Monday, March 25, 2024

Ki Su Shoujin Omakase @ Tanjong Pagar Road - Experience the First-Ever Innovative Plant-Based Japanese Omakase

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Ki Su Shoujin Omakase is the first-ever plant-based Japanese omakase in Singapore. It is an exciting new culinary venture led by the original team behind Joie by Dozo. The focus is inspired by shojin ryori cuisine, which is traditional Buddhist cooking.

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The restaurant sits along Tras Street and is decked in wood elements to create a zen Japanese atmosphere. Diners can opt to sit at the counter or book a private room for a cosy get-together.

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Dinner Omakase 4/5

Lunch presents an 8-course omakase menu priced at $88 per person, while dinner elevates the experience with a 10-course offering at $168 per person. The staff revealed that extensive research went into curating a diverse array of ingredients and combinations, which excited us to explore the potential of a complete plant-based omakase. During this visit, we tried the 10-course dinner.

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Beetroot Cigar

Our starters began with the delicate Beetroot Cigar, a paper-thin beetroot casing carrying diced apples and mayonnaise.

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Avocado Taco, Egg Yolk Toast with Air Flown Tonburi Caviar

Following that, we had the Avocado Taco and Egg Yolk Toast with Air-Flown Tonburi Caviar. Personally, I found the latter more appealing, with its velvety sous vide egg yolk atop crunchy buttered toast. The addition of caviar provided an extra burst of savoury flavour.

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Shiro Shimeji

The next part of the omakase was the 4-piece Nigiri Sushi, which seemed to focus a lot on providing a variety of textures. Our first sushi was Shiro Shimeji, white mushrooms.

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Red Capsicum

The Red Capsicum was lightly torched for a lovely char. All sushi rice used was pre-seasoned with soy.

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Eggplant

The third piece featured Eggplant. This was also my favourite among the nigiri sushi.

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Uni with Ikura

We were all intrigued by how this plant-based Uni with Ikura sushi looked. I will keep it a surprise as to what they are both made out of, but the "uni" carries hints of sweetness with a smooth texture.

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Truffle Pâté

The following dish drew inspiration from foie gras. The Truffle Pâté featured a base of crispy buttered toast adorned with mustard seeds and truffle sauce. I was pleasantly surprised by the lusciously creamy texture of the cashew nut pâté, which complemented the earthy truffle notes.

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King Oyster

My favourite dish was the King Oyster course, featuring juicy king oyster mushroom with fried shiso leaf and a sweet pea purée. I loved the burst of juiciness and texture of the mushroom.

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Yakimono

For the Yakimono dish, we had a skewer of beancurd skin wrapped with enoki mushroom and a cherry tomato. This leaned slightly more sweet.

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Kabutoni

Next was the Kabutoni, our simmered course. This traditional stew dish had daikon, eggplant, tofu skin, morel mushroom and bamboo fungus cooked in a soy sauce and sake combination.

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Golden Temaki

We were then each handed a Golden Temaki, a crunchy seaweed hand roll with maitake mushrooms and egg yolk.

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Entrée

The Entrée showcased a meaty Monkey Head Mushroom, meticulously prepared to preserve its juiciness. The black pepper sauce was notably mild, but the truffle mash, although slightly salty, was buttery and flavourful.

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Soup

Before concluding our omakase dinner with dessert, we were served a Leek-based Soup with a subtle hint of yuzu.

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First Dessert

For our First Dessert, we were presented with slices of Honeydew and a bowl of Matcha Cake. The latter had layered sweet caramel, nutty pistachio mousse, matcha cookie crumbs and watercress leaves, and a crunchy leaf-shaped corn biscuit. I found this too sweet but appreciated the thought behind it.

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Second Dessert

We each had a bowl of colourful edible flower petals, mint leaves, and fragrant herbs sitting in front of us before the chefs came around to pour liquid nitrogen into them to freeze-dry them. After crushing them, we had a scoop of Hokkaido ice cream mixed in. This Second Dessert is only available for dinner.

While the omakase price is considerably steep, the team put a tremendous amount of creativity and detail into each dish. The restaurant currently only offers omakase, but we are also looking forward to perhaps having an a la carte menu in the future.

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.


Ki Su Shoujin Omakase
60 Tras Street
#01-01
Singapore 078999
Tel: +65 8522 6824
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Tras Street. Turn right on Tras Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Sunday, March 24, 2024

Taste Paradise & Paradise Teochew Seasonal Menu Launch Featuring Nostalgic Dishes

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Taste Paradise and Paradise Teochew have recently introduced a new seasonal menu from 4 March to 26 April 2024, showcasing classic Cantonese and Teochew dishes, respectively. Executive Chef Cheng Fa Kwan has curated six classic dishes for each restaurant, bringing his own heirloom recipes to the table that evoke a sense of nostalgia in every bite.

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Braised Vinegar Pork Trotter with Preserved Plum 4/5

At Taste Paradise, expect a blend of sweet and savoury flavours in their new seasonal menu. One of the key dishes is the Braised Vinegar Pork Trotter with Preserved Plum ($28, U.P. $46.80). This dish features a whole pork trotter slow-cooked for four hours at low heat in a vinegar sauce infused with spices, superior broth, and an addition of a Hong Kong plum. The pork trotter impressed me with its tender texture and the rich depth of flavours in the sauce. However, I prefer the sauce to have more acidity to counteract the heaviness of the trotter.

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Crisp-fried Sweet and Sour Dough Fritter stuffed with Prawn Paste 3.8/5

Next, we had another classic taste of Hong Kong - Crisp-fried Sweet and Sour Dough Fritter stuffed with Prawn Paste ($25.80, U.P. $28.80). Prawns are coated in a spiced dough and fried into golden fritters before being tossed with chunks of pineapple, capsicum and onions in a sweet-and-sour sauce. I appreciate that the fritters were pretty evenly coated with the sauce. This allowed them to maintain the crisp texture and prevent the sauce from overpowering the delicate prawn paste.

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Chinese Sausage and Preserved Olive Fried Rice 4.5/5

One of my favourites was the moreish Chinese Sausage and Preserved Olive Fried Rice served in a Casserole ($42.80, U.P. $48.80). The fried rice exhibited a satisfyingly firm texture, and the generous slices of Chinese cured sausage and liver sausage imparted an abundance of umami flavours, contributing to an enjoyable and textured experience.

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Teochew Style Crab and Prawn Congee 4.8/5

At Paradise Teochew, the focus is on lighter flavours as well as fresh and natural ingredients, particularly seafood. Highlights include Teochew Style Crab and Prawn Congee ($28, U.P. $68). This indulgent rice congee is prepared by slowly simmering whole shelled prawns and an entire crab, resulting in a relatively full-bodied broth. The seasoning was adeptly done, bringing out the natural sweetness of the seafood.

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Teochew Style Braised Pig’s Stomach with Duck Tongue 5/5

The menu also boasts a rare delight — Teochew Style Braised Pig's Stomach with Duck Tongue ($16.80, U.P. $18.80). This distinctive dish showcases tender slices of pig's stomach and duck's tongue stewed in a house-made superior sauce, elegantly served alongside soft braised tofu for added texture. The dish's execution was impeccable, presenting a clean and light taste that added to its overall appeal.

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Crisp-fried Duck with Mashed Yam 4.8/5

A definite crowd-pleaser on the menu is the Crisp-fried Duck with Mashed Yam ($39.80, U.P. $42). This dish features slices of duck meat enveloped in a layer of yam, deep-fried to achieve a crispy exterior while retaining tender meat. Each bite provided a satisfying mouthfeel, with succulent thick-cut duck meat complemented by fragrant mashed yam.

Special prices are available exclusively for Citibank Credit/Debit Cardmembers and PGR members. Terms & Conditions apply.

Photograph and written by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Taste Paradise at ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn
#04-07
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6509 9660

Paradise Teochew at Takashimaya
391A Orchard Rd
#03-10
Singapore 238873
Telephone: +65 6805 8994

Paradise Teochew at Scotts Square
6 Scotts Road
#03-04
Singapore 228209
Telephone: +65 6538 0644