立食い寿司 根室花まる :Hokkaido's Nemuro Hanamaru Opens 1st Standing Bar Sushi in Tokyo

 I always prefer standing bar sushi to fine-dining restaurants because of the wallet friendly prices and faster turnover rates. Also, I can order as little or as much as I want without worrying about overeating. 

With the recent opening of Tokyu Plaza Ginza, I decided to check out the standing sushi bar by Hokkaido sushi-ya Nemuro Hanamaru because I've had good experience at its Kitte Tokyo outlet and wanted to satisfy quick sushi cravings. 


In fact, this is the group's first standing sushi bar, which means you can't find this even in Hokkaido. Prices start from 100 yen for an Aburi Saba to 330 yen for Uni or Unagi sushi; slightly higher than those hole-in-the-wall standing sushi bars near train stations but the seafood is fresh and the quality is consistently excellent across the board. The brightly lit spaces may also provide a greater sense of assurance especially for first-timers or foreigners. 

Written on the wall are some of the seasonal or daily specials such as Crab Miso Soup. On my visit, I had the daily special of 厚切りうなぎ寿司, a thick and fatty piece of unagi glazed in sweet kabayaki sauce.

I'm not a professional gourmand when it comes to sushi so I'm pretty satisfied with my meal here. At least I don't have to brave the long queues at its seating restaurant on 10F of Tokyu Plaza Ginza or the Kitte outlet. I highly recommend you to order as you go but do note that the menu is all in Japanese. 

Click here to read my visit at Nemuro Hanamaru Sushi Restaurant @KITTE Tokyo

Nemuro Hanamaru Standing Sushi Bar 立食い寿司 根室花まる
Tokyu Plaza Ginza B2F 
Chuo-Ku Ginza 5-2-1, Tokyo 104-0061 
11am-11pm daily (L.O. 10pm)
http://ginza.tokyu-plaza.com/shop/detail_514.html

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CHEESE in The BAUM : Latest Cheese Sweet in Japan

Cheese Tarts? Nah...it's THE BAUM. Not my bum or your bum. 

It's Cheese in the Baum. Think cheese baked in a Baumkuchen. This innovative sweet was created by a company in Yokohama and now retailed at The BAUM cafes in outlet malls found in Okayama, Fukuoka and Sendai. None in Tokyo or overseas....yet.  

I was lucky to walk pass a pop-up stall at Korakuen station and how could I just walk away after seeing this poster???

3 ways of enjoying The BAUM : Room Temp aka Today, Cool or Cold

I like the ultra cool black packaging box that fits 6 but you can still buy 3 and pay 84 yen for the box. Still worth it than buying 6 if you do your math. Be mentally prepared as the cake was sweeter than an average Baumkuchen, like a honey Castella but chewier. 

There are 3 ways of enjoying the BAUM as stated on the picture above. As I had it the day after, I couldn't detect the crunchiness on the sugary outer layer as described. The cheese core is as dense as a baked cheesecake. 

But this doesn't mean that it isn't delicious. In fact, I enjoyed them especially after leaving them to sit at room temperature. Just like human beings, not every cheese sweets is identical so don't expect them to be as custardy or flowy like a Pablo cheese tart. 

I certainly won't want to have a world full of cheese tarts. 

Life would just be too boring that way. 

The BAUM Cafes
Okayama Shop:
岡山県倉敷市寿町 12-3
三井アウトレットパーク倉敷内
Okayama-ken, Kurashiki-shi, Kotobukicho 12-3 
Inside Mitsui Outlet Park Kurashiki 
10am-8pm daily
    
Fukuoka Shop
福岡県福岡市西区小戸2-12-30
マリナサイド棟 1F
Marinoacity 1F
Fukuoka-ken, Fukuoka-shi, Nishiku Oto 2-12-30
10am-9pm daily
http://www.marinoacity.com/restaurant/thebaum/

Sendai Shop
宮城県仙台市泉区泉中央1-6 セルバテラス
Miyazaki-ken, Sendai shi, Izumi chuo 1-6
SELVA Terrace (newly opened 11th Nov 2016!)
10am-9pm
http://selvaselva.com/floorguide/terrace1f/09.php

For latest info or details of pop-ups stalls: http://the-baum.com

 

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Christmas Elegance at Antoinette : Savoury Hivernette Cake and a Red Christmas Tree

It wouldn't be Christmas without chocolates and cakes. This year, Antoinette has launched a series of delicious treats that are bound to be feast for the eyes and tastebuds. My favourite and my most recommended item is none other than the Red Rosette ($150), a gorgeous red chocolate tree that adorned with dark chocolate chantily swirls in red chocolate dust.

The textural game is strong here with crunchy almond Nougatine against the dark, potent chocolate ganache and orange confit. Truly a decadent chocolate centerpiece not to be missed even for those who don't fancy chocolate-orange combination as the citrus notes here are very subtle.

Another new creation is the Fraisier ($55/$110), a pure and light pistachio buttercream almond cake revolving around the crisp and sweet Japanese Chitose strawberries harvested from the Cameron Highlands. I would prefer a stronger pistachio taste though the cake was intended to adopt a lighter approach. 

Meanwhile, the top two favourite flavors from the 2016 cake collection, namely Marronette ($55/$110) and Superlova ($55/$110), are also available in the form of logcakes and macarons this season.

But the thing is that logcakes are everywhere this season and nothing is as special as Antoinette's savoury creations. Legacy speaks well of the quirky savoury cakes (or sandwiches) - a trademark of Chef Pang by now - and the Hivernette ($75) is no exception.

The four-layer house baked country bread is gradually built up with a robust bouef bourguignon of Wagyu beef brisket at the base; caramelized onions and cornichons on the second and wild mushroom ragout in the top layer. Everything is dressed up for party in beetroot cream chese Chantily and a medley of roasted vegetables.

Remember the matcha white chocolate block, salted egg yolk truffles and chocolate bacon from the Fetish Chocolat as well? These have made a comeback and work perfectly for gifts to your special someone.

Order starts 1st Nov with minimum 3 days advance order required.

Antoinette 

Penhas Outlet

30 Penhas Road Singapore 208188

Mon-Thur 11am-10pm

Fri/Eve of PH 11am-11pm

Sat 10am-11pm

Sun/PH 10am-10pm

Mandarin Outlet (selected items)

33A Orchard Road, Mandarin Gallery, 

#02-33/34, Singapore 238897 

11am-10pm daily

http://www.antoinette.com.sg/

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Alter Ego @ Esplanade : Eat Clean and Indulge Dirty

Angel and Demon. 

Pure and Evil. 

Clean and Dirty. 

Everyone has an alter ego hidden inside ourselves. That alternate face that's always deviating from the norm, gravitating towards the sinful, unhealthy actions. Imagine having healthy poke bowls with sinful fries drenched in cheese. That's what you can find at AlterEgo, an edgy underground space at Esplanade where you can "unleash your alterego".

Over food, that is. 

Indulge dirty with the Chilli Cheese Dog ($13), an impossibly soft butter griddled bun stuffed with grilled cheddar sausage smothered in sweet and spicy house-made minced beef, sour cream and melted cheddar cheese. It spoke the language of comfort food just like the twice-baked Buffalo Wings ($14). These were more smoky than spicy, but already flavorfully seasoned on its own without the need for house ranch dressing. 

Crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside consistency is the litmus test of good fries but Alter Ego takes it to an extreme new level with its original Pizza Fries drenched in seemingly endless three-cheese sauce and smoky pepperoni ($14)

Yes, this is bound to ruin your diet plan tremendously but you know you just want to jump right in the ship of melty goodness. And the bacon ketchup sauce served at the side only worsen things by making the fries extra moreish. Don't ever eat this with your hands. And this applies for the dangerously addictive deep-fried Fish Skin ($8) that latched to the special Umami dust. 

Yet another stunningly lavish treatment of potatoes is the heaping bowl of Loaded Taters ($13) I actually didn't know tater tots are hash browns in small cylindrical forms but knowing that made me realized how crazily tasty hashbrowns can be. 

The crisp, golden shells yielded gently to a soft piping hot interior. Tossed them with spicy japeleno cheese sauce, fragrant flecks of maple glazed bacon and sour cream and you've got an entirely different beast. 

With so many heavy, rich-flavored dishes across the board, the Grilled Cheese ($11) suddenly became pretty lightweight and easy to handle. Imagine golden toasts with wafer-like crispness collapsing into an ultra-gooey center as you sink your bite into it.

I knew I needed to work my ass out for all the #cheesepull goals but no regrets as this IS the best cheese toast I've ever had after the one at Dominique Ansel Japan. Add on $3 for beef short ribs fillings.

Healthy eats? Did I mention that at the start? Yes, the poke bowls are definitely a must-try and I loved them as much or even more than some of the above dishes. All the poke bowls are pre-set but you can still swap or top-up for certain ingredients.

Similar to bara chirashi dons as they seemed, these poke bowls got the higher vote as I find that the sauce marinade is more livid without draining the natural sweetness of the sashimi. The poke bowls also offer plenty of textures and nutrition than an average chirashi don. For example, the Umami Omega ($16) features a spicy garlic sesame salmon with lime avocado and kale chips on signature sushi rice. There's also a vegan option great for vegan and non-vegan eaters alike. 

To cap it all off, there's desserts such as Lemon Ice Box Pie ($11) and Berries & Cream  ($11) to help you gain more weight. Both of them reminded me of classic Ang-moh desserts that are buried under an incredulous mountain of fresh chantily. However, I soon realized that the amount of cream was actually just right to go along with the tangy lemon filling or even the juicy macerated berries.

At AlterEgo, it's really go big or go home. If you've already swallowed down so much cheese and flavors earlier, why still bother about the cream? :D 

Be true to yourself. 

Let loose and eat for your ego. 

Alter Ego by A Poke Theory

#01-13D Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue

Mon – Fri 11am – 1am
Sat: 10am – 2am
Sun: 10am – 1am

www.alterego.sg

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Patisserie Rakkansha 洛甘舎 @ Kyoto: Excellent Shoyu Cake & 和風 Japanese Sweets

While most people usually head to Shijou district for Nishiki market, I prefer to wander and get myself lost in the back alleys outside the market. There are plenty of hidden gems such as new-age designer boutiques, bakeries, cafes and even artisanal craft shops that are waiting to be discovered.

As I was exploring the area by foot, I chanced upon a few patisseries that were not on my list or even featured anywhere before. One of them is Rakkansha, a young patisserie that opened in Aug 2015 and sells western cakes with a Japanese twist.

While similar concepts have been adopted elsewhere in shops like Jouvencelle or Kissho Karyo, the gateaus here exhibited a higher level of aesthetic finesse and technical sophistication. I decided to give it a try and boy, these cakes were mind-blowingly impressive. I was instantly attracted to their chouxs because they were displayed right at the entrance.

洛甘シュー (人気の洛甘シューがリニューアルしました。外の皮はさくさく、中のクリームはとろっと・・・)

Of the Black sesame, kinako, custard and matcha, I stuck to the old-fashioned matcha (250 yen) which tasted like matcha fondue when I reheated it using a hotel microwave according to the staff's advice. The choux pastry was soft but the interior was crazily delicious; warm, smooth and creamy. I did a similar thing once with beard papa's cream puff but the oil and cream split badly. It didn't happen this time round, luckily.

和心 (柚子ムースにガナッシュにと小豆を加え、日本酒でアクセントをつけたショコラタルト)
The prettiest item to me was Yuzu Chocolat Tart (500 yen) with its dainty floral adornment on the glossy yuzu mousse. If they could do away with the sugary candied azuki beans around the chocolate rim or replace the beans with some bitter cacao nibs, this would be a perfect tart that would meet the eye. The Japanese sake hidden in the chocolate ganache also contributed to a punchy aroma which I liked a lot.

洛甘ロール

もち粉を使用したモチモチの生地で白あんを巻いた、しっとりとしたロールケーキです。

The signature Rakkan roll cake (280 yen) had a plushy mouthfeel because it was made with mochi flour. Unless you are used to those sweet bean paste often found in Wagashi, the sweetness of the core (not the cream) might scare the soul out of you.

雅 (上質な抹茶で仕上げたムースの中に、求肥と餡をしのばせています。)
The Miyabi (500 yen) boasted a smooth and distinct taste of green tea both in the mousse and sponge but they could really do a lighter hand with the sweetened red beans.

My favourite was the Komachi (古町) 480yen, a shoyu Chocolate Chestnut Mousse simply because the chefs had cleverly hedged on the umami taste of the shoyu chocolate ganache to counterbalance the chestnut mousse. Savoury yet sweet at the same time. This cake also resonated with its name, which means an old town, because the taste of shoyu evoked nostalgic sentiments of the early times when life was much simpler.

This place is not as famous as Patisserie Tendresse but the style and taste of the entremets suit my palates more. With so many creative combinations yet to be explored here, I'll be right back.

Patisserie Rakkansha パティスリー洛甘舎

227-1 Sanmonjicho (Higashinotoindori), Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 604-8135

〒604-8135京都市中京区三文字町227-1藤六ビル1F（東洞院六角西北角）

Weekdays & Sundays 11am-8pm, 

Fri & Sat 11am-8.30pm

Closed on Wed

http://rakkansha.jp

Access: 3-min walk from Karasuma Oike station Exit 5

*Eat in space available*

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Hashidaya はし田屋: Value-for-money Oyakodon in Shibuya

Hashidaya's oyakodon has been on my list for the longest while. As one of the famous names in town when it comes to yakitori and Oyakodon, Hashidaya has three outlets (Nakameguro, Roppongi and Sapporo) besides its main shop in Shibuya.

Its Oyakodon is available during lunch and dinner but it would only make logical sense to visit during lunch simply because you pay less than half the price for the same dish minus the appetizers. 

It isn't any veritable shrine like Tamahide where people queue up way in advance to pay their pilgrimage. Nonetheless, the place still oozes old-school elegance, feeding the hungry working crowd in the vicinity with hearty meals. The chicken belongs to the Asabiki local breed from Chiba prefecture while the eggs are sourced from Iwai City, Ibaraki prefecture. Asabiki 朝引き refers to the chickens that are slaughtered in the morning of the day when the meat is consumed. In other words, its commonly used to emphasize fresh quality. 

For 850 yen, the bowl came with generous chunks of tender chicken, draped in a just-set egg with a golden orange egg yolk atop steaming white rice. The egg wasn't too sweet and there's not much fault to pick in this bowl except that it tasted quite under-seasoned for an average donburi. But with the three types of shichimi (especially black one) sitting at the side, we gobbled up the rice in no time. 

As good as the Oyakodon may be, it's the formidable "Nanban chicken"  (800 yen) that stole the show. This is so special because the chicken was deep-fried in a very light and crispy egg batter which permeated the meat with egg fragrance. 

Smothered in creamy yet chunky egg mayonaise, this simple dish is a triumph--and I was tempted to ask for seconds of that mayo. 


Lunch menu is only limited to 3 choices so do come at night for the ala carte menu if you are looking to feast. But with decent food at highly affordable prices, I can see why Hashidaya's tori-ryori has been doing a roaring trade. 

Hashidaya はし田屋
Shibuya outlet
Lunch Hours: 11:30am – 3pm
Dinner Hours: 6pm – Midnight
3-15-4, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number: 03-5774-4105
Website: http://www.hashidaya.com/shibuya/index.html

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Grain Bread & Brew : Hidden New Cafe with Amazing French Toasts

I didn't plan to have so many French Toasts during my recent trip but I guessed these experiences help me identify the good from the mediocre ones. And I found my favourite here.

Located within an approximate 15-min walk from Shibuya station, Grain Bread & Brew is a young café that has opened barely for a few months since July this year. The open kitchen is just next to the coffee making area and you get to see everything freshly prepared upon order.

The café is run by a small team but the food and service are no less humble than a full-fledged restaurant. I first noticed this potentially good spot when I saw the egg sandwich featured in social media. In fact, the concept revolves around delicious sandwiches around the world. Think burgers, ciabattas or pitas with a Japanese influence to it.

Unlike most tamago sandwiches that are prepared with mayo, the "Omukatsu Sando with Horseradish Sauce" (¥918) embarked on a manly approach by smothering a brown Demi-glacé sauce on lightly toasted shokupan before sandwiching with scrambled eggs in the form of tamagoyaki. Imagine pork katsu and omelette compressed into one but without the deep-fried calories. The robust sauce set this apart from the ordinary sandwich and the ratio of eggs to bread was perfect.

But the real star here is the Creme Brulee French Toast. For just ¥850, you get a beautiful golden pud with a dark, Caramelized glaze that is still settling down from the blast of the kitchen torch. It's crispy and bittersweet on top, super custardy and creamy in the center, capped of with the amber kiss of honey.

There's barely any bread besides the thin layer at the base so it won't be burdensome on the belly. The toast itself wasn't sweet at all but you could still derive sugar satisfaction from the nuts-coated vanilla ice cream and sautéed apples. So uproariously good that this dish alone is worth seeking out and should be on the hall of fame for Best French Toasts in Tokyo.


In fact, it was the Matcha French Toast which made me return for the Creme Brulee French Toast. It might lack a crispy exterior but the intensely deep matcha flavour snuggled in the rich-of-the-moment toast made up for everything. 

You wonder why they went the extra mile to serve it with red beans, candied nuts and ice cream. But this is what made it so special from the run-on-the-mill cafes. Washed it down with a matcha latte and you will keep smiling for the rest of the day.


On the menu with scrumptious bites like a karaage chicken mayo burger and a monster bacon ciabatta sandwich. If you are a cafe-hopper who believes in quality food, it'll be a shame to miss this from your list.

Grain Bread & Brew
2-20-18 HIGASHI, SHIBUYA, TOKYO
11am-9pm Tues to Fri
8am-9pm Sat / 8am-7pm Sun
Closed on Mondays
http://grainbb.com/

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