Kinsa Sushi @ HillV2 Bukit Timah

Was invited for a tasting session at Kinsa Sushi, located at HillV2. HillV2 is a shopping mall, located at Hillview Rise. Kinsa Sushi aims to bring affordably priced Japanese dining to the heartlands.

signboard

interior

kaiten sushi counter

imported seafood

Kinsa Sushi will be running a Mother's & Father's Day promo from 10 May till 30 June 2015. The theme of the promo are of oysters and salmon.

promo menu

Let's take a look at the Salmon Set (for 2 pax) @$59.90++.

Salmon and Roe with Japanese Yam (@$6.90++ ala-carte)

Salmon with Butter (@$11.90++ ala-carte)

Deep Fried Salmon (@$9.90++ ala-carte)

Salmon with Ikura Sushi (right)

The salmon with ikura sushi (鮭（さけ親子すし) was lovely. Simple in looks, goodness in taste. Loved the bursts of flavours from the egg globules.

鮭（さけ親子すし (2 pcs @$13.90++ ala-carte)

The main course for the meal, is the Salmon and Vegetable Hotpot (Ishikari Nabe). Tasty broth, plenty of vegetables and salmon belly simmering gently. Nice. My mom will like this.

Salmon and Vegetable Hotpot (@16.90++ ala-carte)

Next up, let's have a peek at the Oyster Set (for 2 pax) @$69.90++.

Oyster with Ponzu Sauce (@$7.90++ ala-carte)

Oyster Sushi (@$15.90++ 2 pcs ala-carte)

Grilled Oyster and Cheese ($12.90++ 2 pcs ala-carte)

Deep Fried Oyster with Shiso Leaf (@$13.90++ 3 pcs ala-carte)

Oysters were imported from Hokkaido, and fresh oysters eaten simply with ponzu sauce had a clean feel to it. Grilled oysters in cheese was saltishly good and probably best to be eaten, with a small sip of sake.

My favourite oyster style, had to be the Kaki Kaori Age or deep fried oyster with shiso leaf. Mild herb taste and freshly fried with luscious juicy oyster. Yums.

Similar to Salmon Set, Oyster Set too came with a hotpot full of vegetables and the delicate oysters. Soup base tasted very similar, with the salmon hotpot made slightly richer by the good oils from salmon belly.

Oyster and Vegetable Hotpot (@$24.90++ ala-carte)

If you're not a salmon nor an oyster fan, fret not. There's still plenty of options to choose from Kinsa Sushi.

How about giving its signature Wagyu Don a try? Slices of tender beef, accompanied by a lovely wobbly onsen tamago and drizzled with sweetish savoury sauce, now doesn't that sound exciting?

Wagyu Don @$24.80++

Break the egg, and let it flow~, let it flow~ Gosh, how corny was that *gasp*. Hahaa!

perfect

Then, mix it all up and let the soft flowy yolk covers every single grain of the rice.

mix it up

Very likeable bowl of SooGyu Don, of wagyu A4 grade from Kagoshima. A taste of luxury, brought closer to home.

interesting tea pot

Ended our meal with black sesame mochi balls, which was enjoyable and slightly chewier than usual. Goes well with the green tea.

congregation of mochi balls

anatomy of mochi

Thanks to Shannon for hosting the dinner, and Hence for the invite. Much appreciative to Hazel for lending her hand for one of the pictures.

Kinsa Sushi @ HillV2

Address: 4 Hillview Rise, HillV2 #02-02, Singapore 667979
Tel: +65 67107278
Website: http://kinsasushi.com/HV/

TODAI @ Marina Bay Sands

Can you believe how fast time has snucked past? Still remembered when TODAI first landed in Singapore. In a blink of the eye, fast forward to 2015 and TODAI is celebrating its 4th Anniversary! 축하해요!

As such, TODAI Marina Bay Sands is offering a March promotion of "Experience Birthday Dishes around the World at TODAI". Interesting to not only find out, what dishes do the other cultures eat during birthdays but we get to taste them too without having to leave the country.

experience birthday delicacies from various continents

When we think of TODAI, what's the first thing that came to mind?

cold crab legs

steaming hot

There were plenty of people during weekdays, so only managed to snap a few photos for your viewing pleasure.

oysters

sushi

pizza

tempura items

desserts - chocolate fountain

When thirsty, an iced cold draft beer is always a welcomed.

draft beer, order from table (alcoholic drinks not included in buffet)

My choice starters? Crab leg and oysters. Liked the briny oysters best.

cold seafood

The sashimi was pretty good too, especially the swordfish and salmon belly.

sashimi moriawase

Done with the cold, in with the hot food. But before that, a swig of that beer. Yums.

oxtail stew, spicy pork belly, beef short-ribs, crispy tempura pumpkin, teppan beef tenderloin and escargot

The oxtail was likeable. Tender yet firm texture, sweet sauce but not overly so. The short ribs was thin, slight chewiness, sweetish but tasty. The paper thin pumpkin was crispy but a tad oily but deep fried pumpkin always tasted soo good!

Beef tenderloin, best eaten when sliced into smaller pieces. I gobbled one (hey, it looked bite sized okay!) and it was hard to chew but when sliced into quarters, it transformed into tender flavourful bites.

Escargot, was one that I couldn't fathom. How do you cook an escargot that it became so tender yet crunchy? Similar to button mushroom texture. Amazing.

deep fried battered scallop balls, grilled wings, sausage, more crab and stir fried asparagus with prawns

Back to birthday dishes, what are the customary food that one eats? My Hokkien grandma would cook mee sua soup with pork and mushroom slices, and a hard boiled egg for her sons' birthday.

Chinese custom usually associates longetivity in birthday dishes such as longetivity buns and noodles. Live long and prosper!

shoutao 寿桃 - longetivity bun

yi mein 伊麵 - longetivity noodles

In Korean shows, we always see the birthday boys and girls having miyeokguk, or sea vegetable soup in the mornings of their birthday. This soup is highly nutritious in calcium and iodine, and women consume it after giving birth.

miyeokguk 미역국 - seaweed or wakame soup

But I didn't know that Japchae is also a birthday dish. Nice. Love these sweet potato noodles that's chewy and smooth.

Japchae 잡채

From the exotic countries of Nigeria and Ghana, here are its birthday dishes; Jollof Rice and Oto.

Jollof Rice

Jollof Rice is kind of paella-like, in the sense of its moist rice texture and taste. Appetisingly sourish, and with some spices.

Oto

The Oto is a sacred dish, and eggs in Ghanaian culture symbolizes purity and fruitfulness.

But where's the birthday cake?

From Russia, we have the 4-layer birthday cake. It's a doppleganger of rainbow cake! Rich, buttery creamy and not too sweet.

Russian 4-layer Birthday Cake

At TODAI, one gets to experience not only tasty food in its abundance and variety, but also an appreciation of different cultural context and meaning, especially in these birthday dishes from around the world.

After a whirlwind tour of the world cuisine, let's wind down by having desserts.

For some, dessert would mean wine and cheese.

Sauvignon Blanc (not included in buffet, chargeable)

cheeses

For most of us, desserts mean cakes, sweets and ice cream!

pretty

cakes galore

If you are at TODAI in March, you may even get a chance to win TODAI Free Pass. Check out the March promo at TODAI's website.

Special thanks to Brandon and Nisha for your hospitality, and HGW for the invite.

잘 먹었습니다~

TODAI SINGAPORE

Location: #b2-01 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018972
Contact: +65 6688 7771
Website: http://todaisingapore.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TodaiSingapore

Chinatown Food Street @ 335 Smith Street

Attended a Reunion Supper at CFS (Chinatown Food Street) yesterday. With Lunar New Year just round the corner, it felt like as though everyone had congregated in Chinatown! Long lines of humans thronging the streets, right from the start of Exit A of Chinatown Station. The walk to Smith Street took forever. Well, almost. At 930pm, Chinatown was bustling!

sought shelter, away from the crowd

Truth be told, it has been ages since I've been to Smith Street. Probably when it was still in its open-air era. Was feeling nostalgic already.

great turnout

congregation of stalls in CFS

Glad to be seated with familiar faces. Great to see everyone again.

waiting to start, must resist ngoh hiang  五香 temptation

let's start the prosperity toss 撈起 (lo hei)

Yusheng (鱼生) is a Teochew-style raw fish salad. Always liked it with grass carp, but guess it is more common with salmon nowadays.

yusheng, convenience style

一本万利, 财源广进 (pouring the oil of wealth~)

All together now, Huat ah! Live healthy and prosper!

After yusheng, we sampled some of the hawker fares available in CFS. Did you know that there are 24 hawker stalls to choose from? Let's see what we ate.

First up, Chong Chong Ngoh Hiang Prawn Fritter 忠忠五香酥虾饼. The prawn fritters stayed pretty crispy throughout. That ubiquitous plate of bee hoon was pretty tasty!

freshly fried ngoh hiang

economical bee hoon

Satay sounds like a perfect supper food, yes? How about this plate from Newton Circus Ahmad Ibrahim Satay. Chicken satay was nicely sweet and tender.

tender and sweet

Is that all for supper? Well, not quite. Here was what my table ended up with. Can you spot the dishes from Odeon Beef Noodles, Food Street Fried Kway Teow Mee, Joo Chiat Ang Moh Noodles House, Chinatown Enak Fritters, Katong Keah Kee Fried Oysters, Bugis Street Famous Hainanese Chicken Rice and Chinatown Food Street Hot/Cold Beverages?

now, this is supper 开动咯~

For a limited time only, from now till 18 Feb 2015, Chinatown Food Street will stay open for all the night owls, the curious and the hungries all the way till 2am daily for supper.

Now you know where to head to.

Happy Lunar New Year 新年快乐!