About food in Japan

L'OCCITANE cafe at Ikebukuro (池袋)

Maybe many of you know the French cosmetic brand with Provence taste, L'OCCITANE (ロクシタン). The boutique is visible at some places, most cases in shopping complex across Tokyo. The cream, lotion and other cosmetic products with aroma of lavender, rose or green tea etc, attract ladies in Japan, as same in other parts of the world.

Why I talk about the cosmetic brand on this blog? as long as I know, cafe by L'OCCITANE band exist only in Tokyo. Yes L'OCCITANE cafe is located one in Shibuya (渋谷) and another in Ikebukuro (池袋). Both are close to each JR stations. In bustling districts, the cosmetic boutique is on the ground floor so you can find it easily and the cafe is on the upper floor connected through a stairsteps inside of the boutique. 

No worry! you will never find cosmetic product on food plates or in a cup of tea. Instead, the cafe depicts the image of nature in Provence which is the origine of the cosmetic brand. In the space decorated with brick color tiles, yellow columns and wooden furnitures, it serves food and drinks that imply atomosphere of Provence region; green salad with herb or tuna, colorful fruits tarte and herb tea selections from L'OCCITANE product seriese (Rose, Citrus vervena, Lavender, Provence herb etc). That are surely what ladies like...get the cosmetic products at L'OCCITANE boutique on the ground floor, after that, take a break and be relaxed with Rose herb tea. Both opportunities will help you for well-being and beauty.

I had Chicken cream soup in a cute red bowl for lunch and cafe-au-lait in French style.

 

 Have a relaxed time and enjoy feeling of south France with healthy natural food in Shibuya or Ikebukuro. It will be an oasis in the two most vital towns after shopping.

 

Cafe name: L'OCCITANE cafe

Shibuya branch

Address:  Shibuya Ekimae build. 2-3-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

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Ikebukuro branch

Address: The SH  one, 1-26-6 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

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Made in Tokyo French - Restaurant I (レストランI) by Keisuke Matsushima

The Japanese chef, Keisuke Matsushima opened his French restaurant in Nice, France in 2002 and the restaurant "Keisuke Matsushima" has been awarded one Michelin star * since 2006.

In 2009, Mr. Matsushima opened his new restaurant in Tokyo. Restaurant I features "local food" of Tokyo and surroundings with its philosophy "local production for local consumption; in-season production for in-season consumptions"(地産地消・旬産旬消). "Local production for local consumption" is not easy at cosmopolitan Tokyo. While we live in Tokyo, we rarely find "local" food of this extremely modernized city. It must be a great work by the prestigious French chef to collect fine quality vegetables and other ingredients and to produce dishes for the upscale French restaurant. And it achieved in gaining a honor of one Michelin star * in 2011!

 

This month I had a chance to taste some special dishes there. Here are some of them.

 

Terrine of vegetables and fois gras, sauce of Miso.

The vegetables are from Kanto region, surrounding Tokyo.

 

 

 Soup of vegetable in-season from Kanto region with pork "Tokyo X"

The taste of soup is very complex from several kinds of vegetables cooked for long time. It is a French dish but we felt that it is like a Japanese meal because of the ingredients usually used for Japanese cooking. It is a fantastic mixture and work.

 

 

Beef stew "I" style with burdock "Takinogawa"(from Tokyo)

 

 

The restaurant also offers "local" alcohol for their local-production dishes. It has wide selections of Japanese wine... I have never seen such a long list of Japanese production...

Koshu Grace Kayagatake (茅ヶ岳)

Fruity but dry nice white wine...

 

 

After the surprising dishes, herb tea is not an exception. The tea is made from mixed herb from Kanto region!  Great thanks to the harvest...

 

 

 

 

 

That is an alternative good choice to enjoy taste of local food in Tokyo. 

 

Restaurant name: Restaurant I

Address: Park Court Jingumae 1-4-20 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Website (with English and French version and online seat reservation via Opentable!)

http://www.restaurant-i.jp

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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/ 

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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)

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Fairycake Fair - British traditional style cup cake, at Gransta JR Tokyo Station

I found a cute oasis inside of busy JR Tokyo station, where every day Shinkansen and local trains run in and out a number of times and where thousands of people come by. The cafe is located on a part of commercial zone called "Gransta"  on the basement 1 (B1) floor of JR Tokyo station. 

As the name "Fairycake Fair" shown, fairycake is the cafe's speciality. Fairycake is British traditional homemade-like cup cake inherited from grandmother to mother then to daughters. The cup cakes by Fairycake Fair is produced by the sweets specialist Romi Igarashi, being added "flavour" of modern Tokyo to the traditional British cakes.

What I had here...from left,

Cup cake "Uji Maccha" (宇治抹茶 green tea from Uji, Koyoto),

Cup cake "Shio Caramel" (塩キャラメル salty caramel),

drink Kaga bocha (加賀棒茶, grilled "bar" tea from Kaga)

 

Inside of the most popular Shio Caramel cup cake

Two types of caramel cream are used.

The rich caramel cream inside of the cake and whipped soft shio caramel cream on-top of it.

 

Cakes are enough small to eat up two pieces as a tea time. So let's try more than one flavors of cutely decorated cup cakes at a time. Some other interesting cup cakes are available depending on seasons. On current season, they are, for example, "ginger lemon"  and "apple cinamon". As drink, Milk tea, the most popular drink in England, and "hot yuzu honey" (Yuzu, Japanese citrus, juice with honey), house original ginger ale are also interesting choices.

During winter holiday season from Emperor's birthday (the 23th of December) to the end of New year holidays (until the third of January or around), JR Tokyo station is more crowded than other periods for Japanese locals travelling out to their hometown or to resort destinations, skiing, hot springs.

Have a break before/after taking a train at the peaceful cute cafe inside of JR Tokyo station.

But be careful not to miss your train for the cup cakes!

 

Cafe name: Fairycake Fair

Address: B1 Gransta JR Tokyo Station, 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.fairycake.jp

 

 

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Hungarian restaurant - Az Finom (アズフィノム) in Harajuku

In Tokyo, I wonder if any kind of dishes can NOT be found?

This time I tried food from Hungary, Eastern Europe. The restaurant, Az Finom is just off a major street of Harajuku, vital fasionable town. The restaurant is located on the basement floor and the inside of the restaurant is elegantly decorated with art works on the wall, wooden cup boards and white cloth on tables. It has a long counter table where guests are able to enjoy the unit as a wine bar and to try variety of wine from East Europe.

We ordered a dinner course with local specialities of Hungary and a glass of Hungarian "Tokaji" wine .

 

Maybe the best-known Hungarian dish, Gulyas Soup,

cooked with "Paprika", icon of Hungarian ingredients

That is not spicy as much as imagined from the red-chili color.

A good starter especially in Winter.

 

Fois gras with onion tarte

Don't miss it. Goose fois gras is also Hungarian speciality!

 

 

Chicken paprika with pasta

Chicken meat is soft and well matched with paprika sauce.

 

The dishes are prepared by the Hungarian chef. So they must be real Hungarian dishes, even though I have never been there. The plates used at the restaurant are noble porcelain made by Zsolnay from Hungary. The highest quality porcelain products make the restaurant more elegant and Hungarian atompsphere.

 

 

Restaurant name: Az Finom

Address: B1 Azuma building 2-19-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Website (Japanese only) : http://zsolnay.az-group.net/

 

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Chinese tea salon - HUA TAI TEA (華泰茶荘), Shibuya (渋谷)

HUA TAI TEA (華泰茶荘) is a boutique specialized in Chinese and Taiwanies tea as well as tea making products. The origin of the boutique is back to 1842 in Taiwan. In Tokyo, the tea house as a whole occupies four floors for tea shop, tea salon and private space. The tea salon is located on the third floor and is in cozy atomoshpere with Chinese interior decotration. It serves nice selections of Chinese tea from the tea shop, dim-sum and Chinese desserts. 

Of course, wide selections of tea (categorized such as green, white tea, flower tea, produced region, served by glass, mug or tea pot ...) are offered from the boutique and their staff are happy to answer our questions or to help with choosing what kind of tea we will have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Longing tea from China, I selected. That is from one of the most famous Chinese tea region. It is fresh green tea. A pot for boild water is set on every table. Guests are able to pour the water into their pot at preferable interval of timing. Have tea as much as you like...

Authentic dim-sum are also available there. A good choice for light volume lunch.These dishes makes the tea time more joyfull and last longers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you do not have enough extra space in stomach for dim-sum, several kinds of Chinese desserts can be an option.

 

After a half minutes from arrival, you will feel as if you were in China or Taiwan, not Shibuya (knowns as noizy nightspots and young fashion town) in Tokyo. The quiet and cozy tea salon is an oasis in Shibuya.

That is also a good idea to buy tea leaves at the boutique, if you like the tea you had at the tea salon.

 

Cafe name: HUA TAI TEA

Address: 1-18-6 Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo

Website address: http://www.chinatea.co.jp

 

 

 

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French - Le Beurre Noisette Tokyo (ル・ブール・ノワゼット) at Mitsukoshi Ginza

Le Beurre Noisette, the well-known "Neo Bistro" in Paris opened its new and the first branch in Tokyo on September 2010.

 

"Neo Bistro" is, as per the restaurant's information, different from traditional bistro consisdered casual eating place but it is the place where fine cuisines inherited from Grandes maisons (luxury grand restaurants) are served at reasonable prices. sLe Beurre Noisette, whose chef had work experiences at a few of Michelin 3star restaurants, is one of the most popular among those Neo Bistros. 

The unit in Tokyo is situated on the 12th floor of Ginza Mitsukoshi (銀座三越) department store.In the heart of Ginza, inside of the restaurant is decorated to bring atomosphere of            

bistro in Paris".

 Ginza Mitsukoshi recently completed a big renovation project is crowded with domestic and international tourists  as well as local people especially during the weekend.

 

Luckly we could get a table infront of wine rakcs and next to the kitchen with glass window.

Our lunch was started with a glass of "Beaujolais nouveau 2010" and bread with noisette.

For me, this is the first time to taste the new wine made in 2010 since it is on sale last Thurseday. Uhhh it smell sweet flavour like strawberry jam, not too fresh. 

 

 

 
This is the plate as my friend ordered as starter.

Remoulade of beets and smoke salmon. What a surprising color!

 

Pied de cochon (hand of pork) carpaccio, lentil with vinegar

My starter dish is not so beautiful in color.

It is tasty and deserves the name of "our specialty".

I believe the taste  characteritic is close to Japanese one rather than typical French.

It must be loved by Japanese...

 

Pinapple pork from Okinawa cooked for 24hours

Very soft enough to swing...

 

Millefeuille with autumn fruites (apple, pear and pineapple) and vanilla ice cream

Caramel flavour cream is also nice...

 

It is a French restaurant surely but the plates can be liked by Japanese, as the taste is subtly close to Japanese traditional flavour such as soja sauce.

 

Restaurant name: Le Beurre Noisette Tokyo

Address: Ginza Mitsukoshi 12th floor, 4-6-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.lebeurrenoisettetokyo.com/

 

 

 

 

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Le Bretagne - crepe cafe at Kagurazaka (ル・ブルターニュ クレープ 神楽坂)

Kagurazaka (神楽坂) is a quiete residential area in central Tokyo. It is also known as "French quarter" because of some French educational institutions located in the area. Consequently it is said that authentic French food are available at restaurants in Kagurazaka where French nationals are walking around more than in other places in Japan.

This cafe is not the exception. Cafe Creperie Le Bretagne, as the name shown, provides authentic galette (ガレット buckwheat crepe for meal not for dessert) and crepe (クレープ) both from Bretagne region in France.

The cafe has open terrace when the climature is appropriate. After welcomed by French staff, the interior decoration is lovely with wooden floor and funitures, porcelain displayed from the region. We must feel as if we visit Bretagne not the Asian cosmopolitan. 

The ingredient choices offered as salty galette for lunch or snack is much enough and is hard to select just one or two; tomato, bacon, cheese, mushroom, onion, season's special etc... Crepe as dessert is also what cannot be missed. Galette is a good choice for light lunch or dinner during traveling, when you are tired to be filled up. But here you could not be reliefed in that way. 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cafe creperie is so popular to accommodate guests fully for lunch and dinner time. It might request you to wait for a while until ready to be served, especially lunch hours on weekend. Yes, it is worth waiting and enjoying strolling at Kagurazaka.

 

Restaurant name: Cafe-Creperie Le Bretagne

Address: 4-2 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.le-bretagne.com

 

 

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All Day Breakfast - Eggs'n Things, Harajuku (原宿)

As the signboard shown, Eggs'n Things was opened in Hawaii in 1974. After 36 years, the unit opened in Harajuku, known for young casual fasion boutiques, central Tokyo.

The restaurant's concept is "All Day Breakfast", where people enjoy "breakfast menu" at any time of a day, regardless lunch or dinner time.

I have never been to Hawaii but I like breakfast menu such as eggs, bread, pan cakes. It is known that a lot of people are making a queue line to eat "breakfast" there. Luckly on one afternoon of a weekday, we could get a table within 10 minutes after our arrival. 

The restaurant offers seats on the large terrace space. That must be a good choice when the climature is fine for outside dining. 

What we enjoyed here are....

 

Bacon n' Eggs (scramble) with potatos

To be honest, that is nothing special as breakfast plate often found at international standard hotels. That could make me feel better when I had it in the morning, not on afternoon...That is breakfast.

 

Pancake strawberry, whipped cream and nuts!!

Everyone is surprised by the big mountain of whipped cream.

The cream is not too sweet nor heavy as much as we thought.

The pieces of pancake are very soft and light taste as well.

We completed the plate including the cream finally !!

That was not what we could imagine before we started eating the plate.

That's it, that is what we should order here.

 

I hope I have a chance to come back here for "real" breakfast in future.

 

Restaurant name: Eggs'n Things

Address: 4-30-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Official website: http://www.eggsnthingsjapan.com/

 

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