Le Figue
1 Orchard Boulevard, #01-01/02
Camden Medical Centre
6887 5383

A medical centre would be the one of the last places that comes to mind when one thinks of fine dining restaurants. Yet, sometimes gems can be found in the most unlikely places. Take Le Figue, for example. This relatively new French restaurant is located in a rather obscure location but it definitely holds its own against other bigger players in the local French dining scene in terms of quality and service.

The most economical decision is to go for the set lunch which cost an affordable $28+ for 3 courses. Granted, by way of introduction, set lunches may not be the way to go since ala carte dishes are almost always better than those served in set meals. But I figure it can't be that bad since I like the sound of most of the dishes printed on the menu. The complimentary raisin bread was served warm with butter on the side. I don't like to have bread before my meal since it's a sure way to fill me up.

I had the classic tomato gazpacho to start off. Served with black pepper crouton, confit vine tomato and some cucumber slices, the cold Spanish liquid salad was slightly tangy and sweet. This is perfect for the 365 days of summer in Singapore!


The other appetiser was the snake head fish carpaccio. The portion was generous and scattered with black olive powder, shavings of salad and summer cress, the thinly sliced raw carpaccio was firm and fresh.

My main of seared salmon was my favourite dish of the whole meal. Sitting in a pool of bellpepper coulis and accompanied by cute little balls of vegetables, the salmon was cooked to perfection. The top layer was all crisp skin and firm cooked flesh while the base was raw and had a nice pinkish hue to it. This is really simplicity at its best!

The other choice besides the salmon was the chicken roulade. Stuffed with spinach leaf and paired with onion marmalade, this was quite unique since it's not commonly found elsewhere. I liked the sauteed chickpeas which were not too overcooked to the point of mushiness but still firm yet tender.

Thankfully, the dessert was good enough to not spoil the great meal so far. It's basically chocolate mousse, caramelized macadamia, soft biscotti-like biscuit and blueberry sorbet. Eaten together, the combination worked well. I could taste the smoothness of the sweet mousse and the slightly sourish sorbet while the nuts and biscuits gave a great crunch in every bite.

This is definitely one of the better lunches I've had in a while. The quality was above average, service was impeccable and the price was reasonable. There's really nothing not to like! Who cares if the location is a little inaccessible?

Labels: French

1:29 PM

Freshly Baked by Le Bijoux
#01-01, 57 Killiney Road
6735 3298

Cedele has always been my no.1 place for a good sandwich but I believe this little bakery-cafe dishes out sandwiches delicious enough to threaten Cedele's position in my heart. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted in the air even before I stepped in. Now, who can resist nice, soft and fragrant bread straight from the oven?

I enjoyed every last bite of the Smoked Salmon Sandwich ($8.20). There's a variety of bread to choose from such as walnut raisin, foccacia and ciabatta. I opted for the multi-grain since I like my bread dark and hearty. The generous smoked salmon, lettuce and tomato confit definitely took a back seat to the bread which was soft in the middle surrounded by a nice crust.

Labels: French

1:47 PM

Sage, The Restaurant
7 Mohamed Sultan Road
6333 8726

I was so looking forward to a meal here after reading about it from the local media and other foodies' blog. Ambience was very classy with its soft lighting and black walls. But such lighting is the downfall of good and sharp photos, so please pardon the slightly grainy photos below.


The usual complimentary bread with an olive oil dip was served while we were waiting for our food. It looked very soft and fluffy, the exact opposite of what I like so I didn't try.


Another complimentary item was the Crab and Tomato Salad. This was served cold with a small topping of avocado. I liked everything about this: the fresh and meaty crab, the crunchy veg in every bite, the creamy avocado and the slightly tangy tomato puree. This was a very promising start to our dinner!


The simply named "Mushrooms" soup ($18++) was incredible. I solemnly declare this to be the BEST mushroom soup I've ever had! The flavour in the cappuccino of wild mushrooms (right) exploded so sweetly in my mouth with every spoonful. This was not the creamy type usually served elsewhere. In fact, I suspect that no (or at least, very minimal) cream was used at all. Now, the scrambled eggs, asparagus and morel cream served in an egg shell was very interesting. My 1st thought was that it's too salty. But the 2nd bite proved me wrong as the truffle infused eggs was very aromatic and fragrant.


The Cod ($42++) was wonderful to a fish lover like me. The soft flesh of the roasted fillet of fatty fish contrasted nicely with the slightly crisp skin. Topped with prawn and cognac butter, sitting on a gratin of salt cod confit with sun-dried tomato, and surrounded by an emulsion of basil pesto and clam broth, this was just lovely. Complicated but every ingredient sang in harmony and enhanced each other's flavour.


The Prawn Pasta a la "Carbonara" ($28++) came in a tomato based sauce instead its creamy white counterpart. Homemade fettuccini was nicely al dente and tossed with egg yolk, bacon and prawn bits, Arugula leaves and shavings of Parmigiano Reggiano.

Labels: French

7:01 PM

La Petite Cuisine
#01-05 Serene Centre
6314 3173

Since Sis wanted to try French food without burning the pocket, I brought her to this well-known eatery specialising in exactly what she wants: tasty French food at an affordable price. Luckily, the place was opened for business this time (closed on Tuesday when I was there with Yoke Yee). The smell wafting out the kitchen hit us even before we were seated.

I agree with some of the reviews I've read that the food portion was small. But considering the quality of the food plus NO service and GST, I'd say that this place is a gem to be kept. Service was very friendly and the chef even came out to ensure that everyone was happy with their meals. Seriously, this no frills eatery is no worse than any other restaurant if your main aim is to enjoy above average food at below average prices.

Labels: French

7:38 PM