It’s surely no coincidence that Dry January and the global Veganuary movement fall on the month right after the decadent festivities of December—talk about a much-needed detox. But if you’re committed to skipping booze and following a vegan lifestyle, why not check out Melati Drinks’ island-wide Veganuary menus? As Asia’s first non-alcoholic aperitif, the brand will pair each of the vegan dishes with one of its cocktail creations.
Eager for my new year glow-up, I headed to SPRMRKT for a taste of its collaboration menu with Melati. Tucked away in the lush greenery of Singapore’s Dempsey Hill, the laid-back restaurant prides itself on its produce-driven creations. Fitting of its brand, the three dishes on its Veganuary menu feature the best of seasonal produce, including egg plant sourced from Japan. There’s the texture-filled pumpkin croquette served with okra tempura and parsnip puree, the comforting braised daikon and shitake mushroom with spiced walnut, and my personal favourite being the farro and black barley with oven-baked miso eggplant, and edamame. The earthy, umami-filled flavours of miso paired wonderfully with the soft yet firm texture of the eggplant.
Priced at S$35, the Melati Veganuary set here includes one dish and a Melati Spritz, a refreshing concoction featuring the botanicals-forward Melati, tonic, and an orange slice. If you’re up for more, order the delightful Melati Fizz, which comes with Melati, orange juice, grapefruit, and just a hint of honey.
Presented in a beautifully labelled glass bottle, you’ll be hard-pressed to think that Melati is alcohol-free—it looks like a bottle of gin, after all! Take a couple more sips and you’ll find its clean yet complex blend of fruity and floral notes pretty welcoming, sans the potential hangover.
Aside from SPRMRKT, participating restaurants include cult-favourite vegan joint Afterglow, COMO Cuisine, modern day osteria Caffe Cicheti, and The Dempsey Cookhouse & Bar. When at Afterglow, be sure to try the Teriyaki ‘Meat’ball Tacos, featuring hand-pressed white button mushrooms, walnuts, and gluten-free oats marinated with house-made sake teriyaki sauce, sautéed and served on a bed of romaine leaves and salsa. This is paired with an Espresso Melati, crafted with a potent mix of Melati Classic, black coffee, and honey.
While you’re it, don’t forget to post photos of your Melati Veganuary adventures on Instagram and you might just stand to win the Singapore exclusive Melati Classic Starter Set, which includes a 200ml bottle of Melati Classic in a box with a customisable handwritten note, recipe card, and 200ml Perrier.
More information here.
BLACK FLY BIRD 