Desserts like this exemplify why Portico's signature is awesome for its price. The sponge is average while the curd & crumbs are uninspired. Top marks for presentation though.
Also tried the Lime Lychee [$14.10], a very refreshing iced bowl that's not particularly value-for-money. Take your chances instead with their signature Soya [$16.50], available only on Fridays & weekends.
Straight-On: Eaten by your camera.
The most recognizable offering from Mad About Sucre features a chocolate rum box atop a globe of mousse, hidden plantain & Brittany crunch.
However, MAS truly shines in their more delicate flavours, such as Passionné [$11.90], one of the best cheesecakes I've ever eaten, and new menu additions like Luna de Miel [$11.90], an exquisite honey mousse with blood orange caviar & grapefruit insert.
Straight-On: Pretty Delicious
The O List
Price Range: $11
O for: Optimistic
What is popular here?
Milk & Red Bean [$11.00]
Being neither early nor intending to keep up with the Bingsu wave, it was nice to finally try Korean shaved ice on steroids, for the first time.
BGJ's signature allows for sharing among 2-3 people at very competitive prices, and its quality is quite good.
What should I try instead?
Mango Shaved Ice at Ximending, Taipei [$5.50]
Immaculately finely shaved milk, at impossible prices. No wonder people love travelling to Taiwan.
Singaporean's Guide To Ulu Café Hopping
Price Range: $24-$32
Nearest MRT: Marymount
Instagrammability: Very High -
Possibly the whitest café in Singapore, this corner fixture is so beautifully illuminated, that adjacent outlet Fat Boys declares on its shutters, "Not a Hipster Joint".
Food:
1) Truffle Benedict [$18.00]
Truffle oil makes almost anything taste better, and it does the same lifting for the Hollandaise. Spinach, too is a stroke of genius.
However, replacing the ubiquitous, functional-at-best Ham with more delicious proteins would cement Pacamara's position as one of the better Eggs Bens around in Singapore.
2) Salted Caramel Banana French Toast [$16.00]
Great idea for granola to add that extra crunch to French Toasts. The rest of the dish isn't as extraordinary.
3) Lemongrass Ricotta Hotcakes [$17.50]
Berry compote makes for safe but delicious, beautiful presentation.
Pancakes are sufficiently fluffy.
Lemongrass is unevenly infused; in parts faintly present, and in parts not at all, though I'm grateful it isn't distractingly emphatic.
A lot more enjoyable than Paddy Hills' Pillows.
4) Iced Chocolate [$6.00]
Decent but small.
Come Here: Again.
The Short Review
Price Range: $25-$30
Nearest MRT: City Hall
Instagrammability: High -
Upscale ambience with innovative presentation make for great visuals.
Food:
1) Foie Gras Pastry [$18.00++]
One of my personal favourites.
Absolutely delicious, seared Foie on crisp, thin pastry.
Awesome enough to warrant a visit alone.
2) Clam Spheres [$14.00++]
Spheres are rarely worth the money.
This dish follows the same trend.
3) Parmesan Pizza [$12.00++]
Paperthin, crisp cheese base singlehandedly supports the strong flavours of olive oil caviar, dehydrated tomato powder & basil paste.
Another must-try tapas at anti:dote.
Singaporean's Guide To Ulu Café Hopping
Price Range: $12-$19
Nearest MRT: Bayfront
Instagrammability: Very High -
Located in the Beverly Hills of Botanics. Lighting's occasionally marred by the criss-cross of the dome.
Food:
1) Chicken Liver Parfait [$12.00++]
Pricier than its usual counterparts, but I was satisfied with its well-rounded taste & smooth, buttery texture. Portion's more than enough to slather on 4 nicely-toasted slices of sourdough.
2) Gianduja Lemon Cake [$12.00++, $16.00++ with Drink]
Glazed beautifully & pretty okay.
Again, pricey.
3) Cloudy Apple Juice [$8.00++, $16.00++ with Cake]
Refreshing, sweet & bright.
Think an artificial mix of apple & white grape.
4) Chocolate Bergamot Cake [$12.00++, $16.00++ with Drink]
Normal, if not disappointing, Blackforest.
5) Beignets & Spiced Chocolate [$10.00++]
A dollar apiece for luxury churros.
Amazing texture; crisp on the outside and impossibly soft & fluffy on the inside. Melts away after tentative contact with its golden-fried batter surface.
It would have been nice if the accompanying vial of spicy chocolate was wide enough to elegantly accommodate dipping.
Afternoon Tea sets would have been preferred, but their daily a la carte Terrace Menu isn't too shabby either.
And no one should ever be caught dead paying for Flower Dome admission.
Come Here: Again (en route to Flower Dome).
Singaporean's Guide To Ulu Café Hopping
Price Range: $8-$10
Nearest MRT: Mountbatten
Instagrammability: Moderate -
Shop space is tiny or cosy; depending on your level of optimism.
Food:
1) Iced Café Latte [$3.80]
Gorgeous colour gradient.
Not qualified to comment on coffee, but my barista friend said it was "good".
2) Earl Grey Croissant [$3.80]
Very faint Earl Grey aroma.
A basic, okay, sugared croissant, topped with pistachio crumbs.
Props to the staff for baking it inhouse with a microscopic oven!
3) Salted Caramel Tart [$6.20]
Run-of-the-mill, supplier-delivered tart, just below the standard of Awfully Chocolate.
B&B seems content with satiating their regular customer flow with decent cuppas, and nothing else.
Come Here: Never.
The O List
Price Range: $15-$20
O for: Okay
What is popular here?
Mont-Blanc [$13.50++]
If non-Chestnut fans like me unwittingly order their signature, they might find themselves tearing off the vermicelli and salvaging the airy cream & light meringue base inside.
Perhaps Mont-Blanc Praline would have been a better choice for me.
L'Africain Hot Chocolate [$12.00++]
Having sampled heavy hitters like Salamanca's "Valor", Angelina's take on VERY intensely rich Hot Chocolate seems slightly tailed down to pander to the Singaporean palate.
Feel free to ask for more whipped cream shotglasses if you have trouble sipping through the cup!
Recommended only for dark chocolate lovers & good husbands.
What should I try instead?
Paris-New York Pecan Choux [$13.00++]
A well-executed, soft choux pastry textured with crunchy pecan cream. Goes supremely well with the thick, bitter Hot Chocolate.
Ambience outdazzles the nearby Dazzling Café. Eager to make a positive impression, the two-day-old attending staff provided excellent service.
Just when I thought that Portico was whipping up just "not bad" executive lunches, in comes this delightful, chilled mortar flowerpot.
Sporting a quenelle of caramel ice-cream atop a forest of rich Varlhona chocolate mousse trunks, hazelnut cookie soil, bleeding coulis and leaves which actually taste nice without jarringly disrupting the palate for the sake of floral vanity.
The hidden popping candy serves as the proverbial brandy-soaked cherry upon a beautiful & beautifully-tasting dessert.
And no, Taylor, I don't want to go out of the woods.
Top-Down/Straight-On: Pretty Delicious
The O List
Price Range: $9-$10
O for: Overhyped
What is popular here?
Onigiri [$9.00]
There was something about basil milk chocolate which didn't appeal to my palate, so the citric acidity of the blood orange was much appreciated.
Think the precision, portion and price of Antoinette with the design fittings of MUJI.
What should I try instead?
San Domingue [$12.80++]
Mad About Sucre's desserts are amazing, and the richness of the cocoa is balanced excellently with a rum box & a hidden plantain (read: banana).
One of the rare, fine-dining desserts that justifies the price with its execution.
The O List
Price Range: $8-$10
O for: Optimistic
What is popular here?
Godiva Chocolate Soft-Serve [$8.00]
Amply rich & without pretentious toppings. At least Godiva, unlike Old Hen, met its chocolatey expectations which it set itself up for.
However, it's still expensive for its size, and recommended only for special occasions.
What should I try instead?
Sunday Folks Soft-Serve [$7.95]
If you're basic enough to sacrifice quality soft-serve for ornate toppings, or if they've ran out of waffle mix for the day, Sunday Folks has got your back.
Singaporean's Guide To Ulu Café Hopping
Price Range: $20-$25
Nearest MRT: Haw Par Villa
Instagrammability: Very High -
With expert taste in interior design, food plating and even an OOTD wall, Paddy Hills ensures all customers are happy until their first bite.
Food:
1) The Asian Brick [$20.00]
Goreng Pisang pieces were well done; crisp, tasty and without overly thick batter.
Yam ice-cream was decent.
Sweet potatoes & squash purée lacked much-needed flavour.
Donut pieces were cold & slightly sad.
2) Orange Ricotta Pancakes [$18.00]
In retrospect, the ricotta was hardly detectable.
While fluffy, the pancakes also suffer from the same problem as the Berry Ricotta Hotcake - it's a challenge to finish a dish with a one-note flavour profile.
The warm citrus syrup it bathes in does keep it moist, and the sour grapefruit wedges & charred orange zest are few but welcome additions to diversify its taste.
3) Peanut Butter, Choc, Banana Milkshake [$11.00]
Checks all the right boxes as a milkshake.
But imagine our disappointment to find the topped marshmallows barely toasted at all, after witnessing the barista whip out a blowtorch on the top layer. If you're looking for gooey goodness, you won't find it here.
Come Here: Never (for desserts).
