BTM Mussels & Bar: Olivier Bendel’s Latest Restaurant at Duxton Hill
Ever heard of moules-frites? Considered the national dish of Belgium and likely where it originated, moules-frites is basically mussels paired with french fries. This dish is commonly found in restaurants in France and Belgium. And now in Singapore.
Deliciae Hospitality Management’s Latest F&B Concept
“Mussel Man” or serial restaurateur, Olivier Bendel’s latest F&B concept, BTM Mussels & Bar, has recently opened its doors at Duxton Hill. Standing for ‘Back to Mussels’, BTM is a tribute to Olivier’s first major foray into the food and beverage industry with the Léon de Bruxelles group in France which was the first moules-frites focused restaurant chain to open locations across France.
During his decade-long stint with the group, Olivier innovated and developed over 250 original mussel recipes. Mussels are high in omega-3 and most of the time, naturally sweet. This makes mussels very versatile for different flavour pairings. While there are currently seven flavours on the menu including a few Asian twists, Olivier plans to showcase more of his mussel recipes with a rotating menu.
Where Do the Mussels Come From?
BTM Mussels & Bar celebrates the best seasonal mussels from France and across Continental Europe. Currently, the kitchen uses live Bouchot mussels that are air-flown from Parcs Saint-Kerber in Cancale, Brittany, France. Bouchot is a traditional mussel farming technique where they are grown on ropes strung from wooden poles in the sea resulting in grit and barnacle-free mussels with full meats and a cleaner flavour.
The Food Menu BTM Mussels & Bar
Needless to say, the main menu at BTM Mussels & Bar revolves around the mussels. Each recipe is developed to bring out the natural sweetness of these gems of the sea. All mussels are served with French fries, and available in portions of 500gm (S$36++), 750gm (S$48++) and 1kg (S$58++) so its best to come hungry and even better to come with a group of friends or family.
Simplest of all the mussel recipes, Marinières is a classic French style of preparation consisting of White Wine, Butter, Parsley and Onion. The subtle flavours of the sauce allow the natural sweetness of the mussels to shine. This was personally my favourite.
For a tinge of smokiness, there is the Ardennaise, which is prepared with Mushrooms, Fresh Cream, White Wine, Butter, Parsley, Onion and Bacon. If you are a cheese lover, go for Au Roquefort which boasts the strong, savoury flavour of ‘the King of Blue Cheese’, along with Fresh Cream, White Wine, Butter, Parsley and Onion. Surprisingly, the strong cheese isn’t too overpowering and you can enjoy this dish without feeling like it’s too heavy.
There are also Asian-inspired flavours; Thailandaises is a Thai-inspired recipe of Chilli, Kaffir Lime Leaf, Lemongrass, White Wine and Coconut Milk; while Au Curry has a base of Red Curry, Cream, White Wine, Butter, Parsley and Onion.
Other than their signature moules-frites, BTM Mussels & Bar also offers comforting bar bites from France and the Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) region. The Gratinated Mussels (S$18++) baked with Garlic, Parsley Butter and melted Comté are absolutely divine.
Signatures include the Le Croq-Truffle (S$18++), a playful take on the ‘Croque Monsieur’, with fresh Black Truffle from France, Comté and Serrano Ham; and Tartes Flambées, or Alsatian oven-baked flatbreads ($24++ to $28++), which come in a variety of toppings such as Smoked Bacon and Caramelised Onion; and Escargots, Garlic, Parsley Butter and Onion.
The Drinks Menu BTM Mussels & Bar
Nothing complements the pristine sweetness of the mussels like a refreshing sip of beer or rosé. The beverage menu at BTM Mussels & Bar offers a selection of low alcohol by volume Summer Fruit-Infused Beers using tropical fruits such as Passionfruit, Raspberry, Lychee and Pomelo Grapefruit (Happy Hour $10++ / Regular $12++). I’m not much of a beer drinker but I was plesantly suprised by these fruit-infused beers that balanced out the bitterness of the beer hops with the sweetness of the fruits.
Additionally, the menu showcases a list of well-priced wine, champagne and beer that are handpicked by Olivier to pair with the mussels. Fruity Sangrias and other summer-loving cocktails such as Mojito and Mimosa are also available.
Address: 5 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089591
Truffled Porcini Croquettes
les tartes flambees
Escargots, Garlic, Parsley Butter and Onion
Thailandaises
Chilli, Kaffir Lime Leaf, Lemongrass, White Wine and Coconut Milk
au roquefort
Roquefort, Cream, White Wine, Butter, Parsley and Onion
waffle “btm”
Belgian Waffle with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Hot Chocolate Sauce and Chantilly Cream