Gunther's French Modern Cuisine @ Purvis Street

I didn't plan to make any reservation for this year Restaurant Week March 2013 since I felt most of the food offered in Restaurant Week were compromised. So how did I end up at Gunther's French Modern Cuisine? If I remembered correctly, it all started with Daniel tweeting his restaurant week's experience at Gunther's French Modern Cuisine. That started a chain of conversations on Twitter with some friends and eventually we ended up making reservation for a weekday lunch with Charleen, Nicole and Kimberley.

Carpaccio Wagyu Beef 4.5/5

For the starter, I went for the Carpaccio Wagyu Beef in Tartate Style. The thinly sliced beautiful marbled wagyu beef was topped with a medley of flavours that accentuated the sweetness of the beef.

Cold Angel Hair Pasta 4.8/5

The rest of the group went for the Cold Angel Hair Pasta which was a rendition of their signature Cold Angel Hair Pasta with Oscietra Caviar served on a cold plate. The cold plate simply shows the details the chef has put into his dish. Even without the caviar which was substituted with tomato, mozzarella and ham, it was nothing shy of excellent.

Pan-Roasted Foie Gras 4.5/5

For an additional $15, we ordered the Pan Roasted Foie Gras which was topped with almond bits. The crunchy almond bits not only given the foie gras a nice contrast in texture, it also given it a nutty flavour that lifted the whole enjoyment of the delicacy.

Pork Ribs in Provencale Style 4.8/5

Moving on to the main, this is the most awesome pork ribs that I have ever had for a long while. The Pork Ribs done in Provencale Style was so tender and full of flavours that the huge slab itself was not enough. I can simply go for another piece.

Grilled Brittany Cod Fish, Couscous of Vegetables 4/5

For the other main, the Grilled Brittany Cod Fish with Couscous of Vegetables was subtle and milder in taste compare to the bold flavours of the pork ribs. The delicately cooked piece of cod fish was moist and came with a hint of smokiness.

English Breakfast Tea Bavarois 4/5

For the dessert, we were not given a choice and was served the English Breakfast Tea Bavarois. The flavourful custard set with gelatine has a nice lingering tea taste that was complemented by the salty caramel and lemongrass infused sauce.

Petit Fours 3.8/5

For the Petit Fours, we were served Almond Cracker, Madeleine and Dark Chocolate Praline. Pardon my ignorance but I was a bit puzzled, there was only 3 items on the plate right? Paired with my coffee, it was nevertheless a simple yet perfect end to a memorable lunch.

I have to admit I am impressed with the food at Gunther's French Modern Cuisine. Ranked 43 in the inaugural Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2013, awarded "Restaurant of the Year" at the World Gourmet Summit 2012, San Pellegrino World's Best 100 Restaurants 2010 at number 84 as well as retaining its position as Asia's Top 20 Finest Restaurants in the Miele Guide from 2008 awards. It definitely deserved all the titles lead my the culinary skill of Chef Gunther Hubrechsen.


Gunther's French Modern Cuisine
36 Purvis Street
#01-03
Singapore 188613
Tel: +65 63388955
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gunthers
Website: http://www.gunthers.com.sg
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to National Library Building (NLB) along North Bridge Road. At NLB, cross the road at the traffic junction of North Bridge Road and Middle Road. Walk further down North Bridge Road and turn left into Purvis Street. Journey time about 8 minutes.

Poulet @ Great World City

After my previous visit to Poulet at Bugis+ in September 2012, I am back at Poulet again but at their second outlet at Great World City opened in November 2012. Similar to the flagship outlet, the second outlet features a 62 seater open dining area modernly furnished with an open kitchen. In my previous visit, there were some hits and misses. The invite was timely to check out the kitchen's consistency and quality.

Country Side Mushroom Soup 4.2/5

Usually mushroom soup comes in the form of either creamy or puree base. At Poulet, the Country Side Mushroom Soup ($5.80) has both in one. The mushroom soup was smooth and creamy. Each mouthful also came with finely puree mushroom bites.

French Onion Soup 4.2/5

When I visited Poulet at Bugis+ previously, the French Onion Soup ($5.80) did not meet my expectation. This time round, the soup tasted much better. The tangy flavour was nicely balanced with the sweetness of the caramelised French onion in the veal stock.

Escargot de Bourgogne 3.8/5

The Escargot de Bourgogne ($8.80) which I did not try in my previous visit had half dozen Burgundy Snails served with tomato fondue and almond garlic butter. Chef Nelson ordered some bread and taught me how to enjoy this dish to the fullest, wiping the bread with the remaining tomato fondue and almond garlic butter. Learnt something new from Chef Nelson.

Poulet de Cranberry 4.5/5

Along with the opening of Great World City outlet, Poulet has also launched a new Signature with a refreshing twist to the house highly raved Rotisserie Chicken. Poulet de Cranberry ($15.80 half / $28.80 whole) is served in a fresh luscious cranberry sauce and double pommery & dijon mustard. I have some bad experience with the chicken in my previous visit but this time it was cooked perfectly. To enjoy the dish, mixed the cranberry and mustard sauces togther. The savory and fruity sauce complemented the tender chicken very well.

Oxtail de Bourguignon 4/5

Pressure cooked oxtail in red wine sauce with carrot and onion, the Oxtail de Bourguignon ($15.80) was tender, falling off the bone with ease.

Profiteroles 4.2/5

The Profiteroles ($7.80) at Poulet was as good as the one I had at Le Bistrot du Sommelier and it is only half the price of it. The Choux puffs with 2 huge scoops of vanilla ice cream, warm chocolate sauce and almond flakes is a must try.

Tiramisu 4.2/5

The Tiramisu ($7.80) served in a jar was still as good. The tiramise was mosit with mascarpone cheese, sponge finger soaked in espresso and rum syrup

With its modern alfresco setting, dining at Poulet is casual, unpretentious and comforting. Although it is French food at affordable price, quality was not compromise.


Poulet
Great World City
1 Kim Seng Promenade
#02-K2/K3
Singapore 237994
Tel: +65 67334395
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PouletSG
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line), Outram (EW line, NE Line), Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop opposite Orchard MRT station (Stop ID B09022). Take bus number 16 or 175. Alight 4 bus stops later. Journey time about 12 minutes.

2) Alight at Outram MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Outram MRT station. (Stop ID B06011). Take bus number 75 or 970. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Great World City. Journey time about 12 minutes.

3) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tiong Bahru MRT station (Stop ID 10169). Take bus number 5, 16 or 195. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes.

2fifteen Kitchen @ Rochester Mall

2fifteen Kitchen a new establishment at Rochester Mall owned by Epicurean Concept with an aspiration of providing a premium casual dining experience which thrive in engaging food for the soul at a reasonable price.

2fifiteen is helmed by Executive Chef Kenny Yeo who has vast experience helming renowned restaurants in Singapore and Taipei including a 3-star Michelin hotel in France.

Complimentary Bread

Upon settling down, the group of us were served complimentary bread with butter and olive oil. The baguette was warm, crispy on the exterior and fluffy inside.

Fremantle Octopus Leg with Citrus Oil, Ripen Tomato and Pearl Mango 4.2/5

I didn't know octopus is so delicious until I tried the Fremantle Octopus Leg with Citrus Oil, Ripen Tomato and Pearl Mnago in the degustation menu. The octopus leg was pan seared to a nice squishy and crunchy texture that was surprisingly very enjoyable.

Quick-seared Foie Gras on Caramelised Watermelon, Green Apple Balsamic Syrup 4.5/5

The Quick seared Foie Gras on Caramelised Watermelon, Green Apple Balsamic Syrup was another exquisite dish in the degustation menu. The foie gras stood out for its exemplary flavours but the caramelised watermelon excited my palate. I didn't know caramelised watermelon can taste so good.

Cappucino of Mushroom 3/5

Another item from the degustation menu, the Cappucino of Mushroom was interesting presented in a coffee cup. The soup was drank as if one was drinking a cup of coffee. Packed with mushroomy flavours I thought it was let down by just a pinch too much salt.

Prawn Capellini with Aromatic Oil 4.8/5

The Prawn Capellini with Aromatic Oil ($26) was very memorable for me. The pasta resembles the Chinese version of "Mee Kia Ta" was a pure enjoyment both in flavours and textures. I will definitely order this again.

Confit of Salmon Roulade 4.2/5

The Confit of Salmon Roulade ($28) with soft herb, wild rice, hazelnut oil and poultry jus was beautifully cooked for 20 minutes to a nice pinkish colour. The wild rice gave the dish a contrasting texture that complemented the salmon perfectly.

Slow seared Pork Belly 4/5

I have this thing about pork belly and most of the time I will end up ordering it if it is available on the menu. The Slow seared Pork Belly ($30) with savoy cabbage, green apple & prosciutto in poultry sauce was cooked beautifully with crackling skin and fork tender meat.

Acquerello Risotto 4/5

From Frementle to Acquerello, it shows Chef Kenny Yeo's and the restaurant's aspiration to provide premium dining experience using premium ingredients at reasonable price. The Acquerello Risotto with pan seared Foie Gras and truffle port wine sauce ($29) looked simple but was packed with flavours. Unlike the normal sticky risotto, Chef Yeo's version kept the Acquerello grains intact without sticking to each other and retained a bit of the raw grain texture giving the risotto a crunchy texture.

Dry Aged 21 days Sirloin Bone with Marrow in Truffle Port Wine Sauce 4.2/5

The Dry Aged 21 days Sirloin Bone with Marrow in Truffle Port Wine Sauce ($130) was the most expensive item on the menu. The Sirloin steak was grilled to perfection. The meat itself was already succulent and beautiful that I ate it without the truffle port wine sauce.

Dessert Platter 4/5

Our tasting menu showed that we will be having the Yuzu Green Tea Cheesecake for dessert but Chef Kenny was very nice to prepare for us a dessert platter instead. I like the layer of Yuzu jelly on top of the green tea cheesecake. The sweet and sour combination was a pleasing delight for the palate. Another commendable dessert on the platter is the homemade apple tart. The thin pastry version of the traditional apple tart topped with almond was well received by the table.

From 03 November, 2fifteen Kitchen will also introduced weekend brunch in an ala-carte-buffet concept where one can help oneself to the delightful spread of hors d'oeuvres at the buffet table before ordering your main. The brunch is available in 2 sessions at 11am and 2pm.


2fifteen Kitchen
Rochester Mall
35 Rochester Drive
#02-15
Singapore 138639
Tel: +65 66598215
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2fifteenkitchen
Website: http://www.epicurean.com.sg
Nearest MRT: Buona Vista (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 11am - 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
Alight at Buona Vista MRT station. Take exit A or C. Head south on North Buona Vista Road towards Rochester Park. At Rochester Mall, take the escalator to level 2 and walk to the end of the building facing Rochester Park. Journey time about 7 minutes.

Poulet @ Bugis+

With establishments such as Saveur and Le Cuisson offering French cuisine at affordable price and doing pretty well, not surprise that ThaiExpress Group decided to open Poulet at the refurnished Bugis+ (known as Iluma previously) to tap on the emerging market.

I decided to make a trip down to Poulet with my girl for lunch to check out the so called French bistro. Poulet has an open concept kitchen in a casual setting at leve 4 of Bugis+. Browsing through the menu, most of the items on the menu are priced below $16 excluding gst and other charges.

French Onion Soup 3/5

The French Onion Soup ($5.80) was decent but not awesome. I couldn't really taste the sweetness of the caramelised onion. The soup was also a hint too salty.

Braised de Canard 4.2/5

The Braised Duck Leg ($15.80) in sweet wine sauce on baby spinach topped with cranberry and glazed shallot was pretty good. The duck meat was so moist and tender that it slipped off with bone with ease. The sweetness of the sauce cutting through the meat was also interesting and delightful to the palate.

Poulet Roti 4/5

Poulet Roti ($15.80 half / $28.80 whole) is the restaurant's signature dish. The Rotisserie chicken is slow roast to a golden brown and paired with homemade mushroom chardonnay sauce. Thumbs up for the mushroom chardonnay sauce. It was such a beautiful sauce to go with the chicken. Unfortunately our chicken was a little bit raw at the intersection of the leg and we had to send it back to the kitchen. Follow up visits from friends seem like the cooking of the chicken lacks consistency.

Tiramisu 4.2/5

The Tiramisu ($7.80) is a must try here. The tiramisu is made with mascarpone cheese, sponge finger soaked in espresso and rum syrup. I enjoyed the wetness of the tiramisu that came with aromatic coffee and trace of alcohol flavours all coming together.


Poulet
Bugis+
201 Victoria Street
Level 4
Singapore 188067
Tel: +65 65099411
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit C. Cross Victoria Street. Walk to Bugis+. Journey time about 10 minutes.

Le Bistrot du Sommelier @ Armenian Street

Jacob floated the idea with Maureen, Shiting and me that we should do a monthly dinner thingy to dine at restaurant that we want to check out. After throwing a few suggestions we decided to check out Le Bistrot du Sommelier that has moved from its previous location at Prinsep Street to their new home at Armenian Street.

Braised Pig Trotter 4/5

Jacob and Shiting both had the Braised Pig Trotter ($36) stuffed with veal sweetbreads served with steamed vegetables and mash potatoes. The portion and presentation was rather intimidating to finish. Not to forget the generous serving of stuffed veal sweetbreads unless you have an enormous and adventurous appetite.

Beef Short Ribs 4.2/5

For myself I have the Beef Short Ribs ($38) which was beautifully cooked. The portion was rather huge again consider this is french cuisine. The lovely fork tender meat fell off the bone with easy and made my palate sang to the lovely tunes of flavours.

Braised French Chicken Leg 4.2/5

My girlfriend had the Braised French Chicken Leg ($28) which was interesting served in a claypot. The chicken leg was braised in vinegar and tomatoes served with gratin of potatoes at the side. Ignoring the presentation, the tangy broth was rather appertizing and I couldn't help going back for more.

French Duck Confit 4.2/5

Jacob's partner, Chloe has the French Duck Confit ($28). I had a piece for taste and I enjoyed the texture. It was moist and aromatic. I didn't get to try the beetroot salad but I thought the flavour will be a good balance for the gamey duck. You can read more on Jacob's site.

Catch of the Day, Bouillabaisse of Red Gurnard 4/5

Maureen ordered the Catch of the day, Bouillabaisse of Red Gurnard ($30). Bouillabaisse is classic French fish stew from Marseille. The word in general means boil and reduce heat. Maureen just had a dental surgery so she went for something soft in texture.

Profiteroles 4.2/5

The classic Profiteroles ($14) simply brought smiles to our faces with each scoop. The warm chocolate sauce and sliced almonds toppings were a welcome boost to the already wonderful dessert.

Green Apple Sorbet with Calvados 3/5

The Green Apple Sorbet with Calvados ($18) was a love and hate affiar. We loved the refreshing sorbet with the green apple bites. Unfortunately all of us felt that it was a bit too heavy on the Calvados, a type of apply or cider brandy.

Apricot Souffle 4/5

The giant Apricot Souffle ($20) is for the serving of 2. As it takes about 20 minutes to prepare, do place your order early. It had raised beautifully, light and fluffy.

Food at Le Bistrot du Sommerlier overall is top notch. However the restaurant is rather small and noisy. Definitely not suitable for  romantic quiet dinner. Do remember to make reservation and they expect a minimum spending of $70 per pax for group of more than 5.


Le Bistrot du Sommelier
53 Armenian Street
Singapore 179940
Tel: +65 63331982
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Le-Bistrot-Du-Sommelier/169391063079607
Website: http://www.lebistrotdusommelier.com
Nearest MRT:

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 230pm (Lunch), 6pm - 11pm (Dinner)

Direction:
1) Alight at Bras Basah MRT Station. Take Exit A. Head towards Stamford Road at the traffic junction of Bras Basah Road, Queen Street and Stamford Road. Continue onwards onto Armenian Street. Journey time about 8 minutes.

2) Alight at City Hall MRT Station. Take Exit A or B. Head northwest onto Stamford Road. Turn left onto Armenian Street. Journey time about 8 minutes.

Le Jardin D'Antoinette @ Palais Renaissance

Reowned and award winning Owner-Chef Pang Kok Keong unveils Le Jardin D'Antoinette at the swanky shopping destination along Orchard Road at Palais Renaissance. This is the group's 4th outlet and also the brand's Parisian flair concept's largest outlet.

Le Jardin D'Antoinette's main dining area modelled after Versaille’s expansive outdoor garden, is a unique round-shaped dining space decked out with ornate vintage furniture featuring an abundance of floral accents such as flower print upholstered seats, and surrounded by trellises hanging with vines, lush topiary and exuberant oversized floral arrangements.

Thanks to the invitation from Six Sense Communications & PR Consultancy and Ellena for extend the invitation, I am very privileged to be hosted  by the friendly and soft spoken Owner-Chef Pang himself. We were at Le Jardin D'Antoinette to savour some of the new offerings from their refreshed menu. Of course not to be missed was Chef Pang's new 2012 collection of irresistible Asian-inspired desserts and pastry.

Classic French Onion Soup 4.2/5

The Classic French Onion Soup ($16.50) was made using chicken and veal broth with caramelized onions. It was accompanied by cheese toasts made from Antoinette's signature 24-hour baguette. Traditionally the soup is covered with a layer of cheese and broiled to brown before serving. At Antoinette, this is substituted with a cheese crust cover made from combo of parmesan and gruyere cheese. The richness of the soup had a tad of tangy taste which was quite enjoyable that paired well with the sweetness of the caramelized  onions.

Tartine de Nicoise 4/5

The Tartine de Nicoise ($26.00) was crowned by a bed of butter lettuce, french beans, tomatoes, olives, a three-minute egg, anchovy and seared tuna on top an open face levain sandwich. The star was the levain bread made from a proprietary yeast starter and takes 18 days to make. The bread was soft and fluffy with a tangy flavour amid a hard crispy crust.

Confit de Poitrine de Porc 4.5/5

The Confit de Poitrine de Porc ($36) or simply Pork Belly Confit was cured in a mixture of sea salt, brown sugar and aromatics, and then cooked, covered in duck fat for 90 degrees Celsius over 12 hours. I noticed the crackling skin was a bit darker in colour which made me wonder if it was because of the used of brown sugar during the curing process. The melted in the mouth pork belly was served with garlic mash, seasonal vegetables, and mustard sauce.

Bouchees aux fruits de mer 3.5/5

My first impression of the Bouchees aux fruits de mer ($30) resembles the chinese yam basket. The puff pastry case came with a luxurious seafood medley of scallops, prawns, squid and mussels sauteed with white wine and cream. We were quite impressed that the pastry was cooked perfectly considering the number of layers involved. Unfortunately, I felt that the ingredients didn't come together as one and it was kind of complex or difficult to savour the seafood and pastry as a whole. I would gladly have the seafood and pastry separately.

Prawn Crumble Pasta 4.5/5

The Prawn Crumble Pasta ($26) was rather unique for me. First the used of parsley pesto to the more common basil pesto. Next was the used of homemade anchovy crumble that was sprinkled on top of the pasta. I was quite impressed with the pasta that had both textures and flavours working harmoniously together.

Kyoto 4.2/5

Besides a wide repertoire of savoury items, Le Jardin D'Antoinette also has a exquisite selection of desserts that Antoinette is well known for amid its luxuriant setting. After a hearty meal, we got to try 4 of Chef Pang's new 2012 collection of Asian-inspired desserts and pastry.

Kyoyo ($9) a light but dense Japanese matcha mousse cake made of green tea mascarpone mousse, chestnut cremeux, almond crumble, green tea finger sponge. I do not really have a sweet tooth and the balance of sweetness was just right for me.

Chloe 4/5

Chloe ($9) is a white chocolate vanilla mousse on a light sponge cake and almond sable combined with refreshing and fragrant yuzu cremeux. Best to enjoy with a cup of tea to wash down the sweetness.

Tarte Exotique 4.2/5

The Tarte Exotique ($8.50) was probably the favourite desserts among the four we tried. A luscious gula melaka cremeux, finger sponge and a light coconut mousse crowned with a delicate mango and passion fruit coulis sphere sitting on an almond base. The technique and used of Asian flavours in the subtle dessert just demonstrate the chef's talent and prowess in his forte.

Forbidden Fruit 4/5

The Forbidden Fruits ($9) has beautiful layers of green apple mousse, vanilla caramel apple and green apple jelly, complemented with maple cremeux on a financier cake. The layers of texture was rather new to me and took a while for my palate to settle in.

With the opening of Le Jardin DAntoinette at Palais Renaissance that comes with a much bigger seating capacity that can accommodate up to 94 guests, it is great to see classic French food can be enjoyed readily at affordable price.


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Le Jardin D'Antoinette
Palais Renaissance
390 Orchard Road
B1-08/09/10C
Singapore 238871
Tel: +65 6735 6392
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/antoinette.sg
Website: http://www.antoinette.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk towards Wheellock Place via ION. Exit Wheellock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Cross the road at the traffic light junction and turn left towards Royal Thai Embassy. Palais Renaissance is right after Royal Thai Embassy. Journey time about 10 minutes.

2) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Shaw House via underpass. At the road level, walk along Orchard Road towards Royal Thai Embassy direction. Palais Renaissance is right after Royal Thai Embassy. Journey time about 10 minutes.