A-1 Bakery is a local chain which churns out quite high quality Japanese-style breads at a premium price. Their cakes, on the other hand, are really good value for their size and quality. I got this piece of Chestnut and Green Tea cake at a discount ($17.5 instead of $20), and it’s quite hefty! Layers from top to bottom: green tea mousse, whipped cream, green tea sponge, chestnut puree and chestnut bits, chestnut sponge.I really don’t like sponge cake. Usually, local bakeries make sponge cakes which are REALLY spongy as in they bounce back when you fork in, and they have a distinctive sweet eggy taste which tastes too plain to me. Also, more often than not, it tends to get dried out in the fridge. It’s also not very satisfying. This cake surprised me by being NOTHING like that. The sponge was extremely moist and tasted strongly of matcha, having the bitter edge as well. The chestnut puree was VERY generous in quantity. It didn’t feel like it was mixed with whipped cream either, as it was quite thick. However, it wasn’t too dense and pasty like the Angelina Mont Blanc. I’m still wondering if I got a bad one…cus that one was seriously almost inedible. There were lots of chestnut bits as well, which provided textural difference. On the whole, the cake is not too sweet (makes sense as a Japanese style cake); on the other hand, the generosity of the chestnut filling made the cake very satisfying. The only gripe I have is that the green tea mousse on top was too thin and tasteless; I guess it’s really just there for decoration.

I have to admit I've never paid much attention to Breadtalk, as it always seemed like an overpriced version of Maxim's. I guess we pay for the brand's airfare from Singapore? Lol! But one day, while passing by the Ma On Shan branch, this Blackforest Roll enticed me. I was really craving something chocolatey and creamy, and the swiss rolls from local bakeries were either too small and without enough cream (Arome Bakery), or too local with dense cake and oily cream. Don't get me wrong...I do enjoy the local kind of swiss roll every now and then, but I was really craving the more Japanese style, moist, sponge, whipped creamy roll.This roll from Breadtalk certainly hit the spot. The cake was very moist and spongy with an acceptable chocolate taste, helped by the chocolate flakes on top. There was a LOT of chocolate cream inside, which tasted like...uh...chocolate whipped cream. Although not high quality milky whipped cream, it wasn't the oily mouthfeel Chinese-style cream either. So yum. There were also generous pieces of marinated sweet cherries, which totally beats the jellies local bakeries used. I hoped for rum-soaked cherries, but for local standards, this was more than alright.

The apple tart was also from Breadtalk. I've been meaning to to try this for a long time, but always hesitated as it looked really light with a sponge cake base, and I might not like it. I got it this time thinking that in case I didn't like it, I'd still have the roll. It turned out to be okay. As it turns out, there was a tart crust as well, albeit very thin and underbaked, being the same color as the spongecake. That's why I never noticed it. The apples are still crunchy and a bit dried out; it was covered by a dusting of cinnamon. The spongecake was moist, but on the oily side. With reheating in the oven to crisp up the tart base, the tart wasn't too bad. However, I don't think I'll be shelling out $8 for it again anytime soon....I'd rather go have a McDonald's apple pie, or even pay a little more for a Pie & Tart apple pie which is a million times better.

I've been eyeing the under construction shop forever...and finally, after along and agonizing wait, it's open! I'm sure everyone knows Tuttimelon well from their location at The One in TST. With the new branch in Shatin, this is the first chain froyo store that has opened in the Shatin area.

On the day that I visited, it was its first day of operations. The tutti-girls were nicely handing out samples. Tuttimelon operates on a self-serve basis (which I love because I can control how little or how MUCH I want). There were several flavours available that day: Original Tart, Honeydew Melon, Lychee, Strawberry, and Mango. I had a bit of each, then proceeded to the toppings counter which was very well stocked with fresh fruits, cereals, cookies, and syrups. As it was their first day of opening, everything was very fresh. As for the environment...this store doesn't have seats like the one at The One (lol) but that's alright...froyos are portable anyways. I chose oreo chunks, graham cracker crumbs, mochi (of several different flavours!), mangoes, and granola. They also had a dark green tutti spoon which is exclusive to this location! I love how their spoons are so well made...makes them collectible. As always, Tuttimelon yogurts are very well flavoured and I was satisfied. A minor peeve this time was that it melted a bit quickly, which may be due to the fact that it's still in its baby stages of operation and needs to smooth some kinks out! Hopefully it'll be firmer the next time I visit (which will be very very soon).
Hope their chocolate flavour and almond roca toppings will come to this store soon!

I love mochi-like snacks, whether from Japan, China or any other Asian country. It delighted me to find out that Chinese Go Go has opened a branch in Shatin! However, it seemed a bit empty the few times I've been there...hope they won't close down soon I love their idea of combining Chinese 糯米磁 with new and exciting flavours. They also carry other traditional snacks such as 大菜糕, 缽仔糕， and Chinese-dessert style pancakes. Their mochi are apparently handmade fresh everyday, which beats pre-packaged ones found in the supermarket as well!

The desserts they sell at the shop are kept covered in a fridge. This, I think, makes them more hygenic than those 糯米磁 or Chinese snack stalls in wetmarkets with bugs flying around (but I still buy from them sometimes lol...my sweet tooth disregards anything hindering me from satisfying it)

I had many different mochi on several occasions. They are $5/one and $13/three:

Mango Tofu This is one of their limited editions, only available on Saturdays I believe. It's also one of my favourite flavours. The tofu taste comes out quite strong, and the mango adds another dimension to it.

Tofu The tofu-ness is same as the Mango Tofu one, but this one tastes cleaner.

Banana Chocolate I actually really like this one. The chocolate isn't too liquidy or gel-like...it was like the texture of unrefrigerated Nutella. And who can go wrong with banana and chocolate?

Sesame A traditional flavour...very strong sesame taste. Might be a bit bitter to those liking sweet sesame paste. I quite liked it though as I like the roasty flavour of black sesame. The kinako powder on the outside also suited it nicely.

Papaya Milk This was one flavour I didn't enjoy. There was no milky taste whatsoever. The papaya was sweet enough, but I was expecting some melding of flavours. Instead, it was just papaya and some goopy substance inside the mochi which added nothing to the enjoyment.

九層糕 MMmmm...I really liked the texture of this thing! I've had this from some stalls in wetmarkets, but this one tasted more delicate and refreshing. It tasted strongly of cane sugar, which I love. Not always available, so get it while you can!

The skin on all of them was similar with a glutinous-y, floury taste while not being too sweet, which I love They also have some mochi with dessicated coconut on the outside, but I LOATHE dessicated coconut, so I love how they have a myriad of flavours WITHOUT the coconut coating. The proportion of fillings to skin was just right as well (in comparison, I've had many wetmarket mochis with hit-and-miss skins). I REALLY REALLY hope this place doesn't close down!! The aunt working there is super nice too...but I feel bad for her as it seems like not many people visit the shop

The packaging for the snacks are super cute too...with pastel colours. Honestly I think it's a great business idea...don't know why it hasn't been popular!