My afternoon date with Nectarie

My afternoon date with Nectarie

Today is a day where I don't do things that I usually do. I started the day with baking, total chaos in the kitchen, though tiring but it was extremely fun and in the afternoon, I actually bought daddy's Olympus e330 and a tripod out for my cake hunt.

What is the occassion?

A meet up with my blogger buddies, Vicki, Sihan, Claire, Evan, Brad and Weili... I have indeed enjoyed myself alot and I am definitely looking forward to more... Before I continue further, I must emphasize that knowing them has been the best I have ever gotten from my blogging addiction.

Those who have communicate with me will know alittle about my "bragging" about camera tricks but frankly speaking, when it comes to using a dSLR. I am no where near Vicki, Evan and Brad. Anyway, you can view my "works" at a larger size by clicking photos...

Walking along the streets of Clarke Quay on a Tuesday afternoon displayed very different thoughts as the absence of people makes you take a second notice of this place. Though I have been here twice, I have never notice the facade of Nectarie.

With varying shades of maroon and brown tiles, Nectarie adopts a very different feel in the day and night. In the day, the choice of maroon and brown brings out a level of class while the night of Nectarie brings out a winter Christmas feel.

Displaying an array of brightly coloured cakes, who can resist not enjoying desserts from this place?


Sihan can't resist Pistachio containing cakes while others are curious about the Matcha Sweet Potato but I indirectly stopped them from ordering it. A thick chunk of sweet potato and 2 layers of agar-like layer weakly flavoured with Matcha is definitely a no-no to me.

But I am pretty surprised our dear friends today are surprised with Yuan's choice. So, how could we not order the Chocolate Terrine with Coconut Mousse.

Pistachio White Chocolate Pistachio creme brulee between vanilla sponge and raspberry jam $7.50 (excluding 7% GST and service charge)	Chocolate Terrine with Coconut Mousse Light coconut mousse infused between dark chocolate and rolled into chocolate sponge $6.00 (excluding 7% GST and service charge)

According to Claire, it seems like Parfait of Dark and White Chocolate might be one of Nectarie's specialty since it is on the first page of Nectarie's menu.

Parfait of Dark and White Chocolate Dark and white chocolate mousse covered with ganache $7.00 (excluding 7% GST and 10% service charge

Since there are only 11 sliced cakes available and that we got 7 people, we just eliminate the Strawberry Tart, Irish Coffee Walnut, Matcha Sweet Potato and Double Chocolate Mudcake. Here are Brad's and my remaining choices.

Caramelized Banana and White Chocolate Chunky caramelized bananas sit in white chocolate on a crunchy base with light banana sponge $7.00 (excluding 7% GST and 10% service charge) Also featured in ST 50 yummiest cakes	Dark Chocolate Opera Dark chocolate layered with coffee cream, espresso and almond sponge $6.00 (excluding 7% GST and 10% service charge)
Granny's Smith Apple Crumble $6.00 (excluding 7% GST and 10% service charge)	Tiramisu Finger biscuits soaked in Kahlua and espresso with light mascarpone cheese $7.00 (excluding 7% GST and 10% service charge)

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Fen's comments

On my first visit, I don't really fancy Nectarie's Matcha Sweet Potato but somehow or rather that didn't stop Yuan and I a second visit since I am determined to try all the 50 yummiest cakes.

Today impromptu outing surprised me with such good attendance and I'm really happy but at the same time, I was keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that the other desserts will be good and not disappointing...

----------------------------- Comments on its 50% promotion -----------------------------

Alas, before I continue any reviews on the cakes, I have to emphasize that this 50% discount promotion is so-not-transparent. Nectarie vaguely put 50% off for all sliced cakes with purchase of drinks BUT when I re-confirmed with the staff, the first one just told me there is no such promotion until I told her I saw it on Nectarie's LCD 2 weeks ago and that I called up last week to re-confirm. It was only the second staff that told me that only 1 drink is entitled to 1 sliced of half-priced cake. I seriously dislike half-hearted offers, why can they just provide a cake combo like BakerZin and Cedele?

----------------------------- Comments on its 50% promotion -----------------------------

Personally, Pistachio White Chocolate was a tad sweet but overall taste was good. A good mix of sweetness and slight sourishness but I felt that the taste of Pistachio was not strong enough. In terms of Pistachio based desserts, Aroma's Pistachio macarons, BakerZin's Fraisier and Obolo's Nikita are so far the best I have encountered.

My verdict for Chocolate Terrine with Coconut Mousse & Caramelized bananas with white chocolate still stays. In fact, I find them the best among the 7.

Parfait of Dark and White Chocolate was good in my opinion even though some felt that the after-taste of whipping cream was strong. The alternating layers of chocolate mousse of varying cocoa content and its chewy chocolate ganache does justify my calories.

Don't bother with the Dark Chocolate Opera. Even though it was not mentioned that caramel is introduced in this cake, I suspect the "Kikkoman" taste proposed might be due to the caramel. It really taste funny, horrid and end up to be the most untouched, unfinished and least tempting. Spare me from the haunt.

Granny Smith's Apple Crumble was not too bad and the staff was nice enough to re-heat it for us (It gradually became chilled after the prolonged phototaking). Although most felt that the apple content was too little and has a funny spice taste, this is much better than the apple crumble I had from Calendar's.

Tiramisu is average, nothing to rave about. Nothing beats Aroma's Tiramisu.

Horray, my buddies have uploaded their views on Nectarie... From Evan's Kitchen Ramblings , herlittleblackdress , Fundamentally-flawed and Ladyironchef. Not forgetting Claire's late but not forgotten entry.
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Nectarie le' Dessert Pâtisserie
Blk C, The Cannery
#01-05,
River Valley Road Clarke Quay,
Sinagpore 179022
Tel: 6305 6728

http://www.nectarie.sg

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No. 32 Caramelised Bananas with Chocolate from Nectarie

No. 32 Caramelised Bananas with Chocolate from Nectarie

This is one of the 50 yummiest cakes with the following description,
"For those with a sweet tooth, this concoction of bananas and white chocolate on a crunchy base is an ideal sugar fix"
Each slice of Caramelised Bananas with Chocolate costs $7.00 (excluding 7% GST and 10% service charge)

Frankly speaking, our first visit to Nectarie didn't impress as we picked the wrong dessert. Thus, we have an impression that this place is expensive with a so-so array of desserts. But after realizing that this is also one of the recommended places by the 50 yummiest cakes, we have decided to try the recommended cake. Somehow or rather, our impression of this place did change and for your information, Strawberry Shortcake and Milk Amaretto Chocolate Gateaux are the other signatures of Nectarie.

The night view of Nectarie is so different and the surrounding lighting and decoration brings out a pre-christmas festive mood. Must drop by this place when I take a day off to enjoy their 1/2 price special for all sliced cakes from 12pm to 3pm (Applicable for takeaways, dine-ins and with purchase of one drink).
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Fen's comments

Although I am not a fan of banana cake, this dessert changes my perspective towards banana cakes. The sweetness is just right, the crunchiness of the praline with the springy banana cake just send my insulin rocket high. I finished this cake with a smile on my face.

BUT Yuan felt that this cake wasn't that good as the taste of white chocolate mousse and caramelized bananas (top half) is too different from the banana cake and hazelnut praline (bottom half). Moreover, I removed the white chocolate mousse and caramelized bananas so that I can indulge the banana cake and hazelnut praline on its own. Weird eating style but that is how I like it.
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Yuan's comments

One unique feature about Nectarie's cakes is that they mix extreme flavours together. This one is no exception. Imagine, banana cake, hazelnut praline and white chocolate mousse with caramelized banana. All have very distinct taste. Personally I didn't quite enjoy it but I must say the banana cake on its own is not bad.
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Nectarie le' Dessert Pâtisserie
Blk C, The Cannery
#01-05,
River Valley Road Clarke Quay,
Sinagpore 179022
Tel: 6305 6728
http://www.nectarie.sg

[ ... ]

Chocolate Terrine with Coconut Mousse

Chocolate Terrine with Coconut Mousse

As usual, Yuan did his visual inspection and has targeted on a slice of chocolate truffle. Believe it or not, his taste buds seems to get more and more sensitive and his eyes seems to be able to pick out the right cake, unlike me.

Chocolate Terrine with Coconut Mousse
Light coconut mousse infused into ganache

Each slice of chocolate truffle is $6.00 (excluding 7% GST and 10% service charge) and they have the following offers:-

• 20% off Total Food Bill with American Express Platinum Card
• From Mondays to Fridays, 1/2 Price for all sliced cakes from 12pm to 3pm (Applicable for takeaways, dine-ins and with purchase of one drink
• 10% off bill with HSBC cardholders and 15% discount for HSBC Premier and Visa Platinum

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Fen's comments

The chocolate truffle is of a high cocoa content and for those who fancy Canele's Gateaux Chocolat. I would highly recommend this. The chocolate is velvety smooth that tempts Yuan to finish the entire cake within minutes. Among the dense chocolate mousse, a thin layer of flourless chocolate cake provides the ultimate decadence sensation for chocoholics.

In between the layers of chocolate mousse, there is a layer of coconut mousse which adopts a jelly-like texture, providing a distinct texture from the smooth chocolate ganache. For $6.00 per slice, this is a must-try for chocoholics and a good substitution for expensive chocolate bonbons.
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Yuan's comments

This is one of my favourite chocolate mousse. Rich and nice. The plus point is that the mousse tasted like chocolate fudge. So its like one layer of fudge and one layer of flourless chocolate cake. This is one cake that can curb your chocolate craving. Highly recommended.
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Nectarie le' Dessert Pâtisserie
Blk C, The Cannery
#01-05,
River Valley Road Clarke Quay,
Sinagpore 179022
Tel: 6305 6728
http://www.nectarie.sg

Operating hours
12pm to 11pm (Sun to Wed)
12pm to 1am (Thurs)
12pm to 2am (Fri & Sat)

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绿茶与蕃薯 = Green Tea Sweet Potato

绿茶与蕃薯 = Green Tea Sweet Potato

Nectarie le' Dessert Pâtisserie has a new creation and that is sweet potato with green tea ($7.50 nett, no 7% GST nor 10% service charge).

Matcha jelly-like fudge with matcha infused sweet potato kueh... with slight combination of matcha chiffon to ensure a delightful burst of japanese flavour in every bite

Side view of the cake...

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Fen's comments

Green tea, made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis, is the only hot tea I will ever drink. Don’t ask me why, maybe I am just picky since I don’t have a habit of drinking hot coffee and tea since young.

Matcha (抹茶, Matcha), on the other hand, is a fine, powdered green tea. For tea lovers, I guessed I am abusing these 2 terms but for simplicity, I just use these 2 terms interchangably.

Anyway, ever since I discovered my liking for green tea beverages (i.e. hot, iced and latte), I have started to pay alittle more attention for by-products of green tea. Having ate matcha chiffon from Tampopo, I am even more curious about finding cakes with Matcha. But as it goes along, I realized it is quite an acquired taste, I do regret at times on spending so much on them. First, they are pretty pricey and second, I always find it so hard to finish it due to the bitter and tea after-taste.

Subsequently, I found that different bakeries actually matchmake matcha with different flavours such as azuki, chestnut and sweet potato. Since I am not a fan of chestnut and sweet potato, I would say I didn’t enjoy this creation that much.

This green tea sweet potato has quite a thick chunk of sweet potato and I personally thought that sweet potato tastes better on its own, such as 摩摩喳喳 (bo bo cha cha), 甜薯汤 (Sweet potato soup) or even just steamed Sweet potato. Because it is processed in a dense manner to complement the cake, it kind of loses it fibrous sweet texture. However, I have to give credits to Nectarie for making such as nice Matcha fudge; it is soft and smooth, in a similar manner as pandan kaya. Lastly, I thought it would be better with thicker Matcha chiffon since the sweet potato portion is generally hard while chiffon is soft.
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Yuan's comments
We have already tried many variations of the matcha cake. (Chiffon, mousse, azuki) I guess this comes to be one of the most unique combinations. Matcha with Sweet Potato. It is basically a layer of matcha fudge (somewhat like jelly), layer of sweet potato and layer of matcha chiffon. It gives the feeling like eating pandan kaya. (layer of pandan fudge and pandan sponge) However i somewhat feel that readers whom dislike sweet potato may not like this combination. As like the matcha mousse of canele, i guess this is one cake that is nice on the first bite, but you may find it a little difficult to finish this on your own.
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Nectarie le' Dessert Pâtisserie
Blk C, The Cannery
#01-05,
River Valley Road Clarke Quay,
Sinagpore 179022
Tel: 6305 6728
http://www.nectarie.sg

Operating hours
12pm to 11pm (Sun to Thu)
12pm to 2am (Fri & Sat)

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Waffle - Nectarie

Waffle - Nectarie

This waffle is more inclined towards the batter kind but not exactly crispy too. The strength of this waffle is that it is served with fine maple syrup which sort of covered up its flaw. I probably won't order it again but nonetheless it is not too bad either.

Nectarie le' Dessert Pâtisserie
Blk C, The Cannery #01-05,
River Valley Road Clarke Quay,
Sinagpore 179022Tel: 6305 6728
http://www.nectarie.sg/

Operating hours
12pm to 11pm (Sun to Thu)
12pm to 2am (Fri & Sat)

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