There’s little accuracy in the portrayal of Parisian culture in Netflix’s Emily in Paris. But in a scene with her hot French neighbour, the marketing executive drops some rare, truthful wisdom: “I'm not somebody who can share a crêpe. I want the whole crêpe.”
Oui, Emily. That much we can all agree – good French-style pancakes are meant to be savoured. And short of jet-setting to France for a serving of warm crêpe, you can now sample an authentic slice over at newly opened French Fold.
The crêperie, located along Telok Ayer, is the latest venture by the Merci Marcel Group. And like the picture-worthy café, equal thought has been placed into sprucing up this shophouse space. Scandinavian fixtures make for a clean, modern interior, but for the best seats in the house, settle down under the skylight (perfect for photo-taking). The cosy nook is flanked by potted fauna, and a stunning wallpaper depicting a lush tropical landscape. By day, the place feels bright and airy, but come nighttime, dim lights bouncing off olive marble exudes a sexy, romantic vibe.
The menu, similarly, changes as the day passes. Depending on when you visit, a selection of galettes, savoury pancakes typically made using buckwheat flour, and sweet crêpes, will be available. To create its signature pancakes, flour is specially sourced from Brittany, then combined with organic eggs, French ingredients, and other fresh local produce. It’s best sampled in No.4 ($17), with classic fix-ins of ham ribbons, sautéed mushrooms, Comté cheese, and a sunny side up; or opt for the No.9 ($19), a hearty creation filled with Reblochon cheese, Bayonne ham, baby potatoes, pancetta, and white wine-pickled onions. For a local take on the French dish, there’s also the chicken satay-stuffed No.11 ($17) and masala chicken-inspired No.12 ($17).
Save space for some crêpes – the main highlight at French Fold. Choose to have these thin wheat flour pancakes served plain with butter ($7), or dressed up with fruits and ice cream from Birds of Paradise. Skip the long lines at the ice cream parlour’s Katong outlet; here, the crêpes can be enjoyed with icy scoops of hojicha sea salt, strawberry basil, and midnight gianduja. We like the version with hojicha ice cream, roasted buckwheat, and manuka honey ($10) for its deep, toasty profile; and an indulgent poached pear variant drizzled with bittersweet Valrhona chocolate.
Of course, you can’t dine at a French eatery without sipping on some wine. Bottles served here are exclusive to the Merci Marcel Group, and features a neat selection of red, white, and bubbly. Organic ciders ($14) are sourced from a drink maker in Normandy, and cocktails are concocted in collaboration with Proof and Company to create interesting options that include a refreshing cider-based Cider 75 ($17), and an easy-to-drink Normand Invasion ($19) with rum, cider, and ginger beer.