Antoinette (Penhas Road)

for photos and more reviews, visit http://littlemomentsofmylife.wordpress.com/ :)

Have you heard of Antoinette? If you have yet to try it, please go!!!! :D haha it’s super awesome! :D okay, maybe girls might be more inclined to it, but still, it’s a beautiful place to go for a day out. So guys, if you wanna bring a girl for a treat, she will LOVE this place, trust me. Just looking at it from the outside, you’ll be attracted by the quaint chicness of this place. It’s so prettily victorian!

Step into the café, and you’ll be mesmerized by the array of cakes, pastries and other sweet treats awaiting you. Every single piece is practically begging to you eat it! Haha xD just look at the pictures – can you resist it?! And the decoration and furnishings in the store are so synonymous and complete with its image, even right to the washrooms which are decorated so beautifully! You have to visit it to know.

We went there for brunch and were completely spoilt for choice. my mom was so funny! She was like…”I think I’ll have either the French toast with caramelized banana or the French thick pancakes…or maybe the egg with shaved truffle!” haha as you can see, it was a really tough time deciding. WE ARE SO GONNA COME BACK AGAIN ;) mom finally decided on the French toast with caramelized banana ($10.50). it was beautifully done. The bread was thick and soft, infused with a buttery sweet flavour which wasn’t too overwhelming, and had bits of banana within it, together with banana toppings and nuts. And of course, a generous amount of maple syrup to finish it off perfectly.

dad opted for the French pastries – the hazelnut Danish ($3.50) and almond croissant ($3.50). I didn’t try the hazelnut Danish but the almond croissant was SO DELICIOUS. Really, you have got to try it! I know I’m like raving over every single product haha but it’s really really goooooooood! The croissant was crisp yet fluffy, and the almonds lent a satisfying crunch to the pastry. The flavours blended together made a wonderful combination.

For once, I didn’t order an egg. I would have loved to, but…I decided to give the rest a chance cos they always complain that I order the eggs :P anyway, there wasn’t eggs benedict this time so I decided that it was alright to give it a miss. my sis ordered the Classic Eggs Florentine ($14) though! It was yummy! I only tried a little, but I could see how delightfully runny the poached egg was, and paired with thick hollandaise sauce, wilted spinach and Serrano ham, made for a spectacular dish.

I had the 24-hours baguette with Serrano ham, emmental cheese and French butter ($14). Doesn’t it sound like an exquisite combination! :D the baguette was toasted to a crisp and the thin strips of ham went beautifully with the sharp flavour of the cheese. And don’t get me started on the French butter!!! Haha loved it!! And the cute container that it came in just made the experience even better ;)

Finally, my other sis ordered the savoury blinis (French thick pancakes) with smoked salmon, French butter, sour cream and salad ($15). The huge and thick pancakes were a delight! They were wonderfully done such that they were fluffy and wholesome, and simply delicious to eat! It also went nicely with all the other elements of the dish.

Our drink was the hot Viennese chocolate ($7.50). they have three kinds of hot chocolate there! Ours was sinfully thick and rich, bittersweet, and came with a lovely sauce of crème Chantilly which was light, airy and slightly sweet. A perfect complement to the chocolate.

Are you tempted? I definitely wanna come back for round #2. Maybe tea the next time! Yeahhhh :D

For more photos, please visit PAOtotheLO.wordpress.com

This chi chi place just stone throws away from Lavender MRT is like a wonderland for people with sweet tooth! The moment you enter Antoinette, tons of sweet pastries and cakes will greet you before you are led to your table.

We started off the crepe's thicker counter part, the Blini.  The French Thick Pancakes were paired with some smoked salmon and sour cream.  It could've been better if they were more fluffy.

Next was one of Antoinette's savoury crepe - Concorde.  Light crepe filled with roasted chicken and bacon, served with a creamy morsel mushroom sauce on the side. It has bacon and mushrooms - what's not to love? :)

This is definitely the star of the show - Antoinette's Boeuf Bourguignon.  Braised Wagyu brisket in red wine, it's so tender, all you need is a fork.  I loved how flavourful and moist the beef is.

Desserts are definitely one of Antoinette's strength.  Antoinette (photo on top) is a milk chocolate mousse infused with earl grey tea and a raspberry coulis encapsulated with a red and glittery membrane.  We also had the Chocolicieux (photo above) which is a 66% dark chocolate cream with hazelnut nougatine.

For full reviews and photos, please visit http://shirlynnyang.blogspot.com/2012/02/antoinette-penhas-road_02.html

Antoinette has got to be my favourite high tea place! Nicely decorated to make all girls feel like tai tai. and I love the eggs benedict and cakes there!

I've yet to try other outlets like the one at mandarin gallery and scarlet hotel but friends who have visited both mentioned they prefer the main outlet at Penhas Road!

Get the full review at http://thehungrybunnie.blogspot.com/2012/03/antoinette-lavender.html

I takeaway from Antoinette quite a bit, mostly because they offer all-day breakfast eggs and yummy French bistro classics. I had brunch there recently, and it was very enjoyable. There wasn't a single bad dish. In fact, almost every dish shone. Be sure to make reservations though, the restaurant is fairly small and consequently packed to the rafters all the time. Portions are reasonable, but prices can lean a wee bit to the luxurious end. We appreciated that service was professional and attentive, plates were cleared efficiently and water glasses were filled frequently.

We had:

1) Salade Lyonnaise ($13.50) with thick strips of hot bacon, cubes of buttered croutons, layered with frisee and mixed greens tossed in a mustard vinaigrette and topped with a perfectly poached egg that ran when poked. I really don't like mustard, and much preferred the piquant balsamic-based house dressing instead.

2) Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Duck Breast ($13.50) fluffy, airy and moist, with sauteed mushrooms and herbs, a thick toasty homemade Pain de Mie and side salad with house dressing. I liked the smoked duck, salty, tender and fresh. (It tasted like softened back bacon)

3) Scrambled Egg Gratin ($15), layered with tomato fondue, Paris ham, sauteed mushrooms, Parmesan cheese and served alongside homemade Pain de Mie toast. This was like the eggy version of lasagna. Hands down, this was the better egg dish, and an absolute must-try. I'll venture this is the best egg dish here

4) Blinis with Blueberries ($10), thick, soft and fluffy pancakes laden generously with loads of sweet and juicy blueberries, both mashed and whole, drizzled with maple syrup, icing sugar and a trio of creme chantilly. I usually prefer eggs to pancakes when it comes to breakfast, but man, were these delicious

5) Wild Mushroom Risotto ($24) creamy arborio rice done al dente, simmered with exotic field mushrooms and white wine for an earthy but delicately light flavour, and topped with crispy serrano ham. Generously proportioned but great to the last bite. One of the best we've tried

6) Beouf Bourguignon ($32) a thick slab of Burgundy-style braised wagyu beef brisket in red wine served with pomme puree (that's just a fancy name for mashed potatoes) and par-boiled baby French beans. The beef was incredibly fork tender and rich and complex in flavour, a little sweet, a little rich, and a little intense. What stood out exceptionally (for me, at least) were the mashed potatoes, creamy and smooth but interspersed with tiny lumps for texture

for pictures: http://hungryinsingapore.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/antoinette-dinner/

Gnocchi Carbonara – $18.50++

Parisan Gnocchi sautéed with caramelized bacon, white wine cream sauce, served with poached egg and aged parmasen cheese

The price for this has gone up by $2 since the last visit. The sauce was well infused with the taste of bacon which is a basic requirement of carbonara, I feel. I had a bad rendition at Pasta Manna in Old Airport Road, where the cream was not infused with any flavour and all ingredients tasted individual rather than complimenting each other.

The gnocchi is a fresh change from the usual pasta so lovers of pasta do note that this is gnocchi, not pasta. The gnocchi here is quite good, better than Salt Grill I feel. It’s chewy and starchy. It absorbs the sauce well so it’s not tasteless. However, too much of it can make you sick of it.

Overall, I feel that this carbonara is the 2nd best I’ve had. The best is still from La Strada.

 

Gnocchi Floristeire - $18.50++

Parisan Gnocchi sautéed with onions and an assortment of field mushrooms in a pink tomato sauce with Italian parsley and aged parmasen cheese

This was mine. I was expecting a tomato cream sauce as they mentioned pink sauce, but it looks like regular tomato sauce to me. Nevertheless, the tomato sauce was flavourful and strong in flavour. I like that they included a crispy piece of ham. Again, the gnocchi absorbed the flavours of the sauce well and it was pleasant to eat.

I don’t have a lot of experience in having gnocchi and this is only my 3rd time so I can’t be for sure whether the gnocchi here is the best, but at very least, this is very decent and something I won’t mind having again.

 

Wild Mushroom Risotto – $24.00++

Creamy Arborio rice simmer with exotic field mushroom & white wine, garnished with crispy Serrano ham

The old price used to be $20.00++ so it has gone up by $4. I’m not sure how this fared as I only tasted a bit of the sauce.

 

Royale (savoury crepe) – $20.50++

Roast Beef, sauce bérnaise, mustard and emmental cheese

I wanted to order savoury cheese initially but I guess I’ll do that next time. My dining partner said that this was very filling so don’t belittle a crepe!

 

We ordered 3 pastries to share among 5. The pastries looked more interesting than the desserts on the menu, though I would love to try some sweet crepe if the chance comes.

 

Tahiti – $9.00++

Amongst the 3 pastries we selected I liked this least. It is essentially a chocolate cake but with a tinge of sourness.

 

Antoinette – $9.00++

Milk chocolate mousse infused with earl grey tea, chocolate biscuit, raspberry coulis, dark chocolate earl grey tea cremeux, earl grey tea crumble

In my opinion, this cake is much better than the other. The flavours complimented one another very well, and I like how there are many textures in a bite. The ball on top contains the raspberry coulis which you can release if you burst the bubble. However, this is not one where you could go on forever. After a few bites, I got kind of sick of the taste.

This could be one of the best cakes I’ve had in Singapore. The other contenders are the Strawberry Shortcake from 1-caramel, Hazelnut Chocolate from Galbiati Gourmet, and anything from The Pattisier.

 

Mont Blanc – $8.50++

Almond tart, vanilla cream Chantilly, marrons glaces and chestnut cream

I was never a fan of chestnut until I had an amazing dessert at La Strada, which was also chestnut based. From then, I had a craving for mont blanc which is the more common chestnut dessert. This looked cute, was alright, but wasn’t anywhere close to the amazing dessert. To be fair, the amazing dessert isn’t even mont blanc per se so there shouldn’t be comparison of any sort.

For full review, pictures, articles & updates please do visit : -

http://jolylovesfood.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/antoinette-tete-a-tete/

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Fancy a relaxing day over brunch or high-tea, spending time with some fancy and exquisite desserts?

You might want to consider Antoinette @ Penhas Road.

Step into the cosy Parisian Pâtisserie and Salon de thé (tea house) that sports a contemporary Victorian styled décor. Welcoming you are shelves of ready packed sweets, choco bon bons and  freshly baked pastries; complimented by a colourful selection of cakes, macarons and chocolates.

As my first visit to Antoinette was during Christmas Eve, the highly recommended Patisserie was pretty crowded and we had to queue for seats while browsing at the various selections of cakes available in the showcase. 

Wanting to start off our cake tasting with something light, we chose to try the classic Strawberry Shortcake which was also one of my favourite cakes when Chef Pang was with the Les Amis Group.

The origins of a traditional Strawberry Shortcake actually came from America which is a classic combination of Scottish shortbread biscuit, fresh strawberries and cream. However, at Antoinette, what we get is actually the Japanese-style where a sponge cake base is used that is commonly found in Singapore.

Chef Pang’s rendition makes use of the Japanese shortcake sponge, kirsch syrup, fresh strawberries and crème Chantilly. Just from the picture alone, you could see the generous amount of huge fresh strawberries used which is already mouth-watering enough.

The blend of the...(to be continued)

For full review, pictures, articles & updates please do visit : -http://jolylovesfood.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/antoinette-tete-a-tete/

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I was there on 6th January (Friday) at 9.50pm with my friends. Upon arrival, I saw many empty seats and proceeded in only to be greeted by the staff saying that it was closed and would only be able to do take away. I was sure it closes at 11pm on Friday because I had visited the website before heading down. While paying up for my take away, I decided to casually ask the staff what is their opening hours, and he said the correct opening hours which was until 11pm. Sensing that he said something wrong, he immediately tried to correct himself by saying saturdays are the only days they are open till 11pm. It was rather disappointing because I didn't mind just spending an hour or less there just to finish up the cakes. If I was there maybe half an hour before closing, I could understand why they didnt allow us to dine in. But it was an hour. Did the staff do so because they wanted to close on time? I have read reviews about the poorer service at this outlet and I didn't expect to experience it first hand on my first visit. 

I tried Le Royale, Strawberry Shortcake and Antoinette. 

Antoinette was rather delightful because I like the taste of the earl grey. But when you dig further to the centre, it becomes far too bitter.

Shortcake was rather normal, and strawberries were really sour.

Le royale was nice but petite

In my opinion, it was way too expensive for me. For a price of $8 - 9 per slice which excludes GST. 

The only thing that was really nice was probably the paper bag and the boxes. 

For more photos and reviews, visit ms-skinnyfat.blogspot.com!

This may seem like a very dated post because everyone knows about Chef Pang and Antoinette now. I first visited Antoinette when they were really new, perhaps a week into their operation. S was particularly interested because he loves macarons (Pierre Herme ftw!) and has been on the search for the best macarons in Singapore as a PH substitute. Sadly, there isn't any. Some came close e.g. Obolo but there are some hits and misses. Anyway we visited the Penhas outlet and i still prefer this to the one at Mandarin because MG is quite claustrophobic. So in the same week, we visited A about 3-4 times. So much that the servers recognize us and knows S by name (S went back on his own to get macarons).



It was pretty hard locating this place at night. We were walking around the area (a bit shady because of Fragrance hotel). We went all around only to realize that A is just next to Fragrance.



The decor is very simple and quite very Canele (considering Chef Pang's roots). A tries to be more french. Some plush cushion seats and other rattan ones. Lots of space between diners which is always nice because you don't want people to eavesdrop on your conversations. Downside? It's not easy getting a reservation. Please do make one in advance especially if it's for brunch or lunch. Not too much of a dinner crowd.



On the macarons- i hate them. It's too cloyingly sweet. Good macarons are not supposed to be very sweet. Of course i'm comparing them to the PH god but still.. The texture varies as well, which i felt is quite weird. Some were too dry and some were too sticky. None were airy or light or fluffy. Terrible terrible.

The selection of desserts is quite wide. Many similar cakes to Canele. I've tried quite a couple and my favorite is the Antoinette. The first time i ordered it, i thought it would be a heavy dessert but i was surprised at the lightness of the earl grey chocolate mousse that is inside. The milk chocolate coating is the icing on the cake, it goes so well with the slightly bitter tea taste. I love the crispy bits inside (the ferrero rocher kinda pastry). The raspberry compote (if i remembered correctly) refreshes the taste of the dessert, breaking the monotony of the chocolate dish.

I can't remember what's the Salted Caramel Profiterole or something. I love salted caramel but the profiterole was kinda too dry. More creme needed for sure!

Tried the Baba Rum on another occasion. If you can't take the alcohol don't do this dish. The rum is quite bitter as well. and the puff is soaked with it. Not a fan.

Hot Viennese Chocolate served with creme Chantilly on the side. The hot chocolate is thick and rich. Go for the hot ones because the cold ones become diluted and doesn't taste as good. I love the creme Chantilly and i ordered everything with that because it has vanillaa beans in it! YAY!

There's a selection of crepes. The above is the Pavlova- Flambeed caramelized banana, chocolate sauce, passion fruit banana sorbet, French meringue and vanilla creme Chantilly. S ordered this for breakfast. That is quite crazy. This is extremely sweet. Not breakfast food for sure.

I personally love the Nougatine which is filled with nutella, salty caramel, caramelized filo, nougatine ice cream and vanilla creme Chantilly. All my favorite flavors in 1 dish. :)) Contrasting texture, spongy creme soaking up the melted nougatine ice cream with crispy and flaky filo. Heavenly. And nutella! Who doesn't love nutella right?



Had a hard time picking out the desserts. Spoilt for choices. Anyhoo, these days i just stick to the Antoinette.



I've tried various items on their breakfast menu. Nothing really special but i like their scrambled eggs which are creamy and runny. The sausages are also quite good, thick chunky and moist. There are definitely better sausages but let's face it, they are hard to find and expensive.

The above it their classic Eggs Florentine- toasted Brioche, wilted spinach, serano ham, hollandaise sauce, salad with house dressing a side of sausage. The brioche is over toasted and kinda dry. Certainly not buttery enough and too porous. Can't remember much about this dish which meant that it is just mediocre.

In all, i would say that Antoinette is a good place for desserts and chilling out with friends.

click HERE for full review to first visit to Antoinette

click HERE for full review to second visit to Antoinette

I've been to Antoinette at Penhas twice.

I love where it is located. Quiet and exclusive. Antoinette just stands out so much from the shops around it. Can't help but fall in love with it at first sight.

1) Antoinette

It was an electrifying mix of earl grey and milk chocolate with a touch of raspberry. We love how they go so well together (:

2) Verseille.

This dark chocolate cake was really delightful! Loved it.

3) Marshmallow Teddy bear

Pretty alright

4) Classic strawberry cake

It was love at first taste for my friend.

5) Tarte Cafe Caramel

I thought this was really disappointing and it wasn't good at all. Not recommended.

Antoinette is really pretty and I love the feeling it gives me when I'm there. The design is just really awesome. Even the toilets are pretty

However, the service of the staff is downright disappointing. What is with the condescending posture of arm-folding and condescending tone? I was really disappointed on my second trip.

click HERE for full review to first visit to Antoinette

click HERE for full review to second visit to Antoinette

For more food reviews: please visit http://storyofoursummers.blogspot.com/

very comfy and cosy ambience. i had lunch there with a friend and the main courses taste good, slightly pricy (a main course + beverage would cost about 30+ per person). Food portions are quite generous, would be a good choice for ladies to share. If you are looking for a quiet moment or a place to enjoy a private coffee chat, you might love this cafe. 

The desserts look absolutely enticing! will definitely go back to try them out! :)