Restaurant group Les Amis Group opens new dining concept élan, a convivial space that serves modern French cuisine embellished with hints of Asian influence.
With the festive season approaching faster than you think, it’s never too early to pick out the restaurants to hold celebrations at. Now more than ever, the almost post-pandemic climate is going to ensue a tough reservation rat race, and the better the eatery, the earlier you will have to book.
So here’s a heads up from one of Singapore’s leading restaurant groups Les Amis Group, who launches a new dining concept this month. Located in the heart of town at Shaw Centre, élan brings us into the world of modern French cuisine with sprinkles of Asian influence to ease even the most traditional of Asian palates. With a French name associated with words like enthusiasm, vigour, liveliness and flair, expect generous portions of excellent French cuisine with a warmth that no better complements the joyful year end season.
élan’s debonair, playful and slightly mischievous French bulldog mascot, Bruno, is inspired by Restaurant Director Philippe Pau, who boasts over 25 years of culinary experience in Singapore, as well as an array of international experience from several Michelin-starred restaurants across France, Switzerland, Dubai and Seychelles.
Leading the culinary team is also Chef de Cuisine Peter Teo, who has over a decade of experience in French cuisine. Crafting carefully, an array of innovative starters is presented, playing the precarious balance between the sweet and savoury; tantalising mains with a variety of meats and seafood juxtapose creative desserts bound to satisfy every sweet tooth. These all subtly include ingredients commonly used in Asian cuisine, such as basil, ginger, yuzu, and kombu — no doubt a welcome addition for guests to delight in discovering with every bite of these creations.
While à la carte items are available, you can opt for a set menu for lunch and a 4-course tasting menu for dinner. Notable starters include the Foie Gras Bonbon, a sweet and savoury harmony of rich, buttery foie gras coated in dark chocolate served with hazelnuts, balanced with the tanginess of kumquat and marigold on toasted brioche.
If you are a fan of seafood, the Carabinero Prawns is a great catch too — served atop al dente tagliolini pasta, kelp, umami sea urchin and yuzu sauce.
A signature main not to be missed is the Smoked Pigeon, which is first oven-roasted then hay-smoked and served alongside vacuum-compressed watermelon. But more special in this genre of foods is élan’s steak offerings: hearty servings of charcoal-grilled Yamaguchi A4 Wagyu Striploin, as well as the Australian M9+ 600g Wagyu Steak, ideal for sharing. The 500-day grain-fed, pure-bred Wagyu flank cut comes from Blackmore, a Victorian high country located in Alexandra, Australia and is prized for its rich flavour.
For those who are a fan of lamb, the roasted saddle and rack of Pyrenées Lamb, accompanied by tomatoes, zucchini tian and lamb jus. Raised on the pastures of the Basque valley of Soule and fed exclusively on their mother’s milk, Pyrenees lambs have a relatively lighter-coloured, pale pink meat that is exceptionally tender and known to have a smooth, delicate taste; élan’s treatment of this is going to welcome many new lamb-converts to the club.
Carrying an extensive range of desserts showcasing endless creativity, diners are invited to crack open the white chocolate shell of the Lemon, which is realistically textured and designed to resemble a full lemon. Revealing a zesty palette-cleansing lemon compote, lemon and kaffir lime cream, the Lemon is served with refreshing basil gel to end the night off with some sprightly acidity.
But if you have a sweet tooth, there is also élan’s Chocolate — an indulgent concert of milk chocolate mousse, passionfruit jelly, caramel, ginger and almond sponge cake.
But how does this round out to be a great experience without a space that reflects the same hospitality as the hearty flavours of the menu? The 48-seater, which includes a semi-private dining room for four, greets diners with unique patina elements within the restaurant’s interior and on its tableware, elevated by elegant copper, brown, gold, and dark teal highlights.
So even if you are already familiar with the likes of French food, prepare to be surprised by élan. You’ll never know how well the Asian influences pair with the French until you’ve experienced their fun flavours yourself.
Reservations can be made here. Once you’re done with this story, click here to catch up with our October 2022 issue!
