There’s no carb I love more than bread. Sometimes I eat bread for lunch. And dinner. And for breakfast the next day. Sometimes when people see me having bread for a lunch, they’ll ask if I’m on a diet. But how are carbs (white and with sugar – the worst kind!) diet food? Anyway, that’s beside the point. Here’s a list of my favourite bakeries – you’ll thank me for it (even if your waistline won’t).
1. Maison Kayser
Scotts Square #B1-09, Wheelock Place basement
I’ve never really been a fan of baguette-like bread with a hard crust, but I changed my mind after trying the Delice Blanc, $3.45, from Maison Kayser – a sweet, brioche-like bread with white chocolate bits baked into the dough. Even though the rest of the bread at Maison Kayser is pretty good (love the tea-flavoured breads as well), I always pick the Delice Blanc because it has an interesting blend of flavours and textures. In fact, it’s so good that I usually end up finishing one even after lunch. I think they put crack in it or something, it’s too addictive for my own good.
Other favourites include the The Orange (an Earl Grey tea bread with bits of orange baked within) and the Aux Pommes (a comforting mix of apple, walnuts and honey).
From left to right: Delice Blanc and Aux Pommes
2. Sun Moulin
Shaw House, Basement 1, 350 Orchard Road, Singapore 238868
I know what you’re thinking – Mochi bread, really? Just trust me when I say that the Japanese know best when it comes to mochi and bread. The Chocolate Mochi Bread from Sun Moulin bakery is a chewy mouthful bursting with chocolate goodness (calories? what calories?), and is best eaten when warm. While there are other flavours (green tea and soy), the chocolate still packs the most punch.
Chocolate Mochi Bread from Sun Moulin
3. Provence Bakery
269 Holland Village, Singapore 278990
Ahh wassants. I love them so, and I bet you do too. If you’re new to wassants (in which case, you’ve been missing out on one of the best inventions since sliced bread), they are very much like croissants, but less flaky with a soft bun-like texture.
Besides being soft (which is something I can’t resist when it comes to bread), the wassants from Provence Bakery are just the right size. They come in three flavours – chocolate, kaya, and butter – but the kaya is my pick. Best eaten fresh, but also pretty tasty when lightly toasted. Available in singles, bags of 5 or 10 (for the really hungry).
Chocolate and Kaya Wassants from Provence Bakery
4. Barcook Bakery
OG Albert Complex #01-03/04, International Plaza #01-35 and other locations.
When my cousin first got me one of these famed Raisin Cream Cheese buns, I was doubtful. After all, it looked like any other cream cheese bun sitting on the shelves of BreadTalk and the like. But this bun….this one was different. This was The One. Everything about it was perfect – from the slightly sugary cream cheese (which was a nice change from the usually sour taste you get with most other cream cheese buns), to the pillowy soft bread lightly dotted with sweet raisins. Now I know why so many aunties are willing to line up for ages just to get their hands on some of these babies.
Raisin Cream Cheese Bun (Source: Daniel Food Diary)
5. Tiong Bahru Bakery
56 Eng Hoon Street #01-70 and Raffles City Shopping Centre #B1-11/12
When it comes to hip and happening bakeries like Tiong Bahru Bakery, the Ah Ma in me is always skeptical about finding good bread. I have the impression that places like these are usually more style over substance. However, Tiong Bahru Bakery proved me wrong (and thankfully so). What’s interesting about these croissants is that they are not as flaky as the traditional kind, so you can eat them comfortably at your desk without getting tell-tale flakes all over your keyboard. I’ve always loved croissants (who doesn’t?) and the ones from here are soft, buttery and perfect with or without butter and jam.
If you’ve got calories to spare, try the Kouign Amann – a salted caramel pastry with a texture similar to puff pastry.
Croissant and Kouign Aman from Tiong Bahru Bakery
6. Dolcetto by Basilico
The Regent Hotel (Lobby Level), 1 Cuscaden Road, Singapore 249715
While squid ink may sound somewhat unappealing to some (cue squid ink pasta staining your teeth horror stories), this bread is actually rather aromatic and tasty. Angelo’s Squid Ink Bread from Dolcetto is a savoury mixture of sundried tomatoes, olives, pine nuts and apparently some sea salt as well. The loaf is a little pricey, but it has an interesting flavour and is definitely worth a try. We promise it won’t stain your teeth.
While you’re there you might also want to try the pumpkin bread loaf – it’s another hot favourite at this bakery.
Squid Ink Bread
