Unagi - Grilled eel

Grilled unagi is a relatively expensive in Japan, prized not only for its flavor but also for its legendary stamina-giving properties. It's traditionally eaten during the hottest part of the summer (on the "Day of the Ox" on the lunar calendar) to provide strength and vitality for the rest of the year.

Well-prepared unagi combines a rich flavor, a bit like pate, with an appetizing texture, crisp on the outside but succulent and tender on the inside. The cooking process is what makes the eel crisp and tender: The eels are first grilled over hot charcoal, then steamed to remove excess fat, then seasoned with a sweetish sauce and grilled a second time. In the Kansai area (around Osaka) the steaming step is omitted and the eel is grilled longer, burning off the excess fat and producing an even crisper skin.

The ingredients in the sweet basting sauce are important to the final taste of the unagi, and different restaurants maintain their own secret recipes. The quality of the charcoal used is also important: The best charcoal is made from hard oak from Wakayama in central Japan, and the aromatic smoke adds a special flavor to the eel as it's grilling.

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Wasabi the japanese horseradish

Wasabi is Japanese horseradish. It's a green paste used on a variety of foods including seafoods and noodles. Sashimi (raw fish) is dipped into a mix of soy sauce and wasabi.

Wasabi is not an easy plant to grow and powdered wasabi actually can be a mix of western horse radish powder, mustard powder and food coloring. There can also be mixtures of wasabi and western horse radish.

Naturally, it's quite hot and a little goes a long way. Do not try to put wasabi on something the way you would squeeze out mustard; otherwise, the food you put it on could become almost inedible unless you like really, really spicy food.

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AKB48 Japan Group Cafe in Singapore

AKB48 is Japanese famous girl group, with their own theatre performance in Akihabara, Tokyo.. They consists of so many teams and personnels, and actually I also confused with their members and names.

Recently AKB48 try their business sense with opening cafe in Singapore, located at Scape level 3 along the famous Orchard Road.

The cafe has a similar design with their original original Akihabara theatre in the heart of Tokyo.

3 of the AKB48 members, Miyu Takeuchi, Haruka Shimazaki and Maria Abe opened the door from within the café to mark the café’s soft launch

The café in Singapore, which can seat 60, has been designed to replicate AKB48's very own theatre in Japan, where girls with potential to become next-generation idols are given a chance to audition.

Diners can also look forward to exclusive AKB48 video screenings specially created for the cafe here, and get a chance to meet with their idols when they are in town.

Fans will be delighted to know that members of the group are expected to make special appearances on stage, have meals at the cafe or greet fans from time to time.

As for the food, modern Japanese fusion dishes will be served, but the full menu - which will include over 70 dishes and drinks - has yet to be launched.

In the meantime, three set menus for lunch, afternoon tea and dinner will be available, featuring main courses such as Omu Curry Rice and Japone Pasta. Desserts include fruit parfaits and waffles with ice cream.


Three members of AKB48 at the opening of the AKB48 Official Cafe in Singapore.














AKB48 Offical Cafe Singapore Opening menu Special Kaki Gori


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