The Drunken Farmer has settled down in Stanley Street, taking over premises of Common Man Stan at night. In a creatively bold move, I could not recognize the same café I had been to for brunch a few months ago.
With white shades pulled down over its walls, snippets from “I Love Lucy” and “Charlie Chaplin” flashed through the night. Psychedelic colours of light adorned the walls, the entire transformation a brilliant idea.
This is the style of reinvention needed in every industry as we buckle down to using as few resources as possible, for different outcomes.
Helmed by Chef Paul who set up the amazing Tiong Bahru Bakery diner menu and a fermentation expert, Drunken Farmer is a must-do if you are a sourdough lover. Where can you boast of a 159 year-old starter to get the process going?
An advocate of gut health you can be assured that all establishments in the Spa Esprit Group look after diners well. To complement the amazing food churned out at the Drunken Farmer is an exciting array of organic, biodynamic list of more than 80 sustainably farmed wine labels.
I would recommend a food variety night with a bunch of friends which would afford you the ability to try as many dishes as possible. In snack plate sizes, the Sourdough Karaage was as expected. Crunchy crust coated with juicy, well marinated chicken.
With the sourdough bread so deliciously baked, baskets emptied as they were laid on the table. Who cares about carbs tonight? This was great with the house-churned butter, pickles and Spanish mackerel rillette.
I love the simple, clean lines of dishes served at The Drunken Farmer. Heirloom tomatoes and Iberico platters may seem run of the mill but not here. When fresh herbs come from the Open Farm Community’s garden and other ingredients are sourced with care, it is no wonder that the food tastes so good.
Pizza with sourdough bases are not to be missed. I tried the Margherita which won every award in my book. The dollops of goats cheese were added to the pizza after it was baked, to allow for the soft, creamy texture to be retained.
Dining at the Drunken Farmer gave way to having all my senses nourished. From music, movies, good food and wine, the extra special touch was that wines paired with every dish were perfectly curated by Eduardo.
A detailed explanation of how each wine was made lent a special touch to the entire experience. I also have a preference for limited menus where there are not too many options to choose from.
This way I could try almost everything on the menu if I frequented the Drunken Farmer in a party of 8 pax. The space is intimate and personal. Perfect to book out for a small event.
With only two desserts on the menu, I knew Chef Paul would make them both worth my while. True to form the sourdough waffles with a flaxseed tuille and brown sugar salted caramel was served with a scoop of ice cream.
A definite must as the warm, chewy texture of the waffle melted the ice cream on my spoon as I devoured it. A fusion of flavours and clash of hot/cold certainly made me crave for another spoon which I promptly helped myself to. Discipline? Totally non-existent!
The dark chocolate mousse made from 70% guanaja chocolate blended well with the Maldon sea salt and orange zest. A perfect way to end the night. A taste of bitter chocolate lingering on my palette.
All up a highly recommended meal, one I would recommend to everyone, even if you just visited to have the sourdough bread.
Kudos to the Spa Esprit Group for creating yet another option for diners to frequent, knowing that health is a big consideration. I eat with relish throwing caution to the wind as my gut sings and my heart is happy.
a. 11 Stanley Street, Singapore 068730
