French food? Yup, French food! Have we ever dined at a French restaurant? Hmm… maybe once, way back in our Jakarta days. Was it good? Yes! Was it expensive? A little. So, is French food considered expensive? Well, not all. But, is French food good? YES! Alright, alright, after a couple of years since opening its one and only branch here in the Philippines, we finally have had the chance to EATSperience the famous French restaurant, La Mère Poulard in SM Aura Premier. Find out our thoughts about the place, the price, and especially, the food in this edition of EATSplorations!
La Mère Poulard – SM Aura Premier!
Located at the Upper Ground Floor of the SM Aura Premier, La Mère Poulard brings a lot of class, technique, and flavor to the Manila food scene. It looks mighty fine and intimidating from the outside but little do people know, including us, that their food is not that expensive. Yup, you read that right, not that expensive. Unbelievable? Keep on reading.
Open kitchen. This kind of set up is probably the best set up to showcase what happens behind each and every dish that they serve. It’s not just about the food, it’s about what goes into it. The technique, the showmanship, it’s part of what you pay for, too.
The place was lovely. It’s what we expected it to be and more. It’s classy but just right. Not really intimidating at all. That’s why it always pays to try things out first. You’ll never know if you will like it or not until you try. Alright?
After a quick look and a few snaps, it’s finally time to order! Thanks to their servers, we were able to easily order some of their recommended items. The bestsellers. It’s finally time to try what La Mère Poulard is all about. It’s time to eat!
Puff Omelette with Pan Seared Foie Gras and Truffle Risotto (Php 650)
Of course, we have to try what they are famous for, the Puff Omelette! Let’s get it out of the way, yup, it is probably one of the most expensive omelettes we have ever had. Was it worth it? We believe, yes. We found it really tasty. The omelette was puffed up and cooked to perfection. Light, airy, and well seasoned. The foie and the truffle risotto were just cherries on top of a perfectly executed dish. If you find it a bit over your budget, we understand. However, you might want to try it out first. It might just be your cup of tea.
Beef Caldereta in Burgundy Style with Steamed Rice (Php 450)
Now that looks familiar! Caldereta. Filipino but cooked with French technique. Burgundy style of cooking is simply using red wine when you cook. Cooking with red wine helps break down the meat. It helps tenderize the meat so that we can all enjoy it more by chewing less. Got it? And yes, this Beef Caldereta dish of La Mère Poulard is probably one of the best and had the most tender pieces of beef we have ever had. We’re not joking. That’s why it has steamed rice on the side. You will really need it. Filipino food, French technique. Awesome combination.
Prawn and Scallop Normandy Rice (Php 550)
As if the Caldereta and rice weren’t good enough. We had this beautiful dish right after and we were still blown away. Creamy rice with plump and juicy prawns with fresh and sweet scallops. Every spoonful was filled with so much bliss! Definitely, a must try when you dine at La Mère Poulard!
Linguine Bolognese (Php 150)
Of course, pasta with meat sauce for the little one! At 150 pesos, this bowl of pasta was packed with so many noodles, meat, and flavor. We were so surprised at how affordable this dish was. Our baby loved it so much, too! Look at the next photo if you don’t believe us.
She loved it, right?
Homemade Ice Cream on French Toast (Php 250)
Now let’s move on to dessert. A meal will not be complete if there’s nothing to satisfy our sweet tooth. Well, that’s for us. Anyway, La Mere Poulard’s Homemade ice cream on French toast was divine. Smooth and creamy ice cream with strong notes of butter, placed on top of a soft and light french toast. And the caramel drizzle blended both components really well. A must-try!
Dulce de Leche Religieuse (Php 200)
A known French pastry, of course! French food is all about sophistication and class. And the choux pastry in this dessert was perfectly executed. Sandwiched in these two choux pastry cases was a creamy but not too sweet Dulce de Leche filling, topped with Dulce de Leche drizzle. A cup of coffee is a good pair for this!
One of La Mere Poulard’s goal is to introduce to Filipino diners that French food need not be intimidating. That it is enjoyable to eat while not hurting one’s budget. They use local produce which makes the prices of their items pretty affordable. And it’s not just that, the flavors are on point too. It was an amazing first EATSperience for us and we will definitely come back to try their other dishes. That’s it for this edition of EATSplorations, ’till next time!
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La Mère Poulard
Upper Ground Floor, SM Aura Premier, C5 Road Corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
+63917 580 0137
Operating Hours:
10:00am to 10:00pm (Mon-Sun)
Budget: 1500 php for two
EATSplorations 
Ah, this one! You have to admire the wait staff’s uniforms, too!
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