17-year old Suntec City Mall has completed its first phase of facelift that started last year, with phase two and three to be completed by 1st quarter and end of next year respectively. Similarly, Tangs Orchard started its first phase of renovations last year and the second phase this year. These have been completed and the third phase will begin next year, to be completed by 2015. Located at the basement is TANGS Market with two distinct sections – one is near the underpass to Orchard MRT Station and Isetan Scotts while the other is within TANGS Home. The former includes Singapore's first Krispy Kreme (five to open over the next five years with a production kitchen at Pandan Loop), Seventh Heaven's alter-ego and naughtier twin Ice Cream Junkie and The Mustard Incident selling gourmet hotdogs. And the latter has Ya Kun's family café with its own seating area as well as common standing space, tables and chairs to eat food and drinks from other stalls.
Krispy Kreme
Started in 1937 in the United States, it was only in 2001 that the famous American doughnut chain opened in Canada. It opened two years later in Sydney and London, and now has 540 stores in 21 countries including Asia, Mexico, the Middle East, Puerto Rico and Turkey. Snaking queues could be seen, whenever I passed by the halal-certified 1,200 sq ft café with less than 10 seats, since its opening in Singapore two months ago. There were more than 10 people in the queue when I joined on a weekday afternoon. Took me about 10 minutes to reach the front and order an Original Glazed as this was what I tried years ago in the United States. Had it almost immediately, as I doubt the signature sugar glaze on top can withstand our local humid weather. It was still unmistakeably soft, light and fluffy though a tad sweet but nothing that could not be washed down with a cup of hot coffee. I was however disturbed by a subtle rancid oil smell, without which I would be back.
Ice Cream Junkie
With an Autsin Powers-inspired décor, this is its debut appearance. It promises to surprise both the taste buds and mind with cool and exciting flavours such as Black Vanilla, Electric Dreams (fruit, peach and peppermint) and Grape Sorbet. Texture is added to most for bite and chew. For example, Madeleines is almond ice-cream with chunky cakes and Magic Gems had what else but magic gem biscuits in vanilla ice-cream. Brownies and cornflakes were added to cookies and cream ice-cream in Freckle Rock while Justin Bieber featured cream cheese ice-cream with cornflakes and white cookie crumbs. I was deciding between Monkey Grub – banana and chocolate ice-cream with marshmallow bits, and Gooey Sludge Swirl. My choice of the latter was rich, thick and creamy peanut butter and chocolate ice-cream with oreo which was neither too sweet nor cloying even 'til the end. Thumbs up!
Famous Penang Ban Chang Kuih
Nothing could go wrong with the thin and crispy peanut pancake with a nice aroma of peanut and sugar filling despite being different from the usual. This reminded me of Jollibean's Stay Crisp Pancake.
With an Autsin Powers-inspired décor, this is its debut appearance. It promises to surprise both the taste buds and mind with cool and exciting flavours such as Black Vanilla, Electric Dreams (fruit, peach and peppermint) and Grape Sorbet. Texture is added to most for bite and chew. For example, Madeleines is almond ice-cream with chunky cakes and Magic Gems had what else but magic gem biscuits in vanilla ice-cream. Brownies and cornflakes were added to cookies and cream ice-cream in Freckle Rock while Justin Bieber featured cream cheese ice-cream with cornflakes and white cookie crumbs. I was deciding between Monkey Grub – banana and chocolate ice-cream with marshmallow bits, and Gooey Sludge Swirl. My choice of the latter was rich, thick and creamy peanut butter and chocolate ice-cream with oreo which was neither too sweet nor cloying even 'til the end. Thumbs up!
Famous Penang Ban Chang Kuih
Nothing could go wrong with the thin and crispy peanut pancake with a nice aroma of peanut and sugar filling despite being different from the usual. This reminded me of Jollibean's Stay Crisp Pancake.
Wah Cai 3-in-1 Fried Nian Gao
Have always wondered what a 3-in-1 fried nian gao or sticky sweet cake was since I first saw it at a stall in Malaysia Boleh, a foodcourt in Jurong Point. But as no one could answer my question, I have yet to try it until curiosity got the better of me when I spotted it at TANGS Market. A rectangular piece of nian gao sandwiched between a cut slab each of yam and sweet potato so the sweetness and stickiness were well-balanced by the starch and fibrous texture. This, and the Famous Skudai Fried Durian, were deep-fried like goreng pisang (deep-fried banana fritters). Preferred to eat my durian as is and have my nian gao coated with just flour and eggs. Also found the outer crisp layers too thick and a tad hard for my liking. And as I ate both, was overwhelmed by an overdose of deep-fried and oily stuff.
Have always wondered what a 3-in-1 fried nian gao or sticky sweet cake was since I first saw it at a stall in Malaysia Boleh, a foodcourt in Jurong Point. But as no one could answer my question, I have yet to try it until curiosity got the better of me when I spotted it at TANGS Market. A rectangular piece of nian gao sandwiched between a cut slab each of yam and sweet potato so the sweetness and stickiness were well-balanced by the starch and fibrous texture. This, and the Famous Skudai Fried Durian, were deep-fried like goreng pisang (deep-fried banana fritters). Preferred to eat my durian as is and have my nian gao coated with just flour and eggs. Also found the outer crisp layers too thick and a tad hard for my liking. And as I ate both, was overwhelmed by an overdose of deep-fried and oily stuff.
Update: Ice Cream Junkie and The Mustard Incident have closed.
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