DOME

Recently, I have grown a bit obsessed with the cakes from a cafe in Subang Parade called DOME. Found the best cheesecake ever there. =)

Here are just some of the food that I've tried:


Espreski RM18++

Honeycomb

Espreski is a range of drinks at DOME that is made of milk and ice cream, with shaved ice made of mineral water, and having cute chocolate things on top, such as Crunche Honeycomb, Nestle Chocolate frogs and such.

This, to my disappointment, isn't much to rave about. For its price, one can easily get ice cream-blended drinks of the same taste elsewhere. The part that I don't like about this range of drinks is the fact that whatever is placed on the dome of cream can be bought at supermarket at a much lower price.

Rating: 2.5/5
Overly-priced drink without a wow.

Chicken Foccacia with Avocado sauce RM22++

This is an extremely disappointing food, given that my hopes about the quality and taste of their main course grew so much over the week, after tasting their bakery products.

The bread is rather hard, although it tastes pretty good. I think it may be the type of bread (flat bread, foccacia, etc), rather than bad baking. I like the wedges, really crispy and tasty without being overly salted, in fact, I think they make their own wedges, because it feels rather bland.

However, the main part, the chicken, was so dry and hard, it tasted like cardboard, and I just couldn't finish it. I could find much wow in the avocado sauce spread on the bread as well.

Rating: 2.5/5
Kind of just liked the wedges. I would fail everything else, apart from the fact that this is a most healthy meal. Extremely healthy.

Meanwhile (while my handphone is down, and no pictures), I must say their Marble Cheesecake IS a clear winner in my pursuit of the best cheesecake. I swear it beats Hilton Hotel's, Bakerzin's, Ippudo's Japanese, McCafe, and light Cedele's one, ALL hands down. The way there is thought put into every corner of Dome's cheesecake is clear as crystal, and it not only made me want to take a second mouth, but want to try every single cake out of their bakery. The gap between Dome's bakery and others is so large that I'd gladly pay some RM13 for a slice. Superbly satisfying yet feels healthy. Strange. But no, don't trust my blinded judgment. Cake, by any measure can never be all that healthy, especially not if you eat one after a full meal everyday. Dome's is just too nice that I am blinded. haha. If you are a cheesecake fanatic like me, must try should you spot DOME in Malaysia.

And the other thing is the Heavenly Scones. Yes, they are heavenly. Extreme good since I first tasted scones at Nanyang Cafe. This must be the taste ieat talks about when he visited Europe. I am sure. This one, yes, I can say that it's a value for money, healthy and tasteful breakfast. Read more "DOME..."

CK Tangs Mdm Cynthia's Pandan Chiffon Cake - Trip to find THE one

After a rave by one of ieat's readers about a hidden not-for-sale heavenly Pandan Chiffon Cake, I just had to check it out. The tip-off says that cooking tips are guaranteed, with the sweet bonus that THE cake is free.

 Cynthia a bit paiseh (shy) when I first asked if I could take photos. haha.

Pouring the batter  for Banana Marble Swirl Chiffon Cake into the chiffon cake mold.

Making paper thin egg omelette with anionized Super-B pot, while we waited for the cake to be ready.

Yay! Cutting the cake.

I adore the mold to bits. It has those waves, so you get a jelly shape. Look at how smooth and nicely-brown the skin is. Not to mention the marble pattern she created with chocolate.

Plump and standing tall.

PS: I lost my last photo of the cake slice I took. Sigh. My handphone is a little cranky.

But the cake is to die for! I have no idea how it compares to ieat's one (only him and family would know...). All I can say is that, on my side, I feel that her cake is everything I want of a chiffon.

As you can see, it looks so good. It has a thin layer of crispy skin, with spongy looking, beautifully and naturally coloured inside, and mashes into a cream texture the moment you bite and chew. It has the toughness to give you a slight kick when biting, unlike Bengawan Solo's, that basically breaks with a touch and crumbles into nothingness in your mouth, only to leave the boring taste of plain sugar.

It is a little bit oily, but definitely still on the safe side, since it's homemade. And sweet, but not diabetic. I know that it might be mild and perhaps even tasteless for older people, who somehow prefer heavy tastes. But for modern Singaporeans, who are getting more health conscious, one really can't fault this cake. Moreover, if you home make your own, you are free to adjust the sweetness. This is just a demo for the pots.

Rating: 5/5
Try it while she is still there making cakes and demos. She also gives tips along the way, like to sort of carry/hug it in two forearms, and swirl it to release the bubbles, then tap gently a few times if you really think there are bubbles still, instead of knocking the tin hard. I guess you could still knock the tin hard, but for her jelly mold, you did dent the jelly shape badly!! Doesn't matters for those flat top ones we normally see on the market. haha.

******

At the end of it all, I did make a purchase, as I need a set of cooking wares quite soon. Thought no harm getting it now, since it was supposedly on promotion for Mother's Day. LOL, promos... :P

I also like the way this cake would only take 15 min to cook in that pot, while Cynthia said that you'd have to set your oven to 180 deg C for 45 min if you want to use an oven.


(Please note that business is still business, and Mdm Cynthia and assistants are honestly making a decent living, so please be kind enough not to go everyday for free cakes without buying. Although, she does gives them out to fellow workers/friends at Tangs, out of goodwill. I stood there for the whole time the cake was cooking, so I was a little pressurized to buy, as one of the assistants kept asking if I intended to get anything. Suggest you take a walk and return if you feel you really will not be interested at all, but still want a taste of the cake. Don't say I say one. hahahaha.

On another note, practically all the viewers who stood a good while bought! Quite amazing. We were all impressed by the cake, and popcorn. The popcorn is good too, if you are not for diabetic ones from the likes of GV. Her cutey mould can be used for oven too, so no worries if you don't want that pot. I just like the jelly shape... haha. Pardon me.) Read more "CK Tangs Mdm Cynthia's Pandan Chiffon Cake - Trip to find THE one..."

Bengawan Solo Pandan Chiffon Cake - No idea why it's hyped + Recommend Me A Cake =)

I think I am going to get kicked for this one again. It seems that everything I post about is bad. But that's because I haven't yet posted about all my delicious adventures and favourite foods! I should link in the post on Watami Singapore. I can be impressed, and very easily impressed. Give me some time, will definitely roll out aaaallll the goodies in Singapore. Now, it's dispelling the hype time, so naturally the foods are not so nice.

[I am just being truthful. I always get that, "hey, actually I also think this is normal" response, when I speak up and pound that hot food.]

Bengawan Solo Pandan Chiffon Cake

I have not eaten this before because my mum stopped buying from Bengawan Solo a long time ago after we all agreed that their foods are not that good and overpriced. I used to have their egg tarts and onion sausage rolls quite often.

However, when I heard that their pandan cake is good, I felt like trying, since my mum really likes this. I myself have never been quite so in love with pandan cakes or chiffon cakes. I guess this belongs to the previous generation. What I thought was, if this is truly one of the best in Singapore, no harm buying a few pieces back for my family.

It then so happened that I had to pass by a Bengawan Solo outlet today, so I walked in to get a piece. Thank goodness I decided on the single piece first before plunging in to grab that box of 5. (I am always quite kan chiong, and will rush to pick things up, without trying.)

So here goes:

Looks

No point talking about food without talking about looks because it is a fact that people eat with their eyes. So yes, like they all say, the one at Bengawan Solo has got a really, really evenly browned skin. And has pattern from the container on top. Pretty cake I must say. And stands well.

While the green on the inside is so green, so green. I don't know it's colouring or they really put in so much pandan extract, but again, it's appealing.

Then the holes. This is one of those really dense chiffon cake in which you don't see big holes. Very well beaten batter (they probably use industrial/business grade machine), even tiny pores rather than holes, making it look all the more perfect.

Rating: 5/5

Feel

Call me psychotic or what, but how could I not press this chiffon cake when I can hold it in my hands? Moreover, it's so soft like those comfort pillow one may have at home.

I know, it makes it ugly, but I just wanted to feel the texture, that's all. I didn't like squeeze my entire cake, that would be quite stupid.

Okay, so the feel is sweet and nice as well. hehe.

Rating: 5/5

Fragrance

And then after buying it out of the display, the first thing to always do with food is to take in the fragrance! =)) You can bet this is super nice from the colour. =)

I don't think it's just pandan. I can't tell because the smell is too mixed up to me. But it's fragrant and made me keep indulging on the smell like one would to one's favourite perfume. It's like when you hug your lover... ... haha, that kind of sniff.

Rating: 5/5
I do give 5/5 when I can't find anything to fault.

Taste & 口感/Texture

It's flatly sweet. I don't really like the texture as well, because I prefer my chiffon cake to the sort that can be bitten down to say, 0.5cm? Then another bite and yes, it breaks!! Gives a great deal of satisfaction, and layering in terms of texture, rather than just one flat, oh-bite-down-and-it-will-break feeling.

Frankly speaking, this did not give me that ooo-aah and eye light-up sensation as I expect from a food that is highly raved about. In fact, I'd rather prefer the pandan cake that sells at Shop & Save because of that resistance.


Rating: 3/5
It means okay lor... ...

Would I buy again?
No. $0.90 a piece for a non-favourite food that I feel I can find better at the supermarket is a tad expensive to me.

Would I recommend?
No. Have no idea why the hype. From Bengawan Solo, still the thousand layered cake is the best. =) If you have to eat sinful cakes and have to buy Bengawan Solo, spend the $$ on that.

Overall rating: 6/10
Really okay lor.

Recommend Me A Cake
I wouldn't mind traveling for good food, so if you also think that there are better Pandan Chiffon than Bengawan Solo's, recommend it. =) However, please also state why you think it's better. I have been cheated into all that long journeys so many times because of baseless raves. Thanks in advance! Read more "Bengawan Solo Pandan Chiffon Cake - No idea why it's hyped + Recommend Me A Cake =)..."