Pulsii French Bistro - Hearty Flavourful Surprises

Actually I do not know what to expect when stepping into Pulsii French Bistro. I just got interested in this place because the chef is a Japanese specialising in French cuisine (and this sounds promising due to my good prior experiences) and the menu looks exciting, featuring a variety of woodfire dishes and casual French classics with a twist.

Guess what, I’m totally wowed over by the hearty yet complex, robust yet balanced flavours here. Each dish here is packed with lots of goodies that please and surprise the palates. The dishes here features the vibrancy and complexity of French cuisine, tempered with the intricacy of Japanese sensibility.

The whole place feels like a modern, stylish casual underground tavern, where the dining area and bar counter, bathed in soft yellow light, looks like a cosy, chic tunnel. And it leads up to the bright open kitchen at the end of the tunnel.

The service here is fantastic, especially the bartender, who multitasks between taking, serving orders and creating classic cocktails with lovely twists. The vibe at this restaurant feels so right. And with the awesome food and drink choices, the experience here is worth a visit at least once.

Woodfire Hokkaido Scallop surprises me by how warm and meaty sweet the scallop is. The light char, the umami of the bisque and toasted ham, the sweet tomato, the tangy olive, the slightly spicy pepper creates such vibrancy in the taste. This is one scallop with the most bling in the taste, in an excellent way.

Grilled Tiger Prawns taste so rich, intense and sweet. And the thin layer of char does so much to accentuate the sweetness of the juicy meaty prawn And a hint of tangy flavour makes it even better. I’m so tempted to order another plate 😆 

Magret Duck Breast is so meaty and juicy. The Moulard Duck is perfectly cooked to medium rare to feature a slightly crispy top and a meaty succulent firm texture with a touch of tenderness. And the variety of accompanying grilled vegetables introduces a nice vegetal bitterness from the Maitake Mushroom, crunchy texture ffrom the Lotus Root, earthy aroma from the Burdock Root and an iota of zest from the miso balsamic sauce. So this dish is bursting with a myriad of flavours that work so well with each other. Best enjoyed when hot or warm.

Matcha Montblanc features a nice earthy clear taste of matcha that goes so well with the creaminess of whipped cream. The crunchy sugared nuts make the texture more exciting.

Nice fruity refreshing cocktail with layers of flavours

This is a must order here. The egg white foam at the top adds so much to the feel of sipping this drink.

Another drink with foamy top 🎉 This is like Singapore Special, with pandan and coconut. Another must-try.

Nice tangy cocktail specially concocted to balance the sweetness of the dessert.

Thoughts: Flavourful Complex Surprises

55 Tras Street

Gaston Bistro - Excellent Food, Excellent People

I noticed this place when walking along the beloved Keong Saik Road after a lunch at Taratata Brasserie. It was super crowded on a weekend afternoon with gorgeous people perching on the high chairs outside the restaurant and some chatting happily inside. Yes, the ambience is pretty boisterous, just like Gaston. I’m surprised since this area is pretty quiet on weekends. Curiosity got to me and I took a peek at the menu … okay, I definitely wanted to check out this place already.

Upon entering the restaurant, I’m greeted by service staff who wear beret caps. A nice touch to things. Now things are looking interesting …

Appetizer of Hamachi Tartare mayonnaise, crème fraiche, chives and gherkins is creamy goodness of the sea. Lots of harmonious flavours packed in the dollops of tartare. The raw cubes of hamachi mixed in brings on the subtle taste of the sea. A very good start to the meal.

Complimentary warm fluffy bread slathered with French butter, ah, such enjoyment from simply eating this.

Gougères, ala Mini Cheese Puffs is very interesting and serves as good appetizer. Melted cheese encased within the puff skin is yummy. Easy to finish these in one go.

Poireaux Vinaigrette Burnt-Leeks with Goat Cheese, Pistachio, Tarragon Vinaigrette is a vegetarian dish that is loaded with multitude of flavours, in a good way. Clean taste, fresh leeks with hints of smoky flavour, plus tangy flavour from the vinaigrette, veggies sometimes can be the winner.

Foie Gras en Touchon Jam and Toast is a special of presenting Foie Gras. Intense fatty flavours of foie gras matches very well with jam and toast, which helps to balance the oiliness of the fatty liver.

Saucisses Lentills Toulouse Sausages with cooked Lentils with bacon & onions is a real wholesome hearty treat with two huge tasty sausages. And the lentils are so soaked with flavours that my meat-lover companion actually finishes it up.

Orecchiette au Pesto Pasta with spring veggies, Parmigiano Regianno and homemade Pesto is another gastronomic heaven for veggie lovers. The flavours of freshness, spring and nature are very pronounced in this dish, which is how I like it.

Crumble aux Fruits is Apple and Blackberry with Vanilla Ice-cream completes the excellent meal we have here. Rich vanilla ice-cream completes the sweet and tangy crumble so well. The crumble also introduces an additional texture to this dessert, adding complexity to it.

The place is cool and modern yet at the same time has a cozy feel and rustic charm to it. I can see why lots of cool people likes to hang around here. It simply gets you into the mood to just enjoy the good times together. And the great service definitely helps to make it happen. The guys are energetic, friendly and responsive. At here, I feel very at ease and I feel like I’m enjoying the excellent food as form of spending time with my companion instead of purely for personal indulgence.

So yes, I look forward to coming back again with my loved ones to just pass time together in the company of awesome food.

Thoughts: Perfect place to enjoy good food and get together

Nearest car park: Along Keong Saik Road

Nearest MRT: Outram Park or Chinatown

25 Keong Saik Road

Cheval Cafe Bar Bistro - Perfect Place for Chilling Out in Woodlands

Why do I say this is the perfect watering hole for chilling out? Because surrounding this cosy restaurant decorated with dim lights is lush greenery of Singapore Turf Club. And every now and then, one can spot horses walking by. Away from the buzz of city life and stark, glaring lights, it is so easy to feel relaxed here.

The food is pretty good to make this place a great choice for gatherings. Seafood Capellini is very good due to the fine strands of flavourful capellini noodles tossed in mild chilli oil, pan-seared scallops featuring the coveted flavour of grilled meat and prawns with springy flesh. This is a must-order. Though I feel the prawns will taste even better if they are lightly grilled a bit.

The crispy chicken wings are fresh, flavourful and of course, crispy! Nice, hearty snack to start with.

Pumpkin soup is pretty wholesome since it just counted on the cream and mashed pumpkin for the taste. But take note that it is not as flavourful as the chicken wings and capellini. Fish and Chips consists of a huge plate of fries, greens and fried fish coated with batter. Great for big eater, but the fish meat tastes kind of plain.

Lava cake with ice-cream is nice dessert to end the meal. The cake is very well-prepared in which the moment the spoon cut into the cake, molten chocolate flows out from its centre.

Service is pretty laid-back and friendly, typical of that of chill-out place. Best of all, the food is priced very reasonably and well within the budget of most people. With all the right elements in place, this restaurant is definitely one of those I will visit regularly if in the mood to relax or in the vicinity.

Update: The menu is changed to include more mains and set lunch/dinner. Seafood Capellini is replaced by Seafood Aglio E Olio Spaghetti. I have not tried this dish yet to know the difference in taste. The texture will definitely be different since spaghetti is thicker. I find another favourite in the Crab Meat Marinara Spaghetti instead. I do not like spaghetti with tomato sauce in general, but this dish changes my mind since the tomato sauce used here is lighter in texture and the tangy taste and yet the spaghetti is incredibly flavourful. The spaghetti is not al dente, but it is firm in texture, so I like it.

My Thoughts: Nice!

Nearest carvpark: Singapore Turf Club’s car park
Nearest MRT: Marsiling

1 Equestrian Walk
Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre
Contact No: 62690918