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Mikuni Set Lunch Food Review



If you're a huge fan of Japanese food like me, you're bound to have heard of Mikuni while researching for your next place to try. Even Hungrygowhere rates it 84% (at date of post) and it is consistently serving quality food. Unfortunately, the prices are preeettty steep, but there's a little benefit you could exploit which is...

the amazing LUNCH MENU

The lunch items are between $65 to $120++, which is much cheaper than if you went during dinner where one main item is $48++. Oh, and if you have The American Express Platinum Credit Card, or The Far Card you get up to 50% off dining here!! For more details, click on the respective links. (This post is NOT an ad for them.)

Be sure to make reservations before going, and they do have a dress code so no shorts and slippers please.

Appetizers

Mikuni is fitted with a modern japanese decor, but some might even find the blue lights a little strange. Nonetheless, the service is pretty good and you are provided with hot towels to clean your hands with while waiting for your appetizers.


Some crunchy crackers and salad, This isn't anything worth mentioning but it kind of builds the suspense until you get your mains. 

The mains


  • PREMIUM BENTO “MIYABI” 弁当 華 120

The Miyabi set, also the most expensive set in the whole menu, is definitely worth the value. Look at that grilled Kagoshima Wagyu Beef you cook on the stone slab and watch it sizzle! 


 
*_* the aroma is enough to make your other companions envious


Apart from the wagyu, you get an organic salad with mixed vegetables, 3 kinds of Sashimi, BBQ Eel, mixed Tempura, lobster with uni sauce and miso soup. It kinda feels like you've got the best of everything Mikuni has to offer, all to yourself without having to share! Ie, bliss.

The lobster with uni sauce was amazingly rich, you'd be wishing you had a bigger portion after the first bite.

  • SASHIMI SET 刺身セット 90 


As a huuuuge sashimi fan, this item caught my eye and definitely did not disappoint. The uni was gloriously fresh and the tuna just melts in your mouth. Simple superb. The set comes with seasonal sashimi, deep-Fried Tofu, chawanmushi, rice, pickles and miso Soup.


One of the freshest uni's I've eaten in my life.

If you're wondering what that green thing is, that's seaweed. It was really good!

  • DISCONTINUED SET 

I ordered the sushi and assorted sashimi set but this seems to be discontinued. I thought it wasn't anything special, so I wouldn't recommend you trying this anyway! (Think it was $65++)


The sushi wasn't anything special, and fried corn was just strange.

I wanted to try a range of Mikuni's food but the highlight was the sashimi.

  • AUSTRALIAN BEEF & EBI OUGON SAUCE SET 80 オーストラリアビーフと海老黄金鉄板焼きセット 

The last set ordered was a teppenyaki one! It consists of chawanmushi, teppanyaki Prawns with Golden Sauce, Australian Beef Tenderloin, vegetables, rice, pickles and miso soup.


The beef was really tender though it was a tad bit overcooked for medium rare.


The set also comes with garlic rice and smooth, flavourful chawanmushi.



All set items come with... dessert!


I think this changes depending when you're there, but when I went it was this cute mixed fruits panna cotta served in a (tiny) jar.


Which was devoured in like, 10 seconds.

All in all, I'd definitely come back to dine at Mikuni - after I've saved up a bit for it that is.

Mikuni
Level 3, Fairmont Singapore
(Hint; Enter through Raffles City Shopping Centre!)

Opening hours:
Lunch:
Monday to Sunday - 12:00pm to 2:30pm
Dinner:
Monday to Sunday - 6:30pm to 10:30pm
Dress Code: Smart Casual

For reservations, call +65 6431 6156 or emaildining.singapore@fairmont.com

 Note: This was not a paid or sponsored review, just wanted to share one of my favourite Japanese restaurants in Singapore that's perfect for dates or cosy celebrations!
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FIJI Water Dessert Platter for Ladies Night at The Exchange

Some of my friends overseas are sooo envious whenever they hear about Ladies Night in Singapore. We're one of the few countries in the world that actually give out free drinks to Ladies on this special night! Of course, this promotion is only applicable to select bars in Singapore, and one of the top picks has got to be The Exchange at Asia Square. It caters mostly to the office crowd and there are a number of expats just catching a beer after a hard day's work. On Wednesday's, this place is packed with people choosing to stand around to people watch, or do some serious mingling.

What about the Ladies? They definitely love it.

Free drinks but different flavours weekly keep them coming back. Lychee martinis this week, or kiwi slushie margaritas the next, anything is possible, and the alcohol within makes everybody happy.

In partnership with FIJI Water, The Exchange came up with a dessert platter that's only served on Ladies Night!

Just enough to share with your girlfriends ;)

The platter is made of;

- Pliable FIJI Water Chocolate Ganache
with homemade vanilla ice-cream, mint scented lime curd, dehydrated Manjari mousse
This was my favourite of the 3! The chocolate just melts in your mouth and that mousse was so addictive mmmm.

- Deconstructed Pear & Passion Fruit Frangipane
with FIJI Water baby poached pear, almond crumble, frozen FIJI Water lemon foam, passion fruit custard

and

- FIJI Sweet Corn Sorbet
with hazelnut parfait, egg yolk glass and fresh strawberry
The sorbet was amazing! Thick yet stays true to the sweet corn flavour. A must try!

The brains behind this dessert is Adrian Sim, The Exchange's Pastry Chef, who wanted to incorporate FIJI Water in the desserts due to the water's smooth taste and soft mouth-feel.

The FIJI Water Dessert Platter is priced at $35++ and is available every Wednesday from now to 27 May, only at The Exchange.

Thanks for having us FIJI Water and The Exchange!

The Exchange

8 Marina View 
Asia Square Tower 1
Singapore 018960
Ladies Night only on Wednesday's
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Taiwan Travelogue Day 2: Addiction Aquatic Development in Taipei


Being the foodie that I am, I researched pretty extensively on the topic before my actual trip to Taiwan. I can't settle for random "oh I'm too hungry let's just eat here" stalls anymore ever since a disaster in Hong Kong. Anyway, coming up tops from many many websites was this funny named hideout - Addiction Aquatic Development (AAD).


Just the size of these makes you want to lick your fingers already.

Alright alright here's how the entrance looks like. 

Like what is up with its name?? Are you developing people to get addicted to aquatic food? Haha. Jokes aside, the Addiction Aquatic Development is a must see for tourists. It's a clean and eye opening experience to check out the wide variety of seafood. I need to emphasize that this is SO CLEAN!!! People are usually turned off by wet markets but this was air-conditioned, dry floors kinda comfort, enabling you to appreciate it much better. There's also a huuuuge sushi and sashimi area that's amazingly fresh which you can grab off the counter, pay, and devour at the tables outside.

They're worth it.


I wasn't feeling well even before I went to Taiwan due to some gastric flu problems, but I did not want to give up the chance to eat delicious sushi so we went ahead and got a number to try the famed sushi restaurant in the middle of the market. It's a bit troublesome to get to so just grab a cab. So cheap anyways.

It's just amazing to stare at them

The first segment would be all the live seafood waiting for you to grab into a basket and bring them home. Of course if you're there on holiday and you're living in a hotel... run along to the next segment where there's food to be had on the spot! 


This stall had a long queue but I'm not interested in cooked food very much. This is like Taiwan's version of 'caifan' hahah.


This seafood joint is not for those who like to keep their hands clean. Pick your poison and sit by the bar as you peel off that juicy meat off your crab or lobster, completely fresh and perfectly marinated.

 Then there's the sushi section.

Rows and rows of affordable sushi that taste as good as they look!! Don't believe me when I say it's affordable?? Check this out. 
Tuna sashimi. At approx $28 sgd for this lot.
Japan grade salmon sashimi at approx $17


After you pass the takeaway sushi area, there's a sushi restaurant where a ton of people are waiting at. Since there were a bunch of people, we decided to give it a try. However we were told that it was going to be a looong wait (think 50 numbers in front of us or something) So we couldn't resist and ordered some while waiting for our turn at the sushi restaurant. There's quite a few areas to eat your packed stuff outside the AAD.


Yellowtaillll. Damn fresh cannot take it wanted to eat everything.

PSST! If you intend to eat there, I'd suggest you run past all the crabs/lobsters/sushi etc and grab a number to the sushi place, THEN turn around and slowly appreciate everything from the beginning. We had to wait 1h. No joke.

When it was FINALLY our turn, we took a look at the menu. Wah really quite ex. We were quite full by this time (no thanks to the earlier sushi) so we ordered the set.




Verdict? Don't waste your time. Buying off the counter is the same quality as the one in the sushi restaurant as they were all caught fresh the same day! The chefs aren't as skilled as the Japanese who put in extra effort in the seaweed, rice, and sauce, so it's better you save your time (and stomachs) and load up on the takeaway food.

Sharing some of the other pictures I took that day.







Ramen egg! Shiok!


Some of the shops don't have seats at all to save space!

Uni, anyone?



When we were done eating, we went next door to check out the fish market but it wasn't interesting =\ You're better off skipping this.


There are some other restaurants outside but they were yakitori places. Why come all the way here for yakitori!? Maybe you could check it out and let me know though.


Will I come back again? Definitely YES. However my trip was too time packed and we didn't have time to travel to this a little out of the way find. There is nothing to do around it.

Stay tuned for more adventures!
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Nine by Sweet Basil Review : Hair roots, Head Spa and Parrucchi Soda Treatment

Happy new year everyone! Hope 2014 has been kind and 2015 will be awesome to all of you! I made some little resolutions, hope I get to keep them. Every year the festive spirit gets me really excited and I go all out to get ready. You've read about my first experience with eyelash extensions, now here's my first visit to Nine by Sweet Basil to get my roots touched up and treatment done!

Keep reading to find out how you can get a FREE Parrucchi Hair Treatment!!




Nine by Sweet Basil was recently opened in 2014 and all stylists are Japanese and trained in Tokyo. They're located in a nice quiet shophouse opposite Raffles Hotel, at Purvis street. You might almost walk past their entrance but look out for the red outlined door (above). The salon is on the second floor!


When I stepped in, I was happy to find such a spacious hideaway! What I really like about Nine by Sweet Basil is that you get your own personal space as there are separators and a walkway between seats, so you get to feel like a celebrity, or as I prefer to put it, avoid the gaze of people getting their hair done around you. I feel so awkward every time other customers at other salons look at your hair and judge my conversations with my stylist lol.

BEFORE:


This is my hair when I walked in, waiting for my hair stylist to finish up with his previous customer. Make sure you're on time for your appointment because Japanese are sticklers for punctuality. Anyway, my hair roots of about 1cm were growing out since I dyed it almost 1 and a half months ago. My hair was also quite dry, with even dryer ends :(

My stylist, Yoshi-san came over and analysed my hair condition (yes dry ends and a weak scalp prone to dropping hair), and I told him I wanted to trim my hair a bit in addition to touching up my hair roots. He then recommended I get the Moe Moe Head Spa and Parrucchi soda treatment so my hair would be much healthier and rejuvenated.

I agreed, and awayyy we went!


He started with adding hair dye to touch up my roots, then steamed my hair to let the colour soak through. The whole process took about 40 minutes? Then it was time to wash it off.


Yoshi-san led me to the basins and I like how Nine by Sweet Basil doesn't have basins all in a row, side by side with each other. It's really strange sitting next to a stranger when someone else is getting their hair done haha. Doing my hair is something I like to do alone, without my personal space invaded. Please tell me I'm not the only one with this preference?


The really hipster ceiling which I was staring at when I was getting my hair washed!


Next, we did the Moe Moe Head Spa, which is a cream applied and massaged onto your scalp to stimulate hair growth. Yoshi-san's massage was AMAZING!! You can tell him your preference for the strength of the massage, and I usually prefer a really strong one. It was mega shiok. Think he massaged my head for like a good 15 minutes or something. I wasn't timing or anything but it seemed to go on forever. 

Once that was over, he did the Parrucchi soda treatment which remove excess oil and sebum from your hair that normal water can't get rid of. It makes your hair feel like a thorough cleaning has been done and I love that feeling. When bubbled on your scalp, the soda treatment improves hair circulation as well. It does not have a smell and neither does it sizzle on your scalp, contrary to popular belief from the word "soda".

Nine by Sweet Basil also has this really curious looking machine called the Morbido Steam, which shoots out steamy nano water (which means tiny water molecules) that helps to keep your hair soft and clean, creating a glossy finish.


After that hour long spa and treatment pampering, I thought that we were about to commence the hair trimming portion, but Yoshi-san gave me a head and shoulder massage!!!! 

Mind blown. It was the first time any hair salon ever gave me a neck and shoulder massage. Ever.


After cutting and blow drying, Yoshi-san curled and styled my hair with wax. Typically on a standalone basis, lady's cut is $90, while men's cut is $80 here.


Hello me.


Taken with better lighting. Nice right!! You can see how glossy and sparkly my hair looks here, and my hair roots blend in naturally with the rest of my hair :)


Result of Cut+Roots Colour+Treatment+Head spa = One very happy face and really silky hair I couldn't stop caressing for some time. What do you think?

PSST! They also do hair styling and make up for special events!


These are just SOME of the products used on my hair, tried and tested by some of the most influential hair stylists in Japan!

Honestly, after this you can pretty much go without washing your hair for 3 days and your hair doesn't feel crazy oily disgusting. Assuming you don't do any sweaty exercises of course.

FREE PARRUCCHI SODA TREATMENT!!

Oh, I mentioned at the start of this entry that there's a free soda treatment right? Here's how to get one!

Just click on this link, register and redeem a FREE Parrucchi Soda Treatment worth $50!

Now that was easy. It's also very worth it. Terms and conditions apply.


With Yoshi-san, thank you for the silky smooth hair and the best look I could have this festive season.

Nine by Sweet Basil

26A Purvis Street 
(near Bugis Junction and opposite Raffles Hotel)
Singapore 188603
Telephone: 6337 3661

Operating hours:
Weekdays: 10am - 8pm
Weekends and holidays: 10am - 7pm
They're closed on Tuesdays!

Thank you Masa-san for coordinating~
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