As a retail adage goes, you know you’ve made it when you cracked into a prime Orchard Road shopping mall. That’s what chef-owner Mohamed Al-Matin has done with the latest bricks-and-mortar reincarnation of Le Matin Patisserie close to three years after his French pastry boxes became a social media hit.
Opening on 1st February, Le Matin Patisserie is calling ION Orchard home after two brief pop-up stints in Paragon and Robinson Road. Matin, who was the pastry chef at the now-defunct Restaurant Andre and pastry sous chef at the acclaimed Noma restaurant in Copenhagen, has bigger plans.
More than turning out viennoiseries, the homegrown chef is expanding his repertoire to bistro fare and desserts. The 30-seat restaurant will serve brunch and dinner, on top of pastries and cakes. His signature pastries such as kouign-amann, canele and wagyu and bone marrow sausage roll will be on the menu too.
With all hands on deck on Le Matin Patisserie, his online shop, where it all started, will cease its operations. He is also in the midst of looking for a larger central kitchen space to replace his current one at Raeburn Park.
Taking pride of place at Le Matin Patisserie is a counter that houses more than 20 types of pastries and cakes. New to the pastry menu is the mango & macadamia pain suisse, a sourdough-based croissant filled with macadamia paste, mango, yuzu and caramelised white chocolate. New confections include a roasted hay and pecan tart and sake lees and macadamia choux bun. Prices of the pastries remain largely similar to those on the online store.
Ahead of its opening, The Peak attended a preview of Le Matin Patisserie and picked our favourites.