天信

more than any other kind of cuisine, japanese food seems to have entrenched itself in the singapore foodscape; from the proliferation of kaiten-zushi bars to the big names like akane and shiro, there is no doubt that this wonderous cuisine is here to stay.

that said, more than a few japanese restaurants in singapore serve up not-so-pleasant japanese food. in addition, there seems to be a few types of japanese food that restaurants here don't seem to do well. one is soba; another, tempura. since 天ざる is one of my favourite foods when i was holidaying in japan, i'm always a bit bummed that i can't really get decent versions of either in singapore.

thus, when i saw the review on tenshin on umami's blog, i promised myself that i'd go there sometime; and finally i did, with my sister for lunch, taking advantage of the lunch sets that would not burn too big a hole in my pocket. i made sure that i got counter seating in order to witness the theatrics of the frying process.

both of us ended up ordering the tempura set lunch, with an additional serving of uni each. dishes included a vegetable with katsuo shavings amuse-bouche, a small salad with tart sesame dressing, and an assortment of tempura: ebi, asparagus, kabocha, uni, maitake and kisu (sillago), followed by a lemon shebert.

tbc

we interrupt this normal broadcast for a spot of self-aggrandizing

... i have evidence that timothy go has read at least an entry on my blog! see here =)

though i'd wish that if it were not under the less-than-glamourous situation of having spelt "filipino" wrongly for a post that was about what it was. karma's such a bitch sometimes, heh.

and back to our normal broadcast.

the fallacies of functionism as defined by modern architecture

... in response to the famous modern adage "form follows function", which only serves to deny all traces of vibrant individuality. borne out of a fervent "discussion" between dear c and the rest of the gang (j, jo, hk, y). jo's creme brulee is quite delightful!

in other news, why is it that the sicker one feels, the more unhealthy foods one crave for? to date, i've had cravings for:

- zinger burgers
- pasta in saffron cream sauce
- indian curries
- cheetos
- nachos tex-mex style (i.e. taco bell !!!)

good gravy!

fantasy menu no. 1

courtesy of j

monday kaiseki
¥10,000

sandalwood-smoked cucumber strips with yamamomo jelly
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clear potato soup with pureed kelp and tomato dumpling
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sashimi selection: stingray tail, luohan forehead, tuna-safe dolphin
-
grilled chicken liver flavoured with chrysanthemum petals; ume-shiso and mustard dip
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a pair of deep-fried watershield sprouts, buried in beancurd waste
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squid-ink and cod-roe rice ball; grilled ostrich with almond flakes
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the scent of the yuzu

new year's resolutions 2007

1. lose weight
2. get a foldable umbrella
3. update this blog more often
4. learn german and dutch, relearn japanese, maybe start arabic
5. not get mad at those fucking inconsiderate people who block up the stupid escalators at mrt stations during rush hour by not following signs requesting for them to keep to the left

okay screw point number 5.

more resolutions to come if and when i feel like it. heh.