FOOD, Food reviews, Living in... Singapore, Uncategorized AU JARDIN (LES AMIS) 13 September 2009


Au Jardin (Les Amis)
1 Cluny Road
Botanic Gardens
Singapore

PRICE: $$$$$
RATING:

Situated in a 1920’s style colonial bungalow, the luxurious French restaurant Au Jardin sits in the Botanical Gardens and offers lush green views from the huge glass windows. It seats just 12 tables, a huge chandelier taking up center stage and setting the scene of a dreamy, impeccable, fine dining meal.

It was here than we decided to have dinner after we were married, a mini thank you to Mum and Dad ‘cos they’ve been frantic over the past weeks and months organising our whole wedding (so we didn’t really have to do anything, heh!). We wanted something incredibly relaxing and slow, with attentive service so we didn’t have to think of anything (or brains needed some serious time OFF after the crazy wedding day!). And so Au Jardin it was πŸ™‚

It was quiet and ultra beautiful inside, with a huge centerpiece chandelier and decorated with beautiful white orchids offset by the green foilage of the gardens surrounding us. The service was absolutely attentive yet discreet, polite and knowlegable. We had a gloriously prolonged dinner and it was awesome to just chill out and enjoy ourselves after such a frantic week before the wedding.

I would’ve given this a full 5 stars, but the prices are exorbitant.. and the portions only medium sized. 50% cheaper and Au Jardin would’ve been perfection πŸ˜‰


Happy newlyweds πŸ™‚

At the Royal Botanical Gardens

The parentals!

Let’s play… “where’s Chris and Bev?”

And then let’s play…. “where are Bev’s parents?”

The gorgeous colonial building of Au Jardin

Romantic interiors

Homemade seaweed crisps. WOW these were amazing!

Our lil corner table

Deeelicious breads. Dad ate TWO ROLLS of that butter all by himself *shock*

Amuse bouche of chicken consomme and pork floss. Really did not like this..

Japanese wagyu striploin carpaccio, truffles emulsion, parmesan, mustard cress –
outstanding, so creamy and the truffles were amazing

Maine lobster, orange-vanilla, garden fresh herbs –
the lobster was excellent!!

Fois gras, roasted, crushed candied almonds, nudja chilli –
my fave starter – it was a large chunk and so so luscious

Abalone sous vide, algae brown butter –
this was Dad’s but I didn’t try any, don’t like abalone..

The waiter dishing out mum’s fish at the table

Flounder, Alaskan king crab, mushrooms, leeks, iberian ham, “en papillote” –
wowowowow. Beautiful flavour and the fish was

Saltbush lamb, saddle, roasted, parsley, parsnip, natural jus –
really tender and just delish. But needed a larger portion!

Sucking Pig, confit, compressed pineapple, chorizo rice –
oooo this was amazing. Can’t go wrong with soft pork and crisp crackling!

The Chorizo rice and Butter rice

Japanese wagyu striploin, grilled, sweet corn, pearl onion, Australian winter truffle –
fatty beef and generous portions of truffles

Sweet potato croquette, azuki beans, yuzu ice cream –
dad was a fan of this, it’s got ALL his fave flavours πŸ˜›

Cheese selection –
good, but the portions were small and no brie or camembert, my faves!

Les mignardises –
omg too cute, like a little lolly shop!!

Itty bitty lolly goodness!

Our table πŸ™‚


Let’s Chat!




Let's Chat!

Oh wow – most of that looks WHOA! YUMMY! Got to agree about the floss thing, that looks, erm – not so appealing. And I’m not big on parsnips but it looks like there were a few of them there πŸ™‚ The rest looks yummy! and how could there be no brie??? There is no cheese platter with no brie..but Im done now because the presentation makes up for all of that and the place is magical!

Chris looks a little stunned in the first pic which is kind of cute, I have to say πŸ™‚ Stunned first post wedding pic or something … lol..

Oh wow – most of that looks WHOA! YUMMY! Got to agree about the floss thing, that looks, erm – not so appealing. And I’m not big on parsnips but it looks like there were a few of them there πŸ™‚ The rest looks yummy! and how could there be no brie??? There is no cheese platter with no brie..but Im done now because the presentation makes up for all of that and the place is magical!

Chris looks a little stunned in the first pic which is kind of cute, I have to say πŸ™‚ Stunned first post wedding pic or something … lol..

first pic

you have a very lovely natural look in your first pic. which blush and lipstick were you were using? perhaps you could also do a blog entry about some of your favourite make-up and skin care products.

Re: first pic

Thank you!
I’m using I Nuovi tube blush (bought it in Singapore) and gloss is MAC’s Hello Kitty limited edition lip balm (the one in the pot).

My makeup and skincare changes really frequently, I basically use whatever I can get my hands on πŸ˜›

first pic

you have a very lovely natural look in your first pic. which blush and lipstick were you were using? perhaps you could also do a blog entry about some of your favourite make-up and skin care products.

Re: first pic

Thank you!
I’m using I Nuovi tube blush (bought it in Singapore) and gloss is MAC’s Hello Kitty limited edition lip balm (the one in the pot).

My makeup and skincare changes really frequently, I basically use whatever I can get my hands on πŸ˜›

We had brunch there once and while the buffet selection was good we thought the mains were a little disappointing. Maybe dinner would have been better.

I’ve only been to Au Jardin once but I really do love the colonial feel it has. But, the thing about french meals is that the whole meal takes a long time from start to finish. And, I often can’t help but stuff myself crazy with the rather delicious bread! :p

Seriously… do you carry a little notebook around with you or label the pictures on your camera after you’ve taken them? How do you remember every detail of every dish on the table, even ones that weren’t yours?! Looks like it was quite the perfect, well-deserved evening indeed.

We had brunch there once and while the buffet selection was good we thought the mains were a little disappointing. Maybe dinner would have been better.

I’ve only been to Au Jardin once but I really do love the colonial feel it has. But, the thing about french meals is that the whole meal takes a long time from start to finish. And, I often can’t help but stuff myself crazy with the rather delicious bread! :p

Seriously… do you carry a little notebook around with you or label the pictures on your camera after you’ve taken them? How do you remember every detail of every dish on the table, even ones that weren’t yours?! Looks like it was quite the perfect, well-deserved evening indeed.