For the past 14 months local epicureans have been privy to the existence of a little known French restaurant, La Petite Cuisine, part owned and run by one of Singapore's top chefs, Justin Quek
After almost one decade at the helm of Les Amis Group, which has opened internationally acclaimed restaurants in Singapore, and having cooked for a catalogue of dignitaries at places like Le Gavroche, it is surprising that a chef of such high caliber -- a member of the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs -- would open a restaurant in Taipei without much of a media frenzy.
This place is understated and elegant. The decor is luxurious without being brash and the service is impeccable. The waiters are well-trained and Vincent Tan (
PHOTO COURTESY OF LA PETITE CUISINE
The intimate basement room is superior to the upstairs room, which has a strange flower mural, a fairly noisy air onditioning system and Henry Kissinger, sat next to Quek [the chef], peering in on the room from a photograph on the wall.
Elegance, good service and fine food do not come cheap. The wine list is fairly priced with Jacquesson and Fils, Brut Cuvee No. 729 at NT$2,700 a bottle, and there is a range of set menus from NT$750 up to NT$3,300.
The difficulty in choosing from the menu comes from the tantalizing dishes on offer; warm salad of pan-fried foie gras and fricassee of mushroom with raspberry vinegar, ravioli of guinea fowl with foie gras and black trumpet mushroom.
A la carte choices include roasted langoustines with vegetables and herbs at NT$1,600. The smoked escalope of chicken with grilled persimmon salad was refreshing. Made with frisee, radicchio, rocket and segments of grapefruit, the slightly bitter flavor of the salad leaves and the sour grapefruit juxtaposed with the sweet persimmon and delicately smoked chicken.
A slice of rich tarte aux pomme with a drizzle of raspberry sauce and a dollop of homemade vanilla ice cream was a fine end to a haute cuisine lunch.
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