English House by Marco Pierre White – early Mother’s Day lunch
Mother’s Day weekend is upon us for Asia, but we also have a kids 5th Birthday Party on Sunday itself. What to do? I know let’s do a surprise lunch the day before. But let’s make it somewhere new. A few friends of mine at work have been chatting about this new place, one of them even met the proprietor when he was over checking progress. So it being a special occasion and all, and me being the foodie wanker I am, we just had to go to English House by Marco Pierre White – early Mother’s Day lunch.
He’s an amazing guy is Marco. Have you read his book? You should if you are a foodie. Born in 1961 in Leeds he is one of the most uber cool Chefs to have walked the planet, tagged as the World’s 1st Celebrity Chef. In the book, you get some insight to his early life and then his cool era (just Google some early photos of him in black and white and you’ll see what I mean) almost pop-star in legend. He’s sacked people on the spot, hit people, thrown customers out. He sure was a wild child in his day. But that all adds to the excitement right to have our 1st time of eating his food, and it is here in Singapore. Did you know he trained Chef Gordon Ramsay? There you go… He is also the youngest Chef on the planet to ever achieve THREE Michelin Stars at a restaurant.
English House by Marco Pierre White – early Mother’s Day lunch was great, it really was. I’ll show some of that off soon in the photos. It is $$$ for sure, as you’d expect, and I do have one complaint to mention that I should have aired on the day. C’est la vie. So let’s get into it. He has this concept of Restaurant & Rooms. So this place is a HUGE shophouse, as in HUGE, that they will also have boutique rooms above. Loving that concept. Rich Huggins, you were there 1st buddy ha ha!!!
It’s just an awesome space as you will see from the photos. It took me about 30 minutes to sit at the table as the kids and I were just wandering around looking at all the photos and nick nacks on display. Bloody brilliant. We had a server who was just incredible this day, and now I check my receipt to see there is no gratuity included and I feel pissed with myself for not rewarding her. Hoping someone reads this and can thank her from us, be proud of her she is exceptional. We ate at table 8, 11/5/19 for lunch. At the bank of mind, she is probably the reason I didn’t want to make a small complaint regards two of the dishes.
Let’s clear that one up now. Chef Pierre White someone making your mashed potato this day must have coughed when he/she was seasoning it. The level of salt in the mash was quite an over-whelming taste Sir. We ended up scraping the potato off, and yes that was the culprit as both the lamb and fish pie beneath it were delicious. Has to be said, sorry!!! Did it spoil lunch, absolutely no it did not. It’s just that you have that Michelin *** reputation in your mind and you think surely someone can’t have over-seasoned, perhaps it’s how it should be… But with 4 individuals all going WOW salty, surely that cannot be. A glitch. Phew, that’s that done and over. Now to the fun.
English House by Marco Pierre White – early Mother’s Day lunch
It’s a jungle out there. It sure is at the front of the restaurant. Check this place out. No nameplates either folks so get your jungle exploring hat on and punch through the foliage to find the entrance. You will not be disappointed. @ Mum’s, three kids and a Dad behind the camera. Let’s go go go!!!
And then you enter into this space, a huge space. This is one of the all-time best decors restaurants I have ever seen. I just love it. Higgledy-piggledy, but you can see designed with such care and attention too. It’s just bonkers brilliant. I love it!!!
Of course, they had to have the Michelin Man and some Michelin guidebooks on display. How could you not? This guy is showing off what my 6-pack looks like bless him.
Antique foosball to boot. Every little corner you turn there is another WOW moment of stuff. It took me 20 minutes to go for a pee because I was looking at all the sketches.
Yeah, I went a little moodier for this photo. Love the flagstones. And this is…. the corridor to the toilets. Nuts right?
I mean come on, how can you not fall in love with sitting and dining in here? Two huge bars and 4 separate rooms make up the restaurant. As I said this place is massive.
I used to see this sort of stuff down Margate when I was a kid. Jude fell in love with Dolly Dimples clearly.
Jude, Amy and I just could not stop wandering around investigating all the nooks and crannies. See the lintel at the far end of the room? I love the way the contents here are so English, as in full on English, but they kept the heritage of the building. It’s a stunning Singaporean shophouse after all.
There is a huge amount of B&W photos adorning the walls of English stars from film and song. And, of course, who should we espy but Sir Paul belting out Hey Jude, so my Jude joined in too.
Damn you flash!!! Jude Jude finds his favourite band The Beatles. I love the fact that his favourite music is from the Beatles – Hey Jude of course, but also classics like Yellow Submarine, and When I’m 64 (I think he sings that for me!!!)
It’s like going back in time to Victorian England. I was just blown away by every little sight and detail in here. I could have stayed all day. The place creates an ambience like no other. Genius!!!
They even have this private dining area. Yes, Jude is also exploring that with me bless him. @Steve Rutherford now that is a location and half for B&B.
Rocking horses, tin toys, Victorian, and then these two. Toilet sign art. Bloody hysterical, and yes the kids loved them too clearly!!!
English House by Marco Pierre White – early Mother’s Day lunch – happy Mum’s and kids all round!!! What a cracking lunch treat (for us all actually).
Yes, I was also there. Bubbles for Mummy, looking very stunning and glamorous. We had to have a quick snap next to this coolest of bars, and yes #2 son just had to be in the mix too.
I tell you what my Tattoo’s relatives just get everywhere. Cousin twice removed apparently. He’s done some films too. You may have heard of him? Kevin Bacon…
And now let’s get stuck into the food. Literally and of course through the art of photography. Ding Dong – this so good!!!
Yeah, we ordered HARD as we always do. This was the 1st starter up and how could I/we not order this. As soon as Mary and I read the words we both knew this was going to be on the table. Parfet of Foie Gras Au raisin sec. Holy moly off the charts good is this. Sourdough with it. The jelly on top of the parfait is a Madere and fruit. And believe me, it is stunning with the foie gras. A match made in heaven!!!
Next up is the Potted Duck with Green Peppercorns. Again with our friend the SourDough and some cornichons (pickles). This again was a beauty when she got to room temperature and the fat on top becomes almost like my Mum’s ‘Beef Dripping’. Literally, it became the butter for the toast and then the scrummy duck became the topping. Yes indeed. #2 we love you.
Pause for an apology for my shit photo, so very sorry. This dish is one of the most beautifully presented. The fragrance from this is just crazy good. The taste, well suffice to say this thing lasted all of 2-3 minutes. It’s just bloody brilliant. This is the Croustade of Eggs with Truffles. Did I hear you, right Chef? Let’s be having you then. WTF dish. Sublime. Silky Hollandaise to die for. Perfect poached eggs. Stunning crispy pastry tartlet and BOOM truffles. Holy shit. One of the best for the whole lunch. LOVED it. They describe it more with Maxim’s Mushroom Duxelle, Sauce Hollandaise. Suffice to say – MUST order!!!
We then get tucked into another beauty. Fresh Asparagus with Truffles. Sorry, wait a minute did I hear you right? Yes, I did indeed. Bloody perfectly cooked asparagus, drizzled in a to die for truffle vinaigrette with a little crumbled boiled egg. Jesus! Stop the boat. Amaze-balls!!!
Then we come to the 2x pies. I would only ever consume one of course. But all that consumed two were all sort of staring at each other with that; “WOW is it really so salty or is it just my face of inquisition!” They looked amazing though. The filling was awesome. It clearly was just a bloody bad day at mashed potato factory. We had both Wheeler’s classic fish pie with buttered garden peas and Mr Lamb’s Shepherd’s Pie with a jus a le Fleur de Thym and buttered garden peas. One complaint only today – less salt in the spuds pretty please!!!
Yeah, we had to have this one!!! Come on. Honey Roast Pork Belly Marco Polo. Ollie and I were debating the name, as is it because of the East meets West in the dish. Slow roast pork belly atop of Kway Teow noodles, and then served with a Granny Smith apple puree. WOW!!! By the way, they call them pig-skin noodles. Double boom!!!
We get right in the middle of a BIG sharing plate too. Well come on you have to try a few things to give a balanced opinion right? So we get right stuck into The Delmonico, 20 Oz, 45 days dry aged served medium rare steak. Choose your sauce? I went with the server recommendation of OxTail and we were all so so so glad we chose that, WOW!!! This was a killer dish!!! Enough for 2 they say, I think 3-4, especially if pigging out on a load of other stuff too like we were!!!
My Amy goes hard on the Wheeler’s Fried Cod and Beef Fat Chips. Even I had to try this to see how this compared to Pete’s Fish and Chips in Margate. Ding Dong. Absolutely superb. A legendary Tartare Sauce to boot served in an oyster shell (nice touch). Lemon sat there in some Muslim so as not to drop the pips – but my Mary and BeBe both thought it was a Pau and asked to share it.
Yes, we did indeed order a Smargasbord today. Sharing all round is the only way to go in my reckoning. So we did!
Ollie and I also went double bold and hit dessert. I saw the words Champagne Poached Pears with Vanille Creme. The pear really was very delicious but OMG the Vanille Creme was out of this world. I am not a huge dessert guy as you know, but this little mound of white with Vanilla speckles was an inspiration. Double wow dessert moment for me this!!! LOVED it.
Ollie decides to go full-on heritage English and gets into the Traditional Apple Crumble with Vanilla Ice Cream. Looks sublime and so he says it tasted pretty damned good too. I loved the fact that this is served in a Chinese clay-pot Bowl. Yeah, that’s some fusion right there.
And then that was that. English House by Marco Pierre White – early Mother’s Day lunch was over. We left the rather chilly location and I tried to grab a departing photo. Yes, so chilly inside in fact that the lens would not stop steaming up outside. My lovely family post lunch. Happy Happy Mother’s Day to my beautiful wife, to BeBe and Mum’s all over Asia today.
They are located behind all that foliage at 28 Mohamed Sultan Rd, and you can call them at 6545 4055. I Chope’d.
English House by Marco Pierre White – early Mother’s Day lunch was a unique experience. The food is superb, the decor is out of this world. It really is ‘different’ and a must try. You just have to. If you are a foodie you’ll love it. If you are a hoarder you’ll love it. If you are English and miss home you’ll love it. It really is a must try experience. We’ll be back for certain. We just need a bonus cheque from work haha, and another special occasion. Actually, I don’t need an excuse. We will be back soon. Loved it and I am certain you would too. Chef Pierre White, it was brilliant thank you. 1st of its kind on Red Dot. Your staff are exceptional my friend. Folks, make sure you book as it was very busy this day we were there. Get yourself over, you never know you might meet the great man himself, as my mate Ian did. Even if you don’t you will absolutely – ENJOY!!!
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