Creamier (East Coast)

Creamier x Tong Heng
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Special collaboration for National Day
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Crafted with handmade egg custard and buttery crust

Nostalgia points for this place, Toa Payoh creamier was my go to during our JC days
Now that we have an outlet in the East, a testament to the brand standing the test of time 🙌🏻
On a sweltering afternoon the seasalt Gula Melaka was a nice respite on some of the best simple artisan waffles in Singapore. However the roasted pistachio was not my favourite just on biased personal preference for we had 2 better version a few roads down 😶

More reasons for the Easties to proclaim that the East side is the best side — Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream and Coffee has opened their newest outlet along East Coast Road, joining the league of established cafes that are situated in the same neighbourhood including that of Neptune, Brawn & Brains, PS.Cafe and more. Taking over the former premises of the now-defunct Forty Hands location along East Coast Road, Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream and Coffee is located at the same stretch of East Coast Road where Brunners Coffeeshop and Isshin Machi are situated. Whilst Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream and Coffee has given the space a revamp, the store layout largely remains the same from its time as Forty Hands; the major difference probably being the front porch that is created at the entrance which sets the cafe a little bit back from where the entrance of Forty Hands used to be. One key feature that was also retained from the time when the space was still Forty Hands would be the tiled flooring — something which seemed to have gelled in well with the Peranakan DNA of the neighbourhood. Otherwise, the entire interior decor still pretty much screams of Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream and Coffee; that familiar art deco-style counter that features white and wooden elements, while the dine-in furniture features wooden elements as well that is more function over form — the theme being rather close to that of their Tiong Bahru outlet especially.

As with what one would have expected, Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream and Coffee at East Coast serves up the familiar range of ice-cream; one could enjoy their ice-cream in a cup or with a waffle cone — there is also that option to enjoy it with their signature waffle stack that comes with the drizzling of chocolate sauce and golden syrup around the sides. There is also the Creamier Fun 5 — one can opt between the Signature or the Kids Favourite which features five (5) pre-selected flavours in a waffle bowl, or opt for the Create-Your-Own to enjoy your very own choice of five (5) different ice-cream flavours off their display chiller to one’s own fancy. For beverages, expect the usual selection of teas, including a selection of tea sourced from Gryphon Tea Company as well as house-made concoctions such as the Summer Iced Tea and Lychee Tea Fizz; just to name a few. Coffee lovers can go for their espresso-based coffee menu, which is brewed using a custom blend created for Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream and Coffee by local micro coffee roasters PPP Coffee, named the Neighbourhood Blend. Other non-coffee beverages include Iced / Hot Cocoa and the Iced Chocolate Float.

Visiting Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream and Coffee’s East Coast Road outlet during the festive season, it is pretty much a given that we would go for the Almost Holiday Fruit Cake — it is being described on the menu to come with mixed dried fruits and spices, and contains eggs, nuts and dairy. This ice-cream flavour is essentially what it is being described as; a flavour that totally fits into the festive occasion, the scoop of ice-cream is not only just smooth and creamy, but it also contains hint of familiar spices like cinnamon that helps to create that fruit-cake like flavour, whilst featuring nibs of dried fruit for one to nibble on — further adding on to the sweetness of the ice-cream flavour as well. It is noted that the ice-cream had a pretty controlled level of sweetness; definitely not overpowering and can be said to be more well-managed than some off-the-shelf fruit cakes as well. The White that we have had is quite a soothing cuppa to have; one that carries a light body, whilst also having nutty and earthy flavour profile that would suit the masses — something which we would consider a leisurely cuppa that would be suitable to have at any point of the day.

Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream and Coffee has indeed come quite far from its initial days being that indie ice-cream parlour that is known to have occupied a shop unit at the corner of the HDB flat at Toa Payoh that is located just foot steps away from the common playground of the estate that it is at. We do reminisce the scene of seeing patrons enjoying their waffles even in the nearby pavilion and open areas around the playground — quite a feat considering how they have garnered a strong following over the years. Whilst they have become a little bit more of a commercial brand considering how they have expanded in recent times, it is a little bit unimaginable if one remembered how they have started off previously. With outlets now at Tiong Bahru, Gillman Barracks, Northshore Plaza II (i.e. Punggol) and its most recent at East Coast Road, one can only wonder where else would Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream and Coffee appear at next. But till then, let’s just allow our Easties rejoice about Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream and Coffee’s opening at East Coast Road a little; yet another reason for them to say why the East side is always the best side …