Imagine living life vicariously just like your favorite stars in the ever popular drama series, Sex and the City . Hanging out in stylish cafes in fashionable Jimmy Choos and Versace dresses, sipping a cup of cappuccino over oh-so-pretty and delectable cupcakes, while chatting about the latest trends and gossip. The closest you can get in Singapore , would be at ever stylish and hip Marmalade Pantry , also known as the “tai-tai” hangout spot in Singapore , where the hip and the fashionable locate, to see and be seen. Aside from the very stylish and haute crowd, Marmalade Pantry draws in regulars with their sumptuous selection of mouthwatering cupcakes that go soaring off the shelves, the hearty array of mains and the toothsome, sugar-laden desserts that will have your dentist frowning in disapproval.

• The Vibe
  Located at the basement of Palais Renaissance, the airy, light-filled restaurant is a sizzling favorite amongst Singapore 's socialites. Star gazing opportunities aplenty, many famous faces flock to this cozy and yet chic restaurant for a tea time chat, or for a dinner date. Large and spacious, the entire look is minimalist, clean and simple. Despite it being a hot tai-tai hangout location, The Marmalade Pantry has none of the opulence or stuffiness of a luxury restaurant but is instead, café-casual and unbelievably modest. Simple furnishings in basic blacks and whites with milk-chocolate luxury leather sofas are characteristic of the restaurant. The uber-stylish Alvar Aalto designed chairs are perfectly elegant, an ideal perch for relaxing into after a long day of shopping.

• The Food
  Blame it on Sex and the City . The American drama series has since popularized the humble cupcake, making it the hottest good-to-eat trend at the moment. This makes bad news for the weight conscious. At $3.70 a piece, the delicate and pretty fairy cup cakes look almost too good to be eaten, in an array of five delicious flavors with rainbow colored icing and decorations. With equally gorgeous and whimsical names like Cloud Nine (White coconut cake with cream cheese), Elvis (Chocolate banana cupcake with peanut butter frosting) and Limonata (tart lemon glazed cake), these cakes look like they come straight out from Barbie's tea party.

  Apart from the heavenly cupcakes, The Marmalade Pantry also serves a decent selection of main courses and refreshments to tantalize the hunger shopper. The Ribeye steak sandwich ($20.00) teases with its fragrant aromas and is guaranteed to quiet a growling stomach. Heartily portioned, the sandwich is accompanied with sweet grilled onions, soft avocados and a tangy wasabi-mayonnaise sauce. Tender and juicy, this succulent sandwich is a substantial meal on its own. The caramelized shallot tart ($19.00) packs a punch with its unique taste. This special recipe was adapted from the “upside down apple pie”. The story goes that two Dutch sisters were baking an apple pie, when it overturned. They continued to leave the pie to bake, and discovered that the apples caramelized faster when it came into direct contact with the baking sheet, giving it a slightly burnt, sweetish taste. This similar method of cooking gives the shallot tarts its golden brown color, and the caramelized onions leave a sweet and pleasant taste subtly lingering in the mouth moments after savouring it. Rather then seasoning the tart, Chef Robin Lo allows the natural sweet flavors and aromas of the onion to unfold and wrap itself slowly around the tart.

  Before concluding the meal, it is recommended to sample their fantastic, one-of-a-kind dessert creations. The Sticky date toffee pudding ($10.00) is one of their signature dishes. Served warm with a luscious scoop of vanilla bean ice-cream, this lovely duet hits all the right notes with its lovely warm/cold contrast. The ice cream also neutralizes the sticky sweetness of the pudding, which is the ultimate heaven for all sweet-toothed people, but may be too much for some. The Banoffi pie ($12.00) looks appealing, with its fluffy whipped cream and golden caramel swirls and cajoles diners into taking a bite. One bite melds into another, and it is almost impossible to stop taking another dip. The buttery, crisp crust compliments the soft, bananas and cream wonderfully. Not for the diabetic.

The SD Food Advisor's take on The Marmalade Pantry
Calorie laden goodies galore, syrupy sweet desserts, beautiful faces all under one roof. For all tai-tais, or people harboring tai-tai ambitions, The Marmalade Pantry is indeed the place to be. The food is good, but it does not hurt to be dining in such a swanky locale at all. To be fair, the main courses are not spectacular, but many noteworthy selections of enticing cakes and desserts are enough to cajole diners into the restaurant. Portions are generous too. Go chic. Go Marmalade pantry. Do it like they do on Sex and the City .