Japan’s Summer Unagi Festival comes alive at this Japanese restaurant in the city, featuring eel, sashimi, seafood, salad from 19 July to 6 August
Living in tropical Singapore, our lives are a never-ending quest of finding ways to beat the heat. Be it eating cooling local desserts like ice kacang or cheng tng, downing a few cold ones at the nearby bar, or even wearing summer outfits without skimping on style – you name it, we’ve done it. But hey, wanna know another cool secret? We’ve pinched this one off the Japanese; believe it or not, it’s eating unagi! Unagi, or freshwater eel, is said to give a boost of energy to combat the drowsiness when it gets too scorching outside, and it is traditionally eaten during Japan’s Summer Unagi Festival, locally known as Doyo No Ushi No Hi.
To celebrate the festival, Mikuni at Fairmont Singapore will be offering a special unagi summer lunch throughout the month of July, just like they did last year! From 19 July to 6 August, catch Executive Chef, Moon Kyung Soo, in action as he prepares unagi flown in from Japan’s Aichi prefecture to create a stunning variety of seafood delicacies.
Kick-start your unagi-themed set lunch with a refreshing side of Japanese green salad, which is prepared with fresh snow crabs, fruits, and a garnish of sesame seeds. Follow it up with a decadent sashimi platter of Hokkaido sea urchin, aori ika, toro, yellowtail and sea bream. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Chef Moon then serves up a trio of appetisers; indulge in the delectable seasonal selections of barbecued eel jelly, served together with smoked salmon yuzu, eel yahata maki burdock, and crispy eel bone. After that, comes the star of the show – the popular charcoal-grilled eel on rice, paired with Kyushu shijimi clam miso soup and Japanese pickles. Served in an exquisite lacquered box, the dish is a feast for the eyes and mouth alike. And end your meal on a high note with the Japanese shiso leaf sorbet, served together with a side of yogurt mousse and strawberry to provide a sweet and sugary closure – there’s no better way to stave off the summer-bummer heat!
Mikuni’s summer set lunch is priced at $138++ per person, happening from 19 July to 6 August.
Mikuni, Lvl 3 Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189560, p. 6431 6156. Open for lunch 12pm-2.30pm.
This article is sponsored by Fairmont Singapore.