Located right smack in the middle of our bustling city, Balzac Brasserie and Bar is ironically one of the hidden gems that most of us don’t know about. This casual French dining restaurant is quietly tucked away in the corner of Rendezvous Hotel right across the School of The Arts and Singapore Management University.
This quaint-looking brasserie serves up a repertoire of classic French cuisine, intricately put together by award-winning Executive Chef Jean-Charles Dubois. Stepping into Balzac is like stepping into a mini Paris, right in the heart of Singapore.
Balzac serves up some of the most authentic French cuisine in town. Their extensive menu features some traditional favourites such as Duck Confit, Lobster Bisque and Charcuterie Platter.
We had the privilege of trying their Festive Christmas Menu that is due to launch on 15th December. This 3-course menu specially put together by Chef Dubois showcases the best dishes in Balzac Brasserie, and dishes that have made him so renowned.
The set menu comes with a glass of Crémant De Loire, a classic French Sparkling Wine. This goes exceptionally well with the Foie Gras appetizer and a provides a lovely start to the meal.
You get to choose from 3 different options. The Pan Fried Foie Gras with marinated Cherry and Puff Pastry is of course a favorite for most people. The sweetness of the Cherries went terrifically with the Foie Gras, which was pan fried to perfection. It was a tad oily though, and the oil was soaked up by the puff pastry, making it soggy.
Another option is Freshly-shucked French Oysters with Shallot Reduction. Coming in a serving of half a dozen, the oysters were very fresh and definitely one of the better ones I’ve tried. They were of decent size and the shallot reduction complemented the oysters very well.
The Lobster Bisque is definitely the pick of the bunch. Although it isn’t the prettiest dish, the flavours are absolutely phenomenal. My dining partner gave it a 9.5 out of 10 and she has high standards.
Chef Dubois got this secret recipe from his grandmother. You can taste the essence of fresh lobster within the broth, which wasn’t too thick and wonderfully flavourful. A must try.
We tried 2 of the 3 main courses they had to offer. First we had the Braised Wagyu Beef Cheek served with Potato Truffle Mash and Red Wine Sauce. Slow-cooked for 48 hours, the meat was tender, succulent, had just the right amount of fat and lean meat which fell apart at the poke of my fork.
The truffle mash was out of this world. It was thick, creamy and buttery, with a slight hint of truffle essence that didn’t overpower the flavours of the Wagyu Cheek. Definitely worth a try.
The Grilled Spanish Pork Collar was pretty decent as well. It was grilled to perfection, and the meat was really tender, although it came with a fair amount of fat. The Pork Collar came on top of a bed of French Lentils and Tomatoes. I’m not a big fan of Lentils, but I have to say that this was pretty well done.
The last main course they had to offer was the Pan-Seared Atlantic Sea Scallop with Wild Mushrooms and Light Pumpkin Puree.
The desserts here are to die for, so do save space as these are a must try. The Champagne Sabayon with sautéed Winter Fruits and Forest Berries Ice Cream was a light custard-like dessert. It was almost like a Crème brûlée, but with delightfully sweet fresh fruits and a scoop of homemade berries ice cream. Although I don’t really have a sweet tooth, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and finished every drop of it.
The Homemade Chocolate Moelleux with Vanilla Ice Cream was a very pretty looking dessert that tasted as good as it looked. This thick and creamy chocolate lava cake is a Balzac Signature dish and a must try for all chocolate lovers.
Balzac Brasserie and Bar is definitely a place that you must try while you’re in town. It serves affordable, authentic French dining in a quaint restaurant reminiscent of a mini Paris right in the heart of our Singapore city. It is one of the best restaurants we’ve been to this year.
Address: 9 Bras Basah Rd, Singapore 189559.
Note, they will be moving from their Rendezvous Gallery premises on 31st December 2014 to a new location to be announced in April 2015.
This post is brought to you by Balzac Brasserie and Bar.
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