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Welcome to Da Bao Diaries, a daily column dedicated to what Time Out Singapore's editors are eating and drinking while Singapore's 'circuit breaker' measures are in place till May 4. Da bao is a Singaporean colloquialism derived from Mandarin that refers to having a meal to go instead of dining in at an establishment.
There’s been word going around social media that this small bakery in Clarke Quay churns out brownies soooo good that people wake up at the crack of dawn (6am to be exact) just to join the queue to get some. Insane? Probably. But it definitely has my interest.
Prior to the ‘circuit breaker’ measures, Bundt by The Backyard Bakers sold its brownies individually. Those willing to brave the queue would stand in line long before the bakery opened its door just to get some of that freshly baked stuff. But now, to help reduce the crowd and waiting time, the bakery only sells the brownies in pre-packed bags of 12 pieces ($68.40). Just grab, pay, and be on your way.
Photograph: Fabian Loo
12? But isn’t that too many? Trust me, it's not. Because every single brownie – you get two of each flavour – is just so darn good. Each fudge-y square is a dense, decadent treat. It might come with a middle of salty peanut butter (crunchy, if you were wondering), or baked with Valrhona Dulcey sprinkled with flaky sea salt. It might also, depending on your luck, come studded with rum-soaked raisins or topped with crunchy macadamia. The only problem you’ll find with this bag full of brownies is deciding which one to eat first.
How to order What Bundt offer, and operating hours, might differ from day to day given the new stricter measures. Your best bet is to follow them on Instagram @thebackyardbakers, where updates on the menu and ordering instructions are posted daily. As of now, the bakery only accepts pre-orders – so fastest fingers first.