Raging popularity: Fatcat Ice-Cream Bar

Pictures of Fatcat are circulating around virtual space so much... you feel like you have to go. So is it a case of fear of missing out, or it's an experience that would you would reminisce about weeks after it has left your tongue? I'd say: both (but... there's always a but, that's for you to find out as read-baits). Not to be confused with The Fat Cat at the little Holland Village enclave of restaurants and bars, this little Fatcat Ice-Cream Bar rests itself in the most nondescript, but increasingly gentrified neighbourhood of Bedok North.

I've heard a lot of raves from the local food enthusiasts who seek out the freshly-sprouted cafes. This enticed me to travel more than halfway across the country; but I try to banish all thoughts about the compliments for Fatcat as I enter because I've felt how overhyping can ruin pretty good food. The whole atmosphere in the cafe felt pretty serene, in a different sort of peacefulness from the quiet buzz of the residential area right outside. The service staff were responsive, but it felt like they were either nervous or inexpressive with very serious and aloof faces.

Well, well! To create something so pretty extraordinary-yet-natural (if you know what I mean), I'd expect a lot of serious creative skills. This is the eggnog pudding which was given to us on-the-house.

Mojito spheres are the most photogenic little babies which are conceived by a culinary technique of reverse spherification. They visibly appear like jelly and hold up so wobbly well in the spoon, but that tingly anticipation dissipates into an amazing citrusy bubble-like bursting the moment it hits the roof of the mouth. Each of this amazingly extraordinary pop comes at a whopping $4.50 which I found to be very expensive, relative to the amount of time that I spent eating it (read: 1.5 seconds). But... it has gotten me thinking about it ever since. Your call: will you pay for experience?

Chocolat jardin (French for garden) is another very beautiful creation which I enjoyed tremendously. I was quite impressed with the deconstructed chocolate mousse cake topped with cherry brandy sorbet particularly because of the moistness of the cake mousse which does not loose its meshed texture. The crunchy caramelized biscuits, the very occasional grainy fleur de sel, succulent blackberries, and the alcohol-tang of the sorbet honestly builds up to an amazing combination of flavour magnitude that exceeded all expectations of desserts. Really well played, I would say... especially with that tree trunk platter that fit the garden-theme.

Their premium waffles are nothing short of remarkable because they go all out to differentiate themselves from the conventional waffles-and-ice-cream combination. Listen up now: how does butterbeer ice-cream, salted egg yolk sauce and gourmet charcoal waffles (and a touch of lavender) sound like? ANYTIME. Relative to its sweet counterparts, this dessert is not as beautiful but I got to say it's a clear winner in terms of value-for-money and taste.

In my imagination, mixing beer and butter must be damn weird. I couldn't be further from the truth... I was actually secretly wondering if it has overtaken my favourite mango sorbets, froyos, pistachios and Stracciatella to rank as the number one ice-cream I've ever eaten. Possibly. The butter made it very rich and luxurious, and the beer is just a little tint to the overall flavour - it somehow just worked very well. Throw some salted egg yolk sauce into the mix, along with the salted caramel drizzled on the side and caressing lavender undertones... god this is amazing. I really hope I'm not overhyping it for you, but well.. this is very good and I enjoyed it so much. Though I have to admit that a huge part of the enjoyment comes from novelty, it also means that you should try it at least once.

After all the vavavoom desserts, the Banana Nutella feels like a little return trip back to Earth from the imperial palace feast table. Made of caramelized bananas, powdery Nutella, hazelnuts - like deconstructed Nutella - I would say the dollop of Hay & Honey ice-cream takes the crown. This flavour has a sweet earthy honey slant to it that. Share this with a friend or it'll get cloying, but not more than that to prevent fights.