See my title!

HGW Admins, please take down this not-so-review after you declare this place closed hahaha...

So next time cheapo diners at Cassis will no longer get a complimentary plate of petit fours from next door lol. :P

I went to Cassis for lunch and 12+1 for dessert afterwards. While at lunch we were served a plate with an assortment of little dessert bites from 12+1. Although the presentation was pretty, I didn't really find anything too interesting. But since the dessert we ordered at Cassis was a bit of a let down, we decided to give 12+1 a try anyway.

As soon as we walked inside I couldn't help liking the place: very French, very country chic, and very girly. It was completely empty except for us, so it felt like a little private tea salon. We ordered a plate of six mini desserts to share: raspberry, coffee, pistachio and chocolate flavored macarons, opera, and a fresh fig tart. The macarons were dry and too sweet, some even hollow inside. The fig tart was all right, but the Opera was really nice, moist and rich in coffee taste. We also ordered a black forest, which looked very pretty, with stacks of cake and griottes in a neat tower. The taste was so disappointing, however, because the cake layers were completely dry. Could it be day-old, as I suspect the macarons are?

Then the final straw was the earl grey tea that I ordered. It had a funny soapy aftertaste. At first my friends didn't know what I was talking about but after taking a sip she agreed that it did taste like soap.

So the verdict? Buy the Opera for take-out and don't bother with anything else. If you do decide to sit and enjoy the scenery, don't order the tea!

Disclaimer - I've only tried breakfast at Twelve + One so this review does not cover their selection of cakes / desserts, which by all accounts, is good stuff.

We trooped down to Twelve + One on the morning of Deepavali. Perhaps somebody forgot to remind them that this Monday morning was like no other because they were clearly unprepared with only one person staffed at the counter (the poor girl) and everything took quite a while to arrive.

But still the place is pretty and quaint and oh so great for one of those girly get-togethers (except if you're sitting outside be sure to be equipped with blotters - ah the Singapore humidity!). I loved the whole look, and was determined not to let the lack of service be the let down of our Monday public holiday morning.

We shared a chocolate danish and a croissant - but really only because there was hardly anything to choose from (a case of being unprepared or that was really it? I'm not sure). Both of which were served warm and their in-house strawberry jam was a great accompaniment. The coffee was not bad, but didn't quite like their take on the hot chocolate. Liked how everything was served on pretty plates and dining amidst the lush greenery with plenty of natural light is definitely a great way to kickstart a day. I don't think I'd go back during the afternoons though - can imagine myself wiltering in the humidity.

Would possibly pop by to try their desserts if I'm in the area and early enough for a post-dinner dessert. Otherwise with their breakfast selection am not really compelled to head back.

I had the opportunity to do a review on Twelve + One recently. Located at the heart of One Rochester, this recently opened bakery serves a large variety of cakes and pastries all day long.

I managed to try an assortment of cakes and I will just write about a few of my favourites.

I started out with the bread and jams. While I am no major fan of bread, I must say that I was won with the homemade jams, particularly the fig jam which I found had generous portions of fig which is made just for the sweet tooth.

Meanwhile, the Raspberry Macaron is a typical French pastry that has a nice blend of sour and sweet and one can taste the contrasting flavours when biting through the large macaron.

I also enjoyed the Tiramisu, which I felt was a perfect mix and did not come across as being too wet or dry.

If you are a chocolate fan and do not want to go heavy, there is an assortment of rich chocolate pieces that make excellent small bites. One must try is the pistachio chocolate which was excellent with the deep flavours of the dark chocolate melting in your mouth with every bite.

Overall, Chef Julien does a very good job of the cakes, and if you are a big fan of cakes and desserts this is the place to put on your check out list.

Once upon a time in England, if a baker sells a loaf of bread short of its weight he would face severe punishment under the law. So to prevent losing a hand, he would throw in a loaf of bread when the customers buy a dozen loaves....

Down at Rochester Park, Twelve+One is ironically a French patisserie (you know the hatred between the English and French). Perched atop the slope, the baker's dozen sits next to Cassis, which is another establishment under the same management. A little walk up from the carpark under the small drizzle in late afternoon exuded a little charm amidst those colonial landscapes.

Exterior: the whitewashed bungalow, marble tables, rattan chairs.

Interior: curtained windows, charming little cakes on display at the entrance, clean white walls.

Food: the chocolate eclair, morgane and petite 6, with 2 lattes

Service: a good waitstaff who is nice and courteous even though I am no angmoh. comes by to offer water.

Ambience: I am sold on this one.