Good
Cost - $6 to $10
Overall - Try it.

Address
10 Tampines Central 1, #B1-13 Tampines 1, Singapore 529536
http://www.pokkafood.com.sg/gauche/

Opening Hours
11am to 9.30pm

Au Chocolat

Au Chocolat opened recently 3 months ago in Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. It is a French-inspired concept store that not only sells retail goodies, but also decadent meals and desserts. Guess what? The owners are Singaporeans!

 <Strawberry Tart>

A special only available on weekends and I'm glad I was there. The tart was fabulous! The buttery pastry, the sourness of the strawberries, the lightly-sweetened Chantilly cream with vanilla beans that can be seen in it, the fragrance of the toasted nuts and there is even a layer of sponge cake at the bottom of the cream. Total experience of flavours and textures. Thumbs up!

<Lemon Meringue Tart>

I've always loved Lemon Meringue tarts for their balance of sweetness and sourness. This one totally did not disappoint. It is definitely better than the one I had from Delicious in Malaysia. The consistency and taste of the lemon curd was perfectly velvety, slightly sweet with a good kick of sourness. The meringue was also torched with utmost care and skill with no hint of burnt smell. To top it off, the candied lemon added a much-needed change of texture to the dessert. I'll definitely be back there to try their main courses.

Verdict
Ambience - Good
Food - Good
Cost - $8+
Overall - Try it!

Address
Bay Level L1-03, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956
http://www.auchocolat.com/

Opening Hours
10am to 12midnight

Awfully Chocolate

<Banana Chocolate Cake>

Well, after trying out its signature chocolate cake for the first time. I was eagerly gearing up to get a taste of this. The banana taste is quite strong, but somewhat a little artificial in my opinion. (I could be wrong.) But what it really did was that it made the cake much more moist in the centre.

Verdict
Ambience - N.A
Food - Good
Cost - $26+
Overall - Must try!

Address
Tampines 1 Shopping Mall, 3rd Floor.

Opening Hours
11am to 9.30pm
http://www.awfullychocolate.com/

Awfully Chocolate

<Chocolate Cake>

They have 2 other players that are chocolate banana and chocolate raspberry with rum. But I chose the simple chocolate cake as I wanted to compare it to the one I had from Chocolate Origins. If you remembered, I wasn't entirely impressed with the cake from the other side. Thus, I was really eager to try this out. All I can say is that I totally preferred this hands down. Awfully Chocolate's chocolate cake was so much more moist that it literally melts in your mouth. The depth of the chocolate was good and luckily it wasn't too sweet. A must try for all chocolate dessert lovers!

Verdict
Ambience - N.A
Food - Good
Cost - $26+
Overall - Must try!

Address
Tampines 1 Shopping Mall, 3rd Floor.

Opening Hours
11am to 9.30pm
http://www.awfullychocolate.com/