You’ve probably tried mimicking the way French people say the word “croissant”, and we don’t blame you – there’s something extremely satisfying about exaggerating your lip movements and adding the little lilt at the end for that extra French flair. This new bakery at Clarke Quay understands this as well, taking on the tongue-in-cheek name Kwaasong Bakeshop. Alongside the funny pronunciation, the word kwaasong is a double entendre that takes on another meaning in Hokkien, and is used when you feel satisfied after seeing something visually appealing – a feeling you’ll get when you see Kwaasong Bakeshop’s gorgeous bakes.
Although croissants can be found in almost every bakery, a good croissant is hard to find. The perfect croissant is a combination of a crisp and buttery puff pastry that does not feel dense or greasy, and Kwaasong’s croissants are exactly that. Priced at $4.50, the kwaasong – sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves – has a beautiful golden-brown crust and maintains an airiness that spares you from any post-indulgence guilt.
Besides the croissants, its egg tarts stand out amongst the rest of the baked goods available. Similar to Portuguese egg tarts, Kwaasong’s egg tarts ($5.50) feature a caramelised top and a pudding-like consistency paired with a flaky puff pastry akin to the texture of a croissant. The most unique part of the egg tart is its shape: instead of choosing to adopt the typical circle, Kwaasong’s egg tarts take on a more oblong shape.
This oblong shape can be found in most of their baked goods, such as the mentaiko sausage baton ($7.50) and almond baton ($5.50). Although unconventional, this baton will prove to be a distinctive identifier in the future – if the puff pastry boasts an oblong shape, you can be sure it’s from Kwaasong!
Kwaasong Bakeshop opened in the last week of 2023 and is currently in its soft-launch phase. It is now a takeaway-only store, so to get your hands on these baked treats, preorder through the shop’s Instagram. You can also visit the store to get a cup of coffee crafted with Padre Coffee’s Lucky Boy blend, hailing from the specialty coffee roaster in Melbourne, Australia.
