After seven successful years and a week long hiatus, 2am:dessertbar unveils its new edgy look. The makeover also marks the beginning of a newly forged partnership between Janice Wong, 2am:dessertbar’s award winning Chef and Founder, and Manoj M Murjani, Chairman of Group MMM and Founder of Singapore luxury brands, The Wellness Group (TWG) and TWG Tea Company.
“We’ve evolved over the last seven years and expanded our repertoire from plated desserts to include interactive edible art installations all over the world. I was inspired to create a different way of presenting sweets and wanted to combine everything together in a fun and engaging way. So I decided to incorporate the edible art aspect into the 2am:dessertbar experience for a unique twist,” says Wong.
Care of local designer Jocelyn Wong, the revamped space with a Manhattan inspired aesthetic is outfitted with elements including six whimsical, chocolate painted tables, marshmallow platform, alcohol shots on isomalt sugar “corals” and even edible tableware. In addition, Wong plans to change the striking artworks at least twice a year based on different themes.
Gummy sweets could be found on the corals next to the stairs
Echoing Wong’s philosophy, features such as its open concept kitchen—which affords customers a full view of the preparation and plating of its exquisite desserts to encourage interaction between the patrons and chefs—will remain, albeit in a different incarnation.
What’s more, the space downstairs has been transformed into a reception area with offerings including chocolate Pop Rocks praline cake ($10), churros ($5) and beignets ($6) for those who fancy treats to go.
Having established itself as one of the city’s foremost food and drink establishments at its Holland Village location, the 60 seater has once again redefined the dessert experience by pushing the boundaries between sweet and savoury with progressive, carefully researched offerings that are as delectable as they are beautiful.
Along with the updated décor is a refreshed menu to match. A newly introduced high tea set for two ($45) features all time favorites such as smoked popcorn root beer cake, truffle bars, chocolate bon bons, apple “pop tarts”, praline chocolate Pop Rocks cake and kaya pandan choux.
Plus, guests can enjoy savoury items with a rebooted all day menu of small and big plates, like pork crackling with aioli and chicken liver dip ($12) and ricotta pasta pouches with chive malt cream, miso, liquid egg and nuts ($14). This incorporates a farm to table experience with fresh herbs—including lemon verbena and eucalyptus—specially grown by Oh’ Farms for 2am:dessertbar.
There has also been a notable addition to the 2am team in the form of bar manager Kley Dhillon. The cocktail program has undergone a complete overhaul, as Dhillon and Wong have come up with unusual tipples that not only complement the delectable desserts, some of which employ the use of pastry techniques.
Another exciting development on the 2am:dessertbar front is Wong’s recent partnership with Singapore based, global entrepreneur Manoj M Murjani. Murjani says, “Janice's creativity and passion for infusing art with deserts is outstanding. She is not afraid to break boundaries. I feel, ready to develop innovative dining and retail concepts from Singapore, leading to compete and rank amongst the world's top culinary talents."
“We are both passionate about the business and evolution. We dare to take the risks to be different and be game changers. I was looking for a partner to grow the business together with me as I am heavily involved in the kitchen and the creative development of sweets and arts. Having a partner with a vision for growing businesses is crucial for me to achieve my dream of having a luxury retail sweet line,” says Wong.
Thanks Chef Janice for her kind invitation to attend this press conference and to taste the new menu and cocktails. I had an awesome time at the re-opening.
2am: dessertbar’s new opening hours are Tuesday – Friday from 3pm – 2am and
Saturday – Sunday from 11am – 2am.
2am:dessertbar
21A Lorong Liput, Holland Village, Singapore 277733
For bookings and general enquiries, call +65 6291 9727 or email
2amdessertbar@gmail.com.
For more information, please visit www.2amdessertbar.com
Took a mandatory selfie before I left...lol
Janice Wong’s culinary training has taken her around the world and back. Armed with a degree in Economics and a passion for food, a last minute career change saw the native Singaporean embark on a frenetic culinary grand tour. She learned from some of the world’s best chefs including US luminaries Thomas Keller and Grant Achatz, as well as virtuoso Spanish chocolatier Oriol Balaguer and prodigious French pastry chef Pierre Hermé. Chef Janice Wong has received worldwide recognition for her cutting edge creations and is a regular on the global pop up circuit. She has been named “Asia’s Best Pastry Chef" by the prestigious San Pellegrino Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2013 and 2014. Wong is also the author of Perfection in Imperfection and award winning cookbook Dim Sum (Gatehouse Publishing), which has been featured on The Huffington Post, as well as in Harper’s Bazaar and Elle.
For more information, please visit www.janicewong.com.sg.
About Manoj M Murjani
Born and raised in Hong Kong, educated at the Harrow School in England and the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania, Manoj M Murjani has an incredibly diverse background and privileged experience in understanding world cultures and building global businesses. Passionate about creating opportunities and brands, Manoj has a "magic touch" in being able to identify global trends, discover talent, as well as the creativity and will to make things happen. Today, he leads Group MMM, which is focused on the acquisition, investments and development of luxury lifestyle, hospitality, and food and beverage companies and brands globally. Manoj established and created The Wellness Group in Singapore in 2003. In 2007, identifying a niche in which TWG could emerge as a category leader, he launched TWG Tea Company. Prior to establishing The Wellness Group, Manoj led the Murjani Group family business and played an integral role in the inception and success of the internationally recognized brand Tommy Hilfiger and the restructuring of the Murjani Group’s brands Gloria Vanderbilt and Coca Cola Clothes. In early 1990, Manoj, together with his father Mohan, led the group’s initiatives in India, resulting in the Murjani Group’s positioning as the leader in the Indian luxury market, partnering brands including Gucci, Calvin Klein, French Connection and Tommy Hilfiger. Manoj currently resides in Singapore and sits on the Singapore Tourism Board’s Tourism Consultative Council, SPRING Singapore’s Markets Policy Advisory Committee and the Advisory Board of Action Community of Entrepreneurship (ACE). Internationally, he is a member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO).
