The 10-day Rakuten Japan Gourmet Festival, which runs until Dec 4, will be held at the Jurong Point Shopping Centre's newly revamped Japanese food street Shokutsu Ten. It is organised by Japanese e-commerce platform Rakuten, which launched its Singapore site in January this year. Here's a list of what you can look forward to when you visit this food fiesta.
WHAT TO EAT AT RAKUTEN JAPAN GOURMET FESTIVAL
ITOH KYUEMON
What: A twist on the traditional daifuku (mochi), which is normally filled with red bean paste, the Uji green tea daifuku features a thick green tea cream paste. The paste is made from green tea powder from Uji, a region in Kyoto famous for its green tea, blended with fresh cream and then wrapped in a chewy mochi skin.
Price: $23 for a box of six
SAPPORO KANIHAN
What: Premium Japanese rice topped with strips of crab leg meat and ikura (salmon roe) make for a decadent bento meal. The seafood donburi (rice bowl dish) also retails in the famous Nijo market in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
Price: $34
GINZA SEMBIKIYA PATISSERIE
What: The patisserie started out as a fruit speciality store in 1894. To draw customers in the 1960s, it developed artisan fruit-infused confections. The Ginza Apple Kuchen uses Fuji apples flavoured with cinnamon, which are encased in a baumkuchen (German layered cake).
Price: $21 for 400g
TOMITA MELON HOUSE
What: Red-fleshed melons from Hokkaido are used to make melon smoothies topped with soft-serve ice cream. Tomita Melon House is located in Furano, Hokkaido, which is famous for its lush lavender fields.
Price: $8
SASAYA SYOEN
What: Sasaya Syoen has been specialising in handmade sweets since 1918. The warabi mochi or bracken (a type of fern) starch dumpling is handmade using bracken starch made from bracken powder.
Price: $15 for 85g, $25 for 170g
VANILLA BEANS
What: What started out as a small shop in Yokohoma in 2000 has become a popular brand in Japan. Feed your chocolate craving with a chocolate sandwich - double chocolate butter cookie filled with rich chocolate ganache.
Price: $20 for a box of four
SEAFOOD FACTORY FOUR SEASONS OF REBUN ISLAND
What: Forget your typical maki sushi (sushi rice rolls). This Hokkaido company offers premium salmon wrapped in kelp and grilled. Yep, no rice.
Price: $16 to $28
TSUKIJI RYOTEI TAKEWAKA
What: Those who like chirashi (sliced or chopped raw fish on Japanese rice) will love the tuna and seafood chirashi cup with premium Japanese rice topped with ikura (salmon roe), salmon and tuna belly. The seafood is sourced directly from Tokyo's renowned Tsukiji market.
Price: $16
-- FOOD IMAGES FROM RAKUTEN
