Famous Ginza Omakase Restaurant from Tokyo, Sushi Takahashi is opening in Singapore at Mohammad Sultan Road. This is the first international outpost of Chef Jun Takahashi’s namesake restaurant.

After honing his skills at prestigious three Michelin-starred sushi omakase restaurants including Kanesaka and Saito, Chef Jun Takahashi opened a top-tier culinary haven in the upscale Ginza district in Tokyo. And its popularity means that it is always a challenge trying to snag a reservation at this highly-rated omakase resaturant.

Helming Sushi Takahashi Singapore is Chef Rinto Sasagawa who has worked with Chef Jun Takahashi for the past eight years.

Experience the art of omakase integrated with Zen philosophies at Sushi Takahashi. Its interior design embodies Zen principles, offering an atmosphere where every detail exudes calmness. We are absolutely in love with their Zen garden!

Sushi Takahashi is easily the most beautiful omakase restaurant in Singapore.

The whole experience seamlessly blends peaceful simplicity with refined elegance, welcoming guests to a thoughtful exploration of the culinary world.

The omakase lunch at Sushi Takahashi Singapore starts from S$180/pax, while you can go for the full Takahashi experience by opting for their signature omakase menu at S$480/pax during dinner.

Course after course, the chefs never fail to surprise us with their skills and culinary prowess. Every dish was stellar but here are some of our favourite items that we had during the omakase dinner.

This Crab Croquette with shaved truffle and truffle bisque was superb.

Then it was a dish of unagi vs anago.

We usually prefer anago because we love the dense texture and light taste, but the chef’s rendition on the lightly looked unagi blew our minds. We’ve never had unagi like that before—the taste was so pure and clean.

Unagi is usually doused in tare, but this was as naked as it could be, allowing the crisp of the skin and the natural sweetness of the flesh to shine through. Brilliant!

We had 8 pieces of nigiri which included the likes of ebi and otoro.

You can also look forward to several signature dishes that are from the original Sushi Takahashi in Tokyo including the Uni with Ankimo, Nodoguro (Blackthroat Seaperch) and Miyazaki Wagyu Beef Sushi.

The Negitoro Hand Roll topped with a copious amount of caviar was stunning. This was the best Negitoro Hand Roll we’ve ever had.

If you are looking for a special omakase restaurant in Singapore to celebrate an occasion, you must book a table at Sushi Takahashi. And remember to do it soon because we are sure they will be fully booked for months once the word gets out.

Sushi Takahashi
4 Mohamed Sultan Road
Singapore 238955

Popular modern Japanese fusion restaurant, Omoté is opening a new outlet at Raffles City in Nov 2022.

Formerly known as Sushiro, Omoté is famous for their value-for-money Bara Chirashi Don.

Stacked high, and generously with thick cubes of raw fish, there is no reason why you should give this a miss if you truly love sashimi—or Japanese food for that matter.

Photo credit: Omoté

Do not be fooled by its unbelievably affordable price tag because what you get are insanely thick cubes of fish and a generous amount of Japanese rice.

Photo credit: Omoté

Other than the signature Bara Chirashi Don, Omoté also offers a selection of modern Japanese dishes with an Asian influence and you can find items such as sushi rolls, sashimi, and donburi on the menu.

Omoté
Raffles City
252 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 179103

Established in 2021, Takeshi-San rose to fame in Singapore’s dining scene with its iconic Sushi Kaidan staircase, modern sushi rolls and an extensive selection of Japanese dishes at reasonable prices.

Into its second year, Takeshi-San has expanded its menu to introduce Izakaya-style sharing dishes that are perfect to go with drinks. The beer lovers will love the Kirin Beer Garden, too!

From 1 to 30 July 2022 (Monday to Thursday), flash the post on ladyironchef to the friendly staff at Takeshi-San to enjoy their Seafood Platter/Yakimono Platter at S$48 (UP $68).

Here are the dishes that you must order when you are dining at Takeshi-San.

Located at the buzzing Lorong Mambong in Holland Village, Takeshi-San is a cosy and casual sushi bar/izakaya where you can have a good Japanese meal and drinks without breaking the bank.

From modern sushi rolls, to chirashi don, seafood sashimi platters, and yakitori, Takeshi-San offers a wide array of dishes for everyone and there is always something new to look forward to. Be it for sharing or solo dining, you’d be able to find something to your liking from its menu, we’re very sure of this.

Don’t miss out on Takeshi-San’s innovative take on modern sushi rolls. The signature rolls include the Ebi Tempura with cream cheese and baked eel, Salmon Aburi Mentai roll, as well as the Mexican Roll which features panko shrimp, cream cheese and boiled shrimp.

Pssst. The snobs won’t like these but we were so addicted to the Mexican Roll! The flavours went so well together, and the panko made everything even better.

Another highlight is the incredibly value-for-money Seafood Platter (S$68) which comes with half a dozen freshly-shucked jumbo oysters, salmon, salmon belly, scallops and tuna sashimi.

Yes, you read that right. This giant platter of goodness for only S$68. Scroll up and read the inclusion again; we guarantee it’ll make you want to go to Takeshi-San pronto.

The carnivores can go for the Wagyu & Yakitori Platter (S$48) which includes wagyu slices, chicken yakitori, Saikoro steak, with salad and fries on the side. Best enjoyed with Kirin Frozen Beer, you guys.

If you are having drinks at Takeshi-San with your friends after dinner, go for the Party Platter (S$48)!

We love fried food and we cannot lie. From Tori Karaage, to Ehire, Kawa Ebi, Fried Salmon Skin and French Fries, the Party Platter has a bit of all our favourite fried food.

We are always on the lookout for awesome Happy Hour promotions in Singapore and we are thrilled to report that Takeshi-San has really attractive Happy Hour deals which are available from 11.30am to 8pm daily. Look forward to S$8 wines, S$10 sake and full pint Kirin beers.

Takeshi-San has recently been announced as the first Kirin Beer Garden in Singapore, offering the beloved and sought-after Kirin Frozen Beer and Beer Cocktails.

The next time you are looking for a watering hole in Holland Village to have a great time with your squad, check out Takeshi-San for its modern Japanese dishes, value-for-money platters and affordable drinks.

Yakimono Platter S$48 (U.P. S$68)

1. Surume Ika grilled with Kosher Salt
2. Wagyu Saikoro Steak
3 Tori Yaki
4. Chicken Ball Skewers
5. Mid-Wing Skewers
6. Mini Scallops Skewers
7. Japanese Green Peppers Skewers
8. Black Mushroom Skewers

From 1 to 30 July 2022 (Monday to Thursday), flash the post on ladyironchef to the friendly staff at Takeshi-San to enjoy their Seafood Platter/Yakimono Platter at S$48 (UP $68).

T&C
1. Not valid on Public Holidays or eve of Public Holidays
2. Valid from 1 July 2022 to 30 July 2022
3. Not valid with other vouchers or promotions
4. Special price is limited to one platter per table

Takeshi-San
38 Lor Mambong
Singapore 277694

This post was brought to you by Takeshi-San.

Popular sushi chain Sen-Ryo has opened its first outlet in Singapore at Ion Orchard.

Originating from the Tochigi prefecture in Japan, Sen-Ryo has 13 outlets in Hong Kong and it is brought in by Maxim’s Caterers, the Hong Kong-based F&B group that also runs the Genki Sushi chain in Singapore.

Unlike the original Sen-Ryo in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Japan, Sen-Ryo Singapore will not be offering sushi on a conveyor belt. Instead, it will be offering full table service with dishes prepared a la minute.

The Japanese restaurant prides itself on serving “shokunin” (Japanese for artisanal) Edomae-style sushi.

On the menu, you can find a selection of Sashimi Platter, Sushi Platter, Kushiyaki, Tempura, and Donburi.

To celebrate its opening in Singapore, it is offering 5% off total net spend from now until 30 April 2021.

Sen-ryo Singapore
#03-14 Ion Orchard
2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6974 6782

Matsukiya at Paragon is a Japanese charcoal grill concept by Sushi Tei which offers traditional Kushiyaki that is grilled over binchotan. Other than Kushiyaki, the slightly upmarket Japanese restaurant also has Donburi and set lunches that start from S$25++.

The highlight of our meal was, however, not the Kushiyaki. While Matsukiya’s grilled skewers were decent, the Miyazaki A4 Ribeye Wagyu Donburi completely stole the show.

There is a selection of seafood and meat that are grilled over binchotan:

• Ise Prawn (market price)
• Gindara (S$26)
• Kagoshima Pork (S$22)
• Miyazaki A4 Wagyu (S$45)

Some of the dishes that you can Matsukiya’s Kushiyaki menu include:

• Thigh (S$4)
• Miyazaki A4 Wagyu (S$12)
• Bacon Enoki Mushroom (S$7)
• Chicken Ball (S$5)
• Pork Belly (S$5)

If you are there during lunch, there are three set lunch options that are available daily from 11.30am to 2pm and they start from S$25++.

The Wagyu Donburi set lunch (S$65++) features Miyazaki A4 Ribeye, onsen egg, foie gras and a generous serving of Ikura on the side. The set also includes an appetiser, salmon tataki, a prawn soup with a charcoal-grilled prawn and mushrooms, as well as a scoop of ice cream.

It is by far one of the most value-for-money Wagyu Donburi you can get in Singapore.

Charcoal-grilled Unagi set lunch (S$30++)

We wouldn’t go all the way to Matsukiya for the Kushiyaki but we definitely wouldn’t mind dropping by for the Miyazaki A4 Wagyu Donburi again.

Matsukiya
290 Orchard Rd, #05-04 Paragon, Singapore 238859
Tel: +65 6219 1771

Ashino is an omakase restaurant at Chijmes that’s famous for their aged sushi, and the 8-seater restaurant is so popular that there is a waitlist for a seat.

But is it really worth the hype? We waited 2 months for a seat, and finally got down to trying the S$250 omakase served by Chef Taku Ashino himself—who was trained in Tokyo for more than a decade, and worked at Hide Yamamoto before he opened his own at Chijmes in 2015.

There are 4 options for lunch: S$120, S$180, S$200 and S$250. We went for the S$250 Omakase lunch, because why go for the S$120 one when we already waited 2 months for a seat, right?

Ashino At Chijmes prides themselves on using air-flown Mt Fuji water cooked in a traditional iron kettle for their shari-sushi rice, and a great range of his fish is aged for extra flavours.

We started out with two sushi—marinated tuna in soy sauce and botan ebi—and were a little puzzled as to why we went straight into sushi instead of appetizers. Then came along more sushi, but nothing exactly stood out, rest for this piece featuring merikari (shining eyes)—a very lightly sweet white fish that was firm to the bite.

There were more appetiser-like bite-sized dishes (such as a single deep-fried hotate with lotus root) were slotted in between the sushi pieces.

In between, you may expect pieces such as hokkigai (surf clam), budai (parrot fish) and chutoro. Notably, Chef Ashino has a penchant for the very uncommon fish, but perhaps, one who gravitates more towards the simplicity of natural flavours would appreciate his omakase more.

And the most memorable ones were the sea perch that was prepared with citrus and pepper as well as the one with Uni.

Oh, we loved the fukugi tea. Made from camphor wood, smoked branches and leaves, this caffeine-free tea served at the end of the omakase meal was lightly aromatic and very palatable.

Ashino
30 Victoria Street #01-23 Chijmes, 187996
Tel: +65 6684 4567

Established in 1980, Shima at Goodwood Park Hotel is the oldest Japanese restaurant in Singapore which is known for its traditional teppanyaki. It is frequented by Japanese expats and those with has a discerning appetite for fine Japanese cuisine.

Freshly grilled food (yaki) on an iron plate (teppan), Shima offers teppanyaki courses in a slightly aristocratic yet traditional setting. In short, you can expect nothing short of the finest quality and dedicated service.

The beef tenderloin steak came with a smoky exterior and medium-rare interior. Accompanied with deep-fried garlic chips and yasai-yaki, this main course was a true stunner.

Other than its signature Teppayaki menus, Shima also offers sashimi and sushi which is air-flown at least once a week from Japan.

Every grain of rice is coated with the oil used to fry the garlic, with pepper added to elevated the overall fragrance of this dish. It was, hands down, the best garlic rice that we’ve had in Singapore.

Shima Restaurant
22 Scotts Rd
Goodwood Park Hotel
Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 6734 6281

Located in the heart of the CBD, Kinki Restaurant & Bar is an urban Japanese concept with an underground vibe that offers one of the best views of the waterfront and skyline of Marina Bay. It is a great place to hang out with your friends and unwind with Asian-inspired cocktails and bar bites at the rooftop bar, before heading down to the restaurant for a scrumptious dinner.

Kinki Restaurant & Bar is quite unlike the typical Japanese restaurants. Other than its graffiti-filled walls and murals which add on to the enigmatic charm of the place, Kinki Restaurant & Bar offers bold and cheeky modern Japanese cuisine. Think Japanese classics with a twist; expect the unexpected when you are dining here.

Kinki Restaurant & Bar has recently introduced new dishes to the menu and the highlights include Spicy Buffalo Katsu, Unagi Claypot, Buta Kakuni Claypot & Crusty Lamb Rack.

Enjoy 15% off a la carte items when you pay with your Mastercard® at Kinki Restaurant & Bar.

SPICY BUFFALO KATSU

The classic tonkatsu is given a Kinki twist in the form of a spicy Buffalo wings-inspired marinade.

Famed for its superior marbling, Nagano pork complements the Buffalo wings-inspired
marinade of Worcestershire sauce, la-yu (Japanese chilli oil) and shichimi togarashi (a classic Japanese seven-spice mix) perfectly. The cutlet is then coated in panko and fried before it’s topped with nori and shredded chilli.

The Spicy Buffalo Katsu (S$28++) is available for lunch and dinner. The set lunch (S$28++) comes with garden salad, miso soup and mochi dessert.

UNAGI CLAYPOT

Previously a chef’s special only served on occasion for regulars in the know, the Unagi Claypot has been upgraded to a permanent spot from its cameo role, and deservedly so.

Rice is fried with chopped unagi before it is finished in the claypot, topped with more unagi slathered with an addictive house-made unagi sauce.

The Unagi Claypot (S$32++) is available for lunch and dinner. The set lunch (S$32++) comes with garden salad, miso soup and mochi dessert.

BUTA KAKUNI CLAYPOT

Another claypot dish that you should try is the Buta Kakuni Claypot which is inspired by the signature Okinawan braised pork belly dish. Similar to the Chinese-style stewed pork belly, or what we know as ‘dong po rou’, the Okinawan rendition is a flavourful dish of pork belly.

Here, Hokkaido kurobuta pork belly is braised for 12 hours so that the fat renders as the pork simmers, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth texture and deep flavour. Garnished with briny umami shio kombu, the Buta Kakuni comes with Japanese rice and an onsen egg.

The Buta Kakuni Claypot (S$32++) is available for lunch and dinner. The set lunch (S$32++) comes with garden salad, miso soup and mochi dessert.

CRUSTY LAMB RACK

Fans of lamb will be delighted to know that Kinki Restaurant & Bar has finally introduced a lamb dish on the menu.

Australian lamb chops are first wet-aged in a koji yeast brine for a day. The lamb is first seared to render the excess fat off before it is coated with panko and mentaiko. The chops are baked, retaining tender meat on the inside.

Surely something to look forward to the next time you dine at Kinki Restaurant & Bar.

The Crusty Lamb Rack (S$45++) is available only for dinner.

As mentioned earlier, don’t forget to pay with your Mastercard® to enjoy 15% off a la carte items at Kinki Restaurant & Bar.

Kinki Restaurant & Bar
70, #02-02 Collyer Quay, Customs House, 049323
Tel: +65 6533 3471
Website: www.kinki.com.sg
Reservations: www.kinki.com.sg/Reservations
Deliveries: delivery.kinki.com.sg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kinkibar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kinkibar

This post was brought to you by Kinki Restaurant & Bar.

Does your heart race at the thought of spicy, kickass and lip-numbing food? Well, you will be happy to know that the new Spicy Rock at Capitol Piazza specialises in Japanese fusion food and provides an extensive menu where spice junkies can get their fix of numbing heat.

This fun hot spot will be your new go-to when you’re craving a mean kick of spice! With their creative menu, think beyond your usual Japanese fare. You can expect exciting dishes such as Spicy Rock Chicken or Beef Curry Rice, Super Spicy Tori-kotsu Ramen and their Spicy Rock Square Hot Pots—all power-packed with spices and will definitely make you rethink your ability of eating spicy food.

Here’s everything we love about Spicy Rock and why you should make a trip there soon too!

From now until 20 Dec, enjoy 30% OFF your bill at Spicy Rock when you quote ‘ladyironchef’ and show the staff that you are following @Spicyrockk on Instagram.

SALMON JALAPENO CARPACCIO

Starting off the meal was the Salmon Jalapeño Carpaccio (S$8.80). Skilfully-sliced pieces of salmon sashimi were topped with slivers of spicy Jalapeño pepper, shallots, fish roe and a spicy yet tangy sauce.

We liked how the creamy texture of the salmon paired well with the Jalapeño pepper even though it was a seemingly uncommon pairing. It was the perfect way to prepare the palette for the rest of the dishes Spicy Rock Capitol had to offer.

CHICKEN KARAAGE-FRIED WITH SALTED EGG CHILLI SAUCE

Crispy, juicy and perfectly golden-brown fried karaage pieces are coated in a sweet-and-spicy salted egg chilli sauce (S$8.80). The chilli sauce was milder in this dish than the rest of the plates at Spicy Rock Capitol and resembled sweet Thai chilli, but with a stronger kick of spice.

If you prefer gentler heat, this appetiser is the one for you!

SALMON & MENTAIKO ROLL

One of Spicy Rock’s newest innovations is the Spicy Rock & Roll Sushi B’Rito. Our favourite of the bunch was definitely the Salmon & Mentaiko Roll (S$9.80). The roll consists of sweet tamago, silky salmon sashimi, greens, crabmeat, cream cheese and a generous helping of creamy Mentaiko sauce.

It’s a little messy when you get around to eating it, but it’s definitely so worth it.

SPICY ROCK SQUARE BEEF HOT POT

If you’re coming with friends, the Spicy Rock Square Beef Hot Pot (S$35.80) is a great choice for sharing a hearty meal. The dish features a mountain of thinly-sliced Australian beef and other hot pot ingredients such as enoki and shiitake mushrooms, fishcake, chilli peppers and vegetables. The dish can also be topped with a generous sprinkle of mozzarella cheese.

The broth resembled a spicier version of a typical Korean army-stew stock and paired well with Spicy Rock’s seasoned rice. If beef is not your cup of tea, the hot pot comes with the options chicken or seafood too!

SPICY ROCK CHICKEN CURRY RICE

A must-try dish is Spicy Rock’s Curry Rice that is available in the sweeter, milder Chicken Curry option, or the richer and slightly spicier Black Beef Curry option. We had the Spicy Rock Chicken Katsu Chicken Curry Rice (S$16.80) and were blown away by the generous serving portions!

A huge cut of breaded chicken katsu drizzled with Spicy Rock Capitol’s spicy sauce greeted us alongside their signature Chicken Curry. The curry was thick and flavourful with a hint of sweetness that contrasted the mild hint of spice.

If you prefer a richer curry, try their Spicy Rock Omu Black Beef Curry Rice (S$13.80). There are even chunks of meat in the curries, making it even more delicious!

SUPER SPICY ROCK TORI-KOTSU RAMEN

For only the true spice lovers, this extra spicy bowl of chicken-based ramen is not for the faint-hearted.

The Super Spicy Rock Tori-Kotsu Ramen (S$15.80) comes with tender chicken slices, a spicy meat sauce, a ramen egg, bean sprouts, spring onions and of course, a generous serving of red chilli oil.

The spice was very well incorporated and the ramen did not lack in flavour even with the strong spice. We loved how rich the broth was, its umami chicken flavour coming through impeccably through the red chilli oil.

CHEESE RAMEN

If you don’t like your noods spicy, you might like Spicy Rock’s Cheese Ramen (S$14.80). Springy ramen noodles are steeped in a creamy, rich cheesy Tonkotsu broth. It’s topped with grilled Chashu, minced meat, a gooey egg, greens and a dollop of whipped butter!

Mix the ingredients together and melt the butter in the hot broth, to create the silkiest, most indulgent ramen you will ever eat!

BEEF TERI-YAKI SPICY ROCK BURGER

Wagyu beef makes up this thick, juicy patty in Spicy Rock’s Beef Teri-yaki Burger (S$14.80). The burger patty is then topped with a creamy slice of melty cheese, fresh tomatoes, lettuce and a runny ramen egg. It comes with a side of crispy fries and house-made sauce!

Pro tip: Cut the ramen egg and slice it to top the burger before taking a bite for maximum flavour explosion!

SOFT-SHELL CRAB RED CHILLI BURGER

The Soft-Shell Crab Red Chilli Burger (S$13.80) features whole soft shell crab sits between soft buns, melty cheese, sliced tomatoes and crisp lettuce.

The burger is also garnished with an ooey-gooey ramen egg that makes the burger all the more delicious as you slice it open to coat the toppings with the ramen egg yolk! Fries and housemade sauce accompany this burger as well.

BEEF STEAK WITH COTTON CANDY

One of the most unique dishes and definitely rather instagrammable is Spicy Rock Capitol’s Beef Steak with Cotton Candy (S$XX). Juicy slices of beef steak and a medley of fresh vegetables and mushrooms are stewed in a thick gravy. While it cooks, a whole cloud of cotton candy is mixed in, giving it a nice sweetness.

The beef was tender and broke apart with a light bite. It paired surprisingly well with the sweet gravy that reminded us of a thick teriyaki glaze.

CRANBERRY & MINT PITCHER ICED TEA

With so much spice and such hearty dishes, you will definitely be in need of something refreshing to quell the fiery heat. Spicy Rock Capitol serves up some icy drinks that are great for thirsty tipplers whose tastebuds require some firefighting.

We tried Spicy Rock Capitol’s Cranberry & Mint Pitcher Iced Tea (S$14.80). The sweet tea was the perfect way to end our fire-filled meal with its minty and refreshing taste. We especially loved that there were actual cranberries in the tea – a nice treat after a very indulgent meal.

From now until 20 Dec, enjoy 30% OFF your bill at Spicy Rock when you quote ‘ladyironchef’ and show the staff that you are following @Spicyrockk on Instagram. The deal is not in conjuction with any other promotions, vouchers or discounts. And it is also not applicable during Public Holiday and Eve of Public Holiday.

Spicy Rock Capitol
13 Stamford Road, Level B2
Capitol Piazza
Singapore 178905
Tel: +65 6499 5168
Daily: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

This post was brought to you by Spicy Rock Capitol.

Polished, elegant and intimate, Kaunta is a new Japanese restaurant in Tanjong Pagar that aims to provide diners with an authentic and lavish dining experience that’ll leave a lasting, memorable impression.

The modern 20-seater Japanese restaurant is by the same team behind The Sushi Bar—the popular sushi joint that first started at Far East Plaza.

The Sushi Bar is a restaurant for casual dining on a daily basis, but Kaunta, on the other hand, is more upmarket and made for occasions. They pride themselves on using only the freshest and most premium produce from Japan available to create their gastronomic masterpieces.

Allow the skilled chefs to take you on a multi-sensory journey; each and every bite of their meticulously crafted creations will open your eyes to the world of food from their point of view

You know that a meal visually exceeds its expectations when you dread tucking into the dish. It was almost too decadent to eat, especially after watching the chef painstakingly and meticulously assemble the entire dish.

That is how we felt before we began eating these bowls of art; each and every dish was created with so much poise and precision that it almost felt sinful to so much as move a single piece of uni.

Seafood aficionados will appreciate Bara (S$35)—a bara chirashi don featuring a medley of cubed seasonal fish, scallops, anago, unagi and ikura atop a bed of burdock gobo sushi rice.

This vibrant assemble was as pleasing to the palate as it was to the eyes and we love how the kaleidoscopic colours of the fish were further enhanced by a speckling of edible flowers and greens which made the dish almost too pretty to eat.

The seasonal fish, as promised, were exceptionally fresh, and every component provided its own unique element to the dish. Each bubble of ikura also added a lovely burst of flavour while complementing the tastes and textures of the other ingredients.  We also love how the sweetness of raw fish and ikura also paired contrastingly well with the earthiness of the burdock gobo sushi rice.

A special menu item that is available during lunch for a limited period is their A5 Wagyu Beef Bowl (S$50). This divine creation features perfectly seared chunks of the Rolls Royce of all beef, buttery foie gras, white truffle shavings and creamy uni that was balanced on a soft-boiled egg.

The impeccably tender beef paired well with the melt-in-your-mouth foie gras, creating a decadent combination of flavours that were packed full of umami. The uni added a nice briny touch to the dish without overwhelming its other components and together with the soft boiled egg, it provided the entire dish with a creamy texture that pulled all the dishes different elements together.

Kaunta Singapore
11 Kee Seng Street #01-12
Singapore 089218
Tel: +65 8788 3535
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

For the first time ever, East Japan Railway Company (JR East), one of Japan’s most notable railway companies, has come to Singapore to present an exhilarating new project in the station retail facilities of SMRT Experience. The result is an interesting multi-sensory platform “Inspiration Store” over at  Orchard Xchange in Orchard MRT.

Be sure to watch out for renowned artists, craftsmen, and chefs from Japan who will make special appearances to share their inspiring insights into the art they create.

Every few weeks, the store will transform itself, showcasing different Japanese crafts and adoring different themes and displays. The event aims to provide an immersive experience and promote sustainability and community. The current theme for the second phase of the installation—that nicely ties in the spirit of Chinese New Year—is “Spring with Daruma”. Daruma dolls are traditional Japanese dolls that symbolise of perseverance and good luck.

If you’re someone who harbours a deep fascination for Japanese culture, this is one pop-up that you really need to check out to get inspired as well as to learn a thing or two about Japan and its rich heritage.

INSPIRATION STORE 

From now until 30 April 2019, they will have a special pop-up food store that sells local Japanese snacks, comforting bowls of dashichazuke and soothing cups of freshly brewed Japanese tea.

COMFORTING BOWLS OF DASHICHAZUKE 

For the unitiated, ochazuke is one of the most basic and traditional Japanese dishes out there and the Japanese consider this rustic dish an essential comfort food that they turn to when they need something light on the palette yet comforting at the same time.

It comprises simply of rice, various toppings such as meat, vegetables and seaweed and freshly brewed tea that is doused over, creating a porridge-like concoction with a pretty thick consistency. However, for the case of Inspiration Store, dashi stock is used instead of tea, resulting in a richer broth packed full of umami, hence the name, dashichazuke.

Their Onsen Egg Set (Dine-in S$11, Take away S$9) comprises of a bed of warm rice that is topped with seaweed, sakura shrimp and a plump onsen egg. After pouring in the rich dashi stock, we broke the onsen egg and let all that yolky goodness flow out.

The egg gave the entire dish an interesting thick and creamy texture that helped it glide down our throats with ease. The flavours here were simple yet they managed to hit all the right spots, resulting in a comforting dish that really warmed the heart.

For those of you who love seafood, you can opt to have their Shrimp and Scallop Set (Dine-in S$14, Take away S$12). Here, the rice is topped with juicy chunks of shrimp, succulent scallop bits as well as sakura shrimp and seaweed.

The shrimp and scallop give a nice, chewy bite to it as well as a delicate sweetness that was a nice contrast to the savoury and dashi stock. Though the flavours here were more pronounced than the Onsen Egg Set, the various components of the dish still managed to come together to create a soothing medley of flavours that was simply addictive.

Don’t let their Wasabi Set (Dine-in S$12, Take away S$10) scare you away; fret not as this dish is not one that will leave you in tears. Instead, the wasabi here comes in a small dollop that is placed at the side of the bowl, giving you full control over how much wasabi you’d like to have in your ochazuke.

Aside from wasabi, the dish is topped with a colourful array of vegetables. When mixed together with the dashi stock, everything comes together to create a light-tasting concoction with lots of crunchy components. The wasabi provides a heated punch of flavour and the seaweed gives the overall dish a deep umami flavour.

Sashimi aficionados will be thrilled to know that Inspiration Store also has an ochazuke option which features sliced tuna. The  Zuke Maguro Set (Dine-in S$15, Take away S$13) features rice that is draped with generous slices of fresh, tender maguro slices that come pre-marinated in soy sauce.

The maguro slices added a delightfully rich umami flavour to the entire dish and each perfectly sliced piece of tuna was a melt-in-your-mouth treat that definitely elevated the simple flavours of the ochazuke.

FRESHLY BREWED JAPANESE  TEAS

Just for this event, Inspiration Store has flown in a premium type of tea from Shizuoka, Japan called Gyokuro (S$8). This aromatic, high-grade tea is considered one of the most precious and noble types of Japanese teas out there and it has a sweet, soft marine-like flavour.

The optimum temperature of the water to be used in the preparation of the tea is 60 degrees as this brings out the tea’s true essence best. With its rich flavour and soft, delicate finish, the Gyokuro tea goes satisfyingly well with a piping hot bowl of Dashichazuke.

DARUMA CRAFT BOOTH 

Aside from all that scrumptious food, Inspiration Store has a crafts corner where you can get hands-on and decorate your own adorable daruma figurines. Don’t worry about making a mess because gloves are provided!

For the uninitiated, daruma dolls are traditional Japanese dolls that symbolise perseverance and good luck.

To get your daruma figurine, all you have to do is slot one of the provided token coins into a capsule machine that stands at the entrance of the booth, turn the knob and watch your figurine slide out—gashapon style!

The booth also provides a variety of acrylic paint and colourful markers that you can use to decorate your daruma. Once decorated, they’ll pass you a little bag to put it in to bring home. They make great decorations and if you have kids, you definitely should bring them down to let them try their hands out at making their own daruma dolls.

This daruma activity will be available until 18 Feb 2019, after which a new installation will be revealed to take its place.

Keep an eye out for the next instalment via their Instagram and Facebook pages. We already can’t wait for the next phase!

Inspiration Store
Orchard MRT Xchange, #B1-30/ 31
Singapore 238878
Daily: 10.30am – 8.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

This post is brought to you by East Japan Railway Company (JR East).