Apple pie of my eye

I love and loathe trying new food places.

I love the thrill and excitement of finding a potential gem. But at the same time, I loathe not knowing if I'm wasting good money on lousy food.

Of late, with the constant stream of new restaurant openings, I seem to be spending on a lot of mediocre food.

That being said, you never know until you try.

Recently, I tried some items from Moonstone, a five-month-old bakery in Clementi Central, a short walk from Clementi Mall and the MRT station.

Some items there are not only worth the calories, but also worth the money too.

The Cinnamon Apple Tart, at just $28 for a 20cm one, is a steal, given its quality and stunning appearance. A slice goes for $3.80.

Its floral pattern is almost mesmerising. How wonderful to find an HDB bakery with such promise.

A tart of this size from a brand-name bakery or hotel will set you back at least $40.

The tart shell is buttery and not too crumbly, and has been baked to a golden brown. It has good texture and a nice richness to it.

The filling is sublime.

Just looking at the petite slices of apple that have been sprinkled with cinnamon powder and coated in glistening gelatine is enough to whet the appetite.

Tuck in and it is everything you imagined and more. It isn't too sweet and has all the right flavours of a wholesome apple tart.

The Honey Yuzu chiffon and Double-Chocolate chiffon cakes ($6.80 each) are worth trying too. For Christmas, it has a Blueberry Yogurt chiffon ($8.80).

Other items include soft buns, yuzu polo buns, and loaves of bread with pumpkin and pumpkin seeds, or purple sweet potato. Christmas treats range from gingerbread to stollen with marzipan.

Moonstone is a real gem indeed.

rltan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Dec 14, 2014.
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