The end of an era for the former Ice Edge Cafe signals the comeuppance of chef Haikal Johari's casual French bistro quietly tucked away in the sleepy Kovan neighbourhood. Best known for his modern French cuisine and stints in lauded kitchens of Les Amis and Joel Robuchon, the former headman of Alma by Juan Amador now presents an approachable selection of baked goodies and hearty brunch-worthy plates. It all makes for a pleasant day dining experience, especially when natural light shines through the large alcove windows, illuminating the cosy joint that is splashed with cheerful accents of yellow, blue and terracotta.
Start the morning off with freshly baked bread and viennoiseries such as almond-coconut croissants ($5.50), cardamom kouign-amann ($5.80), and gula Melaka caneles ($3). For lazy brunches, go with the fluffy scrambled eggs ($17.90) with beef sausage, comte cheese Croque Monsieur ($16.90) or the freshly baked ciabatta tartine ($16.90) with a moreish ragu of prized Morel, champignon, shiitake and maitake.
Heartier plates include the juicy Wagyu onglet steak frites ($32), creamy chicken vin blanc ($25) and ocean trout ($25). Sweet tooths, an all-out dessert affair awaits you. There are freshly baked Gateaux (cakes) and Mignardise (bite-sized desserts), but it is the traditional French floating island ($12.50) submerged in creme Anglaise that deserves a shoutout.
