COCONUTS HOT SPOT — The people behind Telok Ayer cafe Sarnies have just launched a new concept called Jar’d, and it’s all about healthy eating. So what makes it stand out from the myriad salad places in the CBD? It’s basically a mason jar salad bar… and that in itself makes it the first of its kind in Singapore (also, the Instagram-worthy jars don’t hurt).
Each re-usable container is beautifully layered with ingredients going where they’re supposed to be — the dressing and protein sit on the bottom, everything else goes into the middle part, and leafy greens fill up the top — so you’ll never have to deal with the disappointment of soggy, unappetising meals.
You’re supposed to give your jar a good shake before tucking into its contents, but that can be a little bit tricky, seeing as how they’re packed to the brim with loads of good stuff. So you’d be better off bringing your lunch back to the office and transferring the salad into a proper bowl.
But hey, if you wanna look cool chillin’ on the streets while eating your salad from a jar, by all means, go ahead.
Available in two sizes (750ml, $12-$12.50; and 1litre, $15-$16), the salads include meaty options like roast chicken and pesto with baby spinach, black olives, cherry tomatoes and pine nuts, or tuna tataki with bonito flakes, baby spinach, seared tuna, edamame, and soy and mirin dressing. For all-veggie jars, try the quinoa and feta salad that includes pistachios, pomegranate, black olives and pumpkin seeds, or the vegan zoodle pad Thai filled with zucchini, cashews, carrots, bean sprouts, purple cabbage and sesame dressing.
If you’re not entirely sure what to do with your container after lunch, bring it back to the cafe the next time you pop by (they’ll recycle it) and get $1 off your subsequent salad purchase.
Drinks on the menu include the usual coffees, chai lattes and hot chocolates, as well as raw and vegan superfood shakes, with blends like peanut butter, almond milk, banana and goji berry, or cashews, mixed berries, chia seeds and dates.
Oh, and Jar’d apparently boasts the world’s first vegan soft serve made from coconut water — Cocowhip is free of dairy, soy and gluten, it’s organic and vegan-friendly, and it’s pretty much almost fat free (97 percent, to be exact). We’re usually wary of desserts that claim to be good for you, but try it for yourself to see if guilt-free snacking can actually taste decent.
Choose from flavours like original coconut, cacao bliss and matcha slim ($6.50), add superfood toppings like chia seeds ($0.50), sweet cacao nibs ($1.50) or fruit salad ($2), then end off with a drizzle of sauces like orange marmalade ($1) or apple pie ($1).
Jar’d by Sarnies is at #B1-38, Tower 1, One Raffles Place, 1 Raffles Place. Mon-Sat 7.30am-3.30pm.
