For the chocolate lovers
Don't take magnesium for granted.
This naturally abundant mineral is said to have calming properties as well as boosting happiness.
And one of the best sources of magnesium is chocolate - the more bitter, the better.
If you are one of those couples who don't need a fancy dinner complete with candle light and some chichi wine, let's get creative with some simple chocolate action.
And you can do it every day. A great lover celebrates Valentine's any time.
THE BAKERY CHEF
Block 161, Bukit Merah Central, #01-3711
10am-7pm daily
It's a little retail outlet in the middle of the heartlands with a hipster touch.
Think cement floor and brick walls with chalkboard menus.
What you are after is the Chocolate Guanaja, our favourite among the three chocolatey signatures there.
It's not much of a looker but if you let it warm up to room temperature, this choco-bomb will stun you with that melt-in-your-mouth effect.
It's not overly sweet yet it's rich.
Take a short drive to Labrador Park with a cup of kopi o kosong (black coffee without sugar) and count the stars at night, or watch the sun dip into the sea by the park.
JANE'S CAKE STATION
265, Jalan Kayu
Noon-6.30pm Mondays to Saturdays
Noon-4pm Sundays and public holidays
They have been receiving star billings since Makansutra first listed them in its food guide more than a decade ago.
The little stall is not fitted out for any hipster appeal. It is just a stall front with a huge chiller storing pre-ordered cakes. It looks more like a Housing Board living room with a fridge.
They swear by the rich softness of the sponge cake. The bittersweet chocolate cream smoothened over the cake has a faint and appealing hint of saltiness.
A slice of the cake comes wobbly and meltingly soft.
Beware the durian version - it's another to-die-for offering at this place.
Take a drive into the old Seletar Airbase or better still, to Upper Peirce Reservoir.
It is cool, calm and full of nature - including a few monkeys and squirrels.
MR BAGUETTE
505, Beach Road, Golden Mile Food Centre, #B1-51
Noon to 7.30pm, closed on Sundays
Get a box of their very popular chocolate baguette balls, with a bottle of Moscato, and take a five-minute ride across to the charming Tanjong Rhu waterfront by the stadium.
Kick off your shoes, let your hair down and tear into those oozy chocolate baguette balls. You can then talk about the first time you met.
But that conversation will likely stop within 10 seconds - the molten dark gold is likely to overflow onto your face when you attempt to bite into the crispy baguette ball.
You will look like kids after their first bar of chocolate and that's where the conversation warms up.
MAX BRENNER CHOCOLATE BAR
1, Harbourfront Walk, #01-116, VivoCity
10am to 10pm Mondays to Thursdays 10am to 11pm Fridays and Saturdays
This is one of the first chocolate restaurants here.
Many may have forgotten their signature Suckao chocolate milk - where a shot of milk is warmed over a special tea light and you drop dark chocolate pellets in as it heats up. That is still as appealing.
Just sit by the glass door and stare into the waters. Gaze into forever with your partner. A perfect way to spend an evening.
- MAKANSUTRA, FOUNDED BY KF SEETOH, IS A COMPANY THAT CELEBRATES ASIAN FOOD CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE. IT PUBLISHES FOOD GUIDES IN AND AROUND THE REGION, PRODUCES A FOOD SERIES, DEVELOPS INTERACTIVE MOBILE CONTENT AND SERVICES, OPERATES FOODCOURTS AND EATERIES, ORGANISES FOOD TOURS AND EVENTS, AND CONSULTS ON CULINARY CONCEPTS.
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