Laurent’s Café and Chocolate Bar

Laurent’s Café & Chocolate Bar – 80 Mohamed Sultan Road #01-11 The Pier @ Robertson

Some claim that the best chocolate soufflé in Singapore is to be found here so it was my prerogative as a chocoholic to check it out at least once. Besides, soufflés are notoriously temperamental and one of the few things I haven’t the courage to make (yet?) so I need to satisfy my urge for one at an eatery. The total bill for 4 desserts came up to $52.90, hardly a steal but a price I’m comfortable with given the quality you get here.

We got off to a spectacular start with the Crispy Chocolate Tart ($6.80); a masterpiece of satin-smooth, sinfully rich and deliciously dark chocolate ganache on a crisp, delicate base that had hazelnut praline undertones.

The Pleasure ($9.80) seemed rather average after the dazzling tart, though it was good by any account. Pleasantly rich and a tad too sweet, this cake was a construction of milk chocolate and thus lost points with me.

After a wait of 20 minutes, the pieces de resistance finally arrived. First up was the After 8 Soufflé ($11.85), inspired by the classic ‘chocolate-enrobed’ after-dinner mints. This was light and fluffy as a soufflé should be though a little on the eggy side. It had a pleasantly subtle mintiness that was accessible if not punchy. The only failing would be discernible sugar crystals in the meringue. Tsk tsk, somebody apparently skimped on the sifting!

Truly, we saved the best for last with the Guanaja Chocolate Soufflé ($16.50). The famed Carribean cacao beans yield a rich, spicy, sophisticated chocolate with artfully layered flavour. The light medium – which still seemed heavier than your typical soufflé - took away some of the chocolate’s overwhelmingness for a truly divine result that connoisseur and child alike will enjoy. A drizzle of the vanilla sauce into the gooey interior dealt a flourish that set toes curling and eyes closing in absolute bliss. If that was not enough, a delightfully thick, tart, gorgeously red raspberry sorbet (marred by a few large ice crystals) was included on the side to cut through the richness of the rather massive soufflé. This is an indulgence you won’t soon forget and a real candidate for best chocolate soufflé on the island. I’m looking forward to trying the other competitors, any suggestions?