Back at one of my favourite dessert places. ?
Japanese patisserie chain Henri Charpentier used to be located at Dempsey and it boasted a pretty and atas outfit that really made us feel like tai-tais when dining in.
Now that the Dempsey restaurant is closed, we can still head to their two outlets at Tanjong Pagar Centre and Orchard Central. The whole atmosphere is more cafe-like but less pretentious and honestly, more welcoming. Seems like the closure of the Dempsey outlet isn’t too much a loss, really. At least, these two locations are way more accessible to get to.
I was running errands in Tanjong Pagar some time back. And when I headed towards the MRT Station, I was just drawn by the aroma of pastries in the oven. Hmmm. Couldn’t resist so decided to have my tea break even though I just had lunch like minutes ago, haha.
Located on the same level as the Tanjong Pagar MRT Station. The moment you exit from the gantry gate, walk towards Tanjong Pagar Centre and you should be able to spot the cafe easily.
From the sweets department, there were cakes, mille crepes, choux buns, tarts, mousse, jellies, etc.
There were also savouries like sandwiches, croissants and more.
My usual drink to order. ? The Gryphon Earl Grey Lavender Tea ($4.80 for a pot) was enough for sharing between two persons as hot water was refillable. This tea is like the best accompaniment to sweet treats. Always aromatic and soothing.
These Honey Small Bites ($2.80) seemed like they were just freshly made and served up so I just had to get one cup while they were still deliciously warm.
These morsels were basically bread cubes with honey and milk with a dusting of powdered sugar. Tasted just like French toast. Crispy on the outside and soft, pudding-like in the middle.
First time trying the Mille Crepe ($9.60) which honestly, didn’t look as good as the ones from Lady M.
True enough, the crepes were firm and dense, not soft and fluffy like Lady M’s. However, the cream between layers tasted quite light and refreshing. Overall, this wasn’t too sweet.
One of my must-orders from Henri Charpentier is this Strawberry Roll Cake ($4.90).
It might look like an ordinary Swiss roll with strawberries but that sweet strawberry flavour really stood out from the cream and cake. The texture of the cream resembled that of whipped cream which was extremely light. Slightly on the sweeter side but still on an acceptable level for me without feeling sickly of it. And that was why I totally enjoyed this cake every time as it didn’t leave me with a sugar rush and this heavy or cloying feeling in the tummy.
Japanese-French patisseries are usually my first choice when it comes to sweet treats because of their pretty presentations, delicate textures and high quality of ingredients. Most importantly, most of these Japanese-French inspired creations do not weigh you down with saturated richness. Exactly how I love my desserts. And the ones here at Henri Charpentier did not disappoint. ??
10.00am to 8.00pm (Sat-Sun)