Akira Back @ JW Marriott Hotel South Beach - Indulge in “The Omakase Dinner Experience”, A Luxurious 5-course by Chef Akira Back and Chef Bill Hong

Akira Back's "The Omakase Dinner Experience" is a new 5-course dinner you do not want to miss. Chef Akira Back with Chef de Cuisine Bill Hong has joined hands for this seasonal offering, which is available for dinner daily at $148 per pax. Diners can also opt for a specially curated sake and wine pairing at an additional $88 per pax.

The menu showcases seasonal specialities using quality produce, with each dish highlighting both chefs' expertise in modern Japanese cuisine with Korean accents.

Treasure Box with Citrus Striped Jack Bite

We started with a special treat of the gorgeous Treasure Box with Citrus Striped Jack Bite. While this is not part of the 5-course Omakase, it was definitely an intriguing start to the dishes to come.

Umami Hokkaido Uni 4.5/5

First on the omakase menu was the beautifully presented Umami Hokkaido Uni. The creamy and indulgent mouthfuls of uni were paired with goma miso and maitake, a combination I’ve not had before but became a fan of.

New AB Sashimi 4.2/5

Right after, we were served the New AB Sashimi. This dish features fresh slices of kanpachi dressed in a zesty tomato citrus sauce, with karasumi, ankimo and pickled radish for additional crunch.

Halibut 4.5/5

While I found the clam ang-sauce and apple purée a tad sweet for my liking, the Halibut itself was impressively buttery and tender. The sauces were also helpful to cut through the richness.

Shiso Sorbet

For our palette cleanser, we had the refreshing and minty Shiso Sorbet.

Sanchoku Ribeye

While I can’t take beef, my dining companions were raving about their Sanchoku Ribeye. It was served with cauliflower miso cream, burdock jam and myoga, a Japanese ginger.

Pork Chop 4.8/5

In replacement of the ribeye, I had a generous serving of Pork Chop. I absolutely loved the grill on the pork, which gave a thin crispness to the exterior while the meat within remained juicy. It was one of the best pork chops I've had recently!

Lobster Claypot Rice 4.8/5

The Lobster Claypot Rice can be opted for at an additional $65 top-up, and I would highly recommend it. With toppings of ikura and negi, this bowl of rice was light yet flavourful, allowing the sweetness of the tender lobster to come through.

Lobster Claypot Rice

Alongside the rice, you will be served a comforting bowl of miso soup and intricate homemade banchan.

AB Tuna Pizza 4.5/5

Before we dug into the final dessert course, we were treated to Chef Akira Back's signature dish, the AB Tuna Pizza. The crunchy crust was paper thin and laid with a blissful mix of herbs, fresh tuna and a drizzle of truffle oil.

Matcha Tart with Hazelnut Chantilly and Barley Ice Cream 4.8/5

The Matcha Tart with Hazelnut Chantilly and Barley Ice Cream was a lovely end to the meal. I thoroughly enjoyed the well-balanced mix of hazelnut nuttiness, bittersweet matcha and crisp tart shell.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Akira Back
JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach
30 Beach Road, Level B1M
Singapore 189763
Tel: +65 6818 1914
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Nearest MRT: Esplanade MRT (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit F. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Swee Choon Tim Sum @ Changi Airport Terminal 2 - 62 Year Old Dim Sum Institution Opens New 24-hour Concept Outlet

Swee Choon Tim Sum extends its dim sum delights with a new 24-hour outlet at Changi Airport Terminal 2, Arrival Hall. The relaxed cafe-style setting welcomes dim sum enthusiasts around the clock.

Siew Mai 4/5

Fried Prawn Rice Roll 3.8/5

Fried Dough Rice Roll 2/5

Fried Carrot Cake 3.8/5

Classic dim sum offerings include the juicy and meaty Siew Mai. The Fried Prawn Rice Roll impresses with its silky rice sheet embracing crispy prawns, while the Fried Dough Rice Roll needs to catch up on the crisp factor. The substantial Fried Carrot Cake is cooked in XO sauce but could use more seafood aroma.

Mee Sua Kueh 4.5/5

Tofu Bomb 3.5/5

Black Pepper Pork Chop with Wan Tan Noodle 4.5/5

Swee Choon's signature Mee Sua Kueh delights with its contrasting textures. The Tofu Bomb explodes with flavours, featuring crispy skin and a tofu, vegetable, and prawn filling. The Black Pepper Pork Chop with Wan Tan Noodle stands out with springy noodles and juicy, tender pork.

Hot & Sour Soup 4/5

Pineapple Bun w/ Butter 4/5

Sweet Potato Yam Paste Egg Tart 3.8/5, Sweet Potato Mochi Egg Tart 4/5

An unusual addition, the Hot & Sour Soup offers a delightful vinegar and spice kick. For a sweet ending, the Pineapple Bun with Butter provides a buttery, crusty exterior with a soft, fluffy interior. The Sweet Potato Yam Paste Egg Tart and Sweet Potato Mochi Egg Tart round off the meal with their sweet fillings and buttery crusts.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Swee Choon Tim Sum
Changi Airport Terminal 2
Arrival Hall
60 Airport Boulevard
#01-07
Singapore 819643
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Nearest MRT: Changi Airport (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 24 Hour

Direction:
1) Alight at Changi Airport MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Arrival Hall level. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Roof Terrace BBQ Private Dining @ East Coast Road - A Feast Of Grilled Meat and Seafood

Recently, together with my foodie friends, we went to Roof Terrace BBQ, a private dining home at East Coast Road that specialises in barbeque. The action happens on the roof terrace under the stars. However, during our visit, the roof terrace's lighting was not working, so we shifted indoors.

Smoked Beef Brisket

We started the dinner with the Smoked Beef Brisket. It comes with a beautiful pink smoke ring. The smoked beef brisket was flavorful, succulent and packed with a smoky aroma.

Roasted Baby Potatoes with Fried Garlic and Shallots, Sauteed Swiss Brown Mushrooms

Japanese Coleslaw

Grilled Zucchini, Eggplant, Baby Corn, Bell Peppers

Cornbread

To go with the mains, the host has prepared a couple of sides to go along with them. They are delicious sides that complemented the mains excellently. Diners can look forward to sides such as Roasted Baby Potatoes with Fried Garlic and Shallots, Sauteed Swiss Brown Mushrooms, Japanese Coleslaw, Grilled Vegetables, and our favourite Cornbread.

Grilled Spanish Duroc Pork Chops

For the non-beef eaters, do not worry, as the host can customise the menu, such as the Grilled Spanish Duroc Pork Chops we had. Grilled to perfection, it is tender and juicy.

Salted Baked Fish

Grilled Jumbo Tiger Prawns

Besides the grilled meats, we also have seafood on the menu. We had a whole Salted Baked Wild Caught Red Snapper and Jumbo Tiger Prawns.

Sticky Date Pudding with Caramel and Homemade Burnt Vanilla

Wrapping the BBQ feast, we had Sticky Date Pudding with Caramel and Homemade Burnt Vanilla. A beautiful dessert for a sweet ending.

We paid $75 per pax. It is a price you can't find in the current private dining scene. Most of the private dining places are charging above $100 per pax nowadays. Unlike other private dining places, Roof Terrace BBQ does not allow alcohol.


Roof Terrace BBQ Private Dining
East Coast Road
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Wagatomo @ Guoco Tower - New Japanese Grill Restaurant By Ex-Akira Black Chef

New at Guoco Tower is Wagatomo, helmed by Chef Tomoyuki Kiga, formerly from Akira Black. The new restaurant focuses on cooking quality ingredients over grill fire using binchotan charcoal and oak wood. Drawing from his previous experiences, he now lends his culinary ingenuity and his multi-cultural background to cook up modern renditions of Japanese cuisine.

Momotaro Tomato 4.2/5

Whetting the appetite is the bright and invigorating Momotaro Tomato ($16) tossed in fuji apple vinaigrette, sweet corn puree, and finished with a dash of amazu and sweet Japanese vinegar.

Hokkaido Scallop 4.2/5

For the cold bites, we had the Hokkaido Scallop ($27) served raw with mango sambal and yuzu oroshi. The nanbanzu sauce, which comprised the marriage between ponzu and amazu, lifted the taste profile.

A5 Wagyu Pizza 4/5

The A5 Wagyu Pizza ($32) may look familiar to a similar dish served at Akira Black, but Chef Tomoyuki has replaced it with A5 Wagyu, giving it a luxe touch. It is generously topped with slices of A5 wagyu and complemented with ponzu mayo, pickled myoga (ginger flower) and yuzu kosho cream before finishing with a drizzle of truffle oil.

A5 Tri Tip 4/5

Beef lovers will adore the A5 Tri Tip ($98) that has been slow-cooked for six hours. It is rubbed with sansho spice for a deepen taste profile, paired with charred onion puree and vegetables to complete the dish. In my personal opinion, I thought the flavour was too rich to appreciate the beautiful piece of red meat fully.

Ume Miso Glazed Pork Chop4.5/5

The non-beef eater can opt for the Ume Miso Glazed Pork Chop ($42). I enjoyed the rub of ume miso, giving the succulent pork a delectable sweetness, served with an apple fennel slaw to cut the richness.

Scampi Ochazuke 4.5/5

The Scampi Ochazuke ($35) is the Chef's rendition of the traditional ochazuke green tea over rice. Smoke is infused into the bowl before serving. Diners will be greeted with a beautiful aroma upon lifting the lid. Savoury scampi dashi replaces the traditional green tea, finished with smoked pickled daikon, hana ho flowers and caviar.

Don Tomo 4.2/5

There are several donburi dishes on the menu for those looking for a quick meal. The Don Tomo ($32) is a delicious choice, brimming with slow-cooked wagyu topped with a hearty daikon steak and bamboo shoots.

Monaka 4/5

Wrapping up the meal on a sweet note is the Monaka ($9). Underneath the shiratama mochi wafer is a scoop of housemade matcha ice cream paired with yuzu azuki beans.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Wagatomo
Guoco Tower
5 Wallich Street
#01-12
Singapore 078883
Tel: +65 83136622
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm
(Cloed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to Guoco Tower. Walk to the open air square. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Thirty Six Brewlab & Smokehouse @ Club Street - A Celebration Of Craftsmanship in All Forms: Food, Art, Music And Beer

Thirty Six Brewlab & Smokehouse at Club Street features a 120-seat restaurant, a state-of-art on-site 500-litre microbrewery, and 23 taps pouring a selection of the finest craft beer. The menu here is centred around open-flame grilling on a custom-built brick hearth.

Fresh on draught are Lion Brewery Co’s flagship and seasonal brews, rotating guest brews from other local and international craft breweries, and a constantly changing lineup of beers brewed right on site at the microbrewery. Some of the beer highlights include Thirty Six Brewlab Lah-ger (craft beer4,8%), Lion Brewery Co Straits Pale Ale (pale ale 4.5%), Lion Brewery Co Kaiser Kolsch (pale ale 4.5%), Thirty Six Brewlab Olg Greg (session IPA 4.5%), Lion Brewery Co Island Lager (lager 4.5%), Thrity Six Brewlab Something Something (india pale ale 5.7%) and Thirty Six Brewlab Raspberry Beer-et (berliner weisse 4.6%).

Crispy Popcorn Chicken 4.2/5

The Crispy Popcorn Chicken ($9) is marinated in cider for a day and soaked in buttermilk for another day. Finally, it is sprinkled with chilli powder and togarashi for an addictive finishing — an ideal snack dish to go with a few glasses of beer.

Scotch Egg 3.5/5

The Scotch Egg ($10) here is slightly different with the use of impossible meat, coat in breadcrumbs and deep-fried. It is paired with housemade sriracha mayo sauce made with mayonnaise, lime juice and sriracha.

Grilled Black Tiger Prawns 4.5/5

Simply seasoned with sea salt and grilled over open flame is the Grilled Black Tiger Prawns ($20). Nothing fancy but just pure enjoyment of the fresh seafood with smokey aroma.

Spicy Pork Belly Satay 4.5/5

One of my favourite dishes is the Spicy Pork Belly Satay ($16), marinated in sambal manis. The rich flavour profile complements the tender pork belly excellently. In addition, the archar is a welcoming side to freshen up the palate.

Flat Bread 4/5

The Flat Bread ($14) is made from pizza dough using low in gluten flour. It is best enjoyed with the smoked baba ghanoush.

Wood-fried Cauliflower 3.5/5

Do you like your vegetable grilled? If you are, you may enjoy the Wood-fired Cauliflower ($25) rubbed with turmeric, ginger and black peppercorn. The cauliflower is first steamed before being grilled. The acidity from the dressing lifted the enjoyment of its crunchy texture.

Charred Romaine Lettuce 3/5

Another grilled vegetable on the menu is the Charred Romaine Lettuce ($9). The heart of the romaine lettuce is seasoned with oil, salt and pepper before being charred on an open flame. The smoked vinaigrette elevates the crunchy and refreshing romaine lettuce.

Mixed Cabbage Slaw 4.2/5

The addition of fresh green apple sticks in the Mixed Cabbage Slaw ($7) gives it an additional textural enjoyment on top of the sliced white and red cabbage, dressed in mayonnaise and plain Greek yoghurt. Definitely, one of the better slaws I have eaten.

Pork Chop 4.2/5

The huge Pork Chop ($36 for 300g) is grilled to a beautiful tender complement by the green parsley and caper sauce. It is paired with spiced pork crackling.

Sticky BBQ Pork Ribs 4.8/5

The finger-licking good is the Sticky BBQ Pork Ribs ($28 half rack/ $52 full rack). The fall of the bone pork rib is glazed with a sauce made from kicap manis, chipotle sauce and rice vinegar. Squeeze the lime over the pork rib to get a balance to the savoury burnt flavour of the tender meat.

Burnt Cheesecake 4/5

Given a local twist is the Burnt Cheesecake ($13) infused with Pandan flavour. It is served with raspberries and housemade coconut meringue.

With fresh beer and good food, Thirty Six Brewlab & Smokehouse is worth checking out. Hidden away at Mohd Ali Lane, off the main Club Street, it felt like I had walked into a restaurant in a foreign country.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Thirty Six Brewlab & Smokehouse
36 Club Street
Singapore 069469
Tel: +65 62390350
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Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Chinatown (DT Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 1030pm
Sat-Sun: 10am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Cross Street to Club Street. Turn left onto onto Club Street. Walk to Mohd Ali Lane. Turn right onto Mohd Ali Lane. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk straight down Pagoda Street to South Bridge Road. Cross the road. Walk to Mohd Ali Lane. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]