Jiak Kim House - Beautiful Pairing of Tastes from Different Regions

Jiak Kim House got my radar due to the interesting fusion of Asian culinary influences into European dishes. So when I found out that Crystal Wines is hosting Ao Yun Wine Dinner at Jiak House, I immediately jumped onto it. It is such a wonderful experience where I get to savour uniquely curated delicious food and enjoy awesome wines from same winery and different years.

The dishes really delights the palates with their myriad of distinctive flavours that work so well together. I also love the unique combination of the ingredients featured, which yields the exciting gastronomic journey of exploring new taste.

The venue is so impressive, retaining the grandeur, opulence and nostalgia of the old colonial house that the restaurant is situated in, while refreshing the place with hints of modern sensibility. I feel that I'm being transported to a lavish European restaurant in the old times of Singapore. I love immersing in the unique and luxurious feel of this place. The service is friendly and good, making dining here a very good experience.

Chilled Crab & Jellyfish is oh-so-good that my eyes widen in pleasant surprise at how refreshing, simulating and complex the taste is. Alaskan King Crab is so meaty and packed with clear taste of briny sweetness. And this delicate taste of the ocean is elevated with the sweetness plus an iota of tang of Soupsop Sorbet. Thai Green Pepper Sauce features the pungency and kick that make the fish all the more exciting and exotic. The chopped jellyfish adds bits of crunchy texture to the crab and smooth sorbet for complexity in texture. My favourite dish of the night.

The bread, served warm and toasty, is so flavourful and fluffy, and with the butter with the taste of char makes it even better.

Gula Jawa Foie Gras is so rich, silky, luxurious, injected with refreshing, exciting flavours from floral sweetness of Rambutan, zest of Grapefruit and pungency of Ginger Caramel. Very well-executed.

Stockyard Wagyu Ribeye is a very hearty mains with the right amount of fats for that richness while maintaining the tender, form texture.

Black Forest Dark Chocolate with Buah Keluak Ganache and Kirsch Cream Namelaka is a very interesting black forest cake reinterpreted in mousse, upmarket form.

Refreshing Dom Perignon 2013 with floral notes

Ao Yun wines produced in a specially sourced vineyard in the Himalayas, high up in the mountains from 2200 meters, taste so elegant and complex. This wine dinner really makes me have a newfound appreciation for wine tasting and wine making, where the terroir, technology, methods, climate, expertise, community, tradition and dedication really matter a lot. I love this experience of tasting wines from the same winery and from different years to really appreciate the subtle differences between them.

Thoughts: Awesome Experience full of Local Flair

5 Jiak Kim St #01-17

Nearest MRT: Havelock