db Bistro Moderne, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

New Year saw us in Singapore and what better place to have dinner than at Marina Bay Sands!

After scanning through the celebrity chef restaurants, we decided to have dinner at db Bistro, as the menu piqued our interests.

“db Bistro Moderne offers an exciting mix of traditional French bistro cooking with contemporary American flavors, and a world-renown collection of signature burgers. Chef Daniel Boulud reinterprets the classic Parisian bistro while sharing the energy and style of his acclaimed db Bistro Moderne in Midtown Manhattan.” - http://www.dbbistro.com/singapore/about/

Let’s start with the appetizers!

Prosciutto Ham, 20 grams (SGD 35)

Gaj: The ham was nothing short of amazing! I have always loved prosciutto and this did not disappoint! Definitely will have seconds!

Shiv: A fantastic way to start our meal – the prosciutto was cured to perfection, with a good balance of brine and meat. It was not too dried out, and the accompanying rocket salad and bruschetta made for a magnificent marriage of flavours.

Kav: Generally love prosciutto, but this one just elevated that feeling of love to obsession. Savoury, brine-y goodness!

Seafood and Vegetable Aioli, Olive Oil Poached Cod, Tiger Prawns, Market Vegetables, Garlic Aioli (SGD 18)

Gaj: The cod was very disappointing as it lacked flavour and the garlic aioli was equally flavourless. The prawns were alright, but unfortunately, it was not enough to make up for the disappointment.

Shiv: The prawns and mussels were fresh and the assorted vegetables were dressed well. However, the unacceptably stale cod completely put us off this one! And, is it just me, or who serves breadsticks at a place like this?!?!

Kav: Shock through my heart!!!! Bad Bad Bad!!! Cod was dried out (It’s an oily fish, hardly needs any help), garlic aioli - blah blah blah, the rest - blah blah blah

Escargots Persillade, Herbed Garlic Almond Butter Roasted Tomatoes (SGD 25)

Gaj: Not the best escargots that I have had, but the herbed garlic almond butter sauce was divine!

Shiv: Good, but certainly did not blow my socks off! The earthiness of the herbed-almond butter provided a nice contrast to the pungent garlic flavour, but the texture of the flesh itself wasn’t as palatable as can be. I have certainly tasted better. (Try: Acme Bar and Coffee)

Kav: Loved this dish, garlic-almond butter was earthy and savoury at the same time, which made for an explosion in my mouth.

Oliver’s Alsatian Tarte Flambée Fromage Blanc, Bacon, Onion (SGD 18)

Gaj: This was a simple dish and it was good!

Shiv: Nice take on the classic Italian pizza, this French favourite was sublime in its simplicity. The chef relied on the perfect union of gruyere, bacon and thinly-rolled bread dough to carry the dish, and rightfully so, as it needed little else.

Kav: The most amazing part of this dish was that there was almost nothing in it. Just goes to show that the medley of a few key ingredients makes for an incredible dish. Cheese, bacon, chives & onion... Yum!!!

Now on to the mains!

Saffron Tagliolini, Fresh Spanner Crab, Tomatoes, Chili Italian Parsley, Lemon and Olive Oil (SGD 38)

Gaj: This dish was really disappointing, the crab was not infused in the pasta and the lemon and olive oil was not enough to carry the dish. Overall, there was a general lack of flavour.

Shiv: This dish looked and sounded better than it actually tasted! The pasta lacked oomph, and the spanner crab, which was expected to do all the work in rendering flavour to the dish, fell short of doing so. Shame!

Kav: Agree with Gaj that there was a general lack of flavour. I din get no crab flavour, y’all! This made for bland pasta!

Duck Confit, Brussels Sprout Marmalade, Roasted Potatoes, Grilled Sweet Onions, Natural Jus (SGD 36)

Gaj: The duck confit was amazing! The flesh just fell off the bone and the accompanying sauce was nothing short of perfection! Really really good!

Shiv: Possibly the best duck confit I have ever tasted! The duck was beautifully brined, and the skin was crisped to a perfect brown. The flesh was sublimely savoury and moist without being too lardy, making the meat magnificently moreish. This main DOES NOT NEED sauce or sides, for that matter.

Kav: This was just so fatty, greasy and salty, and the skin… Mmm… So help me god if I have to be that sinful again!!! The skin was just cooked perfectly, without being dried-out, and accompanied the tender duck meat beautifully.

The original db Burger, Sirloin Burger filled with Braised Short Ribs and Foie Gras served on a Parmesan Bun (SGD 42)

Gaj: True to its reputation, this place does serve world-class burgers! This is definitely one of the best burgers that I have ever eaten. The meat was done perfectly, and who knew foie gras and beef would make such a good couple!

Kav: What on earth?!?!?! Are you telling me that I have been through 28 years of life, and not tasted only the most incredible meat in the world? %$#!$!$%! It was truly the most amazing burger I have ever tried. The patty was so juicy and savoury, with just the right cook (medium rare – no better way, trust me.), and the flavours that came through, ooh… It was almost like having a pork and lamb patty all at once. TOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!

Now for the best part of the meal... Desserts!

Profiteroles (SGD 15)

Gaj: This is definitely the best profiteroles that I have ever tried - the chocolate sauce was soo good, I must have died and gone to heaven – totally AMAZEBALLS!

Shiv: Tasty, but not the best I’ve tried (La Vie En Rose makes ‘em better!). The pastry was fluffy, and filled adequately with custard, and the chocolate ganache topping coated the pastry balls nicely, without overwhelming the dessert.

Kav: One of the best profiteroles I have tried, as the chocolate was smooth and a tad bitter (just the way I like it) and the cream puffs were light and fluffy, which carried the heavy ice cream and chocolate perfectly. Also, love the fact that it was not too sweet, as most profiteroles are.

Crème Brûlée (SGD 12)

Gaj: Very very good crème brûlée. Would definitely have seconds! Yums!

Shiv: A very well-executed dessert! The subtle orange-flavour infusion and the texture of the custard base were perfect, without being too egg-y. Also, the burnt caramel layer on the top was flambéed faultlessly – no annoying burnt bits! One of my favourites of the French dessert variety, db’s version hit all the sweet spots. Only wish it came in a larger portion!

Kav: Probably one of the best crème brûlée I have tried, in a long time. It was creamy and smooth, without being overly sweet, plus the flambé was done just right, without burning the sugar, that is.

Verdict: WOK ON!

PRICE: Expensive. SGD426.07 for 7 dishes, 2 desserts, 4 glasses of wine and 1 fruit juice. However, this is expected for an establishment such as db Bistro Moderne, not to mention, it is one of the cheaper celebrity chef restaurants at MBS, Singapore.

AMBIENCE: Cosy, warm with a modern bistro vibe – perfect for a date or business lunch/dinner, or even for family get-togethers. There is also a 15-seater bar as well as an informal lounge area for casual dining and a private room seating up to 20.

SERVICE: Food arrived promptly and the service was excellent, despite the restaurant being very busy for New Years Eve. Kudos to the staff of db!

FOOD: Good. The original db burger, duck confit and desserts are a MUST TRY!

db Bistro Moderne

B1-48 Galleria Level (across from the theater)

Marina Bay Sands,

10 Bayfront Avenue

Singapore

Tel: +65 6688 8525

Website: http://www.dbbistro.com/singapore/

Opening Hours:-

Lunch
Monday - Friday 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Weekend Brunch
Saturday - Sunday 11:00am - 5:00pm

Dinner
Sunday & Monday 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Tuesday - Saturday 5:30pm - 11:00pm

La Vie En Rose, Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur

A dilapidated residential bungalow with an inconvenient entrance requiring an acute U-turn and a climb up a steep slope, abandoned for 15 years, transformed into a charming restaurant, with a gorgeous view of the Petronas Twin Towers.

La Vie En Rose, owned by a Toulouse native, Jean Michel Fraisse, is a fine dining restaurant which is a great place for a date.

For you single Sex-in-the-City-type girls, who just want a night out with AMAZING food, this restaurant has another plus point... the easy-on-the-eyes manager… ;-)

Sorry straight boys!!! 

Now on to the ‘la nourriture’

We were served with a complimentary basket of bread and Chicken Pâté.

Shiv: Amazing! My first time trying CHICKEN pâté and it was so good. It was seasoned very well and the pungent liver taste was not present. The bread was ordinary – nothing to shout about.

Kav: My first time as well, and it was just sublime. One of the best pate’s I have tried surprisingly, as you would expect chicken pate to be less rich in flavour. However, this was buttery and creamy and had immense flavour.

Mien: Hate chicken liver, and hated this! However, there was not much of the chicken liver taste as it was spiced well. There was a very distinct clove or aniseed taste. The bread basket was my saviour!!

We ordered the Crème brûlée au foie gras, brioche toastee [Foie gras crème brûlée with toasted brioche] (RM29).

Shiv: Not for the faint of heart. The crème brûlée idea was stretched a tad too far – caramel and foie gras DO NOT pair well. However, the foie gras itself was sublime and I loved the texture of the brioche.

Kav: How do I put this delicately??? Well, dessert arrived a tad too early for me. The caramel was just disgusting with the fatty foie gras. The brioche, however, was soft and the brown crust gave it a smoky flavour, which was lovely. The French and their pastries...hmmm.

Mien: Not a fan one bit. I am not a fan of livers and hence my disdain. However, the brioche... oh my days... so good... felt like I was in France.

Next item we ordered was the special of the day – Tuna cooked two-ways with White Sauce. (RM70). It was served with truffle mashed potato and Ratatouille.

Shiv: The tuna was too tantalising! The accompanying sauce was flavoured to perfection and the truffle mashed potato was divine. The ratatouille provided a nice earthy balance to the other strong flavours. #HighlyRecommended

Kav: OMG… the tuna was cooked to perfection. It was seared perfectly on the outside, while remaining pink on the inside. It was just melt in your mouth goodness and to be honest, it did not require any flavouring as the fish was so fresh and full of flavour. The accompanying sauce was creamy and the sourness from the tomatoes made for a perfect sauce. Ratatouille was good!

Mien: The tuna was oh my days... AMBROSIAL. It was not overdone... still moist and not too dry! The marriage of the sauce and the tuna was delightful! The truffle mashed potato.... JUST HEAVENLY! The ratatouille didn’t fail to impress as well… :-)

Next up, Cuisse de canard confite, purée aux truffes et sauce acidulée [Duck leg confit with truffled mashed potato, sweet and sour sauce] (RM49).

Shiv: Too good! The duck confit was superbly savoury and again, the truffle mash was an excellent starch source to soak up the deliciously briny duck juice. Loved this one to bits!

Kav: Duck, again, cooked to perfection as it was moist and fell off the bone. Loved the sauce as it was salty and had a buttery flavour to it. The balsamic reduction drizzle was a good contrast. The truffle mash was officially the best mash I have ever tasted, so creamy and the earthiness of the truffle coming together nicely.

Mien: Too gamey. Dislike!

Moving on to Poulet fermier cuit a basse température, sauce aux morilles [Slow-cooked free range chicken, morel sauce] (RM58).

Shiv: Usually, I would never order a chicken main in a restaurant such as this, but boy am I glad we did. The chicken pieces were really tender and juicy, with an herb-y edge. Loved the pungency of the morel sauce too.

Kav: The chicken was moist, cooked perfectly, and the accompanying sauce was savoury, salty and flavoured well. The sauce carried that underlying earthy flavour provided by the morel mushrooms. The perfect marriage.

Mien: The chicken was done well, not dry. The morel... sooooo delicious! Loved this dish!

Dessert time!!!

First up: Profiteroles, sauce au chocolat et caramel [Profiteroles with chocolate and caramel sauce] (RM22).

The profiteroles were stuffed with Bourbon vanilla ice cream!

Shiv: Another French delight – La Vie En Rose hit the spot with their version. The profiterole dough was done well, and paired oh-so-beautifully with the chocolate caramel sauce. They could do no wrong with this dessert – a MUST HAVE here!

Kav: Decadence at its heights! This dessert should be illegal, that’s how good it was. The chocolate sauce was not overly sweet and the bourbon ice cream… oh, how I yearn to have some more!!! The nuts were crunchy and went perfectly with the entire dish.

Mien: DELICIOUS! The ice cream, chocolate, caramel, profiterole... a perfect combination!

Next: Tarte Tatin [Traditional upside-down French apple tart, Bourbon vanilla ice cream] (RM22).

Shiv: What a downer. I have never tasted such bad apple pie in my life! McDonalds makes better apple pies than this place!

Kav: Remind me never to order the French version of apple pie again!!! So so so bad… I mean, I don’t even know where to begin…Grrr…Wish I had eaten this before the profiteroles!!! How about we just leave apple pies to the American’s?

Mien: I prefer the American apple pie! This tasted like mashed cooked apples for babies... NO NO!

Due to our dissatisfaction, we ordered ANOTHER dessert.

Finally: Mousse de café et biscuit moelleux au chocolat, crème au chocolat blanc et expresso [Coffee mousse cake with soft chocolate biscuit, white chocolate and expresso custard] (RM22).

Shiv: Nice, strong coffee flavour which paired well with the creamy texture of the mousse cake and custard. Quite pleasant indeed.

Kav: The mousse cake was just alright, although it paired well with the creamy custard. Nothing to shout about.

Mien: Not a fan! Preferred the version served at Nathalie’s Gourmet Studio.

What is a French experience without some French wine.

We had the:

1)  Brouilly, Domaine La Citadelle, 2011 (RM30 per glass)

Shiv: A nice wine to start with. Easy to drink and paired well with the appetisers.

Mien: Medium bodied. It was light. Loved it.

2)  Les Vignes D’Oc, Pays d’Oc, 2011 (RM30 per glass)

Shiv: Heavier and not as good as the first one but pleasant on the palate nevertheless.

Mien: Hmm... I preferred the first wine. This one had a funky taste to it!

Kav was a teetotaller for the night, so she had a hot chocolate. This was on the house as the manager forgot her order and brought it late. Sorry guys, we forgot to check the price on this.

Kav: Loved the chocolate as it was not sweet and it was rich and chocolate-y, just the way I like it.

Verdict: WOK ON!

PRICE: Expensive (RM454.70 for 7 dishes and 4 glasses of wine – 3pax).

AMBIENCE: Appears slightly unfinished, but unassumingly romantic and an amazing view from certain angles, or if you sit closer to the outside portion of the restaurant.

SERVICE: Very good. The French manager that attended to us was as attentive as he was attractive. *wink wink*

FOOD: One of the best French restaurants in KL, serving authentic French cuisine.

LA VIE EN ROSE

39, JALAN RAJA CHULAN,

50200 KUALA LUMPUR

Tel: +603 2078 3883

Email: info@cuisine-studio.net

Website: http://www.cuisine-studio.net

Opening Hours:

Tue – Fri: 12.00pm – 2.30pm; 6.30pm – 10.30pm 

Sat – Sun: 9.30am – 2.30pm; 6.30pm – 10.30pm