Everyone has a complicated relationship with Sundays. The last day of the week is our last shot at fun before the week restarts, and we’re back to our mundane days chained to an office desk or study table. If you’ve been looking for ways to spice up your Sundays and indulge yourself before Monday’s gloom consumes you, you’re in luck. Introducing: Shangri La’s Origin Grill’s Charming Sunday brunch!
I don’t know about you, but brunch might just be my favourite meal of the day. You get to sneak in some extra Z’s – and God knows you needed that after the long week – all while enjoying a comforting meal. If you ask me, brunch is a meal you can’t miss, especially on the weekends! Origin Grill agrees too, which is why they’ve decided to treat us to an extravagant culinary line-up to brighten up our Sundays.
Now, I don’t mess around when it comes to brunch. So you can trust me to give you an unfiltered and completely unbiased review of our experience. From the ambience down to the food, I’ll take you step by step through the motions of the art that is brunching.
Ambience
It goes without saying that brunch is a multi-faceted meal. Unlike other meals, brunch goes beyond the food and extends itself to encompass the atmosphere as well. The meal is synonymous with quaint cafes where you and your company can stew for hours. Origin Grill certainly did not miss the mark.
It also doesn’t hurt that they’re located in one of Singapore’s most acclaimed hotels, Shangri La. The high ceilings and arches that loom over you are reminiscent of the Italian Baroque period, making it feel like you’ve just been transported to a restaurant in the South of Italy. The wood furniture with the sprinkle of gold decor made the interior feel like returning to a cosy yet elegant home.
Small Plates
Let’s start with the small stuff first, the first of which is oysters! Admittedly, it’s quite rare to find oysters being served at brunch, but what’s brunch without a bit of indulgence, right? Served on a bed of white salt and blanketed by dried seaweed and vegetables, this was a treat for the eyes and our taste buds.
The oyster was incredibly fresh – it’s almost like it came out of the water and landed straight on our plates. On top of that, the salt was more than just decoration. Just a smidge of salt was enough to help bring out the flavour that the main star of the show boasted.
Another rather rare brunch item was the Foie Gras Toast. No, your eyes do not deceive you; it is that small of a portion. But trust me when I say, this is more than enough for you to appreciate the taste of the dish.
The grilled brioche bread was the humble stage that allowed the extravagance of the foie gras, truffle and pear chutney to shine. Despite the fatiness of the foie gras, it had a clean finish. The coriander was also a thoughtful touch – helping to cleanse our palates after this flavour-packed dish.
Before this, I firmly believed that fruit should only be eaten after a meal, but this pairing made me eat my words. The pear chutney gave this dish its hint of sweetness. Combine that with the richness of the foie gras and the lightness of the brioche toast, and you’re in for a culinary experience like no other.
While we’re on the topic of my aversion to fruits being incorporated into dishes, this Seabass Ceviche was a dish I was initially hesitant to try. But I take my job as your gastronomic guide very seriously, so I took a big bite out of this ceviche, and the culinary Gods rewarded me for my commitment with a burst of flavours I will never forget.
The initial kick of flavours was the mango salsa, the chilli and the coconut cream. The generous chunks of mango and chilli worked so well together – the chilli’s spiciness brought out the mango’s sweetness in a heavenly way. For those who cannot handle spice, the cool coconut cream will come to your aid as it soothes the heat the chilli unleashes on your tastebuds. The ceviche topped off the fresh sea bass, creating a dish with unparalleled texture and flavour profile.
Next up is the Origin Healthy Bowl. Whoever said salads were boring has clearly never been to Origin Grill. The base of the salad consisted of smooth organic kale and crunchy broccolini. Sprinkled into the mix were spice seeds, pickles and avocados, which gave the salad an amazing taste. To top it all off was a ginger miso dressing, which nicely married all the ingredients together. The salad was chalked full of flavour and texture, which I absolutely loved! They all worked together to create a salad that actually left me full and wanting more.
For all my salad sceptics, you’ve got to believe me when I say that this salad is in a league of its own. Every bite was full of crunch and ingredients you wouldn’t get from a typical salad.
The Buttermilk Fried Chicken Waffle is a familiar item on the menu. As an avid bruncher, I admit I have a fervent infatuation with buttermilk waffles.
The waffle was light and fluffy, which helped to balance out the sinfully delicious crispy bacon and spicy fried chicken. The chipotle hollandaise sauce was also an exquisite addition, adding a dash of spiciness to this already godly combination.
If you’re looking for a starter that isn’t so heavy, this is a good option! This Sweetcorn Soup definitely lives up to its name. The soup – which includes sweetcorn, obviously, spanner crab meat and herb oil – was topped with popcorn crumbs! I know, it’s quite an unconventional soup topping, but it really worked.
The thick soup and popcorn crumbs gave this dish a delectable crunch. Whether you’re looking for a hearty bowl of soup or just love corn in any way, shape or form, you wouldn’t want to miss this.
Are you ready for an elegant spin on everyone’s favourite comfort meal?
To close this portion of the meal, we had the Truffle Mac and Cheese. Mac and Cheese is hugely comforting for many of us, but Origin Grill gives this dish a sophisticated twist by incorporating truffle into the mix.
This dish brought out the inner glutton in me. Every bit of pasta was coated in a dreamy gruyere bechamel sauce that makes my mouth water just at the thought of it. The bechamel sauce was served in abundance, which elevated the dish to the high heavens.
Benedicts
Benedicts are a staple at any brunch, so it’s only normal for Origin Grill to dedicate an entire page in their menu to this brunch must-have. For any novice bruncher, a benedict is a dish that usually consists of a poached egg and a protein of your choice that usually sits atop a bread of sorts. The icing on the cake is the hollandaise sauce drizzled all over the dish.
Now that everyone is up to speed, you already know the drill. Let’s delve into the benedicts that Origin Grill offers!
Starting off strong, we have the Crab Cake Benedict. This dish swaps the traditional bread base with a crab cake surrounded by a wall of sauteed kale and topped with a beautifully poached egg and a delicious bisque hollandaise sauce.
The crumb coat of the crab cake was fried to perfection and was an incredible contrast to the soft chunks of crab meat on the inside. The hollandaise sauce was unlike anything I’ve ever had before. Because it was a bisque, the sauce was much thicker and filled to the brim with flavour.
The next item was the Lobster Benedict, which consisted of grilled sourdough bread, half a butter-poached lobster tail, crispy bacon, sauteed kale, and you guessed it, a poached egg with bisque hollandaise sauce.
The sour notes from the bread, the umami from the bacon, and the richness of the butter-poached lobster created a symphony of flavours, each element contributing its own distinctive melody to the culinary composition.
Big Plates
Say hello to the Butternut Pumpkin Risotto. If you’re a fan of this fruit, you’re in for a treat. Risotto is usually already quite thick, but the pumpkin’s incorporation almost doubled the dish’s thickness – making it super filling.
This dish is also filled with an array of spices that bring its taste profile to a whole new level. Sprinkling pine nuts, sous vide pumpkin, and feta cheese over the dish also gave it more personality, giving it a different texture with every bite.
And to close this whole chapter, is the Confit Duck Leg. Truth be told, this dish might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you enjoy eating duck, I would definitely recommend it. The thing about duck is that it is sometimes classified as gamey, which not everyone might enjoy.
Every aspect of this dish had duck incorporated into the mix. Besides the duck leg, the fries were fried in duck fat and the entire dish was doused in foie gras jus. With that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this dish. Thanks to the duck fat, the fries had an elevated taste, and the foie gras jus gave the dish a consistent taste. The duck leg was also incredibly tender and fell right off the bone.
Sweet Treats
We’ve finally made it to the desserts, with the Tarte Tatin welcoming us in its sweet embrace. This dish was a perfect way to end the entire meal. After eating such a heavy meal, ending it on a sweet and sour note was just what we needed.
The initial flavours of the Tarte Tatin was a burst of citrus. That was then met with unmatched sweetness thanks to the honeycomb, honey croissant and the sweet apple tuille. The dish was light and refreshing after the mountain of dishes we climbed to get to this point of the meal.
If citrus isn’t really your thing, the 66% Chocolate Flan might be the one for you. The chocolate was as rich as it looks, completely coating our taste buds in its sweetness.
Let me paint you a picture. Your fork glides through the creamy and decadent chocolate flan, and as soon as it graces your taste buds, you’re hit with the richest, thickest, most delicious chocolate flavour you’ve ever tasted. The Vanilla Gelato was also an incredible addition, with an impressive contrast to the thickness of its co-star.
Booze
Remember what I said about brunch and indulgence? Well, this might just be the epitome of it. Origin Grill invites you to turn your brunch into a boozy affair with a free flow of beverages ranging from wines to spirits starting at just $88. You’ll also be able to try The Royals, a cocktail with champagne and liqueur infused with florals and fruits.
We tried out the Jasmine and Green Tea liqueur and the Raspberry and Pink Grapefruit liqueur mixed with NV Veuve Clicquot wine. What was created was a light yet impactful concoction that left us hooked. The harmony of flavours sung on our taste buds and performed a beautiful duet with the dishes served to us.
And just like that, your Sundays have been savoured! With Origin Grill’s Charming Sunday Brunches, you can now rest assured that your last rest day of the week will be time well spent as you soak in the unmatched vibes and the delicious menu, courtesy of Origin Grill!
From now till 17 December 2023, Origin Grill welcomes you to unwind with them as they treat you to a Sunday you won’t forget.
Origin Grill at Shangri-La
Date: Till 17 December 2023
Location: Lobby Level, Tower Wing, 22 Orange Grove Rd, 258350
Opening Hours: 11.30 am to 2.30 pm
For more information and to book the experience that is Origin Grill’s Charming Sunday Brunch, make sure to head over to their official website! I promise you won’t regret it.
Photos by Jillian Lau of the DANAMIC Team.
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