The new BreadTalk outlet at Wheelock Place is apparently fancier than the other outlets as it draws inspiration from “modern art galleries”. No, there aren’t any artworks displayed here. BreadTalk’s Brand Director, Soh Lizhen explains, “Our modern art gallery concept is presented in the form of our product creations which are works of art sculptures created by our master chefs ”. So the “artworks” in this sense are the food creations. Okay.

The bakery will also be launching over 60 new products which will be eventually released islandwide — including a new series of “chilled buns” for Singapore’s hot weather. There’s also a selection of Asian-inspired sandwiches with fillings using impossible meat and eggs infused with truffle.

But only at the Wheelock branch of BreadTalk will you get house-brewed soy milk made from non genetically modified soybeans from Canada, served on tap. It comes in 10 different flavours such as yam, red bean, pumpkin and peanuts, topped with soy whipped cream and their signature pork floss for a sweet and savoury combination. According to BreadTalk, the drink is also lower in sugar than the usual soy drinks.

BreadTalk’s new store opens this Friday, 28 Aug. BreadTalk will also be hosting a Facebook live on 27 Aug, 8pm to give a sneak peek of the new space and products.

#B2-01 Wheelock Place, S238880. Open daily. Sun - Thurs 8am - 9pm; Fri -Sat 8am - 930pm. Tel: 6310-4344. https://www.breadtalk.com.sg/

Photos: BreadTalk

BreadTalk Group’s second fresh concept is a hip cafe called Butter Bean, which will open its first outlet at Funan mall on 28 Aug (a second branch opens in VivoCity in September). It overhauls the traditional Nanyang kopi experience to something more modern to appeal to the younger crowd. So expect contemporary twists to traditional Singaporean dishes. Here’s a look at their signature items.

As its name suggests, Butter Bean uses the Torrefacto method to roast its blend of Arabica and Robusta beans. What this means is that the beans are coated with a layer of sugar and butter before roasting, kopitiam-style. Their contemporary spin on traditional Nanyang coffee includes the signature BBrûlée Kopi Latte ($3.20) — aside from adding fresh milk, the coffee is also topped with a salted cream foam and sugar before being torched for a caramelised finish. There’s also the G.M. Kopi BBliss ($3.50) — coffee and fresh milk blended with ice, topped with whipped cream and drizzled with gula melaka. Don’t want coffee? There’s also a selection of iced tea. The BB Rose ($3.50) is inspired by the Bandung drink and features rose jelly in rose water, topped with salted cream foam.

A cup of coffee should be enjoyed with toast. At Butter Bean, there are a total of eight varieties (from $2 per slice). The loaves of bread are baked fresh daily in-store — made from a recipe using New Zealand butter and Japanese flour. Their signature toast is the PB & J ($2.80) — a sweet and savoury combination of peanut butter and strawberry jam. Other flavours include Milky Milo, Flossy Chick and the classic kaya. For an extra $3, you can upgrade to a set that comes with two eggs (traditional half-boiled or Hanjuku-style) and a hot drink of either regular coffee or tea.

The cheerfully packaged sandwiches (from $4.20) are crammed with cheese, omelette, lettuce, along with your choice of a protein and house-made sauce. They look a lot like those from funky Korean sarnie chain, Egg Drop. For meat, there’s honey-baked ham, fried fish or chicken. Sauces include curry, black pepper, garlic sesame or thousand island. Don’t know what combo works? Butter Bean recommends the thousand island sauce for the fish and ham, or the curry and black pepper for your fried chicken. Top up $2.20 for a cup of regular iced tea or coffee.

Butter Bean also offers four local dishes. This includes the hilariously named Hey You Hae Mee ($6.80). Chicken broth is cooked with prawn heads, hae bee (dried shrimp) and comes topped with prawns, braised chicken and dried fish bits. The other signature dish is the Curry On Sunshine ($6.80), featuring fried chicken thigh and scrambled eggs draped over rice, served with a side of curry and potatoes.

Butter Bean opens in Funan mall this Friday, 28 Aug. Enjoy 50% off selected signature items from 28 Aug to 30 Aug.

#01-01 Funan Mall, 109 North Bridge Rd, S179105. Open daily. 8am - 9pm. https://www.facebook.com/butterbeansg

Photos: Butter Bean