It wasn’t too long ago when we were hit by that brunch wave and everyone was having eggs benedict at 11am on a Saturday. I don’t know why that trend fizzled away because avo toast served with fruity mimosa’s sure sounds like a perfect weekend to me.
A possible reason could be that these brunch places were usually all-style and no substance (read: great for Instagram, but lacklustre and overpriced in the food department).
Well, Elixir Boutique Roasters at Serene Centre might just be the place you want to have brunch again. You might think I’m getting way ahead of myself but allow me to explain why Elixir Boutique Roasters is where you want to have your next cuppa.
Despite being heavily inspired by the Melbourne brunch scene, you won’t find Elixir Boutique Roasters decked out in the usual floor-to-ceiling white-washed interior. You’ll see that Elixir Boutique Roasters is quite the opposite and has opted for sleek black countertops and simple modern furniture.
A smart move for when Elixir Boutique Roasters transforms into Fat Belly in the evening.
Brunch just isn’t brunch without the obligatory eggs-on-toast and you can’t go wrong with Truffle Eggs Proscuitto (S$22). This features a dollop of creamy scrambled eggs sitting atop a hearty bed of kale over a thick, buttery brioche toast.
To make this a real Sunday affair, Elixir Boutique Roasters has added several slivers of parma ham and shaved truffles.
The vibrant colours of each element on the plate played off each other beautifully making it a real visual feast. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this.
Eggs are like the blank canvas of the culinary world; you can go a million different ways with them and that’s half the fun. As easy as eggs are to prepare, they can be quite tricky to get right. You have to have surgical precision when deciding between the timing and the temperature—look away for a moment and they become leathery and dry.
In short, I have high standards when it comes to eggs.
The eggs Elixir Boutique Roasters peddles were silky and well-seasoned, along with the addictive saltiness of the parma ham and strong aroma of the truffles, it truly made for a tasty mouthful. The brioche toast was not forgotten in all of this and quickly became one of my favourite components.
Like any good brioche toast, this square was thick and rich. This was not simply toasted brioche, this was brioche with a crunchy and caramelised surface that cracks as your fork goes through.
With the different flavours and textures complementing and playing off each other, every mouthful was a delight.
For something with a lot more green but full of flavour, the Grilled Haloumi (S$18) is a good bet. This one featured charred baby corn, a gorgeous slab of grilled halloumi, a bed of curly kale leaves, with a dash of tahini aioli.
For the uninitiated, halloumi is salty, briny Cyprus-style cheese with a texture that is similar to mozzarella, but less gooey. Halloumi is usually made with a mixture of sheep and cow’s milk and best enjoyed when grilled.
This was basically a slab of salty, melty cheese so you can imagine my excitement as a cheese fanatic myself. The kale helped to offset the saltiness while the charred baby corn added smokiness to each bite, while the zesty aioli did a good job tying everything together.
It was a light but an immensely satisfying plate, and you know, a day where you have grilled halloumi is always a good day!
For those hankering for something a little heartier, here is a twist on a local dish with Wagyu Beef Cheek Rendang (S$22). Made with the chef’s special rempah recipe and served with blue butterfly pea rice, this was an elevated and refined iteration of our beloved beef rendang.
Beef cheek is one of those cuts that is uniquely lean and tender at the same time. There was almost no resistance as I cut into the beef; coupled with those rich spices and marbling of the cheek, each mouthful was tasty and exemplified the expertise of the chef.
For the sweet tooths out there, the Brûlée French Toast (S$18) is an item that has to be on your must-try list.
A cornucopia of stone fruits, berries and edible flowers sit atop a chunky brioche slice accompanied by a dollop of homemade chantilly cream. As a real sight for sore eyes, it seemed incumbent that one take a mandatory shot for Instagram stories before digging in.
We all know that as far as French toasts go, rich, eggy brioche is dipped in a custard-like mixture and fried on a griddle. At Elixir Boutique Roasters, they take it a step further and torch their toast so you get slightly burnt caramelly edges.
The chantilly cream was light and sweet while the tart berries provided good contrast. A seemingly simple dish of fruit on toast, but with each part was well-executed, I dare say this French toast was a perfect companion to the balmy afternoon.
Elixir Boutique Roasters is not only about brunch items but at their core, they’re an establishment with an intimate understanding as well as a deep appreciation for coffee. Elixir Boutique Roasters carefully selects coffee beans to highlight the specific flavour notes of a growing region.
This cuppa of joe (Black, S$4) was brewed from coffee beans from Antigua Santo Domingo, Guatemala. I’m not a huge coffee drinker, so having coffee black was a little intimidating. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
I detected warm hazelnut notes, followed by hints of brown sugar, and even sweet chocolate. I might be a convert after this cup, and maybe even you’ll never look at coffee the same way again.
The mocktail Black Smoke Rising (S$12) is a rather theatrical; the head barista first torches aromatics such as wild cherry bark, cinnamon, star anise, and black peppercorn. He then cups a wine glass over the bowl to create a smoke infusion.
The head barista then pours in a shot of blended expresso, a dash of panela sugar for sweetness, and Indian tonic for fizziness. Before the drink hit my lips, those strong aromatics were already tickling my nose inviting me for a sip.
This glass of bubbly was something different altogether, as each sip was punctuated by woody aromatics and was further complemented by the acidity of the coffee. Light but complex, this drink showcased coffee in a whole new light.
In the cocktail department, Killer Queen (S$15) had to my favourite out of the few tipples I tried. It’s made with a Disaronno hazelnut amaretto, a homemade cascara syrup (coffee cherries) from Guatemala, and finished with toasted almonds.
Resembling an Italian aperitif, Killer Queen was light and feminine, with almonds being the prominent flavour.
Brunch places are aplenty in Singapore but only a few warrant multiple visits. Besides the excellent nosh, Elixir Boutique Roasters also has an intimate understanding of coffee beans.
Their passion for the ever-versatile coffee bean is palpable. Plus, their somewhat playful, experimental but serious attitude towards coffee is a quality that will keep people coming back for seconds.
Expected Damage: S$18 – S$30 per pax
Price: $ $
Our Rating: 5 / 5
Elixir Boutique Roasters
10 Jalan Serene, #01-03A, Singapore 258748
Elixir Boutique Roasters
10 Jalan Serene, #01-03A, Singapore 258748