2011, 23 March Featured on Channel 5, Same But Different Season 2 Episode 5

The second interview in the series features Delcie’s Desserts, a vegan bakery that produces vegan brownies, tea cakes, cup cakes and cakes that are egg-free and dairy-free. If you’re a vegetarian or vegan living in Singapore, you would most definitely have heard of them.

I first knew about Delcie’s from my vegan friends several years ago, but never paid much attention as I was an lacto-ovo vegetarian then. I subsequently came across their desserts while dining at a vegan restaurant a couple of months ago, and immediately became a fan.

To date, I’ve tried Delcie’s brownies and cakes, and they’re absolutely delicious. What I’m most amazed is how Delcie is able to create cakes and desserts with no egg, diary nor butter. Before I came across Delcie’s, I would never have thought this was possible. When I committed to going vegan after my fast in Feb, I was totally okay with not having any brownies or cakes for the rest of my life. So, it was a nice surprise when I came across Delcie’s!

Believe it or not, I found Delcie’s desserts more delicious than its non-vegan counterparts. Even though their desserts are vegan, a number of their customers are actually non-vegetarians and non-vegans, because it’s that good. Also, Delcie’s desserts is a healthier option compared to the non-vegan desserts. They use organic ingredients, and the cakes can be made sugar-free and gluten-free as well.

I bought a Mud Fudge cake, one of Delcie’s most popular cakes, for my mom for Mother’s Day. I loved it. My mom was just happy that I bought a cake – even though she only ate a small slice (she can’t eat too much chocolate because it’s too ‘heaty’, I know she loved it too.

The other thing about Delcie’s cakes is that each cake is made by Delcie’s team, with love. I’m not sure about you, but there’s a difference when a meal is prepared from the heart vs. mass produced with a machine. The former makes you feel nice and fuzzy on the inside, while the latter just feels what it is – a bunch of ingredients mixed together to form a food item that tastes good, but lacks warmth and appeal.

One of Delcie’s main cake selections. This one is the “Deulce De Luche Banana Cake”.

They offer tea cakes too. This is the Banana Walnut Loaf. I haven’t tried it yet but it looks really great.

They do customized cakes as well and are able to produce some extremely creative cake designs. Check them out here: Customized Cake Orders

It brings me great delight to be able to feature Delcie’s Desserts on TPEB, because her business is close to my heart. Being a vegan, I know first hand that businesses like hers do make a difference to people’s lives, especially when we live in a society that caters to a non-vegan lifestyle. With Delcie’s cakes, I’m now able to buy cakes for my family and enjoy them during special occasions (such as Mother’s Day and birthdays).

Delcie’s was started by Delcie Lam in 2008, so it’s been 3 years since it’s been launched. It wasn’t an overnight success – There were many obstacles faced. For example, when Delcie decided to pursue her passion in baking in ’08, she faced resistance from her parents, who felt a business lacked stability compared to a salaried job. Her mom fell sick with cancer not long after Delcie started her business, and Delcie had to deal with the loss of her mom several months later. Business did not do well in the 1st year, even after throwing in all her life’s savings, and she made losses, month after month.

Yet, Delcie persisted with her business, and never gave up. She assessed her obstacles and addressed them one by one. She listened to her customers and took their feedback. She found a need for vegetarian/vegan desserts and changed her business focus to target the vegetarian/vegans. She changed her menu to 100% vegetarian and introduced new options. It’s been less than 3 years, and Delcie’s is now a thriving vegan bakery in Singapore. Today, Delcie’s touches the lives of others, day after day, with her cakes.

Throughout the interview, I found Delcie’s replies to be very heartfelt and earnest, a special touch compared to the other interviews in the series. Like me, her business is more than just a business – it’s a passion and her life.

I hope that you’ll find this interview helpful – I definitely did. I now bring to you Delcie Lam, owner of Delcie’s Desserts:

Read the rest of the interview at: http://celestinechua.com/blog/interview-delcies-desserts/

For those who are still lucky to be collecting angpaos, I hope you’re having a pocket full of brand new cash!

And for those who are fortunate to be giving angpaos, it must be such a joy to see the kids glow with happiness when you hand them the red packets. The more you give, the more you shall receive this new year!

I remember those were the days when I received angpaos from my relatives and always secretly opening them in the toilet wondering how much they had gave me. And yes, I do remember who gave me the most $$ and the least ones too. Hehe! I was a indeed one cheeky girl.

As I grew up and with my mother passing away, we somehow lost the tradition of visiting our relatives. Instead, we travel out of Singapore to a different land to be away. Afterall, it is usually dead quiet in the Singapore’s streets on the first 2 days of CNY. Boring is more like a word to describe it especially when you have no where to go. Still, we do have gatherings with friends to do Lohei.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my customers who have supported Delcie’s brand and our products all these years. Looking back at my journey, it was indeed not easy and occasionally with rejections, but all these drove me to become better everyday! While not forgetting some of my wonderful customers who have continuously introducing my cakes to all their friends and family, giving me lots of referrals, moral support and positive feedback on how much their kids, their parents and their friends love our cakes. I really thank you because you are the one that inspires me to stay happy in my job and continue baking with my true heart and soul.

Moving forward into this Bunny New Year, we have plans to introduce more new cake flavours, increasing our production line to do more customised birthday cakes and hopefully, having our very own Delcie’s retail outlet.

And very soon, you will see Delcie’s on TV!

Until then, take care and we wish you and your family a blessed new year ahead and hopping with great heath!

Love,
Delcie

Filming for Channel 5, Same but Different Season 2 – Cake episode

Filming for Suria Channel, Vanilla

According to Living Without (Woodward 2007), a magazine for people with celiac disease, the following conditions are commonly associated with gluten consumption: iron-deficiency anemia, diarrhea, failure to thrive, abdominal distention.