Remember a few years ago when everyone was obsessed with pretty rainbow cakes? Well, the technicolour fad came and went, but now it’s back again. And this time, it’s so much more than just cakes. Even the most innocuous foods are getting the multi-hued treatment across the globe, from rainbow bagels in New York to unicorn toasties in Hong Kong.
In a nation of food-obsessed people, naturally we’ve found our own ways to jump on board the trend. Behold, the glorious spectrum of colours on pancakes, kueh lapis… and cups of coffee. No, really.
Rainbow cake at Dean & DeLuca
There are rainbow cakes, and then there are Dean & Deluca’s rainbow cakes ($7.50). What’s the difference, you ask? Well, each individual layer actually reps a fruity flavour like strawberry, apple, lemon and grape, so every forkful of cake will have your taste buds throwing a zesty party in your mouth.
Two outlets: #01-01 Far East Square, 47 Pekin St; and #01-01, 4 Hillview Rise.
Rainbow cheese toastie at Epicurious
Yes, the rainbow is very real. This grilled cheese sandwich ($9) for unicorns – consisting of veggie puree, mozzarella, parmesan and a dash of truffle oil – is painted with natural food pigments. Purple comes from boiled red cabbage, orange-yellow from carrots, green from spinach and pink from beetroot (the blue no longer exists ‘cause it requires food colouring). Nothing can be more Insta-worthy than this.
#01-02 The Quayside, 60 Robertson Quay.
Rainbow mille crepe, cake and latte at I Am
This Halal Haji Lane space is showing a whole lotta love to multi-coloured foods. You’ve got the towering rainbow cake, as well as its cousin, the rainbow mille crepe cake (both $8.90). It’s more than we could ever wish for. Oh, and did we mention the freakin’ rainbow latte? It’s official – thanks to them, chromatic coffee has made it to our shores.
#01-01, 674 North Bridge Rd.
Rainbow shots at Jeliquor
These psychedelic jelly shots will be the life of any party – just look at their mesmerising fluorescent tones. To taste the alcoholic rainbow, order a bunch ($6.50/shot) and personalise them with custom-made stickers.
#01-18 Albert Court Village Hotel, 180 Albert St.
Rainbow kueh lapis at Le Halo [CLOSED]
Rainbow kueh lapis, really? Okay, we admit we’re intrigued. At $1.80 per piece, the afternoon tea treat features a different flavour for each hue – there’s blueberries for blue, lemon for yellow… you get the picture. Also, we kinda love the whimsical, retro vibe of this café.
#01-162, Blk 4 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee.
Rainbow jar cake and mini donut at Little Nothings Bakery
This is the rainbow cake hipster-fied into a mason jar. Available in small, medium and original sizes ($7-$12), the bakery’s signature item is so dazzling, you’ll have a hard time convincing yourself to take a bite. Plus, it makes for a good birthday surprise, ‘cause you can stash it in your bag instead of awkwardly carrying around an obvious-looking cake box. On the menu are fellow rainbow goodies like cupcakes ($4) and mini donuts ($3.50) in case you wanna throw a prismatic party.
Rainbow pancakes at Nook Café & Bar
You know those videos where highly talented people sketch faces and shapes with pancake batter on a griddle? This is your chance to squeeze out your own Captain America or Wolverine masterpiece and give it the technicolour treatment. Pick your batters ($10/bottle) from a range of flavours including original, pandan, dark chocolate, banana, red velvet and strawberry, then decorate your pancake with toppings ($1.50-$2) such as rainbow sprinkles, M&Ms, oreo chunks and caramelised apples. You can also go the savoury route with fixings like bacon and eggs.
#01-03, 21 Lorong Kilat.
Paddlepop cheesecake at Rainbow Cottage Café
A heartland space with a homely feel, Rainbow Cottage is a neat find in the Ang Mo Kio area. Featuring a menu full of typical café food, the standout here is most definitely the sweet, blindingly bright rainbow paddlepop cheesecake with swirling shades of intense hues. If kaleidoscopic foods appeal to you, don’t miss out on this.
#01-1777, 452 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10.
Multi-layer rainbow jelly cheesecake at The Jelly Hearts
A digestive biscuit base holds vibrant-looking layers of cream cheese, topped with strawberry jelly and fresh strawberries. It’s $47 for the entire cake, and we’ll gladly take one for our next birthday, thank you very much.
Two outlets: #02-111 E!hub @ Downtown East, 1 Pasir Ris Close; and #B1-08 One Raffles Place.
Rainbow yogurt cheesecake at Tian Kee & Co
Saturated saccharine sweetness never looked so good. Pastel shades curl gorgeously around this wobbly, jelly-like yogurt cheesecake ($7.50), which sits on a lovely biscuit crust. Get your butt to the old school café for a slice of the photogenic dessert.
#01-48, Blk 12 Dakota Crescent.
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