Pre-order Goodies / Customised Treats

Hits after hits, Rosemead Bakery Signature Box ($38) was well worth the wait (and calories) in my opinion. Like breakfast for champions, all five freshly baked pastries were distinctly different and oh so good.

Jolted by the rich flavour at first, I enjoyed the textures of the honey-glazed Sobrassada Babka immensely. The lamination was on-point! After a quick pop into the air fryer, the flaky-crisp texture was not too heavy and the taste of the dough was very complementary to the slightly savoury minced meat. Though moreish, the heat from the spiced pork filling was a little too much for me.

And so to douse the fire from the spicy Spanish sobrassada, the Tiramisu Croissant was the perfect treat. Filled generously with creamy mascarpone filling and laminated with cultured butter, the handmade French viennoiserie pastry was buttery and not too sweet. The icing on the cake was the aromatic fermented coffee glaze which delivered that umami oomph.

Similarly, the Meyer Lemon Croissant came with a beautiful caramelised finish. No lip-puckering action here as the curd was zesty-sweet. The refreshing, bright number was well stuffed as well!

Turning up the sweetness was the Marshmallow & Peanut Butter Cookie. A fun snack to bite into, the sudachi lime vanilla-bourbon marshmallow was surprisingly fluffy. The base, on the other hand, was a contrasting traditional chewy cookie. Layered in between was a lovely mix of caramel and peanut butter flavours that was pronounced but not too overwhelming.

A little like having their signature house rolls at the comfort of my own home, the Apple-Kombu Glazed Shokupan was bangin’. Though I shouldn’t compare it to having the exact rolls at the restaurant as the smoky aroma gifted from the kiss of the hearth was somewhat halved, the air frying did bring back a bit of the crunch and char. Fluffy in the center, the milk bread was just perfect with the savoury butter.

Yet another bakery to look out for, The Flour Department’s March exclusive bakes were pretty exquisite (so glad I snagged it before the new menu comes out). Skipping their Cheese Fries Choux because I am really not that adventurous, their Ondeh Cake Tart and Peanut Mochi Paris Brest (Eclair) were right up my alley.

Giving the Peranakan traditional flavours a French-style twist, the Ondeh Cake Tart ($8/slice) was my favourite of the two. Real aromatic, the delightful layer of creamy kaya custard went perfectly with the airy coconut cream, moist coconut frangipane and fluffy pandan cake. The softness of the filling then balanced with the buttery tart crust and the crunch from the abundance of snow-white coconut shavings covering the entire slice. Not too sweet, the distinct pandan fragrance was the best part and the QQ ondeh-ondeh bursting with caramel-y Gula Melaka was quite literally the icing on the cake (though I would prefer if the dough was slightly thinner).

Marrying the all-familiar flavours of the Chinese glutinous rice snack with the classic French pastry, the Peanut Mochi Paris Brest ($6.50) was a fun and yummy creation. Like the traditional Muah Chee, the filling had a subtly soft and chewy bite from the mochi and a gentle crunch from the nuts. The peanut cream was distinct, not too sweet, and surprisingly light on the palate. The delicate ring-shaped Choux pastry was also wondrously soft.

Home business @ooomahmee has done it again and this time with the newest addition to their menu! Packed with flavour, the Aburi Bowl ($30 u.p. $33) was bomb diggity. Think plump hotate, sweet masu (trout) covered in aburi mentai mayo, aburi masu belly, Tamagoyaki, ajitsuke tamago, aburi yuzu maguro, briny ikura, and a tantalizing portion of uni (top-up of $15/10g) on a bed of sumeshi. Everything came together so beautifully - both in taste and texture. Torched ever so slightly, the slices of trout were incredibly fresh-tasting and almost melts in the mouth. The cuts, being in the best thickness, was not overly fatty so as to feel jelat yet certainly not on the lean side. No overkill with the eggs here as well, the soft jammy yolk and savoury white delivering an umami punch while the tamagoyaki was milder in taste. The firm roe also provided that vibrant bursts of sweetness whereas the creamy uni indeed served as the truffle of the sea, offering an alluring decadence. However, the true star was the torched tuna. With a fragrant tinge of citrus, the slices were surprisingly tender and well-seasoned. If you love your seafood, you will love this bowl~

Slurping to my heart’s content, I recently gave myself a well-deserved treat with Angelini’s Original Pasta Box ($43). Packed with creamy sea urchin, sweet prawns, and plump sliced scallops, every strand of the chilled capellini was coated beautifully with their white truffle emulsion. Delicately twirled, the thin angel hair pasta also held a nice bite. But the star of the show was really the dressing. A wonderous pairing of kombu and truffle oil, the truffle aroma was a little more nuanced while the umami kombu flavour hits stronger. Hence, perfumed with the lingering earthy scent, each component take on more of a savoury flavour yet their distinct sweetness was still able to shine. What’s more, the freshness of the seafood was truly impressive. I also enjoyed the clean flavours of the pasta box and that extra dose of white truffle emulsion on the side was the icing on the cake. Exquisite and balanced!

A bake box that I have been eyeing for the longest time, Huilyn’s July Taiwan/Hong Kong Travel bake box ($22) was such a treat - each item was well-executed in my opinion! Starting on the savouries, the two madeleines were spotted with lovely golden-brown crusts and slightly crisp edges. For a buttery dream, the Bolo Bun Madeleine was gently perfumed and featured a moist almost fluffy crumb on the inside. While the Scallion Oil Madeleine studded with Ham & Cheese had more bite and punchy aromatic flavours.

Next for sweets, there were hlbakes' Peanut Mochi Blondie and Taro Swiss Cake. Topped with chopped nuts, the blondie’s buttery fragrance, and crumbly texture were superb. A fun take on peanut muah chee, the bake was inspired by the familiar glutinous rice snack and so features a soft-chewy mochi core. Perfect for tea, the layered Taro Swiss Cake was my favourite out of the four. The distinct coconut flavour present in the smooth creamy taro paste made it really luxe and worked wondrously with the cottony soft, light practically airy quality of the moist sponge cake. The ratio of the cake to the filling was also really good.

Sad about the new updates as we return to tighter public health measures, so I have got to cheer myself up the only way I know how and that is with food. Furthermore, it’s been a while since my last She Sells Seashells purchase and this Best-seller Box ($22) certainly slaps!

𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐚 & 𝐘𝐮𝐳𝐮 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐞
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Deeply flavoured with a combination of three different types of Marukyu-Koyamaen matcha powder, her signature madeleine is still my favourite. A simple delight, the citrusy-sweet fragrance of the yuzu peels was beautifully complemented by the gentle earthiness of the tea. The Suntory's Roku gin glaze boosting the matcha scented bake with a faint yet charming aroma as well.

𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐦 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐫
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Buttery and slightly salty, the Pickled Cherry Blossom Financier was just as exquisite as I remembered. The subtle piquancy from the pickled flower being both pleasant and enjoyable as it delivers that needed oomph to cut the cloying quality of the pastry. The light and tender texture of the cake with the slight crisp along the edges were also great.

𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐲 & 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐞
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Infused with the classic black tea from TWG, the shell-shaped sponge cake alone featured a delicate balance with the floral, citrusy, and bergamot notes. However, topped with the savoury-sweet homemade salted caramel filling, the bake was rather decadent and rich on a whole - great with a cuppa tea.

𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢 & 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐫
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A delicious spin on the traditional French almond tea cake, Rachel’s rendition was perfectly flavored with chai spices and Valrhona dark chocolate. Texture-wise, the luxuriously dark number had airy and moist crumbs. It was also soft and studded with bits of dried figs.

Breakfast situation with fresh solid bakes from homebaker NewDeli!

A hunk of intense nuttiness, their Almond Croissant ($5.40) was real substantial. Perhaps a little dense in comparison to a usual croissant but the buttery quality is very enjoyable and the layers within are not too dry. Studded generously with almond flakes and dusted in powdered icing sugar, the crunchy number is also sweet and fragrant.

The Pesto Cheddar & Tomato Croissant ($5) was definitely my favourite of the lot. Not the typical savoury croissant, the flavour combination was very complementary. Flaky, airy, and buttery, the texture was on point. The lamination was also pretty good with the pesto found in several layers. However, lighter on the sweet tangy notes of the tomato and the earthiness from the pesto blend, the bake had a more pronounced taste of cheddar in my opinion. Hence, it could certainly use a little more filling, extra pesto, and sun-dried tomatoes to balance out the flavour of the pastry.

As for the Vanilla Kouign Amann ($4.50) and Matcha Kouign Amann ($4.80), the sugared laminated pastries were really well-executed - all sticky, buttery, crispy, flaky, and tender. Both were also fragrant and had their distinct flavour; the gentle sweetness from the vanilla and the earthy, bittersweetness from the matcha. The caramelised top was not too cloying as well, making it ideal for breakfast or tea time.

A lil throwback to the (half-and-half) loaf of my dreams.

Crispy on the outside and oh so pillowy soft on the inside, @alouette.sg handcrafted sourdough focaccia is as good as it gets and worth the wait (you really got to order way in advance). Studded with bits of garlic, tomatoes, and rosemary; the Classic Sourdough Focaccia was hearty and aromatic. Mildly sweet from the burst of flavour from the juicy cherry tomatoes, the focaccia also featured a gentle herby and garlicky fragrance which just added to the whole appeal. Similarly, the crusty exterior of the Truffle Sourdough Focaccia was well-balanced by the chewy airy crumb. The subtle tang of the bake going hand in hand with the earthy-savoury (truly intoxicating) truffle scent. And what I enjoyed most was that it was luxe but not overly decadent - the flavours were prominent without being too in your face or overpowering.

Enveloped in an abundance of hand-grated coconut, @mariehomefoods Fresh Coconut Cake was nothing short of amazing. A coconut lover’s dream come true - the 3-layer vanilla chiffon sponge cake was stacked with their luscious coconut cream, and more shredded coconut flesh in between. The tender cake was light on the palate being low sugar, dairy-free, and all-natural but the nutty-sweetness of the coconut was still really pronounced. My favourite component being their handmade cream as it added some lovely textures and aroma. Loving the bursting fresh flavour at the very first bite, my parents also gave their seal of approval.

Available in 2 sizes, my order was the Baby7 Fresh Coconut Cake ($65). Order via their link-in-bio if you are interested!

Filling up my pantry with more snacks because as we all know eating is an integral part of the lunar new year, hence The Bold Batter’s shortbread cookies are what I am reaching for this time! Going nuts for their “GO NUTS” ($20), the newer flavour was right up my alley with the mix of caramelized nuts studded in the buttery shortbread. More savoury than nutty sweet, the bits of sea salt were chef’s kiss as the extra dose of saltines was able to counter the sweetness of the aromatic caramel coating spotted on the toasty almonds and cashews. The crisp edges of the bite-size cookies also made them real addictive.

But for something decadent, look no further than their “GET SHORTY V2” ($25) which was very much worth the calories and the risk of a sore throat. The melty and generous chunks of rich bittersweet chocolate going hand in hand with the crumbly and buttery classic shortbread. That crunch from the sugar-crusted edges giving the pastry a nice texture and managed to balance the intensity of the dark chocolate as well as the salt flakes featured atop. Ideal as a gift for chocolate lovers!

Counting down to CNY and stocking up on various goodies, I am so glad I managed to snag me some of Made by Min’s eggless Kinako Mochi Cookies ($25) and Black Sesame Cookies ($22). And with just these two bottles, I have never been more ready to kick-start the festive celebration.

Melt-in-your-mouth, the Kinako Mochi Cookies were nutty and delicately sweet. Earthy and toasty, the pronounced flavour of the Kinako was so good. The slight chew from the mochi core was also fun and a pleasant contrast from the crumbly exterior. Light and fragrant, the Black Sesame Cookies boasted a rich buttery and even nuttier aroma. Perfect for goma lovers! The hint of savouriness amidst the deep earthiness of the black sesame was the icing on the cake. Texture-wise, it delivered a crumbly and almost melty bite as well~