About food in Japan

Bar Marche Kodama, a big but reasonable breakfast inside Shinagawa train station

JR Shinagawa station has one of the largest and the first full-fledged "eki-naka" (inside-station) commercial zone in Tokyo. The group of commercial facilities called "ecute Shinagawa" by JR East opened in 2005 and even after that it has been developped as expantion in 2011 and renovated the older area in late 2012.

Bar Marche Kodama is one of the newest units opened in a part of ecute Shinagawa in 2012. Kodama is originally a food processing company introducing processed meat products such as sausages, ham and bacon from Europe to Japan. At several locations, the company offers Italian and Spanish restaurants also in order to introduce their processed or imported products with nice wine or beer. Bar Marche Kodama is one of such unit where we can enjoy meat processed food of European style but inside one of the biggest terminal train station, JR Shinagawa, in Tokyo. A glass of wine or beer will be good to make you chill out on the way between your workplace and home, taking a rest and released from packed commute trains for a while during rush hour.

Another fantastic way to visit Bar Marche Kodama is breakfast time. From its opening at 8a.m. to 11a.m. the bar offers breakfast buffet at Yen600. It costs a bit more than breakfast set at fastfood restaurants such as McDonald or coffee shop chains like Starbucks. But the buffet breakfast is still much less expensive compared with the prices for buffet breakfast at many hotels. 

Well, what are provided for the buffet breakfast?

Sausages, meal pate, bacon, all are Kodama's products

olives, pickles, salad, a few diffrent kinds of bread,

minestrone soup with Kodama's bacon

The buffet also includes quiche, coffee and tea of course.  

 

 

When the weather is fine, take a table on outside terrace,

if you do not mind being in a smoking allowed zone.

 Stay away from hectic real world that can be

looked over the glass window or over the bar counter. 

Further more, Bar Marche Kodama provides alcohol drinks even from the morning hours. Of course it is out of buffet menu though. If your day-time schedule allows you, it will be the best beginning of a day to have the big buffet breakfast with a glass of beer or wine. 

 

After the fantastic breakfast hours until 11a.m., the station bar still opens until 22h on evening without a break. 

 

Restaurant name: Bar Marche Kodama

Address: ecute Shinagawa, 3-26-27 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo

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Restaurant Pachon (Michelin *), French, Daikanyama Tokyo

Restaurant Pachon is situated in Daikanyama (代官山) which is just one stop from Shibuya. The town Daikanyama may be not well known among international tourists, while it is known for independent fashion boutiques visited by young people who would like to catch up with the latest trends.

The Montpellier-born chef, Monsieur Andre Pachon, has run the upscale French restaurant Restaurant Pachon  as its owner chef at Daikanyama, Tokyo for almost 30 years since 1984. We could say that he is one of the pioneers who introduced authentic French cuisine in Japan. As Restaurant Pachon maintains Michelin star (*), his fine French cuisine is appreciated by local people even this modern day when so many Japanese cook have leant in France and a plenty of French restaurants from casual bistro to luxury exist in Tokyo.

Let us tell you the experience at such established French restaurant by French owner-chef.

After we were welcomed by the receptionists, beautiful antique-taste plates were waiting for us on a table. The interior decoration is quite classic as if we were invited to a traditional "manor-house" in Europe. If your visit is in Winter, a "real" fireplace will also welcome you. It is rare to be found in Japan. 

We ordered a lunch course with starter, soup, main dish and dessert and some wine...

 

Starter, carpaccio of mackerel

It's interesting to try fish Aji(鯵, mackerel) which is often used in Japanese cuisine but not so often in French. As same with green beans served as amuse-bouche, the plate remind us Spring season.  

Main dish, Cassoulet in Aude Pays Cathare (for 2 people)

It is a specialty of Restauran Pachon as well as traditional cuisine of Languedoc region in South France. It is cooked meat and beans in a traditional earth pot. All ingredients are well cooked in the traditional cooking tool and it has very soft texture. It is a good choice especially in Winter, as it keeps our body warm.

 

After such traditional and authentic French plate, we were also delighted by beautiful spring colors. 

Seasonal Dessert,

roll cake with yuzu (Japanese citron) cream and mango flavor ice cream

 

After the joy of citrus flavour, we also enjoyed a few pieces of petite fleure. 

 

In addition to historic French dish like Cassoulet, as the proof of his long experience in Japan, the chef is good at taking Japanese ingredients in his work at the Michelin-awarded French restaurant. What we tasted and visually what we saw all surely has the value for the restaurant guide's evaluation.

 

Restaurant name: Restaurant Pachon

Address: Hillside Terrace B, 29-18 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.pachon.co.jp

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Le Bourguignon, French

Happy New Year 2013!!!

 

Upscale French cuisine is actually a food category which we recommend to try in Tokyo, after Japanese meals. Some of you may think WHY French in Japan? But it is true that Tokyo is a city where we can have the highest standard of French cuisine. The quality may be the best outside the origin country, France. We know even a few (or more?) people say that French cuisine in Tokyo is the best in the world.

 

Let us tell you why French restaurants in Tokyo are so good?...  For decades, a lot of Japanese cooks with ambitious have work experience at upscale French restaurants in France to horn their cooking skills. On the other hand, due to their good hands (dexterity) and diligence, Japanese cooks are very welcomed by French restaurant owners and top chefs. Now some of Japanese cooks take important positions in kitchen of upscale French restaurants in France. Again some of them come back to Tokyo and demonstrate their skills acquired in the origin country. People in Tokyo are very eager to taste the best dishes including authentic French cuisine. Restaurants are expected to keep satisfying such guests. As the result, as Michelin Guide's evaluation, Tokyo is one of the best gourmet city in the world and it is not only for Japanese cuisine but also for French and other types of meals. 

 

Well today's our recommendation Le Bourguignon is also one of such restaurants appreciated by local food lovers as authentic French cuisine in Tokyo.

 

Le Bourguignon is located in Roppongi and is just a few hundreds meters from Roppongi Hills and Grand Hyatt Tokyo hotel.

 

Both the exterior and interior with around 20 seats are so lovely in romantic European style. It looks like a "petite hotel" in a small village of France. That makes us escaping from our daily hectic life.

 

 

 

This time, we ordered a full-course dinner at the least expensive price Yen 5500 per person for starter/fish/meat/dessert. The quality and ingredients are much exceeded our expectation.

We introduce a few plates from the course dinner. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boudin noir (black sausage with blood of pork) with two kinds of apple

 

Some people, including Japanese, mind the strong flavor from blood sausage. Boudin noir at Le Bourguigon is totally different from others. The black piece never brings such strong wild scent but is cooked in sophisticated style by the skilled chef. We can recommend even to those who usually would not like to take boudin noir. 

 

 

Yezo deer in pie with truffle sauce

Classic French style. Normally such expensive ingredients like truffle can not be expected for the least expensive dinner course. Here we can. 

 

 

Red pepper pudding with vanilla ice cream

 

We could never imagine "red pepper" pudding!! It is one of the chef's specialty. Sweet pudding with a bit spicy flavor is interesting and delicate dessert.     

 

  

We were really satisfied with the quality, volume and also price of the dinner course, having felt like we were in France not in Japan.

 

To tell the truth, Michelin Guide has not awarded a start to the restaurant for their guidbook 2013 version. But we are sure that Le Bourguignon is still one of the most recommendable French restaurant in Tokyo. It has good value for the authentic French cuisine.

 

 

**************** UPDATE  December 2013 ****************

 

Pleased to tell you,

Michelin Guide has awaeded 1-star to Le Bourguignon for 2014 version!!

 

**************************************************************

 

Restaurant name: Le Bourguignon

Address: 3-3-1 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo

 

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Hideaway with exotic flavor - Rigoletto Short Hills

In Tokyo, it is not only Japanese restaurants where we can expect high quality meal or good value experience. Today here we introduce a fancy and exotic choice which is popular among local younger clientele, late 20's to around 30's.

Rigoletto is a group of stylish restaurants which are known for high standard service with personal touch. One of their unit, Rigoletto Short Hills, is located in Nakameguro (中目黒) which is two stops from Shibuya (渋谷) or one stop from Ebisu (恵比寿). As our previous post about an Italian restaurant, Icaro with a Michelin star, Nakameguro is an interesting gourmet town where popular restaurants gather from casual to ones with Michelin star. Rigoletto Short Hills is one of such interesting choices in the town.

     

The concept of  Rigoletto Short Hills is "Moroccan Tapas and Bar", standing in calm residential area of Nakameguro. It might be more sophisticated and modern than ordinary Moroccan restaurants. 

Even though their Tagine pot becomes so popular in Japan for last few years, Moroccan concept is not so familiar among Japanese and many feel exotic atmosphere from it. The discreet appealing of Moroccan flavor decoration may be more comfortable for many locals.

  

After going through the entrance door on the ground floor, we found open-style kitchen in modern atmosphere with high tables and chairs. 

On the second floor, library-like interior in monotone colors is chic. 

On another side, we can find a beautiful white wall in Arabic style.   

Depending on the group of guests, from a couple to a small group of 4 to 6 people or around, the restaurant will provide an appropriate type of table. 

 

In addition to Tagine, must-item for Moroccan restaurant, the restaurant offers Rigoletto restaurant's regular, Napolitan pizza and pasta. 

Bagna Cauda - vegetable plates with anchovy paste

It also has some Spanish taste like Iberico raw ham or tapas collection. 

What makes Rigoletto different from others and popular is the tapas menu available at Yen 300 and Yen 500 per plate. The price is unbelievable considering the fancy atmosphere and service. 

The mix of Moroccan and European tastes give us fun to enjoy several from the wide choices. It will be better to share a table by around 4 of nice friends or family rather than just a couple, so you can order more plates to share.

 

The alcohol selection is also fantastic as same with the tapas. That will make you happier.   

Majority of wine bottles are at Yen 2500 and plenty choices of cocktail and other alcohol drinks are also available.

 

It is not easy for ladies to select just one from the attractive choices. Definitely we can't leave without having more than a glass per person. 

Have a happy moment at the exotic hideaway with nice food & drink, and attntive service, but at reasonable price!

Restaurant name: Rigoletto Short Hills

Address: 1-2-13 Nakameguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.rigoletto.jp

Recommendable lunch options at Tokyo Bigsight area

In our two previous posts as the feature of this month October 2012, we picked up two nice restaurants with each unique value. 

For those who have not checked them, here we post the links for these two restaurants.

1. Kagaya(加賀屋), a fine Japanese restaurant - Tokyo Bigsight area

 - Upscale Japanese restaurant operated by a famous luxury Ryokan (Japanese traditional inn) in Wakura Onsen, Hokuriku.  

2. Mexico, seafood restaurant - Tokyo Bigsight area

- Casual restaurant offering Western style dishes with fine Japanese seafood.

 

At the end of the month, we would like to add a few more lunch options for Tokyo Bigsight visit  briefly.

3. Akitsu, western style buffet

Sometimes, you might not be able to reach consensus on what to eat with your accommpanying people. Tired with Japanese food? but what to have, pasta, steak or some vegetable dishes? still miss Japanese taste a little? or just hungry?

In that case, we recommend a buffet style restaurant Akitsu. It is a typical and casual restaurant that everyone can imagine as a Western style buffet service.

The buffet menu offers mainly Italian pasta and variety of small side dishes from Western meat plate to Japanese cooked vegetable. Try some unfamilar dishes or take some vege plates to keep your health balance. 

Don't miss to take some nice pieces of bread there too, because the restaurant's owner is a baker doing wholesale of its high quality products to some hotels. 

 

Restaurant name: Akitsu

Address: 2nd floor, Wanza Ariake Bay Mall East Wing, 3-1 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo

*5 minutes walk from Tokyo Bigsight

Official site in Japanese: http://www.akitsu-tft.com

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 4. Blend Meister Cafe

The German inspired cafe (as name shown) is on the ground floor of Sunroute Ariake Hotel. It is also a five minute walk from Tokyo Bigsight as well as the nearest station behind Panasonic Center.

The price less than Yen 1000 for lunch set is not expensive like a typical cafe accommodated in a hotel but the cozy blight space is comfortable as much as some space like a typical hotel lounge etc. We understand that the cafe is often busy with business people working in the area for lunch time 12h-13h during weekday. 

The lunch set is quite typical for business people in Tokyo. It offers Western style pasta or meat, fish plates as maindish with green salad side dish and self-service free drink and soup.

Need to be mentioned is that the cafe is pround of the skilled "barista" serving the best quality of coffee.           

In the international convention area, it is also a scarce option that brings you relaxing time with familiar choices and taste.

For evening time, the cafe promotes some selections of prize-awarded draft beer. So it can be used to chill out after the convention visit before going back to central area. 

 

Restaurant name: Blend Meister Cafe

Address: Hotel Sunroute 1st floor, 3-6-6 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo

Website in English: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/e730404/lang/en/

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Mexico, seafood restaurant - Tokyo Bigsight area

The second recommendation for lunch at Tokyo Bigsight visit is an unique seafood restaurant, "Mexico", followed the first post on early this month, Kagaya(加賀屋), a fine Japanese restaurant - Tokyo Bigsight area. As you can recognize, the name in alphabet represents the central American country. It is pronounced as "me-hi-ko" (メヒコ) in Japanese and for Japanese that does not sound to be a Mexican restaurant at least. We are not sure where the name comes from but anyway, it is not a Mexican restaurant but is one featuring Western style plates with Japanese high quality seafood.

We never know about the restaurant till we found it near Tokyo Bigsight. It has over 30 years presence as a seafood restaurant chain in Tohoku region, offering good quality fresh seafood like crab from the local region at reasonable price. In Tokyo, only two units serve in this convention center area and Asakusa. 

Apart from the fresh seafood, another unique point of the restaurant is casual and resort like interior with large rattan funiture set and water tank creating atmosphere like an aquarium. It can be regarded as a bit upper scale family restaurant. You do not have to be uncomfortable even with young kids.

Well about food, their specialty is variety of crab dishes. The most popular menu, pilaf (flavored rice) is offered with choices of size and with-shell or without.

 

Traditional Mexico fried rice with crab meat (メヒコピラフ)

My pilaf rather simple

ordinary size and crab meat without shell

 

Other seafood selections on the menu include sea urchin pilaf, starter dishes with crab meat, steamed Zuwai Kani(ズワイガニ, Snow crab) and Taraba Kani (タラバガニ, King crab), seafood tempura etc. With the long years as seafood cooking professional, the restaurant knows the best way to cook each ingredient. 

 

 

Crab guts  (紅ズワイ蟹のカニ味噌)

served along with fresh meat

is another distinguishing crab menu.  

 

Even in this gourmet city Tokyo, it is rare to find such wide selections of fine seafood plates.

Your object of travel to enjoy fresh high quality seafood in Japan may be accomplished at Mexico near Tokyo Bigsight area, even you do not have so much time to go around central Tokyo.

Don't miss the chance!

 

Mexico has English menu and opens without break through lunch to dinner time.

Its regular close day is Monday.

 

Restaurant name: Mexico (メヒコ)

Address: 2nd floor Ariake Park Building, 3-7-11 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo

*5minutes walk from Tokyo Bigsight and the building next to Washington Hotel

Official site in Japanese : http://www.mehico.com/shop/suizokukan3.html

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Nirvanam, best Indian restaurant in Tokyo, Kamiyacho (神谷町)

Indian cuisine was unfamilar for many of Japanese 10 years ago. But like in other countries, globalization has brought many Indian nationalities mainly for IT and financial industry to Japan for this several years.

Now we can find more and more Indian restaurants in Tokyo. We could find at least one Indian restaurant for each subway station area. Even in residential area, it is not rare to find one any more. So we already tried many Indian restaurants in Tokyo and many of them, prepared by chef coming from the origin country, are well enough.

But recently, we got recommendation from an Indian living in Tokyo for long years, in our network. So we assume that it is the best Indian restaurant selected by the nationality. The restaurant Nirvanam has already been spotted by Japanese local gourmet people in spite of the non-major location, Kamiyacho (神谷町).

Well, first about the town Kamiyacho, the subway station is on Hibiya line running through Ebisu, Roppongi, Hibiya, Ueno etc between noth to/from south in Tokyo. It is a calm business district locating one stop from night entertainment spot Roppongi and also not far from Tokyo Tower and a luxury Japanese brand hotel, Okura. Not many local people have a chance to visit the town, apart from those working in the area, because there is no commercial, art, leisure or tourist spots etc in surrouding area.

In the calm location, the Indian restaurant was filled with diners, when we visited on a weekday evening. It is on the second floor of a small multi-tenant building accommodating "Sukiya", a beef bowl fast food chain restaurant on the ground floor. 

Entering into the restaurant, we felt full sense of the South Asian country, welcomed by smiling Indian staff and local folk decoration everywhere.

As for the menu, a plenty of choices not only for curry categorised by Chicken, Mutton, Seafood and Vegetable, but also we did find for a kind of bread and crape, which are called "nan", the most familiar one for Japanese, "dosa", "poori" etc etc. We have never seen such variation for Indian bread and crape in Japan. Surely Nirvanam is an authentic Indian restaurant.

We selected two kinds of curry and two kinds of breads from the attractive list, after some thoughts, as followings...

 

Butter Chicken Currey (we believe it "typical" and our favourite) and

Mutton Stew cooked with mild coconuts sauce 

 

Both curry sauce are very rich and thick.

 

We have never had the richness. 

We soon agreed that this is the best Indian restaurant in Tokyo.

 

Also we tried bread menu which we have never head but is a specialty of Kerala state.

 

Kerala Porota (roll and layered bread)  

 each layer is well burned and crispy, while it is soft inside.

 

Another bread we tried

Cheese Nan

The taste is much better than we imagined.

 

One reason may be because it was served just after cooked and well heated. The tender cheese flavor is finely matched with tne soft nan dough. We wanna take a whole piece of the Cheese nan solely, even without curry sauce.

In other words, we love the unforgettable item!!

Again we confirmed that this is the best Indian restaurant in Tokyo.

 

After dinner, we ordered chai.

Chai is not rare item at Indian restaurans in Tokyo. But non of them, we visited, serves by such a traditional cup like this. It seems to be very traditional and authentic style.

Nirvanam offers buffet style meal for lunch and, course and a la carte for dinner.

All staff are Indian, as long as we saw. They are polite and friendly. 

Surely it is a quite recommendable restaurant in Tokyo, when you like to take Indian food.

We will come back here to try another kinds of curry and breads!! 

 

Restaurant name: Nirvanam 

Website: http://www.nirvanam.jp

Link to access information and map: http://www.nirvanam.jp/map

Nearest subway station: Kamiyacho (Hibiya line)

       

 

Wanoba Japanesque Bistro, Ebisu

Sometimes it's a bit difficult to categorize a restaurant into our cuisine type classification. Wanoba is one of them. This time we have marked it for both "Japanese casual" and "International cuisine".  

The restaurant Wanoba is named as "Japanesque Bistro" by itself. It takes "bistro" or French style casual restaurant with a bar counter and it offers plates as starter, main dish and dessert in casual atmosphere. The dishes are suit for sharing by two or more number of people and for having with a glass of wine.

Look at the menu list carefully and we found that the restaurant focuses on Japaneses ingredients or takes some Japanese flavour into their European style plates.

Let's see the examples we had with photos. Sorry the quality of photos are not perfect this time though.

 

Starter

Assortment of "Obanzai" (vegetable side dishes cooked in home-made style from Kyoto)

Cooked eggplants and cucumber with dashi stock soup (left in the photo)

and 

Cooked potato and minched tuna balls (right)

Both are well cooked into tender texture and flavour.

 

Our second dish

"Fried" pumpkin gnocchi with anchovy sauce

Sounds like Italian food totally?

Pumpkin (or squash) is also often used in Japanese cuisine.

The unique "fried" gnocchi is never oily as we had imagined.

It is crispy like "tempura".

 

Main dish

Rolled "Hyuga" chicken and "hakusai" (Chinese cabbege)

"Hyuga" from Miyazaki, Kyushu is a brand of good quality chicken.

Again the way of cooking is Western style but it features Japanese ingredients.

 

Another Pasta...

This is the dish we liked the most on this day.

Peperoncino spaghetti with "Edo-mae anago" (Edo style conger)

The simple and popular Italian pasta

arranged with the Japanese ingredient, grilled conger fish.

 

They are modern style of "East meets West"!! 

 So they will match well both with wine and Japanese sake or shochu (distilled sake).

It could be a good choice when you would like to have both Japanese and Western style food and think over between these two.

To be an important point, Wanoba aims to re-dicover and introduce the beauty and excellence of Japan. Not only through the ingredients, the modern Japanese style bistro also introduces Japanese fine tablewares and fixtures. It means plates, glass and lamps you can find at the restaurant are also selected Japanese craftworks from that point.

 

Wanoba is located in Ebisu, which is one stop from Shibuya by Yamanote-line. It is within walking distance from Westin Hotel Tokyo and is not far from Roppongi or Shinagawa by taxi.

Restaurant name: Wanoba

Address: 3-1-1 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Official site: http://www.wanoba.com 

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Bills, the best breakfast in the world

You may know Bill Granger's restaurant in Australia, which attracts celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio by "the best breakfast in the world".

Would you like to try the best breakfast in the world? Of course, yes maybe.

Well you can try one in Tokyo or Yokohama  !!

Actually Bills has more number of restaurants in Japan than in his based country, Australia. There are 4 Bills restaurants in Japan with which he felt "strong connection", as per their official homepage. 

Everytimes Bills opened its door in each location in Japan, we found the restaurant soon filled up with guests during morning and even for lunch and afternoon. We guess that makes him created more units in Japan. Here again it shows how much Japanese people like to seek the best meal and to try new arrival.

BIlls' first unit in Japan opened in Shichirigahama, Kamakura (七里ヶ浜、鎌倉), being on the location overlooking beach of Shichirigahama. The next one in Yokohama (横浜) is in "Red-brick warehouse" shopping complex, standing beside Yokohama Port. Then Bills opened two restaurants in Tokyo last year and this April; Odaiba (お台場) bayside and Omotesando (表参道).

Odaiba unit stands in Odaiba beach park, overlooking panoramic view of Tokyo central area over Tokyo bay. The newest Omotesando unit is in Tokyu Plaza Harajuku-Omotesando. It is not facing to beach or sea, but is still surrounded by another type of nature, trees.

All are in selected location that may be suitable even for celebrities' breakfast and all have some tables on terrace where a pet is allowed to be in. Restaurant inside has expansive and bright in white color and narutal taste in every location.

Well, we will show you what we had at Bills Yokohama.

The menu is actually exlclusive to Yokohama unit.

 

Very berry pancake!! with berry butter.

  
Dish filled with berry flavour and the pancake is imaginably fluffy. 

In other units, still we can find another flavour of fine pancakes and other attractive menu such as fruit muffin, banana & chocolate bread, scramble eggs, and ausie breakfast set.

Bills provides different menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Even for dinner, it offers the pancake menu as dessert. 

 

Restaurant name: Bills

<Yokohama>

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Building 2, 1-1-2 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama-city, Kanagawa    

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<Omotesando>

 Address: 7th floor, Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku, 4-30-3 Jingu-mae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

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<Odaiba>

Address: 3rd floor Seaside Mall, 1-6-1 Daiba, Minato-Ku, Tokyo

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<Shichirigahama, Kamakura>

Address: 2nd floor Weekend House Alley, 1-1-1 Shichirigahama, Kamakura, Kanagawa

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What local foodies of Tokyo eat and where?

As we mentioned at the interview by Around Tokyo, not only for Japanese meal but also for French, Italian and other international cuisines, what are provided at luxury restaurants in Tokyo may be the second best after each their original countries'. In Tokyo not a few locals always seek something new and tasty experiences and that makes restaurants in Tokyo keep challenging and improving.
The situation results in the fact that Michelin restaurant guide has awarded the most number of stars to the Japan's capital. Now it is regarded as the best gourmet city in the world.

Well we guess that some of you are curious what and where foodies in Tokyo enjoy as their dining experience. This is a good example to introduce one of the answeres. Please let us show you an experience by About food in Japan site owner with her gourmet fellows. 

Italian restaurant Icaro is about 5 minutes walk from Nakameguro station through a good-old-days shopping street running parallel to Tokyu train line. Nakameguro is two stops from Shibuya by the Tokyu Toyoko line , being to be a popular residential town for locals. One reason of the town's popularity may be because tens of nice restaurants exist in the area. Many of such good restaurants in Nakameguro vary from casual Izakaya, like "Nakame no teppen" as our post on this April, to a Michelin star restaurant like Icaro, today's feature. Most of them have relatively small capacity and are operated by individual owner(s) rather than by a major chain. 

Well, about Icaro, the Italian restaurant has a Michein star and features local cuisines of North Italy. The restaurant is run by two brothers one working as the chef and his elder brother serves to diners as the manager. In addition to Michelin red guide, the restaurant is also highly evaluated by users of the Japanese most popular gourmet site "Tabe-log".   

 

Here, we show you a part of what we enjoyed at Icaro.

Artistic presentation of

Confit of saury ("samma" さんま),

the "icon" fish of autumn in Japan

with melting Italian cheese is topped on eggplants. 

 

Tartare of fresh horse meat

 

We shared 2 starters and 3 pasta plates by 3 people.

It was really a hard decision to select these 5 among their attractive seasonal choices on the menu. Actually we dropped main dish meat to have 3 kinds of pasta menu.

 

Taliatelle of girolle mushroom, house-made sausage,

thin slices of summer truffle on top

 

And their specialty pasta is...

Pappardelle with ragout of Yezo deer meat 

The pasta is finely soft and

the ragout is well salted to be matched with red wine.

 

 

The restaurant's owners have collected wine from Italy and other parts of the world even before the restaurant's opening and they store the wine at their own celler in the restaurant. The collection and reasonable prices considering the quality keeps attracting wine lovers for dining at Icaro.

We agree with a star awarded to Icaro, considering the quality of food and wine. As some local foodies found, actually not so many good Italian restaurants obtained a star from Michelin.

If you would, it is worth trying a good Italian restaurant like Icaro once in Tokyo. 

 

Restaurant name: ICARO
Address: 4th floor, COMS Nakameguro bld. 2-44-24 Kami-Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Official website: http://www.icaro-miyamoto.com

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