5 'MUST TRY' HOMESTYLE GOODIES AT DASHI DINING SAYA

Dashi is the essential stock in Japanese cuisine. It is made by immersing katsuoboshi (dried, smoked and cured bonito or skipjack tuna) shavings in boiling water then straining the liquid. Other possible ingredients to make dashi include konbu (kelp seaweed), niboshi (small dried anchovies), dried mackerel or iriko (dried sardine).

This deceptively simple stock is prized for the umami taste it imparts, now widely acknowledged as the fifth basic taste after sweet, sour, salty and bitter. First discovered by Professor Kikunae Ikeda from the Tokyo Imperial University in 1908, umami is a combination of two Japanese words, umai (delicious) and mi (taste). Described as meaty savouriness, umami is unique as it can enhance the inherent flavours of other ingredients, hence making food tastes even more delicious.

At Dashi Dining Saya, the umami aspect of dashi plays a central role in its offerings; from miso soup and chawanmushi to home-style Japanese dishes such as dashi maki tamago (Japanese omelette) and chazuke (rice with dashi & tea broth).

The parent company, Asmo Catering (M) Sdn Bhd also runs Dashi Delica Saya, the Japanese delicatessen proffering a wide range of homespun Japanese dishes for takeaway at Isetan, The Japan Store in KL. According to Masao Shimizu, Director - Malaysia of Dashi Dining Saya/Asmo Catering, Asmo is a diversified group in Japan with F&B businesses in Taipei and Hong Kong.

Dashi Dining Saya & Dashi Delica Saya are the company's first foray into Malaysia in tandem with the opening of the newly rejuvenated Isetan, The Japan Store in KL. Plans are the pipeline to open similar outlets in future, as and when suitable locations have been chosen and secured.

Shimizu-san said: "Our two flagship outlets entered the local F&B scene to widen the repertoire of Japanese cuisine among local food lovers. We want Malaysians to know there's so much more to Japanese food than sushi, sashimi and tempura. Dashi Dining Saya & Dashi Delica Saya would like introduce typical home-style dishes eaten by most Japanese to the local clientele, enabling them to sample and familiarise themselves with what we offer." 

Open your minds and palate to sample these 5 'must try' homestyle goodies from Dashi Dining Saya:

DASHI CHAZUKE

The soulful speciality of Rice with Hot Dashi Soup and Soy-Marinated Tuna Sashimi (RM29) is highly recommended. Diners can decide on the amount of rice they prefer - small (200g), medium (250g + RM2) or large (300g + RM3) with free refill of Saya's special dashi soup. 

Besides the bowl of rice topped with slices of succulent soy-marinated tuna, crunchy pearls of rice puffs and shredded nori, the set comes with a side dish of chikuzenni, traditional stew of lotus root, carrot, mushroom, chicken and burdock root and a small bowl of hijiki, a type of brown sea vegetable cooked in a sweetish sauce with chopped burdock and carrot.

To enjoy the hearty offering, sprinkle chopped spring onion and sesame seeds onto the rice. Then pour the hot dashi broth onto it and slurp up the delicious mixture after giving it a good stir.

 

There's also Rice with Hot Dashi Soup and Marinated Cod Roe (RM24) or the more popular variants of Rice with Hot Dashi Soup and Grilled Salmon Flakes or Grilled Mackerel (RM27).

TAKE SET MEAL  

An assortment of these homely specialities can be enjoyed at Dashi Dining Saya in the form of Ume (RM32) and Take (RM38) set meals. The Take Set shown above is great value for money as it comprises six dishes with a bowl of white rice and miso soup.

The first offering distills the umami essence perfectly as the savoury nuance of the unctuous sauce in the Tofu and Kinoko Mushroom with Dashi Sauce was discernible in the soft beancurd. Shiitake mushroom is also umami-rich so you'd be smacking your lips with satisfaction after eating this.

We thoroughly relished the second dish of delectable Fried Chicken Saya-Style too. The meaty pieces were tender and flavourful yet crisp to the bite on the outside.

Fruity sweet Tomato with Dashi Apple Jelly was also featured. Imported Japanese tomatoes aren't cheap and a whole fruit from Dashi Delica Saya costs RM8 alone. Slathered in subtly sweet jelly, the tomato was firm yet succulent and juicy on the palate.

Also included in the assortment was the trad Chikuzenni in addition to a huge piece of Hokkaido Beef Croquette which provided textural contrast.

Lastly, Grilled Mackerel stuffed with Eringi Mushroom completed the substantial selection. A sheen of Japanese-style barbecue sauce lent the fish moistness whilst its fungi stuffing bestowed different textural interest. Light eaters may find it a challenge to finish all these delicacies accompanied by rice and soup but heartier diners will find themselves replete from the meal.

ODEN

A perennial comfort food in Japan especially in winter, Oden is the Japanese version of yong tau foo. Most of the key ingredients for oden are made from processed fish paste such as chikuwa (tubular fish paste), kamaboko (fish paste with pink rim and white centre) and satsuma-age (fried fish cake patties) among others. Hard-boiled eggs, chunks of daikon (radish), konnyaku and fried beancurd are also common in the repertoire.

A sample selection of different Oden items (pix from archives)

You can pick and mix various Oden items from Dashi Delica Saya daily. The goodies are served in dashi broth with a dollop of mustard, available for takeaway or dine-in too if seats are available at Dashi Dining Saya. Give these tempting morsels a go next time you see this.
 

MACKEREL WITH GRATED DAIKON

Shimizu-san then pointed out some uncommon Japanese delights from the display counter to us, one of which is Grilled Mackerel with Grated Daikon (RM9 per piece). "We notice Malaysians enjoy eating fish especially salmon. Our chef created this mackerel dish to add greater variety to our food repertoire and also to please customers who prefer lightly cooked fish dishes," said Shimizu-san. 

Indeed, the delicious mackerel is moistened by an appetising savoury dashi stock with generous toppings of grated Japanese radish, ginger slivers and chopped spring onion giving it subtle 'fresh' flavours.

CHICKEN CHOP NAGOYA-STYLE

We also cluck with approval the family-friendly offering of Chicken Chop Nagoya Style (RM12). Quite a lot of work has gone into the boneless chicken roll which is stuffed with asparagus and grilled with teriyaki sauce. Just slice up the roll once warmed up to serve.  

It's best to scour Dashi Delica Saya personally to see the range available. Some of the current selection should pique interest with familiar ingredients like lady's fingers, radish and chicken prepared in decidedly Japanese style. Onigiri (Japanese triangular rice balls) and takeaway lunch boxes are also sold here.

Dashi Dining Saya & Dashi Delica Saya are located at the Lower Ground Floor, Isetan The Japan Store, Lot 10, Jalan Sultan Ismail, KL. Tel: 03-2110 1479. 

TOH YUEN UNVEILS ITS MID-AUTUMN TREASURES

Snowskin mooncake fans are in for a treat with Toh Yuen's colourful medley for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival. The most outstanding variant has to be the refreshingly fruity Dragonfruit Paste while the evergreen fave of Musang King Durian Paste makes a strong comeback.

Other variants such as earthy Yam Paste, delicately nutty Black Sesame Paste, the dual flavour Green Tea Paste with Red Bean, and Lotus Paste with Sunflower Seeds are delightfully agreeable on the palate. Priced at RM17 each, they are best savoured fresh and slightly chilled.

I'm a traditionalist at heart so the Mixed Five Nuts (RM24) gets the thumbs up from me. A faint whiff of kaffir lime leaf is discernible as you bite into a wedge of the nutty mooncake...enlivening the taste further. Also in the line-up are Pure Lotus Paste with Single Yolk (RM23), White Lotus Paste with Double Yolks (RM26), Pandan Paste (RM23) and Red Bean Paste (RM23). Having sampled the different flavours, I daresay you can never go wrong banking on these baked ones for gift-giving.

Such a special occasion naturally calls for a gathering of the clan and these days, family matriarchs can leave feast day cooking to capable chefs like those at Toh Yuen. Inspired by traditional Cantonese dishes enjoyed during Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations of yore, the resto's Mid-Autumn Reunion Feast (RM1,800 for a table of 10 persons) should please most multi-generation urban families.

You'd have no bones to pick with the appetiser of Boiled Beef Ribs with Lemongrass scented Spicy Garlic Sauce. Although the meat may be a tad gamey for some diners, avid carnivores would enjoy the scrumptious slices especially with the accompanying piquant dip.

A whole dried conpoy takes centrestage in the Double Boiled Cucumber with Scallop Soup Topped with Green Pea. Tucked into a cucumber ring, its oceanic fishy sweetness makes the unctuous broth superbly lush tasting.

 

 

It leaves you eager for the main course of Baked Cod with Wasabi Mayonnaise and when the dish appears, the symphony of tantalising yet ephemeral accents and textural pairing will have you hooked.

Ramping up the flavour quotient is Pan-fried Chicken topped with Salted Egg & BBQ Sauce. An inventive dish that jogs at your memories of family feasts from yesteryear, the chefs at Toh Yuen have cleverly played around with the sweet-salty-tangy combination to delicious effect.

The next dish of Stir-fried Scallops with Dragonfruit and Lotus Root takes your taste buds to a different tangent. Savour the artful balance of varying textures and delicate nuances; its cohesiveness brought together by skillful cooking and quality ingredients.

The tempo picks up again with the offering of Pan-Fried Lamb chops with Coffee Sauce. We like how the bewitching brew is employed to bestow the tender chop deep-seated flavour that spur us to lick our fingers and the bone clean.

By now you should feel adequately full but don't throw in the towel yet. Find tummy space for the delicious Crispy Noodles with Tiger Prawns - you won't regret it. The dainty portion pack lots of yummy appeal so you won't have problems putting everything away.

Deep-fried Chinese Pancake with Ice Cream should wrap up dinner on a sweet note most satisfactorily. In fact, some of you may wish there's more of that irresistible pancake to complement your ice cream.

The Mid-Autumn Treasures promotion will be available now until 27 September 2015. Dishes reviewed here are also available a la carte from RM30 per dish.

For reservations, call Toh Yuen, tel: 03-7955 9122 ext. 4073/4. Address: Hilton Petaling Jaya, Jalan Barat, PJ, Selangor.