Entre-Nous Creperie

Entre-Nous Creperie is a contemporary little place that serves up authentic French crepes over at Seah Street. Some of you will remember Crêperie des Arts, at the corner of Prinsep Place, and I kept this place in mind when I tried Entre-Nous’ crepes.

My friend B and I popped by around 4pm that day. Just in time for their Sweet Break, where you can order a crepe for $12 (selected varieties) and a hot drink. If you’d like to have their gourmand range of crepes, it’s $3 more. They do have an extensive range of galettes and crepes for you to choose from so take your time to browse the menu.

As for those who’d like to kick off a night of drinks early, or grab a beer after work…Entre-Nous’ Happy Hour will both feed you and quench your thirst. Grab a $10 French beer or a glass of French apple cider ($8/glass, $30/bottle) and get a complimentary crepe with it.

Personally, I veer towards the most basic item on the menu for the basis of comparison. Therefore, our choices for the day was a Salted Butter Caramel Crepe ($8.90) and Emmenthal Cheese Galette ($11.90). The salted butter caramel crepe was a soft crepe (much like a thin pancake) drizzled with thick caramel as picture here. Simple in taste, and rather good [***.]

The emmenthal cheese galette, on the other hand, had an interesting combination of taste sensations. Crisp in texture, with a thin carrot topping and oozing cheese from its centre, this galette wasn’t what I expected. I deduced that it tasted different because of the organic buckwheat used for their galettes. The overall taste was mildly bitter at times, and a little salty at others. Really good stuff [****].

Others on the menu: quiches, omelettes, more galettes and crepes, escargot, assorted blinis and lots more…

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 7/10
Price – $$-$$$
Service – 7/10
Ambience – 7/10
Accessibility – 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Address:
27 Seah Street, #01-01 Singapore 188383

Tel: +65 6333 4671

Website: http://www.entrenous.sg

Opening hours:
11 am – 11 pm (weekdays)
11 am – 10.30 pm (weekends)

Dress code: Casual

Nearest MRT: City Hall

Buses: 7, 32, 61, 145, 197, 851, 80…

Marvelous Cream

Marvelous Cream hails from Japan, and Singapore is one of the brand’s newest franchisees. They opened their doors on 3 July at CityLink Mall, offering 20% off their sweets. I stumbled upon this place through sheer luck on the way to dinner with B & Y at Franky’s Kaffe Kitchen. Just imagine how fast we finished dinner that night, and how much compartmentalisation was going on in our tummies. After all, the cardinal rule for those with the sweet tooth is: always leave room for dessert.

By the time we got there, the queue was starting to snake around a little as the opening was attracting more and more attention. Marvelous Cream’s french parfait selection looked incredibly enticing. It took all my willpower not to over-order. Before I proceed, parfait [pahr-FAY] is served differently in different countries:

1. In the US, this dessert consists of ice cream layered with flavored syrup or fruit and whipped cream. It’s often topped with whipped cream, nuts and sometimes a maraschino cherry.

2. A French parfait is a frozen custard dessert made with egg yolks, sugar, whipped cream and a flavoring such as fruit puree. In French, parfait means “perfect,” which is how many view this dessert.

You’ll be glad to know that Marvelous Cream serves both types of parfait. They’ve got 9 ice-cream flavours to choose from – White Milk Cream, European Cream Cheese, Belgium Chocolate, Fruity Mango, Hazelnuts Praline, Golden Vanilla, Natural Yoghurt, Strawberry Cream, and Marsala Espresso (less than 0.1% alc.). B decided to have the Rum Raisin Custard Pie [***] consisting of Golden Vanilla, Rum Raisin, Millefeuille and fresh cream, while Y had her tummy set on Noisette Chocolat Classic [***.] (Hazelnut Praline, brownie, fresh cream, Koo Belcher Choc).

Eagerly waiting in line, I changed my mind several times before I decided on Mix Berry Cream Cheesecake [***](European Cream Cheese, Strawberry, Blueberry, Raspberry).

After ordering, you’ll get to watch them mix your ice-cream on a -16°C marble top ala Cold Rock or Ice Cream Chefs.

I must say that of the 3 we shared, the Noisette Chocolat Classic was the best. While the brownie topping wasn’t fantastic, the combination of it and the other toppings made it a nice mix. It wasn’t too heavy, and the ice-cream was good. The Mix Berry one I had was pretty good too, but my main qualm with it is the frozen fruits. I prefer Cold Rock’s fresh berry toppings instead…frozen doesn’t work for me unless it’s in Yammi Yoghurt.

On your left we have their French parfait selection…I’ll definitely try these the next time I pop by on an emptier stomach. You can make your own selection of toppings and ice-creams, or go with 1 of their 28 selections for the American parfait. Choose from:

Junior (80ml) – $4.90

Regular (100ml) – $6.20

Large (180ml) – $8.80

Paper cup, waffle bowl/cone (+$1), chocolate waffle bowl/cone (+$1.50)

Shops in Japan: Tokyo | Yokohama | Osaka | Kobe | Nagoya | Hiroshima | Gifu | Ibaraki | Okinawa

++ definition of parfait taken from Epicurious.com Copyright Barron’s Educational Services, Inc. 1995 based on THE FOOD LOVER’S COMPANION, 2nd edition, by Sharon Tyler Herbst.

/ Update: I’ve tried one of their french parfaits, Exotic Patissier ($5.90) [****] and I found it really delish. Topped with raspberry bits, this parfait has a layer of chiffon cake, frozen mango custard, and berry fillings. I absolutely loved it. 

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 7/10
Price – $
Service – 7/10
Ambience – 8/10
Accessibility – 8/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Tel: +65 6238 1683

Address:
#B1-04, CityLink Mall, One Raffles Link, Singapore 039393

Website: http://www.marvelouscream.com

Email: marvelous_asia@singnet.com.sg

Nearest MRT: City Hall

Choupinette

Fall in love with the chic Parisian garden cafe, Choupinette, on the corner of Coronation Walk next to Coronation Plaza. Owner Agnes Verrier hails from Provence, France, and she is the woman behind the warm decor you see on your left. She also ensures that your Eggs Benedict’s taste the same over time, for she believes in maintaining high standards for everything Choupinette serves. Their pastries and desserts are all freshly-baked daily, and served on eclectic plates that you’ll want to take home. For those who have heard of Choupinette, they’re known for their flavoured macaroons [****] (a small cookie classically made of almond paste or ground almonds mixed with sugar and egg whites), sold individually at $1.80 per piece. Do try their raspberry macaroon which has a crisp outer shell and a chewy raspberry centre that’ll leaving you wanting more. Some other flavours include passionfruit, strawberry, chocolate, and peach. You’ve been warned: these little poppers are pretty addictive.

Another dessert that I liked was their Tarte aux Fraises [****.] also known as Strawberry Tart ($6.50), which had sweet strawberries paired with a crumbly crust and almond flakes. Between this and Canele’s Strawberry Tart, it was a tough fight…but they’ve both secured a place in my tummy and heart. I’d also recommend Elle & Lui ($6.90) [****], another raspberry treat that’s light and tangy without being sour. For creme brulee fans, you must try Double Plaisir ($6.90) [***.] - a combination of rich dark chocolate topped with a layer of creme brulee. If you’re into cheesecakes, go ahead and take a bite of their White Chocolate Cheescake ($6.90) [****.] which is gloriously light on the cheese, and substitutes the typical cheesecake crumb base with crumbs on the side of the cake instead.

Last but not least, giant Eclairs! [****] They’ve got them in coffee, chocolate, and vanilla….really really great ones too. Although they’re a tad expensive at $5 each, I’d say it’s worth every bite…they’re not mini eclairs after all. For more pictures on Choupinette’s desserts, check out Charlinary.com’s Facebook group page.

/ definition of “macaroon” – © Copyright Barron’s Educational Services, Inc. 1995 based on THE FOOD LOVER’S COMPANION, 2nd edition, by Sharon Tyler Herbst.

/ No GST

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 8/10
Price – $$ to $$$
Service – 8/10
Ambience – 8/10
Accessibility – 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Tel/Fax: +65 6466 0613

Address:
607 Bukit Timah Road, #01-01, Singapore 269708

Opening hours:
Tue – Fri: 9am – 8pm
Saturday: 8am – 8pm
Sunday: 8am – 6pm
/ Closed Mondays

Dress code: Casual
Buses: 66, 151, 154, 67, 77, 74…

Crêperie des Arts

Crêperie des Arts was started in November 2007 by French Chef Johan Aubertin, who hails from Brittany, on the west coast of France. Coincidentally, Brittany is the very place where the world smelled the very first wafts of lovely French crêpes. The sounds of French music pulsates throughout this quaint little restaurant the moment you step inside. Their waitresses are very friendly and attentive, so do ask them for their recommendations.
You will find sweet and savoury galettes (the name given in most French crêperies to savoury buckwheat crêpes), as well as simply delightful desserts on their menu. My boyfriend and I started our dinner with a cup of traditional French apple cider (Valderance Cider – Doux, 2% alc.) in hand. However, the very first sip prompted us to order a bottle instead. The cider is also available in Brut (5% alc.), priced at $7/cup, and $24/bottle (75 cl). If you are looking for a salad that is different, go ahead and try Seguin ($13.90), a mesclun salad of toasted goat cheese with herbs, sauteed bacon, and vinaigrette for an appetizer.

When it come to entrees, there is no shortage of variety with galettes and crêpes that encompasses meat, seafood, and vegetable fillings. I ordered their Saint Caradec ($17.90) [****.], a galette filled with scallops flambéed with lambic (a type of beer brewed only in the Pajottenland region of Belgium), and topped with a creamy leek fondue. The unique combination of flavours was nicely contrasted against its buckwheat base, and went perfectly well with the apple cider.

Meat lovers should tuck into Pont-Scorff ($16.90) [****.], a galette paired with delicious ground beef, onions, freshly-made tomato sauce, and mushrooms. One thing to bear in mind while dining at Crêperie des Arts is that you should always leave room for dessert. You will not regret it.

Even the simplest crêpe on the menu, a humble Salted Caramel Butter crêpe ($8.90) [*****], can elicit a pleasurable response. All dessert crêpes are made from wheat flour, whilst the galettes are made from buckwheat flour (no gluten). Therefore, you need not worry too much about excessive calories just yet. Bring your girlfriends here for an evening tête-à-tête and savour famous French dessert offerings like Crêpes Suzette, or simply unwind after a long day’s work with your loved ones.

/prices stated not incl. 7% GST & 10% Svc Charge.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 9/10
Price – $$ to $$$
Service – 9/10
Ambience – 9/10
Accessibility – 8/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] - rating(s) for individual dishes

Tel: 6333 5330 (call for lunch reservations)

Address:
44 Prinsep Street
Singapore 188673

Opening hours:
weekdays: 5-11pm
weekends: 4.30-11.30pm
/Closed Mondays

Dress code: casual
Buses: 857, 65, 147, 131…
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut

Les Bouchons

Les Bouchons is a quaint French restaurant tucked away in a lil nook at the edge of Robertson Quay. It is located within metres of the Singapore Tyler Print Institute, overlooking the river. This restaurant took over the premises from now-defunct Rivercafe, a restaurant that served authentic Australian cuisine. As you can see, the cosy decor has a Parisian street vibe going on, a departure from the norms of uber-chic French dining. A huge chandelier of sorts hangs overhead, with fake candles that create an illusory vision of warmth in the restaurant. In line with their humble decor, Les Bouchons serves up humble French fare as well, together with the staples of French cuisine like foie gras. I had my birthday dinner here with my boyfriend, who wisely picked a great place without my prompting. Kudos to him.

First up, we ordered their infamous Plats ($28) for main courses. This one on your right is the Ribeye with Vigneron Butter [****.], served with a mountain of irresistable fries, one of the best I’ve ever tasted (Good news is: It’s free-flow fries if you order a plat!) Each morsel of steak oozed delectable appeal, leaving you hungry for more with each bite. It was juicy, well-marinated in wine and their house recipe, tenderised, and grilled to perfection. 2 thumbs & 2 pinkies up for this steak, cos you should be calling to make a dinner reservation here the next chance you get!

Another steak to consider would be the Sirloin steak [****.], another plat that is served in a similar manner, with the stamp of a skilled griller on its side. You might want to note that Les Bouchons’ House Red goes wonderfully well with all the steaks. Food for thought: beef sirloin is cut from the lower portion of the ribs, and is divided into several types of steak. The top sirloin is the most prized of these. The bottom sirloin is less tender, much larger, and is what you would typically find in supermarkets when you do your grocery shopping. On the other hand, the ribeye is a beef steak from the beef rib. When cut into steaks, the ribeye is one of the most popular, juiciest, and expensive steaks on the market. Meat from the rib section is tender and fattier (the meat is said to be “marbled”) than other cuts of beef. This extra fat makes ribeye steaks and roasts especially tender and flavorful.

So calling all meat-lovers & carnivores! These steaks make great dinner.

++All definitions were taken from http://en.wikipedia.org

//Prices not inclusive of +++

Taste – 8.5/10
Price – $$$
Service – 8/10
Ambience – 8/10
Accessibility – 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] - rating(s) for individual dishes

Tel: 6733 4414

Address:
Singapore Tyler Print Institute #01-01
41 Robertson Quay (S)238236

Opening hours:
Lunch: 12pm – 2pm
Dinner: 7pm – 10pm

Dress code: smart casual
Buses: 143, 64, 123…
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NEL)

Canelé Pâtisserie Chocolaterie – Paragon

Canelé Pâtisserie is fast-becoming Bakerzin’s biggest rival with a new outlet in Paragon in addition to their main one at Roberston Walk! This June, the guys behind Canelé have also opened a new dessert restaurant named Macaron located next to Canelé at Robertson Walk. So who’s the man behind Canelé’s continued success? He’s Executive Pastry Chef Pang Kok Keong

Not many people know this, but I’m a huge fan of Canelé’s breads. Those who know me even better will know that I’m a picky bread-eater. So that must say something about their breads right?

I’d recommend that you try their Croque Madame ($11.50) [****]. It’s a home-made white toast bread with ham & Swiss gruyere cheese, sunny side up and salad with house dressig on the side. Great sandwich.

On our right we’ve got the Club Honey Baked Ham ($12) [***.], another white toast bread sandwich with yummy honey baked ham, omelette, mayonnaise, juicy tomato, chips & greens with house dressing on the side! These aren’t exactly bite-sized and they sure pack quite a mouthful into it. Loved the chips. They make great nibbles for in-between chatting and waiting for friends.

Now if there’s 1 thing you absolutely have to try at Canelé, it’s gotta be their crepes. ANY CREPE. This one over here is their Savoury Crepe
with smoked salmon ($13.50) [****], with red onion, capers and dill cream cheese. Generous portions of smoked salmon, and the cream cheese didn’t overpower the overall taste of the crepe. I’d say this one’s awesome for smoked salmon lovers out there.

If you’re looking for something a little lighter or grabbing a quick bite for lunch, get the Chicken Stew ($11.50) [****] with leek, carrot, button mushroom, onion, perfumed with Provencal herbs. Served with Bread Basket. This “little” stew is deceptively simple in appearance, but it’ll satisfy your hunger pangs real quick.

Last but not least…Canelé’s specialty: Dessert!

Meet my personal favourite: The Strawberry Tart. [****.] I believe this image over here can speak for itself. Don’t forget to try their humble Nutella Pie [****], you won’t regret it. There’s way too many good desserts at this place, so feel free to take your pick at the display counter. I’m not keen on their chocolates though, as I felt that the chocolate couvertures were not great. For chocolates I’d still prefer Prestat Fine Chocolates or Laurent Bernard’s chocolates at The Chocolate Factory.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 8/10
Price – $$
Service – 7/10
Ambience – 7/10
Accessibility – 8/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Locations:
Robertson Walk

11 Unity Street, #01-09
Robertson Walk
Singapore 237995

Email : pang@lesamis.com.sg
Telephone : (65) 6738-8145
Facsimile : (65) 6738-8146
Dress Code: : Casual

Opening Hours
Monday to Wednesday : 10 am – 8 pm
Thursday to Saturday : 10 am – 11 pm
Sunday : 10 am – 6 pm

Paragon

B1-25 Paragon, 290 Orchard Road

Telephone : (65) 6733-8893
Opening Hours : 11am to 10pm daily

Sup Sip / Vis-a-Vis

For the benefit of those who might not know this: Sup Sip Thai Cuisine is part of Vis-a-Vis Fine French Dining. Both menus are offered to patrons on the restaurant’s premises. One might find the location of this cosy lil nook rather obscure. The restaurant is a 2-storey shophouse unit sandwiched between small pubs. However do not be quick to judge, as Vis-a-Vis has been around for 15 years. In their present location, they’ve successfully built up a pool of regular patrons with their excellent cuisine and wonderful service over the years.

I brought the boyfriend here to celebrate an early birthday for him. We had the intention of having french for dinner, but was gently persuaded otherwise by our waiter for the night. His name was Francis and he gave us excellent service from the moment we stepped in, till we left. First of all he recommended a entirely fresh fruit blend of pink grapefruit, banana & zesty orange – priced at $6.50/gls It was a huge glass of juice though, so don’t underestimate it. That drink was not only very refreshing, it was also the reason why our tummies didn’t make it to dessert.

We ordered a 4-pc Thai crispy prawn tofu appetizer ($8) [****], to start off our meal. It was served with a tangy-sweet Thai sauce that complemented the tofu very well. The dish may look rather ordinary here, but the beancurd skin was light & crispy. And most importantly, not oily. This 1 has my thumbs up.

Fans of my favourite meat rejoice! Sup Sip’s Beef Jaek [****] or beef steak was a pleasant surprise. I was half-expecting the meat to be slightly dry, because beef if overcooked with spices can end up with that result. In comparison to the beef dishes I’ve tried in Bangkok, this was a zesty combination of a number of spices. Each slice of beef was thinly-sliced and soaked in gravy. The gravy was slightly peppery and tasted a lil of lime. It all went very well with white rice.

This Red Snapper ($24) [*****] was so highly-recommended by Francis, that we could not resist ordering it. I must say that we were not disappointed. This fish was served crispy, immersed in a gravy that doubles up as a soup! No kidding. In fact, Francis told us that many patrons often order this dish to eliminate the need to order a soup to go with their meal. Rest assured that your fish & “soup” will remain hot & spicy all night long – it’s kept warm by a flame below. Well not exactly a flame, because the heat emitted from it makes the centre of the dish boil slightly. Caution: Slurp-worthy Thai Tom-Yam/Zesty-Lime gravy is mildly spicy but served piping hot! I know, you must be thinking: Tom Yam? Now put that thought aside, because I used those words for a lack of a better substitute. It tasted nothing like tom yam! The taste was uniquely different from the typical thai food we’re used to.

I’ll end this entry with a few tips:

1. Visit Vis-a-Vis if you want to impress a date, cos you can order from their French AND Thai menus.

2. Book this place if you’re planning a private function for close friends & family. They’ve got an upper floor to accomodate approx. 80 pax & a cosy, intimate dining experience to offer along with AWESOME service!

3. Grab a business lunch with a client at this place with their set lunch specials that change daily. Call them to find out more!

/all prices stated not incl. of +++
restaurant images are by Robert Steiner, taken from Streetdirectory.com

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 9/10
Price – $$$
Service – 10/10
Ambience – 9/10
Accessibility – 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Tel: 6468 7433

Address:
12 Chun Tin Road Singapore 599599
(Opposite Beauty World)

Email: vins@pacific.net.sg
Website: Vis-a-Vis

Opening hours:
9am to 10.30pm daily

Dress code: smart casual
Buses: 985, 985W, 61, 157, 184…

The French Stall

That night, I had an early Christmas dinner at The French Stall with my family. It’s located off Serangoon Road after Little India, diagonally opposite the Indian Temple, along North Sturdee Rd. If you look to your right while travelling along the main road, you can’t miss it. I’ve long heard about how their french food is good & affordable, so I was pretty psyched about going there. But before that, my parents had to rub salt to wound about the fact that they visited the place before me. ha.

Anyways a friendly waitress gave us her utmost attention all night. For starters she recommended that we try their French Onion Soup ($3.80) [****] – sweet stuff and their escargot.

Escargot with garlic & butter ($8) [****] It was served in portions of a half dozen. The musky-grainy taste of improperly-cleaned escargot was thankfully absent. After passing my initial taste test, I proceeded to dip each morsel into their killer garlic-butter-olive oil-parsley combination…and it was gooood. I’d say Be adventurous! give this a try. YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE. Banish the thought that snails are disgusting cos these aint garden snails, they’re totally safe for consumption.

Introducing…the Mains.

Roast Duck Leg with orange sauce & risotto ($15.80) [****] Ooh..where do I begin? Let’s just say I couldn’t quit nibbling off my mum’s plate (this was hers). The duck was crisp & well-roasted, and the tangy orange sauce lent a sweet taste tht complemented the savoury duck well. Risotto was a good choice because it balanced the salty taste of the duck. (Risotto is the European version of our ‘mui fan‘)

Veal Shank ‘Marengo’ style with french beans & carrots ($14.80) [****.] This was my pick for mains. I had a preconceived notion that it’ll look like grilled veal with a french sauce. But it turned out to be a Drool-worthy stew with tender chunks of veal. In fact, ‘Marengo‘ refers to a veal/chicken dish in which the meat is sautéed in olive oil, then braised with tomatoes, onions, olives, garlic, white wine or brandy and seasonings. Sometimes scrambled eggs accompany the dish. It’s said to have been created by Napoleon’s chef after the 1800 Battle of Marengo. Don’t underestimate this seemingly small portion of veal, it’s very filling!

Beef Fondue for 2 ($15.80/pax) [***.] What you see here is called Fondue bourguignonne, whereby cubes of raw beef are cooked in a pot of hot oil, then dipped into various savory sauces. The oil in the pot is olive oil. Perfectly healthy. We were given lil skewers to cook the marinated beef, potatoes, onions & carrots. The entire set is accompanied by 3 sauces that tasted remotely like Thousand Island, French sauce & something I couldn’t place. There’ll be a gas canister under the table and the oil is preheated so that cooking can be done without the fire later on. This dish does sound expensive, but who’s stopping 3 or more people from sharing? hee. It’ll be lots of fun I promise.

Grilled Lamb Chop with eggplant & tomato ($15.80) [****] Great grilled lamb. ‘Nuff said. All you carnivores out there, look no further…order this!

Others not mentioned include their Tagliatelle with ceps & black trompettes sauce ($10.80), suitable for those who desperately need to curb the tummy’s call for carbs. It’s a cream-based pasta just so you know..I wouldn’t want someone who is lactose intolerant to be trying this..

Guanaja Chocolate Souffle ($5.80): AWESOME Dessert in 3 words. A close competitor would be the Profiteroles. They’ve also got other desserts like Tiramisu and a dessert tht tastes like crème brûlée.

//Prices not inclusive of Svc charge & cess. No GST

++All definitions were taken from http://www.epicurious.com
© Copyright Barron’s Educational Services, Inc. 1995 based on THE FOOD LOVER’S COMPANION, 2nd edition, by Sharon Tyler Herbst.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 8/10
Price – $$ to $$$ (I’d call this VERY affordable French food)
Service – 7/10
Ambience – 7/10
Accessibility – 6.5/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Tel: (65) 6299 3544

Address:
544 Serangoon Road (next to Kerrisdale Condo)
Singapore 218166

Website: http://www.thefrenchstall.com.sg

Opening hours: 3pm-6pm (Desserts only) / 6pm-10pm (Dinner only)
Dress code: casual
Buses: 21, 23, 64, 65, 66, 67, 125, 130, 139, 147, 857
MRT: Farrer Park (NEL), Exit G.

Desire

This is Desire at The Scarlet Hotel. It is one third of the 3 options you have for dining & chilling at the Scarlet Hotel in Erskine Rd. The other 2 are Bold & Breeze. This restaurant bears precious memories of a wonderful birthday spent with the him this year. Not only are their service standards impeccable, the food was fawesome too.

Interestingly, their menus come in the form of black & red leather-bound books: red for the lady, black for the men. When I flipped the 1st page, I saw a toned torso of an unknown male. Anyone wanna venture any guesses on what theme the restaurant has? C’mon, it’s blatantly obvious. Too bad for the men though, their menus aint the same. Each dish on the menu is simply named, but all have a description describing them as aphrodisiacs of sorts..food that will DEFINITELY tantalise our taste buds in other words. Soon I found myself ordering their house specialities: Cream of Escargot, Tenderloin of Beef & Lamb Rack.

The Cream of Escargot ($12) [****] was rich & creamy with generous morsels of escargot. The taste of the escargot wasn’t overpowering so no worries there. Personally, I felt that it was a little to rich for my liking..but then again, I’m just being fussy.

This here is their Tenderloin of Beef ($38) [****]. Although the portion looked small at first..he realised later on that it did it’s job well filling his tummy. The beef was well-done and it’s taste was sealed off with a unique blend of a somewhat tangy-sweet-savoury light sauce.

This Lamb Rack ($38) [****.] my friends, is to-die-for. It won me over with the first bite. Now bear in mind that char doesn’t like lamb. But I gamely decided to order it because it was highly recommended by the nice Filipino waitress who attended to us. The lamb was accompanied by lentils on the side & a serving of mushrooms. It was fmazing, do try it. They’re a worthy rival of the Hyatt’s Mezzanine.

//All prices are subjected to +++

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food – 8.5/10
Price – $$$ to $$$$
Service – 9/10
Ambience – 9/10
Accessibility – 6.5/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)

Tel: +65 6511 3333

Address: 33 Erskine Road, Singapore 069333

Website: http://www.thescarlethotel.com

Dress code: smart casual
Getting there: Up the hill next to Maxwell food centre.