Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Short Attention Span

It felt like I've been watching Ryouma Den for a long long time, but I'm only on Episode 2... and not even finished it yet. Must have paused at least 5 times within that 1-hour episode, to go (cold) brew tea, drink tea, shower, search for stuff to buy online (note to self: stop doing that...) or to type a blog entry =D

So today's Australia Day. Just another reason for them bludging Australians to take a day off work and drink Coke while chewing on red meat that's been on the barbecue for less than a minute in this scorching heat. Which was fine by me, because despite having to work, it was a very peaceful day of packing while chatting with my friends and co-worker, JT and CH. Those two girls are seriously the best people to work with~ we made everything look perfect! After work, dad told me there's a blackout at home, so we headed to Maccas for dinner T T note to self: no more junk food...

From Week 1-4, 2011
Should be having healthy food like this!
This was at Miso, a popular Japanese restaurant on the ground level of World Square. tt and I went there before, and it was also there that I spilled my miso soup, bringing a flurry of waitresses to come mop me up and even refilling my empty miso bowl. That's what I call 'good service'!

From Week 1-4, 2011
Not to mention their food actually looks really good and has a huge variety. While miso soup and salad are pretty standard sides for a Japanese set meal, this one had potato salad, stewed stuff, fried stuff including soft shell crab!!!, sashimi, and fruits. I wouldn't usually go for chicken and rice, but it was their special set that day.

From Week 1-4, 2011
I know I was whinging about high-end restaurants and how I cannot afford it. I succumbed to the Gold Entertainment Card. It's expiring in June/July, and I haven't used it to its worth yet. Actually, now I have =D My parents found my book today and was flicking through it. They decided to help me use it...

From Week 1-4, 2011
So FL, SM, TT and I went to BlancHaru for their degustation course. We were one of the first ones there, but overtime, the restaurant filled up pretty well for a Wednesday night. We were offered french onion bread and sourdough.

From Week 1-4, 2011
For photo's sake, someone had to take a sourdough... but the french onion bread was really nice and special.

From Week 1-4, 2011
First up! Aburi ocean trout with beetroot, 'egg yolk zuke', garlic foam. It all went wrong from the very first course! Look at that deceptive red blob. It's a cherry tomato, right? 3 out of 4 people poked that red blob first thing and ate it in one go... and got a surprise. That's the egg yolk zuke... ... it was meant to be cut open so the yolk oozes out over the ocean trout and then eaten together. Why didn't it come with instructions?? Nonetheless, it was really really good.

From Week 1-4, 2011
Next: King crab and eggplant caviar tower, tomato vinaigrette. This was SO good, arguably the best. Hey, no one can go wrong with king crab. Well... no skilled chef at least. The meat of the king crab was just sublime~ the tuile, which we uncultured beings called the nacho, was obviously handmade right there, adding a pleasing final touch (enter Fuku-san from Iron chef).

From Week 1-4, 2011
By course 3, FL and I were already feeling kinda full. Actually, THIS dish was filling. Organic soba, cream sauce with truffle aroma foam... noodles were made to fill us up I think, and with a cream sauce.... it was almost K.O., but no fear, we finished everything.

From Week 1-4, 2011
Then we went on to the mains (FL: we're not even half way there yet!)... doesn't this look absolutely cute? It's like a little tree planted on a globe of soil in the form of pork belly galette, black beans, sweet potato puree and mustard sauce.

From Week 1-4, 2011
Here's a tree I wouldn't mind hugging every night! The pork belly's crackle remained crispy and hot underneath the black beans, which were so sweet and nice, I never thought black beans could taste so nice. My favourite dish out of them all that night~

From Week 1-4, 2011
Poisson Du Jour (fish of the day). Rosemary, olive oil, crunchy noodles and... I forgot what the waiter said. Really good, but it felt oily for some reason.

From Week 1-4, 2011
Another main! Persillade lamb rack, cous cous, smoked tomato salsa. I'm not too fond of cous cous, but the lamb was really really good and the vegetables on the side was fried tempura-style.

From Week 1-4, 2011
Dessert Du Jour~

From Week 1-4, 2011
I forgot what this one was too, so I'll make it up. Panna cotta at the bottom, poached peaches, vanilla ice cream that tasted more than just vanilla, topped with an amazing crumble.

From Week 1-4, 2011
Here's how to get there. Closeby is also "Rise", which I thought was probably better value, but BlancHaru was really good too! The pork belly tree was a winner dish for me...

Now I'm poor again and need to save up... lots to do, with my sister's wedding coming up and having to pack to go overseas. First time I travel overseas all by myself, let's not get kidnapped or thrown into jail =)

4 comments:

tt said...

Craving for the first two dish.. I really wonder how he made the second one.

What's next on the fine dining list?

Lydia said...

Either Ocean Room or Rise again... I miss Rise and their sashimi shots ; ; and they recently renovated... and it's also cheaper on Tues Wed and Sun!! =D Let's IKUZE!

tt said...

Forgot to say, go finish Ryouma Den! These historical dramas tend to be so good.. I've been trying to dig up some more Taiga drama.

whatnow said...

The first 2 were my favourites! But that might just be because I got full afterwards. ^^" Thanks for organising the dinner - very yum!