Harvest Espresso has changed its menu to respect the produce in season and the winter style of dining. Their approach is the perfect way of dining where everything is ripe, and full of flavour. New on its menu was a hearty braised beef, a crispy skin salmon and a decadent orange dessert.
Last winter, they served a beef dish that was slightly underwhelming i.e. the beef pie that did not really tickle my fancy. But how about this Winter's slow braised cheeks with celeriac puree, PX and remoulade salad? To start, it was a very hearty combination on the plate complimented by a sensational plating which gave it a hint of sophistication. Love the contrast of the shiny dark-ish brisket and the remoulade salad at the top!
In essence, the braised beef could have easily be the best winter dish but there were a few slip ups starting with the tougher than expected beef cheek indicating that more braising time was required. I liked the sauce but found it needing more inspiration beyond the rich PX flavour. I wanted a sauce combining perfectly caramelised root vegetables and some other element of sweetness to drive the dish home as the PX sauce had a noticeably bitter note to it. The beef cheeks were nice but it was no heaven.
The next dish was the Crispy Salmon Fillet with braised leeks, butter lettuce jus, toasted buckwheat, and Hon Shimeji mushrooms.
Another dish which reaped the benefits of the slow cooking process. This was the best fish dish Harvest Espresso has ever served to me. It was the perfect fish dish with the salmon skin perfectly crispy. Add the plump and juicy mushrooms along with the buttery melt-in-your-mouth leeks and I was in heaven. A dish like this is a dish that does not want to make you put your fork and knife down. Just eat eat eat and eat!! How can one forget the finer details of leak ash which was a nice touch which gave a hint of smokiness. It was very mild though! Probably due to subdued sensations attributed to the winter chill!
The classic mushroom omelette is a dish that never grows old with the season.
Its creamy centre, and generous ingredients make it an all time staple. Noms!
The sweet ending of the meal is none other than Harvest Espresso’s steamed Mandarin Pudding. Harvest Espresso's Mandarin Pudding has made its way across the whole Instagram for the period I was away at work.
Thankfully, it lived up to the hype with the bright orange sponge coming out super light and fragrant. Its accompaniment of toasted muesli, jelly, subtle coconut cream and earl grey crumble was a combination where you get all these little flavours working together to give texture, flavour and fragrance. This was an absolute stunner of a dish. This Mandarin Pudding from Harvest Espresso was loved by all. Smashing!!
No conclusion needed here. All you need to do is visit Harvest Espresso this weekend!
WenY
