Jagabee

おいしい!!!

Okay, I wrote, “Oishii!” which means delicious. I just got my eager hands on some Jagabee potato products, and I absolutely love ... munching on them. Many years ago, a small packet, brought in Hokkaido, was given to me as present and till now, I still remember it as the best potato sticks I ever have. Even now, this has not changed. The Hokkaido premium variety, made from non-GMO Hokkaido potatoes, cannot be found in just any supermarkets, so imagine my joy when I saw them in Emporium Shokuhin. The natural taste of potatoes is pronounced in this range of Jagabee products, thus no MSG is needed to enhance the taste. In fact, only salt is used on the colourful, cute Pirika cubes—the colours come from the use of normal, natural red and purple potatoes. I also love Imoko and Kobutaro for its strong taste of umami due to the addition of scallop extract and dried bite-sized sheets of kelp.

So looking forward to get Pokkuru! And latest update: I got them! Eating those crunchy French fries is reliving the fond memories of tasting such awesome potato chips for the first time.

Country of Origin: Japan
Where to get this: Choco Express at AMK Hub and Emporium Shokuhin (This grocer is currently not in operation)

Okayama Shine Muscat Grapes

I used to say Kyoho Grapes are the best grapes. Now that has changed, after I have tried Okayama Shine Muscat. Thin skin, firm juicy flesh that tastes refreshing and blissfully sweet. And a hint of floral aroma, incorporated with a touch of flavour of wine and melon is what makes these beautiful jade green orbs taste so special. A must try.

Note: There are Shine Muscat grapes from Korea and other prefectures of Japan. While these grapes spot the distinctive floral wine flavour, this aroma is not as pronounced and the level of sweetness is not comparable with that of Shine Muscat grapes from Okayama. While Shine Muscat grapes from outside Okayama are worth a try, they should not be used as benchmark for Shine Muscat grapes.

Country of Origin: Japan
Where to get this: Emporium Shokuhin (This grocer is currently not in operation), NTUC and Cold Storage

Valrhona Chocolates

As I had said before in another post about gourmet chocolates, premium chocolates are totally different from the common ones found in most supermarkets. Premium ones are made from pure, natural ingredients, and the rich taste and smooth yet not waxy texture show it. Valrhona chocolate, famous for use in cakes, is definitely one of my favourite brands of chocolates.

It is not easy to find this brand of chocolates, so imagine my joy when I first spotted them in Emporium Shokuhin. Best of all, there are occasional discounts on specific types of chocolates, so I grabbed the ones on offer.

Andao has the richest chocolatey taste of the lot while Tanariva features the flavour of caramel, adding a hint of excitement to the taste. And amazingly, no caramel is added to Tanariva, the flavour comes from the cocoa itself. Yes, quality chocolates are like wines, they have their own characteristic bouquet and flavour. Ivoire has my nod of approval due to strong flavour of cocoa butter and the addition of raspberries to give that extra kick and crunchiness to the chocolate. Guanaja is elegant and intense in taste. I also like Manjari a lot due to its fruity taste.

For best appreciation of the chocolates, savour it at room temperature, or at least, not straight out from the fridge.

Country of Origin: France
Where to buy: Emporium Shokuhin (This grocer is currently not in operation)

Shio & Pepe - Quaint Little Restaurant

Closed

Another new dining concept is opened in Emporium Shokuhin! As a regular of this Mini Japan, I, naturally, will check out this new kid on the block, which is a hybrid of Italian and Japanese cuisine.

The interior of the restaurant is the highlight. A peek at the inside of the restaurant to see the high ceiling, white wooden garden chairs, cream brick walls and scattered floral decorations, and it is hard to resist going in to try out the food there. There is this quaint charm in place, where the idyllic vibes of Italian setting and Japanese brand of cosiness and attention to details are moulded together.

I like this place's Bacon Carbonara because the smooth pasta is cooked to almost Al Dente texture. The pasta is firm, but is thoroughly cooked, which caters well to Singaporeans' preferences. The cream sauce has that distinct aroma of cream while being light enough not to overwhelm our tastebuds. Though they could have been more generous by adding more bacon. The bacon cubes, which are lightly grilled to release the flavour of the bacon and imbued the meat with taste of grilled meat, are pretty sparse.

As for the fries, the highlight is the rich inherent flavour of potatoes packed within the fries. They still taste great without the mayonnaise. In fact, I had mentioned before in another post that fries made from quality potatoes will have their own aromas while GMO ones commonly used in fast food restaurants only taste decent if paired with chili sauce, ketchup and mayonnaise.

Parma ham on Pizza tastes good because it is hard to go wrong with Parma ham. But the crust is too dry and hard.

Service is okay. Nothing special to make mention of.

While this restaurant does not provide any unique dining experience, this is still a place for consideration when wanting to have a casual meal in nice, chic ambience.

My Thoughts: Not Bad

Note: This restaurant is no longer in operation.

Kohi-Koji - Nice Cakes

Closed

Emporium Shokuhin: an assemble of various dining concepts, it would not be complete without a cafe for patrons to chill out after meals, right? Enter Kohi-Koji, an open-concept cafe that specializes in coffee, cakes and sandwiches.

The place looks more like a mini square in Emporium Shokuhin, located between two escalators. A little counter displaying pretty cakes and delicious looking, and sometimes unique, sandwiches, and some light beige furniture, and there you have it, a small, quaint cafe. I do feel that this is more for a quick bite, rather than a place for long tea break.

The dessert, Mixed Berries Strawberry Champagne Verrine, it looks very pretty. But does it taste as good as it looks? The answer is yes, if there is an appreciation for the amalgam of different flavours. Since this dessert is created with real strawberries, from the sauce to the custard, it is bursting with the goodness, meaning the aroma … and tart taste, of fresh strawberries.

When I first saw the sauce lacing the top of the pink custard, I did feel a slight bit of apprehension because for one, I dislike the smell and taste of preserved fruits, and most sauces have the smell and taste of preserved fruits. Also, I did wonder if the sauce was made with artificial strawberry flavour, which I hate. But all my worries were dispelled the moment I tucked into it. The sauce simply smells and tastes like fresh strawberries. The cute dollop of cream perched on the top is very fragrant, so much that when I took off the lid, I immediately caught a whiff of the aroma of vanilla cream. Eat the cream with the custard, the combination of sweetness and sourness worked so well that it is hard to stop at few mouthfuls. And they taste great with the fruits also. The champagne sauce is placed at the bottom of the verrine, and a swig of this adds a touch of indulgence and dimension to the taste of the cream and custard. So try to scoop up the dessert from the bottom to get to the champagne. The best part is this dessert is only $4.80. Kind of unbelievable though I am totally digging it.

The cakes are also good, no doubt about it. The cream used is light yet substantial enough to impart that blissful tummy-filling feeling, which is just what I need to complete a meal. The sponge is moist, soft and fluffy. What I like most about the rainbow cake is the lemon flavour infused into the cream, making it a more exciting cake than most of the other rainbow cakes. With the extra zest, the cream tastes a bit like lighter version of cream cheese, with the aroma of lemon. What is more, there is generous amount of cream added into the cake due to six layers of cake sponges. And I love the bright pastel colours.

And here is another good news for cake lovers: since the cafe closes at 8:30pm, the cakes are sold at 30% discount after 8:30pm. There is no reason not to grab them after dinner at Marina Square. I am doing just that already.

My Thoughts: Nice!

This cafe is currently not in operation.

Senmi Sushi - Just Another Sushi Restaurant

Closed

It is through the word of mouth about Senmi that I know of Emporium Shokuhin. But alas, this restaurant is the runt of the lot, offering nothing special as compared to its competitors.

The ambience is similar to the likes of Sushi Tei. Comfortable environment for dining, but there is nothing distinct about the venue. But then again, this hardly matters if the food is good.

The problem is that the food is just comparable to those of the chain restaurants. The menu features all the usual suspects of various types of rolls and sushi. And the quality is not a league above those restaurants. This contrasts greatly with another restaurant of Emporium Shokuhin, Takujo, whose raw seafood is so fresh. The salmon served in Senmi is pale in colour, which is not what I like to see in salmon. This is no different from those salmon sashimi I had at the common mass produced restaurants. I prefer quality salmon that has deeper hue of orange, and too bad that I cannot find it here.

The chirashi sounds interesting since the patrons can customize the toppings to add to the bowl of sushi rice. Though given the quality of the raw seafood, the end result is okay but not exceptional. The plus point of the chirashi is the pearl-like rice with fluffy, smooth texture.

Service is okay. Nothing special to make mention of.

This place is worth checking out if one is looking for a fairly decent Japanese restaurant serving Japanese food catered to the masses. But for unique dining experience, head to the other restaurants in Emporium Shokuhin instead.

My Thoughts: Not Bad

This place is currently not in operation.

Umi + Vino Seafood Wine Bar - Chic Hangout Place + Awesome Seafood Dishes

Closed

If we talk about ambience, Umi + Vino is considered to be the best among the restaurants under Emporium Shokuhin's umbrella. Full glass panel walls and a bar counter with fresh seafood displayed on it, this place is definitely a great venue for dates. It is hard to fault this restaurant on settings. Service is a mixed bag, ranging from very good to okay.

As for the food, well, on the first visit, I only get to try the set lunch (there is update below on subsequent visits), so the fresh seafood may send me over the moon, but for now, I am not totally wooed by the offerings of the set meals. The oysters are without a doubt exceedingly fresh, but the raspberry vinaigrette is too sweet and not tangy enough to go well with the briny flavours of the oysters. Takujo gets it so right with the ponzu sauce for the oysters, so I am surprised that this restaurant, whose focus is on seafood, does not hit the sweet spot with the accompaniment condiments. My suggestion: skip the raspberry vinaigrette and add the lemon only to enjoy the freshness of the oysters.

The Clam Chowder looks very good, but the taste seems muted, with nary the taste of the sea. While the Mushroom Soup looks messy, to the point that I did not take a photo of it, but is bursting with the woody aroma of mushrooms.

The Roasted Chicken suffers from the same problem as similar chicken main courses of other establishments, and the problem is that the breast meat is too dry and tasteless. Few restaurants can get this right, and Umi + Vino is not one of them.

The Spaghetti with Hokkaido Scallops is done right. The scallops are fresh and succulent, being lightly grilled to imbue the springy meat with a hint of charred flavour. Well, it is hard to go wrong with quality scallops. The spaghetti is prepared to the style favoured by Asians: thoroughly cooked instead of al dente. So take note.

When dessert time comes, a tray of a beautiful array of cakes will be brought out for the patrons' pickings. I recognize those to be from Kohi-Koji. No complaints here since the cakes from this cafe are of great quality. Soft, moist texture paired with very creamy cream, they get thumbs-up from me.

Actually, given that the set lunches are only $26, they are value-for-money and worth a try. Though I cannot say I love this place to the bits. Maybe the seafood platter may convert me into a fan, until then, I say I prefer the other restaurants of Emporium Shokuhin.

Update: I visit this place for the second time, and I see huge improvements made, to the point that I tag this restaurant as one of the "Highly Recommend". In fact, this restaurant is my favourite, along with Burosu Honten, among Emporium Shokuhin's offerings.

Now this place have toned down the sweetness of the raspberry shallot sauce, so it tastes just right now.

Umi salad features crunchy fresh vegetables topped with tangy sauce and pine nuts, which make this a pleasant bite.

The grilled spring chicken is what surprises me the most. Tender, succulent chicken grilled to perfection, I don't expect the chicken to be so well-prepared in such restaurants, since the chicken dishes tend to be on the dry side in European themed restaurants.

Grilled silver cod is packed with fresh omega goodness. The smooth, oily flesh of the fish, peppered with the aroma of grilled meat, is a joy to savour.

One of the big highlights of menu is the lobster, prawn and scallop burger. The charcoal black bun is fresh and fluffy, which serves as a great complement to the super fresh seafood. Lobster is perfectly grilled to retain the delightful flavours of the sea and that slightly chewy texture. Scallop, as with the ones I have in the set lunch, is a hit. Prawn patty is more nuanced in flavour as compared to the lobster and scallop, but in its form, it makes for big hearty bites, which I enjoy. And I like the very flavourful sauce drizzled onto of the fresh raw vegetables.

I am impressed. Loving this place more. Definitely going back!

My Thoughts: It is one of my Favourite Haunts!

Well, cannot go there any more since this restaurant is currently not in operation. And there is not much reason to visit Marina Square anymore.

Gyuu* Yakiniku Grill - Quality Grilled Meats

Closed

Not all restaurants at Emporium Shokuhin feature big price tags, and all have pretty value-for-money set lunches on menu. And Gyuu* is one of the restaurants to prove this. While I do not have the chance to try out the ala carte items, I am impressed with the set meals here.

The place is very spacious, which is very important here since I do not want the smoke from neighbouring tables drifting to my side. The decor is simplistic, but is chic enough to provide a conducive environment for gatherings of non-rowdy nature and even dates.

The grilled pork set showcases thin grilled pork slices that are thoroughly soaked in the tasty marinade and have their inherent robust flavour of meat unlocked by the excellent grilling technique. The quality rice of pearl-like texture complement the meat perfectly. As for the chicken set meal, the taste of the chicken is milder than that of the pork, but it pleases my palates nonetheless due to the extra subtle taste of grilled meat, with the moisture retained for good bite.

The service staffs are pretty jovial, which is all good with me. And they serve the food fast.

This is definitely one of my favourite restaurants to go to for a wallet-friendly good meal.

My Thoughts: Nice!

This restaurant is currently not in operation.

Takujo Japanese Dining - Pretty Enjoyable Dining Experience

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Emporium Shokuhin is now officially one of my favourite haunts due to the various dining concepts available in which I am impressed with the food at quite a number of restaurants there. Takujo, the upmarket Japanese restaurant happens to be one of them. While the setting is posh and classy, tending towards Western style, it is the food here and the attractive price tag that seal the deal.

The French duo of oysters is so fresh—no strong stench of iodine, just a hint of it—and creamy, completed with a slight nutty flavour and a dash of umami. The freshness of the oysters here can very well compete with that of the best oysters found in Singapore: Culina. To top it off, the tangy ponzu sauce and dashi served with the oysters make for an exciting duet, where the taste buds are teased by a myriad of simulating flavours. I never knew ponzu sauce goes so well with oysters. When the service staff asked me if I need Tabasco sauce for the oysters, I was thinking, "The ponzu sauce is so good already, who needs Tabasco sauce for the oysters?" This is one dish highly recommended.

The set lunches make for very satisfying meals. The tempura prawns served in the tempura is bigger than the usual tiger prawns, which are considered as pretty big ones as compared to other varieties already. And best of all, the flesh of the prawn is very fresh and creamy, yes, creamy, not springy. I feel like I am in tempura bliss when biting into the crisp thin batter, which has no hint of oiliness, and the succulent meat. The price is hardly jaw-dropping at less than thirty bucks, given the generous serving of huge prawns.

Sashimi and sushi set is another crowd-pleaser due to the fresh seafood served. I love it that premium seafood are included in this set. The otoro is melt-in-your mouth quality and totally has none of the fishy smell typical in most otoro, chutoro and akami. In fact, only few Japanese restaurants serve such good quality otoro. To add it on, there are hotate and negitoto maki, which are higher grade of seafood as compared to the common ones like sake and akami—I do not mind them, especially if served as accompaniment dish but I do deduct points if there are too many of these in Sashimi and Sushi sets. At a price tag of thirty plus, this is a real steal.

Negitoro with uni don is decent. I like the sweet uni perching on top the blanket of negitoro—minced otoro and chutoro to be exact. But I prefer the Negitoro don in Ginza Kuroson since I find that the negitoro in Takujo has more water content, less fat and chopped spring onions. The one here still beats its competitor in Hokkaido Izakaya.

The service here is a mixed bag. While the staffs are friendly, but they lack the attentiveness. When seated at a corner, I had the toughest time getting their attention, due to the layout of the place and the staff neglecting to keep a lookout for any waving patrons in need of attention. Burosu Honten has even more blind spots, but I have slightly less trouble getting the attention of the staff there.

If I am in the mood to spend a bit more, meaning non-budgetary mode, and have cravings for tempura, oysters or sashimi, this is one of the restaurants that come straight to my mind.

My Thoughts: Nice!

This restaurant is currently not in operation.

Burosu Honten Gyoza and Ramen - Best Ramen in Every Way

Closed

I know I used to say Tonkotsu Kazan Ramen was the best ramen. But that was before I had tried the ramen at Burosu Honten Gyoza and Ramen. The ramen at this place wins hands-down in terms of ramen texture and the amount of ingredients added.

Actually, this is the last of the Emporium Shokuhin restaurants that I visited since the place looks kind of unassuming, like that little humble izakaya hidden in a corner to be forgotten. Well, looks can be deceiving, and the crowd, in the midst of the quiet Marina Square, hints at what this restaurant have to offer. And very good ramen that is.

One of the highlights of this restaurant is that the patrons can choose to have their ramen prepared according to their preference, meaning there are options on the texture of the ramen, the taste of the broth—ranging from light to heavy and the spiciness. So you can order your ramen exactly the way you like it. Even though I chose the light broth, it is still very tasty, saturated with seafood flavour—since I chose Ebi Ramen. Add a tad bit of spiciness for kick, the soup blew me away the first time I tried it.

The ramen is very springy, soft but not soggy—perfect texture, I must say. Not many places can get this right, not even Tonkotsu Kazan. And I love the generous amount of ingredients added, ranging from three huge prawns, fish cake, pickles and finely chopped spring onions. The prawns are very fresh and succulent, not surprising, considering that Emporium Shokuhin has live seafood section. Oh yes, I had also tried the Kani Ramen, and I'm so pleased to see huge chucks of fresh real crab meat sprinkled on the top of the ramen. So do they taste good? Well, of course!

My guy tried the Tonkotsu Ramen and the one with Black Garlic, and he absolutely loved them ... and still loving them now. I like the unique flavour of the broth with Black Garlic, it is a ramen with a twist.

The service of some staff there is exceptional. Not all are fantastic, but I think that they are still good, with consideration on the price range of the food there.

Among all the restaurants in Emporium Shokuhin, this one got to be most wallet-friendly. And it is the one that impresses me the most. Then am I going back again? The truth is my guy and I visit this restaurant so often until some of the staff recognize us already.

My Thoughts: It is one of my Favourite Haunts!

Well, cannot go there any more since this restaurant is currently not in operation. And there is not much reason to visit Marina Square anymore.

Tsukeru Shabu Shabu - The Broths are the Stars here

Closed

With the attention on Japan Town on Wisma Atria, I decided to check out Emporium Shokuhin—another Japanese-themed dining concept—instead. I definitely prefer the layout and ambience of the latter since the whole place really centres around the Japanese cuisines and products. The first dining concept I opted to try out is Tsukeru Shabu Shabu as I was in the mood for some steamboat.

Ambience wise, it is pretty posh with ample spacing between each table, with a wash of Zen influence over the furniture and setting. The most attention-grabbing centrepiece of the place is the marble table decked with beautiful bowls of condiments. Ponzu sauce, garlic oil sesame sauce, mustard, minced garlic, parsley and more, the sheer variety of condiments is a sure-fire way to the hearts of steamboat lovers. I personally recommend ponzu sauce and garlic oil—in separate bowls—for the Japanese Shabu Shabu experience. And the food tastes so good when dipped in these. The ponzu sauce gives the kick through the taste of tangy yuzu while the garlic oil imbues the food with the aroma of roasted garlic.

Beef lovers can try out the buffet since Wagyu beef is in the selection. But since my guy and I stay away from beef, we opted for the set meals. Good selections of various types of vegetables are included in the set meals, with addition of dumplings, eggs and of course, meat. I do find the pork belly to have that strong porky smell, so it is not my cup of tea. The chick is good though, being tender and smooth in texture.

But the highlights of this restaurant, saved for the condiments, got to be the soup bases served in individual pots. The clear kelp soup is brimming with the umami goodness of the sea, which will please most people. As for the ginseng chicken soup, it is more subtle in taste. I love it nonetheless due to its herbal flavour.

All in all, this place is a nice alternative to Hai Di Lao and worth it for steamboat lovers to visit at least once for the experience. I did visit it more than once.

My Thoughts: Nice!

Note: This restaurant is no longer in operation.