Famous Japanese pancake chain, FLIPPER’S has made its way to Takashimaya Shopping Centre Basement 1, where you can enjoy original ‘Kiseki’ (miracle) soufflé pancakes as a meal or an afternoon tea treat.

They are called ‘miracle’ pancakes because they are handcrafted with precise measurements – a ‘golden ratio’ formula of carefully sourced ingredients weighed down to a single gram in order to attain the desired taste and fluffy texture. The pancake batter is made from very fine Japanese Kitahonami flour, Hinata eggs, French butter and Japanese fresh milk.

At the open kitchen, you can witness the staff expertly scoop a big dollop of batter onto a flat pan without a ring mold, flip the pancake with a steel spatula and deck it with the additional ingredients quickly before serving. It takes approximately 12 minutes to prepare one pancake. There is a need for speed in plating, otherwise the ‘soufflé-ness’ will be gone.

Kiseki Pancake Plain ($16.80)

Kiseki Pancake Plain ($16.80) comes with smooth maple whipped cream and dusted with icing sugar. This classic pancake showcases the ingenuity of a perfectly made soufflé pancake without the frills. The light sweetness from the whipped cream and the hint of savoury from the French butter make this ‘plain’ pancake very enjoyable and on point. Less is more.

Kiseki Pancake Matcha ($19.80)

For flavours, the menu includes Kiseki Pancake Matcha ($19.80) and Kiseki Pancake Hazelnut Chocolate ($21.80). The former comes with green tea cream made by matcha powder from Kyoto, a generous spoonful of azuki paste, fresh whipped cream and roasted soybean powder. The delicate taste of green tea cream with the sweet azuki paste is a well-tested pairing of a Japanese dessert.

Kiseki Pancake Hazelnut Chocolate ($21.80)

The Hazelnut Chocolate pancake is made up of caramelised banana, Valrhona chocolate infused cream, hazelnut pralines, a sea of melted chocolate and a shard of crispy feuilletine. I find it too heavy and sweet. Chocolate lovers may find this heavenly though.

Millennial Strawberry ($20.80)

To celebrate its launch, FLIPPER’s opening special is the Millennial Strawberry ($20.80). It looks too pretty to be eaten but we did it anyway!

Fresh Chitose strawberry, cream cheese and homemade strawberry jelly are spread between two soufflé pancakes, and the stack is topped off by a thick layer of strawberry-blended cream. It is like eating a light strawberry cheesecake. The slight tartness of the fresh strawberries even out the sweetness from the cream. The Millennial Strawberry is only available until 30 November 2020.

Eggs Benedict Soufflé Pancake ($22.80)

For brunch-loving people, FLIPPER’S offers Eggs Benedict Soufflé Pancake ($22.80), using poached Hinata eggs no less. One pancake is layered with grilled tiger prawns and avocado while the other is layered with Norwegian smoked salmon and sautéed spinach. The grilled tiger prawns are very salty. I love savoury food but I think the heavy toppings defeat the purpose of the fluffy soufflé pancakes. I would eat Eggs Benedict anywhere but in FLIPPER’S. Save the miracle!

Blue Honey Ade ($7.60)

There are a few interesting drinks on the menu such as Rose Strawberry Milk ($7.90) and Melona Manpuku ($5.50), which is a sencha with an aroma of Japanese melon. I tried Blue Honey Ade ($7.60) that is a ginger ale with honey, lemon slices and a separate jug of butterfly pea soda. It is refreshing and thankfully, not saccharine sweet.

To sum up, the Kiseki Pancake Plain is the quintessential order of the day. The quality of the pancakes is uncompromised and satisfying. It is one of the better ones that I have tasted in Singapore.

Menu

Food: 6.5/10
Price/value: 6/10
Décor/ambience: 6/10

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This is an invited tasting. Written by Cheang Shwu Peng.