About food in Japan

La cabane - cheese bar

The place is one of my most favorites, even though it is not so much related to Japan food

The bar is located in quite area of Kagurazaka, 10minutes away from Iidabashi station.

As long as I know, it is only "cheese bar" in Tokyo, apart from another unit with same name by same owner in Ebisu. Yes you can find over 30 kinds of fresh, traditional cheese mainly (or all?) from Europe with selections of glass or bottle wine that must be fantastic "mariage" with cheese.

We always order several selections of cheese on a big plate. Each small piece of fine quality cheese will be served by a piece for a person, with leaf vegetable, pieces of French baguette and/or dried fruits. The bar staff knows what is the best match with the cheese served and is happy to give you suggestions to taste the specialties in the best way. Enjoy "travel around the world or in the Europe" by having local traditional cheese from several regions. Not so many Japanese people could appreciate such very unique local food like blue or fermented cheese. For those who know the goodness of it, it is the place they must visit.

Samples of cheese plates:

   

 

The bar is in dark and it is always not easy to take a nice picture of fantastic cheese on plates...

They looks like "takuan" Japanese pickles uhhn... they smell too coinsidently.

Only one problem of the bar is to be closed at early evening , 23h00. We have to finish dinner quickly before going to the bar or we taste the cheese plate as a starter.

Bar name: La Cabane

Address: Morita Mansion 1st floor, 26 Fukuro-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Outlet wine?! - Shibuya Wine Sakaba (渋谷 ワヰン酒場)

On a website, it is described ... the European style bar is the first "outlet wine" provider in Japan. It was the first time for me to hear "outlet" wine. It sounds like nice wine offered at very good price. Then I could not wait for visiting the bar. 

The bar is located on the second floor of a building at the end of Meiji street in Shibuya, just a few minutes walk from Shibuya station. On the weekend evening, it was bustling with guests of groups, couples. The wine list on blackboards or glass windows make us exited, telling the price from Yen 310 by a glass, even at the most expensive one less than Yen 1000 among choices of each 10 for red and while wine from France, Italy, Chili, California... Wine-lovers cannot miss it, after once they come to know. I guess that it is a half or even less price compared with ones of similar quality wine at other restaurants in Tokyo.

Why outlet? the bar sources the good selections of wine at reasonable cost exclusively. These bottles are regarded as "not-for-sale" on boutiques because of their etiquette labels being damaged (but the liquid inside not at all).  So the selection must be different each time but always good quality ones at bargain prices.

The bar foods are prepared by chef who has long experience at upscale Japanese restaurants. The wide selections include typical plates at European style bars (olives, lever pate, raw ham) as well as some Japanese flavors (pickles, seafood marine etc).

Today I had a glass of "beaujolai nouveau" at Yen350.

Restaurant name: Shibuya Wine Sakaba

Address: 2nd floor, 3-18-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Chinese- Momonoki (桃の木) Michelin 1* (2009)

I had a chance to re-visit Michelin 1 star Chinese restaurant Momonoki （桃の木）in Mita, Minato-ku. Again on its lunch time, tables were filled with groups of Japanese ladies or couples.

On this second time visit, I wanted to try what I could not last time and seasonal dishes which are available only this time.

 

One of startesr from its specialities 

“Mouth-watering” steamed chicken with mapo souce – the hot spicy sauce matches with a glass of beer or other alcohol drinks.

 

Seasonal plate

Shanghai crab and radish cakes hot-sweet stew – The crabs look like as they were alive in the pot…Try to dig the meat out with fingers. That is another fun.

Here all dishes are fresh, healthy and home-made like that make us relax .and comfortable This is unlike other Michelin star restaurants. It fits even for casual gathering as long as a table is booked in advance.

I would like to visit again and to try what I have not done yet. 

Related story: Chinese - Momonoki (My first time visit on August 2008)

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2008/08/chinese---momon.html

Restaurant name: Momonoki

Address: Aurora Mita 105, 2-17-29 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo

French - Les Creations de NARISAWA (Michelin *)

Les Creations de Narisawa; we cannot miss the name of this restaurant, when we talk about the best French restaurants in Tokyo or in Japan.

The restaurant is awarded 1 star by Michelin guide and on this April, it was elected  to"The best restaurant in Asia" as well as the top 20th of The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants 2009.

This is the second time for me to have lunch here and is the first time in last one and a half years. Some of my friends have a passion for having meals at Les Creations de Narisawa.

The menu list reminds me the chef, Mr. Yoshihiro Narisawa's creativity.

Let's see with my photos.

One of Amuse- bouche very fresh radish with soil? No it looks like soil but not real soil.

The first plate: Natsu no hatake (夏の畑, Summer fields)

He often uses fresh vegetable for his cooking but I cannot count how many kinds of vegetable are on the plate

Everyone is fresh and surely has pure strong flavour of vegetables.

The second plate: Shiohigari (潮干狩り, shellfish gathering)

Shellfish gathering on beach is one of seasonal events in Japan. The plate reminds everyone the exciting events in childhood.

Thirdplate: Green bed

The green bed is made of sprouts or choux de Bruxelles. Not only the presentation but also the quality of ingredients, pork and sprounts made us very satisfied.

Another fantastic imagination is this "flower pot" served with

pieces of bread.

Yes It looks like a pot with soil and small sprouts and no one would try to eat

This is actually a kind of spread to be put on a piece of bread.

Stiring it for a while, it became surely something to eat...

 

Our surprises continued to the two dessert plates.

What the restaurant is pushed to The World's 50 Best Restaurants must be his creativitiy. Every time we go, we encounter new surprises time by time and season by season.

I am looking forward to being astonished again by his "creations."

Restaurant name: Les Creations de NARISAWA

Address: 2-6-15 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.narisawa-yoshihiro.com

Related website: The World's 50 Best Restaurants  http://www.theworlds50best.com

 

Begian beer bar - Delirium cafe Tokyo, Japan vs Belgium food, not football, match

Celebrating the friendship football match between Japanese and Belgian international teams, a Belgian beer bar in Tokyo planed "food battle Japan - Belgium", while the sports match was taken place by the same two countries in the same city.

Traditional food from both countries lined up on the special menu list.

The 1st round - Potato
Japanese style fries...? never head about it.

The answer is sweet potato fries

It is rather sweet than salty.
This is neither a traditional nor typical bar snack, but is familier for Japanese as hand-made mum's snack for kids.

I guess, at least, high-fiber sweet potato is healthier food than the traditional Belgium speciality.

The 2nd round - Clam cooked with alcohol

Hamaguri with sake, mussels with beer both are very traditional food.
Mussels should never be missed at Belgian bars.

Please do not leave the soup at the end.
After having all the mussels, clear soup left in the bowl is the second delight from the food. Enjoy the juice from mussels.

The 3rd round - traditional meat dishes
We could not reach to the stage, to be honest...

At the end of the intersting match, Belgian food goes well with Belgian beer not surprisingly, while Japanese food does with sake. I recommend for the next match, when we have, the bar brings sake in order fairly to verify which one is better...

By the way, as for the football game, Japan won against Belgium; the score 4 - 0.

The bar provides selected Belgian beer including 50 kinds of draft brands imported directly from breweries in the origin country.

Restaurant name: Delirium cafe Tokyo
Address: Tokyo Club Kasumi Dining 1st floor, 3-2-6 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Website: http://www.deliriumcafe.jp

Normally it closes on Sunday.

Belgium chocolate - Galler CHOCOLATE - THE

It is not easy to find a cozy table for a cup of tea or coffee in Ginza without making a que on weekend afternoon. Galler CHOCOLATE - THE is my favourite place in Ginza to forget the bustle of the shopping and entertaining town.

The cafe-restaurant by the established Belgian chocolate house, Galler, is located on the second floor of Seibu department store, just a hundred meter away from busy Yurakucho station.

What should not be missed iteam is of course sweets with Galler chocolate.

A great pair of Belgian speciality - chocolate and waffles is a recommendable menu.

Chocolate and sweets are not a single feature of the cafe. Flower decoration and piano playing music at the cafe are also by Belgian famouse professionals.

While taking a rest from hassle of shopping in Ginza, enjoy Belgian specialities at the cozy tea room.

Cafe name: Galler CHOCOLATE - THE
Address: Yurakucho Seibu Department store Fasion-kan (pavillion) 2nd floor, 2-5-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Website: Galler Japan (Japanese)
            http://www.galler.co.jp

Italian - Ristorante La Barrique Tokyo

La Barrique is inherited its name from a Michelin star restaurant in Torino, Italy.

The unit in Tokyo is behind a private house in a quite residential area of central Tokyo. We went through a parking space of the neighbor to access the restaurant. Without having a location map, it is hard to identify where the restaurant stands.

The fine dining is accommodated in a house-like building. According to the restaurant staff, the building is a former residence of the restaurant owner.  The house with nice traditional wood decotration inside is finely transformed into an Italian ristorante with warm, homey atmosphere.

The excellent points of the restaurant are not only the interior but also the food quality and wide selections of glass wine and bottled ones of course.

Fresh seasonal ingredient are selected for dishes and "La Barrique course" offers several choices for starter, pasta and main dish, enough to make dinners feel hard to select just one from all eaqually attractive plates.

It is worth to visiting the house with table reservation and to traveling to the tranquil town.

Restaurant name: Ristorante La Barrique Tokyo
Address: 2-12-2 Suido, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo
Website: http://www.labarrique.jp

Chinese -Shanghai Dining Jogenro(状元楼)

Jogenro is an established Chinese restaurant in Jiyugaoka, sophisticated residential district.
The restaurant features "Old Shanghai" and the interior concept is based on the theme "fusion of mysterious Chinese culture and modern European architecture".

When we go into the restaurant, we feel as if we were invited to a mansion of a rich person in Shanghai, from the space separated into small pieces and interior decoration, art objects placed there. Art-nouveau lamps are hung from ceiling in the terrace room.  It is rare to find such a romantic Chinese restaurant...

   

Of couese, the interior decoration is not a single reason to be a diner of the restaurant.
Menu with pieces of "sharks' fin is one of the must there.
Xiao Long bao as well..

 

Drink is also "hard-to-choose" iteam from variety of Chinese liquor and tea selections.

Restaurant name: Jogenro
Address: 1st floor Mochida Building, 1-29-17 Jiyugaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Website: http://www.jogen.co.jp

EATALY - Italian food and wine center in Japan

EATALY is a coined word from "eat" and "Italy" in English. The Italian food and wine center was opened last year to introduce high quality Italian food culture in Daikanyama, which is a prestigious residential area as well as a edgy fasion town, .

Not only as an Italian food supermarket does it work, but also does as a food court and a wine and cooking school. We are able to enjoy several aspects of Italian food culture in the two floors complex with a couryard in a distance of a few minutes walk from Daikanyama station. 

At the eat-in casual restaurant, traditional pizza and fresh pasta are cooked by Italian chefs and they are served with local Italian wine. If you take the counter seats, you will be able to watch pizza or pasta prepared behind the counter.
Pizza and pasta menu are changed by day but always are cooked with local high quality product from Italy. They offer some choices in shape of pasta and sauce that are all traditional ones fron different regions of Italy. After the meal, several choices of Italian gelato are also available at another corner in the building.

Like ones I had, the dishes are rather simple but surely felt that it is a real Italian food!
Photo: Pizza Margherita and fettucine with basil sauce

 

Restaurant name: Eataly
Address: 20-23 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0034
Website: http://www.eataly.co.jp

French - Lugdunum

Christmas day is coming soon. What we will do in Japan?
We are likely to spend time by a couple or with friends more than with family.
In Japan, Christmas is not a national holiday of course but we still feel that we want to organize a party or something at this year end fantastic season.
The gathering is called either "Christmas party" or "Bonenkai(忘年会　year-end party)" depending on how much the event is traditional Japanese style or Western style.

Western style, not only French or Italien, restaurants tend to offer special Christmas course during this season. This restaurant will be one of them.
Lugdunum in Kagurazaka is Lyon style French restaurant. The restaurant refers itsself as "bouchon"(traditional but casual Lyon style restauran). But it is much more sophisticated than the local typical ones.

We are able to taste traditional Lyonnaise dishes. Some of them, such as black sausages and tripe, are not familier for Japanese people. But they are truely Lyon local ones cooked by the chef born in the French gourmet city.

They are some of examples, although they are not on the Christmas special menu...

Cream soup of homard

Boudin noir(black sausage) with apple

Andouillette(Lyon style sausage)

Restaurant name: Lugdunum Bouchon Lyonnaise

Address: 1st floor Ebiya building, 4-3-7 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.eatpia.com/lugdunum/