Meet the sotong (&) writer behind some of my burpple reviews! 😂
There is authentic jap food and there is really authentic jap food. With its hand lettered menus and none of the crowd favourites that most Singaporeans are used to, it's easy to guess which group Mikoto belongs to. Don't expect to find the usual curry rice and bento sets. But be prepared for some exquisite dishes with mundane names that will wow you with fabulous presentation and authentic flavour.
There's always magic in food, like how does a claypot manage to impart such wonderful earthy quality to the rice cooked inside. Each individual grain has just that right amount of hardness that makes it addictive with every bite. Not forgetting the staples of lup cheong and salted fish... but the star has to be the chicken. Wonderfully soft and tender, I only wish they had more. Special mention has to be made of the zesty chilli which cuts through the oiliness of the rice perfectly. Location: S(650150) Coffee & Tea Coffeeshop
I didn't have much expectations for a hawker located yakitori store. But senses of "being oh so wrong" started tingling after I spied wagyu steak and iberico pork. The highlight has to be the beef short ribs. That precious three cubes of beef has be one of my best beef experiences summed up in one stick.
You had me at hello. This was perhaps my most colorful and flavorful lunch ever. They were definitely not stingy with the ingredients. The vegetable chutney had chunks of veg inside to balance the meal. The fish, though fried, was moist and savory. Highlight of the dish has to be the basmati rice - airy, fluffy and flavorful. Bonus points for the friendly stall owner! Stall name: Dubai Express (First row of stalls facing the road)
I was not getting bowled over. The curry was perfect; smooth, tinge of spiciness and sweetness that goes so well with the fragrant rice. The belle of the ball, aka the pork cutlet was good. It wasn't as good as the the premium pork loin cutlet of course; slightly drier and with less fat, but it would be comparing Miss Singapore to Miss Universe. The let down however was the bowl. Normal curry is served on a plate, it lets me determine how much curry I want with my rice. Imakatsu served it on a bowl though, it makes me feel like I'm saving my grains of rice and pork cutlet from the rising flood of curry. I found myself building dykes of cutlet and rice so to keep them dry. As much as I like their curry, not a big fan of eating it porridge style.
Gorgeous. The premium pork loin cutlet was an object worthy of adoration. Tender loin meat between juicy fat was wrapped up in crisp golden batter. I used the word 'was' cause it certainly didn't last long in the physical world; it soon transcended into a very happy place in my tummy. Special mention has to be made of the rice. Plump, fragrant, with none of that stickiness that causes it to congeal into a mess, I now understand why they call this pearl rice. Try it to believe it!
Ahhh Eggs Benny. The reigning trending food in Singapore before the truffle fries revolution came and went. So how does this stack up? Well it certainly was different from all the generic Eggs Benny back home that consists of separate ingredients that happen to share the same location through happenstance. The sauce was cheesy and tangy at the same time with none of the gelat feeling. And it works. Alright so maybe there was no egg porn with perfectly poached eggs but I would give that up anytime for this dish that combines everything perfectly.