Sushi Tei @ Takashimaya

Whenever I am craving for Japanese cuisine but tight in my wallet, I will always thought of Sushi Tei for a good deal of sushi. With 15 outlets island wide, I can easily satisfy my craving easily. For a limited period until 9 January 2013, Sushi Tei has rolled out a new promotional menu, The Perfect Interfusion. Centred around the autumn and winter seasons, it is a menu of warm and hearty rustic fare with a contemporary twist.

Mentai Potato Salad 4/5

Potato Salad is quite common but just a little twist with mixing it with chunky carrots, cucumbers and topped with mentai gave the Mentai Potato Salad ($6.80) a whole new dimension in enjoying the dish.

Spicy Ban Ban ji Ramen 4.2/5

At Sushi Tei, you can also find dishes created by their talented chefs from various outlets. The top six new creations in the Supreme Chef Challenge Creations will be available in the menu. If it received good responses, they will be featured permanently in the menu.

One of such creations is the cold noodle dish, the Spicy Ban Ban ji Ramen ($10) created by I12 Katong outlet. The Ban Ban ji Ramen was packed with beautiful flavours. The noodle was firm and springy. The aromatic sesame sauce with a hint of spiciness was the star that brings the whole dish together.

Yakiniku Cheese Roll 4/5

Another creation by the talented chef at Holland Village outlet is the Yakiniku Cheese Roll ($12). With the beef slice and cheddar wrapped around the sushi rice, seaweed and cucumber, it tasted like a re-interpretation of the cheeseburger.

Tori Nanban 4/5

Paired with the homemade Taru Taru sauce of mayonnaise, shallots and parsley, the Tori Nanban ($10) was crisp on the exterior and juicy inside.

Ikameishi 3.8/5

The Ikameishi ($12) which is char grilled squid stuffed with flavoured squid rice came with firm and nice crunchy texture. The lightly flavoured squid rice filling was a welcome addition complementing the fresh Hokkaido squid.

Mango Avocado Roll 4/5

The fruity and refreshing Mango Avocado Roll ($12) for me resembles the Thai dessert mango glutinous rice. A sushi roll of mango, crab stick, avocado and wafu dressing is an interesting  change to the tradition.

Ikasumi Pasta 3/5

The Ikasumi Pasta ($13.50) tossed in a luscious squid ink sauce and topped with fried garlic and squid was not memorable for me. If not for the fried garlic aroma that came with each mouthful of the al dente spaghetti, the whole dish was lacking in flavour and tasted rather bland.

Matsutake Sukiyaki (beef) 4/5

Simmer the thinly sliced meats and Matsutake mushrooms in the comforting melange of shiratake glass noodles, tofu, leeks, carrots and enoki mushrooms in sukiyaki soup. The Matsutake Sukiyaki ($26 beef, $22 chicken) features the seasonal Matsutake pine mushrooms combines with a choice of chicken or USDA beef tenderloin is a must try.

Nama Chocolate and Matcha Nama Chocolate Ice Cream 4.5/5

I have never given a thought to the dessert at Sushi Tei but after trying the Nama Chocolate Ice Cream ($4.80) and Matcha Nama Chocolate Ice Cream ($4.80) this will be my must order dessert in my future visits to Sushi Tei. The bite size ice cream filled the mouth with rich chocolate flavours as it slowly dissolved inside, tantalising the taste buds.

Shiratama Azuki 3.5/5

I found it very interesting for the Shiratama Azuki ($6) to be served in a waffle shell with a scoop of ice cream, azuki red beans and mochi. I had the Matcha ice cream but if you prefer other flavours you can also try their Yuzu or Salt ice cream which seemed to be favourite among the diners.


Sushi Tei
Takashimaya
Ngee Ann City Podium Block
391 Orchard Road
#05-30/31
Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 67378878
Website: http://www.sushitei.com/
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line), Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit D. Cut through Wista Atria building and walk to Ngee Ann City. Journey time about 8 minutes.

2) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B. Exit 313 Somerset. Walk down Orchard road towards Mandarin Gallery direction. Cross the traffic light at Orchard link and proceed to Ngee Ann City. Journey time about 8 minutes.

Rubato Modern Italian Trattoria @ Clover Way

Rubato Modern Italian Trattoria is hidden in the midst of industrial buildings at Jalan Pemimpin. Tucked among the shophouses at Clover Park neighbourhood, I am surprised to discover a hidden gem. During my visit, I noticed the secret Italian restaurant already has repeated regulars. The restaurant is also favourite for local celebrities looking for a place to host private functions. I am privileged to be invited by the restaurant to try out their 4 course festive dinner menu available till end of December 2012.

Stepping into the back of Rubato, the restaurant's al fresco dining area transformed one into the street of Italy with black street lamps along the courtyards.

Chef/Owner Marcus Edwin Wu is very passionate in his food. He is probably one of the youngest chef in Singapore cooking traditioanl Italian food. In between dinner servicing, I noticed him taking time to step out of the kitchen to mingle with his customers, sharing his latest food adventures. Chef Marcus is also a trained violinist under the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) concert master Alexander Souptel. The multi talented chef even has a scholarship to study law in Australia. That is when he was plugged into food culture in Australia and working as a sous chef in an Italian restaurant.

Burratina Con Pomodorini E Basilico 4.2/5

The 4 course dinner started with freshly imported burratina from Puglia, roma tomato, organic basil and artisanal-grade parma ham. The creamy buttery burratina paired with sweet roma tomato and salty parma ham were nicely balanced without snatching the limelight from one another.

Aragosta Cappuccino 4.5/5

For soup, I had the lobster cappuccino with asparagus silvers, truffle oil and pizzetta. The lobster reduction simply blown me away with its intense and robust flavours.

Veal Ravioli with Truffle Porcini Sauce 4.8/5

The star of the night definitely is the Veal Ravioli with Truffle Porcini sauce which brought fame to the restaurant. According to Chef/Owner Marcus Edwin Wu, the dish was inspired by Joel Robuchon's Foie Gras Ravioli and he created a variation of it. The handmade veal ravioli was cooked to perfection still having a bite to the pasta dough. The deft piece of work with the flavourful truffle porcini sauce was like a match from heaven.

Torta Di Cioccolato Fondente 4.2/5

Finishing the 4 course dinner on a perfect note with the valrhona bittersweet chocolate fondant with home-made vanilla gelato. The chocolate fondant was rich and moist which hit the right note for the perfect ending.

I have enjoyed my dinner at Rubato. Besides the quality food, the ambience is relax and casual. The restaurant also has a good selection of boutique vineyard wines that is personally selected by chef Marcus in his travels. I am already looking forward to my next visit


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Rubato Modern Italian Trattoria
3 Clover Way
Singapore 579078
Tel: +65 62523200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rubato.sg
Nearest MRT: Marymount (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Marymount MRT station. Take Exit B. Cross the traffic light junction to Jalan Pemimpin. Proceed down Jalan Peminpin and left right onto Clover Way. Journey time about 8 minutes.