裏参道 GARDEN : My Secret Garden in Tokyo

After Omotesando Koffee, Urasando Garden is probably the next best kept secret in Omotesando hills. Camouflaged into one of the residential units, Urasando Garden is a 2-storey traditional Japanese house that has been converted to a co-sharing space that celebrates traditional Japanese arts and sweets.

The name also aptly describes the place because "Ura" means "at the back" or "behind" while "Omote" means "front". As such, you can literally interpret the name as a garden in the back streets. This is a space where people gather for cultural experience and taste of Japan, with a tweak of creativity reflecting the uniqueness of the Omotesando area.

There are 5 different "stalls" under one roof; tea & tea sweets "Ujien", Japanese sweets teahouse " Migan Club", sake & bistro "gokaque", specialty coffee roaster "Coffee Diary", wine & shochu "Margaux".

The most sought after item is "Tenshi no Namida" also translated as tears of angels. Available from the 甘味 Club, this is simply seaweed jelly made without adding any sugar or artificial ingredients. Like a pure and innocent magical ball, this is not only Instagram-worthy but also taste-worthy. The texture is neither chewy like a warabi mochi nor as firm as an agar-agar or kanten-jelly in anmitsu desserts. 

Close to the rainbow drop cake but a thousand times prettier and stable because it doesn't melt (at least we weren't told to eat it within a certain time). It's tasteless so you would naturally dabble it with the aromatic Hokkaido kinako powder (roasted soybean) and kuromitsu (black sugar syrup).

And that's the point when you feel as if an angel has just descended from heaven.

No wonder this has been the talk of the media recently. 

Next to the 甘味 Club is Uji-en which is based in Osaka. It serves the typical beverages and desserts which one would expect to see from a tea house. I highly recommend the chilled green tea (600 yen) because the consistency is almost close to the traditional whisk matcha--thick and potent--but serving is as generous like a normal green tea beverage. Both the Matcha Soft Serve and the Houjicha Parfait did not disappoint as well. 

My visit on a weekday was an ethereal experience because we sat in the garden and everything was so calm and peaceful. It's a totally different world from the jammed, raucous streets in the Harajuku-Omotesando area.

Being newly opened in March 2016, it doesn't feel commodified by tourists as Omotesando Koffee yet and I wish it remain as such. 

Urasando Garden
Shibuya ku, Jingu-mae 4-15-2
http://www.urasando-garden.jp/
甘味 Club 
1200-1800 (Closed on Mondays)
Ujien
Mon-Fri 1200-1900
Sat/Sun/PH 1100-1900

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Countdown 2017 : New Year's Eve Buffet @ Grand Hyatt Singapore

Don't fuss over what to cook at home on 31st December. 

There's only one more day left to 2016 so treat yourself to an A-grade dinner at any of five restaurants at Grand Hyatt. Be spoilt with all kinds of choices from Indian to Italian cuisine or a scrumptious platter of fresh sashimi served using sustainable seafood. But after your dinner, don't be too kanchiong to head home! Toast to a "Beautiful Age" at the Belle Époque countdown party where free-flow beverages and a dessert extravaganza awaits you alongside live music and entertainment. 

Here's a sneak preview of some of the dishes offered at Grand Hyatt for New Year's Eve dinner and of course, the dessert extravaganza!  

Straits Kitchen Indian section Lobster masala 

Assorted Bouchons

Macarons & Champagne Truffles

Chocolate Caviar Tiramisu

mezza9 spit roasted over yarrah hard wood, british red poll prime rib, garlic, black pepper 

StraitsKitchen Chinese Section : Double boiled superior seafood herbal soup in whole coconut” (Scallop, prawn, mushroom, chinese herbs, whole coconut)

Artisan Gelato (Must Try!)

For more information, click here  to view the detailed menus for 10 Scotts, mezza9, StraitsKitchen, Pete's Place, Oasis.

Prices start at SGD138++ for New Year's Eve dinners that include one complimentary ticket to the Belle Époque countdown party.

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Colony @ Ritz-Carlton Singapore : 5-Tier Tingkat Afternoon Tea + Free Flow Desserts from The Patisserie

Mini Lobster Quiche

Yam Puff with Baby Abalone

Relish a taste of Singapore's culinary heritage with Colony's latest revamped afternoon tea featuring a 5 savoury dishes served in an exquisite ceramic tingkat. They are inspired by local Chinese and Western cuisine and are larger than the average cocktail canapés. Delicious highlights include the mini lobster quiche--savoury egg custard with chunky lobsters encrusted in a buttery flaky shell, as well as the Pumpkin Cake with Chilli crab sauce.

Just as you find yourself about half or three-quarters full, take a break and sip on the glass of Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne before you continue The Journey with free-flow desserts at The Patisserie. This is a section where you can discover some of the top-notched desserts in Singapore.

Most certainly not every dessert here is born equal but one cannot afford to miss the rich and decadent Chocolate Caramel Hazelnut Tart which crumbles into a gooey caramel as you fork your through. It's petit but successfully ambitious in congregating multiple textures and building depths in flavors.

Another hot favourite is the Taiwan Ice Cream Peanut Wrap which is made by wrapping freshly shaved peanut candy, taro ice cream and coriander all in thin yet fragrant crepe. Savoury, sweet, nutty and crunchy, there's a wonderful medley of textures and flavors here. Don't be surprise if your brain asks you to go for a second serving immediately after you take a bite. Any rational human being will do that. 

The ice cream section is yet another cave worthy of some exploration. The Chendol, Matcha and Strawberry which I've tried were not shy of their distinctive flavors, though some parts were slightly icy. Count in all the other signature scones, assorted miniatures, chocolate pralines, etc. and you know you have to save up your lunch calories for this. 

Priced at $49 per person, Colony's afternoon tea includes the Colony Tea, a custom blend of black and white Sumatran tea leaves from that comes with your choice of tea syrup enhancement such as French Rose or Lavender. 

Colony @ The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore

7 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039799

Tel 6434-5288

Available Mon-Sat 3.30pm-5.30pm 

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/singapore/dining/colony

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Salon Bake & Tea @ Shinjuku NEWoman : 30-cm jumbo parfait and other quality French desserts

I am usually very skeptical about desserts from cafe restaurants in commercial shopping complexes because they tend to be of very mediocre quality. However, I was totally proved wrong at Salon Bake & Tea, a restaurant that serves all-day French food and desserts in the newly opened NEWoMAN mall. 

This is part of the Salon adam et Rope group whose main business line is fashion. I couldn't think of another better place than Salon Bake & Tea for late night desserts in Shinjuku because other options are franchised cafes in department store or fruit tart cafes. Not anything attractive to me to be honest.

 Tartelette Au Poitron タルト・ポティロン

One can order the specialty plated desserts or pick and choose any petit entremets showcased on stylish plates at a corner of the restaurant. I was shocked to learn that each petit entremet cost a hefty \400 but the quality was worth the splurge. 

cassolette カスレッツ 

カスタードクリームと柚子ベリーコンフィチュールが入ったシュー生地のお菓子

My favourite was the Cassolette and Tartelette Au Poitron as the sable base is excellently crunchy and buttery. Especially the cassolette whose gold crackly sugary skin shattered into a pool of custard and yuzu berry confiture cusped within the choux pastry. 

Saint Honore au Chocolat サントノーレショコラ 

If I had known earlier that they've got an Order Buffet promotion from 2500 yen for tea + a buffet of these petit entremets based on order from 11am-4pm, I would have grabbed this chance 

The 30-cm tall seasonal Sweet Potato parfait stood out not only in height but flavors. This isn't just the usual whipped cream and cakes stacked over a pile of cornflakes. Right at the base is an ultralight raspberry jelly layered with vanilla custard mousse and fresh cream before being generously buried in homemade cocoa sables and granola. 

Above all these decadent goodness is luscious pumpkin cream, raspberry confiture, marron paste and a sweet potato burger choux that's encased with vanilla ice cream suspended at the top. 

The composition was flawless and the golden ratio contributed to a perfect harmony of all the characters in this seemingly chaotic work. Truly one of the best parfaits in 2016 besides the Purple Sweet Potato Apple Yoghurt parfait from Kissho Karyo. 

Salon Bake & Tea

Shinjuku-Ku 4-1-6 NEWoMAN 3F 

東京都新宿区新宿四丁目1番6号 NEWoMan 3F

Daily 11:00-22:00（L.O.21:00）

TEL : 03-6380-1790

http://salon.adametrope.com/bake/#bland-store-info

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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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