Good food around Johor Bahru – Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory 协裕面包西果厂- Nice Banana Cake not to be missed
Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit factory – one of the popular bakery shops near JB City Square for its raved about Banana cakes.
The shop house could be a little rundown and don’t expect well-lit glass display counter for the bread and cakes, Hiap Joo has been around since 1919, no sophisticated modern baking equipment, in fact, the banana cakes are baked using the most traditional manner – wood fire in a brick and clay built huge stove.
The banana cakes from Hiap Joo Bakery is something to crave about, our regular trips to JB will not be empty handed with at least for a few packs of banana cake from here, there is no shortage banana cakes in Singapore but what makes the banana cakes standout here?
The bananas cakes may don’t look appealing judging from the appearance, top crust can be dark brown that could evince over baking, however, the content was surprisingly good, the perfect moisture, fine texture and the fragrance of banana mixture were simply tantalising, the sweetness was well-controlled to avoid cloying feeling.
Occasionally the cakes may suffer from the cake sinking symptom but most of the times the cakes were baked nicely. Besides the quality of the cake, the relatively cheap price compared to the banana cakes in Singapore is another enthralling draw. It voices down to one conclusion- good and cheap.
Do pick up a bag of the coconut bun as well, the signature bun here and the fresh and not too sweet filling is worth to tap along with the banana cakes.
Our verdict
Decades of baking the banana cake from Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit factory has produced some of the best banana cakes around. During your next JB trip, don’t forget to make a short detour for this delicious cake, you will likely come back for more.
Bread: RM$ 4 / $ 4.5 / $ 5
Bananas cake: RM $ 5 / $ 10
Hiap Jo Bakery & Biscuit factory
A: 13, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
H: Bread: Mon – Sat: 11am till stock last
Mon 12nn to 5.30pm, Tues to Sat 7.30am – 5.30pm, Sun 8.30am while stock last
Co-owned by two former engineers, Nurhasanah Johari and Chalith Kariyawasam, The Bakery by Woodlands Sourdough at Serene Centre started as a home bakery with occasional pop-ups. They close at 6pm to prepare, proof, and autolyse the dough to be baked the next day at 7am. Bread are freshly baked daily, using organic stoneground flour, water, sea salt and their own sourdough culture. These ingredients are halal but the bakery is not halal certified.
Besides sourdough bread, they also serve sandwiches, toasts, cakes, cookies, and bialys which are similar to bagels except bialys aren’t boiled before baking and don’t have holes in the centres. On Sundays, they have pizza nights. Their menu is meatless.
The shop space is very small; a narrow strip with enough space to display the breads and a single file of customers. There are 3-4 tables outside the shop, along the corridor, and another 2-3 more in the al-fresco grass patch in front of the shopping centre.
When we first saw the shop, we fell in love with it. It reminded us of Margaret Bakery at Perth, rustic, quaint, and unpretentious; just a focus on good food.
Instead of ordering sandwiches which were packed into brown paper, we were recommended by the helpful and handsome boy to get the caprese tartine ($ 6): “These are fresh from the oven!” (Side note: why can’t all servers be as cheerful and pleasant as this boy?) The sliced bread is topped with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella. Simple and clean and light. Excellent.
The nut butter toast ($ 4) is their most instagrammed item. And it is delicious. The house-made nut butter is thick and creamy, accentuated by the honey. The very wet sourdough comes on strongly, which I love. However, the sea salt was sprinkled unevenly. That can be worked on.
What I like about the toast is you can smell the aroma of the grain. They use a lot of water while making their bread, about 80% or more to the flour weight. They also bake breads at high temperatures. High temperature and high water content mean that the crust is hard and dark while the bread is moist. I love it!
The prune chocolate cake ($ 5) is an unusual combination, but it works excellently; you can taste individual elements but they don’t clash with each other. The dense dark chocolate is very sexy and bold and moist. What a delight.
The coffee from Cata Coffee (which roasts their beans fresh every week) here is also very good. I wanted an iced long black, my prefered choice of coffee, but the handsome boy recommended, “If you like black coffee, try the drip coffee. We make a good one.” Well, ok, whatever the handsome boy recommends, I would take it. The drip coffee uses Colombian beans and is smooth and not at all bitter. Fantastic.
Including two coffees, we paid $ 25. I regret that we were cafe-hopping that day and we couldn’t eat much at Woodlands Sourdough. But next time, I definitely want to buy one of every cake, cookie, and bread on display!
Armed with years of experience in F&B, Andrew aims to bring European artisanal breads to the heartlands of Singapore. “Artisanal breads are usually available only in town, so we want to make it more accessible to people in the neighbourhood,” Andrew said.
Interestingly, the A in AM Bakery was derived from the first alphabet of the names of both owners – Andrew and Anson. The M was derived from both their zodiac signs – Monkey and Mouse. AM also reflects their desire to start customers’ mornings with fresh bakes and warm smiles.
Opened on 23 July 2017, the bakery embraces a takeaway concept. French influences can be detected in their bakes – from the ingredients to the fermentation process. “The flour that we use is a type of flour commonly applied in French bakery. For the butter, we use AOP butter. It is really well received in France,” Andrew explains.
We couldn’t help but grab their bestselling Almond Croissant ($ 2.50) – a straight form croissant laminated with AOP butter. A sugary white almond paste and crunchy almond flakes coat the flaky and crispy croissant. The croissant boasts an ethereal interior, with alternating layers that are moist and light. It’s classic counterpart, the Croissant ($ 2.30), is as flaky and crispy. Unlike the almond croissant, the buttery fragrance is more distinct. I enjoyed the almond croissant more since there is more going on in terms of texture and taste.
Unlike commercially-produced bread, where yeast is directly added into the bread recipe to streamline the process, the bread here is made using French Levian aka Mother dough, which is a pre-ferment or sourdough starter. “Subjecting the pre-ferment under longer fermentation gives the bread more taste.” The natural fermentation stretches the bread out, creating a thick exterior while helping the inside remain soft and moist.
Andrew recommended the Banana and Pecan Nut Bread ($ 3.80), which is a whole round bread. The aroma of banana and roasted pecans will strike you immediately when you bite into it.
One of AM Bakery’s special items to celebrate National Day was their SG52 Banana Cake ($ 5.20). It was absolutely delicious! The exterior is crumbly and crisp while the inside is moist and aromatic. The whole cake is so huge, so it definitely is worth every penny.
For a savoury option, you could try the Cheese Twist ($ 1.80) – a bread stick filled with cheese filling. I would have liked it better if there was more cheese. Remember to toast it before eating.
Unfortunately, the tasty banana cake is not available anymore. I hope it does make a comeback because it is really yummy! AM Bakery recommends all breads to be consumed within 3 days from the day of purchase. The breads are good for 5 days if they are kept in the refrigerator. It is best to consume the pastries by the next day.
MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.
Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to AM Bakery. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!
Sean Ng
Battling perpetual food coma while indulging in a menu that fills both the stomach and soul.
Reality check: half of the year has passed. If you haven’t been keeping in check with your 2017 new year resolutions, it’s time to create your mid-year resolutions instead. You might be feeling back-to-school blues or the intolerable heat of summer’s peak, but that shouldn’t stop you from having some fun.
There are plenty of events lined up and things to do in July 2017; music festivals, scrumptious food fairs and undiscovered indie films are coming up – so get your bums out and start moving.
Events:
1. SHINE Festival
Last year’s SHINE Festival crowd at Orchard Source: @shinefest
SHINE Festival showcases people who turned their dreams into reality – from musicians to athletes to gamers, you’re sure to be inspired by their success stories. The biggest youth festival in Singapore is back for its 12th edition with headlining acts by K-pop sensation Jessica Jung and local favourites like Shigga Shay, Gentle Bones and The Sam Willows.
Date: 30 June – 2 July 2017 Time: 1PM – 10PM daily Location: Orchard Road, from ION Orchard to *SCAPE Price: Free
2. Weird Wonderful World Picnic Day
Get out of air-conditioned malls and flock over to Weird Wonderful World Picnic Day at the Singapore Botanic Gardens for a healthy dose of sunshine. Organised by Tiong Bahru Bakery, the event will be accompanied by games, workshops, and great music all day. Source: @tiongbahrubakery
Picnic sets are available for pre-order from $ 50, but make sure you call dibs by 7 July before they sell out. Check out their full itinerary here.
Date: 8 – 9 July 2017 Time: 3PM – 8PM daily Location: Singapore Botanic Gardens Price: Admission is free. Picnic sets are available from $ 50 (pre-order by 7 July)
Bring your furkid out for some exercise and fun at Woof-A-Thon 2017, the perfect event for you to meet and mingle with other dog owners – and their furry friends too, of course. While you’re at it, you can also get your dog a basic health screening for free.
Dress your pup up for a fashionista parade, and stand to win attractive prizes as well! The event will also host an adoption drive, so head on over if you’re interested in opening up your family to a new member.
Date: 8 July 2017 Time: 3PM – 7PM Location: Bishan-AMK Park, Ficus Green (opposite the Dog Run Area) Price: Free (except for 2km buddy walk – $ 15 per dog)
If you’re a pro at thrifting and hustlin’ through crowds, Flea Party will be right up your alley. This event will be like the DAISO full of clothes – brand new pieces of tops and bottoms are sold from as low as $ 2 a piece; accessories range from 50 cents to $ 1.
Date: Every day of July 2017 Time: 1PM – 7PM daily Location: Lucky Plaza
The Cirque du Soleil troupe never disappoints, and this year they are back with Kooza, the story of an innocent man in search of his place in the world.
Unlike their new ventures, this show goes back to the troupe’s origins, combining old-school circus traditions of gravity-defying acrobatics and clowning with spectacular twists.
Date: 12 July – 20 August 2017 Location: Under the Big Top Tent, Bayfront Avenue, next to Marina Bay Sands Price: Starts from $ 88
Visit their website for showtimes and more details
Mainstream music isn’t everyone’s jam; some of us are more into the chill beats of indie musicians or the crazy screaming of metal bands. Baybeats celebrates alternative music, the biggest festival of its kind in the region – where you can look forward to local and foreign acts covering genres including folk, metal, electro and everything in between.
The festival also celebrates the music-loving lifestyle with a festivalvillage that brings together local indie crafters and entrepreneurs. No tickets are required for this event so just cruise in whenever you want!
Date: 14 – 16 July 2017 Time: 6PM onwards daily Location: Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay Admission: Free
STREAT is probably the most sophisticated food fair of the year, featuring stalls curated by restaurant chefs Malcolm Lee of Michelin-starred establishment Candlenut, and Chef Willin Low of Wild Rocket.
There’ll be a pop-up restaurant by the duo alongside 9 stalls manned by the most talented hawkers and chefs, selling traditional dishes with a twist. Treat your palates to a 3-course Peranakan meal at $ 50 nett – you’ll be savouring food by experts of the industry at a fraction of their usual prices.
This whole month of July, skip the usual mainstream movie theatres and explore various artsy foreign films during The O.P.E.N., a prelude to the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA).
Screened exclusively for the event at The Projector, the vast range of movies will be coming from countries like Argentina, Sweden all the way to Spain and more. The award-winning independent films include genres like documentaries, drama and romance.
Date: 28 June – 30 July 2017 Location: Clifford Square Price: $ 45 for an O.P.E.N. Pass (for all programmes; $ 25 for concession holders), $ 10 for single entries
We all can remember that one time a local hawker totally owned Gordon Ramsay in a laksa cook-off. Unlike that heated competition between hawker and restaurant chef, Open Stoves will bring the two together in creating collaborative off-menu dishes available exclusively during the event.
Some of the creations include Crispy Braised Duck Burger, Coconut Cream Prawn Croquette Sandwich and French Style Hokkien Mee – we’re sure you won’t find these fusion dishes elsewhere. Besides food there’ll also be music, giant Jenga and a Retro Arcade Zone with old school arcade games!
Date: 28 – 30 July 2017 Time: 12PM to late Location: Timbre+ Price: FREE for admission
Bike enthusiasts, gather up. Wheeler’s Estate is launching its cycling group WY-WE-CYCLE and throwing a lawn party, commencing with a 33km scenic ride from Wheeler’s Yard to the party venue.
Settle yourselves down on the grass with your friends and chill with some ice-cold beer and food from Wheeler’s very own Grill House. There’ll also be live music performances by ShiGGa Shay, Jack & Rai, as well as resident bands BYOB and Jumpstart, just to mention a few.
It’s high time to revisit your favourite wizard’s story, now through an immersive visual and aural experience. The first installment of the blockbuster series, Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone will be screened at the Esplanade Concert Hall with its iconic background music being played by a live orchestra.
Date: 1 – 2 July 2017 Time: 7pm Location: Esplanade Concert Hall Price: From $ 105; check ticket prices here.
Based on the immaculate television series, Downton Abbey: The Exhibition showcases the post-Edwardian England that the show’s characters lived in. Step into its iconic house, set builds, and the era that was shaped after World War I.
This is an exhibition worth visiting even if you’ve not watched the show; from authentic antique furniture to actual costumes and props used in the show, the intricacy of the exhibition’s curation will blow you away.
Date: 17 June – 31 July 2017 Time: 11AM – 8PM (Last admission at 7PM) Venue: Basement 2 Hall F, Sands Expo And Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands Price: From $ 30; check ticket prices here.
3. Create your own fancy cocktails at home for cheap
We all know the vodka and sprite combo that makes alcohol a ‘lil easier to stomach, but the same old combination can get boring. You don’t need a bartender – just impress your friends with affordable DIY replicas of tasty concoctions like Margaritas, Daiquiris and the SingaporeSling!
Nathan Hartono’s streak of capturing ladies’ hearts isn’t gonna stop anytime soon. Alongside Dutch-Korean actress Na-Young Jeon and veteran Singaporean actor Darren Chan, this is the singer’s return to musical theatre after 6 years.
The story of The Great Wall: One Woman’s Journey follows an old Chinese tale of a woman’s struggle against an Emperor and his ambitions; an inspiring story of how her love, strength and loyalty brought down the Great Wall, the greatest symbol of power in ancient China.
Date: 14 – 30 July 2017 Time: 8PM (Tue-Fri), 3PM & 8PM (Sat), 3PM (Sun) Venue: Drama Centre Theatre Price: From $ 58; check ticket prices here.
5. Have a staycay in Singapore’s first space-themed capsule hotel
You may have heard of Japan’s tiny sleeping pods otherwise known as “capsules” – now we have them too at MET A Space Pod, Singapore’s first space-themed capsule hotel. If you’re looking for a unique staycay with your partner, book their Double Space Pods (from $ 60/night) at their newest branch at Little India.
Besides the cool pods, you can also hang around their 24-hour lounge and in-house cafe Station 51. That’ll give you plenty of opportunity to mix around with other guests!
MET A Space Pod @ Little India Address: 424 Race Course Road, Singapore 218670 Telephone: 6291 5113 Book your room here
MET A Space Pod @ Boat Quay Address: 51 Boat Quay, Singapore 049840 Telephone: 6635 2694 Book your room here
If you’re a budding filmmaker, writer or just someone who appreciates film, the Asian Film Focus (AFF) 2017 organised by Objectifs might pique your interest. Dedicated to independent short films from Southeast Asia, this year’s AFF will explore the usage of archival footage in modern filmmaking.
Take an evening out of your busy schedules and engage in insightful discussions with regional filmmakers, curators, professionals and enthusiasts. Dialogue sessions are free for all!
Date: 12 – 15 July 2017 Time: 7:30PM – 10PM Venue: Objectifs – Centre for Photography and Film Price: $ 5 for movie screenings
7. Join the Instagram hype of Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition at the National Gallery
You might have noticed some serious polka-dot invasion on Instagram from Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition at the National Gallery recently.
Pretty backdrops aside, the exhibition YAYOI KUSAMA: Life is the Heart of a Rainbow sheds light on the artist’s eclectic world of thoughts, and reflects the sheer passion she has in transforming our galleries and public spaces with her works. Step into her creative world, and be inspired by her undying devotion towards art.
Date: 9 June – 3 September 2017 Time: 7:30PM – 10PM Venue: City Hall Wing, Level 3, Singtel Special Exhibition Gallery, National Gallery Price: S$ 15 / S$ 10 (Concession-holders) for Singaporeans/PRs, S$ 30 / S$ 25 (Concession-holders) for foreigners
8. Get lost in Asia’s largest mirror maze at Science Centre Singapore
What if everything you saw was a lie? Optical illusions and the science behind them are exhibited at The Mind’s Eye in Science Centre Singapore. Step into Asia’s largest kaleidoscopic mirror maze and oogle at several optical illusions that are sure to make you question your eyes.
Venue: Singapore Science Centre Price (for admission into Science Centre):Off-peak: free | Peak: $ 6 for adults, $ 4 for children and senior citizens | Standard rate: $ 12 for adults and senior citizens, $ 8 for children
9. Explore rustic spots in Pasir Ris
You know we love exploring our neighbourhoods; this time, we took it to the east end of Singapore, Pasir Ris. Though it has undergone some revamping around Whitesands mall and Downtown East, this heartland retains much of Singapore’s old school glory.
From a giant maze garden to old playgrounds and longkang fishing spots, Pasir Ris awaits your exploration before it sports a new look from HDB’s Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) programme.
Read here to check out all the nostalgia-inducing spots in this neighbourhood!
10. Enjoy your favourite hawker dishes for just 50 cents
For just 2 days, Chinatown Food Street is going back in time to the 80’s when our favourite hawker food was just 50 cents a dish. Yes, you’re gonna be able to buy small-portioned meals all priced at 50 cents! Stuff yourselves silly with Hokkien Mee, Fried Oyster Cake, Ice Balls, and more – all in the ambience of Singapore in the 1980s.
Date: 29 – 30 July 2017 Time: 12PM – 11PM (29 Jul), 11AM – 11PM (30 Jul) Venue: Chinatown Food Street, Smith Street, Chinatown Price: FREE for admission
11. Take scenic cycling trails around Singapore
With the rise of on-the-go rental bikes parked along our streets, cycling in Singapore has never been easier. If you’re not much of a jogger, work those thighs on bicycles instead – whilst enjoying the best scenic views of Singapore!
On two wheels, you can enjoy our little red dot’s best sights, in and out of town, along smooth concrete streets to gravelled tracks in the Singaporean jungle. Check this article out for our recommended cycling trails.
Things to do in July 2017
Whether you’re an enthusiastic foodie, an artsy soul or an active health junkie, there’s something fun for everyone this July. Take your parents, friends and bae out for weekends different from any other – this list is here to help you out through the month.
The popular Tai Cheong Bakery in Hong Kong famous with its egg tarts has finally made an inroad into Singapore, the opening of its first dine-in concept cafe or Cha Chan Ting is at Holland Village after a successful test launch of its takeaway counter in Takashimaya.
Besides selling the all-time favorite egg tarts, traditional buns and cake, the bakery shop has other main dishes on the menu, eg. Tastes of Hong Kong include the usual toast, curry and the popular three coloured silky eggs with rice.
The highly raved about egg tarts have to be on our order list but you are limited to two per dine-in customer.
Egg Tarts $ 1.9
The tarts have a shell between the soft crust texture and solid texture, filled with light and smooth fragrant egg custard, the crust was fragrant and packed with nice buttery aroma, the egg tarts have to be consumed while fresh, we bought a box back home but it was mediocre with its crust turned soggy.
Bobo Buns and Chicken Pies $ 2.8
The Bolo bun with the butter was additive but the chicken pie failed to impress us, it was ordinary and seriously nothing to short about.
Curry Chicken with rice $ 9.9
The curry was rich and robust in flavour, spicy level was well within the tolerable range, the fork-tender meat was a pleasant to the bite and a dish we love the most of the visit.
Scrambled Eggs Toast Stack $ 6.5
Bread toast is always one of the top favourites in any of the Hong Kong cafe, no double the scrambled egg was smooth and fluffy, the insipid taste of the egg was simply a disappointment.
Three Coloured Silky Eggs with rice $ 9.9
The plate of rice was covered by the layer of silky scrambled eggs, topped with veggies and roasted pork and pork belly, the plate of rice was doused with some light brown salty sauce to add on the flavour. Undeniably the egg was good but the overall taste of the rice was not impressive at all, a featureless plate of rice in our opinion.
Our verdict on Tai Cheong Bakery
Tai Cheong Bakery may be good with their bakery items but the main on the menu are not too impressive. If something that truly interest us, it will be limited to the egg tarts, Bolo buns and the curry.
NOM Bistro & Bakery (No Other Meaning) @ MacPherson Community Club
NOM-Bistro & Bakery (NOM: No Other Meaning) is found in one of the oldest Public housing estate in Singapore, MacPherson housing estate may deed one of the oldest and smallest in Singapore but this little neighborhood town has never lacked of eateries, in fact, the small town has three food centres all within a radius of few hundred metres apart.
NOM-Bistro & Bakery is located in the MacPherson Community Club, the cafe has relatively simple but spacious dining area with air conditioned in-house and outdoor sheltered area. The cafe has allocated a small kids corner for the young one as well. NOM-Bistro & Bakery specialises in cakes but serves Western cuisine to supplement pastries business.
Truffle fries $ 9.9
My daughter kept complaining she can’t smell and taste the truffle, however, the rest of us may be luckier and able to taste the truffle oil’s fragrance. The fries were much meatier and not the usual off-the-shelves type thin and machined cut fries.
6AM $ 14.9
Smoked pork bacon, sauteed mushroom, poached egg and drizzled with salted egg yolk. Waffle was fluffy but tasted to the bland side, the salted egg sauce was a miserably scanty portion that covered in just a bite size area. Salted egg sauce may not be cheap but the serving size has to be well complement the waffle size in order for the diner to enjoy the dish.
Beef Aglio Olio $ 16.9
Main course is not NOM speciality and the Beef Aglio Olio likewise was ordinary, nothing exciting to short about.
Carbonara $ 14.9
Nice cheesy flavour suffused the pasta with the al-dente texture.
Slow Roast Bird Leg $ 14.9
The bird was not well seasoned with it overall insipid taste, more work required to perk up the flavour of this dull and featureless slow roasted bird.
Classic Choc $ 6.9 Earl Grey Cheesecake $ 6.5
NOM-Bistro & Bakery bakes their own cakes, one of our favourites is the Earl Grey cheesecake, the cake come with nice aromatic cheese further boosted by the fragrant of the Earl Grey flavour and the layer of lemon curd on top. A piece of lovely cake indeed.
Rainbow Cheesecake $ 7.9
Compared to the Earl Grey Cheesecake, the Rainbow Cheesecake was aesthetically pleasing but taste wise somehow not as flavourful as the previous cake. The additional Earl Grey aroma made a clear distinction between the two.
Our verdict on NOM Bistro & Bakery
NOM-Bistro & Bakery may not have their specialty in any of the main course, however, the desserts are something that can help to make up the gaps. There is no GST and Service Charge (voluntary) and fair food quality, for a neighborhood cafe, that will probably help to attract the customers.
A: 400 Paya Lebar Way, Singapore 379131 MacPherson Community Club Level 1
Good loaves of bread are hard to come by – more so if they are all made individually with love and care, without any added preservatives nor artificial ingredients.
The couple, Chalith and Nur, began kneading doughs 3 years ago and hasn’t stopped since. Both had started out as engineers, but found their true love and passion in making bread instead. Till now, they have yet to look back.
Naturally leavened using wild yeast – which requires more patience compared to commercial yeast in its slow development process – The Bakery’s rustic sourdough bread carries a range of sweet, earthy and nutty flavours that beautifully balanced out the subtle sour-ishness of the sourdough bread. Wonderfully moist and chewy, their bakes are probably one of the best artisanal breads I’ve ever come across.
With so many spreads and toppings you can choose to go on top of your sourdough slices, we recommend the Hummus and Za’atar ($ 4), Sage Cream Cheese and Berry Compote ($ 4) and the Nut Butter with Honey ($ 4). No Skippy’s or any other commercially-made toppings are used here, except homemade peanut butter made from real peanuts. What’s great about these homemade goodness is that the flavours are more complexed and nuanced – anyone would be pleased by their nutty fragrance which supersedes those you can easily get off the self.
Our favourite has got to be the Sage Cream Cheese and Berry Compote, which had a nice tang balanced out by the sweetness of the berry compote and the savouriness of the sage.
Indeed, the toppings did help to accentuate the beautifully baked sourdough slices. Although the choice of toppings are nothing crazy, nothing over the top, each are done exceptionally well; it’s just simplicity at its best.
Besides toasts, they also offer sweet desserts (cookies, brownies, teacakes, etc), muesli ($ 7), granola ($ 6), pizzas (only on Sundays!) and real awesome coffee sourced from Cata Coffee, a small local roastery. Prices for coffee starts from $ 3, with the most expensive on the menu priced at $ 6.
Making a good sourdough bread is a challenge and takes real commitment. Undoubtedly, The Bakery by Woodlands Sourdough has topped the bread game in Singapore. With each loaf beautifully handcrafted with love, this is the place you should add to your list for good quality toasts and coffee.
Address: 10 Jalan Serene, #01-05 Serene Centre, Singapore 258748
Opening Hours: Wed-Sun 8.30am to 6pm, or till sold out. Closed on Mon-Tues
MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.
Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to The Bakery by Woodlands Sourdough. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!
It is amazing how the HDB bakery has changed over the years!
I still remember the bad old days in the 70’s when there was only one type of bread. Those were the days before Gardenia introduced sliced white bread which was “so good you can eat it on its own”. In those days, when mum told me to go buy bread, it meant running down to the kek ai (grocery store) to pick up a loaf of traditional kaya toast bread which the lady would slice on the spot. They always made sure that they never slice it all the way through, such that all the slices were still attached on one side. I was told that it was because they didn’t want to severe the relationship with the customer! Even as a kid, I suspected it was just an excuse to make it easier to pack the loaf into the plastic bag!
I still remember the day mum brought home some hot dog buns from a brand new bakery at Blk 233 Toa Payoh Lor 8. It was quite a revelation and I fell in love with the soft, sweet, pillowy buns with that first bite. Nowadays such buns are so common that our kids take them for granted. But in those days, a pack of fresh buns and a can of Tulip hotdogs was enough to make me happy as a puppy! (Actually they still make me happy, but the hot dogs have to be upgraded to the deli version)
My earliest memories of European breads was the introduction of baguette sandwiches by Delifrance in the 80’s. Then in the nineties, bakeries like Cedele started to appear. Over the last few years, European style breads has started to invade the heartlands with local bakers making the crusty loaves.
Most Singaporeans are familiar with the ubiquitous “French loaf” which is used to accompany curry chicken or fried with eggs to make Roti John. These “French loaves” have been around for the longest time and was even used in the 50’s to for chilli crabs before they were replaced with the fried mantou. However, these “French loaves” are probably as close to an authentic French baguette as fried “Singaporean noodles”.
Thankfully, home grown bakeries like Bakery Brera are now making artisanal loaves available in the HDB heartlands! I’d bet that many people would have walked pass this unassuming little bakery at Empress Mall without even bothering to walk in. (I don’t know why its called a mall when it looks like just another row of HDB shophouses).
I would have done the same too except for the fact that someone had told me that this unassuming little bakery has recently beaten the big boys and got selected to supply the sourdough bread for Wolfgang Puck’s new restaurant at Changi Airport! What is more surprising is that the baker is a local Malaysian boy who had taught himself how to bake his artisanal loaves from books!
The owners here have made it their mission to provide only all natural loaves made without the use of bread improvers and the breads here are made from French flour using all natural ingredients. They are also using a locally harvested sourdough starter which was “hatched” right here in the bakery over a year ago!
I love the baguettes here. When you crack it open, you are greeted with a lovely crumb structure and the aroma of toasted wheat! I brought one home and had it with some French butter and was reminded yet again of the adage that the simple things in life are often the best! 4.5/5
It’s already past Easter but they are still baking their hot cross buns because their customers are still asking for them! It’s no wonder as these are the best hot cross buns I have come across. The bread is heavy and doughy and they are filled with five different types of dried fruits. 4.5/5 The croissants are very good but you need to get them when they are straight out of the oven as they turn a little wrinkly after some time. They also could be a little more buttery, I felt. 4/5
Conclusion
This is a great place for freshly baked, artisanal breads! And I am so proud of the fact that our local bakers are able to make breads that meet the standards of top chefs like Wolfgang Puck!
It is amazing how the HDB bakery has changed over the years!
I still remember the bad old days in the 70’s when there was only one type of bread. Those were the days before Gardenia introduced sliced white bread which was “so good you can eat it on its own”. In those days, when mum told me to go buy bread, it meant running down to the kek ai (grocery store) to pick up a loaf of traditional kaya toast bread which the lady would slice on the spot. They always made sure that they never slice it all the way through, such that all the slices were still attached on one side. I was told that it was because they didn’t want to severe the relationship with the customer! Even as a kid, I suspected it was just an excuse to make it easier to pack the loaf into the plastic bag!
I still remember the day mum brought home some hot dog buns from a brand new bakery at Blk 233 Toa Payoh Lor 8. It was quite a revelation and I fell in love with the soft, sweet, pillowy buns with that first bite. Nowadays such buns are so common that our kids take them for granted. But in those days, a pack of fresh buns and a can of Tulip hotdogs was enough to make me happy as a puppy! (Actually they still make me happy, but the hot dogs have to be upgraded to the deli version)
My earliest memories of European breads was the introduction of baguette sandwiches by Delifrance in the 80’s. Then in the nineties, bakeries like Cedele started to appear. Over the last few years, European style breads has started to invade the heartlands with local bakers making the crusty loaves.
Most Singaporeans are familiar with the ubiquitous “French loaf” which is used to accompany curry chicken or fried with eggs to make Roti John. These “French loaves” have been around for the longest time and was even used in the 50’s to for chilli crabs before they were replaced with the fried mantou. However, these “French loaves” are probably as close to an authentic French baguette as fried “Singaporean noodles”.
Thankfully, home grown bakeries like Bakery Brera are now making artisanal loaves available in the HDB heartlands! I’d bet that many people would have walked pass this unassuming little bakery at Empress Mall without even bothering to walk in. (I don’t know why its called a mall when it looks like just another row of HDB shophouses).
I would have done the same too except for the fact that someone had told me that this unassuming little bakery has recently beaten the big boys and got selected to supply the sourdough bread for Wolfgang Puck’s new restaurant at Changi Airport! What is more surprising is that the baker is a local Malaysian boy who had taught himself how to bake his artisanal loaves from books!
The owners here have made it their mission to provide only all natural loaves made without the use of bread improvers and the breads here are made from French flour using all natural ingredients. They are also using a locally harvested sourdough starter which was “hatched” right here in the bakery over a year ago!
I love the baguettes here. When you crack it open, you are greeted with a lovely crumb structure and the aroma of toasted wheat! I brought one home and had it with some French butter and was reminded yet again of the adage that the simple things in life are often the best! 4.5/5
It’s already past Easter but they are still baking their hot cross buns because their customers are still asking for them! It’s no wonder as these are the best hot cross buns I have come across. The bread is heavy and doughy and they are filled with five different types of dried fruits. 4.5/5 The croissants are very good but you need to get them when they are straight out of the oven as they turn a little wrinkly after some time. They also could be a little more buttery, I felt. 4/5
Conclusion
This is a great place for freshly baked, artisanal breads! And I am so proud of the fact that our local bakers are able to make breads that meet the standards of top chefs like Wolfgang Puck!
Co-owned by two former engineers, Nurhasanah Johari and Chalith Kariyawasam, The Bakery by Woodlands Sourdough at Serene Centre started as a home bakery with occasional pop-ups. They close at 6pm to prepare, proof, and autolyse the dough to be baked the next day at 7am. Bread are freshly baked daily, using organic stoneground flour, water, sea salt and their own sourdough culture. These ingredients are halal but the bakery is not halal certified.
Besides sourdough bread, they also serve sandwiches, toasts, cakes, cookies, and bialys which are similar to bagels except bialys aren’t boiled before baking and don’t have holes in the centres. On Sundays, they have pizza nights. Their menu is meatless.
The shop space is very small; a narrow strip with enough space to display the breads and a single file of customers. There are 3-4 tables outside the shop, along the corridor, and another 2-3 more in the al-fresco grass patch in front of the shopping centre.
Instead of ordering sandwiches which were packed into brown paper, we were recommended by the helpful and handsome boy to get the caprese tartine ($ 6): “These are fresh from the oven!” (Side note: why can’t all servers be as cheerful and pleasant as this boy?) The sliced bread is topped with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella. Simple and clean and light. Excellent.
The nut butter toast ($ 4) is their most instagrammed item. And it is delicious. The house-made nut butter is thick and creamy, accentuated by the honey. The very wet sourdough comes on strongly, which I love. However, the sea salt was sprinkled unevenly. That can be worked on.
The prune chocolate cake ($ 5) is an unusual combination, but it works excellently; you can taste individual elements but they don’t clash with each other. The dense dark chocolate is very sexy and bold and moist. What a delight.
