Origin Grill & Bar @ Shangri-La Hotel Singapore - The Place for Shiro Kin Wagyu and Snow-aged A4 Wagyu From Niigate, Japan

A new addition to Shangri-La Hotel Singapore is Origin Grill & Bar, located at the lobby level. Stepping into the new restaurant, one will feel like being teleport into a nostalgia train with a romantic charm.

Chilled Potato with Eggplant Jelly and Caviar 4.2/5

I was given a glimpse of the menu starting with the Chilled Potato with Eggplant Jelly and Caviar. The chilled potato married with the eggplant jelly, felt like cloud on my palate.The mousse-like texture of the chilled potato is perked up by the saltiness of the accompanying caviar.

Grilled Prawns 4.5/5

From the grilled seafood section, I had the Grilled Prawns which has been grilled with orange for a subtle fruity sweetness. It comes with fennel and baby green beans, black olives and carrot hummus. I enjoyed the grilled prawn for its bouncy texture and natural sweetness.

Rangers Valley Black Market Marble Score 5+ Sirloin 4.5/5

While I didn't get to try the Snow-aged Wagyu from Niigata Japan, I am as content with the Rangers Valley Black Market Marble Score 5+ Sirloin which is grilled to perfection, topped with a huge piece of foie gras and dressed in shallot jus. The grain-fed beef with its high score of marbling, is bursting with rich flavour. The buttered spinach at the side is a welcome accompaniment to balance the richness.

Dessert Platter 4.2/5

Cranberry Lemon Tea Cake 4.2/5

Besides the different grill dishes from the land and sea, not to be missed at Origin is their desserts and daily selection of cakes. I would recommend saving some space for dessert to wrap up your dinner experience at Origin Grill on a sweet note.

If you are a beef lover, you will be glad to know that both the Shiro Kin wagyu and the snow-aged full-blood wagyu are exclusively available at Origin Grill. I have heard of dry-aged but snow-aged is something new. It is a natural refrigeration process using snow storage or a yukimuro. This centuries-old aging process maintains a consistent internal temperature between 0 to 5 degrees Celsius, in spite of external weather conditions, in a state called seichi, which causes the meat to keep more than 90 per cent humidity and, thus, achieve better ripening and retention of freshness.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Origin Grill & Bar
Shangri La Singapore Hotel
Lobby Level Tower Wing
22 Orange Grove Road
Singapore 258350
Tel: +65 62134595
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

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

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk towards Wheellock Place via ION. Exit Wheellock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Cross the road at the traffic light junction and turn left towards Royal Thai Embassy. Walk down to the end of Orchard Road. Turn right onto Orange Grove Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 23 minutes. [Map]

Mikuni Japanese Restaurant @ Fairmont Singapore – Celebrates Hina Matsuri For A Sixth Year

Back by popular demand and in its sixth anticipated installation, Mikuni once again heralds the arrival of the time-honoured Japanese tradition that takes place during the first light of Spring, Hina matsuri (also known as Doll's Festival or Girl's Day) which marks a day when families wish their daughters success and happiness in life. Helming the Japanese restaurant is Chef Keisuke Uno, who have specially curated a delicately refreshing bento that is themed for the season - an embodiment of refined feminine grace to reflect the coming of age.

From 1 to 10 March, diners get to indulge in a multi-sensory culinary experience with nine elegantly curated dishes aptly adorned with pink and floral garnishes in a dainty wooden lacquered bento box, thoughtfully designed to please and pamper palates.

Foie Gras Chawanmushi with Hokkaido Seafood 4.5/5

The luxurious 9-course bento comes with a rich starter of Foie Gras Chawanmushi with Hokkaido Seafood. It boosts a remarkably silky and delicate texture, while its flavour is given a premium upgrade with a strong hint of foie gras, as well as an addition of fresh uni and salmon roe. These mouth-popping granules contribute bursts of mildly salty notes to complement the sweetness of the seafood and steamed egg custard, making every bite of the chawanmushi rich, full-bodied and thoroughly enjoyable - A perfect appetizer to kick start the 9-course bento.

Miso Marinated Black Cod, Eel Sushi, Japanese Plum Jelly Sasamaki-fu, Braised Octopus 4.2/5

Next on the bento is followed by a marriage of refined flavours including Miso marinated Black Cod, Eel Sushi, Japanese Plum Jelly Sasamaki-fu, and Braised Octopus artfully showcased on a delicate Japanese origami paper. This dish of assorted appetizer delicacies displays a medley of textures of flavours from the tender miso marinated black cod, soft eel on fluffy Japanese rice, juicy brasied octopus and strips of plum jelly with a sweet-sour balance.

Prawn, “Tokushima” Baby Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, Shishitou White Fish 4.2/5

The tempura section includes a platter of 4 assorted items - Prawn, “Tokushima” Baby Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, Shishitou White Fish, each lightly coated and fried to a golden crisp perfection.

Sea Bream, Ohtoro, Kampachi 4.5/5

We were presented a variety of fresh, delicate sashimi slices - of Sea Bream, Ohtoro and Kampachi, all freshly from Tsujiki Market. Flawlessly executed, the sashimi slices were fresh with a melt-in-the-mouth consistency.

Slow-cooked A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Beef Sirloin, Garlic Sweet Soy 4.5/5

The highlight is the Slow-cooked A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Beef Sirloin which features lightly seared beef served with garlic sweet soy sauce to boost a perfect sweet-savoury balance. Cooked to medium rare, this luxuriously rich and well-marbled beef brings huge satisfaction to every bite with its exquisite quality of the meat - flavourful and tender that literally melts in the mouth.

Authentic Japanese Braised Bamboo Shoots and Shrimp Cake 4/5

Next on the bento is the Authentic Japanese Braised Bamboo Shoots and Shrimp Cake. The shrimp cake is soft and flavourful, while the braised bamboo shoots delivers a soft crunchiness in its texture with a mildly sweet juiciness to complement the shrimp cake.

Crab Chirashi Sushi 4.2/5

The Crab Chirashi Sushi comes in a bowl of perfectly cooked fluffy Japanese rice filled with generous amounts of soft crab meat within and salmon roe to provide a mild sweet-savoury combination to the dish. Essentially, a dish that seems simple but fare well with its excellent execution. To complement these exquisite dishes, a piping bowl of soothing Japanese Miso Soup is served to cleanse the palate well at the end of the meal.

Shizuoka Musk Melon and Mango Sorbet 4.2/5

Round off the meal on a sweet note with the Shizuoka Musk Melon and Mango Sorbet, which constitutes Chef Keisuke’s tropical dessert of mango sorbet seamlessly enhanced with the sweetness of shizuoka musk melon. A delectable dessert for those with an insatiable sweet tooth.

Kindly note that the Hina Matsuri Bento is available from 1 to 10 March only. The Hina Matsuri bento is priced at $120++ per person, available for lunch.

Words and photos by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Mikuni Japanese Restaurant
Fairmont Hotel Singapore
80 Bras Basah Road
Level 3
Singapore 189650
Tel: +65 64316156
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Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]