[Food & Technology] Panasonic Factory Solutions Asia Pacific & Ootoya Singapore collaborates for fresh locally harvested vegetables
I was just marveling at what benefits technology brings into our lives, when there again, I have another piece of good news for consumers.
If you love Japanese food, you would know Ootoya, located on level 8 of Orchard Central. I must say that Ootoya is one of the few authentic, pioneer Japanese restaurants in Singapore back then, before the Japanese food craze and increasing influx of Japanese restaurants. Of course, all these spell good news for consumers with more selections.
However, we can still count on Ootoya for some superior quality and home-cooked Japanese style at reasonable prices whenever the craving comes. Don't we?
However, we can still count on Ootoya for some superior quality and home-cooked Japanese style at reasonable prices whenever the craving comes. Don't we?
This time round, what's so exciting is their partnership with Panasonic Factory Solutions Asia Pacific (Panasonic). Now, do you even know that Panasonic deals with agriculture?
We often have the mindset of Panasonic as an electrical, IT kind of brand name right? Who knows they have a stake in food produce as well? Apparently they do. Fresh out from Panasonic's indoor agriculture farm, right here in Singapore, they will be delivering fresh vegetables to Ootoya daily!
Now that's new~
In land scarce Singapore where only 8% of vegetables consumed are grown in local farms, Panasonic aims to contribute to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority's (AVA) vision of raising self-sufficiency level for leafy vegetables through its technology and harvest.
We have directors to address to us on this exciting new partnership:
Hideki Baba, Managing Director, Panasonic Factory Solutions Asia Pacific (middle), Hisami Mitsumori, Chairman, Ootoya Holdings ( nearest to camera) and Alfred Tham,Manager Agricultural Business Unit, Panasonic Factory Solutions Asia Pacific. ( furthest end).
The motive behind this technology is simple. With over 90% of the food consumed in Singapore being imported, Panasonic hopes the indoor vegetable farm can contribute to the nation’s food self-sufficiency levels and provide a better life through improved food quality.
The 248m2 indoor agriculture facility currently produces 10 types of vegetables – green and red leafy lettuce, mizuna (potherb mustard), mini red and white radish, rocket lettuce, basil, ooba (mint herb), mitsuba (wild parsley) and baby spinach. Both leafy and root vegetables.
Currently, Panasonic supplies on average, 0.3 tonnes of vegetables to all three Ootoya outlets in the country per month – Changi City Point, Clementi Mall and Orchard Central.
The company aims to double this amount in the next two years and consumers can look forward to fresher, crunchier and delicious pesticide-free home-grown vegetables at Ootoya.
Okay so are you curious about how the veggies taste like? We had a chance to preview the NEW seasonal salad menu Ootoya will be launching in mid-August . Featuring Panasonic vegetables and available across the three restaurants in Singapore (Orchard Central, Changi City Point and Clementi Mall).
First up, Homemade tofu salad with sesame dressing, S$4.50.
Ingredients: Mini red radish, red leafy lettuce, mizuna (potherb mustard) and home-made tofu, served with flavourful, healthy Japanese style sesame dressing. Light on the tastebud, the tofu was a surprise as the texture was different and its texture was somewhat similar to beancurd!
Of course, with the crunchy radish and lettuce this makes a good appetizer. The sesame dressing was fragrant yet not overly thick, like those steamboat sesame sauce you get. This is different and my favorite.
Salad roll with bagna dressing, S$4
Ingredients: Mini red radish, red leafy lettuce and mizuna (potherb mustard) wrapped in rice paper, served with a typical Italian style dip made from anchovies, fresh cream, milk and garlic.
Eat your way to better health with high-quality crops through the best eco agricultural practices for indoor urban farming right here in Singapore.
I can't stress enough how sweet and fresh the lettuce were.
Together with the newly created sauce, it was a simple joy to tuck in all.
Shrimp salad with aurora dressing, S$4
ingredients: Mini red radish, red leafy lettuce, mizuna (potherb mustard) and shrimps, served with creamy dressing made from bell pepper and tomatoes drizzled with freshly squeezed lemon juice which enhances vegetable and shrimp flavour.
This small salad in a cup is simple, no fuss with shrimps which brings out the freshness of the salad. A very unique creamy dressing brings out another level of enhancement to this dish. Deliciously refreshing.
Committed to design and develop indoor agricultural solutions to meet market demand for sustainable production of locally-harvested crops, you can enjoy ready supplies of veggies right at Ootoya, through Panasonic's eco agriculture.
Lastly, I bring you the Bonito salad with vegetable dressing S$5.
Ingredients: Mini red radish, red leafy lettuce, mizuna (potherb mustard), bonito or katsuobushi (dried, fermented and smoked skipjack tuna), served with Ootoya’s original tangy dressing made from tiny sliced onion, bell pepper, lemon juice and olive oil.
Can't wait? Go try them out for yourselves.
Special treats right at the end of the post.
The flakes that often accompanies takoyaki aka Katsuobushi, goes really well with this huge bowl of salad. If you are in the mood for some non-creamy and tanginess, similar to thai style, then this is your choice.
Of course with the seasonal salads served, it's time to move on to the main courses.
I adore fish and the Hokke Set came as a straightforward choice. This set comes with a range of sides such as rice, mash potato, chawanmushi, miso soup, seaweed.
I adore fish and the Hokke Set came as a straightforward choice. This set comes with a range of sides such as rice, mash potato, chawanmushi, miso soup, seaweed.
Here's the charcoal grilled Hokke aka Mackerel in all its golden glory.
Fish was really fresh and lightly seasoned with salt to bring out the natural sweetness of the fish. Flesh was thick. One word- Awesome.
Another set we tried was the Pork Belly Shiokouji.
All these main courses are already on Ootoya's menu.
Well marinated pork belly with Shio Koji sauce~~ Chewy and tender.
Here's a little treat for you! Flash the image at Ootoya and redeem the free Kirin/ dessert when you purchase a main course.
Enjoy and head on to Ootoya to try out the fresh, locally produced veggies made into delicious salads launching in mid-August ~~
Enjoy and head on to Ootoya to try out the fresh, locally produced veggies made into delicious salads launching in mid-August ~~
See you!
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