Donq @ Takashimaya B2

Donq (it's 'donk' not 'Don Q') is a Japanese inspired french takeaway bakery, yet another newcomer to muscle into the burgeoning artisan bread industry here. It's located inside B2 Takashimaya Food Hall, near the Cold Storage cashier counters. Lovers of Japanese style bread will be happy to know there is a yet another bakery to turn to for soft, fluffy breads. And I, like the many middle-aged tai tais thronging this outlet one weekday afternoon was very keen to find out try out this latest bread craze.

The Cherry Danish ($2.80, left) has a very nice soft crusty danish pastry with fresh cherry jam on top of it. Unlike most bakeries which up the sugar of their danish fillings to  diabetes-causing levels, the cherry danish sold here is not very sweet at all, all in all, it's a very nice delicate balance of sugar. The Cinnamon Apple ($2.80, right) is likewise, not over cloyingly sweet or glazed with excessive sugar and cinnamon. The highlight is probably the fresh apple filling which is not cooked too soft and each diced apple piece still retains a little bite. This is complemented by fluffy soft bread around it.

Colonnade (Choco) ($2, left) was flying off the shelves the moment a fresh batch came in, so I snatched one too. The conical bread had dark chocolate filling inside which was good, but otherwise it's quite normal. Twin Stick ($2.80, right) is like the bread version of yuan yang- a combination of chocolate and plain bread.

This is Dutch Bread ($2.40) a chewy bread with polo bun like crispy crust filled with cream cheese. I ate this the next day, but by then the bread became rather tough and the cheese didn't taste really fresh anymore =(

I have been eating most of the breads freshly bought from the bakery and I enjoyed them. But I suspect the breads do not cope very well in Singapore's hot and humid weather. They are best enjoyed on the day they are bought, with minimal exposure to the heat (just like pampered Sgreans who can't do with air-con). Take them out of the air conditioned comforts of Takashimaya at your own peril.