Philippine Sports and Entertainment Portal Online

June 21, 2009 -- Nama Sakana Restaurant has successfully brought the unique and exciting flavors of authentic Japanese fusion cuisine to the Philippines with the recent launch of its first restaurant in the country. Located at the ground floor of the Fox Square Building in Greenhills, the upscale restaurant promises to indulge its customers with delectable specialty dishes—all of which are at par with the acclaimed recipes of internationally renowned Nobu restaurants.

Nama Sakana, Nihongo for “raw fish”, will offer authentic Japanese dishes fused with Peruvian, European, and American cuisine.  Moreover, these gourmet creations will be prepared by world-class chef Rolando Ongcoy, an experienced culinary artist that has previously collaborated with the Nobu Restaurants in New York, Tokyo, London, Hong Kong, Australia and other parts of the world. Ongcoy has prepared Japanese fusion dishes for celebrities and other prominent personalities such as Madonna, David and Victoria Beckham, Sir Elton John, John Travolta, and even the first family of Egypt.

“Japanese cuisine is a very tricky and unique genre of cooking, especially when fused with other techniques from various parts of the world. That is why we have teamed up with a chef that has proven his skills in preparing Japanese fusion dishes for the world’s most discriminating guests,” says Nacy Nocom,  co-owner of Nama Sakana Restaurant. The collaboration helped the restaurant create a lineup of Nobu-style dishes that are further improved by the chef’s personally concocted flavors and spices.

“As a fusion chef, I believe that the best dishes come from exploring all cooking techniques. That is why I consulted French, Italian, and other kinds of cuisines in order to come up with unique and palatable dishes for Nama Sakana,” shares Ongcoy. The chef also divulged that Nama Sakana will only use the finest ingredients, a number of which will have to be imported from other parts of the world. These include first-class gindara (codfish) from Canada and Yellowfin tuna and other special sauces from Japan.

Ongcoy’s culinary expertise will be most apparent in creations such as the Yellowtail Jalapeño, a spicy and mouthwatering variation of authentic Japanese sashimi seasoned with jalapeños and other spices that are characteristic of Peruvian cuisine. Other promising treats from Ongcoy also include Nama Sakana’s trademark Sashimi Salad with Seared Tuna, Beef Tobanyaki, and Rock Shrimp with Three Sauces. The chef will also take charge of operating Nama Sakana’s state-of-the-art sushi bar, a specialized restaurant facility that will also showcase an appetizing lineup of sushi with special toppings made personally by Ongcoy and his team.

Nama Sakana is open Monday through Sunday to serve lunch, light meals and dinner from 11:00AM to 1:00AM.  Guests who want to enjoy some music after dining at Nama Sakana will also enjoy the restaurant’s proximity to the 522 music lounge, which is located at the 2nd floor. Open from 5:00PM to 2:00AM, 522 is a KTV bar that offers a wide array of songs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. For reservations and inquiries, interested parties may call 726-7266.