ol’ french style tea time

brought my parents to hediard over the weekend for brunch. seems like the idea of brunch is still quite foreign to my parents, because they were exclaiming that there were breakfast options in the menu and couldn’t understand why. ahh.. parents =)  anyways, hediard was something i was yearning to try after eating delicious tartines from a french cafe in NYC with my parents awhile ago. FYI, tartines (pronounced tart-teen, my bad) refer to a french open-face sandwich, usually topped with a rich and savory spread.

hediard is situated in a row of shophouses a stone throw’s away from tanglin mall. the interior is decked in bold reds and blacks, the colors working to create a cosy environment, though this illusion is somewhat interrupted by a large full length window that overlooks the scorching Saturday morning exteriors of Singapore. the tables are french-styled packed together, meaning that you basically can hear whatever your distinguished compatriots are gossiping about in the next table quite effortlessly.

unfortunately for us, our next table neighbors were neither distinguished nor were they making any effort to keep their conversations soft — a bunch of cawing desperate housewives cackling away with voices that thundered across the entirety of the small cafe. -_-” not amused. thankfully, they left pretty soon in a cloud of hubris and the cafe settled into its usual calm and serenity with nearby fashionable compatriots chattering animatedly in francais. (i’m such a sad snob.. lol) ah ok.. this is a food blog.. let’s get to the mains..

[eggs benedict, $18 - muffin toast topped with bacon, soft boiled egg and hollandaise sauce and paired with cheese (dunno what, didn't ask), pesto, vinaigrette and rucola]

my dad ordered this. and judging by the rate he gobbled this down, im guessing it was pretty good. *mumbles mumbles, selfish didn’t share..*

[hediard's signature croq ferdinand, $16, generous gruyere cheese half-melted, grilled and smothered atop parma ham and toast, accompanied by greens and vinaigrette]

simply delicious and should be enjoyed accompanied with some smooth coffee. cheese and ham is a well-known combination that always works, but judicious selection of the best cheeses and hams can really send this out of the stratosphere. the smoothness and lightness of the gruyere cheese, grilled at the top but melted and slightly runny at the middle was the perfect companion to the savory param ham. and the combination worth slowly working your way through – didn’t feel the least bit jelak.

 [raspberry and passionfruit with banana sorbet - $8]

for mid day dessert amidst the scorching sun, i skipped past the mille feuilles, eclairs (that’ll be another time i suppose) but went for their homemade sorbet in raspberry and passionfruit with banana flavors. it was the perfect choice considering the elements, the refreshing, sweet-soury flavors cleansing my palate and bringing much respite to the psychological heat brought from the weather. the flavors were nuanced and fresh, not the least bit artificial tasting.

and in case you were wondering, i’m not a fan of coffee. coffee when imbibed in excessive portions (read: one glass for me) gives me a headache. but my sis and dad both ordered coffees and were really charmed by it. (well, my sis liked the little madeleine at the side of her saucer more i suppose.)

overall, a nice and pleasant french brunch spot that’s worth a trip down if u are feeling particularly french and are willing to spend that money. 7.5/10

Hediard Cafe-Boutique | 123-125 Tanglin Road, Tudor Court | french, authentic, brunch