If you ask a Singaporean dad what he wants for Father’s Day, you will probably get a shrug and a “no need, lah.” Most won’t ask. Many quietly want the day to feel normal, with a table, the family, and something good to eat.
That is the brief most Father’s Day articles miss. We don’t think you need a gift. We think you need pastries that hold the table together long enough for everyone to sit down.
Here are two we’d bring.
The Sunday Brunch Beats the Wrapped Gift
Father’s Day in Singapore lands on the third Sunday of June. It is also the day after a long week, the day before another one, and for most families, the only Sunday that month when everyone is home at the same time.
The thing that holds that morning together is the food. Coffee, kaya toast, a half-finished plate of soft-boiled eggs, the newspaper on the table, dad telling a story you’ve heard before. A pastry that’s worth slicing makes him stay a little longer.
Cendol Gula Melaka Travel Cake
This is a French gâteau de voyage, a cake built to travel well, folded with the flavours of cendol. Pandan, gula melaka, and a moist crumb that holds together in a tote bag.
It serves four to six. We’ve watched a single cake last from breakfast through Sunday afternoon, sliced thinner each time someone walked back into the kitchen.
Available exclusively at our Jewel Changi Airport store, $16.80.
Pandan Canelé
The canelé is small, single-serve, and does most of the work in the first bite. The shell is dark and caramelised, almost lacquered. The centre stays tender and pandan-fragrant.
Put one or two on the table beside the travel cake and you have a brunch that looks intentional. The crisp shell, the soft pandan custard, the cake everyone keeps cutting from. It works the way a good Sunday morning works. Not too loud. Not in a hurry.
$16.80 each, same Jewel store, baked fresh in batches throughout the day.
A Few Other Things Worth Putting Out
If your dad leans towards classic snacking, our cookie collection covers most of his coffee-time preferences. Kopi Siew Dai, NZ Premium Anchor Butter, Salted Caramel Almond, and a few others he’ll quietly pour into a saucer next to his cup.
The Tote of Good Health pairs a curated cookie selection with a reusable canvas bag. If you wanted something he could keep using long after the cookies are gone, this is it. From $56.80.
Where to Pick These Up
The Cendol Travel Cake and Pandan Canelé are exclusive to our flagship store at Jewel Changi Airport, Lobby H, #01-231. Fresh batches throughout the day. No pre-order needed.
Other items, including the cookie collection and Tote of Good Health, are at www.mdmlingbakery.com with delivery.
Need more Father’s Day reading? See our guides on what Singaporean dads quietly want for Father’s Day and last-minute Father’s Day gifts at Jewel.
This Father’s Day, skip the wrapped box. Show up with something to share.