Read more about the article Ayer Tawar/Sitiawan Food: Where to buy buns (bao) and layer pillow buns

Ayer Tawar/Sitiawan Food: Where to buy buns (bao) and layer pillow buns

These long steamed buns with alternating layers of peanut and red bean paste (some offer kaya – coconut custard too) is a signature of Sitiawan.
Like I’ve said before in my post, the folks in this area (Ayer Tawar and Sitiawan) love their pastries (gong pia), buns (brown baked ones) and steamed buns (white steamed bao) which includes these pillow shaped ones.

I have no idea how a small town like this sustains so many bakeries that pretty much make the same pastries, but go late to any bakery in Sitiawan and you will be told that all gong pia/bao/pillow buns are sold out.
So yes, the folks around here seem to eat a lot of bread!

I wouldn’t say that these thousand layer pau/pillow buns tasted amazing, but they are part and parcel of what Sitiawan is, and to experience Sitiawan, one must partake in the local delicacies right? 🙂


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Read more about the article AYER TAWAR FOOD: Kim Hock – Wood fire bakery – pineapple tarts, peanut cookies and traditional buns

AYER TAWAR FOOD: Kim Hock – Wood fire bakery – pineapple tarts, peanut cookies and traditional buns

A good friend of mine, Yungsen (we will call him YS for short) has been most enthusiastic in promoting his hometown delicacies to me since last year.
When I finally made the trip to Ayer Tawar (located about an hour drive south of Ipoh) in October, I found the small town tranquil and as expected, laid-back. The people here enjoy a simple lifestyle and traffic jams are non-existent.

But first, where is Ayer Tawar you ask?
Here’s a map – it is about 3 hours drive from KL.


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Read more about the article Baked cheese tarts: Bake Plan SS2, Uncle Tetsu, Lavendar Bakery, Tokyo Secret & Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart

Baked cheese tarts: Bake Plan SS2, Uncle Tetsu, Lavendar Bakery, Tokyo Secret & Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart

I had thought the molten cheese tart craze is quite passé by now.

However, surprisingly, there is still a strong following going on as I’ve people asking me “Where is the best molten cheese tart in KL?”

I’ve posted about my disappointing baked cheese tarts experience before HERE.
My rating was (1) Bake (Hong Kong) over (2) Tokyo Secret (IPC) and coming in last would be (3) Hokkaido Cheese Tart (Empire Subang).

Today, I’ve revised my ratings to:
(1) L Table at Lavender Bakery at 1 Utama Shopping Centre
(2) Tokyo Secret, IPC
(3) Bake Plan SS2
(4) Uncle Tetsu 1 Utama Shopping Centre
(5) Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart, Empire Subang

The above ratings are solely for the Malaysian brands.
I would rate BAKE Cheese Tart the BEST over all the 5 brands above, but BAKE Cheese Tart is not available in Malaysia (yet).

But for a better understanding on how the Bake Cheese Tart is like, below is a short description.

Special mention: Bake Cheese Tart

Since Bake Cheese Tart is not available in Malaysia (as yet, but maybe soon since it is already in Singapore!), I’ve been getting my fix in Singapore and Hong Kong.
It’s competitor; Pablo Cheese Tart is opening a branch soon in 1 Utama but reviews has not been kind so far.

Apparently, my friends and readers who has tried it in Japan felt that (via comments on my FB & posting) Bake Cheese Tart still reigns supreme.

Bake Cheese Tart (Hong Kong) was truly cheesy; like seriously eating melted cheese ‘cheesy‘. A blend of 3 cheeses, it imparted more aroma and complexity in each bite.

My only gripe? The rather thick crust.

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Read more about the article Salted egg yolk croissant – where is the best? Antoinette Singapore, Le Bread Days or Bake Plan?

Salted egg yolk croissant – where is the best? Antoinette Singapore, Le Bread Days or Bake Plan?

I handcarried a few croissants from Le Bread Days and Bake Plan to Singapore yesterday.
Since I wasn’t able to get the Antoinette’s salted egg yolk croissant (only available at 11am daily & max of 300 pcs only) as I only landed in SG in the evening, I made haste to visit Antoinette today.

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Read more about the article The best Salted Egg Yolk Croissant : Where? Le Bread Days/Bake Plan/The Bread Shop?

The best Salted Egg Yolk Croissant : Where? Le Bread Days/Bake Plan/The Bread Shop?

I had personally thought that other bakeries were slow to pick up on the salted egg yolk croissant craze after the initial uproar for the famed croissants at Le Bread Days.

The Bread Shop at Bukit Damansara rose to the occasion about 3 weeks after the chaos. Sadly feedback was negative from my trusted foodies friends, all citing poor quality for both the croissant itself and the salted egg yolk custard filling.
For the price it was reported to be a poor imitation of Le Bread Days’.

Just as quickly, I lost interest to try it, though I remained curious.

Just last weekend my good friend William alerted me of a similar croissant, this time in Bake Plan SS2.
I wasted no time to get my grubby hands on 3 on a hot Sunday afternoon and happily enough, the effort was it.
I was pretty satisfied with the croissant.

Then another friend gave me an idea. How about a lowdown on all 3 croissants simultaneously? I could then pass out a renewed verdict!

I had thought why not, since that would be the question on everyone’s mind now. Or at least for those who had been following the whole saga from day one.

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