About food in Japan

Mifune Gochiso Izakaya, Ningyocho (三船 ご馳走居酒屋 人形町)

Toshiro Mifune (1920-1997) is a legendary actor who played all (except for one) Kurosawa films. His career had continued for almost a half century from 1947 and workd for tens of films not only of Japanese but  of international, including "Seven Samurai" (1954 七人の侍) and "Rashomon" (1950 羅生門).

The Izakaya just opened this spring in Ningyocho features the theme of "Mifune". Walls in the Izakaya are decorated with the theme; movie shot photos, wooden plaques of names for which he played in films..

Unexpected find is BGM music there, Beatles!! I am not sure why but he could be a big fun of the most famous Bristish band. At least Japanese businessmen 40's to 50's, a target market of the unit must like the music reminding their youth age. 

The dishes there are casual traditional Japanese food. The concept of the Izakaya, the world of Mifune or Samurai, reflects in the food; rustic, simple but what every ones like, respect on traditions of Japan and  masculine. If you love Japanese films and Japanese food, it is the best place to experience both at the same time in Tokyo.

 

Food that we have today are....

 

Original cocktail "Shichiroji"(七郎次) named after from one of Seven Samurai.

Japanese citrus, shochu and soda.

 

5 kinds of fresh vegetable

with Japanese version "Bagna Cauda"(fish and oil mixed) sauce and Miso-mayonaise sauce.

 

Chicken meat balls in Houbayaki (朴葉焼き, grill　with miso paste on leaf of Hou)

and pork skewered (not typical Izakaya menu Yakitori, chicken skewered)

 

 
Fried chicken black pepper and sesami.

Very crispy and spicy!!

 

A big onigiri (rice ball) and tonjiru (とん汁, miso soup with pork and full of vegetable pieces)

It is a typical homey receipi.

 

 

 

 

 

The sister units also fearure Mifune world but each altered in a bit different taste. Roppongi, the first branch is upscale, one in Shinjuku for meat grilled infront of dinners and the newest one in Kanda for seafood.

Restaurant name: Gochiso Izakaya Mifune, Ningyocho (ご馳走居酒屋　三船　人形町)

Address: 1-18-2 1F Nihombashi Ningyocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.tokyo-rf.com/restaurants/m02/index.html

 

 

 

 

大きな地図で見る

 

Michelin Guide Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe 2011

Michelin published its restaurant guide for Kansai region (Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe) 2011 version on the last friday. Surprisingly 12 restaurants are awarded three stars. The number of 3 star restaurants on the guide is the biggest in the world and even more than one for Tokyo and Paris. Out of 239 restaurants on the guide, 80%  are Japanese restaurants in a variety of categories from Izakaya (居酒屋, casual dining bar), Kushiage (串揚, skewered and fried food) to Kaiseki (懐石料理, upscale sophisticated course).

Kansai region’s capital Osaka is considered more vital Asian-like city contrary to Tokyo cosmopolitan and it is called "the merchant city ". At the same time, it is known for casual dining as an example of Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き, salty pancake). In Kyoto, the ancient city, upscale traditional Japanese restaurants attract dinners for more than a hundred year with the most sophisticated anc delicate ways of cooking skills. Kobe may be known for the Kobe beef by non-Japanese people. The city, just next to Osaka, is a hometown base of wealthy in Kansai. It is natural easily to find fine restaurants there.

Here the list of 3stars restaurant on the Michelin Guide Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe 2011

<Kyoto　京都>

Kikunoi Honten (菊乃井　本店) - Japanese Kaiseki  http://kikunoi.jp/store/

Kitcho Arashiyama (吉兆　嵐山本店) - Japanese

http://www.kitcho.com/kyoto/shoplist_en/arashiyama/index.html

Chihana (千花) - Japanese Itamae cappo (chef's cuisine) http://kyotochihana.com/e/

Tsuruya (つる家) - Japanese http://www.kyoto-tsuruya.co.jp/kyoto.html

Nakamura (なかむら) - Japanese Kyoryori (京料理, Kyoto local cuisine)

    http://www.kyoryori-nakamura.com

Hyotei (瓢亭) - Japanese Kaiseki http://hyotei.co.jp/

Mizai (未在) - Japanese http://www.mizai.net/

 

<Osaka　大阪>

Kashiwaya (柏屋) - Japanese Kaiseki  No official own website http://r.gnavi.co.jp/c158900/

Taian (太庵) - Japanese Kappo No official website

Hajime (ハジメ) - French  http://www.hajime-artistes.com/

 

<Kobe　神戸>

Ca cento (カ・セント) Spanish  http://casento.jp/

Komago (子孫)  Japanese No official website

 

Those Japanese restaurants offers limited number of tables and advanced reservation is strongly recommended. Especially after the publishing of Michelin guide, they might be fully booked for a few months. Please be ready well advance to visit them. Japanese upscale restaurants in general offer only  one or a few courses by price range and no a-la-carte menu. All food provided there are served at the best condition as per the chef's recommandation and well-prepared with fresh, high quality ingredients.

 

 

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