Oh Sweet God!

One of my favourite pastimes is walking into coffee shops just to get a cup of pick-me-up. Then half of the time, I’d feel like I could use an accompanying plate of cake or pastry cause well…having a drink on its own just doesn’t cut it. 😃

This happened the other day I was in Kampong Bahru for an appointment and chanced upon Grey Area Coffee Roasters.

I got a cup of Hot Chocolate ($6.50 est), but decided on a whim to have a slice of their Banana Bread ($4), which was recommended.

Not bad, though I prefer my banana breads to be as moist as they can get! To be completely transparent, this got drier towards the rim/crust. But I suppose a drink aids in balancing that out, so it was all good in my books. 🥸

They do have other bakes available like brownies, cookies, and quiche for the #teamsavoury people! (7/10)

If there’s one thing that will probably never go out of style, it’s matcha in its entirety. That includes houjicha as well.

When this first came to me and I got a whiff of its aroma, I immediately thought of one thing - waffle crisp cereals. The honeyed smell is somehow accentuated by the earthy, woody aroma of houjicha. Already, it was very inviting.

Taste-wise, I will admit - I could not make out the slightest tinge of houjicha. And that’s perfectly fair, because cooking it in the form of a waffle can change the original flavour. I’m not sure how exactly, but I’m quite sure there’s some food chemistry at work. 😂

Yet, I still enjoyed this. The waffle came with a delicate crisp and was chunky, moist. For perspective, it is really close to the texture of waffles you’d get at Fatcat Ice Cream Bar.

The momo sencha gelato was creamy, and had a balanced sweetness and a jab of bright, peachy flavour. I didn’t get much green tea notes though, in hindsight, which you may want to note, especially if you’re a matcha martyr. 😅 (7.4/10)

PS. I came to Natter at 4pm on a Saturday and it was still tranquil and quiet. But soon enough, it started filling up more and more seats. Sad because I wanted a peaceful dining experience hahaha. 😩

Sometimes, going back to basics is key to creating something magical. This was the case for City Donut’s ring of delights – every bite reminded me of the old-school one-dollar donuts you would get at your trusted heartland bakeries. 🤤

They take it a step further with a different spin - well-loved dessert flavours these days such as Yuzu Cream, Orh Nee and Ondeh-Ondeh. They speak to the kid in me and the adult me who’s got a sweet tooth. 😍

The best part about their donuts is really just how affordable they are - prices start from $1.30 and the highest it goes is $2.50. I could get at least 50 of these if I could. 😅

Nostalgia is one powerful emotion to appeal to, but works only when used wisely.
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Brotherbird were known to have closed for one entire year in light of the pandemic last year. Some people, including myself, were worried about the future of their store.
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It seems like they’ve taken a step back to reflect on the operations before they put a cap on it in April 2020, evaluated what worked and what didn’t, and came back stronger.
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Before they closed, they did away with the Mochi Donuts with Softserve, a mainstay that was a crowd magnet, whether you were a regular or an acquaintance. They traded it with some honey toasts and gelati, which felt like a step forward too fast.
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This time, they brought it back to what worked for them and even paired it with 2 other variations (ie waffles with softserve & fried croissants with softserve). Let’s get one thing straight though - there was nothing inherently wrong with what they did last year.
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Yet, many can admit that that, in contrast to this, pointed to a pace of the brand’s evolution that was easier for the crowd to follow and appreciate.
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They still kept some of the new, which can be found among their savoury mains. They had found the perfect balance of bringing in the new and retaining the classic, which teems with nostalgia.
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I’ve been back twice now, and it’s full house on both occasions. A lot of items are sold out with 2 hours to go to closing time. It’s as though they never left or closed shop.
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They’re one of the few examples of F&B establishments that have tapped on the concept of nostalgia perfectly. All I can say at this point is: I’m happy they’re back.

If there's one thing that's been stuck on my mind for a good part of this CB period, it's the Houjicha Burnt Cheesecake ($8.50) from The Kins’. 🤤⁠
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Honestly, it's been months since I had this - I just never got around to posting it at that time. All I know is that this has etched itself in my mind. I've never been a fan of cheesecake really, but The Kins' burnt cheesecakes (both the original and this) converted me just like THAT. ⁠
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Houjicha has a more roasted, earthy, faint coffee-like flavour to it, so imagine combining it with the tartness, the creaminess? On paper, it sounds amazing. In practice, it's mind-blowingly good. 🤯 They are located really far away from where I live, but it is definitely worth the travel. ⁠
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Once CB is over, I'm going back for more, and no one’s gonna stop me! ✊🏽(8.3/10)

I don't know how else to describe having the Honey Toast with Poached Oranges & Madagascan Vanilla Bean Gelato besides saying that it felt…nice? This dish felt like a nod all the things that brought us warmth vis-a-vis our childhood days. 💭⁠⠀
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The poached oranges pieces that I got were subdued in tartness. Yet, they were plump enough to unleash a refreshing burst of it which would cut the overall sweetness of the dish. 🤤⁠⠀
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The honey-drizzled toast itself - this one felt like the big brother or big sister of the festive treat that is honey-coated cornflakes. Like the elder sibling that would pave the way for its younger, and equally promising ones. In short, it was a comforting dessert.⁠⠀
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It may seem like I'm talking out of my a** lah, but take it or leave it - I experience my food on a more visceral level. (7.4/10) 🤷🏽‍♂️⁠

I’d always seen this place when walking around at Suntec City, but I’d never gone the extra step of trying it. 🙇🏽‍♂️ But yesterday, I decided to get something to quench my thirst cause I had spent the entire afternoon at Superpark.

And I gotta say, this was pretty good! Refreshing undoubtedly, it was imbued with familiar sweetness from some drinks that their demographics grew up drinking, I’m sure. 😍 Though it did get cloying towards the end thanks to the peach bits - it may very well have been because I didn’t throughly mix it up. 😅

I believe this is a seasonal item, so just bear that in mind in case you’re thinking of going down sometime to give it a shot! 😗

This was taken on the first time I paid Matchaya a visit after what feels like ages. They rose to the occasion by having Rose as part of their seasonal specialty. 🌹

I’ll be fully transparent. The yuzu jam embedded in the layers - I personally found its bright, citrusy flavour to be too different and thereby conflicting with the overall endearing sweetness of the rose-matcha combo. I did personally let them know my feedback as well!

Still, given what it’s worth, it’s definitely a nice, sweet creation to enjoy in time for Valentine’s Day, the season of love! 😍❤️

This comes with their signature mochi donut and this time, instead of underpinning a chunky, helix tower of softserve, you get a scoop of gelato which comes in a choice of 3 flavours — Madagascan Vanilla, Valrhona Chocolate and Earl Grey, interspersed with some fresh mint leaves. 😯

And surrounding the perimeter are some toasted almonds, peanut butter granola and caramel-apple sauce.

Perhaps it’s just my nostalgia speaking, but something about this combo just doesn’t hit like it used to? I can’t quite put a finger on why either. Their new brand just seems more serious and mature and that influences the way I should approach their dishes.

I could very well be overthinking it too. It’s not bad at all, really - perhaps I just need to give them a couple more shots! 🥴

Such a soothing shade of blue. 💙___💙 This was an exceptionally creamy gelato - in fact, I could tell it was going to take on this texture when I saw the service crew scooping out from the tub. I suppose that is a weird deduction to make, but I wasn’t wrong so I’m good with that! 🤣

Not really keen on this honestly. The bitter, floral, umami matcha taste was way too mild for my liking, which made it seem like another Milo drink. 😭 I’ll definitely stick to my usual Hot Coconut Chocolate drink. 🥴

[Available on Burpple Beyond] This flavour was stunning - there was nothing grand about this, but it’s ability to be so flavourful yet so neutral in taste, that’s giving the other ice cream flavour a saffron for their money.

This place made for a great Sunday getaway from the weekday work stresses. Coupled with a favourite book, ooooof that’s my ideal way to recharge! 🥰 (7.9/10)