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Welcome to Da Bao Diaries, a column dedicated to what Time Out Singapore's editors are eating and drinking while Singapore's 'circuit breaker' measures are in place till June 1. Da bao is a Singaporean colloquialism derived from Mandarin that refers to having a meal to go instead of dining in at an establishment.
Here’s the thing that you should know about Brotherbird Bakehouse: getting a box of its famed croissants is stressful business. The bakery doesn’t have an e-commerce website (still a WIP), so the only way to lay your hands on its highly coveted flaky treats are done through a fastest-fingers-first system. Its ordering procedure changes from time to time, but for the latest sales, you’ll need to head over to its Facebook page and place your orders via the Google Form. Boxes are snagged up within two minutes, so it's a race against time – and other croissant-crazed keyboard warriors – to hit that ‘submit’ button.
But the stress is worth it if you’re lucky enough to get a box or two (each person is only limited to a maximum of two boxes). Expect golden, buttery pastries that come stuffed with a variety of flavours. Depending on the month’s line-up, croissants might come with an unexpected chewy middle of rose and raspberry mochi, floral and soft, or baked using chocolate dough and dipped in matcha chocolate. In the month of May, you might find yourself with a dalgona coffee-inspired pastry, or a taro tangyuan creation. They are great as a mid-day treat, and taste even better when warmed in the toaster for the next day’s breakfast.
Missed your chance to get a box? There's a small consolation: the bakery recently launched its bottled cold brew ($7 for 300ml) which is available for pick-ups and deliveries.
HOW TO ORDER Each box ($28) comes pre-packed with six flavours, and there’s an $8 island-wide delivery fee to one location. Stay updated by following @brotherbird_bakehouse on Instagram for when the latest drop is. To order its cold brew, slide into its DMs.