First dibs: Muslim-owned GAMO bakery serves Kani Crab Mentai Croissant and other Japanese-inspired pastries

GAMO is a new Muslim-owned bakery in Bras Basah Complex. It is a Japanese-influenced bakery that serves pastries and cakes, and officially opened its doors on 10 Sep 2022. 

One of its owners, Shah Sarifi, has been a pastry chef for almost a decade. She uses air-flown ingredients from France, such as Elle & Vire butter and T55 French flour, in all of her cakes and pastries to make them taste on par with those found in high-end hotels. 

When I first arrived, I had to wait for a seat as it was packed with customers. I was surprised to note that the cafe had minimal seating, with at most five tables for patrons who chose to dine in. Despite waiting for nearly twenty minutes, the staff at GAMO was incredibly friendly, and greeted every single customer that came and went.

GAMO sets themselves apart from other bakeries with its Japanese-influenced bakes, such as the Strawberry Guava Mochi Tart (S$12.50) which has strawberry guava curd, strawberry caramel and homemade milk mochi. 

Familiar Japanese flavours also appear in the form of Matcha Yuzu Lychee (S$11). It consists of a matcha sponge cake, yuzu curd and is finished with matcha mousse. The bakers at GAMO recommended the Kani Crab Mentai Croissant (S$8++) and Pan Au Suisse (S$6++). In addition, I decided to order a French Butter Croissant (S$4++) as this was a classic French pastry that would speak volumes about the baker’s skill.

At first sight, the Kani Crab Mentai Croissant looked deceptively simple.

However, the kani (or crab stick) was of sushi quality, and had to be cooked before placing it on the croissant. This gave it a slightly smoky flavour and paired well with the mentaiko sauce, which had a hint of spice and made this a treat to eat. The neutral taste of the croissant also meant that I didn’t get sick of the strong flavours. They didn’t skimp on the kani either, as the croissant was filled with it.

This was definitely worth ordering, so be sure to give it a try if you’re popping by!

Though the Pan Au Suisse is listed to contain crème anglaise (custard) and 44 percent cocoa chocolate, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I was just eating really good and flaky bread. I couldn’t taste the custard nor the chocolate— just a vague taste of sweetness. While it went without a doubt that this pastry was delicious in its own way, I wouldn’t list this as a must-try here at GAMO.

Finally, the French buttered Croissant. This is what I feel every bakery should invest in as it is such a popular item. The use of Elle & Vire butter and T55 French flour really made a difference, as I experienced flakiness that I’ve never had before. Every bite was a fluffy delight, and the glaze, though subtle, amplified every flake. This was a definite bang for your buck, as there are plenty of croissants out there going for more than just S$4.

With its dedicated customer service as well as supreme ingredients, GAMO has set good foundations for it to be a lasting and earnest bakery. I can’t wait to see what else they can come up with in the future.

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