“Come as strangers, leave as friends.” The sign at Surrey Hills sums up what this new spot in the West hopes to achieve. Helmed by entrepreneur Gek, her passion for micro-business, local farmers and Australian produce is evident in everything at Surrey Hills.
Surrey Hills is a town in Melbourne as well as a suburb of Sydney that served as the inspiration behind the new grocer and restaurant located a D’ Arena, Upper Jurong Road. Too far West?
We deem it a wonderful opportunity to head West for a chance to get to know the farmers and makers behind the produce and gourmet dishes served at Surrey Hills.
Surrey Hills Cafe – An Authentic Farm to Table Experience
We were blown away by the freshness of the ingredients and pairings, some of which are classic Aussie. We had the honour of Gek share with us how the best efforts were used to directly source ingredients from local farms and small producers.
Herbs for dressing and greens for instance, were sourced from Straits Agriculture, a local farmer whose passion has yielded flavourful harvests.
We had the chance to try Tasmanian Salmon, Steak Sandwich, Avo and Crayfish Benny. The freshness of the ingredients, clever pairings of classic Aussie flavours and local produce. A popular favourite was the Tasmanian Salmon, seared to perfection, resting on a bed of mushroom reduction barley grains and generously dressed with Ikura.
One overlooked dish you should try is the Avo – short for the classic Avocado Toast. Even for those who do not enjoy avocados will be delighted by the mashed avocado and Vegemite emulsion pairing.
Don’t forget a cuppa along with your meal, coffee beans are from a renowned Melbourne brand Proud Mary, a specialty brand also focused on sustainable sourcing.
Surrey Hills also purveys a range of artisanal soda and iced teas. For those preferring low sugar beverages, you could enjoy the nasty-free drinks and fruit-infused teas.
Waffles and Creamier ice cream are also available at Surrey Hills.
The farm-to-table concept puts the focus on the farmers whose produce made the meal possible. Aptly so, the signage on the wall “If You Ate Today, Thank a Farmer” reminds us all to be more appreciative of what we got to enjoy!
Bring your pets and your entire brood as the café is pet-friendly!
Sustainable & Conscious Shopping at Surrey Hills Grocer
Post-meal shopping is a must at Surrey Hills Grocer. As you enter the grocer, look above where you see wooden arcs overhead emulating the arc of the sunrise. The 3, 000 square feet place is lit up with soft warm lighting and smells divine.
Surrey Hills’ products sold have all been painstakingly sourced over the years, some of which made available in Singapore for the first time. Look out for brands such as Rich Glen Olive Oil, Stonebarn Truffle and Koko Black an iconic Australian Chocolate brand.
Gek knows the farmers well and has personally seen how much they have put into growing, making, labelling their produce and has confidently flown in many perishables to ensure their freshness.
Needless to say, you can be confident that the products purchased benefit the farmers and makers directly without intermediaries.
This helps the supply chain to be transparent and cost-effective. Prices are also made affordable to local consumers without a significant mark-up compared to prices in Australia.
As we walked through the aisles, we were also told how the brands are family-run and some of them are heirloom recipes! Each of them have their stories to tell, which will be spotlighted along the aisles soon.
If you hope to advance your culinary skills, try our favourite “Masterchef hack” corner with pre-mixed signature blends for easy home cooking.
One herb mix is from Lawry’s, titled Lawrence steak rub which might elevate your steaks to a professional level. We brought home “The Surrey Blend” which has all you need for marinates. What we liked about it was the herbal mixes do not contain additives!
Fresh produce, chilled, frozen produce (get the Aussie pies!), herb blends, handmade pastas, granola, snacks, low-sugar soda, alcohol-free beverages, wines and fresh floral blooms are all available at Surrey Hills Grocer. You can be sure to be a conscious consumer when shopping at the unique grocer.
Journey to the West for Quality Produce, Sumptuous Meals and Support Farmers
Surrey Hills might seem far away for most, but the journey is worth taking if you choose to support businesses that are about sustainability, consumer-centric values and holistic nourishment.
Visit the café and grocer at 01-01 D’Arena, 511 Upper Jurong Road S638366
Open daily 9 am to 9 pm except for Mondays
More details at the website here.
