Ki-Sho: A secret Japanese garden of delight
PUBLISHED March 5th, 2013 06:26 am | UPDATED February 2nd, 2016 06:45 am
If you wander off down the busy shopping streets of Scotts Road into the quiet stretch toward Sheraton Hotel, you will pass a few nondescript colonial houses with their own courtyards. Passer-bys not knowing any better, will never guess that one of them houses the two new establishments by the Sarika Connoisseur (the guys behind The Coffee Connoisseur). Their latest venture into fine dining is based on the strategy of locating in such a secluded area, giving it an exclusive, mysterious ‘secret garden’ feel.
Stepping in cautiously through the iron cast gate and into the garden, a grandiose entrance reveals itself where wait staff stand at attention and warmly welcome you. The interior is not big, with only 10 seats at the counter, and a separate dining room for a more intimate setting. Decoration is minimalist Japanese, giving a sense of calm and zen. Chef Hamamoto is also super friendly, and with a impressively good command of English, he strikes up conversation with ease.
Young as he may seem, Chef Kazuhiro Hamamoto, was culinary trained for 10 years in Kyoto before deciding to head out into foreign lands. Having spent his first 4 years learning the ropes at Waku Ghin Singapore, he’s now head chef of newly opened Ki-Sho. He gets to call the shots on how the restaurant is run, and the food served reflects his simple and traditional style of cooking. Delivery comes in twice every week, and like a surprise package, is never the same, depending on the season and what’s fresh. When the ingredients arrive, the menu is designed and tested before dinner service and so customers can expect that the menu constantly changes.
With 3 omasake set menu choices of $250, $280, and $330; Ki-Sho like all fine dining Japanese is not cheap. But with the amount of premium items served, you pay for what you get!
The food is definitely fresh, and the no-frills preparation kept the dishes light and natural, but somehow I wished there was a little more excitement, more play on textures, more flavours. The highlight though was definitely the Hida Wagyu, beautifully marbled, lightly seasoned and just lightly seared on both sides. Pop it into your mouth with a touch of wasabi, and it melts oh-so-delightfully.
At Ki-Sho they are sincere and earnest, keeping its promise of a pleasant fine dining experience in the heart of town and yet in privacy. And with time on Chef Hamamoto’s side, this experience can only get better as his culinary finesse evolves and matures. A great place to bring your mother – I don’t have to rack my brains over Mother’s Day now!
Written by M.
On this occasion the meal was compliments of Ki-Sho.
