DELIGHT IN EVERY BITE
THE FLOUR SHOPPE BRINGS CLASSIC SOUTHERN US DISHES TO THE TABLE
It is not often that one expects to find a gem in the food hall of a department store. However, the Flour Shoppe is just that — a hidden gem. Tucked at the back of Central Chidlom’s Food Hall with a small outdoor terrace, the eatery specialises in southern American and classic American diner fare. Chef and patron Brian Hill is a pastry chef at heart but since he grew up in the US, decided to incorporate his favourite food into a menu that will have you salivating in no time.
Open as early at 8am, the Flour Shoppe is perfect for that pick-me-up breakfast on any day. For a quick weekday brekkie, try the Breakfast sandwich, which comes with a choice of homemade English muffin or buttermilk biscuit. Of the choices on offer, I ordered the Housemade sage sausage, egg and cheese in a muffin (B190), which had a lovely peppery goodness to it from the sausage and went down a treat!
If you’re a salad person then the Chicken Cobb salad (B325) featuring poached marinated chicken, avocado, hard-boiled egg, bacon, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, red onions and crisp lettuce with a red wine-honey vinaigrette is for you. I don’t think I’ve had such fresh lettuce served in a restaurant ever before! However, I would have preferred if the chicken was grilled instead of poached to add a bit of smokiness to the delicious salad. I washed this down with a Peach iced tea (B95) and was surprised at not being overdosed by sugar.
A perfect late afternoon snack is the Fried chicken biscuit (B195), my favourite of the entire menu. Buttermilk fried chicken, glazed in honey butter and hot sauce served in a warm biscuit with a side salad. Have I got your taste buds going yet? Imagine Korean and American fried chicken had a baby — this is it! A blob of butter on the homemade biscuit and you’re laughing!
The Flour Shoppe also does pastas and I highly recommend the Spicy Italian sausage (B220), which is homemade fennel sausage in a rich tomato sauce. Spicy and tangy, this spaghetti dish hit the spot. Skip the Pad kra prao spaghetti (B195) as once you’ve had a taste of the rest, this will fall short of everything at the table.
Save room for dessert as the Maple bundt cake (B125) is to-die-for. The moist cake reminded me of one of my favourite desserts — the sticky toffee pudding and you can smell the maple butter as soon as the cake is put down on the table. Candied walnuts and whipped cream add to the texture of the spongy cake. Om Nom Nom.
If you were a child of the 80s and remember Archie comic ads, you will remember Hostess Twinkies. Hill’s twist on the American classic is called a Twinkle (B85 for two pieces of vanilla or cocoa) and is a fluffy chiffon cake with a vanilla or cocoa whipped cream centre. The Twinkle is super light and therefore leaves room for the Ice cream sandwich (B110) — vanilla ice cream in-between chocolate cake slices, drizzled with butterscotch sauce. Also try the Pecan tart (B120 and B155 with ice cream and butterscotch sauce), which is a classic from the South (US, that is). The gooey tart was worth every last bite!
If you are a foodie daredevil, I dare you to try the Egg cream (B100). A 1940s New York drink, Hershley’s chocolate sauce mixed with carbonated water and milk, is not for the fainthearted. The eatery also sells wine bottles, Monday to Friday after 5pm, for B750850, which is a steal. Asahi draught is B120 for 330ml and B350 for a one-litre pitcher. Attentive service, coupled with fluent English-speaking Thai staff make the 10% service charge worth it. (Prices include VAT).
Note: The complete menu is served at Central Chidlom, while Central Ladphrao doesn’t serve as much. Now you know where to go! Though for those lazybums, there’s always Food Panda.
Flour Shoppe
Central Chidlom, ground floor Central Food Hall, Monday-Sunday 8am-10pm. Last order at 9:30pm. Call 091-229-0764. Central Ladphrao, near 2B parking lot exit, Monday–Sunday 10am–10pm. Last order at 9:30pm. Call 081-826-8530.
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