Less than a week of joining Confirm Good’s editorial team, I am tasked to cover my first media invite to Cafe Nesuto’s first outlet in ION Orchard.
In the midst of the high-end brand stores, better known as a shopper’s heaven, sits Cafe Nesuto. Its relaxing yet classy ambience is accompanied by satisfied customers wolfing down different dishes available on the menu.
At the sight of the dishes, my heart sank with fear. Professionally, this is not my first media invitation, as I used to coordinate various media publications on behalf of my former clients.
Now, with the tables already turnt, I was engulfed by the anxiousness and fear of failing to meet the team’s expectations, despite the encouragement showered by the loving team.
Moreover, I am an exceptionally picky eater, where the moment I sense the slightest fishiness, gaminess, or griminess in my food, my taste buds overwhelm me, and the food remains half eaten.
My palate is intolerant due to my mom’s comforting home-cooked dishes. Yet, determination and drive were all I knew as I strode into the cafe, with confidence, alongside another co-worker to brave through the dishes.
Alicia, the founder of Cafe Nesuto, greeted us warmly and walked us through the menu. Instantaneously, I was mesmerised by the backstory of each dish and how they were curated and executed in the hands of passionate chefs.
For the savoury dishes, we started with the Braised Miso Chicken Leg (S$24), 24-hour Braised Beef Short Ribs (S$38) and the House-Cured Salmon Eggs Benedict (S$25).
The Braised Miso Chicken Leg blew my mind immediately with the slew of textures and tastes swirling on my palate. From the crunchiness of the Genmai, a Japanese brown rice green tea, to the tenderness of the chicken meat, the experience felt like a firework of flavours bursting in my mouth.
Coupled with the flowy miso sake cream sauce blending with the creamy mashed potatoes, the whole experience had me checking if I was in Singapore or Japan.
The next contender was the House-Cured Salmon Eggs Benedict, which I had low expectations for. Due to the salmon, I was afraid of the subtle piscine taste and the slight sulfur taste from the runny eggs.
However, I was proven wrong yet again when I was surprised by the strong yuzu taste that was infused in the runny egg, which overrode any of the pungent or sulfur taste commonly known in eggs. Furthermore, the yuzu infused runny eggs harmonise with the salmon so well that I could not detect any piscine, fishy taste at all.
Once we had our fill of the savoury dishes, we were both excited to try Vanilla French Toast with Maple & Seasonal Fruit (S$16) and Banana Cream Pie Soft Serve Parfait (S$15), especially since I have the biggest sweet tooth in the Confirm Good team.
Right off the bat, the Vanilla French Toast with Maple & Seasonal Fruit did an amazing job of balancing the sweetness from the fresh strawberries and sourness from the vanilla chantilly. Topped with the crispy yet soft brioche toast, the texture mix was surprisingly savoury and not overwhelmingly sweet.
However, the French Toast could not win over the Banana Cream Pie Soft Serve Parfait, which was the sweetest, milkiest, richest dessert I’ve ever had the privilege to try.
The soft serve is concocted from milk supplied by Narita Dream Farm, a dairy farm based in Tokyo, Japan, which explains why the parfait won my heart easily, as I am a sucker for high-quality dairy goods.
Adding on to the Japanese milk, the miso cream, fresh bananas, chocolate streusel, and pie sticks mingled excellently well together, to a point where we were both addicted to the parfait more than the French toast itself.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed myself at my first media invite. Cafe Nesuto knows how not to disappoint and win over my picky eater’s heart. From Alicia’s storytelling, the presentation of the dishes, to falling in love with all the dishes with every bite, Cafe Nesuto has the heart and soul infused across their entire menu.
Personally, I would order the Braised Miso Chicken Leg and Banana Cream Pie Soft Serve Parfait again when I get the chance to return with my friends.
Or you can join me for the second round at Cafe Nesuto soon!
Cafe Nesuto
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📍 2 Orchard Turn, Level 4, #04-27, 32 ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
🕒 10am–10pm
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Photos by Jae-Eryana Fitri
