Sylvia Fernandes experiences Christmas Feasting with Ryan's Kitchen

Published - 15 December 2021, Wednesday
  • Sylvia Fernandes

If you are wondering what to do this Christmas, a great alternative worth considering is Ryan’s Grocery & Kitchen. An alternative gourmet and organic specialty food store, it is located in basement one of Great World City. 

Catering for everyone in the family including guests who may have dietary restrictions Ryan’s Grocery boasts no gluten, allergen or preservatives in its produce. 

Featuring festive classics this Christmas gourmet meats, hams and roasts are on offer in the line-up. I loved walking through Ryan’s Grocery to have a peak at these mouthwatering foods that ushered in the feeling that Christmas was around the corner. 

With carols playing in the background, Ryan’s Kitchen beckoned to us where a scrumptious menu awaited. Our afternoon lunch began with a starter of smoked pork collar salad which certainly turned out to be the highlight! 

Ryan's Kitchen

Thin strips of pork collar (pictured above) rolled and served on a bed of salad that was tossed with raspberry dressing made for a great palate cleanser. Paving the way for heavier meats which were to follow, I loved the fruit compote, feta and walnuts that made for a wholesome salad. 

Borrowdale St. Louis ribs (pictured below) were basted with honey and grilled. This free-range carbon neutral pork was exquisite. Full flavored right down to the bone which we devoured unashamedly. I personally felt this was a portion for two and at $32 a really good deal.  

Ryan's Kitchen

I would highly recommend a look at the variety of drinks at Ryan’s Grocery & Kitchen. From organic juices to kombuchas and much more, I had a difficult time deciding what to have. They were all so tempting. 

I love the concept at Ryan’s Grocery – pick whatever you like and have it cooked at Ryan’s Kitchen. I also noticed many couples frequent this quiet spot for some good food and a tete-a-tete. I parked the idea for future. It would be reprieve from the hurried activity of Great World City. 

Ryan's Kitchen

The next dish on the menu was beef cheeks (pictured above) on smoked duck risotto. Wow what a combo! I tried the risotto first on its own. Bursting with flavours from smoked duck and sautéed wild mushrooms, I felt this would be best eaten on its own to appreciate it best.

Every mouthful was better than the last. I would share this plate too as risotto is a filling dish and one must keep spare capacity for dessert. At least in my book. The beef cheeks were succulent and tender with a seriously well reduced sauce, all for the princely sum of $28. A really well priced dish and one I would say every meat lover should order. 

If you are looking to order for Christmas there are sets available at Ryan’s Grocery that are good for 8 – 12 pax. So convenient they are ready to serve. This would be a wonderful way for everyone to enjoy the Season with no Mum’s slaving in the kitchen. 

Ryan's Kitchen

Pork Belly rolled with Irish Pork Sausage + 100 Days Grain-fed Beef Tomahawk

To end our lunch sojourn we ordered a slice each of classic pecan pie and Morello sour cherry pie. Wow was I taken aback when I forked a piece of pecan pie in my mouth. Not expecting it to be so good (as I have been disappointed ever so often outside the U.S.) this was amazing. 

For $7 a slice this is available at Ryan’s Kitchen, another little thought parked in the back of my mind for another day when I am in search of a sweet treat. The Morello sour cherry pie was equally stunning. 

Compliments to the chef for creating such wonderful desserts. A lime and Mojito Christmas cake and pumpkin pie are also available. I would surely think about ordering one of these pies for my next dinner party as a 9 inch pie costs $69.90. A good price considering the top quality ingredients used to make one of these.  

Gift sets are also thoughtful gifts with an assortment of snacks and condiments. All such gourmet indulgences when you think about it but don’t we all let loose at this time of year? That’s what makes the Season so jolly as we throw caution to the wind and push any thought of diets and scales into the furthest reaches of our minds. 

It was yet another satisfying meal at Ryan’s Kitchen, the warm and inviting atmosphere always beckons me in as I walk past. Knowing I will be appeased with great fare, I have no hesitation in recommending Christmas at Ryan’s Kitchen.

a. Great World City, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, Singapore 23799, #B1-144

e. [email protected]

s. www.facebook.com/ryansgrocery

w. www.ryansgrocery.com/

t. +65 6767 0118

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Arisa

  • 39 comments
  • CONTRIBUTOR
RATED 7.5 / 8

Ryan’s kitchen, opened its flagship store at Great World City in early 2020. Located at level B1, in between Malaysian food hall and Cold Storage, Ryan’s Grocery stands out with its modern interior design, clean, and open style concept.

The first time I heard about Ryan’s Grocery was from the radio while driving. I learnt that the shop was named after the owner’s son Ryan who had many dietary requirements due to severe food intolerances. Ryan’s parents made tremendous efforts to source high quality produce. During this search it surfaced that many people had similar issues. They were experiencing difficulties too in obtaining a good reliable food source. Hence Ryan’s Grocery was born.

Stories like this always inspire me. Being a mum with two young kids, I am constantly in search of organic, preservative and additive-free products. At Ryan‘s Grocery, the coverage of shelf items is amazingly extensive, a shopping heaven for people on the lookout for premium quality products.

Further extending their premium produce concept, Ryan’s Kitchen a side eatery within the Grocery space, was born. Select fresh premium cuts from the butcher section which is then sent to the kitchen and served at a very reasonable price. Not many restaurants can beat this level of freshness!

Like picking fresh herbs from your home grown garden without having to pay the premium price. Unlike Expat Choice contributor Sylvia Fernandes who had attended Ryan’s Kitchen opening, this was my first foray into this wonderful concept.

We were offered the Christmas special menu which ranged from scrumptious starters to delightful desserts and coffee. It was a tantalising delightful journey for my palate which left me very impressed. Something off menu to start the ball rolling were smoked salmon rolls with lime caviar in the middle.

It was a great palate awakening appetizer. The deep smoky premium salmon combined with tangy lime caviar in the middle was a perfectly balanced combo. A great idea to hijack for pre-meal Canapés at Christmas. Both items can be found on Ryan’s Grocery shelves which is in itself something that excited me. It was all available right there!

With such an extensive choice of drinks on the menu that were so impressive, Sylvia and I had a tough time choosing what to have. Organic and healthy they were a cut above the regular drinks found at other eateries. After a quick check-in we decided to have the sparkling grapefruit juice and lemon lime bitters. We are both fans of drinks with a touch of bitterness so these two choices stood out.

The smoked pork collar salad appetiser priced at $18.90 was served on a bed of arugula, walnut chunks, feta cheese and cranberries generously topped with six thinly-sliced smoked pork collar pieces. A perfect combination of smokey, salty, nutty and sweet flavours all on one plate. The colours were absolutely appetising too.

More meaty deals were to follow! Borrowdale St. Louis Ribs priced at $32. Contrary to American-style ribs covered in thick BBQ sauce, these premium ribs were simply cooked with a light sprinkle of sea salt. As I bit into the ribs, the honey-smoked flavours flowed through. The thin layer of fat and juicy meat was the taste of real freshness itself.

There was no need for sauce because unlike most, Sylvia and I preferred to taste the original flavour of fresh meat especially when done right. My favourite part was to chew the remaining meat off the bone. The flavours were amazing with slightly charred meat and fat around the bone! I’ve gotta tell you it was finger licking good!

Apart from enjoying this dish at Ryan’s Kitchen, you could also serve this honey-smoked pork ribs for your Christmas family lunch/dinner at home to impress everyone. It comes in 2 kilos at $168, with festive cranberry sauce. All you have to do is place the order with Ryan‘s and they will take care of the rest for you.

My favourite beef cheeks on smoked duck risotto hit our table. Risotto on its own is an amazing main dish from my point of view. Flavours of smoky duck and woody wild mushroom pieces throughout the creamy risotto was truly a genius creation. Topped with two generous thick cuts of beef cheeks brought this dish to a 5 star level.

The cheeks were braised in red wine until fork tender and drizzles of jus on top was a highlight. Most of us cook will know that jus is not that easy to make. Made with hours of reduction this is often the part that defines a restaurant. Stewed meat like this too is not difficult to make as long as you get the ingredients right. However it does involve long hours of cooking and waiting.

At Ryan‘s Kitchen, this 5 star dish is priced at only $28. Seriously a generous serving for a fabulously good deal! Most ladies at the table struggled to finish, good news for those who have a big appetite like me!

Last but not least, my favourite dessert time. Sylvia’s choice was pecan pie while mine was cherry pie so we got to taste a bit of both. The pecan pie was lovely with caramelised toffee pecans throughout. Nutty flavours with generous sugar kicks wrapped around by superb pastry made it a quality pie indeed.

Although in comparison I liked the Morello sour cherry pie even better, probably because it’s not as common a find in Singapore. I loved the tangy sour cherries counter balanced against sweet fillings. It was a winner for me as two extreme flavours in one bite won my heart. It added an extra exciting element, just like a lemon meringue pie.

Both pies are offered at $7 for a generous slice. So perfect for morning tea, after a meal or for an afternoon tea treat. It is a perfect match to tea or coffee. Pumpkin pie was also on the menu. It looked good but we ran out of space to try it unfortunately. Oh well there’s always next time!

These pies are also offered on their Christmas menu at $69.90 for a 9-inch size. It’s big enough to share amongst 10-12 people.

I’ve been to Ryan’s Grocery numerous times since I know the meat quality far surpasses most other establishments. But I must confess I was always busy rushing in and out without considering a dine-in at Ryan‘s Kitchen which is just two steps away.

This tasting experience certainly got me to see a new perspective for my next shopping spree. I will make sure I have enough time for a proper meal at Ryan’s Kitchen before grabbing what I need from the store as I know how satisfying a meal can be at Ryan’s Kitchen.

You might want to consider it too.

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