Sylvia Fernandes Reviews Terra Madre Dine-In and Organic Retail Store

Countless times I drove pass Loewen road looking up the hill and wondering what resided there? Little did I know an exciting new concept store from my homeland had just opened its first branch in Singapore.

Terra Madre originating from Melbourne opened Singapore’s largest organic store in September.  What’s more exciting is that it also houses a restaurant space offering dine in, using their organic products in store.

Located at 71 Loewen Road in Dempsey Hill, right across from the Museum of ice cream, Terra Madre holds a great spot away from the usual Dempsey crowd. I can see family and friends chilling in both alfresco style and the quiet, sparse indoor dining space, truly enjoying both.

As we walked in, the chic coffee bar and a tempting window display of beautifully crafted desserts jumped right at us. We could not help ourselves being typical foodies on the circuit and laughingly snapped a few shots.

Once seated, Chef Gayatri presented us with the gourmet menu. Just looking at descriptions and choices offered on the menu, my eyes lit up! This was not any ordinary café-style restaurant. There was seriously good quality food on offer at such reasonable prices.

The extensive menu offered modern Australian cuisine with Asian and in some dishes, a Middle Eastern twist. Breakfast options start with deliciously amazing toastie combinations. All-time popular items, from the usual smashed avocado, ricotta hotcakes, to innovative grilled corn rosti, Spanish omelette with pumpkin hummus and macadamia dukkah. I mean seriously, don’t they sound exotic?

What’s also worth a mention is the very long list of vegetarian/vegan options. So unlike most restaurants, 3 of the 4 toastie choices were vegetarian and one vegan. Depicting a growing trend this was something we felt would be a crowd puller!

It blew my mind further when I looked at lunch selections. For a price tag of under $30, I got to choose one salad and vegetable combination plus a choice of protein - vegetable fritters, halloumi cheese, organic chicken, Kurobuta pork skewer, grass-fed sirloin, baked salmon to lamb chops. While some protein options required a small top-up of $5 or so, there were three options that were part of the basic deal.

If you think this is just the ordinary superfood concept found around town, you are wrong! This is the step-up superfood that you will not get elsewhere, simple yet sophisticated, only at Terra Madre.

Each salad and vegetable selection offers creative combinations in flavours which cleverly fit the protein choices on offer. These protein options were carefully prepared with high quality fresh produce, executed to perfection and showcased in 5-star presentation on a separate plate!

Now you know why I said this is not just any ordinary cafe you might have thought of. Expat Choice reporter Sylvia Fernandes and I had a tough time making decisions as our eyes were bigger than our stomach. So many mouth-watering choices!

We started with a grilled mushroom toastie! 2 slices of perfectly toasted multigrain sourdough, layered in generous portions of cashew cheese pesto and Romesco sauce, wrapped with stacks of grilled juicy mushrooms. This is one of the best vegan toasties I have ever had!

Sometimes the lack of dairy in vegan products give me the impression of a dull taste but this toastie was so yummy and surprisingly the vegan sauces were the highlight! Packed with flavours and definitely creamy enough for me!

A big Gherkin on the side lent a piquant twist to the creamy flavours of the rich sauces! Perfectly balanced! Cleverly placed on the side of the plate as an option, since gherkins are not everyone‘s cup of tea. I loved it though!

After the heartwarming toastie, I had a glass of freshly squeezed carrot and apple juice which was a good size and super refreshing. What caught my eye on the menu though was the superfood smoothie. All 5 choices sound super healthy and yummy. I made a mental note to have the berrylicious next time.

For lunch selections, Chef Gayatri recommended charred baby carrots on a sauce of Dukkha, tahini. We chose Kurobuta Berkshire pork skewers to go with it. The other choice we went for was the lighter Asian slaw, to go with wild caught grilled tiger prawns.

Food was delivered to us in 4 plates, to our surprise. They served the vegetable and protein separately and the food presentation was stunning. Asian slaw was a great light start for the meal.

Crunchy juicy Chinese wombok cabbage, combined with pickled red cabbage and ginger, perfectly blended with refreshing tamarind sauce, a hint of chilli and jalapeños. Not over powering at all as it was well put together. The juicy and tender tiger prawns were the perfect sweet add-on to complement the refreshing Asian slaw taste.

Charred baby carrots & Dukkha, tahini was such a delightful combination. Having lived in Dubai for 2 years, middle eastern flavours hold a special spot in my memories and this simple dish brought back fond memories.

The exotic flavours with good spice mix just hit the spot. It blew my mind away as to how tasty it was and it was vegan too! That busts a lot of myths about vegan food. The way vegan Ingredients like nuts and coconut oil blended with fresh ingredients was wholesome.

I was definitely leaving Terra Madre with an impression that I had everything despite the fact that I had non-dairy dishes. It actually tasted better than non-vegan versions. I had to admit that this experience took me to a whole new level of enjoying vegan. Wow a new revelation for me!!!

Finally, the highlight of all - Kurobuta Berkshire pork skewers. You may think I have raved about other dishes (which I have) but I have bragging rights on this one. A must try - wait till you try these skewers. Two generous skewers of succulent juicy pork were grilled to perfection.

Melt in my mouth, with the right combination of charred fat and lean bits. Being a home chef myself, I could taste the aromatically infused thyme and smoked paprika. Heaven!! If you are a pork lover you have to visit Terra Madre.

Rather shamelessly, having polished all these dishes, Sylvia and I were still scouring the menu, discussing what we would try the next time. The grilled sweet potato beckoned. Kumara gold is the best if you love sweet potatoes and we both do!

With so many other protein options like halloumi cheese, organic Spatchcock chicken with Peri-Peri and Gochijang baked salmon! I wanted to try them all! Perhaps needing at least another 4 visits???

Having a sweet tooth, desserts always bring most excitement for me. Chef Gayatri recommended the Galabaza squash mousse cake and vegan chocolate tart. Both vegan options again!! A vegan treat today!!

Interesting that as dessert arrived at the table, I mentioned to Sylvia that presentation was akin to a Michelin star restaurant. Then all was revealed. Chef Gayatri updated us that Terra Madre’s pastry chef used to work for Les Amis (3 Michelin star) and Spago!

Ha, now that makes sense! So if you look at the dessert menu here and think the price is at the higher end, compared with other items, this is why! Because you see, good things don’t come cheap. With such carefully crafted desserts and layers of preparation, each component speaks for itself.

You will know what I mean when you try them. Like me you’ll be glad to have had them and feel it’s totally worth it. To be honest the Galabaza squash mousse cake would not have been my first choice if it wasn’t for Chef Gayatri’s recommendation.

Simply because I’m old fashioned with desserts and squash somehow didn’t appeal. But this one turned out to be the winner! The light and fluffy mousse texture with mild sweetness from pumpkin, was divine. So light yet satisfying, the spiced ginger meringues added on extra delight.

Then the vegan chocolate tart which did not look boring at all. If you saw how beautifully presented it was. Like a picture! A soybean tart and pecan streusel played the nutty and crunchy roles while yuzu ganache and vegan chocolate mousse complemented with soft and sweet tones.

An added hint of citrus to balance the sweetness. All up a combination with so many components in one bite was like a melody dancing in my mouth. The sweet note ended with a perfect coffee. Here we had it. All available at Terra Madre!

I was so happy with my organic latte - so smooth and not overly strong or acidic like many others in town. Being a coffee snob I have a great machine at home and why not when I am Australian and understand coffee options at every corner in Melbourne? Pure indulgence!

So it was exciting to see an organic coffee sign displayed as I entered Terra Madre. I secretly waited for the end of the meal knowing the coffee here was made with the finest organic coffee beans from Melbourne. What more could I ask for!

Terra Madre’s menu was so well thought out. With years of experiences in Tokyo and New York, Chef Gayatri created a totally diversified menu in flavours and details that were rare to find.

Sylvia and I are not vegan dieters but out of coincidence, everything vegan we had was so yummy. The best part was we didn’t even realise it! Puts a real spin on veganism I guess. It was all about combining ingredients that churned out great dishes. I guess this is a great example of food innovation.

Singapore has lots of places for gourmet lunches but a place like Terra Madre is a rare gem to find. They offer excellent coffee, hearty breakfasts and fine quality healthy lunches, all under the same roof. Many organic ingredients they used can be found on their shelves in the organic store next door. That means if you like what you tried on the plate, just pop over to the store, pick it up from the shelf and take it home.

Being a full time mum, I know what it’s like to make a gourmet meal from scratch, not to mention the fine quality of these house made sauces - pesto, Romesco, hummus used at Terra Madre. It would take me hours to buy, clean, process and make at home, even if I had a Thermomix.

I would rather be the clever one to pop in to Terra Madre and pick up any flavours I was craving at the time, at a reasonable cost with no sweat! What makes this place stand out more is the quality of fresh produce which is second to none.

From organic Spatchcock chicken, free range beef, antibiotic free pork, wild caught tiger prawns to grass fed lamb. All sourced directly from the farm where you know exactly what they were fed and how they were treated. Therein lies the quality of this traceable produce.

While we are all aware of global warming and environmental issues wouldn’t it be a more sensible choice to consume food that is sustainably caught or farmed? Chef Gayatri also mentioned her “zero waste” approach in cooking which resonated really well with me.

Being a gourmet mum cooking for the whole household, I hate seeing food go wasted as I know every bit of it doesn’t come easy. I always try to make the best use of whatever I have at hand.

Chef Gayatri uses her culinary skills and experience to turn every part of vegetables, from roots to leaves, into something amazing. Then presents them to wow your taste buds! Yet another reason to support this beautiful restaurant with all my heart.

So next time you are heading to Dempsey, avoid the crowds and drive over to Terra Madre. With loads of parking you can be assured of a chillout. I can absolutely guarantee that you‘ll walk out with a happy belly, filled with exquisite food prepared with heart and soul.

I bet too that you’ll mark it as your hot spot going forward! I know I have!

I enjoyed reading your article. The visit sounded very successful and you gave a descriptive account of the atmosphere, the menu - and especially the ethos behind the mission of the brand.

As I drove up Loewen Road I felt Terra Madre would be a fabulous spot to spend quiet time with a few friends. Tucked away in an area with ample parking and space to breathe, I was glad for the reprieve this venue would provide its patrons.

Hailing from Melbourne where Terra Madre is considered a local organic retailer and wholesaler, I was awash with excitement. Firstly being Australian, I love anything that connects me back.

Secondly, the top quality sustainable produce which is traceable gives me a feeling of comfort. Taking pride in their creations, restaurant owners who take great pains to secure the best for their patrons are on top of my list.

A double whammy with Terra Madre for it not only has a dine-in option but is also the largest organic store in Singapore. Have a meal and walk next door to shop for groceries before heading home.

I wasn’t surprised to see the menu which took me back to the all-so-familiar ones in Australia. Without trying too hard, each item seemed to be simply but smartly put together.

Culinary consultant Gayatri Singh who has runs on the board from New York to the rest of the world (make it a point to say hi when you are next there), explained the modern Australian inspired menu.

While tempted to taste some items off the breakfast menu like ricotta hotcakes and smashed avo with vine leaf verde, our other Expat Choice reporter Arisa and I were there to taste the lunch menu.

Being the foodies that we are, we decided to settle for one toastie shared between the two of us, just to get our gastric juices flowing. It was such an attractive offering of breakfast fare that we just couldn’t decide what to have.

For circa $18, was it going to be the BLAT, grilled mushroom, roasted butternut or grilled eggplant? We chose the grilled mushrooms (Portobello and button) toastie on multigrain sourdough, smothered with cashew cheese pesto and romesco.

Now I have always been disappointed with romesco sauces but this one was really good and came with an extra portion too (as if they read my mind). A really mouth-watering toastie. This was of course devoured very quickly with a slow-pressed juice.

The combo juice I chose was green apple, celery and ginger. For a rather generous portion, juices are $8 with a $2 top-up for a combo of fruits / vegetables. There are also superfood smoothies for those who prefer something light and healthy.

Terra Madre is nestled in a great spot for a pit-stop after your exercise regime. I have noticed many people walking from residences in Tanglin to the lovely restaurants around Loewen Road.

With Terra Madre just opened, this is another outlet so easy to stop by for a snack or meal whether it be lunch or dinner. Breakfast is available from 8am and lunch from noon.

For people who have steered towards vegetarian / veganism, you must visit Terra Madre for they have succeeded in creating a huge menu with amazingly delicious options.

Gayatri waltzed in again to explain the lunch list which was starting to tempt us, big time. Pick one item from the “salads & vegetables” list then an item from the “protein” list.

Everything was so good, just up my alley. I truly didn’t know what to have. I could come back every day for something different and be wowed. Most items on the vegetables list were priced around the $25 mark.

Paired with one of these proteins – spiced vegetable fritters, organic spatchcock chicken or vine leaf grilled haloumi and your scrumptious lunch would cost $25! I was so impressed. Loved the options available, said “moi” the options girl.

What was I going to have today? I went for the charred baby carrots & dukkah, tahini and coconut dressing, plums, smoked paprika oil and parsley. This was the best grilled vegetable dish I have ever had.

Not only was it lightly charred, the dressing was made even more delicious with a touch of coconut, which added texture to the entire dish. In fact I had to grab the plate back from the waiter when he very diligently decided to clear it.

I was not done scraping that last bit of dressing off the plate. Loving deeply layered flavours with texture, this was my pick of the vegetables list. Really a five star dish.    

A good protein pair for this was the Kurobuta Berkshire pork skewers which was roasted with smoke paprika, thyme, butter and paprika oil. The best ever! Seriously! If you are a pork lover, this melted in my mouth.

I was beginning to feel some Michelin star (or close) chef intervention in the background. With presentation second to none and food generously served, these delicious meals would only set you back $30 or so. A really good deal in my mind.

While I would definitely go back for this combo, I was also tempted by other dishes on the menu. So much my style, the modern Australian way of preparing food was just how I liked it. Time to make another choice.

We thought something lighter would be the vegetable Asian slaw made from chopped wombok, pickled red cabbage, chilli and ginger with a tamarind, mint and jalapeno dressing.

Really lifting in taste and shifting gears on the taste buds, this was a dish I could eat daily for lunch. It was not only healthy but easily consumed in warmer weather.

Unwittingly, we chose both vegetable dishes that were vegan. This is precisely the point I made earlier. Veganism can be tasty and full of variety. All it takes is creativity to step outside the usual, boring creations.

Obviously chefs at Terra Madre were well versed and experienced in this department. Truly a top class menu, we were recommended the wild caught grilled tiger prawns to complement the light salad.

This was accompanied with pickled cucumber, lemon and parsley. So good and fresh, I could taste the meat as if it had just been pulled in from the ocean. It is for this reason that I feel restaurants like Terra Madre resonate completely with me.

The sustainable produce is evident and makes all the difference. Get your friends and family together and meet up at this welcoming and large space. With high ceilings and sparsely decorated, there’s ample opportunity to socially distance.

Sit outside alfresco or inside if you prefer the cool atmosphere. I loved the sparseness as it gave me a sense of space which lent calm to the afternoon. I made a mental note to let friends and family living around the corner know that Terra Madre was a must visit.

I had after all many more dishes to try. The Gochujang baked salmon, grilled free range sirloin and grilled grass fed lamb chops. All protein meals I love! On the vegetables menu what peaked my interest was the grilled kumara and fire baked butternut, both of which would make for an amazing start to the meal.

The organic coffee is what we were both hunkering to try at the end of our meal. But not yet! Gayatri was back to tempt us with a Calabaza squash mousse cake that consisted of a gluten-free sponge, cream cheese pumpkin, spiced ginger meringue and syrup.

So beautifully crafted and presented, we were told that Terra Madre sous chef was ex-Les Amis. Well not surprised! The vegan chocolate tart made out of a pecan streusel, yuzu ganache, vegan chocolate mousse and soybean tart was light as it had no dairy.

Most interesting! I had not tried a tart made out of soybean before. It was truly delicious. As coffees arrived we both felt we had been to a top rate restaurant in Singapore. I would give Terra Madre top marks on all counts.

Ending on a note important to us – coffee! We knew we would be back as everything hit the spot from service to excellent food made from the best produce.

The biggest compliment to any restaurant is that patrons refer their friends and family which is exactly what we both did as soon as we stepped out of Terra Madre.

Walking through the store next door seemed like a natural thing to do for so many items like dried fruit, canned tomatoes & fish, pastas and chocolate were available. Easy and convenient, more items will hit the shelves in coming weeks.

Terra Madre which means a network of food communities, was launched to connect small scale farmers and food artisans (who protect the environment) a network with cooks, consumers and others in the food system.

So when thinking about your next dine out think Terra Madre, for inherently you will not only be helping someone down the chain but also be blown away by the superior dishes crafted at this venue right here on your doorstep.