Passion is Their Main Ingredient

Quoting the store's website, "Baker & Cook is Singapore's only true artisan bakery and foodstore chain and is the brainchild of Global Baker Dean Brettschneider."

I'm no baker, and you might not be one either.

So a simple Google search on this New Zealander shows he's a big name in the baking world, with TV shows and best-selling baking books.

The team and I visited one of the two Baker & Cook stores, just behind Holland Village MRT (how convenient!).

There's a homy feel to this store, with inspirational quotes on baking that really convinces patrons that, as the tagline suggest, passion is (and should be) the main ingredient.

A quick sweep at the counter and you know that this store lives up to its name by being a baker and a cook. There is a whole gamut of delicacies ranging from quiches to salads to cheesecakes to tarts to bread to... Yeah, what a handful. And there's even more on the menu not showcased at the counter. But that plethora of food is definitely able to whet then quench any appetite you have.

Lemon & Passionfruit Cheesecake, $5, T: 10, P: 10

I rarely give a perfect score, but it's a crime not to because this cheesecake is really something. Perhaps it's my predilection for lemon and passionfruit that made me love this cheesecake so much, but I'm sure without it, I'd still love it all the same. You have to try this.

Raspberry Tart, $5, T: 8, P: 8

This tart is apparently one of the most sought after tart they have, with the lemon tart preceding this. The crust is a little tough, but perhaps due to the air-conditioning. It's pretty and a little sour for me but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Popcorn Tea, $5, T: 8 P: 8

I also have a knack for trying food and drinks with appealing names. In this case, I got myself a pot of popcorn tea. The roasted aroma of this tea is hard to miss, and it's lightness is a plus point for those who prefer not to indulge in a rich and heavy flavour.

Flat White, $5, T: 8, P: 9

Carol loves a good cup of flat white -and this copious serving is worth that money.

Overall Rating -Hot

1. Taste: 9/10
2. Price: Moderate Range, 9/10
3. Decor: 9/10
4. Service: 10/10

A Step Back in Time

Vintage denotes something of a high quality, especially from the past. But vintage never felt so alive to me until I stepped into Carpenter and Cook, a little cafe nestled in Upper Bukit Timah, Singapore.

Patrons would feel a sense of bewilderment upon setting foot into this cafe, as if stepping into a whole new world (well, at least that was how I felt, and who doesn't love feeling like Jasmine from Aladdin on that magic carpet?).

The decor is of no surprise, judging from the name Carpenter and Cook. This cafe is filled with vintage ware, furniture, and whatnots. Even the floor tiles are distinctively of an era where trishaws are the main mode of transport.

And that's what makes this cafe so interesting. It's a collector's dreamland, a lesson of the past for the impressionable juveniles, and definitely quite an eyeopener for the mildly-creative. Who knew a treadle sewing machine could be transformed into a coffee table?

If the vintage, handmade, Pinocchio's workshop vibe doesn't get to you, the food certainly will.

This is a cafe that does not cater full, heavy meals. It is one that specialises in dishing out fancy pastries, cakes, sandwiches, coffee, and tea.

The team definitely left satisfied!

Passionfruit Meringue Tart, $6.50, T: 9, P:9

This was the first thing the team feasted on and it definitely was a pleasant surprise. It's a Queen of Hearts tart -a Passionfruit Meringue. Though the tart is a little tough, but to quote Chef Ramsey, "a party in my mouth" was the first thing that popped in my head.

Banoffee Pie, $6.50, T: 8, P: 9

We tried another Queen of Hearts tart, titled Banoffee. It took me a while to realise it was banana and coffee. I was surprised at this combination -banana and coffee? This tart has a layer of foamy cream and sprinkled on it was coffee powder. The first contact between my tongue and the tart had me cringing -the coffee powder is bitter (duh), and the cream is bland, which does nothing to sooth the overwhelming bitterness of the coffee. It took my tongue a span of 3 seconds to finally register the sweet, tangy banana. And I made up my mind that banana and coffee do go well with each other. But perhaps, I'd eat the tart upside down the next time I enjoy this bitter-sweet tart.

Latte, $5, T: 7, P: 8

I had a cup of latte. It was okay, and it was sweeter than most other cafe's! (not a bad thing, not a bad thing at all).

African Sunrise, $5, T: 10, P: 10

The rest of the team shared a pot of tea -African Sunrise. And that, too, was a pleasant surprise. I didn't catch what was in that, but it's really good. It's decaf, has several berries, and smells sweet and fresh. That's probably my favourite tea now. 10/10 would have that again!

Though there were a few loquacious young adults, Carpenter and Cook would've been a nice cafe to waste the world away with a nose buried between the pages of a book. It does not have free Wi-fi though, probably to open up tables to new patrons (but books are a great source of entertainment too!). I really like Carpenter and Cook. Other than the wonderful decor and nice, sweet pastries, the servers are really friendly too. And to quote the receipt, "No service charge or GST levied! God bless :)"

Overall Rating -Hot

1. Taste: 9/10
2. Price: Low Range, 9/10
3. Decor: 9/10
4. Service: 9/10