Steak and fries is an unpretentious dish that has been enjoyed for generations at many a bistro in France. After all, you can’t go wrong with a solid cut of steak and crisp, umami fries on the side!
L’Entrecôte The Steak & Fries Bistro has perfected the art of steak and fries so well, it has become synonymous with the very dish in Singapore. So when Restaurant Week rolled around late last year, I couldn’t pass up on the chance to try it for myself, along with other classic French fares.
French cuisine often gets a rep – for better or for worse – as food that is geared for the high class or occasions with a little frou-frou. But, that’s not to say that you can’t find French food that’s wallet-friendly, yet substantiative. French Fold is one such place where you can satisfy cravings for authentic crepes and galettes.
Opened by the same company behind Merci Marcel, French Fold is one of the newer additions to Telok Ayer, having taken over the space previously occupied by Mojo. The rustic-meets-tropical paradise interior lends a laid-back vibe to the space that is reminiscent of its neighbourhood.
With more individuals turning away from traditional corporate careers to pursue their lifelong aspirations in the F&B industry, I’m always curious about the results of their kitchen experiments. I was able to check out Mon Cerise Patisserie during its month-long stint at Baker X at Orchard Gateway, a project designed to give aspiring home-based bakers a taste of managing a physical shopfront.
Mon Cerise Patisserie is an online French patisserie founded by home baker Cherry Chiu, who bid the corporate world goodbye and earned her baking chops at Le Cordon Bleu in London. The result is a range of dainty, handmade pastries that change every month!
Les Petite Tarts ($27 for 6 pieces)
Since its debut in 2018, homegrown cafe Merci Marcel has added two more outposts to its belt. The newest one at Palais Renaissance in Orchard Road fast establishing itself as a chic oasis with a French-Balinese vibe in the heart of town.
For my birthday, my colleagues surprised me with a meal at Lerouy, a modern French restaurant that earned its coveted Michelin star in 2019. Helmed by Chef Christophe Lerouy, who himself led Alma by Juan Amador to its one-star accolade in 2016, the restaurant recently relocated from Stanley Street to its current outpost on Amoy Street.
Opened by ex-Saveur owner Dylan, The Masses has always been on my radar, but for some reason I kept putting off visiting. With circuit breaker measures leaving me wanting for more variety in my lunch options, I decided to #treatmyself and try their selection of French cuisine with Asian influences!
With the new decade, comes change. As we bade a quiet goodbye to hipster hideout Ronin in January, Raffles Hotel welcomed some a quaint new addition by the same team behind PUNCH and the defunct The Plain.
Simply named Gather, this old-school cafe cum retail space specialises in French-style crepes and galettes, along with a handful of baked goods and coffees.
Chue On It 