The last time I was here was for dinner in October to celebrate 2 person’s birthday. It was the Autumn menu which I had the photos ready but did not get to blog it yet. That was a dinner so it’s a bit dark and it was not nice to ‘flash’ when other diners are wanting to have a nice meal.
This meal we had this time showcase the seasonal harvests of Autumn/Winter. If you fancy something you see, the menu will be available till the end of first quarter of 2014 or the change of season. I love how Chef de Cuisine Julien Royer transform the produce from his native France into something so beautiful and delicious.
When you dine here, it’s like a theatrical experience. You are not only feasting with your mouth but your eyes as well. Not only the food, but the service staff who brings the ‘acteur et actrices’ out before they are served to you. The Chef, his Sous Chefs and other staff together with the service staff makes your show enjoyable.
First thing is the set. This theatrical set is on the top of Swissôtel The Stamford which gives you a really awesome view. You can see the sea and on a clear day, we see all the way to the Bukit Timah. (yes, you can see the telecoms towers there). During the day, you see the buildings, during the night, you see the beautiful lights.
The theatre performance starts with these petit delights. Don’t you think it’s harder to make this tiny things compared to big ones? Mini samosas, black sponge and little snacks on mini pegs.
The signature lentil humus and the lentil crisps. Something to munch while the show is starting.
Let the texture from the humus and chestnut paste and crisps entertain your palate.
Amuse Bouche – Cepes Sabayon and Mushroom Tea
As theatre performances changed props, the Cepes Sabayon with mushroom tea is now served in a contemporary styled wooden cup. It’s a nice change from the double wall glass.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8fYoMxv8KI]
See how the cup foams up as the service staff pours the mushroom tea in.
The service staff will then let you know how to eat it. Oh, I love that piece of porcelain.
It’s a soup with lots of different textures and a fragrance that will leave you wanting more.
The aroma of the dried mushroom made into tea and the walnuts, julienne dill, etc
No, it’s not a French version of teh tarik.
As I showed the wife this photo, she said, it’s the same gentle lady!
I can’t remember, as I only remember the food I ate.
Though it’s tempting to try out every type of bread in the bread box. Save your appetite. Just take 1 or 2. It’s really nice though these bread.
Warm and aromatic.
The beetroot collection is popular! It was available if you went for the late autumn season when it was going into winter. I know some of you can’t stand beetroot, but I am a fan of it. Every few days I will be having beetroot juice, but what I have is just juice.
This is beetroot done in so many ways. Can you count the items and see how many different ways it can be prepared? Just imagine all the work that goes into it!
I know some of you can’t be convinced to have it. Tell the wait staff. They can arrange something for you. I saw in horror a man in the next table just took a look and smiled at it that’s all. That guy was obviously there to accompany the quite pregnant wife who probably wants to be pampered.
There are also different kinds of beetroot, these are from France and what I am still as intrigue is the golden beetroot. You can taste each character in this scene as you like. The beetroot meringue slowly melts in your mouth as it whispers to you. The beetroot gel sheet sticks to you as your tongue antagonize with it and you win finally. The sharp screeching soprano voice of the coulis scratches your tongue. The cool dude the sorbet gently gives a soothing baritone voice. There’s the burratta artigiana and honeycombs that joins in the chorus as well.
The winter garden platter once again shows what Chef Royer has in his heart. He once again showcases the forgotten vegetables. There’s interesting vegetables that I have not seen. We got a chance to talk to Chef Royer and asked him what that spiral thing on the corner. Is it some kind of shell or something? He said it was ‘Crosnes’ in French. Texture is like a cross between jicama and potato. It’s crunchy!
Jerusalem and Chinese artichokes, parsnips, chervil, parsley roots are cooked separately in different methods and then assembled on this beautiful plate. In between these vegetables are smoked ham from Auvergne that gives it a hint of saltiness. Parsley sponges, purées of parsnip and white chocolate holds them together with artichokes, almond and sweet chestnut.
After the Garden scene comes the intermission. Chatters amongst the 5 of us dining there. The gossips and latest news etc.
55′ Rosemary Smoked Organic Egg
After the intermission, the theatre play continues with the grand entrance of smoke and smell. The service staff came to the table with holding on to a wooden box with sous vide egg cooked for 55 minutes.
The narration follows of how the egg was prepared. These are organic New Zealand eggs that been prepared to a temperature just before the egg yolk coagulates and hardens.
The egg is to be poured into a double glassed bowl that contains ratte potato puree and chips, chorizo iberico and crispy buckwheat.
‘Plonk’ as the play continues in front of you. Yes, audience nowadays applause with the clicking of their smartphones. Some capture the moments with by the video mode.
Tada, we show off what we just watch on Facebook and Instagram and tempts your friend to come as well. They all respond with the #bojio hashtag.
The moment it’s in front of you. The imaginary music at the back of your head plays Celine Dion’s “All my myself, not sharing it, all by myself……”
Just before the service staff leaves, they lift up the double glass bowl gently to let the smoked rosemary scent out.
Chefs wannabe, please don’t play with smoke at home.
This dish has always been my favourite and ahem, I think I can replicate this at home now after so many tries.
The curtain rolls up for the next scene and it’s a nicely grilled Atlantic Brill served on top of a lovely piece of Kagoshima Kurobuta Pork Belly. It was a lovely dish, but I prefer the co-star the pork belly below it. If memory serves me right, there was very delicious crispy pig’s ear!
Not Bresse Chicken but Bresse Pigeon Hay Roasted. My friends and I celebrated someone’s birthday and had this dish too. The Instagram I posted brings back memories.
It’s best served medium rare, but if you are vary of ‘blood’, tell them.
As they open up the oval Staub cast iron pot, the whiff of smell of the roasted pigeon will just makes you salivate. The scene closes and you wait for it to be cut up and served to you.
I am going to try plating my food like this next time!
So artistic isn’t it?
It is served with barley, winter mushroom, vin jaune.
If ‘Moulin Rouge’ is not your preference show, tell them earlier.
For those who likes red meat. This looks beautiful to you?
Next scene was the ‘love-hate’ relationship scene.
The props were beautiful. Artisan brie was brought out to be presented to you.
“I have no love for cheese. None at all. I wonder if I will ever love it.”
The character in the show saying that is me.
“I have a soft spot for ice cream. Anytime of ice cream.”
The same character is also me.
What more, this was Truffle Ice Cream. Not some scented chemical 2,4-Dithiapentane you get in many restaurant’s truffle fries. This is the real thing. If you missed the Truffle Promotion at Prego recently, you can still get this ice cream here!
“Once you tasted this, you will always remember it. One can never get enough of this.”
That’s the Artisan Brie served with toasted poilâne.
This is the next scene. The palate cleansing scene to prepare you for the final scene.
Mandarin orange sorbet, grapefruit and pomelo.
This scene was brief but has a great impact. The characters in the show are but a few left.
In every theatre show, there’s always a lady whose a tart. The final character in the show who was initially showed her cold, selfish side wanted to protect herself from evils and hate against her.
She finally found the love of her life, a chocolatier and they fell in love. It was a nice ending to the lunch time show at Jaan.
The director of the show, Chef Julien came out with our standing ovation as he carried his espuma and squirted chocolate foam to this dish that’s full of taste and texture.
It was a chocolate tart with chocolate ice cream, sponge and bits of nuts and caramel, shaved chocolate.
The show ends with a postlude.
Chocolate pops. Ice cream inside a chocolate coating with a fresh rosemary scent as the dry ice ‘smoke’ whiffs around.
This thing you see here, will give you a surprise!
There’s pop rocks in this chocolate and nut surprise.
This Autum/Winter seasonal menu will end this quarter. If you want to try them you got to make a booking soon. There are different menus and sets or a surprise menu that my friends and I have tried before. Yes, we did pay quite a bit, but you need to use the ‘right cards’ to get discounts.
The menu and pricing are all available at http://www.jaan.com.sg/
Update (25 Feb 2014):
JAAN is one of the 8 restaurants in Singapore to be on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2014, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. It ranks 17th. Details at http://www.theworlds50best.com/asia/en/
JAAN
Swissotel The Stamford
2 Stamford Road,
Singapore 178882
Tel: +65 6837 3322
Hours:
Lunch – 12 pm to 2.30 pm, Sunday and Public Holiday closed.
Dinner – 7 pm to 10 pm, daily. Public Holiday closed.
Disclosure: This was a hosted session.