About food in Japan

Fresh vege from Yamagata, Tohoku but at JR Tokyo station ?! - Yudero 191 from Al-Che-Cciano

Al-che-cciano is an Italian restaurant known for feast made with variety of local fresh ingredients, vegetable, pork, seafood and fruits in Shonai (庄内) area, Yamagata (山形) prefecture, Tohoku (東北) region. Of course it is one of restaurants I want to visit one day. 

However just to enjoy a part of the restaurants' essence in Tokyo without traveling to Yamagata by taking journey for a few hours, its small unit opened inside of JR Tokyo Station! It is called "Yudero 191 from Al-Che-Cciano". "Yudero" sounds for us in Japanese, "ゆでろ/Let's boil! " , though I am not sure why the chef Mr. Masayuki Okuda named it so.

The restaurant situated in a commercial area inside of JR Tokyo station, Gransta Dining on the first floor. The interior of the restaurant implies countryside of Yamagata and fresh foods produced there.

 

The meals on the menu is Italian and for almost all dishes, fresh ingredients from Yamagata are used. The side dish salad is not an exception. Benihana (べに花, Sufflower), Zuiki potato chips, apple, radish, garlic chips are made up of a colorful salad plate.

Here alcohol drink to have is fresh Japanese Sake (日本酒), not Italian wine! I ordered the one by glass called "Mi-ciu-ran"(水酒蘭). The original brand produced by the restaurant Al-Che-Cciano sounds like "Michelin" and natural water taken at the restaurant site is used for the production. The taste is fresh and a bit sweet. It can be taken as alternative option of white wine. 

The main dish plate includes pasta with gobo (ごぼう, burdock) sauce, ox tongue stew, Asatsuki leek sautee.

   

The concept, fresh ingredients from Yamagata, spreads to the dessert menu.

What I ordered is ice cream in "Tsuki no shizuku no shio"(月の雫の塩) flavor. "Tsuki no shizuku no shio" (meant "salt drops from the moon") is originally produced salt brand by the restaurant as well. The name itself fascinates dinner for romantic mood... 

The small pot of salt "Tsuki no shizuku no shio" is on all tables with a message, which encourages guests to put some pieces on their plate, because the restaurant uses salt at minimum level on their cooking process. The plates are appreciated to wide range of people who like less-salty food or love rich taste. Up to you.

Of course the menu offered are changed season by season. It's worth trying different pasta plates time by time. Why don't you try Yamagata's famous specialty "inside" of JR Tokyo station ? just before you leave for Kyoto, Osaka or any other destination.

 

Restaurant name: Yudero 191 Al-Che-Cciano

Location: JR Tokyo Station 1st floor, Gransta Dining

Al-Che-Cciano website (Japanese only) - http://www.alchecciano.com/ 

大きな地図で見る

Cafe Haiti - Remember Haiti after a year from the earthquake

The Central American country is still struggling for the serious damage from the 7.0 earthquake, which led to other challenges, mounds of rubble, spreading poverty, outbreak of cholera, political unstability...

Check BBC report: Haiti earthquake: One year on

Even after other disasters on this planet, we are not able to forget Haiti and its nationals for recoveing from the catastrophe happened on the 12th January 2010.

Here in Tokyo, we have Haitian restaurant called "Cafe Haiti". It has 4 units in central Tokyo including two in Shinjuku. Haiti style curry is its most known specialty but I also like the chicken cream stew "Poulet blanche" with tomato pilaf.

 

Other speciality of the restaurant is local style COFFEE. The country produces high quality coffee beans as its neighbours Cuba or Jamaica does. The restaurant imports coffee beans directly from a producer in Haiti. It is served with a bottle of "rhum". Yes, the amber color liquid in a glass bottle is not maple syrup or honey but it is alcohol.  Be careful and put just a spoonful of it into a cup of coffee!

 

If you like more alcohol,it also offers selections of cocktail made with the rhum.

The all four units of Haiti restauants are decorated with folk art and objects from the country. They create the tropical atmosphere in the dining space at Tokyo, on th other side of the globe.

 

 

Enjoy food from Haiti and do not forget making a donation at the end of your meal for local people in Haiti. The restaurant place a donation box for relief of the earthquake victims.

 *** Location updated on 3rd September, because of some units closure ***

Above photos were taken at Shiodome branch which has been closed. The atomosphere is surely similar with below Second unit in Shinjuku and some franchaise cafes.

 

Restaurant Name: Cafe Haiti

Address and location:

Shinjuku "Second unit"

Address: B1 Minami-Shinjuku Central building,

                    2-11-12 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, 

 It is 6 minutes walk from JR Shinjuku station South exit along Koshu-Kaido (a main road)

View Larger Map