Latest news with #ThePlumpFrenchman
Business Times
17-07-2025
- General
- Business Times
Almost-cheap bistro classics at the Plump Frenchman
NEW RESTAURANT The Plump Frenchman #01-20 Guoco Midtown II 20 Tan Quee Lan Street Singapore 188107 Open for lunch and dinner Mon to Sat: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm; 5:30 pm to 11 pm. Lunch only on Sun: 11 am to 3 pm. SO WE know about not trusting a skinny chef, but it does feel like The Plump Frenchman is unapologetically thumbing its nose at thin Gallic men who can cook rather well. But we also understand that The Plump Frenchman sounds infinitely more appetising than, say, The Ozempic Frenchman or Intermittent Fasting Gent. A name like The Plump Frenchman takes you back to when butter was good and you could be fat and happy without anyone shaming you into a clean eating regimen. French chefs were rotund with twirly moustaches and appeared in cartoon form in Ratatouille. Bistros had red-checkered tablecloths and served French onion soup in tureens, while escargots swam in melted butter like assassins aiming for your arteries. The Plump Frenchman retains some of that retro DNA in its menu, but visually it has all the sterile charm of a tenant in a generic downtown mall. It tries to project intimate neighbourhood appeal, but at best it has chicken rotisserie chain vibes with a wine list and token wicker chairs thrown in. It might feel different at night, but in the blinding noonday heat, the casual eatery is a welcome reprieve for office workers thrilled to find an affordable, sit-down lunch alternative to their daily diet of salad wraps or economy rice. The Plump Frenchman is a Zouk Group initiative helmed by Robuchon alumnus Lorenz Hoja, and it answers the current call for bona fide cooking at an accessible price point. The food is more reliable than fancy, and not everything meets the mark, but you can't quibble with the pricing, and there are some genuine moments of delight. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Already, people have gotten the memo, with online reservations seemingly booked up a good two weeks in advance. Set lunches start at S$25 for a main and dessert, up to S$47 for four courses. Appetisers start at S$13 for anchovy toast, and a whole rotisserie chicken can be had for S$34 – granted, it has no pedigree, but it's still a far cry from the over S$100 you're used to paying for a French breed served in a cocotte with koshihikari rice on the side. Beetroot and feta cheese salad. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT Here, the mantra is no fuss, no muss – get fed and leave full. Service is friendly, if sometimes draggy and inexperienced. The S$35 three-course set lunch is your best deal, so long as you're not tempted by fancier proteins like salmon for an extra S$10 or S$15. Hefty chunks of tender beetroot feature in a too-tart salad to start, tossed with feta cheese, pickles and a bit of couscous. But it gets the appetite going. Spicy and smoky mini squids stuffed with chorizo sausage. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT A la carte chipirons (S$16) is a gem – effectively transporting you to a Spanish tapas bar with the paprika-infused smokiness of mini squid stuffed with chorizo and seared in chilli oil till nicely charred. Bouncy, with just enough heat to tickle your nose, this is a clear winner. Piping hot French onion soup. PHOTO: THE PLUMP FRENCHMAN Above shelves of colourful pickles is a blackboard of specials, including French onion soup (S$18). They warn you that it takes half an hour to prepare, so order it the moment you sit down. You understand why because the soup is served really hot. It's so hot you could go home and come back next Tuesday, and it would still be simmering at a lava-like temperature. It's not so much soup as it is a thick onion gravy, a potently rich brew hiding the real prize – a thick slab of toast already soaked and softened, with a heavenly layer of thick, melted cheese that's gooey and crunchy at the same time. Points off, by the way, for the slice of cold, powdery sourdough bread and butter that cost us S$8. Rotisserie chicken is a staple dish on the menu. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT The demi poulet (S$17) or half a rotisserie chicken – a rack of birds slowly turning in their oven is an entertaining sight – is perhaps more appealing to non-Asian palates who fancy well-cooked breast meat. We're on team thigh, especially with the chilli sauce that kicks things up a notch. Ratatouille and soft-cooked eggs. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT Meanwhile, our set lunch ratatouille is a hearty if predictable stew of eggplant, onions, tomatoes and red peppers, with two soft-cooked eggs coddled enticingly in the middle. Baked custard clafouti and pot au chocolat. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT Desserts are simple pleasures: a tiny pot au chocolate is a dreamy match of intense chocolate cream and a smooth vanilla layer on top; and clafouti (S$11) from the a la carte menu. This long-lost pudding is literally a hot favourite: wobbly baked custard studded with tart cherries and smothered with vanilla cream. Neither a drain on the wallet or intellect, The Plump Frenchman has no ambitions apart from feeding people well. If you ask us, it's a philosophy that's well worth the calories. Rating: 6.5
Time Out
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time Out
Zouk opens French restaurant The Plump Frenchman in Bugis with dishes from $13
Led by the former Executive Chef of a two-Michelin-starred French restaurant in Singapore Zouk Group is going French with its latest culinary venture, The Plump Frenchman, set to open on June 16 in Bugis this year. This 70-seater brasserie in Guoco Midtown marks the nightlife brand's first foray into French cuisine – it has previously helmed other F&B concepts like Korio, Here Kitty Kitty, RedTail, and others. The new bistro is headed by acclaimed chef Lorenz Hoja, who is most known for his stint as Executive Chef at the now-defunct L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon Singapore. In his time there, Hoja led the restaurant to clinch two Michelin stars in 2016 and 2017. With The Plump Frenchman, he's flipping the script on French dining, moving away from fine to fun French comfort food at wallet-friendly prices. 'We're bringing back the joy of slow meals, shared plates, and dishes made with real heart,' says Hoja. Photograph: The Plump Frenchman Expect rustic bistro classics like chipirons ($16) – baby squid stuffed with chorizo and herbs – and comforting bowls of onion soup ($18). The standout demi poulet rôtisserie ($17) sees slow-roasted chicken paired with sriracha and house-made pickles. Those looking for value can opt for the lunch and dinner sets, which range from $25 for a two-course set to $47 for four courses. Find out more about The Plump Frenchman here. The Plump Frenchman opens on June 16 at 20 Tan Quee Lan St, Guoco Midtown II, #01-20, Singapore 188107. READ MORE: Pizza Studio Tamaki Review: Tokyo's cult-favourite pizzeria opens in Singapore on June 10 Canopy opens a new pet-friendly outlet at Jurong Lake Gardens with views of lush foliage Two Singapore restaurants are named in the World's 50 Best Restaurants 51-100 extended list for 2025
Straits Times
09-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Zouk Group debuts French brasserie The Plump Frenchman in Bugis on June 16
The Plump Frenchman's whole rotisserie chicken with mesclun salad, housemade sriracha sauce and pickles. PHOTO: THE PLUMP FRENCHMAN SINGAPORE – In the face of rising costs and soaring food prices, one new restaurant looks set to offer hearty French classics that do not break the bank. Think $17++ for half a rotisserie chicken, mesclun salad, housemade sriracha sauce and pickles; $37++ for a coq au vin (French chicken stew), the most expensive item on the a la carte menu; and from $25++ for a daily two-course menu. All this from the 70-seat French brasserie The Plump Frenchman by lifestyle company Zouk Group. The eatery makes its debut on June 16 at integrated development Guoco Midtown ll in Bugis. It is helmed by a familiar face in Singapore's dining scene – Germany-born chef Lorenz Hoja, 44, who has been the group's chief culinary officer for the past 1½ years. Trained in French cuisine, Hoja spent more than a decade with the Joel Robuchon Group across London, Paris and Singapore. Here, he was the executive chef and part of the opening team at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon and Joel Robuchon Restaurant at Resorts World Sentosa in 2011. Under Hoja, the L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon received two Michelin stars in 2016 and 2017. After leaving Singapore in 2017, he worked in restaurants in Hong Kong and Paris. He returned to Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa from 2019 to 2021 as the cluster executive chef, then ventured to other properties in Switzerland. Prior to The Plump Frenchman's opening, The Straits Times gets a taste of several dishes on its menu. These include a la carte highlights such as Salade Nicoise ($24++), a generous portion of crisp lettuce with eggs, tuna, beans and potatoes; and Chipirons ($16++), tender chorizo-stuffed baby squid with parsley, garlic and olive oil. A blackboard menu of rotating specials will include dishes such as La Soupe A l'Oignon (18++), a rich French onion soup topped with crispy croutons and melted cheese. Set menus ($25++ to $47++) feature options like Beteraves, a salad of beetroot, feta cheese, pickles and dill; Saumon en Papillotte (add $10++), salmon cooked in parchment paper; and a one-person portion of roast chicken, with mashed potatoes and mesclun salad. Desserts – scooped and served tableside – include Tiramisu Citron ($11), a lemon-soaked spin on the classic tiramisu , drizzled with olive oil ; and Mousse Au Chocolat ($14), a rich chocolate mousse. A wall of wine bottles , which Hoja calls a 'wine shrine', offers labels priced from $14++ a glass and from $70++ a bottle. On creating The Plump Frenchman, Hoja says: 'We want to show good French food at low cost made with local ingredients. I'm incredibly excited to make feel-good French food more accessible in Singapore , food that's soulful, satisfying and rooted in tradition.' He adds that he is no longer a fan of long-drawn fine-dining meals and prefers to have 'a good hour-long meal that doesn't break the bank'. The Plump Frenchman adds to a slew of new eateries at Guoco Midtown II, which is also home to Chinese restaurant Xiang Ju and home-grown brands Jew Kit Hainanese Chicken Rice and Kopifellas Cafe. Others opening soon at the building include Chinese restaurant Pang Pang, Korean restaurant Kong Madam and salad chain The Daily Cut. The Plump Frenchman marks a shift for the Zouk Group, which is better known for its nightlife offerings. It is now focusing on expanding its food and beverage empire with self-owned brands such as cocktail bar Here Kitty Kitty and social gaming bar RedTail, both in Clarke Quay. It also owns the franchise for American burger joint Five Guys at Plaza Singapura and Ion Orchard. Zouk Group's London-born chief executive Andrew Li, 42, says The Plump Frenchman's central location was initially meant to be another Five Guys outlet. Along the way, plans changed to create a concept with Hoja, and the Bugis unit was split to house a second outlet of popular sandwich brand Korio, which is slated to open in July. Korio's other outlet is at IOI Central Boulevard Towers in the Central Business District. Korio, of which the group is a majority shareholder, will open in Malaysia by the end of 2025. More concepts are in the pipeline, with another small sandwich shop in the works. Hoja does not rule out moving back to fine dining in the future, but says: 'For me now, fine dining is about the quality of the ingredients and the preparation. The looks don't matter to me. If we go back to fine dining, there will be no tablecloth and silverware. It isn't necessary. It is on us to redefine what fine dining means now.' The Plump Frenchman at 01-20 Guoco Midtown ll, 20 Tan Quee Lan Street launches on June 16. It opens from 11.30am to 2.30pm and 5.30 to 10pm (Mondays to Saturdays), and 11.30am to 3pm (Sundays). For more information, go to @tpf_sg on Instagram. Eunice Quek is STFood online editor at The Straits Times. She covers all things trending in the food and beverage scene. Check out ST's Food Guide for the latest foodie recommendations in Singapore.
AsiaOne
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
New French restaurant concept by Zouk Group to open in Bugis, Lifestyle News
Whether you're a French food connoisseur or just a foodie in general, you'll be glad to hear that there's going to be another option to choose from. Zouk Group announced that it will be launching its first-ever French restaurant concept The Plump Frenchman in Bugis on the week of June 16, the group said in a press release on Thursday (June 5). According to Andrew Li, CEO of Zouk Group, the restaurant's launch is something that he has always envisioned doing. "As a longtime French food enthusiast myself, I've always dreamed of creating a place that blends all the things I love about French cuisine and brasserie culture with the energy of our Zouk brand. It's wholesome, playful and full of personality," he stated. The 70-seater brasserie will focus on serving classic French comfort food. The menu is conceptualised by Zouk Group's Chief Culinary Officer Lorenz Hoja — who was the executive chef at French gourmet restaurant L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Singapore. During his time there, he had helped to secure two Michelin stars in 2016 and 2017. "French cuisine doesn't have to be rigid or overly refined, it should be delicious, generous, and deeply comforting. At The Plump Frenchman, we're bringing back the joy of slow meals, shared plates, and dishes made with real heart," the chef stated. Some examples of items on the menu include the Demi Poulet Rotisserie ($17++), a slow roasted chicken dish, and Chipirons ($16++), a baby squid dish stuffed with chorizo, parsley and garlic in olive oil and lemon. For dessert, there's the Tiramisu au Citron ($11++), a classic Italian dessert with an innovative touch — swapping traditional coffee for lemon as the main flavour. From Monday to Saturday, the restaurant will offer Menu de Canut, a curated selection of set menus. The selection will include a two-course set (one main and one dessert) at $25++, three-course set (one starter, one main and one dessert) at $35++, and four-course set (two starters, one main and one dessert) at $47++ and is available from 11.30am to 2.30pm and 5.30pm to 9pm. The new restaurant's interior is inspired by retro French aesthetics. Zouk Group is also behind the launch of artisanal sandwich and donut shop Korio and the Five Guys franchises across Singapore and Malaysia. Address: Guoco Midtown II, 20 Tan Quee Lan Street #01-20, Singapore 188107 Opening hours: 11.30am to 2.30pm and 5.30pm to 10pm (Mon to Sat), 11.30am to 3pm (Sun) [[nid:716572]]
