Friday, August 20, 2010

Krish: A Place For All Occasions!

This is an invited session



It had been quite awhile since Lay Sian and I got together. Before you start gasping and thought that its going to be a long emotional post, no this is not it (We are still doing great btw thankyouverymuch), but I'm just reminiscing of the times that I sought so earnestly for the perfect first date.

The venue, the ambience, the food, everything that was planned to make it memorable. And if I had the budget and its availability back then, Krish might just fit the very bill!





Located at Rochester Park, Krish is a relatively young startup (opened for less than a year) that does modern European cuisine with an Indian twist, influenced by the origins of its owners and the creativity of executive chef, Matthew Baker.

Its always nice to have restaurants within colonial-era houses, giving that bit of homely, cosy touch. Walking about, I was really impressed by how much attention was paid to decor details. Rustic typewriter, family photos, cookbooks on shelves and glass bottle chandeliers, you will have plenty of fun just by exploring the place!


Fried Naan Chips

An unusual twist to your usual bread and dips! The crispy little things were served hot, infused with herbal aroma and savoury cheese bits. Very addictive!




We also had drinks from their cocktail list for the evening, mine was a Ravulo 9 with champagne base and predominated with orange flavour. Refreshing after a day's work!




Seared Foie Gras, Hamachi Tartar, Roasted Onion and Garlic Soup

While its usual for restaurants to pair the sinful liver with sweet sauces to ease off greasiness, Krish took a bold step further to serve it with savoury home-made peanut butter. Arriving on a slice of warm naan, the combination hit off surprisingly well as the chunky, crushed peanuts blended with the foie gras, alongside light, sweetened strawberries. The liver itself, was a tad too well-done for my liking, but overall a very special adaption of the classic dish!

The other appetiser was a relatively lighter one, as the diced raw Yellowtail was seasoned with vinegar and nicely presented on a bed of pressed, creamy avocado. I didn't try out the soup but overheard from the dining companions that it was rather heavy in onion taste.




Tamarind Glazed Leg of Lamb, Herb-crusted Korabuta Pork Chop, Seared US Diver Scallops

I had a slice of the lamb and instantly liked its tender texture, going really well with braised onions and mint pesto sauce. Yes there was still a trace of the game taste. but hey, what's lamb without it?

While I couldn't exactly taste the crust, the Korabuta (Nope, not a typo) pork fared well on the fattier, outer rim, but got tougher and drier as we got closer to the bone. Perhaps just awhile shorter on the stove? The accompanying tamarind risotto, on the other hand, stole the limelight. Perfectly semi-cooked rice grains with unique Indian herbs, there were also thin, crunchy asparagus to go along with.

My choice of main had a much smaller portion than the other two, but it sure made up with quality! Huge, juicy scallops were fresh and delectable, while the morsels of braised oxtails simply melted away in mouth. Awesome! How I wished I could have access to that entire pot of oxtail stew with a large bowl of rice! (Sorry, the Chinese in me emerging)



Malleable Chocolate Ganache, Blackcurrant Parfait

We had two choices for desserts as part of the media tasting menu. I was told that Krish's dessert advisor was none other than Janice Wong of 2am dessert bar, which sort of explained for the deconstructed style. While I would prefer dessert to be more straightforward (put it simply, to look like cakes and tarts), I do appreciate the ingredients used here.

The chocolate ganache was rich and slightly bitter, with slices of chocolate chips and a dope of chocolatey shaved ice in the middle. Unlike your regular parfait, the little halves were smooth with natural blackcurrant flavour and paired with creamy coconut ice cream.



Ice Cream/Sorbet Selections, Chai Masala Creme Brulee

They were also kind enough to let us try some other desserts on the ala carte menu. The red one was a very interesting Black Pepper Strawberry Sorbet, in which the sourness of the strawberry first hits you, followed by a fiery peppery aftertaste as you breath in a gust of air.

The Mint-Lemongrass Sorbet really freshened us up, as we likened it to having a spa in the mouth! Toasted Naan Ice Cream was a savoury hit as well, with the subtle taste of naan that didn't quite feel like eating starters all over again!

Creme Brulee was light and creamy, paired with a thin cinnamon wafer that added more flavour to the dessert. Calvin was totally in love with this!




We were given a tour of Krish after the dinner, which further wowed us with how comprehensive and thoughtful the place was. The little outdoor garden had kids-friendly swings and seesaw that were really meant to be played with (very well-maintained too), perfect for a family Sunday brunch!



Moving upstairs, there was a small dining hall that would perhaps be good for a private function, though I think the wall (on the left) could be a hindrance for the host to have a full view of his guests at the tables.





You thought that was all? Across the linking bridge on the 2nd floor is Krish's very own al-fresco bar. High benches and stools, comfy plush sofas or tatami-styled tables? Take your pick! I heard that they regularly screen sporting events and host game nights, excellent for a chillout night! Some held their wedding receptions here too!

Be it birthday parties, buddy drinking sessions or quiet dinners for two, Krish has covered just about everything that you can associate with wine and dine. Prices are on the mid-high range, but with the daring cuisine, delicate flavours and thoughtful ambience, I would say its worth the penny for some memorable experiences to keep. As for me..


(Credits to Amanda for the shot)

How about a re-first date?

Check out what the cheerful company for the night thought:

Amanda, Avnjl
Calvin, The Foodie-licous World
Cheryl, The Baker Who Cooks

Special thanks to Xiaomin, Danielle and Jillyan, the lovely ladies from Ate Consulting who played hosts to us that night!

Krish
9 Rochester Park
Tel: 7669 4644
Check out their website for menu!

Taken with Nikon D70

11 comments:

ice said...

The last picture is lovely. (:

I'm surprised you chose the scallops for your main haha. The portion is very small!

Angeline said...

I agree with ice. The last photo is really beautiful. I think I will love this place. haha

foodaholic said...

AWWWW. so sweet, daniel! I bet Laysian must be melting now. haha...great pity i missed this one..looks great!!

HungryTrotters said...

I agree that the last picture was beautiful! And Krish has a huge space. I really love the ambiance. It just suits Rochester Park's atmosphere. I think Indian-European cuisine is a good fusion. :)

Daniel said...

ice: haha, we had three choices for mains and Lays doesn't take beef or lamb, so she had the Korabuta (she couldn't finish anyway, so it went to me eventually) and I went for the scallops so that we could share abit of everything!

Yes I was expecting huge chunks of oxtail actually, but it was really good nonetheless!

Angeline: hee thanks! They have a brunch menu which you might like!

Phoebe: haha righhtt, she will say I 花言巧语 again.. but yup, really good environment, time to hint hint to R! =)

Loraine: haha seems like everyone likes the last shot! But I really have to give credits to the friend for the photo idea, I merely recoloured it for a better feel.. haha.. Yup the place was cosy yet spacious, and the fusion hits off rather well!

doreeen sia said...

WOWWWWWW You are making me super super hungry! So glad I found your blog :D I love the environment of Krish!

Daniel said...

Hi Doreeen!

Sort of glad that I made you hungry.. haha! Thanks for reading! =)

LJ said...

Looks like a really cosy place. :)

Daniel said...

LJ: Yup, could probably sit there for ages!

Amanda said...

OH, the last photo is really *幸福* *幸福* *幸福*
and he was so ready with that smile on the face turn over and just... win the gf over with the look...

*mELts*
So Romantic hao bu hao........

and It was HIM who suggested a re-first date idea...
aww....

*sweet...
Dude.... can you like go and clone yourself for me....

Amanda

Daniel said...

Hey Amanda!

Thanks for dropping by! Wah u say till like that make me shy sia.. lolx. Nah dun need to clone me la. I'm sure you can get a better original elsewhere. =)