Ever tried foie gras sushi, burgers, dim sum or ice cream? This fine dining fixture gets a makeover in these unconventional dishes you must try in Singapore
Every now and then, we like to pamper ourselves silly and have a fine dining feast that makes the daily grind seem worthwhile. As it so happens, one dish that tends to make a frequent appearance in our courses is foie gras – duck or goose liver that, although hailing from French cuisine, can often be found enhancing the plates of high-end restaurants everywhere with its fatty, creamy melt-in-your-mouth texture and buttery, slightly-bitter but rich flavour. That said, due to animal ethical concerns surrounding this delicacy, we do indulge in it sparingly; so when we do, we make it count. Aside from our list of French restaurants where you can easily find foie gras, we also showcase places that put a twist on this dish, creating renditions in the form of sushi, burgers, ravioli and more. Bon appétit!
Aura – For foie gras with pasta
Naturally, you’ll find this French delicacy at one of our hand-picked best restaurants in Singapore, and it’s also one you have to book weeks in advance for a spot! Located on the fifth floor of the revamped National Gallery, this 90-seater boasts a décor as exquisite as its dishes. And one that really fills you up in both serving and flavour is Aura’s whole wheat tagliatelle with duck and foie gras; the smooth textures of the pasta and liver coming together in perfect unison. You’ll be savouring every spoonful for sure!
Aura, 1 St. Andrews Road, #05-03 and #06-02 National Gallery Singapore, Singapore 178957, p. 6866 1977. Open daily 12pm-2.30pm, 6.30pm-10.30pm.
Kinki – For foie gras sushi
We’ve seen wagyu beef and curry lobster sushi options out there in our quest to locate the best sushi restaurants in Singapore, so much so, that foie gras pressed against vinegared rice almost seems like a no-brainer. Unlike most sushis which prompt you to dip the raw fish into soy sauce with wasabi, the foie gras here is rich enough to be eaten on its own. Here, you can find pan-seared foie gras and scallop sushi for a decadent price of $24 – enjoy every bite… slowly.
Kinki, #02-02 Customs House, 70 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049323, p. 6533 3471. Open Mon-Sat 12pm-2.30pm, 6pm-10.30pm.
Shunjuu Izakaya – For foie gras yakitori
Shunjuu Izakaya grills the competition, pun intended, with its sumiyaki (charcoal grill) specialties. Often, you can find meaty delicacies served on skewers like chicken wings and pork bellies, but here, you can also down that pint of Sapporo beer while savouring some grilled foie gras on a stick. Needless to say, the Japanese chef senseis expertly prevent it from getting crispy or overcooked, retaining the liver’s melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Shunjuu Izakaya, #01-15 Riverside View, 30 Robertson Quay, Singapore 238251, p. 6887 3577. Open Sun-Wed 12pm-2.30pm, 6pm-10.30pm, and Thu-Sat 12pm-2.30pm, 6pm-11pm.
Bistro Du Vin – For foie gras ravioli
French onion soup, baked Burgundian escargot and Coq au Vin are just some of the rustic French offerings you’ll find at this Les Amis Group establishment. So yes, finding foie gras here comes as no surprise, but what about foie gras with an Italian twist? Head down for its set lunch menu ($34++) and you can pick foie gras ravioli with toasted hazelnut and port wine sauce as one of your starters. Frankly, that just sounds like the best pasta stuffing we’ve ever heard of!
Bistro du Vin, 1 Scotts Road, #01-14 Shaw Centre, Singapore 228208. p. 6733 7763. Open daily 12pm-2pm, 6.30pm-10pm.
Symmetry – For foie gras burgers
From the toasting method of the buns to the grilled doneness of the beef patty, there are plenty of factors to consider when picking the perfect burger. But heck, stuff in a thick creamy slab of foie gras and we’ll cut the debate right here. Symmetry’s foie gras hamburger takes the cake when it comes to sinful treats, with the richness of the liver literally melting into the meat. In fact, it’s so cloyingly rich, you might wanna share this monster with a pal.
Symmetry, #01-01, 9 Jalan Kubor, Singapore 199206, p. 6291 9901. Open Mon 10.30am-9pm, Tue-Thu 10.30am-11pm, Fri 10.30am-12am, Sat 9am-12am, and Sun 9am-7pm.
Chotto Matte – For foie gras chawan mushi
The eggy, custardy texture of Japanese chawan mushi meets the soft, velvety consistency of foie gras – can you say match made in heaven? You’ll be saying “chotto matte” (meaning please wait a while) to yourself before you wolf down this tantalising starter, as you’ll be probably be taking lots of pictures for your Snapchat. Just don’t take too long before it coagulates – you absolutely don’t wanna eat this when it’s cold.
Chotto Matte, #01-01, 54 Blair Road, Singapore 089954, p. 6222 8846. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6pm-12am.
Saveur – For foie gras on a budget
You can normally expect your purse to feel a few ounces lighter if you dine at a fine dining restaurant serving foie gras. But at this popular franchise that consistently draws snaking queues, you can dig into this prized dish at just $7.90 a pop! Served with creamy lentils and pickled pearl onions – or apple and raisin, port wine and vanilla beans for $9.90 – you’ll be able to indulge without bruising your bank.
Saveur, #01-04, 5 Purvis Street, Singapore 188584, p. 6333 3121. Open daily 12pm-2.30pm, 6pm-9.30pm.
Paradise Dynasty – For foie gras xiao long bao
Expect Chinese cuisine to come up with innovative ways of relishing food, and this Southern Chinese brand has even taken foie gras feasting up a notch. They’ve taken their signature soupy dumpling known as xiao long bao, and stuffed with a mish-mash of flavours such as crab roe, cheese, black truffle and – you guessed it – foie gras. Same rules of eating XLB apply: don’t burst it and waste all the soup! Especially if it’s a foie gras broth this rich.
Paradise Dynasty, #03-08A VivoCity, 1 Haarbourfront Walk, Singapore 098585, p. 6376 8103. Open daily 11am-10pm.
SKIRT – For foie gras torchon
Can you have foie gras that looks as good as it tastes? You can at this resident restaurant of W Singapore – Sentosa Cove! Unlike most foie gras offerings that are presented in non-distinctive slabs, torchon, like terrine, is carved in a specific shape – particularly, a round, cylindrical cut moulded traditionally by cheesecloth. It’s one French tradition you can cherish at SKIRT; one enhanced with sliced brioche and chocolate-infused oil.
SKIRT, W Singapore – Sentosa Cove, 21 Ocean Way Sentosa, Singapore 098374, p. 6808 7278. Open Sun-Thu 6pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-10.30pm.
Alma by Juan Amador – For foie gras ice cream
Another well-deserving fixture on our best restaurants list, this Goodwood Park resto owned by three Michelin Star chef, Juan Amador, does a topsy-turvy twist on foie gras as well. Instead of offering the goose liver as an appetiser like most places, the foie gras concludes your meal here, served in a dessert you’ll have to taste to believe. For $18, you can pamper that palate with foie gras ice cream, served with a fruity, nutty mixture of mango gazpacho and pistachios.
Alma by Juan Amador, Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Road, Singapore 228221, p. 6735 9937. Open Mon-Sat 5:30pm-10:30pm. Closed Sun.