Favouring Baby
July 2013
Humanity loves beginnings. We enjoy and welcome the chance to start afresh. So, when a new baby comes into our midst, there is always cause for celebration. After all, few things say “beginning” quite like a new life.
According to Chinese customs, when a baby turns one month old, a ceremony is held to celebrate her first full moon. The completion of the first month of life became the point when the new baby is introduced to family and friends and welcomed into the clan. Cakes, and eggs dyed red (red symbolises good luck and happiness while eggs symbolise harmony, and unity) are given to guests. If they are Hokkien, glutinous rice (signifying a worry-free life for baby in terms of food and lodging) and ang ku kueh (a Chinese pastry with a sticky glutinous rice flour skin and a sweet filling shaped like a tortoise, hence the name “red tortoise cake”) are also added to the mix.
Of particular significance is the colour red, which signifies good luck and auspiciousness; and tortoise signifies longevity. Ang ku kueh used to have different designs pressed onto them to signify the gender of the baby. Some even come in different shapes (round one for baby girls and ones with a pointed end for baby boys). These days, most people do not make such fine distinctions any more.
Going Traditional
For the traditional Chinese first-month package, Bengawan Solo lets you mix and match your order. You can opt for a cake only, a cake with two red eggs and two ang ku kueh (for S$2.80 more), or a cake with four red eggs and four ang ku kueh (for S$5.60 more) packed in either a blue box for boys or a pink one for girls.
The price of the packages depends also on the type of cake chosen. Simple marble, chocolate or banana cakes cost S$8.80. The walnut cake cost S$1 more and the fruit cake costs S$2 more. For S$17.80, you can have a non-cream cake topped with strawberries. Fancier cream cakes (in either blue or pink) will cost S$18.80. The bakery’s signature Kaya Pandan cake tops the list at S$25.80.
“Bengawan Solo is known for their ang ku kueh . So when it came to deciding on a package, they were the natural choice,” said Jeremiah Goh who picked the package with the bakery’s famous Kaya Pandan cake when it came time to celebrate his firstborn son’s full month.
For the truly old school, Swee Heng’s full-month package comes complete with glutinous rice. The packages range between S$9.80 and S$15.80 depending on the type of cake (cupcakes, marble cake or both) and the number of eggs, glutinous rice and ang ku kueh (two or four) you choose.
“The baby package with glutinous rice is very popular among our customers because we use superior quality of rice and the traditional way of cooking so it tastes homemade. We only cook it when there is an order so we keep it fresh,” explained Jamie Lee, General Manager of Swee Heng Bakery.
Getting Creative
Because every child is different, many parents like the option of customising their cakes. Cedele will print a message on your cake limited to 20 letters per cake.
My Dessert Cup allows you to pick the colour and decoration of your cupcake as well as print a personalised message on your cupcake topper at S$1 per topper. Their cupcakes come in three sizes: petite (3.5 centimetres), small (5.5 centimetres) and regular (7.5 centimetres). Prices start from S$7.00 for minimum half a dozen regular cupcakes; and S$3.00 to S$8.00 for a minimum order of 30 cupcakes from petite to regular-sized.
Twelve Cupcakes have fondant alphabet toppers (S$1 each), fondant toppers in three different shapes that let you print a name or your own artwork (S$1 each), and flags on which you can print your name or artwork (S$0.50 each).
They also have fondant cutouts in pink or blue with baby bottles, baby feet, teddy bears and either “boy” or “girl” titles (S$12 for a pack of 15). A minimum order of S$10 is required.
“Cupcakes are happy food and they are very popular with parents for their baby’s full month celebrations. We can customise colours and of course the baby's name for our fondant toppers. Some parents prefer flags because they keep better and they get to design their own baby flags, too,” said Jamie Teo, Founder, Twelve Cupcakes and the creator of all the cupcake recipes.
Thinking Out of the Box
Increasingly, parents are bucking the trend. For those who are thinking out of the box, cookies, candy and chocolates make great full month gifts, too. Famous Amos has Message Lollies, their cookies on a stick with messages or pictures printed on them. Standard designs cost S$4.15 while customised ones (you can send them your picture or design) come at S$4.35 each. A minimum of six Message Lollies are required per order.
Sticky Singapore makes hard candy and the shop lets you customise your sweet with your own message and design. Prices begin from S$200 for 4 kilograms (a maximum of six letters).
The Chocolate Graphics lets you print your own picture, message or design onto milk, dark and white chocolates. Each cost between S$1 and S$1.50. The best part – no minimum order is required.
Every child should be welcomed into the world with great joy. With these amazing and colourful options for the baby’s full-month celebrations, it’s no doubt your baby will surely have a sweet beginning in life.
Shop with us:
Bengawan Solo
9 Bishan Place
Junction 8
#B1-K1
Singapore 579837
Tel: (65) 6258 2066
www.bengawansolo.com.sg
Bengawan Solo
68 Orchard Road
Plaza Singapura
#B2-59
Singapore 238839
Tel: (65) 6835 8137
www.bengawansolo.com.sg
Bengawan Solo
2 Orchard Turn
ION Orchard
#B4-38
Singapore 238801
Tel: (65) 6238 2090
www.bengawansolo.com.sg
Bengawan Solo
1 Jelebu Road
Bukit Panjang Plaza
#01-66/67
Singapore 677743
Tel: (65) 6767 3011
www.bengawansolo.com.sg
Bengawan Solo
21 Choa Chu Kang Ave 4
Lot One Shoppers’ Mall
#B1-14
Singapore 689812
Tel: (65) 6767 1096
www.bengawansolo.com.sg
Bengawan Solo
4 Tampines Mall Central 5
Tampines Mall
#B1-15
Singapore 529510
Tel: (65) 6788 2811
www.bengawansolo.com.sg
Swee Heng Bakery
1 Jelebu Road
Bukit Panjang Plaza
#01-22B
Singapore 677743
Tel: (65) 6763 9949
www.sweeheng.sg
Cedele Bakery
252 North Bridge Road
Raffles City Singapore
#B1-01
Singapore 179103
Tel: (65) 6334 4828
www.cedeledepot.com
Cedele All-Day Dining Restaurant
252 North Bridge Road
Raffles City Singapore
#03-28A
Singapore 179103
Tel: (65) 6337 8017
www.cedeledepot.com
My Dessert Cup
252 North Bridge Road
Raffles City Singapore
#B1-73
Singapore 179103
Tel: (65) 6468 2838
www.mydessertcup.com
Twelve Cupcakes
230 Victoria Street
Bugis Junction
#B1-03B
Singapore 188021
www.twelvecupcakes.com
Twelve Cupcakes
2 Jurong East 21
IMM Building
#01-124
Singapore 609601
www.twelvecupcakes.com
Twelve Cupcakes
2 Orchard Turn
ION Orchard
#B4-33
Singapore 238801
www.twelvecupcakes.com
Twelve Cupcakes
9 Bishan Place
Junction 8
#B1-19A
Singapore 579837
www.twelvecupcakes.com
Famous Amos
2 Orchard Turn
ION Orchard
#B4-30
Singapore 238801
Tel: (65) 6509 8891
www.famous-amos.com.sg
Famous Amos
230 Victoria Street
Bugis Junction
#B1-K2
Singapore 188021
Tel: (65) 6238 8649
www.famous-amos.com.sg
Famous Amos
4 Tampines Central 5
Tampines Mall
#B1-K15
Singapore 529510
Tel: (65) 6783 1008
www.famous-amos.com.sg
Famous Amos
21 Chua Chu Kang
Lot One Shoppers’ Mall
#B1-K6
Singapore 689812
Tel: (65) 6891 3376
www.famous-amos.com.sg
Sticky Singapore
Jurong East Central 1
JCube
#04-12
Singapore 609731
Tel: (65) 6684 3039
www.sticky.com.sg
The Chocolate Graphics Singapore
201 Victoria Street
Bugis+
#02-55
Singapore 188067
Tel: (65) 6834 4868
www.chocolategraphicssg.com