Jones the Grocer

now that i'm back, it's time to plough through my list of singapore food places to go ;) there have been so many new places popping up while i was away! can't wait to try them all ^^ brunch, tea, lunch/dinner etc :D excited! 

well, so jones the grocer isn't exactly new, and while i've heard many times that it's good but overpriced, i just had to try it for myself haha. and yup, i came to the same conclusion :p it's good, but just expensive. probably not worth coming back for when i can get better food elsewhere for cheaper (: i liked the atmosphere there though! it was good that we went just before lunch, and i guess because it's in ion, and the restaurant was pretty big, it's just nice to chill there with friends because it doesn't get too crowded. 

the breakfast menu at jones was pretty limited to the standard dishes, and many of them were pretty ex! so i went for the safe option - eggs benedict ($20) with spinach and smoked ham. i was initially disappointed when it arrived because it looked so much smaller than classic bacon & eggs ($18, below)! it really seemed quite pathetic that i received such a small portion for that kind of price. not very worth it at all. but the good thing was that the taste made up for it (: the spinach was surprisingly flavourful, something i didn't expect, and the dish achieved a delicate balance of tastes that was just right. i liked how the egg was done perfectly, with the yolk flowy - like how a proper poached egg should be. and it was surprisingly filling despite it being a single egg! 

the classic bacon & eggs was a really huge portion! and i really liked the roast tomato that came with it! super juicy and sweet - just like the italian ones ^^ (gosh i miss those so much!)

the spanish baked eggs ($21) was pretty well done too! i really enjoyed the 'broth' or whatever you call that thing in the pot haha. it was laced with interesting spices such as chorizo, red peppers and tomato relish that gave it a robust piquancy.

Jones the Grocer

ION Orchard #04-14

Tel.: +65 6884 5597

Daily 10am-10pm 

Salt Grill

Take the lift up to the 55^th storey of ION Orchard, and you will be blown away by the magnificent landscape that greets you the moment you step into Salt Grill. The view is but a prelude to the meal to come, and you can enjoy the subtle changes in atmosphere over the dinner, as sunlight gives in to a comfortable buzz at night. 

A portion of bread is served to start your meal, and it comes with a variety of condiments that excites you for the meal ahead. Besides the typical butter and balsamic vinaigrette, we urge you to try Salt Grill’s special dukkah spice. A mixture of sesame seeds, bits of nuts and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, this dip is lightly appetizing and carries a nutty fragrance that attracts you with an understated elegance. Dip your bread into the olive oil, followed by the spice, and you will be surprised what a delightful combination this is! Pair this with a glass of champagne, to have a simple, yet outstanding, opening to your dinner.

A good way to kick-off your meal proper would be to go with the sashimi of kingfish. The beautiful cut of sashimi is firm and plump, and ginger smeared over the fish gives it a very refreshing zing. The creamy goats feta cheese atop it complements the sashimi to provide a different dimension to the dish.

Another interesting appetizer would be the ‘glass’ Sydney crab omelette in a miso mustard broth. Luscious, fluffy crabmeat is lovingly wrapped within the soft, creamy omelette. It is bathed in a broth that has a unique tangy flavour and you will get a kick from the chilli shreds that garnish the egg.

Try the restaurant’s signature dishes for the mains – the barramundi one of the most richly flavoured fish you can ever get. Laced with the creamy aroma of butter, the barramundi is very tender, with a slight burnished taste. The cherry tomatoes add a lovely sweetness to complement the meat.

The beef tenderloin in pumpkin puree is absolutely delicious! Retaining its innate juices with a medium doneness, it has a wonderful softness and practically melts in your mouth. Bringing together both ends of the taste spectrum, the pumpkin has a lightly sweet perfume, which is contrasted with the umami essence of the sauce. Nuts, leaves and yuzu provide an uplifting punch to balance the dish.

For a sweet end to your dinner, we recommend the chocolate three ways – chocolate mousse, fondant and jelly. The fondant stole the show with its warm moist cake, mouth-wateringly rich inside, which encases molten lava that sends you right to chocolate heaven. This is not to be missed.

For a meal that leaves you absolutely satisfied, without an uncomfortably stuffed feeling, Salt Grill does this with perfection. And you definitely can’t say no to this gorgeous ambience!

*This is an article i wrote for reserveit.sg (: Try out their online reservation service, and you can check out more articles there!

Salt Grill

ION Orchard Level 55 & 56

Tel.: +65 6592 5118

Mon-Sun: 11.30am - 3pm

6pm-11pm

Osia

There is a hush when you step into Osia. The hustle and bustle from the FestiveWalk outside subsides into an oasis of serenity in the restaurant, where time seems to slow down, beckoning you into a relaxing, deliciously paced meal. Settle down in one of the cozy window seats for some privacy; or if you’re feeling bold, take a seat in front of the interactive open kitchen to witness some live culinary action.

The starters took up an entire page on the menu, making it a mind-boggling, but happy problem for us in deciding what to order. A twist on the traditional bread basket, we began with a plate of the Stone Hearth flat bread in two flavours: macadamia pesto and truffled Kalamanta olive ($11 each). The handmade bread is fluffy and pillow soft, and it comes with a serving of homemade sauce on the side, which changes on a daily basis. On our visit, we had the macadamia ricotta sauce that came in a tube – kudos for the unique presentation! The sauce brought out the essence of the bread beautifully, especially that of the macadamia pesto bread, which was creamy and studded with macadamia nuts. The other option fared well too, with each bite releasing the aroma of the olives within.

Highly recommended was the seafood ice experience ($36), and who could resist it? A sensational paring of seafood and frozen cocktails to produce a wonderful combination of complementary tastes that tantalizes your taste buds. It comes in a set of six “test-tubes”, each containing a distinctive concoction that excites you and builds your anticipation for the next. Carrot ‘Pokka’ ice with lobster, Calamansi mojito ice with diver scallop, Quandong orange Campari ice with amaebi shrimp, Pineapple coconut ice with southern blue fin tuna, Sourz apple ice with Tasmanian salmon trout and Lychee martini with oyster. Each tube encases a piece of seafood that holds a whiff of the ocean’s freshness, atop a bed of iced cocktail that refreshes your palate for the meal ahead.

We had three appetizers in total! The third was the Butter poached lobster ($40) that was a ravishingly juicy, bouncy, meaty lobster encased in a sheet pasta and creamy buttery sauce. It comes with fermented bean which adds an asian dimension to the dish, a mild saltiness that contrasts with the sweet/sour mango salsa.

For the mains, try the Red Sea Bream. A slab of plump fish with skin seared to a crisp, it is served with lemongrass cous cous and curried cockles that are mouth-wateringly fragrant.

The Grainge black angus beef tenderloin ($68) was cooked in reduced port wine, with the alcohol evaporated, leaving a savoury flavour that melts into the tender meat. It sat atop a chestnut risotto that was bursting with the aroma of madeira truffle sauce and texture of mushrooms and bacon.

No matter how full you are, you have to try the dessert! We could not stop enthusing about how absolutely perfect it was! The Valrhona hot chocolate soup was simply the best way to end the meal. Luxuriously dark, rich, molten chocolate that begs you to lick the bowl clean, paired with a stimulating black peppered ice cream to balance the sweetness of the chocolate, this dessert is a legend in the making.

*This is an article i wrote for reserveit.sg (: Try out their online reservation service, and you can check out more articles there!

Osia

FestiveWalk, Resorts World Sentosa

Tel.: +65 6577 6560

Lunch: 12pm - 3pm (Daily)

Dinner: 6pm – 10pm (Sun–Wed)

Dinner: 6pm – 10pm (Thu-Sat)