Homegrown bean-to-bar chocolate brand, Mr. Bucket, presents Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie (Dempsey Factory), a brand new chocolate lifestyle destination at Dempsey Hill that melds stories of Asian cacao with the whimsy of wonderland to delight all lovers of the fruit. This new space features Singapore’s first ever build-your-own chocolate slab station, an indoor and outdoor dining experience, as well as a new chocolate dispensary where guests can buy their favourite chocolate treats sustainably with their own containers
From a little dream of putting Asian cacao on the map, Mr. Bucket has since grown from a humble chocolaterie in Sin Ming in 2020 into one of the most beloved chocolate makers in Singapore with their artisanal chocolates, made fresh daily, selling out on a regular basis. At the helm is founder Jerome Penafort, who works closely with a passionate team of over 25 to showcase the deliciousness of chocolates crafted from sustainably sourced cacao from Asia.
The next chapter of the Mr. Bucket story will see the Made With Passion1 brand setting up a1The Made With Passion initiative aims to celebrate, as well as encourage, local brands to follow, grow, and live their passions. The initiative is jointly led by the Singapore Brand Office and Singapore Tourism Board, with support from Enterprise Singapore.
lifestyle space in the lush hills of Dempsey, with doors officially opening on 3 December, 2022.
Jerome Penafort, Founder of Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie, says, “Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie (Dempsey Factory) is a major step towards our vision of revitalising the cacao industry in Asia. Our new Factory will combine education and experience to foster everyday conversations that revolve around the exciting world of chocolate, and cultivate a deeper appreciation for cacao grown in Asia. We’ll continue to champion Asian cacao and pay homage to producers from the region, through showcasing the bean-to-bar process and sharing the stories of the farms and farmers behind these delicious chocolates.
“We’re grateful for all the love and support from our fans and partners. They have been instrumental in helping realise our dream of building a chocolate lifestyle destination for the chocolate community in Singapore as well as overseas to come together and celebrate Asian cacao. We are thrilled to open the doors to Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie in Dempsey Hill, and can’t wait to welcome fans and friends of chocolate to our new space.”
Ms Guo Teyi, Director, Retail and Dining, Singapore Tourism Board, says, “We are delighted to play a part in the growth of passionate local brands such as Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie. The Dempsey Factory is experiential retail at its finest, and we hope visitors will enjoy customising their own treats and learning all about sustainable chocolate. STB will continue to work with like-minded partners to create innovative retail offerings that are authentic, meaningful and set Singapore apart as a fun destination for both locals and tourists.”
Be transported into the world of chocolate
With rounded archways that resemble Mr. Bucket’s signature bon bons, warm wood finishes and rainbow-hued cacao pod decorations hanging from its high ceilings, Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie (Dempsey Factory) reinvents the traditional definition of a chocolate factory and serves up a series of engaging and inspiring experiences that immerse fans deeper into the world of chocolate.
Inside, a chocolate wonderland awaits, with an expanded menu of treats that takes patrons on an exhilarating flavour journey through the marvellous cacao fruit. From bon bons and bars, to housemade bakes and entremets, to drinking chocolate and cacao wine, everything in Mr.
Bucket Chocolaterie is made fresh daily, using only responsibly sourced single-estate Asian chocolate.
On what’s on the horizon, Penafort says, “Cacao from Asian farms and farmers is as delightful, or dare I say, better, than those found in other parts of the world, and consumers are now starting to discover and appreciate these farms and farmers. The last couple of years leading up to our Dempsey Factory has been such a great adventure and we’ve never felt more fired up about the good work that we’re doing here; we’re just getting started.”
Spanning close to 5,000 square feet, the chocolate factory houses multi-sensory zones to experience and enjoy the cacao fruit from bean to bar. Sitting up to 60 guests, the outdoor patio (The Cacao Garden) offers an al fresco space for patrons to kick back and tuck into their favourite chocolatey treat or enjoy any special events happening for the day.
Upon entry, the new Retail Counter (The Dispensary) sits to the left, featuring counters filled with Mr. Bucket’s signature chocolate treats available for purchase. As part of Mr. Bucket’s ongoing focus on sustainability, patrons can enjoy filling up their own reusable containers at The Dispensary with their choice of chocolate treats including chocolate buttons, dragees, and even granules!
The Enchanting Bean-To-Bar Journey
The right is taken up almost completely by the kitchen where the magic happens. Witness the magical production of chocolate treats happen right before your very eyes. Dedicated viewing points spread across the store offer a front row seat to the enchanting bean-to-bar journey. Cacao beans are dried, roasted, grinded, before being mixed with other ingredients, tempered and made into chocolate bon bons, bars, buttons, dragees, pastries and more.
Before you pick up your chocolate haul, watch Mr. Bucket’s chocolate makers at work sorting and roasting cacao beans and tempering the rich chocolate at the Hot Kitchen (The Bean Room) before they are crafted into beloved bon bons, bars and other sweet treats at the Cold Kitchen (The Chocolate Room). Beyond being a treat for the belly, the opportunity to watch the entire bean-to-bar process live is a visual delight, one not found in your usual chocolate shop.
Whether grab-and-go or dining in, patrons will be able to tuck into new chocolatey treats at The Tasting Room. From bakes to entremets to tasting sets, the menu will include imaginative chocolate-filled treats that delight the taste buds.
Dive headfirst into the wonderful world of cacao grown in Asia with a tasting set by Mr. Bucket. In Bean-to-Bar Journey, which spotlights cacao beans from a farm in Panchor, Malaysia, the flight starts with Cacao Bean Dark Chocolate followed by Cacao Husk Lemon Tea, 66% Chocolate Bar, Double Soy Caramel Bon Bon, before finishing with 64% Chocolate Passionfruit Sable.
Chocolate cookies are a classic, and Chewy Chocolate Cookie – in 45% and 72% single origin chocolate versions – are a must-try. Other bakes include Sea Salt Brownie, made with 80% chocolate and feuilletine ganache, striking the right balance between sweet and salty, as well as Banana Walnut Muffin made with 64% chocolate and walnut & cacao nib crumble.
Tarts, puffs and cakes star in entremets, with a beautiful selection of bright, zesty flavours alongside more quintessential taste notes. For a burst of citrus, Chocolate Passionfruit Tart features 64% Panchor ganache and passionfruit mousse, while Dark Chocolate Choux Puff spotlights the sweetness of 80% Anaimalai cream and vanilla chantilly. As a nod to the festive season, Warm Spiced Christmas Tart offers the delicious flavours of Chai chocolate filling and orange anglaise in every bite, or pick the Festive Maple Apple Cake made with maple mascarpone, apple insert, Panchor cremeux, and maple sable breton.
Mr. Bucket’s sustainable, no-waste approach to the cacao fruit means patrons can pick from a selection of beverages expertly crafted using all parts of the fruit to complement their bakes. For a refreshing palette cleanser, opt for the Cacao Husk Lemon Tea, a thirst quencher made from cacao husks infused with lemon, sweetened with homemade cacao syrup and topped with a cacao foam sweetener. Those who enjoy a rich chocolatey drink will surely enjoy the Iced Chocolate, made by steeping 64% Panchor granules in milk, or the Iced Mocha, featuring 72% Dark Calinan granules combined with freshly grounded coffee beans from local coffee company, Tad Coffee. Finally, those looking for a boozy kick to accompany their sweet treats can grab a glass or two of Mr. Bucket’s Cacao Wine.
The new space also features The Creation Station, Singapore’s first Build-Your-Own Chocolate Slab station where chocolate lovers can pick from a wide variety of toppings including dried fruits and sweet treats to create the chocolate bar of their dreams.
With the goal of cultivating a deeper appreciation for the Asian cacao industry, Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie also houses a workshop and events space, with a thoughtfully curated line up of experiences, workshops, talks and events to inspire and indulge a new generation of cacao lovers.
Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie officially opens its doors on 3 December 2022. Experience a chocolate adventure like no other at 13 Dempsey Road, Singapore 249674, open from 12pm to 10pm from Tuesdays to Fridays and 10am to 10pm on the weekends.
