1Caramel - Surprises aplenty.

I've always considered 1Caramel at The Luxe(now-defunct) my trusty dessert spot whenever I happen to be that area. Imagine my horror when I found out that it moved out and been replaced by another cafe which I couldn't give two hoots about.

I found out from one of their service staff(the same one who used to work at 1Caramel as well) that my beloved patisserie had relocated to ulu ulu Rochester Park.

It was Love's birthday and I wanted to bring him to somewhere quiet and relaxing. Rochester Park came into mind. Both initial choices, Graze and Krish were unfortunately closed on that day, hence the next best option had to be 1Caramel.

And it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

It was a quiet Tuesday noon. We were the only patrons during our entire time there, as though we'd booked the entire place. What up!

 They do customized 3D cakes as well.

 The lovely cupcakes and mini-cakes on display. Loyal patrons would be able to tell that their cakes had underwent an image revamp.
They look more exquisite and delicate now, but I still preferred the huge, hearty portions of the past.

 Creamy scrambled egg with German-style sausage ($14)

Da boyf's choice. This was served with a roasted tomato, bay spinach and toasted country bread. Did not try the eggs & bread but he made remarks of the eggs having the right consistency; not too runny nor too rubbery. The scrummy German sausage was nicely-spiced and meaty in every bite.

 Croque Madame ($14)

Here comes the pièce de résistance. This French classic has officially toppled Eggs Benny as my #1 brunch must-have!

Toasted(sometimes grilled) brioche coated with cheesy Béchamel sauce and loads of cheese, finished with a wobbly fried egg sitting proudly on top. Brioche was pillowy with a delightfully crunchy crust, and I swore I tasted garlic-herb spread on it too.

So many different tastes and textures, yet not at all confusing. It's amazing how a simple ham & cheese sandwich can be made so delicious. One word: Orgasmic.

 A lovely mess indeed.

Earl Grey creme brulee ($14)

Little thought was need when it came to choosing desserts.

Infused with earl grey tea leaves, the smoky aroma was so strong that my delicate palate received a jolt that made me sit up and pay attention. Oh what an attention seeker. Its unique fragrance grew on me after subsequent bites; an acquired taste, I would say.

Crackling crust was lovely but I would have preferred a silkier, more meltingly-soft custard(again, personal preference). The accompanying grissini cheese straws were like twisted phyllo pastries and had the same smoky aroma. Lovely. 

Passionfruit souffle with banana-passion sorbet ($14)

I'd spied my little eye on this since god knows when; been dyin' to try this. Alas........I would say that this was a little less mind-blowing than what I had in mind. Texture was perfect, the eggy souffle was reminiscent of clouds. Deceptively demure, this badass souffle had my boyf cringing at the very first bite. Hahaha. Studded with passionfruit seeds, this was strong in flavour and unabashedly so. Nevertheless, this was devoured in seconds.

Banana passion sorbet was pleasantly good; I loved the harmonious blend of the tropical flavours.

Brunch is never complete without a good and warm cuppa.
Cappucino and Latte ($8 each)

Complimentary Gems(petit fours) were served. Orange creme brulee(left) strangely tasted nothing like its name. It tasted more like candied fruits on a soggy feuilletine. On the right was the milk chocolate which was left untouched.

The tiny syringe on the left petit four was lime curd and was interesting. The dark chocolate on the right was rather ho-hum.

Brunch-lovers would be pleased to know that 1Caramel is currently running a 1-for-1 F&B promo which ends on 14th June. We were pleasantly surprised when the grand total of the bill came up to only forty-ish.

We had a really lovely(read:lazy) afternoon brunch; and I can already foresee return visits. Apart from its yummy comfort food, I also loved the serenity, lush greenery, and beautiful colonial buildings in this area.

I just can't get enough.

1 Rochester Park, #02-01 (nearest MRT:Buona Vista)

Mon - Fri: 11:30am-10:30pm

Sat - Sun: 10am-4pm, 6pm-10:30 pm

67741302

http://www.1-caramel.com