Nosh of the Day: The new Ebi Burger

We're not so far from Japan in Singapore, and we get a fair number of Japanese trends here. The latest is the McDonald's Ebi (Japanese for prawn) Burger. Adding a SE Asian twist, your Singaporean Ebi Burger meal will also come with a Pisang Pie (pictured) (pisang is Malay for banana).

I'd heard the Ebi Burger was actually quite hard to find (sold out?) but I managed to purchase a single tonight. (Yay!) They had sold out of the Pisang Pie, but to be honest, I wasn't so crazy about that part.

I rather liked the Ebi Burger. It looks pretty much like its photo and the burger itself is light and crispy. There's a little mild mustard (?) inside but you might find it needs a bit of additional enhancement with some chilli sauce or ketchup. All in all, definitely worth a try, even if you're not a junk food fan!

Waikiki: the International Market Place

Waikiki's International Market Place is set to close. It's going to be torn down. This December, apparently. I'm not saying it is the most beautiful place on earth. It is basically an open air shopping area with local vendors selling touristy tat, a bit like London's Camden in Hawaii (but without the drugs and pickpocketing). But Waikiki is a touristy place, and if you are visiting, International Market Place is actually a fun way to spend time, not to mention buy unique gifts for friends overseas, where they have a different sort of touristy tat.

Also, having come from Singapore, and spent time in L.A. recently, this Waikiki vendor spot makes a warm and welcome relief from the endless malls with identikit global brands. (Yep, same stores in L.A., Singapore, Honolulu, some also in London.. )

The depressing thing is they are apparently tearing down the International Market Place to build - yes! - another spanking new mall full of identikit brands. I'm not some old guy in a tweed jacket moaning about urban progress (and assuming it all isn't just a music industry-style 'final tour ever!' ruse) but this closure seems a real pity.

I spoke to one of the stall holders and asked what she was going to do when the place closed down. She said with a shrug "Go somewhere else, I suppose."

You can click on images for a slide show

 

Nosh of the Day: Butterfish, Japanese style

OK I am not sure of the details of this, as I was not blog-prepared with notebook or camera. Only that a friend took me to a very authentic Japanese restaurant in Singapore and I chose the Butterfish Set. As a set it came with rice, miso soup and kobachi (こばち little side dishes - in this case pickles and kind of marinated cabbage). And the main was this amazing fish with tofu. I've never seen a butterfish before (even during Scuba!) but the meat was white and firmish - texture a little like unsmoked mackerel. It was in a very nice, light, sweetish sauce which my friend described as a bit of soy, miso, mirin (a kind of cooking sake). I think it's quite a common Japanese sauce.

Anyway, a tasty find. And do try butterfish if you see it.

 
I also tried a new dessert at this restaurant - it was a kind of Warabimochi jelly. Warabimochi is a kind of mochi made from a fern, and is extremely sticky (so much so that you have to serve it with a powder of some sort or it gets stuck to everything!) This version was actually a black, slightly sticky, clear jelly, served with sesame powder. Also very nice!

More reading: Nosh of the Day: warabimochi & anmitsu