One of the good things to come out of the pandemic are home-based businesses.
That was a time when chefs stuck at home and budding home cooks spent more time in their kitchen to tinker with ideas and create their signatures.
The Homme Baker at Margaret Drive (near Queenstown MRT station) is one of the final products, following in the footsteps of other home-based businesses which successfully turned into brick-and-mortar stores.
Like most pandemic businesses, The Homme Baker sprung up right in March 2020.
It is operated by Pond, a Bangkok-born pastry chef.
Explains the play on words in the bakery name: “homme” meaning male, but also a spelling change on “Home Baker”.
The physical store at Margaret Market being in a rather residential area might be considered an ode to its roots.
It is decorated with class, using tall tables and bar stools to imitate a posh dining room where fancy desserts can be enjoyed.
This environment is befitting of the gastronomic creations that Homme Baker serves. A tribute to the Tom and Jerry cartoon, the T&J Collection is the bestseller and signature piece that is the brainchild of Chef Pond.
Each piece of a T&J cake looks exactly like a pop art swiss cheese, complete with the recognisable holes and comically triangular shape.
There are six flavours: T&J Ondeh, T&J Cheesecake Original, T&J Dark Chocolate Banoffee, T&J Strawberry Shortcake, T&J Raspberry Panna Cotta, and T&J Yuzu.
Each piece goes from $8.80.
All six flavours go in a Whole Box from $46.30 (to $52.30, depending on flavours).
Start with the Cheesecake Original, made with a recipe that emphasises richness and creaminess, with a complementing caramel chocolate shell.
Note that even though they are called “cheesecakes”, they are not really your American-style Cheesecakes per se, but merely look like one.
I had the signature T&J Ondeh – its exterior fashioned like a Cheesecake but is actually a pandan chocolate shell, lending a whimsical air to the overall presentation.
You would find the outer layer brittle and fragrant, reveal the layers of nostalgic-delight within.
As you delve deeper, the cake unveils a stratified filling inspired by Ondeh Ondeh’s distinctive composition. The cake layers, plush and richly flavoured, retain the familiar bath of coconut gratings and gula melaka.
Strawberry Shortcake definitely gives satisfaction if fruits are a requirement, since it is stuffed generously with fresh strawberries.
For special occasions, consider their whole cakes like the Auspicious Mandarin Orange Cake ($60), Classic Pineapple Upside Down Cake ($60), and the “Be Proud & Gorgeous” Chocolate Cake ($75).
These are also available in sliced forms.
I am just thankful that another talented chef has managed to turn his passion into something we can all enjoy. Queenstown is also becoming more ‘happening’, and I am loving it.
The Homme Baker
38 Margaret Drive, Margaret Market 01-08, Singapore 141038
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 8:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Other Related Entries
Margaret Market Food Guide
WaWa Lala Bee Hoon (Margaret Drive)
Emart24 Singapore (Margaret Drive)
Urban Folks (Margaret Drive)
Bowen’s Cafe (Margaret Drive)
* Written by Dean Ang and Daniel Ang. Additional photos from Nicholas Tan @stormscape. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
