DONGURI's どんぐり Tokusen Bentoo for April (Japanese Association)

April 25, 2007: It's a mid-week eat-out evening. I have not tried Donguri's bentoo set this month and so thought it'd be a good chance to stop by the Japanese Association. Besides, the weather was cool and wet with the rain continuously pouring down in torrents. These external conditions and my hunger pangs make a good miso soup and tempura irrestible.

On the way, I stopped to buy some handmade bagels at Cluny Court's Cold Storage: wholemeal (the last piece), sesame, and raisin and cinammon (SGD 1.50 each). Of course, some thick Swiss cheese would make a wholesome breakfast tomorrow, I thought, and so got a pack of that (SGD 6.80), and some smoked ham (SGD 2.49 per 100g). Along an aisle of the supermarket, I saw a Terre D'orb from France and picked up a bottle (SGD 18.95). This is an award-winning French 'varietal' in 2006 (25% Carignan, 20% Grenache; 15% Merlot; 25% Syrah; 15% Cab. Sauvignon). I could taste the sweetness already simply by reading the content composition.


4月　特選弁当(1025Kcal)

うなぎご飯 (SALMON, NOT UNAGI!)、

いかそうめん (SHOULD BE SANSAI SOBA!)

木の芽二色田楽、

若布ときゅうり

黄身酢和え、

竹の子筑前煮仕立て

鶏唐おろし餡、

味噌汁



Grilled salmon Rice, Assorted

Sashimi, Cold Soba with Wild

Vegetables and Grated Radish,

Simmered Butterbur(Fuki)

Assorted Seasonal Tempura,

Sesame Tofu, Miso Soup

日本人会 のレストラン・飲食 & Ai Funghi e Proscuitto

ミニ膳（680Kcal）

山菜ご飯

若布あさり大根の吸い物

揚げ豆腐の肉味噌

鮭の味噌煮

ほうれん草じゃこおろし


Rice with Wild Vegetables,

Clear Soup of Japanese Clam

with Seaweed and Radish,

Deep Fried Tofu with Minced

Meat Miso Sauce, Simmered Salmon

with Miso Sauce, Boild Spinach

with Grated Radish and Sun-dried

Fish


The Straits Times URBAN of April 5 carried an article commenting on the common faux pas of locals when they go fine-dining. "They feel like they’re just going for a meal and they want to dress for comfort," comments a F & B consultant. Although I think that comment reflects a partial picture, I can understand that kind of comfort derived from not wearing heels, accessories, and make-up. That explains why I like the comfort of eating at home.

It suddenly rained cats and dogs in the midst of my heritage tour on April 7, 2007, conducted by API (Asia Paranormal Investigators) which I will write on next. I headed back to the Japanese Association 日本人会 for a cup of hot coffee after being drenched in the rain. The heritage trip had to halt halfway.

I ordered a Napoleon to go along with my coffee. The Japanese Association’s Donguri Restaurant,operated by Pokka Corp, serves fantastic coffee – not so much for its beans and roast, but more because the coffee is prepared using a special siphon. I had a mini-ZEN set for lunch earlier. This is one of their specials for the month of April. The buri (fish) and asari no osuimono (clear soup with clams) were very tasty. I'd order it a second time in my visits there this month.

After tea, I picked up a funghi sauce at da Paolo Gastronomia for my pasta, together with what used to be my house wine for a few years which was going on a special price at Cold Storage -- Rawson’s Retreat Shiraz Cabernet 2006 by Penfold’s (SGD 17.95). I enjoyed the wine; but the sauce wasn’t as good as the funghi sauce whipped up by Pane & Vino in Hanoi, a simpler creamy version with mushrooms... Nho’ ’ Ha` No^.i qua ’ !