Itacho Sushi

I love Japanese food, not because it has so much raw meat that most of the other cuisines do not have, but the presentation of the food enhances my appetite and increases my expectation of the taste, which normally does not disappoint me too much. They put in so much effort to beautify the dish to make me feel that they prepare it specially just for me.

This time since my mom came to ION with me (which is a super eclipse-rare case), we went to try out Itacho Sushi. One thing that I've to tell you: be prepared to queue. However, it didn't take that long for our turn, about 10-15mins and we were brought to nice cushioned seats.

 I took this picture at where I was queuing, still quite far.

 

 I totally could not make up my mind on which one to order, I wished I can order all.

 While waiting, I read on how to eat sushi in authentic way, from then on I have been eating like that.

The food came really quick and the service was efficient too. The background music of that place did not disturb my conversation with mom and give me migraine. Another plus point. So service and ambience seem okay, how about the food? Be warned, prepare a napkin to wipe your drools..they are all so tasty and creative!

 Left: Salmon Lobster Salad Roll ($3.60); Right: Lobster and Mango Salad Roll ($4.50)

 Left: Surf Clam Sushi ($2); Middle 2: Salmon Sushi ($1.20); Right: Scallop Sushi ($2.60)

 Cream Croquette ($3.70)

 Salmon Sashimi ($3.60)

 Fatty Tuna with Spring Onion Roll ($7.00)

 Spicy Salmon Sakura Shrimp Inari with Ebiko ($1.90)

 Roasted Eel Sushi ($2.80)

 Roasted Kagoshima Wagyu Beef ($4.80). Apologies, I didn't manage to take picture of this because it looked really tasty and I couldn't wait to pop it into my mouth. It was indeed good!

 Deep Fried Shrimp Gyoza with Grean Tea Salt ($2.40)

 Hokkaido Pumpkin Tempura ($4.50)

 Roasted Eff with Tobiko and Corn ($3.20). Like this dish alot, the egg was slightly sweet, texture was soft and layered, when you chew it you will get the popping from fish eggs and corn.

 Deep Fried Chicken with Citrus Junos ($6). Not greasy or too hard at all!

Avocado Tuna Salad with Cheese Roll ($2.50)

We finished all plates as soon as it arrived. So satisfied and full..I will definitely come again when there is no queue to try out other dishes. You don't have to worry that you can't finish the food if you come alone because most of the dishes are for 1 pax like the Surf Clam Sushi and Roasted Kagoshima Wagyu Beef sushi. 

So here are my views:

Ambience 3/5
Food 3.5/5
Service 3/5
Price Slightly steep but affordable
Toilet Availability 0/5 (please use ION's toilets)

Address:

2 Orchard Turn

#B2-18 ION Orchard

Tel: 65098911

Operating Hours:
Sun - Thu: 11:00 - 22:00
Fri - Sat: 11:00 - 23:00 

So if you are around the corner and feel like eating Japanese, do give Itacho a try! 

xoxo

First Love Patisserie

Do you like anything Hokkaido? How about Hokkaido Thousand Layer Cake? You won't regret having this cake from ION B4-63. Right, right...ION again..but it's a convenient place with all the nice food and I was looking for a birthday cake for my dad. My dad is a "traditional-cake" man who does not fancy chocolate, and I'm really bored of all the typical sour fruit cakes or fake coffee flavor cakes or super creamy cakes.

Then I came across this First Love Patisserie...it's a humble store that you may overlook when you are too starved to notice and it does not have strong baking smell like Breadtalk, or exaggerating decoration that will attract your attention. Instead, they display 2-3 whole cakes in the shelf and let you try some samples.

The girl gave me a sample poked with toothpick..you must be thinking that the cake has so many layers, the sample should be the same, but no..I think it was only 1/5 of the original cake height. BUT I instantly fell in love with the cake as the authentic and ideally sweet vanilla melted on my tongue and the crepe layers were so thin that you can just squash it with your tongue! I really love the aroma of the crepe that lingered around the back of my throat as I exhaled through my nose. Perfectly baked. I can feel abit of romance (out of nowhere) while tasting it.. Imagine this kind of enjoyment times 5 for the height!

They have 4 flavors: Original, Chocolate, Strawberry and Oreo. I didn't dare to try other flavors because I literally afraid that I might fall in love with all and have to buy them home! Each cake is from $58 - $69 for 0.9kg and 1.3kg..they do sell in slices too. They also do delivery at extra charge by SMS (24hrs) at 9870 0005 or email at info.firstlove.co@gmail.com at least 2 days in advance. Each cake is handmade and no preservatives!

I happily and proudly presented this cake to my dad for his birthday..he was quite speechless to see the ugly sides of the cake..I told him don't judge it by the look, must cut the cake and taste..

You see the layers! See how much effort to handmake just 1 cake?! It is realllllllyyyy gooooood...but I personally suggest that you let the cake thaw for about 5 minutes once you take out from the fridge so that the cream will melt in your mouth and the crepe layers will be soft enough. You can leave the cake in room temperature for maximum 2hrs and leave it in the fridge for 3-5 days.

Seeing all these pictures made me wana eat them again! I shall go and buy the different flavors by slice this time and let you know how they are!

So if you are in love or wana feel like in love, you must try the original flavor with your eyes closed and slowly savour...

Next,  Itacho Sushi. Yes, it is at ION also and always has long queue!

xoxo

4Fingers Crispy Chicken

Now! Have you wandered in ION basement thinking of what to eat and saw a long long queue at a humble shop called 4Fingers Crispy Chicken? Wondering if it worth the patience? Let me tell you later..

Well, I frequent the Provence bakery quite often at ION and 4Fingers is just next to it so I can't help but I promised myself that I must try at least once. I mean, why are all these people queuing for just fried chicken, we have KFC and Texas Chicken right that are conveniently located near residents?? One thing about 4Fingers, it is Korean style fried chicken. NO WONDER so many people.............I only knew that after I'd finished my food and free enough to read the flyer on my tray about the history.

 You see the queue..I took this picture from where I was queuing..about 10mins of wait.

 While queuing, I was deciding on what to order as it's my first time. I heard couple said "I must have the crispy chicken", some people said "I want the calamari"..

 See the pickup counter signboard? Yes, self service. You have to queue to order, you have to wait to collect.

 The tables are quite closely placed so if you are lucky, you get the table to yourself. Otherwise you have to share table with other people, like me.

 After I'd ordered my food, I was given this (above image) "pager" that will beep me once my food is ready for collection. *whisper* I saw some couple shake and press this pager thinking that it must be spoiled and that's why the long waiting time.

 The drinks came with the pager, so I get to drink and not whining about the noises and music.

 Boys, do you remember this army tin that you use to cook your food? Now we are using it outside of the camp too!

 2 piece drumsticks rice box came with a drink ($8.95)

I ordered this because I get to try the famous chicken and there was rice to fill up my stomach. I requested for Soy Garlic sauce for this..not that bad. The rice can be more and the drumsticks can be bigger though..the skin was indeed crispy but I'm a freak who will feel guilty eating too much skin so I took a bite only. The meat can be juicier like Texas chicken.

 Crispy calamari combo came with a drink and fries ($9.95)

I tell you, I didn't regret ordering calamari, but I regretted ordering it with Hot sauce. I thought I got my chicken in Soy Garlic, then I should try the other sauce (which is Hot) on my calamari. How spicy could it be right? I regretted it to the max. It was so hot, my eyes were tearing and I could only take 2 calamari and leave the rest behind. I'm a person who can eat chilli padi with rice, but I cannot tolerate this spicy sauce. I ended up buying cold canned drinks from the mama shop at the corner of basement. I didn't get to enjoy the calamari and my stomach gave me war after the meal :( So people, beware! 

One more thing, there is no basin for you to wash your hands, so try to make full use of the plastic utensils and tissue.

 

So here are my views:

Ambience 2.5/5
Food 2.5/5
Service 2.5/5 (No service except for taking my order.)
Price Affordable
Toilet Availability 0/5 (please use ION's toilets)
Check out their website at http://www.gimme4fingers.com/crispy/main.html if you are keen to know more. They got their own song also..hahaha..seriously, I thought this was some fried chicken from New York because of the shop decor and there was zero hint about Korea!

xoxo

Monster Curry

Was loitering at ION orchard and did not have any idea what to eat at all until I saw this logo with comical dragon that has 7 heads at ION basement.. so cute!! Orange color somemore ^^  I always like dragons and I believe they existed..but I prefer them to have wings..hehe..Anyway that's out of the point.

 

All heads are smiling and look so "steady", like they know they have good curry..

 The name also sounds promising..so I told myself I have to try.

The way they work is you have to order and pay first outside before they bring you to your table. I was seated in a "cubicle", the partition was quite high. I like the privacy and won't be affected by the noises other tables make. Old already, noises give me migraine..I prefer to have peaceful meal.

Like traditional Japanese restaurants, they displayed the dishes vertically at the counter..do you know that these displayed dishes are not made from real food? Do check out in youtube on how these are made. The plate so big right! Real or not?! 

So I ordered Mountain Monster Curry that has my favorite sausages, and pork katsu (fried pork), pork shabu shabu (pork thin slices) and chicken karaage (fried chicken cubes) at $24.

They have spice level of 1 to 5. I ordered 3 (hot) to "test water"..let's see..

My order finally arrived and the plate was indeed huge!! How to finish??!!

  You see my hand compared to the plate! I bet the plate is bigger than my butt!

You see the red sauce in the curry? They are the spice in the curry..hot! I don't think I will spend another $24 to take the spice level 5..

Really cannot finish the plate although we had 2 pax, so in the end we packed the remains..

Overall here's my view:

Ambience 2.5/5
Food 3/5
Service 3/5
Price Slightly steep
Toilet Availability 0/5 (please use the 5 stars ION toilets)

I will I may go back if I win lottery..ahahaha..it is quite a luxury..

If you are Japanese curry fan, do give it a try. 

Check out their website at http://www.monstercurry.com.sg/ for other outlets.

I will post another curry rice place next!

xoxo