Kanazawa Hyajumangoku Beer Koshihkari Ale | S$9/-
IPPIN is also the only place in Singapore to exclusively distribute the Kanazawa range of beer which in the Edo period, was an area governed by the famous Samurais. Hailing from one of the famous areas in Ishikawa Prefecture, it would be a sin not to try this beautiful drink. Among the four types of beer IPPIN carries, we tried the Koshihikari ale which is made from a type of Japonica rice. With a concentration of 74% malt, 25% rice, the taste is very light and exceptionally smooth so even the ladies would enjoy it!
Sake tasting | S$15 for 3 types
We had the Tokugawa Ieyasu Daiginjo which was served in a rather unique fashion, or at least it was the first for me. A typical shot glass sits within a wooden cup that is made from cypress wood which has a hint of fragrance. The friendly sommelier shared that the sake was overfilled so that the excess sake sits within the wooden cup. The faint fragrance of the cypress wood would be infused into the smooth-tasting sake and makes the sake even more enjoyable than when otherwise consumed in the shot glass.
While I am not an expert when it comes to sake, we have been trying out several versions out of interest recently and learnt that Daiginjo is usually the better version as the rice is well polished (at least 50%), making it to the upper hand sake found in the market. Like wine, there are however many parameters to benchmark the sake and ultimately it is subjected to individual's palate. Sake produced from the more polished rice would result in lesser impurity hence making it smooth.
It is also advised for sake to be consumed at about 16 - 17 degrees celsius as that will allow the full flavours of the rice wine to come through so if it is taken out from the chiller, do allow couple of minutes for the sake to warm up!
Serving more than just home-cooked food, IPPIN also has a corner that sells some of the popular snack or even the green tea served. Do go for their Sencha (green tea with a delicate sweetness balanced by mild bitterness) or even the Genmaicha (very fragrant brew that is stronger than Sencha). If you love to crack some nuts, do try out the rattsu, peanuts coated with strawberry, coffee and matcha flavours!
Interestingly, IPPIN also allows children to have their art pieces on display!
What we like about IPPIN is that it is almost like a home. Apart from serving up a delicious warm meal, it is almost like a one-stop shop for Japanese or even the locals. There are even Japanese magazines available for diners to browse and even brochures highlighting some of the upcoming events! It is almost like a lifestyle restaurant itself!
The lady in green on the extreme right of the picture is the fine Chef who cooked us a sumptuous lunch!
Overall, we felt that the dishes were well suited to our palate with a homely touch. All prices listed are nett with no additional GST or service charge levied and keeping the prices wallet-friendly surely make it more attractive. With various ongoing promotions such as 1-for-1 Kirin beer during happy hour, we should be visiting sometime soon to try out their other dishes and sake!
Overall verdict: 7.5/10
IPPIN Cafe Bar
18 Mohamed Sultan Road
Singapore 238967
Tel: (65) 6733 4794
P.S: Special thanks to Hazel for the invitation and IPPIN for hosting us!
