I like how precise the Japanese are. They described Asanoya Bakery as 250 steps away from Bras Basah MRT Station Exit. 250 steps.
The Asanoya brand is 81 years old, founded in 1933 in Karuizawa Japan. The bakery is known for its rustic Japanese-style bread, with a European twist and baked in a traditional stone ovens (modern ones in Singapore).
The Singapore branch is a collaboration with Tan Chong Motors, whom now we know sell more than Nissans. They also offer freshly made sandwiches, hot meals and authentic Karuizawa beer and wine.
Wait wait wait… Queen Street. That is beside St Joseph Church facing Waterloo, a rather atypical place to set up a Japanese style bakery with a view. Waterlook flats view to be precise.
Do the rich Japanese tai tais come here for their pastries and cup of tea? My friend quipped, “No, both the real and wannabes go to Henri Charpentier lah. The rest are here for the bread.”
I like how big, long and spacious this bakery is – the ordering counter at one side, the seating area at the other.
Their top few bake is Fruits Rye ($6.50 for half load), a mixture of fragrant orange peel, rum infused raisins, lightly crushed walnuts and almonds mixed into a delicate rye bread. That is quickly sold out daily, so go early in the day.
My personal favourite was the Tea Bread ($4.20) which had an alluring light fragrance of Earl Grey, soft and chewy with taste coming from sweetened milk.
A more dramatic visual spectacular would be the Chocolate Lava or Green Tea Lava Cube ($4.50), with option of adding a scoop of Haagen Dazs ice cream ($8.50). Think molten lava cake in a rustic square bread format.
The chocolate fillings went into a sudden burst when cut open, while a friend’s matcha did not have such luck – the filling stayed unmoved. No feeling.
A surprise find was the Hokkaido Sweet Red Bean Donut ($2.80) located at the bottom of the shelf. The outer donut layer was the sugary kind, which reminded me of those eaten during childhood.
The drawbacks are its unusual location (there is really not much for people watching), and primary bread offerings, leaving cake lovers no room to enjoy their sweet deals. Their carbs are of good Japanese quality though. Oishii.
Asanoya Bakery Singapore
Wilby Central, 15 Queen Street, Singapore 188537 (250 Steps from Bras Basah MRT Station Exit
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon-Thurs), 10am – 10pm (Fri), 8am – 10pm (Sat), 8am – 8pm (Sun)
Other Related Entries
Pantler (Telok Ayer)
Artisan Boulangerie Co. (Katong I12)
PAUL Bakery (Ngee Ann City)
Tiong Bahru Bakery (Raffles City)
Maison Kayser (Scotts Square)
The post Asanoya Bakery – 81 Year Old Japanese Bakery Comes To Singapore appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.
