Baker&Cook at Hillcrest
When Global Baker Dean Brettschneider realised he was not gonna stop at Baker & Spice in Shanghai, the residents of Bukit Timah couldn’t be more pleased.
Say hello to the youngest sister in the family, Baker & Cook, who threw open her doors just under 2 weeks ago, relieving the once bread-deprived neighbourhood. In that nondescript corner of Hillcrest, we could now smell a lovely perfume of freshly baked goods coming from the humble addition. The simple and spartan decor only means there is nothing to distract you from the stars of the show. And when their arsenal of glistening bread and pastries greet you, it is truly hard to ignore. So we suggest you make yourself comfortable in this 20-odd seater as you succumb to the temptations and lose track of your calorie-count; also help yourself to a cup of joe whilst stealing glances into the open kitchen with the locales. Skip the monotonous walk, making your way here in your convertible is recommended since there are ample parking lots.
Needless to say, you know it’s about time you pay Bukit Timah a visit.
Apricot tart, 4.95, and Danish crown pastry, 3.25
For appetisers, we got ourselves an apricot tart and a danish crown pastry. Our apricot tart came perfectly round and bright, and our teeth sank through with a tad resistance from the thin yielding crust, and ended off with a moist spongy centre which embraced a scatter of apricot morsels. Though the tart tasted ordinary and straightforward, it was still a delight to the palate. Warning: the tart may break your wallet before you break its crust.
You could not go wrong with the danish crown pastry when they proved to be the best-sellers in the house. Every effortless bite of the soft cushiony pastry releases crunchy berries embedded in a pool of smooth, sweet custard. With the addition of a halo of icing sugar on top, the danish crown pastry is perfect. The result? Everyone was fighting for the last bite.
Curried chicken salad with date and harissa chutney, 12.95
Good things come in pairs, and so did our Curried chicken salad sandwich. Let your attention be drawn towards the knoll of moist, well-marinated chunks of breast meat resting upon a small bed of spinach. For obvious reasons, we were in favour of the curry dressing which carried a light fragrance and it lingered for a while in our mouths. Boasting a mild savoury profile, the dish went a step up with the accompaniment of date and harissa chutney spread, hitting the right notes of sweetness amongst the savoury and tempting us to ask for more. Regrettably though, we had to wage war with our teeth through the stubborn crust.
Turkish pide, 8.5
Do not be fooled by the humdrum exterior of the Turkish pide, pry open to reveal the medley of ingredients embraced between the pillowy soft bread. Take delight to see slices of shaved ham as well as a colourful range of peppers fused unanimously in a web of mozzarella, through which the combination evokes feelings of familiarity. Nope, our taste buds were not playing tricks on us, the sandwich was in fact the Turkish equivalent of pizzas. Awesome.
Eggs Benedict, 16.95
With the riot of colours that were presented before us, our eggs benedict was a feast to the eyes. The wobbly morsels of eggs were done perfectly and the hollandaise sauce lent a lightly tart tinge to the dish without stealing the show from the eggs. The greens were thoughtfully stacked underneath the mains, whereas the circles of balsamic sauce acted as the dressing to match. And if not for the fats, we would have downed an extra serving of the crisp bacon as well. Albeit the tough crust, the bread was soft and porous.
With Baker & Cook offering a nice respite from the crowds over at Simply Bread, we could almost hear the folks of Bukit Timah rejoicing. Even though the additional bakery implies convenience, prices from both end are comparable. Undeniably, Baker & Cook stood out better with their service and creativity, as if the reputation of the head honcho isn’t already enough to give its competitor a run for their money.
77 Hillcrest Road
S288951
Tel: +65 6469 8834
thank you for your wonderful words…. I am in town 7th – 10th March and again 27th March until 10th April – excellent Hot X Buns! Best Dean Brettschneider
What you had was artisanal sourdough bread, the crust is supposed to be chewy and the crumb is supposed to be soft, airy and a little sour. They would be aghast if their sourdough bread turned out to have a tenderly soft crust like Japanese/Taiwanese buns.