Wednesday, October 30, 2013

CHEF ICON - Nature Bakery

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It was really an honour to be invited to try out this new food place introduced by a fellow friend. When people mention about bakery, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Bread, Cake, Flour, Flavouring, Colouring, etc. Well, this bakery is definitely different from any bakery you see in the neighbourhood. Chef Icon practice the Avina Neutro concept where there is:
No Animal Rennet
No Animal Gelatin
No Animal Meat
No Liquor
No Margarine
No MSG
No Onion & Garlic
No Preservatives
No Chemical Bread Improvers
In one word, it is all about NATURAL. Natural ingredients, using natural reaction, for natural baking.

With the experience in baking for over 20 years, Francis opened up this bakery 4 years ago with the aim to educate the mass about natural baking. A shy humble man who do not want to have his photos taken, but prefer staying behind the scene providing quality sincere pastries for his customers.

CHEF ICON
5 Kampong Bahru Road, Singapore 169341
Operating hour: Mon to Sat - 8am to 8pm, Closed on Sun & PH
Love their tagline 'Good Food Makes People Happy'. Definitely~
Though it is just a small store, but there are constantly customers coming in for the 2 hours I was there.
A video of the store layout 
So this is what I tried at the shop. Desserts!! Always a girl's weakness.
Hokkaido Rolls - Wrapped within the fluffiest sponge cake, a delicate blob of fresh cream bursting with the colours of real ingredients. A favourite with young & old. No artificial colouring, flavouring, or preservatives.
Flavours: Fruit Strawberry, Belgium Dark Chocolate, Deep Blueberry, Arabica Mocha, Japanese Green Tea & Red Bean, Tropical Mango
Hokkaido Roll, Belgium Dark Chocolate $6.80
(Because they use natural ingredients, there is no 'floury' taste. Rather, you can taste the superior quality & texture of the sponge cake. What I love about this is that the sponge cake doesn't taste too sweet, & compliment well with the slightly bitter dark chocolate cream)
Hokkaido Roll, Japanese Green Tea & Red Bean $6.80
(I've always been a fan of green tea & matcha, this green tea roll is really gooooood~ I'm able to taste the real green tea flavour & red bean texture. Also heard from Francis that, they use real green tea leave pounded into powder for the flavour & not those pre-packed processed green tea powder. *thumb up*)
Boston Cheesecake, Cranberry $6.80
We know the search for a perfect cheesecake never ends. Every bite of our Boston Cheesecake offers layers of sublime creaminess, at once light, yet wonderfully rich. No rennet or gelatin
Flavours: Cranberry, Mango, Cookies & Cream, Strawberry, Marble with Belgium Dark Chocolate
Available in whole cake (500kg / 1kg) & slices in store. Pre-order at least 3 days in advance for whole cake
(Couldn't agree more with the description. Thick, rich & smooth cream cheese with a tint of citrus taste from the lemon but yet not 'gelat'. Really good quality cream cheese they used)
Chocolate Travonna $32.80 - $168.80
This six-hour labour of love is a tonic for the soul, a tribute to chocolate's abundant passion and joyful energy. Luscious layers of French dark chocolate for warm, intense mouthful, yielding a slightly bitter aftertaste, the hallmark of all fine chocolate cakes. No artificial colouring, flavouring, or preservatives.
Flavours: Pure, Banana, Blueberry, Blackforest, Hazelnut
Available in whole cake only (500g / 1kg / 2kg). Pre-order at least 3 days in advance
(This is the BOMB!! Chef Icon's Signature cake. Such a booboo because I didnt manage to try this. Saw all the slacks but all are pre-ordered. So gonna come back for this next!! So people, do remember to call in advance if you are going over to try out their signature cakes)
English Queen Cake, Belgium Dark Chocolate & Banana $12.80
A solid, moist butter cake with a delicate aftertaste, this dignified treat is reminiscent of the tea-time traditions of England. Makes comforting company for an afternoon tea spread, or a relaxed breakfast
Flavours: Almond with Blueberry, Cranberry Walnut, Belgium Dark Chocolate & Banana, Double Cheese
(Got this home to try because it was highly recommended. If you're a fan of chocolate & banana, you definitely have to try this. The cake is not too sweet, taste super good with the natural sweetness from the banana. Paired this with a cup of coffee or tea, that's what i had for breakfast)
Bumped into these 2 tourists during my visit there, found out they specifically make their way down to try out the pastries. What more can I say? Even tourists gave their thumbs up.
To find out more about Chef Icon Bakery, visit their website at http://www.cheficon.com/ or simply head down to their store to try out their pastries for yourself!!
Pssst~ Check out their new website & new product selections coming up this Novemebr. 
Stay tune for more updates on my blog.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

MAD FOR GARLIC

Always love hunting for places that sell a certain specialized food. And what can you think of when it comes to Garlic? Well, Mad for Garlic really surprised me with the different kind of food they came up with Garlic in all their dishes.

MAD FOR GARLIC
Suntec City Mall - 3 Temasek Boulevard #01-39, Singapore 038983
Operating Hours: Sun to Thurs - 11.30am to 10pm, Fri to Sat - 11.30am to 11pm

Clarke Quay - Blk 3B, River Valley Road #01-16, The Foundry, Singapore 179021
Operating Hour: 11.30am to 1am

Visited the Suntec City Mall outlet purely out of random as we were looking for a dinner place around the area after shopping.
White Sauteed Fresh Mussels $29.90
Fresh Mussels sauteed with Spicy Pepper and Garlic Cream sauce
Red Devil $19.90
Special Spicy Pasta with fresh Scrimp, Clam and various kind of Seafood
(No doubt is this spicy)
Garlic Steak $32.90
Mad for Garlic Special Rib-eye Steak topped with various kinds of Garlic
(Really juicy succulent beef. Order medium rare!!)
Garlic Sprinkle Gelato $7.90
Mad for Garlic's Special Garlic IceCream served in Chocolate covered glass with Garlic Cookie
(Personally, I feel it taste abit weird at first but after a few more mouth, it's actually quite tasty. A very adventurous taste)
Visited the Clarke Quay outlet with my ex-colleagues on a different day, as we were planning to chill around after dinner. The price is slightly higher as they are newly renovated. Didn't managed to take photos of the place because it was quite crowded. All I can say is the whole restaurant is quite dimly-litted, and it gives a very country feel.
Vongole Mare Pasta $23.50
Traditional pasta with Fresh Clams in White Wine sauce
Grilled Chicken & Mushroom Risotto $22.50
Risotto cooked with Spinach and Mushroom topped with Grilled Chicken Leg
Garlicholic Rice $17.90
Special Fried Rice with Garlic Pickles
Garlic Spinkle Gelato $8.90
(Had to order this again when i revisited because I feel it's their signature dessert)
Really enjoyed a good meal both times I was there. Just a piece of advice, try not to talk too closely to someone or burp after dining there.. =X

Friday, October 11, 2013

PIQUE NIQUE + PARIS BAGUETTE: Mummy's 56th birthday treat!!

This is going to be a looooong post because as the title mentioned, it's my mummy's birthday!! Mummy took off & lil bro has no school, so we decided to hang out for the day. Lunch treat from Yours Truly (me), movie, snack time, buffet dinner treat from dad, & of course lots of shopping in between. So first stop, lunch at Pique Nique!!

PIQUE NIQUE
Takashimaya
391A Orchard Road, Ngee Ann City Tower A, #B1-01/02, Singapore 238873
Operating hour: 10am to 9.20pm (last order 9pm, last seating 9.15pm)

JCube
2 Jurong East Central 1, #01-08, Singapore 609731
Operating hour:
Sun to Thurs - 11am to 10pm (last order 9.30pm, last seating 9.45pm)
Fri & Sat - 11am to 11pm (last order 10.30pm, last seating 10.45pm)

We went to the one at Takashimaya, because it's easier for us to walk around after that.. =)
All-Day Breakfast: Norwegian Benedict $14
2 poached eggs with toasted English muffin, smoked salmon, sour cream, served with side salad
(The most simpliest presentation. Poached eggs taste plain with very minimal sour cream on it, & the muffin is just slightly toasted. The only nice part I would say is the smoked salmon.)
The Tokyo Connection Burger $12.80
Teriyaki Chicken leg, mashed potato, wasabi mayo, tomato, lettuce
Pasta: Bacon Carbonara $16
Classic cream sauce with caramelized bacon, tossed with spaghetti, served with a poached egg & Parmesan cheese
(One of the few carbonara that will not get 'gelat' after a few mouth)
Sides - Fries 'R' Us: Goulah Fries $15
Pique Nique's fries with Hungarian Beef Goulash stew and sour cream
(This is the bomb!! Fries taste just as good on its own. The beef stew is thick & rich)
In my opinion, I feel that Pique Nique serves better sides & desserts than their mains. Came for their cakes once I have to say, they serve the BEST red velvet cake. Well, at least I feel they are one of the best. Always pass by Takashimaya, & I will drop by for their red velvet cake. Didn't manage to order a piece today because we were too full!! 
Next stop, movie!! My mum is not a lady that watch movie much, everytime she watched would be because it's an occasion. So this time, it's her birthday!! After much discussion with my lil bro to choose which movie we have not watched individually, we decided on 'About Time'. 
Good choice I must say, because it's really a nice show. Makes you cherish the simple & little things you have in life. I give 4 popcorns for that. People, go watch it before it's off the showchart. =)

After movie, it's back to shopping!! We walked from Cathay Cineleisure to Ion Orchard, & along the way we started to feel a little tired & hungry. And me having a sweet-tooth, I brought my mum & younger bro to Paris Baguette located at Wisma Atria.

PARIS BAGUETTE
Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Road, #02-02/03,48/49,52/53 Singapore 238877
Operating hour: follows that of Wisma Atria

Many people would think Paris Baguette started out in Paris. As a matter of fact, it is actually started in Korea by an international food and food service company call SPC Group. 
Oh, My Baby Crepe $8
(Layer crepe cake slice filled with mango & cream)
Hi! Earl Grey Cake $8
Mango Royal Pudding $4.50
The mango cake & royal pudding are the 2 popular items on the menu, while the earl grey cake is just for my own tasting. Flavours for the royal pudding differ everyday.

And so our day ended, before meeting up with dad at night for dinner at Sakura International Buffet. 
Once again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUMMY!! Hope you enjoyed yourself today. =)