Tag: Japanese Cuisine

Animal Themed Manju by Namikoshiken @ Aichi, Nagoya – Too Cute to be Eaten

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If life is like a box of chocolates, cute is a box of these manju from Nagoya.

Founded in 1927, Japanese confectionery Namikoshiken 浪越軒 has been producing tons of traditional sweets – but none of them have come close to winning the Internet over like their animal themed buns!

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When I read about them on RocketNews24, one of my go-to sources for all things Japanese, I absolutely had to get my hands on them. Thanks to a friend who was travelling to Singapore, I managed to snag a 12-pc Handmade Zoo (“Tetzukuri Dobutsuen”) box from their online store on Rakuten!

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Cafe & Meal MUJI @ Paragon – Japan meets IKEA in Singapore’s First Muji Cafe

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It’s like IKEA, but for Asians. After a long wait, Japanese lifestyle chain MUJI has finally opened their first cafe in Paragon, to the delight of both their fans and the Japanese community in Singapore.

Knowing that there would be a huge crowd on its first day, I decided to pop by way after lunchtime, at 3pm – but boy, was I wrong. Queues were snaking outside the cafe’s premises long after I had finished my meal. It could have been due to the weekend crowd, but still.

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[CLOSED] Rollie Olie @ Star Vista – Fusion Food in Pretty Packages

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Update 20 Jan 2025: Rollie Olie has closed.

The last time I heard the name Rollie Olie (or rather, Rolie Polie Olie), it was on one of those kids TV channels way back. Now, it seems that an Asian fusion eatery has surfaced at Star Vista.

Well I’m a fan of sushi and all their sushi rolls feature my favourite avocado, so I’m not complaining!  😀

It’s no secret that with the explosion of social media, we eat with our eyes before our mouths, and Rollie Olie has got their presentation done right to a T. Even the box that their sushi rolls come in resembles the American takeaway box, in line with the fusion characteristic of the menu.

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[CLOSED] Tai Parfait @ Bugis Junction

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[Update 3 June 2016: Tai Parfait has closed.]

It’s not so often that we see a school of fish swimming around busy Bugis, let alone one with mouthfuls of sweet, sweet toppings – literally. Adding to Bugis Junction‘s burgeoning kaleidoscope of F&B options is Yokohama-based Tai Parfait, home to a culinary hybrid for dessert lovers.

The store’s titular offering, Tai Parfait, is really that – a combination of the beloved traditional Japanese fish-shaped pancake with piping hot filling on the inside and the rich toppings of a parfait in place of its closed mouth. Cheery decor beckons customers and the brisk, factory-like production of taiyaki behind the counter is telling of just how popular it is.

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Pastry Snaffle’s Catchcakes from Hakodate, Hokkaido (Japan)

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I once had a friend cart back a box of Tokyo Banana for me. His suitcase was so stuffed to the brim, the flight an arduous 7 hours, that it’s a miracle that that box did not sustain a single dent on its way back (talk about durable Japanese packaging).

You don’t extend the same treatment to a box of Snaffle’s Catchcakes, however. Even if it’s double wrapped and packed in a sturdy, true-to-size package. Why? Because these darlings are, quite literally, as delicate as a cloud.

Established in 1998, Pastry Snaffle’s is just one of the many brands that have since crossed the Pacific Ocean (last year, to be precise) to invade our sunny, Japan-hungry shores. With three outlets at Plaza Singapura, Bedok Mall and VivoCity to date, and another on the way, it’s safe to say that Snaffles is here to stay. 😀

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[CLOSED] Dolce Tokyo @ 313 Somerset

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Update 20 Jan 2025: Dolce Tokyo has closed.

I’ve been visiting a number of Japanese-Italian cafes of late – whether it’s for a hearty Sunday brunch, or a one-on-one R&R over a cake and a piping hot cuppa. There’s something exquisite about Western cuisine, coupled with the unmatched level of attention paid by the Japanese to detail, which never ceases to delight my palate.

Dolce Tokyo is no exception. Tucked between Lowry’s Farm and Uniqlo at 313 Somerset, (which are coincidentally clothing giants from Japan) MOF’s latest venture boasts an extensive menu of all-day breakfasts, drinks, mains, and a variety of quirky desserts. But more on that later. 😉

Restaurants and cafes in town are notoriously crowded on weekends (for obvious reasons), so we were pleasantly surprised to find it relatively empty and quiet throughout our meal. It was just as well, since we got to soak in the casual atmosphere and smooth jazzy beats that permeated Dolce Tokyo’s 58-seater premises. 😉

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Monster Maki @ Maki-San (30 Aug – 13 Sept 2013)

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Ever so often, there comes a rivalry that rocks our generation. From the catty fallout between Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, to the relentless tug-of-war with Mac and PC – anything and everything is a potential battleground to see who can come out tops.

And Maki-San is no exception.

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Source: http://www.facebook.com/rollwithmakisan

Touted as “the mother of all battles”, the Monster Maki menu was launched in conjunction with the cafe’s 1st Anniversary Bash. Boasting a whopping 10 ingredients each, the Gargan (a meat-based sushi roll) and the Tsunamo (its seafood opponent) will be rollin’ for 2 weeks, during which fans get to vote for their favourite Monster based on taste, appearance, or the sheer novelty of it.  

And the prize? A permanent spot on the menu. 

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