Tokyo, June 2016 – Mr. King and I made it a point to squeeze in an omakase dinner featuring yuba (湯葉) or tofu/bean curd skin. Yuba is a common ingredient in Japanese cuisine, but a yuba course meal is only found in traditional Japanese restaurants or temples. Ume no Hana is one of the most famous yuba…
Tag: Japanese cuisine
Narisawa‘s Satoyama Cuisine
Tokyo, June 2016 – The culinary philosophy of 2-Michelin star Narisawa (#8 -World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2016 & #2 – Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2016) is based on the lifestyle known as Satoyama. “Responding to the four seasons, the severe changes between them, understanding this environment, and living our lives taking only the most necessary…
Tempura Kondo
Tokyo, June 2016 – “If Tempura Kondo is good enough for Prime Minister Abe, it is good enough me!” – joked Mr. King. It was rumored the 2-Michelin star Tempura Kondo was in fact, Abe’s first choice restaurant for hosting American President Obama on his visit to Tokyo. We were curious and luckily got a…
Mrs. King Dreams of Jiro Sushi
Tokyo, June 2016 – I finally made it to the most famous sushi restaurant in the world – Sukiyabashi Jiro in Ginza. It was an experience of a lifetime: 1) Jiro’s omakase was exquisite, 2) Watching the masterful Chef Jiro Ono craft each sushi was a graceful performance in itself, 3) A privilege to eat sushi…
Shinji at St. Regis
Singapore – Another sushi lunch with another sushi-addict friend! In my post “Shinji by Kanesaka” (#32 Asia’s Best Restaurants 2015), I mentioned that Shinji is my favorite sushiya in Singapore. Its sister sushiya – Shinji at St. Regis (newly minted One Michelin star in July 2016) – is another favorite of mine. We were lucky to…
BINCHO: Underground Yakitori
Singapore – My BFF and foodie, Hilda never ceases to surprise me in her choices for our impromptu girls’ night out – BINCHO at Hua Bee. A hole in the wall – the entrance was a gray metallic door next to trash bins and under air conditioners. It was no ordinary “hole” – the yakitori was non-conventional….
Ginza Sushi Ichi, Singapore
Singapore, April 2016 –. Last week, I visited Ginza Sushi Ichi (newly minted One Michelin star in July 2016 and the Singapore outpost of Michelin 1-star Sushiichi in Tokyo) for lunch with my friend (a sushi-addict like me). It was superb! We selected the Tokusen Nigiri set – 10 pieces of sushi, miso soup and dessert. Sushi…
First Time at Sushi-Ichi
Singapore, September 2013 – Over the past few years, a number of gourmet Japanese restaurants have sprung up in the Lion City. The latest comer is Michelin 1-star Sushi-Ichi, which hails from Ginza, Tokyo. Sushi-ichi takes pride in being “the first in Singapore to offer an exquisite degustation menu featuring top-tier Kyoto Kaiseki, complimented with…
Nihonyori RyuGin
Tokyo, June 2010 – By chance and perseverance, we were able to get a last minute reservation at Nihonyori RyuGin. We felt extremely fortunate – since it was one of the most unforgettable meals in Tokyo for us. When we visited RyuGin, it was ranked #48 in World’s Best Restaurants list 2010 – no small feat. Opened…
Artisan Steak at Fat Cow
Singapore, November 2015 – When selecting a venue to celebrate my friend, Hilda’s birthday, I had to think extra hard since she is an epicurean with a passion for meats. We decided on dinner at the “off-the-beaten track” artisan meat specialist – Fat Cow. The Japanese-inspired steakhouse was cozy, with a U-shaped counter that accommodated…
PAKTA-Nikkei Cuisine
Barcelona, February 2016 –The Michelin 1-star Peruvian-Japanese PAKTA is regarded as the next generation of dining experience and an Albert Adrià (of El Bulli fame) creation. Adrià brought together Kioko Ii from Japan and Jorge Muñoz from Peru and formed PAKTA – meaning “Together, Union” in the original language of indigenous Peruvians. Since Mr. King…
Shinji by Kanesaka, Raffles Hotel
Singapore – I was quite unaware of Chef Kanesaka’s esteemed reputation in the culinary world when I first ventured to Shinji by Kanesaka– his first sushi-ya outside of Japan. Having heard from a friend that a famous sushi-ya from Ginza had opened at Raffles Hotel, I was curious to try it. That was in 2010,…
Mrs. King LIFESTYLE 