HY California - Japanese Fusion

I have been on a Japanese fest these past few weeks.  I guess mostly out of guilt from all the post holiday eating fests, and therefore Japanese cuisine seems most appropriate for something relatively "healthy".  And so to continue our Japanese food streak, my husband and I ate at HY California in Marina Bay Sands.  This is celebrity chef Hide Yamamoto's casual Japanese fusion restaurant.

The place is overlooking the bay at the top floor of the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.  It has an al fresco dining area which is just lovely and has a very relaxed atmosphere.

For starters we had the Wasabi Guacamole (SGD 9.00).  This was a very refreshing combination, and the bruschetta had a pleasing kick from the wasabi spread.

Wasabi Guacamole (SGD 9.00)

For mains, I had the Texas Roll (SGD 18.00) which was made of angus beef, avocado, onions, and steak sauce.  I thought this was an interesting twist to the usual japanese roll.  This was pretty tasty though the angus beef was on the tough side.

Texas Roll (SGD 18.00)

Close up of the Angus Beef

My husband had the Chef's 8 (SGD 48.00) which is an assorted Nigiri.  Nothing creative about this versus the other dishes, though the assortment of seafood was not bad.

Chef's 8 (SGD 48.00)

HY California is a good place for a light meal and great ambience.  Very relaxed and almost romantic vibe to the place.  Dishes were pleasant, but I guess I had not found anything worth raving about.  I don't mind coming back and hopefully try out other more interesting finds in their menu.

HY California

8 Bayfront Avenue

L1-86 (top floor) The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands

Tel #: 6688 7426

Himawari Japanese Restaurant - Hidden Japanese Find

I was very pleased with my new discovery today when a friend took me to Himawari Japanese Restaurant in Alexandra.  I have been working nearby Alexandra for over a year now and did not even realize this restaurant existed!  It is apparently well known for the office lunch crowd, though it is tucked away in one of the office buildings and a bit difficult to spot.

The place serves several set menus which change daily.  I had the Salmon Makajiki Hamachi Don Set Menu (SGD 21.80).  The noodles served were cooked perfectly with just the right amount of chewiness.  The sashimi was really fresh, and the japanese rice served under the fish was excellent.

Salmon Makajiki Hamachi Don (SGD 21.80)

Himawari has other set menus available priced at SGD 12.80 for a fried variety while others priced at SGD 18.80 for teppanyaki dishes.  I was delighted with this new restaurant find and even more pleased that pricing is decent as well.  Definitely will make an effort to walk here for lunch every so often.

Himawari Japanese Restaurant

991B Alexandra Road

#01-08/09

Tel #: 6272 1110

Itacho Sushi - Japanese Sushi Fare

One of my favorites in Ion Orchard is Itacho Sushi which serves great quality sushi.  The place is always packed though so you must practice some patience as you almost always will need to line up to get a seat.  Service and turnover is fast so don't get intimidated by the long queue.

First up for our table were the Super Jumbo Scallops Sushi (SGD 6.90 per piece).  The scallops don't look exactly appetizing in my picture below, but boy were they extremely sweet and juicy.  The taste and freshness were just amazing, so definitely worth the additional cost over regular scallops.

Super Jumbo Scallops (SGD 6.90 per piece)

On the specials/ sale menu that day was the Salmon with Soy Sauce Sushi (SGD 0.40 per piece).  I was a little apprehensive trying out cooked salmon for sushi, but this came out very delicious.  The sweetness of the soy sauce used to marinate this salmon added great flavor to the fish.  And this was definitely a steal at SGD 0.40 per piece!

Salmon with Soy Sauce Sushi (SGD 0.40 per piece)

We also tried out the Fatty Tuna with Spring Onion Roll (SGD 7.00 for 4 pcs).  This was alright, though the portions of fatty tuna were too tiny to really enjoy and savor the taste of the fish.  I thought the cheaper, regular tuna would have been a more pragmatic option.

Fatty Tuna with Spring Onion Roll (SGD 7.00 for 4 pcs)

Last of our sushi orders was the Fatty Yellow Fin Tuna Sushi (SGD 3.00 per piece). This was alright, but I guess I have never really been a fan of yellow fin tuna so the fatty version was just the same for me.

Fatty Yellow Tuna Sushi (SGD 3.00 per piece)

Since we could not really taste the fatty tuna on the sushi roll we ordered, we decided to get Fatty Tuna Sashimi (SGD 22.80 for 3 pcs).  This sashimi was amazing -- really fresh and sweet.  The tuna just absolutely melts in your mouth.  I decided to chew very slowly to savor the taste.  This is definitely a favorite.

Fatty Tuna Sashimi (SGD 22.80 for 3 pcs)

Itacho Sushi is definitely a favorite for me.  I highly recommend this place for sushi lovers such as myself.  Some of the dishes are on the expensive side but definitely worth it for those who appreciate good sushi.

Itacho Sushi

2 Orchard Turn

#B2-18 ION Orchard

Tel #: 65098911

Saboten (Part 2) - Oyster Katsu Specials

As I had written in my previous blog entry, Saboten is one of my absolute faves for Japanese Pork Tonkatsu.  My friends and I ate here for dinner, and I was pleasantly surprised that the Oyster Specials were back!  I had this once last year and thought the oysters were superb.  So I've been patiently waiting since then for the oyster menu to make a special appearance again.

I ordered the Oyster and Tenderloin Katsu Set (SGD 26.00).  The pork tenderloin has always been consistent in quality, and this katsu did not disappoint.  The gigantic oysters were really juicy and fresh.  Just as good as I remembered it from last year's specials.

Oyster and Tenderloin Katsu Set (SGD 26.00)

A new discovery for us was that you could actually order the Grated Radish (SGD 2.00) as dipping sauce on the side.  I would alternate dipping the katsu between the grated radish and the regular tonkatsu sauce.  Absolutely delicious!

Grated Radish (SGD 2.00)

Yet another great meal at Saboten.  Do visit them soon if you want to try out the oyster specials as I think they will only have them in their menu until December.

Saboten
9 Raffles Boulevard
#P3-01 Parco Marina Bay, Millenia Walk
Tel #: 6333 3432

Shin Kushiya - Japanese Grill

One of our staple restaurants in VivoCity is Shin Kushiya, which specializes in Japanese barbecue grill.  They have a good selection of meat and veggie barbecue at very reasonable prices.  Each barbecue ranges from about SGD 2.00 to 15.00.

My husband and I normally order a whole range of barbecue dishes, but only decided on 2 of our favorites for this visit.  We had the Nikuzume Shiitake (SGD 2.80) and the Gyu Enoki Maki (SGD 3.80).  The Nikuzume Shiitake is shiitake mushrooms stuffed with ground chicken.  The shiitake mushrooms were really tiny that day -- so they gave us 3 instead of the usual 2 pieces.  Though the size was disappointing, the quality was still just as good.  I love the marinade they use and how the flavor is nicely absorbed by the mushroom.  The Gyu Enoki Maki on the other hand is a bunch of enoki mushrooms wrapped in beef.  This was nicely done as well, and the marinade was just as delicious.

Nikuzume Shiitake (SGD 2.80) and Gyu Enoki Maki (SGD 3.80)

We also ordered the Kinoko Tofu (SGD 7.80).  This is a silken tofu with japanese mushroom.  This was another good dish, and I like how the breading of the tofu did not get overly soggy with the sauce.

Kinoko Tofu (SGD 7.80)

For mains, my husband and I ordered different types of don buri - I had the Premium Mini Hokkaido Don (SGD 28.80).  This had raw tuna belly, salmon roe and hokkaido sea urchin.  This was decent, but nothing amazing.  The freshness of the seafood was alright.

Premium Mini Hokkaido Don (SGD 28.80)

My husband ordered the Shanshodi Udon (SGD 17.00).  This had slices of salmon, tuna, and swordfish.  Also decent, but again nothing to rave about.  The slices of sashimi were a little on the thin side.

Shanshodi Udon (SGD 17.00)

I think that sashimi is not really Shin Kushiya's strong suit.  However they do have excellent and very decently priced Japanese barbecue.  So I will recommend this place for their well executed grilled dishes which I always do come back for.

Shin Kushiya

1 Harbourfront Walk

#02-120 Vivo City

Tel #: 6275 8766

Saboten - Best Japanese Tonkatsu

I will go ahead and say it -- I absolutely LOVE Saboten!  Saboten is one of my favorite restaurants for Japanese pork tonkatsu.  The tenderloin katsu, the crispy breading, the tonkatsu sauce, and even the cabbage sesame dressing are to die for.

I had serious craving for tonkatsu so I convinced my husband to have dinner at Saboten this evening.  Saboten is located at the top floor of Parco Department Store in Millenia Walk.

We normally order their Tenderloin Katsu Set, but today we tried out some of their specials.  They have a limited edition Cheese Katsu selection available for the months of September to October, so I chose the Cheese Tenderloin Katsu Supreme (SGD 23.00).  This had the cheese tenderloin katsu, regular tenderloin, and ebi/ prawn.  I really liked this assortment.  The melted gooey cheese added a little twist to the katsu.  And because there were other types of meat in the dish, the cheese did not get tiring at all.

Cheese Tenderloin Katsu Supreme (SGD 23.00)

My husband got the Grated Radish Tenderloin Katsu (SGD 24.00).  This is served with a vinegar sauce on the side which you pour on both the radish and the pork.  This was very delicious as well, and my husband thoroughly enjoyed it.  The vinegar and radish were the perfect balance of tanginess for the pork.

Grated Radish Tenderloin Katsu (SGD 24.00)

All the katsu dishes come with free flowing cabbage, rice, and miso soup.  There is also one serving of green tea ice cream served at the end of the meal.      

This was another satisfying visit to Saboten.  I highly recommend this place for tonkatsu and pork lovers like me!  Feel free to try anything from their different katsu varieties, but I suggest you stick to those that make use of the tenderloin pork.  The meat is just extra juicy versus the regular loin.

Saboten
9 Raffles Boulevard
#P3-01 Parco Marina Bay, Millenia Walk
Tel #: 6333 3432

Waku Ghin - Japanese Fine Dining and the Ultimate Foodie Experience

As my blog entry title suggests, this is the ultimate foodie experience I've had thus far.  Waku Ghin is a fine dining Japanese restaurant located at Marina Bay Sands.  I first heard about this restaurant from a friend in Australia.  Chef Tetsuya Wakuda (the owner) is a well renowned celebrity chef in Australia, with his restaurant Tetsuya's needing 6-months advanced booking.

I finally had the chance to try them out after a bunch of foodie friends came over to visit in Singapore.  The restaurant is very exclusive -- you will of course need a reservation, and you will also need to provide your credit card details and send a signed form via email or fax as guarantee.  I guess with the amount of premium and fresh ingredients they have to purchase for the dinner, they would be losing a lot of money if people cancelled at the last minute.

Waku Ghin only offers a 10-course degustation menu priced at SGD 400 per person.  Yes, it's very pricey, but I felt it was worth every penny.

The meal takes about 2 to 3 hours, where the starters and main course are served at a chef's kitchen.  Our chef was Chef Cory Soo Thoo.  He took the time out to carefully explain each and every single ingredient, where it's sourced, and how he will cook it.  The entire experience felt like an entire culinary journey.

The meal started out with one of the chefs showing the types of seafood the they will be cooking for us.  They ask as well if you have any allergies to any of the food they will be serving.  Thankfully, I can eat anything!

The first dish served to us was the Cold Soup of Japanese Sweet Corn with Safron Ice Cream and Australian Winter Truffles.  This was a very pleasant tasting dish.  You could really taste the sweetness of the corn and the savory ice cream.  The truffles tasted a little bit more "woody" than the types of truffle I'm used to, which was actually very good.

Cold Soup of Japanese Sweet Corn with Saffron Ice Cream and Australian Winter Truffles

The next was a signature dish of Chef Tetsuya, the Marinated Botan Ebi with Sea Urchin and Oscietre Caviar.  Wow, this dish was definitely a masterpiece! I have never tasted such sweet shrimp.  And the sea urchin and caviar were simply amazing.  This dish was superb!

Marinated Botan Ebi with Sea Urchin and Oscietre Caviar

What followed was another fabulous appetizer which was the Charcoal Grilled Tasmanian Petuna Ocean Trout with Marinated Witlof.  I am normally not a fan of grilled fish as I find that grilling brings out the "fishiness" of the seafood.  However I threw out all of those misconceptions once I tried out this dish.  Very yummy and you could really taste how fresh the ocean trout was.  This was my husband's favorite dish amongst everything that was served.

Charcoal Grilled Tasmanian Petuna Ocean Trout with Marinated Witlof

For the main course, Chefy Cory prepared the dishes in front of us (similar to teppanyaki style).  He first cooked for us the Steamed Alaskan King Crab with Lemon-Scented Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  This dish was cooked in a bed of salt and some leaves for flavor.  Afterwards he added some olive oil which had lemon rind shavings.  This seemed like such a simple dish, but the outcome was fabulous.  

Chef Cory preparing the bed of salt where the crab would be cooked

Crab cooked in leaves for flavour

Our dish being served

Steamed Alaskan King Crab with Lemon-Scented Extra Virgin Olive Oil

After the crab, we were served Puree of Potato with Soft Poached Egg, Black Truffle and Oscietre Caviar.  This was another winning combination.  How could you go wrong with poached egg and truffle?  Loved this dish as well.

Puree of Potato with Soft Poached Egg, Black Truffle and Oscietre Caviar

The following dish was cooked on the spot similar to the crab.  This was the Braised Canadian Lobster with Tarragon.  Chef Cory likened the dish to a lobster bisque.  The butter in the dish though made it a bit heavy, so it's a good thing the serving portions were small.

Chef Cory preparing our lobster dish

Braised Canadian Lobster with Tarragon

The next dish was what I was waiting for all night -- the Japanese Ohmi Wagyu Roll from Shiga Prefecture with Maitake, Wasabi and Citrus Soy.  The wasabi was grated fresh using a special board made from shark skin.  I had never tasted wasabi like this before.  It was actually a bit sweet with only a mild kick.  The wagyu was cooked to perfection and the rest of the ingredients complemented the meat very well.  I was actually so excited to eat the wagyu, that I had forgotten to take a photo of it.  Thankfully one of my friends had taken a photo of his dish and sent it to me so I could post something here.

Fresh Wasabi grated using a board made of Shark Skin

The Ingredients

Chef Cory with our Wagyu Dish

Japanese Ohmi Wagyu Roll from Shiga Prefecture with Maitake, Wasabi and Citrus Soy

The last dish served at the chef's kitchen was the Consomme with Rice and Snapper.  This was a refreshing dish and was more subtle than the rest of the previous dishes.

Consomme with Rice and Snapper

Before moving on to dessert, we were served a special tea called Gyokuro.  It was a savory, seaweed-like tea which was very good at cleansing our palate.

Gyokuro Tea

We were transferred afterwards to the main dining hall where we were served our dessert.  The first was a Granita with Chartreuse Jelly.  This was similar to sorbet but the texture was that of a jelly.  It had a mixture of tanginess and sweetness to it which was very refreshing.

Granita of Grapefruit with Chartreuse Jelly

The second dessert was a signature dish of Chef Tetsuya.  The Ghin Cheesecake was topped with an edible silver, which was explained to us was Chef Tetsuya's favorite colour.  This cheesecake was genius!!  I am not a fan of cheesecake, but this was one of the best desserts I've ever had.  It was so light yet so satisfying.  The restaurant manager noticed how much we loved the cheesecake, and she served us another round for free.  My goodness, I devoured both cheesecakes in a matter of minutes!

Ghin Cheesecake

My devoured cheesecake

Lastly, we were served Coffee and Petit Fours.  Even the petit fours were excellent.  There was French Macarons, Cookies, Meringue, and this Green Tea White Chocolate.  Yum yum yum... The coffee looked very fancy too.  I didn't get to taste it anymore as it was too late in the evening for me to take coffee, but my husband said it was very good too.

Cafe Latte

Petit Fours

This entire experience was truly unique.  It really played on all the senses.  This is every foodie's dream come true!  The service was also fantastic.  We were very well looked after.  Even if the place is very exclusive, you will not feel intimidated at all as the staff is at your every beck and call.

I really do recommend this place to all food-obsessed people like me.  This is a once in a lifetime experience, so do visit for a special occasion.  I hope I will have a chance to come back again soon!

Waku Ghin

10 Bayfront Avenue

2nd Level of Marina Bay Sands Casino

Tel#: 66888868

Email: WakuGhin@marinabaysands.com

Tonkatsuya - Authentic Japanese Tonkatsu in Manila (Manila Series)

My sister-in-law discovered Tonkatsuya about a month back in Manila.  She was raving about the quality of their tonkatsu and how it reminded her of the original tonkatsu in Japan.  So obviously I could not wait to try it out for myself!  I immediately had my first meal there after I landed in Manila last week.

Tonkatsuya is hidden in an obscure part of San Antonio Village, Makati.  You wouldn't even think there would be any decent eateries in the dingy looking hallway where it's located.  The restaurant is really tiny too with only 3 small tables.  It looked authentic though as all the guests in the restaurant were Japanese, but I wanted to let the food speak for itself.

I ordered the Oroshi Katsu Set (PHP 230.00 or SGD 6.50) as recommended by my sister in law.  This is a tonkatsu set served with radish sauce.  Oh boy was it delicious!!  I absolutely loved the radish sauce paired with the pork.  I had not tasted radish prepared like this anywhere else.  It was slightly tangy/ sour but very mild.  It balanced the heaviness of the pork which made me want to stuff my face with even more tonkatsu.  Gosh, my mouth is still watering now just thinking about that radish sauce!  The price was jaw-droppingly cheap too for this quality of food.

Oroshi Katsu Set (PHP 230 or SGD 6.50)

Tonkatsu up close

My mom was trying out this restaurant for the first time with me too.  She ordered the Tempura Set (PHP 230 or SGD 6.50).  They had a very generous serving of prawns.  The batter was extra crispy too which my mom really liked.  The tempura sauce was also good, but my mom ended up getting some of my radish to pair with the tempura (yes, we are both big fans of that radish sauce!).

Tempura Set (PHP 230 or SGD 6.50)

We also ordered Gyoza on the side.  I forgot to take down the price but I assure you it was affordable too.  The dumpling was cooked exactly the way I like it -- crispy/chewy on one side and soft on the other.  The inside had really yummy seasoned pork too.  

Gyoza (Forgot to take down the price!)

I was extremely satisfied with everything we had at Tonkatsuya.  The pork of course was still not at the same level as the Black Pork in Tonkichi or the Tenderloin Katsu in Saboten.  But for the price, I am not one to complain at all!  I highly recommend Tonkatsuya for those looking for a no-frills place with really good food.  They are able to maintain the quality of their food since the owner (a former tonkatsu chef in Japan) cooks for the restaurant, and I hear they deliberately have not expanded to maintain authenticity.

Tonkatsuya also caters.  So if I ever hold a dinner party in Manila, I just might give them a call.

Tonkatsuya

LGF C Palm Tower

St. Paul Rd.

San Antonio Village, Makati City
TEL: (02) 896-1990

Shimbashi Soba - Handmade Japanese Soba

I was doing some shopping with my husband in Paragon today when we decided to eat in one of our favorite soba places - Shimbashi Soba.  Service in this restaurant is extremely fast so this was ideal for a quick bite.  Shimbashi Soba serves fresh handmade soba noodles, and they pride themselves in making the noodles from scratch in the restaurant itself.

I ordered my staple dish which was the Tenchirashi Soba (SGD 17.80).  This is a chilled noodle with tempura and poached egg.  The tempura is a mixture of prawn, mushroom (I think it was enoki mushroom but I may be wrong), and other vegetables.  I am a big fan of tempura so this was an instant fave.  I love the fried mushrooms paired with the yummy soba sauce.  I really like this dish but it is quite heavy so you need to be extra hungry to finish this up!

Tenchirashi Soba (SGD 17.80)

My husband also ordered a chilled soba - the Ume Ten Oroshi Soba (SGD 18.80).  The noodles are topped with grated radish, japanese plum, and wild vegetables.  They serve prawn tempura on the side.  This dish is a bit simpler and not as heavy as my order.  My husband says it was very refreshing and he finished up his plate rather quickly too, which I take as a good sign.

Ume Ten Oroshi Soba (SGD 18.80)

For you japanese noodle lovers out there, I recommend you try out Shimbashi Soba at Paragon.  There is a lot of variety in their menu for those who fancy other types of soba- they have over 2 dozen choices of meat/ vegetable/ soba combinations which can be served either warm or chilled.  I personally like chilled noodle, but I think the warm soba is more popular.  So you guys can give that a try too if warm noodles are more your preference.

Shimbashi Soba

#B1-41 Paragon

290 Orchard Road

Tel: 6735 9882

Tonkichi - Japanese Tonkatsu

I happen to love deep fried pork, especially Japanese tonkatsu.  So it was a no brainer for me to try out Tonkichi in Orchard Central, whose menu reads "Tonkichi is tonkatsu, Tonkatsu is Tonkichi."

I ordered the Kurobuta Kata Rosu Set (SGD 32.90).  Kurobuta is black pork which is known for its tender and marbled meat.  The dish did not disappoint!  The black pork was really soft and juicy without being too oily.  It was paired perfectly with tonkatsu sauce with ground sesame seeds.  The meal came with unlimited cabbage, rice, and miso soup similar to other tonkatsu places.  Perhaps my only qualm (albeit a minor one) was that the salad dressing for the cabbage was not as good as that of Saboten, my other favorite tonkatsu place in Singapore. 

Kurobuta Kata Rosu Set (SGD 32.90)

Freshly Ground Sesame Seeds for the Tonkatsu Sauce

My husband, being the more health conscious of us two, ordered the Sashimi Zaru Soba Set (SGD 28.90).  I apologize as my photo below does not really do justice to the dish.  My husband could not stop raving about how fresh the sashimi was.  There were lots of "ooohhss" and "aahhhs" as he tasted each sashimi -- from the scallop to the ika (squid) to the maguro (tuna).  The soba as well was freshly made and was equally a winner.

Sashimi Zaru Soba Set (SGD 28.90)

I will definitely go back to Tonkichi in the near future, and maybe this time I'll try out their chirashi if their sashimi is really as fresh and yummy as my husband says it is.

Tonkichi - Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road, #07-06
Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: 62387976
Fax: 62387312

*  They also have branches at Ngee Ann City, Suntec City, Isetann Scotts and Tampines Mall.

Yomenya Goemon - Japanese Spaghetti House

I had just visited my chirporactor in Raffles Place and decided to swing by this restaurant in Marina Bay Link Mall with my husband.  Yomenya Goemon is an interesting place.  It's a Japanese restaurant that serves only spaghetti/ pasta dishes.  It's not a fusion restaurant, but instead you can say it's Japan's interpretation of italian spaghetti.

They have 32 different pasta dishes ranging from aglio olio (olive oil and garlic), tomato, and cream base.  Most pasta dishes cost SGD 12.90 each and the serving portions are quite hefty.  So  you will probably spend from SGD 15 to 20 per person if you want to add on drinks or a salad.

I had the Napolitean pasta with mozarella and sausage (SGD 12.90).  Pasta was cooked perfectly al dente.  The sauce was a little on the sweet side but still very good.  The poached egg in the middle of the spaghetti was an interesting touch, but it made my pasta a bit too heavy.

Napolitean Sauce with Mozarella and Pork Sausage (SGD 12.90)

Close-up of Napolitean Spaghetti

My husband had the Basil and Fresh Mozarella (SGD 12.90).  He thought it was very good too, and the pasta had some yummy mozarella chunks.  The tomato sauce was also very fresh.

Basil and Fresh Mozarella (SGD 12.90)

Overall I would recommend Yomenya Goemon if you are looking for a unique pasta experience.  Service was also fast and efficient, so those working in the Raffles area could go here for a quick lunch.

Yomenya Goemon
Marina Bay Link Mall, Marina Bay Financial Center,
8A Marina Boulevard, #B2-03,Singapore 018981
Tel: 65096470