Michelin Quality Sushi at Shopping Centre Prices

     It is not everyday that one comes across a food establishment good enough to warrant a visit two days in a row. The wifey and I stumbled upon such a place while taking a stroll after a hearty supper one evening last week. The place - Ryo Sushi, located among the stretch of restaurants next to Orchid Hotel, along Tanjong Pagar Road.

     This little Japanese sushi restaurant has only been opened for a week, but has already seen a few repeat customers; not least a trio from overseas who decided to have their final meal in Singapore here. At this rate, it would soon outgrow it's modest seating capacity. 

     We were fortunate to be seated indoors, facing the chef. The sushi is prepared right in front of you and placed directly from the chopping board onto your plate; one piece at a time. Each piece of sushi was expertly paired with a suitable seasoning and condiment (I found the soya foam pretty interesting). This not only enhanced the flavour of the sushi, but also preserved the taste that the chef intended. There's no danger of over-soaking your sushi in soyasauce or adding too much wasabi here. In fact, you are not given the choice of adding sauce; which I must admit, is a good thing. We had the omakase menu which beside the sushi, included edamame, onsen tamago (egg), a small chirashi bowl, crab-meat maki and soup; all this for less than $40 per person (no service chatge and GST).

Onsen Tamago with Trffle - an amazing combinition

     The next day we were back for more. This time we tried the large chirashi bowl as well as the uni rice bowl. The chirashi is one of the best, if not the best I've ever had (and believe you me, I've had quite a few at different places). It was so good that we ordered a second portion. Go for the chef's recommendation and add the onsen tamago to the chirashi. You have to try it to understand the burst of flavour - warm egg, truffle, fresh sashimi, wasabi and chef's secret sauce... YUM!

     The uni rice is the most decadent thing I've had in a while. The uni is literally mixed into the rice right before your eyes. As if this is not enough, more uni and added on top. I've never eaten uni this way before. We also discovered that the restaurant made it's own hijiki, pickled ginger and pickled lotus root condiments

Unbeatable!

     I was debating with myself whether to be selfish or share this gem with all of you. Don't want too many people crowding out the joint. One could be forgiven for thinking that the chef was trained in Japan. In fact, Roy was trained locally. This proves that we do have quality here - Michelin quality.

Shiloh - Carrying the Presence of the Almighty

     On the 6th of July 2016 we held Shiloh's full month celebration at the Fullerton Hotel, Straits Room. This venue was painstaking restored to it's colonial glory and preserved as it was. It was a good chance to catch up with family and reconnect with old friends. 

     

     Here's an excerp of my thank you speech, explaining our choice for our daughter's name. 

     "So why did we name her Jing Ying? It’s taken from Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. 敬畏耶和華 to have 聪颖.

Proverbs 31: 10-31 summarizes the meaning of this “Wisdom”. Proverbs 31 speaks of the “virtuous” woman. The Hebrew root word more aptly describes it as “strength” and “valour”; more often to describe armies. In the rest of the chapter, we see this strong, valiant, wise woman, also having business acumen, yet generous and very importantly, she’s diligent. These are the traits we hope to inculcate in our little one. And it all starts with teaching her to fear the Lord. Hence her name 敬颖.

Why Shiloh:

1 Samuel 1. The House of God was in Shiloh. The Ark of the Covenant was in Shiloh. Hannah had her prayer answered when she prayed at Shiloh.

This is to remind us that the Lord heard our prayer and granted this precious girl to us.

1 Samuel 3. The word of the Lord was precious in those days and there was no open vision. Yet the Lord called to Samuel at Shiloh.

It is our hope for Shiloh that the Lord’s presence will always be with her; that she will carry His presence and be a light and testimony for Jesus. Also that the Lord will call to her as He did to the Prophet Samuel when he was a small boy. And Shiloh would be sensitive and obedient to the voice of the Holy Spirit all the days of her life.

And Finally, why Shiloh? So that she can join Jordan and Emmaus to play “Find my name on the Map of the Middle East” – Just Kidding!

So today, as we dedicate Shiloh to the Lord; it is as much a dedication of Ziyan and myself to bringing her up to be a woman that loves and fears the Lord".