An Epicurean Affair

Nothing is going to prepare you for the gastronomical experience at Vis á Vis, a cosy little French restaurant tucked away in an intimate corner of Chun Tin Road opposite Beauty World.

Upon our arrival, my dining companions and I were graciously welcomed by the restaurant owners, Jeremy and Christine Choo. We were ushered into the cosily decorated dining room that created just the right ambience for quiet conversation. Jeremy, the owner of this award-winning establishment which is into its 15^th year, was extremely helpful and happy to explain the origins as well as recommend various signature dishes for us 
to sample.

The warm starter of a thick and generous portion of Pan-seared Foie Gras paired with strawberries lightly sautéed in red wine vinegar, dusted with grated orange zest, with a drizzle of Grand Marnier, tasted totally divine! The foie gras was full of flavour and rich in taste. It had a touch of crisp on the outside, was creamy and almost moist on the inside ... definitely not to be missed! Next, we were served the Carpaccio of Beef stuffed with foie gras and the Roasted Pork Ribs. The pork ribs were wonderfully marinated, locking in the flavours and making them extremely succulent. Both dishes were truly delectable!

This was followed by the soup selection of French Onion soup and Bisque of Butternut Squash. Each of these traditional soups was in a class of its own. The onion soup was chunky and wholesome, served with lots of soft sliced onions, lending a rich strong flavour to the soup. The bisque of butternut squash had a fresh aromatic flavour and the consistency of the puree was just right … truly comfort food!

While signature main courses were being prepared, Jeremy kindly allowed us to sample some of his wines from France that he recommended would complement the varied menu. We were told that some of these French wines were specially bottled for Vis á Vis. We also had the honour of being shown the full and complete range of wine glasses that the restaurant stocked. Jeremy explained that every piece of dinnerware was specially handpicked. It was at this juncture that we realised how truly passionate Jeremy was about French culture, food and wine.

When the main courses arrived, we gawked in amazement at the size of the portions! The Rack of Lamb tasted truly exquisite with its meat so tender, it separated from the bone with such ease. It felt as if our knives were cutting through the lamb like sheer butter! Just when we thought that the chef could not do any better, we bit into the Oven Roasted Fillet of Cod that tasted ‘out of this world’. The fish was prepared so well that the ‘sweetness’ of the boneless fillet was truly enhanced by the crust of bacon and garlic chips. Jeremy later informed us how only the freshest of ingredients and sauces were used at his restaurant and we could truly taste the difference. The Grilled Meltique Sirloin served with cauliflower cream and flavoured with red wine Armagnac and the Confit of Duck were next. Our gracious host explained how the cut of the sirloin which was cooked to perfection was rather unique in the way it was cut - long and thick unlike the traditional cut. We were told that this maintained the juiciness of the meat.

Every one of the signature dishes that Jeremy had chosen tasted absolutely divine! It was as though we had struck the 
menu jackpot!

Ahhhh ... and finally, the much awaited dessert! We had the warm Dark Chocolate Torte that oozed coffee paste as we gently sliced it. What gave this dessert a creative twist was its pairing with caramelised bananas accompanied by homemade rum and raisin ice-cream — definitely a must for chocolate lovers!

We left Vis á Vis feeling utterly satisfied and making a mental note to come back for more. Be prepared to have all your 
senses invoked!

Sharon Kaur