CELEBRITY CHEF
A fish called
Crispy amadai fish with eggplant and sea urchin
Whitegrass Head Chef Takuya Yamashita pays tribute to the ocean with this crispy, mouth-watering dish.
“I
’m from Nara Prefecture and I have a profound reverence for nature and an unwavering respect for produce. I like using French culinary techniques to bring out the original flavours and characteristics of each ingredient, and I have a deep knowledge about Japanese ingredients, fish and produce. Apart from making sure that my diners are satisfied with the good food and impeccable service from our team, I believe the most important thing is to share moments with them to make it extra
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memorable. I will always come out from the kitchen to meet my guests and tell them more about my nature-inspired cuisine and the food stories that go with this. I source many of the ingredients used at Whitegrass from the farmers and fishermen in my hometown of Nara. I enjoy educating diners on how vegetables are grown with special care, how the different seasons and climates affect food sources, and so on. I work with sous chef Nawata Kohei whose background in Chinese cuisine adds
interesting input to our incredible seasonal menu. We decided to use amadai, a type of tilefish, in our featured dish, and we wanted to present it at its best. We had to ensure its taste and texture go well with the other condiments so that we can retain its purest original flavour. Amadai is unique because its scales can be eaten. Choosing the right size of fish is important because we have to pour hot oil over the fish repeatedly until the scales are fried perfectly and turn crispy. If the fish is too small, it is overcooked easily. My strength lies in how I have a deep understanding of fish. I also have good connections. Every day, I call my supplier directly at a wet market in Fukuoka to order the right size of fish. They always send over the best fish to us at Whitegrass!
TEXT DENYSE YEO MAIN PHOTO AND PHOTO OF TAKUYA YAMASHITA RAYMOND TOH/VINEYARD PRODUCTION OTHER PHOTOS WHITEGRASS, 123RF, JNTO
AMADAI
