coffee and chocolate dutch courage @ tiong bahru bakery

sunday afternoon coffee break.

we were supposed to satisfy a fruit tart craving at drips.

but seems many others had that in mind too.

there was a queue and only two tarts left.

minimize our losses.

let's walk.

orange thimble?

not that either. we'll be back for a proper breakkie.

so. next door?

tiong bahru bakery.

a corner seat.

perfect.

now leave that reserved sign there please.

crossiant aux amandes

just because it was still on the baking tray.

i know.
just psychologically instinctive.

i loved the crunchy bits at the side.

that buttery coat on the top - think hk po lo buns and their buttered crusts.

and generous almond flakes.

perfect companion to my latte.

too pretty.

and almost ironic.

it's a broken heart i'm nursing.

not a perfect one. 

a viennese chocolate roll.

soft. pillowy. :)

with little chocolate nibs.

perfect for a long black.

and this chocolate tart.

must come with a tooth warning honestly.

i did not manage to successfully saw through it.

not even once.

and it took pure brute strength for a rugger to attempt to do it.

everytime his knife goes into the tart, i brace myself for a flying slice.

fortunately it didn't happen. 

the concept of caramelized fruit in the tart shell was good.

but did the chef think of the actual process of eating?

it's not like one can stuff the entire pie into one's mouth.

the valrhona chocolate was rich. 

do -not- eat this on your own. 

especially not if you're planning to run after.

prices here are steep.

but with the way singaporeans spend on food?

these prices could actually qualify as a norm already.
 he spent over $100 on breads the last time he was here?

mmhmm.

from the west to macritchie.
11k. 

this one's for you babe.

loved. 

Drips

Where are the women?

I mean.

I am one.

Or so I'd like to think.

And there were many a table of women lounging in the chairs,

catching up on girl talk over these delicious looking desserts and coffee.

But the service staff were all men.

Boys.

For some reason that made me feel uncomfortable.

Too much eye candy perhaps?

This was a recommended special.

Bread pudding with vanilla bean sauce.

What they didn't mention in the name was the apple.

Poached apple.

Was it a whole apple?

The baking process seemed not to have any effect on the poached apple.

It was juicy and tender morsels of fruit.

It was good.

But.

I wanted my bread pudding!

That constituted only half of the ramekin.

Le sigh.

And no there were no raisins either.

The vanilla sauce?

It was runny and not big on taste.

Now this however,

blew me away.

This was BERRY good.

Simple mixed fruit tart.

Choice of blueberries or raspberries.

We took whatever they recommended.

And it was ohsogood.

Fruits were ripe and plump.

Custard was just right.

No feeling of queasiness or maybe it was just massacred so fast.

And the tart.

It had me at hello.

Full fat short crust pastry.

No, I take it back.

Full fat short crust FLAKY pastry.

ohmyyum.

But pricey.

$6.50 for a tart.

Uh huh.

A matcha latte.

Love the steamed milk.

 A faint and lingering taste of matcha.

This was perfect for what I wasn't looking for. :)

And just because this was the sweetest treat of the day.

Rockmelon from a random shop and save store.

These would be perfect with parma ham.

Or maybe not.

Simple.

:)

lunch date

Waking up late.

It's a work day for you while I'm in the last week of my holidays.

Finishing my book while you slept in.

Frustrated and finally forced out of bed by the incessant sounds of piling and ongoing upgrading works.

Only to fall back to sleep next to your nephew.

A big kid and a small one to melt my heart. :)

It's been a while since we had time for lunch.

Where to?

Chicken rice at Clarke Quay.

I've never noticed this- Tiong Bahru Hainanese Chicken Rice where quietly it sits behind the bus stop across the bridge from The Central in the direction of home when you get off work late at night.

A set meal for two.

$17.80 if I remember correctly.

Serves up half a chicken (choice of roasted or white)

Roast chicken was too salty on the wings but otherwise juicy and mmm yum.

It might have something to do with the fact that I was ravenous by 2pm as well. ;p

I liked the addition of tomato slices and salted vegetables.

And they had a bowl of soup which was more than just decent.

I'm impressed.

Tasty. Boiled chicken stock with salted vegetables.

A choice of side. The lady taking our order offered either the thai style fried beancurd or five spice meat roll.

A little heavy on the salt. But savoury and well balanced out by a dip into the luminous orange spicy sauce.

Ngoh Hiang for the carnivore of course.

And a choice of vegetable between fried beansprouts or baby bok choy. I like them crunchy bean sprouts but I like my healthy greens more :) A little overly blanched but tasty with the toppings of oyster sauce, fried shallots and hey, some ikan bilis too.

And this was mine.

All mine.

I definitely have a healthy digestive system full on fibre. :)

Thanks for lunch.

And I'm happy we managed a proper lunch before you started on your work day.