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Culture

Big And Beautiful: Newly Opened Singapore Cafes Go For An Upsize

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Big And Beautiful: Newly Opened Singapore Cafes Go For An Upsize

Cafes doing a brisk trade are upsizing their areas to comply with safe distancing measures.

by Eunice Quek  /   February 18, 2021

Size matters. Credit: The Brewing Ground

Small cosy cafes used to be the in thing, along with design features such as red brick walls, dim lighting and exposed wiring. Now, owners are looking for larger, brighter, greener spaces boasting higher ceilings, which preferably also have an outdoor wing for alfresco dining.

With travel curtailed and many still telecommuting, cafes here are seeing a boom. But because of safe distancing guidelines, they now require bigger spaces to cope with the surge in customers.

READ MORE: A Stylish Jakarta Cafe Clad In Beautiful Woven Rattan

At least seven outlets have expanded their current space or moved to bigger premises – including The Brewing Ground in Joo Chiat Place, Prairie by Craftsmen in Bukit Timah, and The Fabulous Baker Boy at The Aliwal Arts Centre.

They have also bulked up their menus, moving beyond the usual avocado toast brunch offerings to heartier multi-course meals and a wider selection of drinks.

Last month, popular pastry shop Tarte by Cheryl Koh reopened its flagship outlet at Shaw Centre after a two-week renovation. It is almost twice as big as the previous space, with a 38-seat dine-in area and a refreshed look.

READ MORE: Fashionable Creatives Sabrina Elman And Charmaine Seah On The Importance Of Good Food And Good Times

Other cafe owners looked for bigger shop units when existing leasesended.
After closing its Fort Canning space in July last year, popular Muslim-owned cafe The Fabulous Baker Boy returned three weeks ago, with a new home at The Aliwal Arts Centre in Kampong Glam.

While the 70-seat space is about the same size as the previous location, half of the space at Fort Canning had to be used for exhibitions and events, says owner Juwanda Hassim.

The 46-year-old, who is also a theatre actor and baker, viewed many places and was looking for one that could fit at least 70 diners while observing safe distancing rules.

The cafe, which accepts reservations, is usually fully booked for the weekend by the start of the week, says Juwanda.

Safe distancing was also at the top of Shakir Mudzakker’s mind when he was sussing out a new space for his seven-year-old cafe The Bravery, which used to be in Lavender.

The cafe reopened last month in Amoy Street in a two-storey shop- house that is almost double the size of its old premises.

Shakir says: “It is difficult to predict how long the pandemic will last. We wanted a space large enough to accommodate diners with safe distancing measures in place.

“Diners are also becoming increasingly mindful of their proximity to other diners.

“With this concern in mind, we adjusted the measurements of our furniture, ensuring that tables on the first floor are narrower so there is more space between the seating area and the coffee bar.”


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https://www.femalemag.com.sg/gallery/culture/new-singapore-cafes-newly-opened-big-safe-distancing/
Big And Beautiful: Newly Opened Singapore Cafes Go For An Upsize
PANTLER
image

Where: 474 River Valley Road, opens later this month

Info: www.facebook.com/pantlersg

What: After more than six years in Telok Ayer, popular patisserie Pantler has moved and will reopen in its new River Valley location later this month. Pantler’s founder Matthias Phua, 34, says: “We have outgrown our original the Telok Ayer premises. The work space and kitchen were getting too cramped and storage was a major issue.”

Noting that the usual Central Business District crowd was no longer the same as pre-pandemic days, he adds that it was “not crucial” to remain in the area.

The new 3,200 sq ft outlet is made up of two units – half the space will be occupied by the kitchen, while the other half is for retail and dining space.

The brand’s famous cakes will take centre stage in its retail showcase, and Phua will continue serving its signatures such as the Yatsura, which features a hazelnut dacquoise, dark chocolate ganache and crunchy hazelnut feuilletine; and chou a la creme, which is a choux pastry filled with pastry cream and a crunchy nougatine.

This article first appeared in The Straits Times

Pantler
THE BREWING GROUND
image

Where: 01-24 The Yards Singapore, 406 Joo Chiat Place, open: 8.30am to 5pm daily

Info: Call 8313-6092 or go to thebrewingground.sg

What: Hidden in the compound of the former Telok Kurau Primary School, The Brewing Ground is the latest hot spot in Joo Chiat and the first food and beverage concept to launch at enrichment hub The Yards Singapore since 2017.

Owners Joshua Wee and Leonard Tham, both 36, converted a social space into the 50-seat cafe, with a kid- and pet-friendly alfresco area that seats another 30.

Indoors, the duo – who also own restaurant-bar Mischief at the Esplanade – removed the false ceiling to heighten the space and added sound panels to absorb noise.

Do not expect the usual cafe fare with tiny servings.

Highlights – all dished out in sizeable portions – include the avocado and ricotta tartine ($17); burrata and tomatoes tartine ($18); Breakfast Burger ($20) with house-made pork sausage patty, scrambled eggs, caramelised onions and hash brown; crab and signature scrambled eggs on toast ($25) topped with ikura; and crabmeat tagliatelle with lemon butter sauce ($26).

Water is provided for pets or you can order a goat’s milk puppycino ($4).

The coffee programme is developed in collaboration with The Glasshouse cafe at Chijmes and features beans from local roasters such as 2 Degrees North Coffee Co.

The cafe is working with local artist Chris Chai for an upcoming mural and furniture retailer Second Charm.

In the second quarter of the year, it will extend opening hours to 10.30pm daily and feature a different menu for dinner.

It will also serve traditional Nonya kueh, made in-house with recipes from Wee’s father, who used to run their now-defunct family business Spice Peranakan in Bukit Timah.

The Brewing Ground
THE BRAVERY
image

Where: 50 Amoy Street, open: 8am to 6pm (Tuesdays to Thursdays), 8am to 9pm (Fridays to Sundays), closed on Mondays

Info: WhatsApp 9388-2973 for bookings, or go to www.thebravery.sg

What: After seven years in Lavender, Muslim-owned The Bravery cafe reopened last month in the buzzing Amoy Street.

The cafe’s new home – a two-storey shophouse – was designed to cater to different diners, says owner Shakir Mudzakker. Those in a rush can grab a quick bite on the first floor, while those looking for refuge can head to the second floor for a quiet meal.

The larger space second floor also houses an in-house bakery, which turns out fresh bread daily such as the brioche used in its French toast, as well as pastries, brownies (from $4.05) and burnt cheesecake (from $6.90 a slice).

Lunch options include smoked duck aglio olio ($14); teriyaki beef rice bowl ($22); and Cod En Papillote ($30), where cod fillet is baked in parchment with fennel, seasonal greens, herbs and a soya broth to keep the fish tender and moist.

Dinner is served from Fridays to Sundays, with a selection of premium grilled meats such as Sanchoku MS 6-7 Wagyu Ribeye ($68) with celeraic puree and roasted greens; New Zealand Baby Lamb Rack ($39) with pomme puree and mint jelly; and lamb porchetta ($34).

The Bravery
THE FABULOUS BAKER BOY
image

Where: The Aliwal Arts Centre, 28 Aliwal Street, open: 9.30am to 6.30pm (Tuesdays to Sundays), closed on Mondays

Info: Call 8951-7716 or go to www.facebook.com/Thefabbakerboy

What: Owner Juwanda Hassim has put together an all-female team of bakers and cooks, and hired friends who lost their jobs due to the pandemic to do delivery.

The beautiful cake display showcases more than 14 cakes (from $9.50 a slice), including favourites such as Ab Fab Red Velvet, Big Lub Carrot Cake and Nutty Monkey, a banana coconut cake.

Among the menu highlights are fried chicken and waffles ($24); Fab Fry Up with turkey bacon ($28.50) with a choice of sausage and eggs, and roast potatoes, confit mushrooms and sourdough toast; and roast chicken and pesto grilled cheese sandwich ($18).

All sandwiches are served with a mug of roasted tomato or cream of mushroom soup.

The Fabulous Baker Boy
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MCI (P) 047/10/2021. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2022 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.