Motorshow Model Sets Up New Bedok Gelato Café That’s Open Till 2am
It has gelato flavours like Ruby Chocolate and Coconut Milk Gula Jawa Sea Salt.
It has gelato flavours like Ruby Chocolate and Coconut Milk Gula Jawa Sea Salt.
There’s a new late-night gelato cafe in the Bedok neighbourhood, and it’s open till 12am on weekdays, and 2am on weekends. Called Denzy Gelato, it’s the franchised outlet of an existing same-named cafe in Bishan.
The cafe is co-owned by Ng Eexuan, 30, and her husband Isaac, 33. “I love desserts, and I was telling [Isaac] that I wanted to set up a cafe selling desserts for people to hang out late at night,” she tells 8days.sg.
The Circuit Breaker spurred Eexuan to put her plan to work, and the couple finally soft-opened their cafe in February this year. “We have zero experience with F&B businesses,” she laughs. “Previously we have done a few smaller online businesses, but this is the first time I’m opening a physical store.”
They decided to open a franchised cafe outlet as Eexuan says, “My husband is a distant relative of Damien [Yau, Denzy Gelato’s founder].” Prior to opening her shop, she was working as a model. “I helped blogshops model their clothes, and I was doing a few car shows like Singapore Motorshow, Super Import Nights and bike shows,” she shares.
Eexuan, who has been modelling for 13 years since she was 17, reckons that being a car show model is “quite fun, but tiring”. She explains, “We are required to stand in heels the whole day. We just get a leg massage after the gig (laughs).”
She also worked at “a lot of IT show gigs”, though they were temporarily cut back due to Covid-19. Other than modelling, Eexuan says she has also worked as a financial consultant with Prudential.
For her cafe, Eexuan designed a look that’s “close to the Kinfolk theme, but we wanted it to be lively and trendy”.
The 30-seat space is also decked out with Insta-worthy neon signs for customers to snap photos.
The menu offers some 16 gelato flavours, all made in Denzy’s central kitchen which supplies both of its outlets. A Single Scoop goes for $3.60, and Double Scoops for $6.40 (add $1 to $1.20 for premium and specialty flavours). You can also tapow the gelato home in pint tubs ($12 to $17 each).
There are picks like Roasted Bronte Pistachio, which is made with Sicilian pistachios grown on the dusky soil of Mount Etna volcano (a process that’s said to imbue the nuts with an intense, earthy flavour).
Other ice cream flavours include Mango & Yuzu Sorbet, the naturally pink Ruby Chocolate & Raspberries, Yogurt Speculoos, Peanut Butter & Banana and vegan-friendly options like Oat Milk Dark Chocolate Ganache and Coconut Milk Gula Jawa Sea Salt.
You can get your gelato on house-made Light & Crispy Waffles ($5, add $3 for a gelato scoop). The cafe also has a selection of beverages such as Affogato ($6), Matcha Latte ($5) and Iced Yuzu Cooler ($5.80).
Denzy Gelato is the brainchild of Damien Yau, 33, and his wife Wong Hao Zhen, 34. The duo opened their first 25-seat shop in Bishan in 2019. A former recruiter, Damien picked up gelato-making as a career switch, and came in first in the 2019 Singapore Gelato Championship.
He plans to introduce “coffee profile flavours” for the two Denzy outlets, as well as localised flavours like Kaya for the upcoming National Day. “We’re looking at making our own kaya in our central kitchen,” he says. A third outlet is also in the works. Damien shares, “We’re looking to do other F&B concepts, like a bakery.”
Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the top features, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.
By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.
