Located along the eatery-lined stretch of East Coast Road, Coccogelo is yet another new addition to the local gelato scene.

The flavors served here lean towards the more adventurous side. Out of the 10 different flavors available that day, I had already spotted Black Sesame, Lychee Yogurt, Banana Rum and Sweetcorn with Nutmeg.

A Piccolo (single scoop), Medio (double scoop) and Grande (triple scoop) go for $3.80, $4.80 and $6.80 respectively.

Coincidentally a top pick amongst customers, Coccogelo's pistachio definitely pleased with its delightfully deep and nutty flavor! The refreshing Strawberry flavor, though decent, could have been more intense. I also sampled the exotic Spiced Apple Curry, a surprisingly harmonious combination which I wouldn't mind having more of.

While the gelato was satisfying dense, its texture was a tad harder and richer than most gelati, resembling ice cream somewhat. Nevertheless, I'm sure Coccogelo's spacious and lovely mural-adorned interior will soon attract many Katong residents seeking a tasty respite from the heat.

Fredo Galaxy is not just any other neighborhood bakery. Helmed by Alfred Chan, a former pastry chef with 20 years of experience working at hotels such as Shangri-La and Intercontinental, this gourmet bakery seems to have been transported from Orchard Road to the sleepy realms of Tanglin Halt. The good thing is, prices have been adjusted accordingly too.

The Chocolate Brownie Vanilla Cheesecake ($4), as its name suggests, comprised a layer of dense brownie topped with light and moist Japanese cheesecake. While both components were decently executed, their textures did not quite meld together. Perhaps, the Japanese cheesecake could be replaced by its creamy American counterpart for a more cohesive combination.

The Pistachio De Chocolate Cake ($4), featuring light chocolate mousse, chocolate sponge and pistachio mousse on a light almond cake base, was a disappointment though. I was unable to discern any hint of pistachio in the cake, even when I tasted the pistachio mousse on its own. Another small complaint about both cakes would be the layer of gelatin on top.

Savory pastries such as Rosemary and Potato Pie are available at Fredo Galaxy, but my sweet tooth settled on the Freshly Baked Cinnamon Banana with Puff Pastry ($2.80). Heated up to a beautiful golden brown in the toaster, the pairing of the crisp pastry purse with the generous portion of soft, caramelized banana hidden within was definitely an enjoyable one.

The Cinammon Apple Tart ($2.80) could have definitely done with a stronger dose of cinammon and a more buttery pastry. Nevertheless, I liked the fact that a thin layer of fresh cream was used to sandwich the well-cooked apple slices and the tart base.

Made daily, the sandwiches at Fredo Galaxy ($5.50) are healthsome, yet tasty. My Portobello Chicken sandwich had lean chicken breast meat, two juicy mushrooms and crisp greens on dense and hearty multigrain bread. Drizzled with a light and refreshing mustard mayonnaise dressing, it certainly filled me up with its whole-grain goodness! The bakery also stocks freshly baked loves of European bread in flavors such as Alpine Cranberry.

The cookies are, however, clearly the star amongst Fredo Galaxy's varied offerings. I knew I was in for a treat when I was greeted with an irresistibly nutty aroma upon opening the pack of macadamia nut cookies ($3.50 for a pack of eight), and they certainly did not disappoint. Crunchy and superbly fragrant, these delectable bites of heaven are surely not to be missed. The crunchy chocolate chip ($4 for a pack of eight) ones are decent too, but it is the bakery's macadamia nut cookies that will keep me going back again and again!

Aside from those aforementioned, the bakery also stocks soft, cake-like cookies. However, do call to to check if they are available as they sometimes sell out. My favorite find from Fredo Galaxy would be the rich and moist Devil Chocolate Cookies ($3.30 for 100g). These bites of chocolatey goodness are enlivened by the addition of a touch of salt, making them all the more delicious! The delicate and buttery Raspberry Vanilla cookies ($3.30 for 100g) are definitely worth a try too.

Being constantly on a lookout for good macarons, I had to try those sold here as well (80 cents each). Unfortunately, these small confections failed to make the mark. While the chocolate and orange liqueur ganache was alright, the meringue shells were a tad too poofy and lacked the dense insides which I expected.

I liked the crunchy macadamia nut and chocolate devil cookies so much, I finished them on the day I bought them. Do try them sometime!

We've all heard of molten chocolate cakes. But chocolate lava muffins? Maybe not.

A few weeks ago, I learnt of Muffin Man, the brainchild of a former art director who traded his career in the advertising industry for muffin baking. Unlike many of its compatriots which proffer the same old banana/blueberry/chocolate offerings, Muffin Man ups the ante with its creative Luscious Chocolate and Hidden Treasure muffins, which enclose a heart of chocolate lava and custard respectively.

To think about it, Muffin Man's offerings resemble sponge cakes more than muffins, which are more bread-like. Nevertheless, I enjoyed their soft and airy texture and the fact that they were not at all greasy.


The Mint Chocolate ($2.70) was my favorite of the three. Every bite yielded luscious yet refreshing chocolate mint sauce oozing out of the soft chocolate sponge. While the muffin could have done with more of the filling, I enjoyed it anyhow!

The Cheese Custard muffins ($2.10) are one of the bestsellers at Muffin Man, along with the Mango Custard and Rum and Raisin muffins which were unfortunately still in the oven when I dropped by in the late morning. Sprinkled with grated cheese on top and filled with lush cheese custard, the Cheese Custard muffin definitely pleased with its harmonious balance of sweet and savory.

The Green Tea and Red Bean Custard muffin ($2.70) did not disappoint either. Unlike many similar confections, both the sponge and the custard were sufficiently infused with the essence of matcha.

The Mango Custard, Passionfruit Streusel and Rum and Raisin Custard muffins sound scrumptious too. Do tell me how they fare if you try them!

I love pancakes. Naturally, I was very excited when I learnt of Strictly Pancakes (SP), Singapore’s first dedicated pancake café! Located at 44A Prinsep Street, SP is open from morning till night so customers can have their pancake fix anytime during the day.

In addition to the traditional butter-and-maple-syrup combination, SP also offers six sweet and six savory options, ranging from Chicken A La King (chicken chunks, sweet onion slices, cream sauce and asparagus) to Strawberries & Co (mixed berries, vanilla ice cream, strawberry coulis and cream).

I had set my eyes on the Black Forest Pancakes while browsing through their online menu, which was coincidentally recommended by the staff.

Black Forest ($12+): Chocolate pancakes topped with brandied cherries, a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate shavings, homemade chocolate sauce and cream

These were supposed to come with three chocolate pancakes but I accidentally served plain ones instead. Not that I minded though, ‘cos I find chocolate pancakes too sweet for me! However, I didn’t get receive any reimbursement for the error (chocolate pancakes cost $1 more than plain ones on the a la carte menu) but I was not charged for the rum and raisin butter (U.P. $0.50) which I had requested to try.

The pancakes were decently soft, and were in fact very much like a slightly thicker version of Mac’s hotcakes. While I enjoyed the combination of cold vanilla ice cream with warm pancakes, I definitely won’t be ordering dessert pancakes here again as I find them too sweet for my liking. Nevertheless, those with a sweet tooth will probably enjoy this. Although my favorite way of enjoying pancakes is to have them drizzled with lots of maple syrup, I will not be attempting the plain pancakes here as I have heard that the maple syrup served here is watered-down.

The Iced Blended Mocha ($5+) was decent- light, frothy and not too sweet. However, it was a tad icy.

Cedele’s superbly soft pancakes are still the best choice for those who like their pancakes on the thinner side. However, having heard positive reviews about SP’s savory choices and milkshakes, I will not rule out the possibility of a re-visit if I happen to be around the area. Oh, and students (like me) get 10% off the bill!

Food for Thought's outlet at 8 Queen Street is the place to be if you're looking for a relief from the hustle and bustle at the nearby Bugis Village and Junction 8. Or if you're seeking an energizer after a study session at the nearby National Library. Or if you want to enjoy good food while helping a good cause: FFT does not have a service levy, but all tips go to the Give Clean Water Fund. While it does not charge for a free flow of iced water (and I don't see why any restaurant should), you are encouraged to donate $2 to Living Water International to grant an African with access to clean water.

Once you've navigated to Queen Street, locating FFT should not be a problem because it's is housed in a glass house which stands out from its surroundings. And once you've entered the place, it's difficult to resist the cozy vibe of the tastefully decorated café.

FFT's 8Q menu is more varied than that at its North Bridge Road Outlet, and what its breakfast menu, available from 9am to 5.30pm daily. I'd love FFT even more if the breakfast menu was available all day, but I'm not complaning! While the breakfast menu is not extensive, I love the idea of being able to customize your meal from a selection of fry-up items. The next time I drop by, I'm going to help myself to the brioche, thyme hashbrowns and their much-raved-about scrambled eggs with cream!

There're six other varieties of pancakes to choose from as well, such as Mixed Berries and Dark Chocolate with Stewed Cherries. If you're not a fan of sweet toppings, you can simply have them botak (i.e. plain) for an affordable $6 as well.

My tastebuds were probably unsurprised when I ordered Banana Walnut Pancakes ($10), a huge favorite of mine. The generous portion of banana slices and walnuts are served on top of the stack by default, but you can choose to have them embedded inside like I did. The inconvenience I faced walking to FFT in the rain (with an umbrella that persistently upturned every minute or so) was well-worth it after I had my first bite of these thick and fluffy pancakes. While just as superbly soft like Cedele's, FFT's pancakes were perfectly moist to boot. The generous portion of caramelized bananas and crunchy walnuts hidden inside made them all the more lovable.

Maple syrup is not served here, but who really cares when you have gula melaka syrup instead? Normally used in traditional desserts like chendol and Nonya kueh, the gula melaka syrup lent the pancakes a delightfully aromatic and sweet edge. An affordable but equally worthy alternative to maple syrup, surely! Oh, and did I forget to mention that the cold fresh cream which made such a lovely accompaniment to the warm pancakes is hand-whipped and not from a can?

I wish I had space for more, but the pancakes turned out to be just the right portion for an early dinner as I just had a cup of awesome ice cream at Tom's Palette. Guess the grilled vegetables and butterscotch and apple crumble have to wait for another time!