Hatter Street Bakehouse & Cafe @ Kovan

Hatter Street Bakehouse and Cafe is a new cafe that has opened in the heartland of Kovan/Hougang. I am glad that this little gem has opened in my hood. The Alice in wonderland inspired cosy cafe is opened by chef-owner Yvette Chua. Yvette graduated from the Culinary Institute of Amercia and trained at 3 Michelin starred Bo Innovation in Hong Kong. For those familiar with Kovan, it is located just a shop away from Nahkon Kitchen.

The cafe is magically decorated in a wonderland theme with a one side of the wall featuring the menu while the other side showcasing a collection of cute stuff.

Alice 3.5/5

We took quite a while in deciding what to order as all the cakes looked very yummy. In the end we settled on Alice ($6.80). The chocolate was decent but the richness I have tired. I also felt that the price is a bit expensive for the size I am paying.

Gula Melaka Waffle with Pandan Ice Cream 4.5/5

The Whoaffles ($8.90) at Hatter Street comes in three flavours. Did a quick search online and it seems like the Gula Melaka Waffle with Pandan Ice Cream is the most popular among the patrons. Can't agreed more with the choice after trying the waffle infused with Asian flavours. Substituting maple syrup or honey with gula melaka introduced a new whole enjoyment of appreciating the crisp and fluffy waffle. The homemade pandan ice cream was creamy, smooth and flavourful, complementing the whole experience. We love the pandan ice cream so much that we order another additional scoop.

Fans of Hatter Street who has been following their facebook will know that the chef periodically has interesting and unique creations in her cakes and macrons. During my visit I wanted to try their burgerons, a creation whereby the macaron is made to look like a mini handburger but I was not in luck. I am not disappointed as it gives me a reason to come back again.


Hatter Street Bakehouse & Cafe
Blk 212 Hougang Street 21
#01-333
Singapore 530212
Tel: +65 69884591
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HatterStreet#!/HatterStreet
Website: http://www.hatterstreet.com/
Nearest MRT: Kovan (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Kovan MRT station. Take Exit C. Cut through Heartland Mall walk towards Kovan hawker centre. Continue straight and walk towards Macdonald at Hougang Street 21. At Macdonal, turn left and continue straight. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Sinpopo Brand (新泡泡甜品小吃) @ Joo Chiat Road

It is quite hard not to notice the nostaglic decoration of Sinpopo Brand (新泡泡甜品小吃) along Joo Chiat Road with its huge big and red signature and red metal gates. Stepping through the gate, it felt like being transformed to a eatery in the 1960s-1970s with classic Chinese oldies playing in the background.

Sny Muay Pop 4/5 Teh Peng 2/5

 

As our visit is after dinner, we only ordered desserts to try. The drinks at Sinpopo Brand is served in tin metal mug. The Sng Muay Pop ($3.90) is a combination of sour plum, lime and 7-Up. A very refreshing drink. The Teh Peng ($2) was very diluted.

Ais Bor 3/5

The Ais Bor ($3.90) is a classic street dessert in which the ice is shaped into a ball with different coloured syrup. Nowadays, hardly any stalls served this anymore. A dessert that brings back a lot of childhood memories.

Chendol 1/5

After a couple of decent desserts, things started to go down hill with the Chendol ($3.90). It was really bad, it tasted nothing near to the Chendol dessert. I suspected they used syrup gula melaka and the whole execution missed the mark by miles.

Tau Suan 1/5

One look at the pale looking bowl of Tau Suan ($3.90) and we knew it is going to be another disappoinment. Indeed the tau suan was so lackluster that left me doubting the sincerely of the shop with their dessert. How can they serve this sort of standard where I can get better and cheaper bowl of tau suan from any hawker stall.

Pulut Hitam 2/5

Pulut Hitam ($3.90) has always been one of my favourite desserts but I was left feeling unsatisfied. The pulut hitam was not creamy or gooey enough and was lacking some form of sweetness and fragrant.

Durian Pengat 2.8/5

The Durian Pengat ($6.90) itself was decent but I did not like the coconut milk that basically drenched the bowl of delicacy.

The concept of Sinpopo Brand is good but much more efforts is needed to raise the standard of the desserts. I definitely will not fork out that small of money for such lackluster desserts where I can have better and cheaper one at hawker centres.


Sinpopo Brand (新泡泡甜品小吃)
458 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore
Tel: +65 63455034
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sinpopo#!/sinpoposg
Website: http://www.sinpopobrand.com/
Nearest MRT:

Opening Hours:
Tue-Thu: 12pm - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 12pm - 12midnight
Sun: 12pm - 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take Bus 10 or 32. Alight 6 stops later opposite Roxy Square. Walk to the junction of East Coast Road and Joo Chiat Road. Turn left onto Joo Chiat Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]