Marine Parade Baos

It has been so many years since I had the baos from the corner bao stall in the corner coffee shop in Marine Parade (near the old Republic cinema). I happened to be back in the area a few weeks ago and could not resist checking out the place and see if the place is still in existence. After all we are talking about over 20+ years since the last time I went to buy the baos on my own.

As I just had lunch over at the new 112 Katong (previously Katong Mall), I only bought a big bao and a char siew bao. These were the baos I grew up eating in my childhood years when I lived in Marine Parade. They were not pretty or tiny but they packed a punch in taste and portion. 

The big bao was juicy with the sauce coating the interior of the soft white doughy bun. My favorite part of the big meat bao was the gravy soaked bun. Somehow the marriage of the unami sauce and sweetish dough made the taste buds danced a merry tune. It was a very generous serving and was typical of the baos which used to be everywhere in the 1980s or earlier, unlike the baos I often had now from the stalls in the malls.

The char siew bao was equally good with well marinated meat. It was not fatty meat like some other outlets but the proportion of fatty bits and lean meat was just right. The thicker bun meant each mouthful had an even part of meat and bun.

I could not really recall the taste of the buns of my yesteryears but these were really good and fabulous for when I wanted a more decent serving of baos.

The French Bakery @ East Coast Road

If you live in the East Coast area, you would probably have stumbled upon The French Bakery. It is a bit of a misnomer as it is not a boulangerie as you would have thought, with no scent of freshly baked bread wafting out from the ovens. Instead it sells cakes and simple pastries such as butter croissants, danishes and chicken pies. There is a tiny selection of bread for sale but they are not the highlight of the store.

It is not a cafe so dining in is not an option. There are a couple of tables and chairs for you to wait though.

148 East Coast Road is in between Joo Chiat Road and East Coast Road, across from Glory and near Savory Fare.

The array of baked sweet goods at the display counter. Prices are reasonable.

The savory baked section with the pies and puffs and rolls and tarts.
Close up of the baked goods.
Cheese Twist - this is simply yummy. Instead of the usual cheddar, they use emmental which has a piquant taste which gives a bit of kick to the crispy and flaky pastry.

The humble butter croissant is excellent too. It is buttery, light, flaky and slightly sweet. It will be fantastic with a cup of cafe au lait or spread with jam. It has been a long time since I had such gorgeous croissant. I wish I live nearer to buy this for breakfast.

The chicken pie is quite average to me. It is reminiscent of the old-school style of chicken pie (but with better crust), so you are in for a treat if you have a hankering for such fare. It is generous with the filling so every bite will have a bit of chicken and veggies.

Lemon cheese tart sounds like a strange combination but it actually works. The slight tartness of the lemon and the savory cheese make it quite refreshing and not too rich. It goes down very well with a pot of tea.
The chocolate fudge cake is one of the bestsellers. I tried it cold and it was still moist. The chocolate sponge cake is light and covered with a thin coat of chocolate fudge. It is not too sweet and it will actually be great to have it warm and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Another store favorite is the creme brulee. Somehow I am not too impressed with it. It is too eggy for my liking, plus I like my creme brulee to have a thin layer of burnt sugar so that I can crack it with my spoon. To me, that is the fun of having a creme brulee. The hard top layer hiding the soft smooth creamy egg custard. This version is just an egg custard which is not too sweet. To each his own.

Petit fours. These sizes are created for tasting purposes and when they cater for functions. The usual size is much bigger. From top row, left to right:

1. Snow white berry - It is milky creamy with tangy berries in it.

2. Rum chestnut - this reminded me a little of mont blanc. It is sweet like yam and has a strong alcoholic taste. Perfect for those who like a bit of liquor in their dessert.

Middle row, left to right.

3. Raspberry mango - It is sweet and sour, also another store favorite.

4. Passionfruit delight - tangy sweet mousse over a light chocolate sponge base. I like this better.

Bottom row, left to right:

5. Cool lemon chocolate - dark chocolate mousse with lemon. I like it.

6. Icy royale - dark chocolate mousse with a bittersweet aftertaste.

7. Tiramisu - It has a strong coffee taste but the true taste is hard to discern. Maybe because the portion is too tiny to tell.

The usual size of the Icy Royale. This is my absolute favorite.

A French Bakery cannot be without its financier. Over here, there are two versions. Original and green tea flavor. I like both. The green tea version is not too sweet and both have a slight nuttiness in the teacake. I would like this over a madeleine or canele with a cup of tea.

Rum Bola. It is like rum ball, but it is so much more than the stale tasting rum balls sold at the traditional bakeries.

The rum bola is very rich, moist and nutty with rum permeating throughout the small delightful treat. Very nice!

Location

The French Bakery

148 East Coast Road

Tel: 6344 6826

Note: This is an invited review.