Island Mix

2 Photos

by Tom Lee
on Friday, November 12, 2010 12:00 AM

One of the earlier enterprises to take a spot in the new development of JiaShan Market, Melange Oasis is an island within an island. The "market" itself is hidden down a lane, through some of the dispossessed vendors who once inhabited the previously run-down space. Shiny scales lie along the side of the alley, along with chunks of flesh and the odd rag-and-bone store, presenting such an unexpected vista for diners seeking the market that many have turned back convinced of having taken a wrong turn.

It's only when you've gone past the remnants of past occupants that the seeker stumbles upon a revitalized space. Replacing weeds with herb gardens, shattered glass with insulated windows and crumbling concrete with freshly painted walls, the whole premises has been transformed into a self-proclaimed eco-conscious space.

Taking the impetus from the developers, Mélange Oasis has constructed much of its interior - including floors, tables, chairs, the food counter and the sink in the bathroom - from bamboo in order to give the place a natural feel. Solar panels in the roof are meant to supply the venue with its hot water, while inside, toilet paper and hand towels are made from recycled materials. Owned by the same people that started Vienna Café, the restaurant also hopes to mimic the popular movie nights in the new space.

Currently open mainly for the breakfast and lunch crowd, the menu is concise, drawing from (as the café's name suggests) a mélange of influences. Thai curries, Chinese snacks, daily pastas and risottos, Mediterranean dishes sampling from Italy to Turkey, and daily specials all contribute to the 20 or so items that make up the variegated eating options. Many of the vegetables - as much as 80 percent - are sourced from local, organic suppliers.

Eating at Mélange reminds one of The Good Life: it's charmingly presented in an innocent, unpretentious manner by do-gooders trying to make the world a little greener with a basic culinary approach and a happy-go-lucky attitude. Home-made food is whipped up in a gleeful whirl of garden ingredients. It's the friendliness of the basic items that charms visitors, whether it's house-made ginger ale or grandma's brownie recipe.

The Bottom Line: Though Melange Oasis' team is new to eco-friendly practices, it's a jolly little spot, both for those sitting out in JiaShan Market's communal courtyard and those relaxing in the wood-dominated interiors.