Tomi Sushi - Value for Money Set Meals

Millenia Walk is like a food haven, this place has so many different kinds of restaurants located in it. And I finally visit the last restaurant in Nihon Street repetoire: Tomi Sushi! And yes, it deserves the place in Nihon Street that features restaurants providing good Japanese food at great prices. What I like about Nihon Street is that different dining concepts, from White Curry, Teppanyaki, Robatayaki, Ramen, Shabu Shabu, Tonkatsu, Super Chirashi to Sushi, are featured there with no overlapping, so I can just go there and then decide which restaurant to visit.

The interior is bright, with ample space between the light beige wooden tables, thus setting up a nice ambience to dine in. Service is pretty okay.

The highlight of this eatery got to be the huge variety of value-for-money set lunch meals. I am so spoilt for choice that I take ten minutes to decide which one I want. They have the affordable Nigiri Umi—this is like the assorted sushi set, Salmon Nigiri, Sashi, Sakura Nigiri—this features both tori karaage and sushi, Chirashi, Tempura, Negitoro Don—minced Tuna belly that I love, Salmon Don, Gin Teri, Saba Shioyaki, to the more luxurious, also more expensive set meals like Osusume lunch. So this huge array of choices makes this place a great choice for gatherings.

The quality of the raw fishes is pretty decent, being of the right firmness and texture. Those thick slices of fishes are served at the right temperature and has no hint of fishy smell. Given the price point of the set meals, the fishes are not exactly crème de la crème. And the colour of the salmon is slightly paler than what I would have appreciated. But I have no complaints here since for the price I am paying, such quality is pretty worth it already.

The negitoro don is very flavourful. This gets the thumbs up from me. For this set meal, recommend to take away the shredded beancurd skin from the cold soba since its texture is too rough and does not go well with the smooth texture of the noodles soaked in the light soba sauce.

All in all, this is the restaurant I will always consider when looking for decent Japanese food that is kind to my wallet!

My Thoughts: Very Nice!

Nearest car park: Millenia Walk's car park
Nearest MRT: Promenade

Millenia Walk #02-12/13
9 Raffles Boulevard
Singapore
Contact No: 6238 1123

Supertea - Very Nice Brown Sugar Boba

Fresh meiji milk, brown sugar with its caramel aroma—the soft, chewy bobas are cooked in it, evaporated milk and hint of saltiness from the cheese yield a rich, flavourful drink that I enjoy.

I had tried brown sugar milk tea from other brands—no, they are not mentioned on this site, it is no where close to this one!

My Thoughts: Nice!

Nearest car park: Millenia Walk's car park
Nearest MRT: Promenade

Millenia Walk #01-75
9 Raffles Boulevard
Singapore

Whitegrass - Subtlety at its Best

It has been a while since I have visited fancy restaurants due to my hectic schedule and commitments, so for that special day, I have a whole list of choices, namely restaurants that I want to visit but have not yet, to consider. I set my sights on Whitegrass because I like the interesting mix of ingredients used in the dishes as stated in the online menu. And to top it off, it is open on Saturday afternoon, the one timing I am free, so this is the definite choice.

The interior is rustic, with elements of boldness and class setting it apart from those of other establishments. While the settings is of no doubt elegant and chic, there is a light casual vibe hanging around it that makes one feel immediately comfortable and at ease. Another thing I love about the place is that in the room we dine at, all the tables there are tables for two. Tables for groups are in other dining rooms. So without very chatty groups beside us, we can truly enjoy the food. I really appreciate this level of thoughtfulness put into the seating arrangement. For the record, I do not mind sitting near other groups if I am dining with a group.

First up is, of course, the bread, whose quality is an indication of how detailed the restaurant crew is when it comes to creating that perfect dining experience. And the slice of sourdough bread is served warm, yes! Saved for the crunchy crust, this bread is very soft and fluffy, with just that iota of stretchy quality to yield the perfect texture. Paired with Echiré and sea salt, it tastes so wholesome.

The first appetizer of Western Australia Marron captures my heart the moment I set my sights on it. It looks so beautiful, with all the flowers and leaves meticulously scattered over the plate. And the taste matches up to its looks. I love delicate sweetness of the sea packed within the marron, which is a type of crayfish. And its taste is enhanced by the light pungent milky flavour of fresh curd and splashes of seawater. With all the edible flowers added, tucking into this dish feels like dining in the gardens by the sea! The pickled watermelon rind adds a hint of refreshing tangy flavour to the dish and gives an extra dimension to the overall texture of this dish. A very well-executed dish.

Before the first appetizer, we actually had the amuse bouche of beans, tobiko and egg custard, which hints at the chef’s approach to creating his dishes. The overall taste is mellow yet distinctive due to the umami of the roe and egg. The beans incorporates a delightful crunchy texture to this dish.

Next up after the appetizer is the best duck meat I have ever sink my teeth into. The flavourful meat is unbelievably tender. It is amazing since duck meat is usually pretty tough. The earthy flavours of Chinese jelly mushrooms and eggplant cream complement the duck meat very well. The kanten noodles and water chestnuts give a refreshing nice contrast to the texture of the duck meat.

Slow roasted Iberico pork collar is unbelievably tender, in fact, it has that melt-in-your-mouth quality. The steamed shitake custard and pork rib broth add a subtle Chinese influence to the dish, which my companion absolutely loves since he has a preference for dishes that are warm in nature. For food that are cold in nature, think sashimi and most appetizers. I am the opposite of him, but I am still loving this dish due to the amazing texture of the pork and the silkiness of the yin & yang scallop skin accentuating this quality of the pork.

Since we do not consume beef, the team at Whitegrass is really awesome to readily change it to Japanese Sea Bream. And after my first bite of the fresh, firm yet pliable fish soaked in sauce packed with earthy flavours, I immediately squeak, "Good thing we change to the fish!" The beef may be very good, I never know, but savouring the fish is more than enough to keep me happy. It is the best cooked fish dish I ever have in such restaurants. There is absolutely no hint of fishy smell that I can usually detect in fish dishes I had tried in some of the best restaurants in Singapore. The fish is perfectly cooked to have a crust on top while retaining the moisture within the flesh to yield a flavourful yet succulent fish.

Dessert is an interesting combination of single origin Peruvian chocolate and shaved macadamia nuts covering frozen chocolate, wood roasted coffee and prunes. The macadamia nuts add a pronounced nutty flavour and buttery taste to the chocolate, which works really well.

Petit fours are just as interesting. Lychee gummy is blissfully sweet and the other one is like a condensed form of watermelon cloud that surprises me when I pop it into my mouth. A nice and unique way to end the meal.

The service are friendly and very professional. And we are very impressed with the managers who made the effort to ask for our opinions of the food and also remind us to watch out for steps along the way to our designated dining room.

One of the highlights of this place is that all dishes are good, there is no weak link. And the ambience is so perfect. This is one dining experience that both of us thoroughly enjoy!

My thoughts: Splendid! Great for dates!

Nearest car park: Car park at Chijmes
Nearest MRT: City Hall

30 Victoria Street
#01-26/27 Chijmes
Singapore
Contact No: 6837 0402

The Change of Scores to Thoughts

For the next few weeks, I am going to change all the scores stated in my posts to thoughts. Reason for this is because these posts are about my experiences after all, so why do I put a number on them? In addition, I feel that scores do not really define the whole experience perfectly. I may give the same scores to two restaurants, but still, I do prefer one over another over specific reasons. And the scores may change with time, depending on external factors. My impression of the restaurants are definite, and using it is a fairer gauge of how I feel about the restaurants.

My posts on Hungrygowhere and Tripadvisor will still feature the scores as required by these sites. But for my comprehensive posts, this is the site to come to.

Tonkatsu Ma Maison - Another Great Choice to consider for Pork Cutlet

It is only by coincidence that I find out about this restaurant. Wanting to get a quick bite for lunch at somewhere near, I end up walking along the corridor of second floor of Mandarin Gallery ... in a very casual, but not smart, outfit. We choose to dine at Tonkatsu Ma Maison due to various reasons, and we are pretty happy with this choice.

The setting of the place is open concept, so it is a great place to see and to be seen in a posh environment. Service is prompt and responsive despite the restaurant having an extra wing on the side that does not have service staff stationed there. Just look towards the direction of the cash register counter and wave the hand, a staff will promptly come over.

This restaurant serves usual Tonkatsu fare consisting of pickles, shredded cabbage salad and pork cutlet. The goma sauce, aka sesame sauce, provided to drizzle over the salad is creamier in taste as compared to the goma sauce in other establishments. Whether one thinks this is better is up to personal taste. What is interesting is that there are three kinds of dips for the pork cutlet. One is salt, another one is the familiar sweet plum sauce and third choice is the slightly spicy version of the plum sauce. I prefer the spicy sauce since it has the extra kick, but I feel it will taste better if it is spicier.

We have ordered aged Hokkaido pork cutlet and Kurobuta cutlet. Texture wise, they are perfect: crispy exterior with no cutting edges and the pork is easy to bite. Hokkaido pork is drier than Kurobuta pork due to the lack of thick layer of fat, but this option is great for those who is more health-conscious. Kurobuta is juicier but the thick slab of lard attached to the side of the meat may not be everyone’s cup of tea. These cutlets also go well with grated radish soaked in ponzu sauce.

This is a nice place to enjoy pretty unique pork cutlets—it is not like one can find Hokkaido aged pork and Kurobuta everywhere. But be prepared to shell out more money than usual as each set is thirty dollars plus.

My Thoughts: Nice!

Nearest car park: Mandarin Hotel's car park
Nearest MRT: Orchard

333A Orchard Road
Mandarin Gallery #02-35/36
Singapore
Contact No: 67334541

My Favourite Haunts

After checking out Ion and its offering of food establishments, I can say my favourite haunts are still Ngee Ann City, Cuppage, Millenia Walk, Emporium Shokuhin and Heritage Area.

For one, I like variety, uniqueness, quality and comfort. When I go to Ion, the place is just so cramped, and the entire B4 level looks like a giant food court! But the price of the food is not food court price, mind you. Obviously, Ion is meant for shopping and dining area is just a subset that serves to fill up the stomachs only.

And I have learnt my lesson on not to go to Orchard on a public holiday, where my original plans are changed due to the sheer size of the crowd.

Latest update: With the closure of Emporium Shokuhin, I see no reason to visit Marina Square anymore.

Swiss Delice

For something different, to try or to give as presents, check out Swiss Delice products.

White Chocolate Truffino Pink consists of a core of raspberry cream encased in paper thin wafer that is coated with white chocolate. Due to the combination of raspberries and white chocolate, this decadent truffle piece features intense flavours. Great gift for that someone special. But this sold out fast at road shows, so grab a box fast if you spot it.

Air Passion is yoghurt cream sandwiched between airy, light, meringue-like biscuits. I like this due to the tangy flavours of yoghurt and the fact that this is a unique confectionary.

Choco Truffino Noir is like White Chocolate Truffino Pink, except that the core is hazelnut cream and dark chocolate is used instead. It is nice, but given that there are lots of other products featuring the combination of hazelnut and dark chocolate, this is not exactly special in any way.

Since no artificial flavours and colours are added, these make great treats for kids too.

Country of Origin: Switzerland
Where to get this: The Cocoa Trees