Park Backerei @ ICON Village - Singapore's First Traditional and Authentic German Brezel Bakery

Park Backerei, Singapore's first German pretzel bakery, has established its abode at ICON Village in Tanjong Pagar. Founded by Dennis von Berlepsch and his wife, Jane Lee Richard, the bakery showcases an artisanal array of freshly handcrafted German pretzels, lye-dipped bread, and pastries, encapsulating the authentic flavours of Germany.

The star of the show undoubtedly is the hand-shaped Swabian-style Pretzels ($3.90), originating from Southwest Germany. Distinguished by its slender ends and plump midsection, these pretzels offer a unique twist on the classic. Unlike the denser versions I've encountered previously, Park Backerei's iteration presents a moist and fluffy texture that doesn't weigh you down. Each bite beckons another, making it hard to resist. For those seeking a lighter indulgence, the Mini Pretzel ($2.50) offers a petite option for a satisfying afternoon snack.

Venturing into savoury territory, the Cheese Pretzel ($4.50) and Mini Cheese Pretzel ($2.80) offer a delightful twist - infusing Park Backerei's exceptional pretzel with cheddar cheese results in a delectable interplay of textures. The exterior achieves a lovely golden-brown crunch while maintaining a soft interior.

However, the bakery's prowess doesn't stop at pretzels. The Karamel Igel ($4.40) stands as a testament to their creativity, featuring a pretzel bun adorably shaped like a hedgehog, complete with a sumptuous homemade caramel spread. Expanding their horizons, Park Backerei introduces a range of tantalising stuffed bagels and sandwiches, all crafted from their proprietary pretzel dough recipe.

For savoury bagel enthusiasts, the Jalapeño Cheddar ($7.90) and Caprese Pesto ($7.90) present captivating options. The latter entwines aromatic basil pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses for a lively flavour palette. On the sweet side, the Speculoos Apple ($7.50) bagel shines with its indulgent combination of caramelised apples, diced apples for texture, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Diverse sandwiches further enrich the bakery's offerings. Inspired by German flavours, the Sausage Kraut ($15.90) brings forth smoked bratwurst and crispy fried onions, complemented by a tangy apple-caraway sauerkraut and piquant mustard aioli.

A vegetarian delight, the Brie ($14.90) is a blend of brie, caramelised onions, thinly sliced apples, and salted caramel pecans, creating a captivating fusion of textures.

Adding to the excitement, Park Backerei embraces the Oktoberfest spirit with an exclusive Oktoberfest Package ($88). Available for delivery and takeaway from 15 September to 29 October 2023, this package includes six Plain Pretzels and an assortment of sausages, such as Thuringer Snail Sausage, Nürnberger Sausage, and Smoked Bratwursts, alongside a side of tart apple sauerkraut. This celebration of flavours and traditions is a fitting homage to Germany's world-renowned beer festival.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Park Backerei
ICON Village
12 Gopeng Street
#01-41/42/52/53
Singapore 078877
Tel: +65 87562029
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 8am - 7pm
Sat-Sun: 8am - 2pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Peck Seah Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

KM Bagel & Waffle @ Tanjong Pagar - A Fun Bagel & Waffle Omakase Concept With Cocktail Pairing

Located on the second floor of the Tanjong Pagar Plaza is KM Bagel & Waffle, Singapore's first bagel and waffle bar. It is a small restaurant with a 15 seater round bar. As per its name, the restaurant's menu focuses on bagels, waffles and bespoke cocktail pairing. We had the 5 Course Chef's Curation Menu ($118). If you go for the cocktail pairing, it comes with an additional $108.

Canapes 4/5

Our first course is a selection of Canapes. The plate consists of Crab Rillette on Bagel, Foie Gras on Bagel, Tuna Tartare with Oscietra Caviar on Waffle and Dill Egg White Foam with Oscietra on Waffle. These are all delectable canapes to kickstart the meal with a few cocktails.

With the round bar seating, you can fully view the bartender shaking up your cocktails. For our dinner, we left it to the bartender to do the pairing, which was excellent.

Salad 3.5/5

Next is the Salad item comprising mesclun, burrata, plum infused cherry tomatoes, dates, blood orange and yellow frisee, dressed in basil oil and citrus shallot vinaigrette. It is a pleasing starter to ease into the main course.

Duck & Waffles 3.8/5

There are two mains for the five-course menu. The first main is Duck & Waffles. The duck breast is sous vide to fork-tender, paired with duck crackling, charred sweet corn, wakame and potato bacon waffle. I like the addition of bacon in the waffle, accentuating the flavour of the soft, fluffy waffle.

Lobster & Clams 4.2/5

From the land, we moved to the sea for our next main. The Lobster & Clams is served in a miso and chrysanthemum infused broth packed with umami, brightening the enjoyment of the boston lobster and diamond shell clams. The toasted bagel is perfect for wiping up the delicious broth.

Mochiko Waffles 3.5/5

Wrapping up our five-course menu, we have the Mochiko Waffles for dessert. The soft and spongy mochiko waffles come with a scoop of salted lavender caramel ice cream, paired with assorted berries, citrus chantilly, berry compote, and cinnamon crumble.

I observed the kitchen serve different desserts for each group. I guess it gives an element of surprise and variety to the customer. The other dessert is ice cream in a sugar dome with assorted berries.

KM Bagel & Waffle is an interesting and fun concept, pairing bagel and waffles with bespoke cocktails. I enjoyed the food and cocktails. The idea is pretty new to the local scene, but with the food and cocktail on the spot, I hope more people will get to discover it and enjoy it.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


KM Bagel & Waffle
7 Tanjong Pagar Plaza
#02-101
Singapore 081007
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Fri: 5pm - 11pm
Sat: 12pm - 12 midnight
Sun: 12pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Atico Lounge @ ION Orchard - Soar To New Height & Take Flight Into Singapore's Newest Sky-High Lifestyle Landmark

The opening of Atico Lounge marks the completion of 1-ATICO. This luxe multi-concept destination sits on level 56 of ION Orchard. The third and final instalment, Atico Lounge, complements its sister concepts of contemporary "fire-in-the-sky" Argentinian restaurant FIRE and Japanese-Peruvian influenced sumiyaki bar and grill FLNT.

With the golden age of air travel and fine drinking as the backdrop, you will find here an extensively curated list of champagnes and wine labels from across the globe and a bar stocked with craft spirits and liqueurs. But what makes the lists far more intriguing is the collection of cocktails inspired by key getaway destinations around the world. Crafted from artisanal spirits and house-made ingredients, every iconic cocktail tells a story about its place of origin - Japan, United Kingdom, Italy and France, with a series of five cocktail options available from each destination.

Mirukuūron

From Japan, cocktails bind the essence of the Japanese spirit of tradition and ritual with innovative touches. For example, Mirukuūron combines shiso leaves with milk oolong gin and garnished with a representative stalk of hanahao flowers. It's an easy yet intriguing drink to start any conversation of the evening.

Boulevardier

For something much bolder and darker, it would be going back to the classics in the1920s Paris - the Boulevardier, a spirit-forward drink composed of bourbon, Campari and vermouth.

Apollonia

My favourite of the evening was the tiki-style Apollonia, belonging to the destination Italy. Concocted with Spiced Rum, Fernet Branca and fresh pineapple, it was tangy, herbaceous, warm and rich with nuances of sweet spices.

Aviation

We also had another classic Aviation cocktail derived from the United Kingdom. A gin-based cocktail imbued with Crème De Violette. Pretty and mild-looking in pink, but it's pretty potent!

Fleur Du Ciel

The rooftop lounge bar also launches this month with a "travelling" cocktail program inspired by key getaway destinations around the world and monthly guest shifts with local bartenders, such as its upcoming collaboration with The Bar at 15 Stamford on 20 May 2021. That also gives us one of the most delightful drinks of the evening - Fleur Du Ciel, which sets itself apart with a layer of elusive floral notes and flavour. It may look very much like a lady's drink, but it has a good level of strength, allowing one to sip and savour it slowly.

Deep-fried Crumbed Ebi

Edamame

Crispy Chicken Winglets

The gourmet bar bites are from FIRE's culinary team. The simple plate of Edamame with an umami seasoning was extremely moreish. Our Deep-Fried Crumbed Ebi was well done with a succulent ebi wrapped within a crispy crust, and the Crispy Chicken Winglets didn't disappoint with their golden-browned crispy skin and juicy meat.

Hand-cut Shoestring Fries

Another crowd-pleasing bite is the 1-ATICO’s Hand-Cut Shoestring Fries that comes served with truffle mayo and a chilli lime leaf dipping sauce. You can choose from a few Japanese spices such as wasabi-lime, chilli-furikake, Japanese curry and truffle kombu.

Argentinian Beef Burger 4/5, Chicken Karaage Burger 3.5/5

For heartier items, the signature 1-ATICO burgers with a choice of Argentinian Beef, Chicken Karaage and a Smoked Salmon ($24 each) bagel burger. I like the Argentinian Beef Burger. Although some parts of the patty was on the dry side, the flavours lent from the caramelised onions and the fruity Piquillo sauce worked were on point. They worked well with the beef patty.

Smoked Salmon Bagel Burger 3/5

As for the Smoked Salmon Bagel Burger, as much as the flavours were there, it fared better as a simple breakfast sandwich.

Each month starting from April, ATICO Lounge will organise pop-ups where collaborators will present handcrafted cocktails intended to transport guests to far-flung destinations. All cocktails are at $20++ each. Bookings can be made online via www.1-atico.sg/atico-lounge.

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Atico Lounge
1-Atico ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn
Level 56
Singapore 238801
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Spinelli Coffee @ Tampines Hub - Very First Outlet In The Heartland

Spinelli Coffee has opened its very first suburban outlet in the heartland at Tampines Hub. The newest outlet is located near the library side, directly opposite NTUC income. It has both air conditioned and outdoor sitting area.

Ice Mocha, Iced Latte 4/5

Matcha T-Twist 4/5

The weather has been extremely hot lately, and what better way to cold down at the cafe with a cold drink. A few recommend choices would be the Ice Mocha, Ice Latte and Iced Matcha T-Twist. An interesting twist is the matcha t-twist, which is a blend of matcha powder with cranberries. The combination of bitterness and sourness surprisingly works harmoniously together.

Quinoa Salad Bowl 3.5/5

For the health conscious eater. there is a number of salad bowls at Spinelli Coffee. One of these is the Quinoa Salad Bowl ($9.80). The bowl comes filled with fresh crunchy greens, sweet tomatoes and quinoa patties. I love the roasted sesame sauce that is drizzled on top, boosting a flavourful finishing.

Bagel Tomate Olive 3.8/5

I am not a bagel person as I dislike the dense texture of the dough. However the Bagel Tomate Olive ($4.50) turns out pretty good. The open-faced bagel topped with cheesy pizza toppings is soft and fluffy.

Beef Lasagna 3/5

As for the Beef Lasagna ($10.80), I didn't quite enjoy it. While the flavours from the cheese and beef are spot on, I felt that the pasta sheets are too soft, without texture. This doesn't help with the layer of gooey stretchy cheese on top. it just made the whole dish collapsed into a pool of softness.

Devil's Chocolate Cake 4.2/5, Carrot Cake 2.8/5, Strawberry Shortcake 3.8/5

If you are at Spinelli Coffee just to chill, you may want to order some cakes to go along with your drinks. They have a number of cakes such as the Strawberry Shortcake ($6.80), Carrot Cake and Devil's Chocolate Cake ($5.20). If you like something light, then I would recommend the strawberry shortcake, if not my personal favourite the the rich Devil's Chocolate Cake.

Cold Brew Ice Cream 3.8/5

Another first at Spinelli Coffee besides opening its first suburban outlet is the introduction of their freshly churned Cold Brew Ice Cream ($4.20). The ice cream is infused with the rich coffee aroma on top of its smooth creamy swirls.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Spinelli Coffee
Our Tampines Hub
1 Tampines Walk
#01-K8
Singapore 528523
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Nearest: Tampines (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 8am - 10pm
Fri-Sun: 8am - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Tampines MRT station (DT Line). Take Exit F. Walk down Tampines Central 2 road to Tampines Ave 5. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tampines MRT station (EW Line). Take Exit C. Walk down Tampines Central road to Tampines Central 6 road. Walk to NTUC Income Tampines Junction. Walk to traffic junction of Tampines Ave 5 and Tampines Ave 4. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Costa 269 @ Holland Village - Croffle (Croissant + Waffle)

Costa Singapore’s newest flagship store at Holland Village, has launched the brand’s first café style outlet with a hot kitchen, Costa269. That means your order will be made fresh on the spot and not simply grabbing off from the display shelf and pop into the oven or worse still microwave. Apart from offering the classic breakfast favourites, as a London coffeeshop, the menu also draws inspiration from the British's.

Like any other Costa outlets, the interior of their flagship store is just as stunning. Double storey high, the place is so much more conducive than its neighbouring one. Croissants seems to be the love of our century. Despite tasting just as delicious on its own, it was meld with donuts (Cronuts), before somebody decided to impregnated it with sinfully indulgent lava-ish fillings. This flaky, fluffy and buttery viennoiserie-pastry seems to behold infinite possibilities. Over here at Costa, croissants has once again stretched its boundaries and evolutionized into Croffle, the star of their brunch menu.

The Great Croffle Fry-Up ($17) embodies Costa’s British heritage - A sunny-side up egg sat atop the croffle, with side sautéed mushrooms and a beef sausage made from ground beef, tomatoes and onions. Though the croffle takes on a waffle persona, I like the fact that its crescent identity remains. I was surprised by the sound of that crispiness as I sunk my cutlery into the croffle, especially at the edges and where the grooves were. Sweet and buttery like croissant with flaky layers, but a relatively denser and chewier body of a waffle. For those who usually find croissant too airy too be satisfying, this could be perhaps the solution to that. Not a preserved meat person, the beef sausage was surprisingly likable, due to its meaty texture that has a rather balanced flavours of sweet and savouriness. Perhaps, I wasn't expecting much from a sausage from a chain café. Fans of fried chicken waffle, this should definitely be in your check list.

Other classic items such as Avocado on Toast ($11) and The Salmon & Scramble Bagel ($14) are healthy options to go for. I assume that avocado is a pretty pricey ingredient due to its perishable nature, hence seeing it on the menu was surprising. Although it seems to be a plain Jane compared to the others in the list, I like the elegance of it and the fact that I have started off my day, or even ended my day with such clean goodness. I would recommend adding sautéed mushrooms, which were just as good as any other served in bistros.

I'm not a fan of bagel as I find given its dense body, the ingredients that come with it are often too little to balance it, which is the case for theirs. The portion of the salmon and eggs need some beefing up.

You can also simply skip the typical savoury brunch and head straight to their Very Berry Croffle ($11). We had our served with an enormous scoop of salted caramel ice cream (you can also choose chocolate or vanilla), and topped with sliced strawberries and blueberries dusted with icing sugar. The croffle remains quite crispy under the icy cold ice cream, unlike waffles which tend to become soggy after a while. The combination of the ice cream, berries and the flaky, buttery croffle was quite divine. It would have surpassed my expectations more if it is served with a berry-based sauce rather than a ordinary maple syrup. Afterall, it is called very Berry, and especially when they have a hot kitchen to do it.

Compared to their ready-made items, this brunch menu is definitely many times more enticing. I thought the hot kitchen is slightly under utilised with their current range, before I got to know that the outlet will soon be introducing new items like craft beers and a grill-led menu. As a testbed for their future stores and given the location which they have chosen, the success of this concept will definitely positioned them a level higher than its competitors.

Written by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.

Costa 269
Holland Village
269 Holland Avenue
Singapore 278990
Tel: +65 68014538
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Website
Nearest MRT: Holland Village (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 7am - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]