The very short list of things I’ve resolved to do for 2011 is to eat shamelessly, drink endlessly and most importantly, spend more time with loved ones. It’s looking good so far as I’ve already had a chance to catch up with some of my favorite Sydneysiders, while pigging out at Restaurant Ember. A good mate of mine polished off two portions of chef Ng’s crispy homemade tofu with a divine foie gras mirin sauce ($16)—I almost didn’t get a bite. In turn, I selfishly hogged the oven-roasted mentaiko-crusted Chilean sea bass with bottarga hollandaise ($36).
Over at Resorts World Sentosa, kunio tokuoka (#02-139 Crockfords Tower Lobby Level, 26 Sentosa Gateway, 6686-3633) recently launched their latest kaiseki menu. Chef Kunio Tokuoka has crafted a seven-course feast ($450) that showcases clean, fresh flavors that are still amazingly satisfying. Aside from the freshest Murasaki uni and most succulent otoro I’ve had in a while, there was also decadent charcoal-grilled Japanese Wagyu blessed with shavings of foie gras terrine on a Mt. Fuji lava stone and kinki hobaiyaki (tender slices of fish, leeks and shitake mushrooms in a blended white and red miso paste). I especially enjoyed the darling snow crab topped with ikura and Japanese caviar, made by the man himself. The natural sweetness of the crab was accentuated by a mildly spicy cream sauce, vinegar jelly and dabs of nori sauce. Another creation I went weak in the knees for was the fuku (happiness) sushi, a Japanese pun on fugu, the featured ingredient of choice. With tiger blowfish in season, the skilful preparation and different presentations of Togarashi fugu skin, flesh and milt were demonstrated beautifully in delicate morsels of sushi. Quite possibly the best shirako (that’s fish sperm, folks) I’ve ever put in my mouth.
Just when you thought the frozen yogurt craze had died down, along come another few joints to prove it isn’t so. Sour Sally (#B1-47 Wisma Atria Shopping Center, 435 Orchard Rd., 6737-0270) has popped up in town, as has SourMilk (#01-16E Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Rd.). A slightly different take on this is Soyato (#B1-K5 Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria St.), which specializes in making their frozen desserts from soy milk in flavors like yam, melon, rose, apple cinnamon, peanut butter, green tea and pear. Sounds like a very welcome addition to the scene.
