Never has a Three-michelin Star chef prepared a meal for me. So when Anne-Sophie Pic launched La Dame de Pic at Raffles Hotel, her first-ever establishment in Asia, I was curious to see what the experience would be like.
Royal Space
The restaurant’s name is a word play on la dame de pique, which is how the French refer to the queen of spades in a standard 52-card deck. The spade cut-out design seen on the restaurant’s gold lamp shades and the decor’s black, deep red and gold colour palette acknowledged that, while also adding touches of pink to express Pic’s feminine side.
Taking The Crown
Pic opted to incorporate more local produce into her creations for the Singaporean menu. Her eye for top quality produce really shone in the four-course meal that was served.
I was particularly impressed with the Tomato Myriad (top) and Wagyu Saga Beef (not pictured). The former featured juicy cherry tomatoes bathed in a savoury tomato and rhubarb broth. It doesn’t sound like much, but the mere memory of it makes my mouth water. The coal-cooked beef scored points in how the meat’s flavour matched perfectly with the coal’s smoky aroma.
For dessert, I was hoping for the White Millefeuille, but served the Gariguette Strawberry and Geranium instead. It was just as well, because the latter won me over instantly with its blend of aromas and berry flavours. I didn’t quite like the osmanthus tea that was served in place of wine though – it was a tad too sweet.
In Your Court
From the restaurant’s interiors to the food, La Dame de Pic demonstrates the chef’s taste for all things refined. It offers a superb experience that’s especially suited for romantic occasions, but I’m thinking of giving my mother a treat instead. She doesn’t have to know I’m really back for the beef.
La Dame de Pic is located at Raffles Singapore, 1 Beach Road, Singapore 189673 . More information at www.ladamedepic.com.sg