The wooden door slid shut behind the last guest and the hum of the city vanished. Inside the room there was only the low murmur of strangers settling into their seats. We leaned over the cypress counter and poured green…
My first experience with a high-end Japanese counter in Singapore was a classic case of mistaken identity. I had booked what I thought was a traditional sushi omakase for an anniversary. But as the meal unfolded, I was served a…
The chef reached across the cypress counter and set a small ceramic bowl in front of me. Its lid was painted with faded gold leaves. I leaned in as I lifted the cover. A sudden rush of heat rose from…
The sliding wooden door clicked shut behind me and the street noise vanished. I took my seat at the corner of the cypress counter. For the first ten minutes I felt a familiar urge to speak. I wanted to whisper…
Celebrating a milestone in Singapore often means seeking out the extraordinary. Over the past five years, I’ve had the privilege of dining at nearly every michelin starred restaurant in the city, from the hushed counters of fine dining institutions to…
It happened during the transition from the cooked dishes to the nigiri. The chef had just wiped down his board, a ritualistic clearing of the stage that signals the main act is about to begin. I had my phone ready,…
This year, while planning our anniversary, I found myself going back and forth between going all out on a formal omakase or keeping things relaxed but still meaningful. I wanted premium ingredients, somewhere we could dress up a little, linger…
I used to be a student of the menu. Whether it was a leather bound tome or a single sheet of paper, my mind would race ahead, charting the course of the meal. I would anticipate the arrival of each…
It usually starts as a habit. The phone goes on the table, face down but close enough to reach without thinking. I check it while waiting for water, during a pause in conversation, or just because my hand moves before…
Telok Ayer has always been one of my favorite stretches in Singapore for authentic omakase experience. Over the last five years, I’ve watched this neighborhood transform from a casual drinking spot into a serious destination for Telok Ayer Japanese food…