DOUGH – New Cafe/Bakery With Chill Alfresco Seating Opens in CHIJMES

I’ve always had a pretty good impression of the F&B offerings at CHIJMES so I was especially excited to learn that a new cafe has opened in their midst. Fitting right in with the whimsically tranquil complex is DOUGH, a Korean-inspired cafe-slash-bakery. 

Before we explore the interior, can I just say how much I regret not sitting outside? The al fresco seating boasted a cosy, Scandivian vibe complete with wooden furniture, neutral-tone pillows and a fun-looking beanbag. Potted greenery added pops of colour that provide a soothing calm.

That’s not to say that I disliked the interior. In stark contrast to the casual setting outside, the  interior gave off a more elegant feel with marble tabletops and warm lighting. There were even three more tables fitted into an alcove with dimmer lights.

Unlike a regular cafe, the bakery section of DOUGH lets customers pick and choose their own baked goods. Kind of like regular bakeries, but fancier. 

There’s quite a variety to choose — ranging from savoury breads like the sun-dried-tomato-and-goat-cheese Fougasse ($5) to sweet pastries such as the Kouign Amann ($5) and Babka ($9). 

Here for lunch and after something more filling? DOUGH also whips up pretty good mains such as Spicy Kimchi & Tomato pasta ($22), Chicken Thigh ($26), Wagyu Burger ($26) and Salmon ($28). 

The Strawberry Brioche ($5) was quite the looker with its meringue crust. Below it was a fluffy brioche bun made with French flour and AOP butter. 

As we broke it apart, a strawberry compote and custard were revealed. The filling was not as generous as I would have liked it to be but it was certainly interesting. Why? The custard contained the fragrance of basil, giving it a curious herbaceous taste and making it a unique combo with the tartness of the strawberry. Not bad, I’d say.

I love matcha and I love mochi so the Matcha Mochi ($5) definitely appealed to me. The brioche bun was topped with a ceremonial matcha crust. 

Even though it looks simple, there’s a surprise hidden within. While it wasn’t as exciting as a cheese pull, it was still pretty fascinating to see the chewy milk mochi getting pulled apart. Along with it came some azuki paste. Like the Strawberry Brioche, the filling was dismal in portion, which was a pity as they did pull off the taste. Make the matcha a little stronger and it would have gotten an A. For this, I’d give it a strong B minus. 

My favourite was the Passionfruit Black Tea Cake ($8). Not only was it nice to look at, its combination of flavours and texture were spot on. The cake was infused with Rishi breakfast tea and would have been a tad dry if eaten on its own. But once I spooned it with the passionfruit and Madagascar vanilla cream into my mouth, it was absolutely heavenly. The thyme leaves gracing the top of the cake also added a great depth of flavour. 

If you like switching between sweet and savoury flavours like me, go for the Smoked Duck Focaccia ($6) topped with house-pickled onions. I don’t usually fancy hard breads, but would bite into the heavily-flavoured focaccia anytime. It was a tad too oily though, so you might want to brace yourself. 

Their White ($5) was brewed using a custom-made La Marzocco espresso machine, so you know they take their coffee seriously. The brew was robust with a hint of nuttiness to it. The Iced Mocha ($7) had rich, dark notes from the chocolate.

I really liked the bakery concept and hopefully it fares well execution-wise once COVID restrictions are not as stringent. One thing’s for sure, I’m definitely sitting outside the next time I come!

MissTamChiak.com made an anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

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