Starter Lab Singapore – You Must Try This Famous Sourdough Bakery From Bali!

I’m sure everyone has heard of the famous Tartine Bakery from San Francisco. Well, there’s a new kid on the block definitely worth checking out if you’re a big fan of sourdough. Co-founder Emerson Manibo trained at the famous Per Se restaurant in New York, and Tartine Bakery before venturing into his own bakery business, Starter Lab, back in 2017. Stater Lab hails from Canggu, Bali. Their outlet at Havelock Road is their very second one! They are said to create such amazing sourdough bakes that locals and tourists flock there daily.

It’s definitely not a simple feat for a homegrown brand to gain such a loyal following and open an overseas branch so quickly, so they must be doing something right. In fact, their sourdoughs are so popular that  they even partner with numerous renowned restaurants back in Bali. Their secret? A three-year old mother dough starter that’s the beginning of every beautiful loaf.

To create their famous sourdoughs, Starter Lab handcrafts and ferments each loaf for at least 24 hours before baking. You could even see the bakers hard at work through the glass windows of their open concept kitchen if you time your trip right.

On top of the sourdough loaves, they also sell other delights such as the Miso Baguette, Milky White, Foccacia, Scones, Banana Bread, and what looked like a cruffin. I got a little taste of the Miso Baguette and it was definitely more unique than a regular baguette. Slightly more savoury than usual, with a hint of umami and sourness. I see it going perfectly with just some butter.

Starter Lab offers a list of open-faced Post Toasts (served all day), and Sandwiches that are only served after 11am. I decided to go for the Honeyed Mascarpone toast ($14) which features house-made Mascarpone, honey, crushed walnuts, bee pollen, and Black Sea salt on a seeded toast, as well as the Starter Lab 3 Cheese on rosemary ($19).

The mascarpone was light, but creamy, and was a match made in heaven with the slightly sweet honey. The walnuts provided a nice textural contrast, and a touch of nuttiness. The entire thing was gone before I even knew it! That’s how much we loved it!

I’m not going to lie, I was originally a little shocked at the price tag of the Starter Lab 3 Cheese. I mean, after all, it is essentially a grilled cheese sandwich right?

Right before it’s served, it’s toasted to perfection. Filled with three different cheeses, the sandwiched seemed like it would get pretty jelak quickly but surprisingly, it was okay! Alternating the sandwich with some of the pickled jalapeños definitely helped to balance things out. When I took my first bite, I was delighted by how the different cheeses came together with the sourdough to create one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I’ve had. But is it worth the $19 price tag? I’m still trying to decide on that.

Starter Lab definitely serves up amazing bakes and I respect them for their commitment to being eco-friendly. When I went to wash my hands after the meal, I noticed that instead of paper towels, they provide actual towels for drying your hands (wow, it’s like a fancy hotel). They also use bamboo toilet rolls and even organic hand soap.

Although their prices might be a tad steep, they’re definitely worth a visit for those who love sourdough and European bread!