Gaston, a casual French bistro and bar focusing on Burgundian fare and wine, opens up along Keong Saik road.

There’s no shortage of fine-dining French restaurants in Singapore. But when a really good casual French eatery appears on our dining landscape, it’s cause enough to sit up and notice. That happened with Gaston, a modern French bistro on Keong Saik Road with a vibe and cuisine that harkens you back to Bourgogne.

Bourgogne, or Burgundy, in France is known for many wonderful things, but it’s best known for wine. Specifically, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir-based wines. But Bourgogne is also home to some of the most homely and humble dishes – such as beef bourguignon – to come out of France. And it’s that culinary heritage that Gaston pays homage to.

Expect the likes of the delicious Croquettes Bourguignonnes ($9++ for 3 pieces/$18++ for 6) made with ham and Epoisses; Epoisses, of course, is a (stinky) cheese from Burgundy.  Escargot is big in Burgundy too – Burgundian snails are a prized delicacy – and here the Escargots de Bourgogne (6pcs: $15++ for 6 pieces/$28++ for 12) sees them come in crispy pastry shells.

Enter the aforesaid beef bourguignon. The recipe for Gaston’s Boeuf Bourguignon ($32++) comes from the mother of Gaston’s general manager Geoffrey Daurelle, a Burgundy native. This version is rich and unctuous, and served over mashed potato makes for a very filling repast.

Gaston highlights lesser known appellations of Bourgogne.

Then there’s wine – no French meal is ever complete without wine. There’s a decent wine by the glass programme here with some fifteen wines, and a rotating “wine flight of the week” to keep things interesting.

That said it’s easy to throw together a Burgundian wine list if one is sufficiently loaded; Gaston on the other hand explores lesser known brands, appellations, or sub regions for value-for-money gems with its 200-plus labels. Sure you can pick up that pricey and highly regarded 2006 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru Domaine Leflaive ($1,380++) bottle, but there are plenty of more affordable options. The Aligote-based 2016 Bouzeron “Clos de la Fortune” Domaine Chanzy ($100++) and Chardonnay-based 2016 Saint-Véran “Clos des Poncetys” Domaine Trenel ($107++), from the Cote Chalonnaise and Maconnais sub regions respectively, are perfect examples of quality for price.

And if you don’t care for appellation, the AOC Bourgogne of 2015 Bourgogne “Les Dressoles” Domaine Goichot clocks in at just $77++.

Do we love Gaston? Why, it’s a Bourgogne conclusion.


Gaston

Address 25 Keong Saik Rd, Singapore 089132 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 5pm to 12mn in Mondays; 11am to 12mn Tuesdays to Saturdays; closed on Sundays
Tel (65) 8661 2788
Web www.bistrogaston.sg
Facebook gastonsingapore
Instagram @bistrogaston

 

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