Le Jardin: Elegant French Cuisine High Above The Fort

Elegant French cuisine based on a simple philosophy. And at Le Jardin, the sheer elegance and simplicity of this philosophy is recreated in each and every dish...

Le Jardin is the culmination of chefs Jonas Ng and Hasset Go's apprenticeship with renowned French chef Gils Brault of Trois Gourmands, guided by the philosophy of authentic French cuisine made with the finest and freshest ingredients, slow-cooked and made from scratch for rich and rustic flavors.

Located at the Penthouse of W Fifth overlooking Bonifacio Global City, Le Jardin brings classic French cuisine using the very best ingredients. Inspired by the acclaimed Trois Gourmands by Gils Brault in Vietnam, chefs Jonas Ng and Hasset Go share not only the fine food but the philosophy of Giles Brault at Le Jardin. 

In true French style, Le Jardin boasts its very own wine library, housing an impressive collection from small production vineyards and chateaus in France, and stocked by region. Simply ask the Sommelier if you're looking for a particular vintage, and chances are, Le Jardin would have it on stock. 

Le Jardin also offers freshly baked and elegant French pastries, including delicate macarons and other indulgent treats. At Le Jardin, you can bring home the experience with their rich French pastries, packed in attractive boxes, for a well-deserved reward to yourself or as a special gift to friends. 

Each dish at Le Jardin is prepared in a traditional manner, with each ingredient carefully sourced and selected with care. Most of Le Jardin's offerings are prepared in-house, including freshly baked bread, charcuterie and sausages, and even the cheese. And I got sample all these in a dinner hosted by Le Jardin and Zomato... 

Dinner begins with a basket of bread, and there's just nothing quite like the buttery aroma of freshly baked bread. A bite of the soft, freshly baked bread, with a generous dab of butter, allows you to experience first-hand the culinary philosophy of Trois Gourmands' Gils Brault, using the best and freshest ingredients for each dish made from scratch and patiently cooked, baked and prepared slowly. At Le Jardin, dining becomes a full sensory experience, with its elegant yet rustic cuisine and fine wine enhanced by the formal yet casual decor and ambiance, matched by impeccable service.

An amuse bouche of Truffled Scrambled Eggs is then served next, with the delicate texture and flavor of the egg enriched with the nutty and indulgent truffle oil. Each spoonful simply melts in your mouth, followed by a burst of flavor from the truffle oil. It's a deceptively simple dish, but the combination of premium, farm-fresh eggs and ingredients, precision and timing takes this several notches higher. And that seems to be the recurring theme at Le Jardin, with each successive dish progressively taking you to a higher level.

Le Jardin offers three, four, and five course set menus, including hot and cold appetizers, a main dish, and dessert. For my first cold appetizer, or Entree Froide, I go for the Assiete De Trois Foie Gras, French duck liver served three ways, elegantly plated and presented. The trio included the classic foie gras on fresh greens, a foie gras terrine, and a crisp spring roll drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, each one presenting a different twist on the rich notes of the duck liver. The rich and distinct notes of the foie gras are given new dimensions of flavor, reflecting the kitchen's playful creativity, with the duck liver laid on a mesclun of greens for pure, clean, and classic flavors, the terrine with its unique texture, and the inventive spring roll with its contrasting flavors and texture, all with one main ingredient, in one dish.

Other appetizers included the Tartare De Homard Au Pamplemousse, a refreshing pomelo and lobster salad...

...and the Coquilles St. Jacques Poelees Puree De Pommes De Terre Aux Truffes, seared scallops with truffled mashed potatoes. Le Jardin offers eight hot appetizers, including a duck confit salad, house-smoked salmon, crab tartare, fresh tuna, black pudding and an egg and bacon salad, and six cold appetizers, such as sauteed prawns, lamb lasagna, cabbage-stuffed duck confit, and French Riviera-style fish soup. Each appetizer is meticulously prepared, from the rich sauces and other individual components, to the final plating. The chain of experiences that start when you enter Le Jardin and greeted with a smile, continue with each and every dish, building up to the main dish.

Pair your appetizer with a glass of refreshing and crisp white wine from Le Jardin's impressive wine list. The mild yet zesty lemon and lime notes of the Sauvignon Blanc perfectly balances the rich flavors of the various appetizers.

For my Entree Chaude or hot appetizer, I select the Escargot De Bourgogne, with Burgundy snails in garlic and parsley butter. Each snail is covered in the thick and rich butter and parsley sauce, and each bite releases even more buttery flavors to complement the mild and delicate flavors of the escargot. And don't forget to dip the bread in the butter and parsley filled compartments. Both cold and hot appetizers were simply perfect, and my dining experience at Le Jardin has all the makings of a memorable dinner.

A palate cleanser of Lemon Sorbet with Tomato Confit and Basil Oil is served next, before the mains. The refreshing sorbet delivers a fresh sharpness, with the acidic tartness of the lemon rounded by the rich notes of tomato and basil oil, and you're just about ready for the mains...

For my main dish, I go for the highly recommended Joue De Boeuf Et Foie Gras Poele, cinnamon braised beef cheeks topped with pan-seared foie gras. The fork tender and buttery soft beef cheeks simply melt in your mouth, with a richness that lingers long after the first bite. The thick and sweetly spiced sauce adds layers of flavors to the dish, and the minced garlic delivers a nutty hint and a mild sharpness to balance the richness of the dish. The creamy mashed potatoes and carrots add both texture and flavors to the dish, and the indulgent foie gras perfectly completes the dish. The bold, upfront flavors and pure richness of the dish give it a rustic and comforting vibe reminiscent of classic homestyle French cuisine, plated in a modern and elegant style.

Other main dishes include the Poitrine De Cochon, Farcie Au Foie Gras, or tender pork belly cooked sous-vide and stuffed with foie gras...

...the Pave De Thon Et Foie Gras Poele, Sauce Aux Turfees, grilled tuna steak with foie gras and truffle sauce...

...the Chevreuil De Venaison, seared venison with red wine and berry sauce...

...and the Souris D' Agneau, a slow braised lamb shank. Each main dish includes generous portions, with rich French-style sauces.

Pair your main dish with a glass of robust and full-bodied red wine to complement the rich flavors, and complete your dining experience at Le Jardin.

After your main course, indulge with Le Jardin's Artisan Cheese Plate, all made in-house at Le Jardin's kitchen, with Aux Truffles (top right, clockwise, with truffles), Ciboulette (chives), Nature (plain), Romarin (with rosemary), and the unique Cendre (Ash). The Aux Truffles and Ciboulette are both young cheeses aged for around two days, with sharper flavors, while the other three are aged for a week or more, with a firmer texture and milder flavors. I enjoyed the young cheeses with its clean and fresh flavors, punctuated by the distinct notes of the truffles and chives. The aged cheeses also delivered unique flavors, with the rosemary and ash. And yes, it's the ash covered aged cheese that seemed to be the most memorable. The chalky texture of the fine ash adds just a very faint whisper of smokiness, but one bite immediately tells you this is indeed new and different. The chewy texture of the cheese is further transformed by the ash, with its fine dusting of ash adding a unique bite and textural experience. Have another sip of red wine, and go for another slice...perfect.

Cap your French feast with some of Le Jardin's signature desserts, like the Profiterole Au Chocolate, a light choux pastry with chocolate and ice cream...

...the Fondant Au Chocolat, a moist chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream...

...the colorful Dessert de Gils, created by Gils Brault...

...the classic Creme Brulee', a velvety smooth vanilla bean custard with burnt sugar crust...

...the rustic Tarte Tatin, an inventive take on the equally classic French apple pie...

...or the Gateau Rouge Velours Mousse Au Chocolate Blanc, a rich and vibrant medley of chocolate flavors with its white chocolate mousse red velvet cake. Each decadent dessert tastes as good as it looks, and choosing just one can be a challenge. Le Jardin offers not only elegant French cuisine, from starters to mains and desserts high above The Fort, but a unique yet total sensory experience built around the culinary philosophy of Gils Brault. And chefs Jonas Ng and Hasset Go have successfully executed this philosophy in each and every dish at Le Jardin.

Le Jardin Manila is located at the Penthouse of W Fifth Building, 5th Avenue corner 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig or call 0917-817-6584 or email lejardinfrenchrestaurant@gmail.com for reservations and inquiries.

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