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Miss travelling? Me too. Eat your way through foreign countries, armed with nothing more than Google translate on your smartphone. It’s a deliriously fun experience and the ultimate educational affair for all foodies alike. As we are caught in the thick of a pandemic, such gastronomical escapades are sadly rendered impossible. Until we can venture overseas again, let us look toward some opportunities for adventure in our little red dot. More specifically, today’s agenda lies in the taste of France at Café & Bar Gavroche.
Dubbed as Paris on Tras Street, Café & Bar Gavroche has been running for a solid eight years. It’s not the brand’s only F&B venture. Right across the street, it’s big brother Brasserie Gavroche has been serving up French cuisine for ten years.
The reason for its success? A specially curated menu of all your favourite Parisian classics, done right. Today, my focus is a little more specific. I make my way toward Café Gavroche with their two-hour Raclette Dinner and Fondue Bourguignonne (S$58 per pax) in mind.
The atmosphere here is impressive right from the get-go, boasting white table cloths, cobblestone flooring and tiles imported directly from France. In the evening, the space is bathed with a warm glow that teeters on the edge of being too dim. But, that’s how we like it. It’s undoubtedly romantic, so I imagine this spot to be an excellent choice for date night.
Before I obsess further over the Café Gavroche’s decor, a plate of charcuterie presents itself on the table. There’s a trifecta of thinly sliced cold meats which prove aggressively savoury and very addictive on their own. Alongside the meat comes a generously stacked platter of raclette cheese. This one comes in slices as well, and you’ll soon see why.
Here’s one crucial point to note: all free flow. Yes, you can stuff yourselves silly with this heady cheese-and-meat combo for the night.
Now, moving on to the do-it-yourself aspect of the night. Each diner is equipped with their own melting pan in hand, and that’s where my slices of raclette come into play. I place a few onto my pan and place it under the tabletop grill. Let the melting at Café Gavroche begin.
Three minutes in, and my cheese is bubbly and ready. I quickly grab hold of a small wooden spatula to scrape the flowy cheese onto my plate of charcuterie. Lest I forget, there’s also boiled potatoes for the taking. Maybe carbs aren’t the smartest option at a free-flow dinner, but these are undoubtedly delicious.
I unabashedly pour on heaps of melted raclette onto my mess of a plate, and I can safely say that it’s some of the most fun I’ve had at a meal. From here, it’s all rinse and repeat. Piling on cold cuts and cheese onto my plate becomes like clockwork. I shall indulge now, and leave the worrying for tomorrow.
Do you think I’m finished? Not even close, because Café Gavroche’s Fondue Bourguignonne still awaits. This one is an equally communal affair, boasting bottomless bowls of Australian wagyu beef cubes for you to stab pitchfork-style and dip into a boiling pot of oil.
It’s neither Korean barbecue nor lok lok. A bit of both? Perhaps. But one thing is for sure—it’s lip-smackingly good. Don’t just gorge endlessly on meat and cheese though (trust me, you’ll be painfully punished). Instead, find respite in their lovingly dressed salads to cut through all the richness.
This experience at Café Gavroche is one I’ll never shake. Because for those fleeting moments, I was treated like royalty. Endless pools of raclette atop piles of meat and potato do utterly spoil the diner, and I’m not complaining.
If you too are looking to lose yourself in a world of sinful gratification, come for this combined experience, and add on a two-hour free-flow Wine Package (S$35 for house and red wine, S$50 for premium wines) to boot.
Date & Time: 6 – 8pm & 8.30 – 10.30pm on Saturdays
Price: S$58 per pax for combined Raclette Dinner and Fondue Bourguignonne experience
