Cheap Eats Review: Din Tai Fung (Wisma Atria, Orchard Road, Singapore) & Prelude to Tetsuya's Waku Ghin

Din Tai Fung *

During our brief visit to Singapore, we visited the Marina Bay area which is now the site of architectural monuments such as the Marina Bay Sands. This complex is also home to various outposts of celebrity chefs; the ones worth mentioning and in our shortlists include Tetsuya Wakuda's Waku Ghin and Guy Savoy's self-titled restaurant.

Marina Bay Sands

Waku Ghin & Guy Savoy in Marina Bay Sands - reserved for future trips

We, instead, headed to Orchard Road for window shopping and came across two Din Tai Fung restaurants. From its humble beginnings in Taiwan, Din Tai Fung has become an international success with stores in China, Hong Kong, Japan, across South East Asia, Australia and USA. Food critics have also warmly received Din Tai Fung; the Michelin guide awarded 1 Michelin star to a DTF in Hong Kong - a real surprise, to be honest.

The menu lists a long list of Shanghai style dishes.....including the renowned "Xiao Long Bau" a.k.a. small steamed soup dumplings. We were seated in front of a line of the pastry chefs preparing the dough pastry and various dumplings. Each pastry is hand-made and randomly weighed during the pastry making process to ensure consistency and quality control. It's no wonder DTF's success is based on the xiao long bau. 

Precisely weighed dough size for xiao long bao

The xiao long baus are perfectly bite/mouthful size. The dough is semi-transparent enough to tease one with large volume of "soup" within each dumpling. The dough is also firm yet thin and silky smooth, and tough enough to never tear or break before you get your hands on the wonderful "soup" within the dumpling.

The xiao long bao itself merits 2 stars. The other dishes we tried were executed well with no major flaws - simple and clean tasting, but not headline grabbing - typical of classic Shanghai style cuisine, unlike other regional Chinese cuisine.

Appetizer - Peanuts with seaweed

Appetizer - Lotus root salad

Shrimp & pork dumpling

Noodle soup with fried pork chop

Dry noodles with mushroom & mince meat - very umami

Even the desserts (mango pudding & almong tofu) and drinks (sweet and sour prune drink) were wonderful. Our 15 minute queue was worth the wait, particularly when the queue is looking more like a 45 minute one as we leave the place fully satisfied....so satisfied, we forgot our order of chicken soup had failed to arrive!

Rating for Cheap Eats: 15/20

By Gastronomic G.

Rating explained:
Scores 18 to 20 = *** (3 stars) = World class and close to perfection
Scores 16 to <18 = ** (2 stars) = An exceptional and special dining experience
Scores 15 to <16 = * (1 star) = Very good to great dining experience
Scores 13 to <15 = Good but not memorable
Scores 10 to <13 = Acceptable
Scores <10 = Are you sure you want to eat here?

Cheap Eats Review: Tempura Tsunahachi (Tokyo, Japan)

Tsunahachi Tempura *

Tsunahachi = tempura. Tsunahachi specialises in tempura and has become so popular, there are now several outlets thruout Tokyo. Interestingly, Tsunahachi utilizes sesame oil, an oil not usually used for deep frying. We decided to visit the original and main restaurant in Shinjuku (since 1923) on our first day in Tokyo.

All seatings were bar-style, with patrons facing your tempura chef. Once we've ordered, service started with miso soup....while the chef prepares your tempura dishes in front of your very eyes.

This miso soup was the best I had throughout our trip. Cooked with tiny clams, the soup was beautifully rich and flavoursome.

The chefs serves different tempuras each straight out of his deep fryer. All the seafood was fresh. Japanese tiger prawns (kuruma-ebi) were beautifully fresh and appears to come from the huge tank at the corner of the restaurant.

Tempura chef in action

Making fresh tempura batter

A whole oyster with shell tempura - stuffed with a few other seafood goodies

Fish was skillfully gutted and filleted in front of us, and our plates few minutes later.

This is a great novel experience for non-Japanese tempura fans. While there was no "OMG" moments, everything was fresh and beautifully prepared. Menu was very modestly priced and the lunch set menu is particularly suited for those who are budget conscious.

Cheap Eats Rating: 15/20

By Gastronomic G.

Rating explained:

Scores 18 to 20 = *** (3 stars) = World class and close to perfection

Scores 16 to <18 = ** (2 stars) = An exceptional and special dining experience

Scores 15 to <16 = * (1 star) = Very good to great dining experience

Scores 13 to <15 = Good but not memorable

Scores 10 to <13 = Acceptable

Scores <10 = Are you sure you want to eat here?

Fine Dining Review: Restaurant Kurosawa - Nagatacho Kurosawa (Tokyo, Japan)

Nagatacho Kurosawa *

Named after legendary Japanese film director/producer Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai, RAN, etc) and run by the Kurosawa clan, we were invited to dinner at Nagatacho Kurosawa by a Japanese friend. Nagatacho Kurosawa is famous for its shabu-shabu and supposedly the place to spot celebrities. Located near the Prime Minister's office, the restaurant also offers hand-made soba (buckwheat noodles) & A la Carte selection.

Shabu-shabu actually refers to the swishing noise as one swishes the meat back and forth in the hot pot. Apart from the shabu-shabu itself, one of the other treats of the meal is usually the wonderfully flavoured broth at the end of the meal.

Starters - root vegetables, arrowroot cake with salmon roe

With our shabu-shabu, the hot pot is filled with clear dashi broth which is predominantly made of bonito and konbu. Once it is fired up, we "shabu-shabu-ed" thinly sliced Kurobuta (Japanese Black Berkshire pork) as well as Kagoshima black beef - both were wonderfully marbled and meltingly tender. The accompanying sesame sauce was wonderful but the meats were so good, they were stand-alone.

The STARS of the meal - thinly sliced and amazingly marbled black beef and black pork

At the end of the meal, eggs were scrambled by the table side and mixed into the hot pot, which is now filled with a broth flavoured with all the wonderful flavours of the beef and pork. This was then served into bowls of rice.This was truly delightful despite both of us feeling completely stuffed by now.

Mixing through the scrambled egg into the flavoursome and wonderfully coloured dashi

Dashi with eggs served with rice

Desert - more food!

A lovely dining experience (even for non-movie buffs) paired with a good selection of sake and soju, and all in a restaurant created to evoke Kurosawa's samurai movies. Arigato, Oba-san!

Fine Dining Rating: 15/20

By Gastronomic G.

Rating explained:

Scores 18 to 20 = *** (3 stars) = World class and close to perfection

Scores 16 to <18 = ** (2 stars) = An exceptional and special dining experience

Scores 15 to <16 = * (1 star) = Very good to great dining experience

Scores 13 to <15 = Good but not memorable

Scores 10 to <13 = Acceptable

Scores <10 = Are you sure you want to eat here?

Fine Dining Review: Mathias Dahlgren (Stockholm, Sweden)

Mathias Dahlgren **

I decide to keep in line with the Swedish theme. While Tong was excited about exploring Scandinavian design  in Stockholm, I was pretty much excited about Mathias Dahlgren that has been getting rave reviews since it opened in 2007.

Mathias Dahlgren in a way was a compromise of not being able to get a spot in Noma (and this was before they became the world's best restaurant!).  Located in the appropriately named Grand Hotel Stockholm,  Mathias Dahlgren has become one of the hottest dining destination in Stockholm in just over 2 years..... scoring 2 Michelin stars and also ranking 25th in the more fashionable (but personally less reliable) San Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurant (2010 list). The restaurant is divided into two: Matbaren (food bar) and Matsalen (dining room) - serving conceptually different but still equally cutting edge food. We dined at the more relaxed but still stylish Matbaren.

Tong has been telling me that she wants to get those statement chairs...

We started with the Fried Pork Sausage and Truffles from Gotland (6/10).

The steamed Wild Cod from Lofoten was spectacularly fresh - like most Swedish food...the seasoning was slightly on the heavy side. Accompanying forest mushroom emulsion perfect and trout roe provided textural variation. This was a great dish (9/10).

Another standout was the Canette from Bretagne - a wonderfully tender duckling with fried mushrooms, cabbage, ginger and chilli (8/10).

Deserts were memorable. Farm Milk Pudding with vanilla ice cream and cherry sorbet. This smooth Mathias Dahlgren version of panna-cotta was delightfully light, refreshing - the quality and freshness of the milk coming through (8/10).

The Baked Wild Chocolate from Bolivia was our favourite. Amazingly strong dark chocolate flavours but nicely balanced out by sour cream and toffee ice cream (10/10).

Soft and gooey chocolate awaits inside the crusty exterior

Mathias Dahlgren is worthy of its hype and accolade. I can only imagine how amazing Matsalen would be.... 

Fine Dining Rating: 16/20

By Gastronomic G.

Rating explained:

Scores 18 to 20 = *** (3 stars) = World class and close to perfection

Scores 16 to <18 = ** (2 stars) = An exceptional and special dining experience

Scores 15 to <16 = * (1 star) = Very good to great dining experience

Scores 13 to <15 = Good but not memorable

Scores 10 to <13 = Acceptable

Scores <10 = Are you sure you want to eat here?

Stockholm: H&M Home Concept Store

Since I've blogged about Moooi in Amsterdam, I thought I might as well blog about some of the awesome design stores that I have visited in my travels.

One of the most memorable store experience for me in Stockholm was visiting the H&M Home concept store when it was first launched. It was a home decor store like no-other. The concept store was gallery-like & paints a different light to the H&M brand (for me).

 

The unexpected presentation of the home concept store was enlightening. With a combination of suspended furniture & mirrors, the showroom exudes a dreamlike quality. The installation named 'Home Reflections' apparently was meant to evoke shoppers to imagine the world through a looking glass, reflecting & exploring our ever changing relationship between identity & style. LOVE the concept! 

How do you shop in such 'gallery-esque environment'? All products are displayed on the side & if there's a product that you want to purchase, you simply pick up a product card, bring it to the counter & the shop assistant will bring out the merchandise when you finish the transaction.

I couldn't help myself from browsing the H&M Home site to check out at their latest Spring offering. LOVE the blue & green in the textile, the raw natural look of unbleached linen & the black & white Nordic prints on the hand & bath towel. There seems to be hints of pink everywhere as well.. in line with Pantone 2011 colour of the year. 

Now can someone please bring H&M to Australia? I need affordable & fashionable clothing & beautiful soft furnishings... :)

LOVE those Guest Bath Towels!

 

By The Quirky One

Cheap Eats Review: Omen (Kyoto, Japan)

Omen ***

Tong loved this place so much...she declared this the "best meal ever!". We arrived late lunch time and this usually packed place was empty. Omen is famous for its Udon....and its no wonder once we've had it. 

 

Udon set meal

Grilled chicken marinated with white miso

My food revelation moment was the yam in crab sauce - simplicity and perfection in one. This could have been proudly served in any Michelin starred restaurant.

 Not to be missed if in Kyoto. The experience was close to perfection.

The beautiful menu

Everything was cleaned up - quite unusual with Tong

 Located in 3 locations;  we went to the one close to Kawaramachi Station. Of note, Omen has recently opened a restaurant by the same name in New York.

Rating for Cheap Eats: 19.5/20

By Gastronomic G.

Rating explained:

Scores 18 to 20 = *** (3 stars) = World class and close to perfection

Scores 16 to <18 = ** (2 stars) = An exceptional and special dining experience

Scores 15 to <16 = * (1 star) = Very good to great dining experience

Scores 13 to <15 = Good but not memorable

Scores 10 to <13 = Acceptable

Scores <10 = Are you sure you want to eat here?