Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Creating a Stir at The French Ladle

After having brunch at Sunset Way, the two Lions decided to explore the quiet Pandan Valley estate. They stumbled upon a nondescript French restaurant and decided to send Tuffy Lion to check the place out for dinner. Apparently, this little new restaurant (seating capacity: 6 tables!) serves honest, home-cooked French food in a cosy and casual setting suitable for large family gatherings, catch-up sessions with friends and oh yes, they do serve brunch on weekends as well. 

The French Ladle reminded Tuffy Lion of unpretentious restaurants like Bather's at Sunset Way with an inviting setting not unlike a friend's home. 

Miss Elegant Kitty doing pilates on the grass.
Ooooo look at her stretch ... ....
Meow! Follow me on the yellow brick road
to food heaven.
Simple and rustic interior with warm colours
and homely touches. 

Unpretentious set-up that beckons you in.
Sky Juice is available, just help yourself to it!
But what's French food without French Reds?!
A glass, please!
A husband-and-wife team. Husband cooks
though. Lol. This skeletal team who seamlessly
delivers the fine food is
complemented by a friend who serves and
does the PR and BD.
Ahh.... complimentary bread basket.
Tuffy Lion found the French Bordeaux
surprisingly good! Delicately tannic,
and smooth.
Escargots in Olive Oil and Parsley.
A little on the chewy side was Tuffy's
feedback to the chef. He preferred it tender and
juicy.
Cream of Celeriac Soup won Tuffy over with
its subtle and earthy flavours.
Layered Cabbage and Bacon in Chicken Broth.
This was an interesting dish despite the fact that the
broth was too mild and flavour too delicate
to balance the strong taste of bacon.
This humble mashed potato in a cute mini cocotte
was highly recommended and it did not disappoint.
Texture was velvety smooth even after the single sieve.
The very popular Confit de Canard was not available
that night so Tuffy decided to indulge in the
Cassoulet of slow-cooked duck leg, pork belly and sausage.
Very hearty but according to
The French Ladle, they were toying with the idea of removing
this dish altogether as not many locals could appreciate it
and many dedicated hours of preparation goes into it.
A happy Tuffy enjoying this casual French dining
experience. 
Wait! This ain't over till dessert is served!
A home-made molten chocolate cake
with a dollop of ice-cream. Pretty good!


Overall, it was a satisfying meal in a comfortable, homely environment. Food was simple, straight-forward and good. The lions believe that this new restaurant will be doing quick fine-tuning to some dishes after the feedback and they will be back for brunch and dinner (mmm coq au vin... ...) again. Service was warm and excellent. And most importantly, with no service charge and GST, prices are certainly more affordable than most casual French restaurants in town. Not bad for a local boy trying his hand at French cuisine. Oh yes and reservations are a must! It was full-house that Sunday night.



Here is our review for The French Ladle:

Food Quality: 7.0 pawprints out of 10
Ambience: 8.0 pawprints out of 10
Specials that you should try: Soup du Jour, Confit de Canard, Confit de Porc, Chou au four et au bacon

For those who are interested in going there, here is the address:

The French Ladle
2 Pandan Valley Condominium,
  #01-206
Singapore 597626
Tel: 6467 7505
















1 comment:

  1. This is a very nice blog. I agree with you the main dish was very filling. I went there with my brother and we enjoyed the experience only that the restaurant was a bit shorthanded but its good that they didnt charge the service charge.

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