Produced by NexGenEats Pty Ltd.

 

The Australian Coeliac September 2008

 

 

 

S.Komatsu-A Birthday Treat

With much trepidation I made a booking at S. Komatsu in East Melbourne fearing another disappointment ahead. Surprise! Can you imagine having entrée, main and desserts totally gluten free, lactose free, excess fructose free and preservative free? Can you imagine being able to reach across and taste food from your partner's plate?
Can you imagine delicious food, beautifully presented and wonderful service - all stress-free?

We were the only customers on Saturday night. Why? The owner thinks people are scared to eat out or have experienced 'intolerance-free' venues that are not sufficiently 'intolerance-free' at all!

All roads lead to Wellington Parade, East Melbourne for us from now on.

Robyn McTier/Wheelers Hill Vic

 

The Age epicure Tuesday September 09, 2008
COVER STORY

NO GLUTEN AHEAD

Eating out can be challenging for those with food intolerances but Carolyn Holbrook discovers there are places to go.
...........

When they told me I was a coeliac... I thought life wasn't worth living. MARGARET GRINTON
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Japanese food is a reliable choice for the gluten-intolerant. ...................while Grinton's favourite Melbourne restaurant is S. Komatsu in East Melbourne, where the whole menu is gluten and lactose-free, and in the downstairs bistro every ingredient of every dish is listed on the menu.

S. Komatsu East Melbourne
All dishes are free of gluten and lactose, and contain minimal amounts of fructose. Downstairs serves an unusual combination of Western and Asian dishes, such as lasagne, goulash and teriyaki pizza; while upstairs is more formal Japanese. Visit nexgeneats.com/s.komatsu.

 

 

	2008 Awards for Excellence Specialty Cuisine Restaurant Finalist: S.Komatsu - Melbourne

 

In January 2008 we received the following letter from a customer:

I LOVE the Tompoi Sauce. So far I have used it as a ketchup at a BBQ, as a stir through with a salad, when cooking seafood and as a dipping sauce. I have been using is very sparingly since we only had the one bottle but the taste is wonderful.
It tastes very different whenever I use it, for example, as a dipping sauce all of the different flavors come out. It is astrong taste, sweet but still with a punch. When I cook it somehow the taste changes. Oh, we have used it as a pizza sauce. It was fantastic because it took over the taste of the Gluten Free wrap that we used. I really would like to get my hands on some more but as your husband may have told you, we live down on the Peninsula.　
Do you intend on putting it on the market? If so, there is a Gluten Free store in Mornington that I shop at that would probably love to sell your sauce. As you know the foods that cater for Fructose intolerant people are very sparse, no one seems to make anything specifically for that. Until your sauce does hit stores is
there any way we could purchase maybe about 6 more bottles? How long will it keep in the fridge???

We are really looking forward to visiting the restaurant again. After our meals on Saturday we are very keen on trying your other dishes. I love that you have the variety of the Dinning Room and the Bistro. We can't wait to taste the food from the Bistro, if it's anything like the food we had upstairs then no doubt we will be raving to friends and family about that meal too!!!!

We meant to tell your husband on the night that the waitress who was serving us was fantastic too! She was the MOST helpful and delightful waitress that we have come across including restaurants we have been to around the world. So, congratulations on a wonderful restaurant and a terrific staff!
Kind Regards,
Cassandra

Thank YOU, Cassandra!

 

Good Food Guide 2008

S. Komatsu
Food intolerance-friendly Japanese

S. Komatsu makes the extraordinary claim that it's one-of-a-kind, not only in Melbourne, but the world. That is, a top-flight restaurant dedicated to those with food intolerances: its gluten-free, lactose-free and 'fructose-friendly'. Owner Aki Urokohara once ran a sushi restaurant in Tokyo's tourist hub, Roppongi, but was motivated by the plight of his coeliac disease-suffering cousin, who couldn't eat there. In 2006, where Glaze, Toey's and countless other restaurants have come and gone, he opened S. Komatsu, a pristine restaurant fitted out in sparkling stainless steel, black carpet, black leather banquettes and linen-covered tables. Catering for people who must avoid most restaurants is laudable. Claiming the food tastes as good as any other smart eatery is brave.  The verdict? Some dishes succeed, some don't. Hits include a bowl of pipis and wilted spinach in a rich walnut sauce; tangy tempura enoki mushrooms; and grilled king prawn doused in a béchamel made from sake. Misses: a teriyaki chicken folded into cubes of zucchini and carrot approaches outright blandness, and a deep-fried oyster is drowned in a coating of crackly sesame seeds. Very niche. 

 

eg Entertainment Guide Friday June 29, 2007

S. Komatsu.  Serving "modern Japanese cuisine" (and then some), S. Komatsu is a coeliac's dream with all meals entirely free from gluten and lactose. A winner with the gluten and lactose intolerant date and those partial to oriental fare.

 

The Australian Coeliac.  June 2007

In the December 2006 edition of The Australian Coeliac, on page 50, was an advertisement for the restaurant S. Komatsu, 62 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne ph: 03 9415 7266. I decided that I had to visit this restaurant while in Melbourne. They advertised that they are "the only restaurant in the world to create an absolutely 100% gluten free, lactose free, fructose friendly menu for your dining pleasure!" I had no idea that they served modern Japanese cuisine, but I was thoroughly in awe of what they have done. Every choice is gluten free, with no explanation necessary, nor fear of contamination. There are over 20 entrees, and almost 20 main courses which include lasagne, pizza, risotto, steak, seafood, vegetarian and chicken dishes, all presented with modern Japanese flair. I would like to urge all readers, especially those in Melbourne to patronise this restaurant. You will not be disappointed!

 

Herald Sun, Friday March 9, 2007

Tuck in:  the menu at S. Komatsu is a match made in heaven for those with coeliac disease.
Here's pasta without the pain.

The entire menu at the stylish new restaurant S. Komatsu is gluten-free and lactose-free. And that includes lasagnas, pizzas and carbonaras.
"Our customers say it gives them a headache because there is so much to choose from. At other restaurants they get only one or two dishes to choose from," owner Aki Urokohara says.

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