Somersby Cider & Bliss House Collaborate on a New Cider-Inspired Menu
Somersby Cider recently teamed up with Bliss House, a garden-themed restaurant in Central, to create a menu incorporating cider in the preparation process. I was thrilled to attend the event with Rachie because I love cider. Somersby Cider is one of my favourite brands because of it's light and refreshing flavour.
The event started with a platter of mixers that Bliss House's Mixologist, Long Yishu, had prepared for us. Having mentored under Akihiro Eguchi, Diageo World Class Singapore's Champion 2011 & 2012, Yishu developed his passion for mixing drinks.
Somersby Trio Bliss Cocktail
Bubbly Bliss: Somersby Apple Cider, celery puree & gin with a celery stick garnish
Refreshing Bliss: Somersby Apple Cider, gin & grapefruit with a grapefruit peel garnish
Sweet Ruby Bliss: Somersby Apple Cider, pomegranate & gin with a poached apple garnish
Our task was to complete the cocktails simply by topping the glasses up with Somersby Cider and garnishing them. Amongst the 3 of them, my favourite was the Sweet Ruby Bliss cocktail as I felt that this combination complemented the refreshing sweetness of Somersby Cider best. The distinctive flavour of celery was a little too strong in the Bubbly Bliss cocktail and seemed to overpower the cider's light and refreshing taste. In comparison, the Refreshing Bliss cocktail fared better as the bitterness of the grapefruit was tempered by the sweetness of the cider.
Somersby Refreshing Ploughman Salad
Mesclun salad with cheddar cheese, cherry tomatoes, olive & Japanese cucumbers
tossed in a refreshing Somersby Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Chef Dennis Ong had devised a menu using Somersby Cider as an ingredient in every course. The meal started with a variation of the traditional British Ploughman Salad. In this version, Somersby Cider was used to make the Vinaigrette dressing. A light and refreshing salad with stronger flavour accents from sliced mature cheddar cheese.
Somersby Decadent Foie Gras
Pan-seared foie gras drizzled with Somersby Apple Cider reduction & lemon butter,
served with puff pasty & Arugula (rocket salad)
We then had a course of pan-seared foie gras drizzled with a reduction of Somersby Apple Cider in place of the traditional caramelized apple. Served on a glazed puff pastry and Arugula salad, the combination was light with sweet accents. My piece of foie gras was just a little too well done for my liking however, it was still smooth and buttery rich on the palate. Definitely the best dish for the afternoon.
Somersby Pasta Fantastica
Rigatoni with a light sauce made of minced pork and vegetables
infused with Somersby Apple Cider and a hint of veal jus
Next, was a pasta dish that had been tossed with a minced pork sauce. As pork traditionally goes well with apples, Chef Dennis had used Somersby Apple Cider in the sauce. I'm generally not a huge fan of pork so I didn't like this dish as much largely because I felt the sauce could do with a little more thickening like a ragout.
Somersby Three Little Pigs
Pan-roasted pork tenderloin topped with roasted capsicum, Prosciutt0-wrapped Enoki mushrooms
& onion confit with balsamic vinegar on a bed of Somersby Apple Cider sauce
Although pork is not my preferred meat, this dish was fairly well-executed as the pan-roasted pork tenderloin medallions were tender, juicy and well-seasoned. Each medallion came with a different topping. Amongst the 3 toppings, my favourite was the Prosciutto-wrapped Enoki mushrooms while my least favourite was the onion confit.
A Blissful Somersby Finish
Poached pear in Somersby Apple Cider topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream & roasted sesame tuile
We ended with a dessert of poached pear with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I loved the smoky flavour of the roasted sesame tuile and the delicate flavour of the ice cream that was speckled with vanilla pods. I wished the poached pear was just a little softer as it would have made it easier to cut it without having to worry about breaking the Martini glass that it was served in.
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Reader Giveaway - S$ 20 Bliss House Voucher:
- I was given a S$20 Bliss House dining voucher in the press pack that I would like to share with a lucky reader so that he/she can sample the food at Bliss House.
- Send me an email telling me if you love Somersby Cider and why.
- Giveaway ends at midnight on 31 May 2013.
- The winner will be announced on 1 Jun 2013.
- Only valid for residents of Singapore.