Antoinette Revisited

It was on a weekday afternoon when my dining companion and I visited Antoinette at Penhas Road, near Lavender MRT Station. While I have been to the branch at Mandarin Gallery (there is another at Palais Renaissance), this is my first time here. Instead of its breakfast which I had the other time, I tried Boeuf Bourguignon. Could taste the red wine in the braised Wagyu brisket so tender it could be easily pulled apart with the fork and knife. And loved how it went well with the pomme purée and seasonal vegetables. The former is mashed potato with a thicker consistency than usual, and contained tiny cubes of potato I could bite into. Portion was a tad big, maybe because I ate most of the viennoiseries and a bacon that was part of the Antoinette Breakfast. Oops, you just realised how much of a glutton I am.

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Update: The branch at Palais Renaissance has closed.

Pique Nique

After a day of eating and shopping, my dining companion and I were more tired than hungry. It was time for dinner and we were in town where snaking queues were the norm for most restaurants. Pique Nique is no different most of the times I passed by the casual laid-back American eatery and whenever I went to buy its cookies in pretty boxes as gifts for friends. The branch at basement 1 of Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Ngee Ann City where Mac Donald used to be and opposite Kentucky Fried Chicken has a setting inspired by the Central Park in New York City. While that at JCube is a blend of nature with SOHO living so customers can experience the outdoors in the comfort of indoor dining. I have tried the afternoon tea at JCube before and did not think much of its sweets and coffee. As such, I ordered a Big Breakfast during my 1st visit to the one at Takashimaya.

Paul

More than a year since Paul opened on the 3rd floor of Ngee Ann City (better known as Takashimaya), queues could still be seen at this French bakery café unlike Ladurée that opened two months ago. Both are owned by French company Holder Group but the latter in Singapore only has a counter and a boutique on the 1st and 2nd floor of the same shopping mall. My 1st experience with Paul was in France and fond memories of its tarts and sandwiches meant I had them more than once during my Europe trip. In fact, was happy to see it in Kobe while on holiday except I was then looking for a place to eat Kobe beef. Visited the boulangerie / patisserie a few times in Singapore when the queue was short, so the wait time was still reasonable but I haven't had the chance to sit by the window yet. Could see splatters of gold against dark wood in the brightly-lit (with sunlight streaming in, ceiling chandeliers and wall lamps) place with comfortable seats and simple yet lovely table set-up.

Ladurée Revisited

It has been a week since the renowned luxury patisserie chain credited for inventing the double-decker macarons opened at Ngee Ann City, commonly referred to as its anchor tenant Takashimaya. Snaking queues could be seen at both the counter on 1st floor between Chanel and Louis Vuitton, and the boutique on 2nd floor. These are well-managed by staff despite having to split the queues so as not to block the escalators and other shops within the shopping mall. Without a tea salon for dine-in, I wondered why the queue was slow-moving. While some customers knew exactly what they wanted, others were not sure of the cost and packaging options. Hence, they could only ask the staff upon reaching the counter before deciding on the number of pieces and flavours to get. No matter how many the customers bought (a few were helping family and friends get their hands on the dainty macarons, might as well) and how fast the staff packed, there is only one cashier at each location.

Things you might want to know before joining the queue

New Kid on the Block – Ladurée

You might have already heard that renowned luxury patisserie chain Ladurée has opened today in Singapore. With a counter on the 1st floor of Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Ngee Ann City, between Chanel and Louis Vuitton and a boutique on the 2nd floor (will mostly be closed on 16-17 April for a private event). The former sells macarons while the latter, not a dine-in café, also carries non-food items such as home fragrances, tote bags and trinkets. Founded in 1862 and bought over in 1993 by French company Holder Group who also owns Paul bakery, it already has presence in Asia – Japan, South Korea and most recently Hong Kong. So this, in collaboration with luxury watch retailer The Hour Glass, marks its 1st foray into South-east Asia. Paul is on the 3rd floor of the same shopping mall while The Hour Glass has a shop on the 1st floor.

Antoinette

Heard of Antoinette by chef-owner Pang Kok Keong before it was due to open at Penhas Road but I have yet to try it. Forgot all about the French patisserie until a recent The Straits Times article on "Tasteful Interiors", which featured Le Jardine D'Antoinette at Palais Renaissance. Reminded myself to make a trip down one day and was in Orchard on a weekday evening when I decided to try my luck at its Mandarin Gallery branch. As reservations are not allowed and queues are the norm on weekends, considered myself lucky to get a table. The enticing displays of pastries, cakes and desserts seemed to beckon me to the place, extravagantly furnished with opulence.