US$40 takeaway ice cream from Singapore’s Les Amis as it bets on diners wanting to recreate the three-Michelin-star experience at home
- Olive oil, artisanal apricot jam, a chef’s selection of French cheeses – the fine-dining restaurant has added a takeaway counter amid pandemic disruption
- ‘Everyone can come, and just bring home an ice cream,’ says the restaurant’s chef, Sebastien Lepinoy
Les Amis in Singapore is emerging from a pandemic-forced closure with a bet that the diners who love its gourmet, classic French food will want to replicate part of their three-Michelin-star restaurant experience at home.
The restaurant, which is led by chef Sebastien Lepinoy and serves as the flagship for the Les Amis Group, recently completed a renovation. Dining, which had been restricted to couples only, expanded to tables of five from this week.
When they arrive, diners will find items for purchase displayed separately from Les Amis’ in-person menu. Now customers can buy a half-litre of ice cream made with Grand Cru Tahitian vanilla beans to take home for S$55 (US$40), or a 100 gram jar of artisanal apricot jam for S$26.
Cuts of traditionally smoked salmon run S$98 for 250 grams, which can be paired with a chef’s master selection of 10 different French artisanal cheeses for S$85.
For a group of friends with indulgent tastes taking advantage of Singapore’s recent easing of Covid-19 restrictions and the increase in allowed group sizes, there’s a 1,700 gram container of Kristal Caviar, Reserve “Les Amis” available for S$4,285, according to the menu on the website.
This isn’t the first foray into takeaway food for Les Amis. Its olive oil, S$48 for 500ml, has been on offer for months, and is a blend Lepinoy personally developed using five types of olives from Chateau d’Estoublon in Provence, France.