We’ve found some gems, including fab burnt cheesecake.
The past couple of days proved to be chaotic ones in the F&B world. Standalone shops selling predominantly beverages — such as bubble tea, packaged and loose snacks (popcorn, nuts, bak kwa), desserts like doughnuts, cookies, ice cream, yogurt, plus cake shops — were labelled non-essential by the government and ordered to close with effect from 22 April, till a tentative date of 4 May. This, along with a one-month extension of the Circuit Breaker till 1 June to battle the burgeoning Covid-19 cases in Singapore.
Even affected businesses with licensed central kitchens cannot do online sales and delivery if their primary category of food falls under “cakes and confectionery, chocolate and chocolate products, chips, crackers and other tidbits, ice-cream and non-chocolate confectionery”.
Stalls selling hot snacks like Old Chang Kee are still allowed to operate, but others such as Bengawan Solo, Lana Cakes, Patisserie Cle, Lucia Cakes, Tarte By Cheryl Koh, Patisserie Glace etc, aren’t.
*Information correct at press time — details may change as bakeries get better clarity from the authorities. All photos cannot be reproduced without permission.
1 of 18Many "grey areas", confusion galore
And then there are shop proprietors who remain unsure of what’s allowed and what’s not under the rather ambiguous, wide-ranging new regulations. An initial Q&A on the government-run website covid.gobusiness.gov.sg said bakeries selling predominately breads, but that also offer some mothers day cakes online, are permitted to sell their entire menu. However, by 23 April, a day after this article was first published, a new rule had emerged: bakeries can only continue to manufacture and sell breads, not sweet stuff. They're allowed to sell their existing online cake inventory but not produce fresh ones for the next couple of weeks. But here's where it gets especially confusing: big boys like BreadTalk, Paris Baguette and Pine Garden (whose AMK HQ which sells breads) are only offering their current online cakes delivery till 26 April, or while stocks last. However, standalone indie bake shops like Edith Patisserie say they've been granted exemptions by the Ministry of Trade & Industry to continue selling cakes for delivery in India. Meanwhile, owner-baker Jane Chung of The Plain Jane café in Serangoon, which sells roll cakes, shares: “I’m still in the midst of clarifying if I can continue to operate the café as there are a lot of grey areas. But I’m going to close shop for these few days until I’m certain”.
We can only speculate: perhaps solo stores with with its minimally staffed kitchens whipping up several cakes for delivery are deemed okay vs large central kitchens powered by numerous employees churning out hundreds of (non-essential) sweet treats daily for several outlets?
2 of 18Does this mean you’re stuck with blah supermarket cakes?
Another interesting two loopholes: cafes that serve both cakes and savoury food are allowed to sell its entire menu. And businesses that import and sell cakes for mothers day online from overseas without having to produce them in Singapore are allowed to continue selling them via delivery. So yes, you can get speciality cakes for mom mothers day online when being holed up at home 24/7 is driving you so insane you need a cupcake like, now. Or when you wanna order a whole cake to celebrate a birthday, or to send your lonely, lovely ma for Mother’s Day cakes online on 10 May. Here's our list of businesses selling more than decent cakes for mothers day online by the slice or whole (accurate at press time, we’ll update it as we go along). Lord knows we all need some sweet relief in our paused lives now.
3 of 18LeTAO
Cheesecake fiends, rejoice. The popular sweet treats brand, which opened in Otaru, Hokkaido, in 1998, is still offering islandwide delivery even though its physical stores are closed. Why? Because it imports its cakes already baked and assembled from Hokkaido that don't have to be produced here. So go nuts ordering their signature chilled Double Fromage Cheesecake and Chocolate Double ($28 for 12cm), or the Mother’s Day-appropriate seasonal special, Berry Fromage $35 for 12cm), a sweet pink confection made with strawberries and raspberries from Japan (available till mid-May).
Call/WhatsApp 8799-3551 or Facebook message to order. Order via delivery (free with minimum order of $85 otherwise, $20 delivery fee islandwide) here: http://www.letaosg.com/menu/
Photo: LeTAO
4 of 18Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory
This Tokyo-born brand is brought to you by the same folks behind fellow Japanese brand LeTao. Both its rich cheesy cookies plus cakes to India online, including the new Tiramisu Cheesecake ($34.90 for 12cm), are available for island-wide delivery though their physical stores are closed for now. They’re also given the green light to continue operating ’cos their products are imported from Japan and not produced here. The compact disc stars coffee sponge cake filled with cheese mousse made from Hokkaido cream cheese and mascarpone cheese. It’s sprinkled with a generous coat of coffee cake crumbs for texture. Might as well throw in a packet of the signature Salt & Camembert Cookies (from $13.80 for 10 pcs) and the Singapore-exclusive flavour of Salted Caramel & Mascarpone Cookies ($18.80 for 10 pcs), too.
Read more at https://www.8days.sg/eatanddrink/newsandopening/where-to-buy-good-bakes-now-that-cakes-shops-are-closed-during-12665468
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