2015 - Chik's Crib

27 December 2015

W39 Bistro and Bakery (West Coast)

December 27, 2015 0
W39 Bistro and Bakery (West Coast)
W39 Bistro was something Miss XS mentioned to me a few years ago, but other than one ill-fated attempt to visit at 11pm, was something that slipped from our collective minds. 
I'm not sure what was going through my mind when we set off that night; I had a vague notion that I wanted a slice of cake, and it sounded like the sort of place that'll open till the late hours, so off we went. 

Luckily, a few birthdays later, I became much wiser, and paid them a visit with a couple of friends at a more reasonable time. I've heard some mixed reviews about their handmade Wagyu Burger ($22), but I took a chance on it. It paid off, with crispy fries that all of us just couldn't keep away from, and a succulent juicy patty cooked to medium with melted cheese. The mustard sauce on the burger was a good thought, but it was a little plain and didn't add much to the taste. Maybe try a different brand? I did wish that the fries are a little hotter; they were a little cold, but still crispy though.

While waiting for my burger to arrive, I had the Passionfruit Soda ($5.50). It was raved about online. I love its tiered appearance, and it was cold and intensely refreshing, helped in part by the infusion of mint leaves. It was pleasantly sweet. I was expecting a little more tartness from the passionfruit, which would nicely balance the sweetness. 
One of my lunch companions ordered the Homemade Soup of the day ($6.50), which was pumpkin soup. I took a spoonful, and it was rich and flavourful. I never liked pumpkin soup much, and this was the first that I enjoyed. 
Picture by R
R had the Confit of Duck Leg ($24), which she raved as being very tender and tasty. It was served with homemade mashed potato. 
Pretty decent brunch/lunch location. And has a friendly but elusive cat that allows you to pet it - if you can coax it from under its umbrella. Worth another visit. 

W39 Bistro and Bakery
Address: 39 Jalan Mas Puteh, 128637
Website: W39 Bistro and Bakery

23 December 2015

Baba Sus

December 23, 2015 5
Baba Sus
One recommendation by a trusted friend is worth ten positive reviews online. Sorry, Zomato; you and I go a long way back, and I love you deep deep, but it's true. 

"Baba Sus is my favorite brunch place in Melbourne!" my friend declared exuberantly about this Asian-Brunch fusion restaurant. We have similar taste, but she works with a larger dining budget. (This is the same friend who had sampled some of the best food Shira Nui offers - which comes with a hefty three-digit price tag.) So when she says there's a place she likes, I pay extra attention. 

And boy, I'm glad I did. 

19 December 2015

Cornmeal Cookies (Zaletti)

December 19, 2015 0
Cornmeal Cookies (Zaletti)
A few months ago, I bought a large bag of cornmeal to make a deconstructed mango cheesecake. Afterwards, I promptly lost the bag in the overflowing labyrinths of my cupboard. 

I knew it was somewhere amid my collection of jars and the bits and ends of leftover ingredients from other baking projects, but I couldn't get more specific than that. A few days ago, I was digging through my cupboard looking for a bag of azuki beans when I unearthed my lost bag of cornmeal.  



17 December 2015

Shira Nui

December 17, 2015 0
Shira Nui
Shira Nui is the kind of place that is just a little out of the usual university student's awareness. I hear about ShyunJyu-jyu, and Waya frequently, but no one ever seems to mention Shira Nui. It's a little away from the hotspot in Glen Waverley, and it doesn't have the most appealing appearance from the outside looking in, but when I went with a few friends last year after Miss XS's recommendation, I learnt that you can't judge a restaurant by its cover either. I had the opportunity to go back to Shira Nui a few months ago with several other friends after a series of grueling Wednesday lectures (from 8am till noon), and their standard remains as good as ever. 

13 December 2015

Gaijin

December 13, 2015 0
Gaijin
Okay, so Gaijin isn't the most convenient restaurant to get to from my place. And looking for nearby parking may be a problem. But if you don't mind these slight inconveniences, you'll find yourself at one of the best, and affordable, Japanese restaurants of Melbourne.  


I've been here a couple of years ago for dinner with Miss XS. The dim yellow lighting wasn't conducive for photo-taking, so we kept our camera away and gave the food our undivided attention. It was a really remarkable meal, and I promised myself I would be back. I couldn't shut up about it ever since, but with a name like 'Gaijin' (Japanese for foreigner), it was a little hard to convince my Japanese-saavy friends to come with me. Still, I persevered for the better of the next two years, but it still took a birthday (mine!) to finally convince them to give Gaijin a chance. The food was as good as I remembered. Every dish was perfect, and I would order any of them again in a heartbeat.  

We had a selection of sashimi (8 pcs for $10), which was as fresh as they come. (See above, picture)


09 December 2015

Volume Cafe

December 09, 2015 0
Volume Cafe
When a couple of surgeons opened Volume Cafe across the main street from Dandenong Hospital, it caused a bit of a stir. I hear (don't sue!) that up along the food chain, the people in management were concerned whether opening Volume would divert traffic away from Zouki's, the in-hospital cafe chain. 

But still, no one was as ecstatic about Volume as the staff and students were, and everybody that I've talked to had nothing but good things to say about the opening. Even though the in-hospital cafe is more convenient to grab a cup of coffee from, there seems to be a lot of people walking around clutching a takeaway cup from Volume these days...

07 December 2015

Alice Medrich's Chocolate Fondue Recipe

December 07, 2015 0
Alice Medrich's Chocolate Fondue Recipe
The first time I made this fondue, I had an accident. I took my eyes off the water bath for just a minute, and water managed to get into the chocolate and seized the chocolate into an unappetizing glob. Don't be like me. Because my mind seems to wander off more often than a goldfish with ADHD, I took no chance with my second batch a few days later and chucked the chocolate-milk mixture into the microwave, as Alice Medrich recommended. 

If someone tries to make you feel bad about using microwaves, show 'em this webpage on what Jonas Mikka Luster has to say about microwaves. (A German Master Chef. The real ones. Not the tv show.) 
Which goes to show that making a chocolate fondue for dessert is as hard - or easy - as you make it to be. Combine milk and chopped chocolate, and heat until they combine. Serve with cut fruits and voila! Desserts doesn't get simpler than this. The best part about this versatile recipe? Feel free to tinker with the proportion of the ingredients according to your preferred taste. 


I served this with strawberries, bananas, mandarin oranges and apples, and liked the crunchy apples most with the thick chocolate fondue. Alice M commented "I have never seen anyone dip anything (even a finger) in chocolate without a smile. Although this festive, simple party dessert is a year-round opportunity to use the season’s best and ripest fruit, I am partial to the time between darkest winter and early spring, when citrus fruit and bananas and dried fruits cry out for chocolate.” But like the recipe itself, feel free to use any fruits - or cakes or biscuits - that you want to try. This is after all, your show. When done right, (and really, it isn't that hard!), it makes a wonderful accompaniment to winter fruits, and as a chocolate sauce, dress up a bowl of ice cream or slices of cakes

03 December 2015

Brooklyn Crumb Cake Recipe

December 03, 2015 0
Brooklyn Crumb Cake Recipe
My first childhood memories of cakes came from prying a slice of Sara Lee's pound cake from the aluminium container. These cakes can be found in the refrigerated section of any supermarket back in those days, and it was a treat to come home to find a box in the fridge. We were probably meant to heat the cake up in the oven, but for some reason, I just never got around to it and often eat it cold from of the fridge. 

01 December 2015

Jyu-Jyu

December 01, 2015 0
Jyu-Jyu
Jyu-Jyu is a no-frills Japanese place for a quick informal meal, where good Japanese food comes at an affordable price. There is plenty to choose from on the menu, but the only thing I've ordered was the Katsu-Don ($9.80 - above), which comes in my Goldilocks portion- not too big, not too small. It's satisfying for a lunch, and doesn't leave me in a food coma. Which makes it a terrific place for me to pop into for lunch before heading back to school. 

Not having enough sauce is my not-so-secret pet peeve for Katsu-Don. Here, Jyu-Jyu does it well when I ate in-store, and I was happy as I can become. The last time though, I had the Katsu-Don to go (we were rushing for a movie), and the rice was distinctively dry. Seriously, folks. Just drench the rice. But two happy visits out of three ain't bad, and I'll just make sure to eat in-store the next time I go. 

Jyu-Jyu Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

27 November 2015

Snow Pony

November 27, 2015 0
Snow Pony
Snow Pony is one of Melbourne's popular brunch places, and a restaurant which I've been eyeing for a while. The waitress tells us that Snow Pony sources its ingredients locally as much as possible, and the restaurant has some nifty home gadgets to minimise their environment impact. I was pretty impressed with their restroom set-up. The tap is connected to the toilet cistern. You wash your hands and the used water flows into the cistern, where it collects to flush the toilet for the person next in line. It's ingenious, and an improvement over a system that uses clean drinkable water to flush human waste down the drain. 
  
(Okay, so most food blogs don't start a restaurant post by with a discussion on toilets and human waste. But I'm finished now. It's out of my cistern.)

Ha. Pun intended. 


Okay, it's all out now.

19 November 2015

Persian Flavours

November 19, 2015 0
Persian Flavours
Ahh. Persian Flavours. You give my love for food a little more variety, you. There is a bit of a debate on Zomato about whether you lean more towards Persian or Afghanistan, but all that talk just makes you even more exotic. As long as you keep on firing up those charcoal grills of yours, anything goes.

I've been here before in the tail-end of 2014, but I've neglected to write about it. Well, I've came once again with a large group of friends this time, and we all left happy and deeply satisfied. It's kind of a surprise to me too - seeing some my friends have wildly contrasting opinions on what constitutes a good meal - but everybody left as happy as I did. 


I had the mango dough ($4), a delightful yogurt-based drink with a tinge of spice. Highly recommended. The original dough is a lot more tangy, but according from a friend, tasted authentic.


Our hands-down favourite dish was the Charcoal Chicken (whole-$16.80). The charcoal grill imparted a smoky scent to the meat, and the marinade was superb. It was deeply flavourful and I scrambled for the last few pieces.

17 November 2015

Meat in the Middle

November 17, 2015 0
Meat in the Middle
If you happen to be a goat or a chicken, Meat in the Middle must be what hell looks like. And what are you doing on the internet, you. Go chew on some more grass. 

If you're a human who love meat as much as I do though, it's pretty much heaven. I've been here twice, both times with a full-on meat craving, and I left completely stuffed and satisfied. You'll love it here. I promise. (Caveat: Unless you are a vegetarian; in which case, I'll refer you to the first paragraph.)  

The dish with the most bang for your buck is the Battle of Troy ($30 - see above), an open platter of a mountain of chicken and lamb that had been roasted over a fire, served with delicious soft pita bread and a pile of hot, freshly salted fries. The lamb is not at all gamey like we feared, and wondrously marinated. They say that this is ideal for two, but the pile of meat is so huge that R, J and I split it three ways for an early dinner, and we were struggling to finish all the fries. Comfort food doesn't get much better than this. 

14 November 2015

Society

November 14, 2015 0
Society
After spending every hour of the day over the last few weeks being glued to my seat in my room moving from deadline to deadline, I forgot there's so much more to life than the four walls of my room. Once in a while, it's nice to say to myself enough is enough. As a wise friend said, don't spend so much time trying to make a living that you forget to have a life.  A break once in a while is well-deserved, and I pushed aside my inexhaustible pile of workload to enjoy a day off. (Or at least an afternoon, as I was still working my way through the pile up until the moment when we met for lunch.) 

A while ago,I bookmarked Society as a restaurant to visit. After a recent traumatic experience at another restaurant though, which gave a bad name to all Italian restaurants in Melbourne, we weren't sure if we wanted to try another Italian restaurant so soon. We hemmed and hawed the better part of an evening before finally biting the bullet and making our reservation, and boy, I was glad we did.  

When we placed our orders, the owner of the restaurant dropped by and apologized that the food may take a while to arrive, because, in his charming Italian accent-tinged voice, "the chef in the kitchen was ..." He trailed off with an expressive wave of his hand and a cheeky smile. Seems like the chef was inebriated with alcohol. Or maybe something less innocuous. (I'm pretty horrible at sign language.) But I like the restaurant already. With such a relaxing, it's-all-good-here attitude, there wasn't a better place for me to go to to unwind. 



I had a lovely red chosen from their list of house wine ($7.50), which I liked, but which EJ disapproved of. He's a red wine snob. I, a different kind (one which also ends with _ _ob.)  

11 November 2015

Afghan Charcoal Kebabs

November 11, 2015 0
Afghan Charcoal Kebabs
After a delicious meal at Persian Flavours, I couldn't get my cravings for grilled spiced chicken out of my head. I was busy with school for a few weeks, but luckily, the Dandenong area is a Middle Eastern area packed with restaurants. A quick Google search later, and I located Afghan Charcoal Kebabs just a few minutes drive away. My friend and I had a rare occasion where our schedules coincided one day, and we hopped on over to the restaurant to scout out some charcoal grilled meat. 

07 November 2015

Albion Hotel

November 07, 2015 0
Albion Hotel
It was a happy coincidence that we ended up having lunch at Albion Hotel. I was on the way to Dandenong Market with S to buy a 10-kilo box of mandarin oranges and split it between the two of us.
This is why we make such perfect groceries shopping partners. We enable each other
We initially planned for a meal at Polish Rye Bakery, which I had heard really good reviews about. But, as we stopped by at Coles to pick up a few essentials, we learnt that Polish Rye Bakery was closed on Sundays. S spotted a one-for-one meal deal for Albion Hotel on the back of his Coles voucher and since it was rather close by, so well... off we went. 

We found the last parking slot in a side-street near the hotel, but hit a snag as I tried to feed the parking meter: it just wouldn't accept my coins. Or my banging my palms on it.
We ended up driving to another parking lot, where the same thing happened again. We were staring at the meter dumbfounded, until a passer-by came over to us to inform us kindly that parking is free on Sundays in this area. As kindly as a person can be when they see two guys swearing at an inanimate box. Well maybe just me. S was perfectly composed. 

02 November 2015

O'ma Spoon Korean Dessert Cafe @ Somerset 313

November 02, 2015 0
O'ma Spoon Korean Dessert Cafe @ Somerset 313
Words by Miss XS

Korean dessert cafes is popping up all over the Singapore in these last few months, with more cafes offering Korean sweets in the food scene. Back into the days when I was a kid, the closest thing I had was ice kacang from hawker centres - which I crave whenever the day is hot. Shavings of ice, topped with colorful syrup and mixed with generous amount of red beans, sweet corn and atap seeds: yum! Then, came the Taiwanese versions of shaved ice with unique flavours like green tea, sesame, chocolate and strawberry. Man! We have been spoilt, and now, I no longer love ice kacang with the same intensity that I used to, especially since some of the Korean shaved ice I've had offers a smoother and milkier consistency.  

O'ma spoon, a locally born and bred establishment, sources its ingredients and machinery from Korea. Menu includes Bingsu and Toast with a limited selection of cakes. We were there on a Saturday afternoon and there was a snaking queue formed waiting for seats. There was 2 queues- one to place order and another was the queue for seats. Fortunately the queue moved pretty quickly and we made a smart move to place our order at the counter while awaiting for a place to seat- we got our food shortly after we got our seats.


CALORIES
We tried the Mango Berry Cheesecake, one of the popular choice recommended by the staff. It was generously topped with fresh mangos, cranberries, almond flakes, a slice of cheesecake and a scoop of ice-cream. The shaved ice was fine and smooth and melts in the mouth instantly to a creamy texture. It was a good bowl of Bingsu but I find it a little too sweet towards the end and i wish they could do less with the condensed milk. 

Overall, It was a decent experience. Given its prime location smack right in the middle of Orchard road, we can expect the crowd to continue. 

O’ma Spoon Korean Dessert Café

6 Raffles Boulevard #04-102 Marina Square Singapore 039594

313 @ Somerset 313 Orchard Road #04-20/32 Singapore 238895

Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm Daily

31 October 2015

Salted Butter Caramel Recipe

October 31, 2015 0
Salted Butter Caramel Recipe
I've always wanted to make caramel: I see myself heating sugar until they bubble and turn brown, setting batches in trays and running a hot knife through the bars to make perfect little squares of freshly-made caramel. 

Ingredients for a basic caramel recipe are pretty standard: sugar, maybe some cream and butter, and you're set to go. The only caveat is, well, caramel-making requires a candy thermometer. Seeing I don't exactly invest in baking equipment, this was my one sticking point. 


Pun intended. 


26 October 2015

Tuck Shop Takeaway

October 26, 2015 0
Tuck Shop Takeaway

Boy. This burger joint makes going to school worthwhile. Unfortunately - or fortunately for my waist-line? - my campus isn't close enough to hop over every day. Unlike some other lucky souls studying at the hip-and-happening Monash Caulfield campus, my campus is kinda situated in the middle of nowhere. 

Growing up, I was a big fan of the Archie comics. I don't know how many of you would get this reference, but the food on this menu is strongly reminiscence of what Pop's over at the Chok'lit Shoppe might be selling to Archie and gang in USA in the 1950s.

23 October 2015

Fish Tank

October 23, 2015 0
Fish Tank
The wintry season has finally ended, and so what better time is there to put my life on hold for half a day, slap on some sun-block, and head on down to the beach? 
Just next door to Cafe Florentine, and a hop, skip and jump from Brighton Beach, is Fish Tank. I had been hankering to try this ever since I chanced upon it a year back, and finally made plans to do so. Look at that display of fresh seafood. It'll take a joyless person to walk past this store without gawking like I did. 

We took full advantage of the balmy weather and found an unoccupied table in the shade out on the sidewalks. 

20 October 2015

Diamond Kitchen @ Science Park Drive

October 20, 2015 0
Diamond Kitchen @ Science Park Drive
Words by Miss XS

I’m on the lookout of good restaurants in the west and I was elated to chance upon this restaurant which is highly raved by many food bloggers. This place was really secluded and it’s not easily accessible without driving. We were there on a Sunday night and I was surprised that the restaurant was packed despite its ulu- location.

The Sweet Potato Leaves with Salted Fish came in a claypot, which was too salty. (2.5/5)

We also ordered Salted Egg Squid. Each piece was well coated with salted egg and was not greasy at all. I wish the salted egg taste was more distinct though (3.5)

Another dish we tried that night was Bee Hoon with Clams. The broth which was cooked with clams was sweet and light and went really well with bee hoon. This was one of the better dish we had that night  but it still lacked the ‘wow’ factor and crustacean unami I was looking for(3.5/5)

18 October 2015

Chocolate Pots de Crème Recipe

October 18, 2015 0
Chocolate Pots de Crème Recipe
I had the chance to revisit this recipe recently when I looked at my burgeoning chocolate collection, and decided it was time to cull some. Besides, J loaned me her lovely ceramic pot collection, and I've been looking forward to bake with them. I used up one bar for a chocolate fondue a week before, but the chocolate itch hadn't quite gone away yet. 

I first made this recipe some years ago, when I was still trying to find my footing in baking. I wasn't nearly half as confident about baking then as I am now: everything I had tried before was unsatisfactory, and they languished away in the fridge for weeks before being invariably thrown away. This was the first recipe that I made which impressed my siblings - and they're notoriously hard to please. Even to this day, it occupies a special place in my heart as a landmark for me on how far I've come. 

14 October 2015

Joyden Seafood @ West Coast Recreation

October 14, 2015 0
Joyden Seafood @ West Coast Recreation
Words by Miss XS

The food at Joyden Seafood is so good, I'm surprised how it's not more popular. Well, sorta. The restaurant is at West Coast Recreation, and the main entrance is cheekily located in the basement carpark. The first time I went, we wandered around the carpark for a bit looking a way in. Formerly known as The West Coast Seafood, it has since then revamped its menu and restaurant and is now one of the best-kept secrets in my 'hood.

We ordered the Cream Crab (1kg for $60+) that was highly recommended by the waitress. The sauce is a combination of milk and pumpkin puree, and earned nods of approval around the table. Dipping deep fried Mantou into the creamy sauce was pure heaven. The crab meat  was also firm and succulent retained its sweetness with a tinge of pumpkin. One of the best crabs I had! (4.5/5). 


09 October 2015

YOMG Burgers

October 09, 2015 0
YOMG Burgers
"Are you alright?" One of my friends leaned over. "You look like you're in a lot of pain." 

I was 3/4 of my way through YOMG's The Creeper ($18.50 - below): a triple beef patty, triple bacon and quadruple american cheddar burger from their Limited menu. I think my stomach is at full capacity. There's nothing wrong with the burger. Au contraire. The problem exists between the burger and the chair. I was just too full to continue. The meat patties were juicy and fragrant. The Sriracha sauce was unbelievably good. The cheese and bacon made every bite rich and decadent. But there's only so many space in my stomach.   
I came in with a decision to have a burger, fries, some wings, and a fro-yo for desserts. But then, I saw their limited edition menu and my plans just fell by the wayside. Who knows how long they'll keep this menu around for? And I wouldn't want to miss out. 
Here it is doing an impression of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. What a poser.

05 October 2015

White Chocolate Brownies with Lemon Glaze Recipe

October 05, 2015 0
White Chocolate Brownies with Lemon Glaze Recipe
Up until a few months ago, I walked around Melbourne in a t-shirt and jeans, come summer or winter. Because I'm not the brightest light-bulb in the box, it took me three years in Melbourne to connect the dots: that my poor health in winter correlated with the single layer of clothing I have on in the dead of winter. Just this year alone, I spent most of May and June battling a cough and runny nose. I got much better over the holidays when I flew to Singapore, but as soon as I came back to Melbourne, I succumbed to the same symptoms again within 24hrs of touchdown.   

Because everybody keeps telling me to eat some lemon and honey, I bought a huge bag of lemon, which I'm slowly making my way through. But ever since I put two and two together and started dressing more warmly, I haven't been feeling under the weather anymore. To celebrate my new-found wisdom, (and conveniently also to plow through my stash of lemons), I made this white chocolate brownie from David Lebovitz

30 September 2015

Vanilla Cookies Recipe

September 30, 2015 0
Vanilla Cookies Recipe
Photo by R
I know how you're feeling when you first read the title. 

Meh.


I know. I felt the same way too.


Vanilla Cookies? Isn't this what bakers call plain cookies because they're all out of other ingredients? 


But wait. Just hang on a second. This ain't just any recipe you find on the streets. (Or the internet.) 
This recipe ain't shy about its pedigree. Known as Ovis Mollis in Italy, this recipe was from one of Italy's baking bibles: the 1927 classic Il Pasticcere e Confettiere Moderno. When Francine Segan was writing Dolci: Italy's Sweets, Giancarlo Gonizzi from Academia Barilla in Parma recommended this recipe above all others. 

Taste-wise, this, without a doubt, is one of the most impressive cookie I've eaten. No exaggeration. This ranks among the top of my list, alongside other winners like Famous Amos Cookie recipe, cocoa tuiles and Hazelnut Cookies. Actually, scratch that. This recipe is so simple, it beats all of the others. Hands down. This recipe needs no exotic nuts or chocolate to bolster its flavour. In fact, this recipe doesn't call for any exotic ingredients at all, just the things that you probably already have in your fridge.



28 September 2015

Little Chloe Micro-Roastery

September 28, 2015 0
Little Chloe Micro-Roastery
I was flipping through an old issue of 8 Days (an entertainment magazine circulating in Singapore), reading up on the latest(-ish...) restaurants opening in Singapore when I read that one of the restaurants, Carvers and Co, sources their single origin beans from a Melbourne micro-roastery called Little Chloe. I did a quick web search of Little Chloe, and was pretty chuffed that it's just about 20 minutes from where I live. They enjoy pretty decent reviews online, so I made plans with a couple of friends to have brunch there. 

They both happen to be really handy with a camera, so I sat back for most of the shots, and let the two of them let 'rip with their skills. I'm happy to sit and watch.

It was kind of sweet to learn that the cafe was named after the owner's granddaughter.
It was bustling when we got there, but we managed to get a table and was served by an enthusiastic waiter who cheerfully informed us it was his first day here. His enthusiasm was catching. He double-checked with the barista that they serve magic ($3.50), and the rest of our orders went without a hitch. 
Is ordering magic a gimmick? Whatever. Yes, it's just a double-shot flat white. But it's like a secret handshake, and when in Melbourne, do as the locals do... . I like how the magic was the same price as the other coffees we ordered: a mocha and a cappuccino, even though it has two shots. R noted that the mocha could have used a little more chocolate. I didn't try, but seeing it is a micro-roastery, I would likely stick to coffee-only drinks on my next visit. 
Mocha. The latte art was grand. 

24 September 2015

The Sushi Bar @ Takashimaya

September 24, 2015 0
The Sushi Bar @ Takashimaya
Words by Miss XS

The Sushi Bar's first outlet was a small unpretentious joint in Far East Plaza, with a snaking queue at its shopfront during peak hours. I remember having to wait up to an hour to get in (on a weekday night!) and no one was happier than me when I heard that a more spacious branch is due to be opened in Takashimaya.

The Sushi Bar is located on the fifth level of Takashimaya. We was there on a weekend afternoon and surprisingly there was no queue! We were ushered to our seats immediately which was a bonus compared to my previous visits to the sushi bar at Far East Plaza. 

The Salmon Aburi Roll came in 8 pieces and was undoubtedly the star dish of everything we tried. The play-off between the raw salmon, the torched salmon and the mayo combined to give the most marvelous melt-in-the-mouth effect. Personally, I prefer this over "shiok maki" which gets jelat pretty quickly with the rich cream sauce.