About food in Japan

Illy cafe with Ukiyoe (浮世絵), Nihombashi Tokyo

Many of you, especially those in Europe, may know Italian espresso brand "espresamente illy". The coffee brand operates several coffee shops in Tokyo and some other major cities of Japan.

As same with other units of espressamente illy, it provides authentic Italian espresso and other various coffee drinks and some Italian food like panini sandwiches and dolce(italian dessert). All the units are in modern design in red tone from the brand logo.

One thing, espressamente illy Nihombashi, Tokyo is different from other illy coffee shops is a big wall is decorated with art graphic panel of UKIYOE (浮世絵), Japanese traditional art.

 

 

While you have a cup of Italian coffee, you can also enjoy viewing the Japanese traditional art works... like this.

 

Three Ukiyoe art work graphics are successfully replicated by a Japanese major print-technology company from collections of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, U.S.A.

 

* Under the Wave off Kanagawa, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji

    by Katsushika Hokusai (「富獄三十六景」神奈川沖浪裏　葛飾北斎)

* Nihonbashi: Morning Scene, from the series Fifty-three Stations of the Tôkaidô Road

    by Ando Hiroshige  (「東海道五十三次」日本橋朝之景 安藤広重)

* Reflective Love, from the series Anthology of Poems: The Love Section

    by Kitagawa Utamaro (「歌撰恋之部」物思恋 喜多川歌麿)

 

All these works are major iconic works by these Ukiyoe masters in the Edo period. It is also interesting to know a scene of Nihombashi, where the cafe is located, in early 19th century or 200 years ago from the work by Ando Hiroshige.

 

Cafe name: espressament illy Nihombashi

Address: Nihombashi Fuji bld. 1st floor, 2-5-13 Nihombashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Website in Japanese: http://espressamenteilly.jp

 

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Chopsticks with gold foil at New year party, Hakuza Nihonbashi

 At the beginning of a new year with full of happiness, we introduce a product that must be matched with such feeling.

New year is the biggest traditional event for Japanese. We celebrate a new year arrived with family and relatives in general and we wish a happy year by visiting a shrine and share cups of sake etc. We have some icons of New Year, such as traditional decorations, rice cake, new year post cart etc.

If we say in color, "gold" is a color often used for celebration of New Year. It may be same at some other countries. The most gorgeous color is often placed on celebration items.

 

We found an interesting product with gold and also related to food.

Called "Pakkin Bashi" (ぱっきん箸)

 Pakkin Bashi is a pair of chopstick produced by Hakuza (箔座), a gilder from the origin of gold leaf, Kanazawa (金沢), Hokuriku region.  

From the package of paper cover with stlipe lines in red, we are not able to find how Pakkin Bashi is different from others. 

The unique feature of Pakkin Bashi can be seen on a moment when we split apart a pair of the chopsticks. 

It's a very short time and

was too difficult to express it with a photo actually...

 

When the chopsticks were splitted,

small pieces of gold foil came down from the chopsticks.

We saw the remain sticked on a stick end.

 

These pieces of gold foil are "edible", no harm. Gold foil is traditionally used to decorate food and sake (Japanese alcohol) for celebratory feast. By gilders' sophisticated technique, thin and tiny pieces are put on food or drink, additing brilliant flavor. 

In same way, Pakkin Bashi brings us a joyful moment by splitted apart the chopsticks and decorating food before us with gold foil come down.

It's very delicate presentation with tiny pieces.

 

As for the name, "Pakkin Bashi" does sound strange? You may wonder how it comes from.

"Pakkin" implies the sound made when we split apart a pair of chopsticks. And it also comes from a word "gold leaf" in Japanese, "hakukin (箔金)". Bashi is same with hashi (箸, chopsticks). We could not imagine such elegante moment of using the chopsticks from the name with amusing sound. 

Pakkin Bashi is available at Hakuza boutique Nihonbashi, Tokyo as well as Hakuza flagship boutique and craft studio in Kanazawa. 

It will be good to celebrate your special moment with Japanese traditional gold foil decoration on food. 

 

Hakuza official website: http://www.hakuza.co.jp/english

Hakuza Nihonbashi, Tokyo

Address: Coredo Muromachi 1st floor, 2-2-1 Nihonbashimuromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 

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Hakuza Honten (flagship store), Kanazawa 

Address: 1-30-4 Moriyama, Kanazawa-city, Ishikawa prefecture 

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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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Hits 2012 by Nikkei Marketing Journal

The Japanese major news paper specialized in marketing field, Nikkei Marketing Journal announced "Hits product ranking 2012" this month. Seeing the list ranked by categorized as Yokozuna / Ozeki / Sekiwake ... and two positions East/West taken from Sumo the Japanese traditional fighting sports, we are able to recognize what are the trends among Japanese locals. Japanese people like to discuss what I got or experienced or do know?! for products or services on the list to evaluate how much each of us could catch up with the new trends. 

Let's see the list of Nikkei Marketing Journal "Hits product ranking 2012" from the top.

Yokozuna 横綱 (the top rank) 

Tokyo Skytree 東京スカイツリー- The tallest tower in Japan opened on May 2012 is the most popular tourist spot of Tokyo among Japanese nationals. It was really lucky if we could get a ticket to climing up to the upper floor during the early months since opening.

Check out our post about a cafe as a view spot of Tokyo Skytree

Tokyo Skytree view spot - Cielo y rio, Kuramae (蔵前)

 http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2012/06/tokyo-skytree-view-spot-cielo-y-rio-kuramae.html 

7inchi tablet - such as iPad mini, Kindle by Amazon and Nexus by Google are arrived also in Japan and paied attentions of locals.

Ozeki 大関 (the 2nd rank) 

Low cost carrier (LCC) 格安航空会社 - This must be affected on those traveling in Japan. In 2012, Japanese established airline ANA launched Peach Aviation, and Jetstar and Air Asia arrived in Japan for domestic flights operation between major cities like Tokyo, Osaka and some resort destinations such as Okinawa, Hokkaido. It's a big change since the time only a few legacy carriers fly within Japan. 

LINE - is a mobile phone application developed in Japan and allows users to have free call and short message exchanges among friends. The communication tool captured over 36 millions users, mainly younger 10 - 20's generations in Japan.

Nikkei Marketing Journal "Hits product ranking 2012" includes total almost 40 products, services etc. Below Ozeki (the 2nd rank), we found several food related products on the list. 

Now we picked up some as examples...,

Maruchan Seimen (正麺) - The packed instant noodle was launched from Maruchan. The new product has been developed with patented production techniques for which maruchan succeeded in keeping authentic ramen flavor in the instant product.  

Japanese traditional sweets at convenience stores - Major convenience store chains such as Seven-Eleven and Lawson are competing for sweets product developped under their own brands. In spite of the small amount of price around Yen 100 to 300, the quality and taste are something we cannot ignore. 

Here we show a couple of newest example of them from Lawson Uchi-cafe sweets.

Premium roll cake with Matcha (green tea) and black beans: Both major ingredients are from the highest quality origin for each, matcha from Uji, Kyoto and black beans from Tanba-Sasayama, Hyogo prefecture.

 Matcha cake wrapping black beans cream. 

Pure fresh cream Daifuku : Daifuku, one of the most popular traditional sweets of Japan, is arranged by Lawson. To attracts more younger genrations for the traditional product, the Western ingredient, fresh cream, is added into the center filling of Daifuku.

The mochi (outer rice cake) is very soft and sticky

and filled with full of beans and fresh cream. 

Drop by Lawson or Seven-Eleben and get a piece of Japanese sweets available there.

It's a good opportunity easily to try a Japanese traditional sweets!!!

Zaku Tofu (ザク豆腐) - This is what we introduced on our facebook page on this March. It's a Tofu product inspired by Zaku, a character of animation program GUNDAM. The green color tofu is made with green soybean (edamame) flavour. Available at supermarkets and convenience stores in Tokyo and surroundings.

Look at the photo to see how it looks like from the link here. 

Yaki Gyudon (焼牛丼)- You may know Gyudon (牛丼, beef bowl) available at the most famous Yoshinoya (吉野家). Yaki Gyudon (Grilled beef bowl) chain "Tokyo Chikarameshi (東京チカラめし)" is a newly emerged rival of Yoshinoya and is operated by a major casual Izakaya chain. Tokyo Chikarameshi's beef bowl price is slightly lower than the ones of major Gyudon chains. The number of Tokyo Chikarameshi's units is dramatically increased in 2012 and it is now over 100 units within one and a half years since the first opening. 

One day we will report the grilled beef bowl on this blog!

Oreno Italian/French (俺のイタリアン, 俺のフレンチ) - Ore(俺) is a vulgar expression of "I"(私). The Italian and French restaurants imply the casual atmosphere with the vulgar word. The concept is...  a restaurant hires skilled chef (some of them have experience at Michelin star restaurants.) while it serves in "standing" style. Then it makes available plates with high quality ingredients like truffles or fois-gras by skilled chef at very reasonable price. Due to the sensational prices of plates, all of the units Oreno Italian and Oreno French are often fully occupied and even a long queue could be seen by locals every evening.

 

As some examples of their sensational menu and price, we visited the second unit of Oreno Italian in Shimbashi. Arriving early evening around 6p.m., we luckly took the last spce(not a seat) at the counter. We saw business people coming and asking place with fail time by time even after we started having a few plates and glasses of wine there.  

 

Shrimp ajillo just cooked!

Pizza Margherita - looking at the chef preparing for other guests over the counter,

we could not help but ordering a piece for us.

Both at Yen580 for each.

Scallp carpaccio with truffle

from today's daily recommendation

At Yen 980!!!

In addition to regular menu, the restaurant offers

more attractive plates at very reasonable price. 

     

Restaurant name: Oreno Italian (Main unit of the group)

Address: 1st floor 3-8-5 Shimbashi, Minato-ku Tokyo

Website in English: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/e960805/lang/en/ 

So far, as of the end of 2012, Oreno Italian has 3 units and Oreno French also has 3 units in central Tokyo area.

We are looking forward to discovering and introducing exiting and interesting food in Japan continuously in 2013.

Have a happy new year to all food lovers!!!

Information souce in Japanese:  

Nikkei Marketing Journal "Hits product ranking 2012"

http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASGF04079_U2A201C1000000/

Tsukiji Jogai market (築地場外市場)

Following our previous post about Ota Market for December 2012 monthly feature, "Market"(市場), we picked up some scenes at Tsukiji Market on December for this post.

Once in 2011 we introduced Tsukiji Market with a seriese of posts mainly for Jonai (場内, inside) or wholesale area, where it is known for Tuna Auction. This time we focus on Jogai (場外, outside) area in Tsukiji Market.

Tsukiji Jogai market (築地場外市場) is situated next to the Tsukiji Market Jonai (築地市場場内) or wholesale area. Jogai, representing "outer area" in Japanese, is targeting more at non-professional buyers or local ordinary people and tourists, while Jogai area(inside) is mainly for professional buyers such as restaurants, retailers. Jogai area looks more like shopping arcade. It is the busiest around the end of December by local people who are looking for seafood and related products to be prepared for their New Year feast.

In other parts of the world, especially in Christian culture, maybe you have a feast on the Chritsmas day with your family, while you spend fun time with your friends or a partner on New year eve and New year day. In Japan on the contrary, New Year holiday 1st to 3rd of January is a period when we share time with our family in traditional ways, while we are likely to enjoy Christmas season with friends or a partner by having parties in a modern way. So New Year holiday for Japanese is to Christmas day for Christial family. Then you can imagine why Japanese locals are eager to organize a big feast on New year holidays. 

Celebration in Japanese traditional style, seafood is one of the biggest feature among New Year plates. So local people rush to Tsukiji for high quality seafood at less expensive price. Then on the last half of December, we can find some gorgeous seafood products or delicacies which rarely could be seen in other seasons. 

For examples....

Crab, salmon roe

 

whole fis of salmon in wooden containers

 

During the last few days of December, Tsukiji Jogai market is extremely busy with local people. If you could arrive there in very early morning before 9 a.m. or earlier period, before 27th December, you will be able to enjoy finding such seasonal delicacies and vital atomosphere more comfortably, although the weather is a bit cold. It could be less than 10 C degree outside even during the day.

After or before such joyful discovery of rare Japanese seasonal delicacies, let's have breakfast or lunch at a restaurant in the area. We can find many casual restaurants at Tsukiji Jogai markets. Majority of them offers Kaisendon (海鮮丼, seafood bowl) prepared with fresh ingredients, of course, from Tsukiji wholesale market just a few hundreds meters away and some other provide ramen that must originally target at market workers.

Today's our recommendation is a bit different from such typical Tsukiji meal.

Toritoh(鳥藤) is a wholesaler of chicken meat based in Tsukiji over 100 years since the beginning of 20th century. One of restaurants which the wholesaler company operates is located in Tsukiji Jogai area. 

The name as same with the company, the casual Japanese restaurant Toritoh is specialized in plates and bowls with Chicken meat. The most recommendable specialty of Toritoh is Oyako-don (親子丼, bowl of chiekn and egg on top of rice) which is tradtional home-made style food in Japan.

 

Fresh tender chicken meat mixed with

high quality scramble eggs on top of rice

The sweet and gentle flavor suits not only for lunch but also for breakfast. 

At Totitoh, Oyakodon is served with a cup of chicken stock soup which is also very nice.

 

The restaurant is small with several seats at the counter in front of open style kitchen as well as a few of tables. From the counter seats we can enjoy looking at the chefs preparing chicken for Oyakogon or Yakitori (skewered chicken) etc. Oyakodon is cooked on a very small pan for each diner one by one. Yakitori is grilled very carefully little by litthe by the chef. They know well how much and how these chicken pieces are cooked for each menu. The casual Japanese restaurant maybe is a place where we can taste chicken plate in the best way!! although the price is just around Yen 1000 or even less per person.

 

  
Half-boilded egg with chicken on top of rice (left)

Spices offered on the table (right) can be added as accent of flavor if you would.

These spices are also produced by Toritoh especially for chicken dishes.

 

Restaurant name: Toritoh Bunten (鳥藤分店)

Address: 4-8-6 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Open: 7:30am - 14:30

Official website (in Japanese) : http://www.toritoh.com/contents/tenpo01/

 

 

   

 大きな地図で見る

 Link to related posts:

Tsukiji Market (築地市場) 

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2011/04/tsukiji-market.html

 Ota Market visitor course (大田市場見学者コース) 

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2012/12/ota-market-visitor-course.html

 

Jiro (次郎), Sushi restaurant at Takashimaya Nihombashi

Some of you maybe already watched the movie about Jiro, 85years old Sushi chef with Michelin 3stars. As you can imagine, due to the Michelin guide's highest evaluation and the film by an American director "Jiro Dreams of Sushi", it is not easy to make a reservation at the most famous Sushi restaurant in the world. And maybe for many people, it is not so easy to spend such big amount of money around Yen 30,000 for a Sushi dining experience.

Well, is there any alternative way to take a small part of the Sushi restaurant Jiro?

Yes, we know!  

We found an alternative choice in Tokyo still under his name brand, Sukiyabashi Jiro (すきやばし次郎) same with the original one in Ginza. 

One of his units, Sukiyabashi Jiro, is accommodated on the 4th floor of Takashimaya Nihombashi department store main building. It must be the one where we can experience the world of Jiro in more relaxed atmosphere compared with the original store where the master chef Jiro serves. Because of the location in the department store, even first comers or those who are not so familiar with Sushi are also welcomed!

The restaurant offers some Sushi course sets

described with photo and price on the menu. 

 

The price at Sukiyabashi Jiro Takashimaya Nihombashi is actually one-tenth of the original unit (Honten) in Ginza. So you do not have to worry whether you can afford or not there.  

We were warmly welcomed with Japanese hospitality which is inherited from the flagship restaurant with Michelin 3 starts. We observed not a few elderly female guests, clientele of the established department, solely enjoying a plate of Sushi after shopping. It means that the Sushi restaurant is a place where even these ladies feel much comfortable.

Of course the quality won't be exactly same with the original restaurant where the Sushi master chef serves, considering the discrepancy of the prices. But still the restaurant in Takashimaya Nihombashi is operated under Jiro's brand name.

Needless to say, the seafood ingredients are fresh.

Anago (穴子 conger) is well cooked into a soft and sweet brown piece.

Trying the Sushi plate and the restaurant, we felt that, even without Jiro's brand name, the meal at Yen 3000 has a good value and it is a good opportunity to experience an authentic Sushi restaurant.

If you like it very much, then prepare and save money for visiting Jiro's original restaurant next time!!!  

 

Restaurant name: Sukiyabashi Jiro, Takashimaya Nihombashi (すきやばし次郎　日本橋高島屋)

Address: Main building 4th floor, Takasihmaya Nihombashi, 2-4-1 Nihombashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Website: 

Takashimaya Nihombashi Department

http://www.takashimaya.co.jp/tokyo/store_information/index.html

Sukiyabashi Jiro Honten, original store http://www.sushi-jiro.jp

Movie "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" http://www.magpictures.com/jirodreamsofsushi/

大きな地図で見る

What to have at Ota Market

Following our last post about Ota Market visitor course, we introduce two Japanese restaurants situated in Ota Market, which is the largest fruit & vegetable wholesale market in Japan.

How to get to Ota Market, please refer our previous post. 

 

Daimatsu (大松)

Location: on the second floor of Office Wing (Jimto, 事務棟), which is the start point of the Visitor Course and also is in front of the bus stop. 

Please check the market plan from here. 

The typical casual Japanese restaurant offers bowl (don, 丼) menus of seafood and deep-fried.

What to have here is "Anago tendon" (穴子天丼, deep-fried conger with rice bowl).

For those who is unfamiliar with Anago(conger), it looks similar to eel with long body like a snake. Anago is often served as a piece of Sushi, after cooked with sweet sauce. Tempura (Japanese style deep-fried ) is another good way to enjoy conger.

 

Anago tendon at Daimatsu

with incredibly large anago piece!!!

These two pieces are much over the bowl size...

crispy and of course tasty!! 

 

Anago Tendon at Daimatsu is something rare to find even in Tokyo.

 

Restaurant name: Daimatsu (大松)

Address: Ota Market Jimuto 2nd floor, 3-2-1 Tokai, Ota-ku, Tokyo

Official site (in Japanese): http://homepage3.nifty.com/fujiken-daimatsu/daimatsu.htm 

Webpage on Ota market supplier association(in Japanese): http://www.otashijo-kanren.jp/tenpo/ji_4.html

 

Fujiken (富士軒) 

Well our second recommendation is for fresh seafood menu. In Ota Market, fresh seafood is also dealt with, even though the market size is not as much as of the famous Tsukiji Market. So why not try fresh seafood at a restaurant in Ota Market? They are equally fresh and high quality and luckly unlike some restaurants in Tsukiji Market, you do not have to make a long queue.

Location: Fujiken is situated in Annex or Kanrento (関連棟) in Japanese. Annex is tightly sandwiched between Fruit & Vegetable market and Seafood market. It is like a shopping archade, where more than ten shops & casual restaurants serving the market workers and wholesale traders visiting the market. We can find some shops selling processed food or packing materials and restaurants there.

The Annex has two streets, West and East but it is not so long and complicated. So it won't be difficult to find Fujiken there, especially because of clipping articles of Japanese magazines featuring the restaurant and autographs appearing at the restaurant's entrance.

 

This is the most famous specialty of Fujiken,

Fuji-don (富士丼), obviously named after the highest mountain in Japan

and also the name of the restaurant

All imaginable kinds of edible seafoods on top of rice bowl!!!

Oyster, the biggest feature, comes from Hyogo for this day.

One of rare spieces, "Chushingura"(忠臣蔵),

as per introduction by the hostess of the restaurant.

Crab with the shell, sea urchin (uni), salmon roe (ikura), scallop (hotate)..., uh,

Usually we feel happy, even if we can have one of these Japanese delicacies but here... 

in addition, squid (ika), conger (anago, again after Daimatsu above),

negitoro (tuna & shreded leek), two kinds of sashimi fish and egg cake!!!!!

Can't be better than this.

What an attractive seafood bowl...

Fujidon costs Yen 1950 per bowl, the most expensive bowl menu. No one should complain for it. The ingredients could be changed slightly by season but the sensation level is similar for a whole year.

 

If you feel it is too much, Fujiken offers various versions of seafood bowls with less ingredients and at less expensive price.

 

 

 

Restaurant name: Fujiken (富士軒)

Address: Annex (関連等) Ota Market, 3-2-7 Tokai, Ota-ku, Tokyo

Official site (in Japanese): http://homepage3.nifty.com/fujiken-daimatsu/fujiken.htm

Webpage on Ota market supplier association(in Japanese): http://www.otashijo-kanren.jp/tenpo/d_5.html

 

Actually Daimatsu and Fujiken are brother properties operated by a same owner. The family has operated the restaurants for over 100 years since they were based in a former market in Kanda, East Tokyo.  

 

It might be worth visiting Ota Market for either of the two restaurants. But the problem is.... if you have only a chance to have lunch, which one you will go?! Both are too attractive options.

 

It is up to you!!!

 

How to go to Ota Market, please check our previous post. 

  

 

 

 

Ota Market visitor course (大田市場見学者コース)

In Tokyo, it becomes cold day by day. The year-end of 2012 is coming soon.

The month of December is the busiest season for food markets, because during this season Japanese locals have some big events such as Christmas party, year end party and new year family gathering. Then this month's feature by About Food in Japan is "food MARKET" in Tokyo.

As our series of posts last year, Tsukiji fish market is very well known among tourists. But it is not only Tsukiji Market in Tokyo. We will introduce a few other markets of Tokyo on this month.

By the way, for those who plan to visit Tsukiji Market, please keep in mind that tsuna auction observation area is close out from tourists until 19 January 2013 for security reason due to the busiest season for professional dealers.  

For more information, please check announcement in English:

 http://www.shijou.metro.tokyo.jp/english/market/tsukiji.html

 

Well, let's back to a market introduction for today's post, Ota Market.

Ota Market is the largest market in Japan for fruit & vegetable and flower products, locating the bay side of West Tokyo, between Haneda Airport and central town. The share dealt by Ota Market is around a half of bussiness in Tokyo for these fresh products from land. While Tsukiji Market is the largest for fishery products, Ota Market also has fish & seasfood area.

Among all wholesale food markets in Tokyo, only Ota Market set up "Visitor Course" where tourists are welcomed to visit and watch inside of the wholesale market.

Let's see the largest market in Japan, following the visitor course with photos.

First how to get there, it will be easier to take a public bus from JR Omori station　(two stops away from Shinagawa). 

• The bus to Ota Market (大田市場) departs from East Exit bus terminal next to train station, every 30 minutes or more during early morning.   
• It takes around 20 minutes from Omori train station to Ota Market.
• The last stop is for the start point of Visitor Course, while the bus stops at 3 points in the market. 

We put a link for the bus time table here for your information.

From Omori Station to Ota Market Weekday (平日) & Saturday (土曜日)

http://timetablenavi.keikyu-bus.co.jp/dia/timetable/web/51121/1140261011/25/

 

After 20 minutes, you will arrive Ota Market.

First, go inside to this building (事務棟/Jimuto, Office wing)

in front of the bus stop.

 

The visitor course starts from the second floor of this building.

On the floor, visitor center is also located.

But it will open only from 9a.m.　

 No entrance fee is required. 

 If you arrive ealier than 9 a.m., no one would be there to help you.

Anyway, feel free to have the tour by own!

The visitor course starts from this passage way connecting 

 between the office wing and market main area.

  

 

Some information at the market is available in English, Korean and Chinese.

The visitor course goes around Fruit Wing then to Fisheries Wing.

 

Here is the Fruit & Vegetable Wing, the largest market in Japan!

   

 

Vegetable and fruit auction can be found between 6:50a.m. to around 7:30a.m.

It's the best timing to visit Ota Market.

We can see fruit auction behind the stand.

Small scale of auction is also taken place here and there.

 

We found Melon auction!

Melon is considered as a product in Summer season in general.

But during Winter, the fruit is dealt mainly as very expensive gift.

  

 

 

Many of these box are for an autumn icon "sweet potato."

 

    

All box and products are neatly piled up!!

 

Please don't miss the sign for Visitor Courtse (見学者コース) on the floor or steps.

  


 The route takes you to the top roof of the Wings toward Fisheries Wing.

 

 

Although fisheries area is not so big here unlike Tsukiji Market,

some similar scenes can be found from the Visitor Course on the upper floor.

Big scallops are ready for sale!!

 

Finally it reaches to the end of Visitor Course for two wings, Vegetable & Fruit, Fisheries.

Let's go back to the start point, Office Wing.

 

On the way back, if you are lucky....

 

you will see Mt. Fuji from the roof top parking area.

 

If you are interested in Flower market, out of Food category though,

it is also on the Visitor Course.

Flowe Wing is about 5 minutes away from the Vegetable & Fruit market.

Make sure the way on the map at the Market's entrance gate.

 

 Going through under the highway, here it is the entrance of Flower Market.

 

Flower Auction is made with very modern computer system.

  

 

The market is also supported by amazing and modern logistics system.

Flowers in box are automatically running around the market.

  

 

We found some seasonal products for December,

christmas tree and traditional New year decoration.

  

If you have a tour through from Vegetable Wing to Flower Wing since early morning, you must be hungry, like we did.

Let's go back to the start point, Offic Wing (Jimuto, 事務棟) for Vegetable & Fruit market to find some nice breakfast.

We will introduce a couple of Japanese restaurants in Ota Market on the next post.

To be continue....

Ota Market Official site -  http://www.shijou.metro.tokyo.jp/english/market/ota.html

Related posts :

about Tsukiji Fish Market　

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2011/04/tsukiji-market.html

about restaurants in Ota Market

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2012/12/what-to-have-at-ota-market.html

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

Recommendations from local Ramen Lovers

At the end of our monthly feature seriese for November 2012 "Ramen", we asked help of a Ramen-lover group for their recommendation from our food lovers network in Tokyo.

 

The group of some very enthusiastic Ramen lovers is actually a team working for another interest, not food or Ramen. But the team members love ramen so much that they always hold their meeting at a Ramen shop. The group is called "Cinema Colors creative team" which introduces the latest information of films in Japan through their website (http://eigairo.com).

We found the team's catch phrase on the official　site....,

"Our meeting is always held at a Ramen shop.

We deeply love both cinema and Ramen.

Cinema Colors creative team "

( ミーティングはいつもラーメン屋。映画とラーメンをこよなく愛する、シネマカラーズ編集部) 

You see how much the cinema site creative team loves Ramen too?

As per our request, several restaurants are kindly listed by Cinema Colors creative team as their recommendation for international tourists.

From the list, we visited 3 Ramen restaurants. Here are the report of our experiences at these three Ramen restaurants recommended by the Ramen lovers team.

Stagaya (せたが屋) at Shinatatsu (品達) in Shinagawa

Characteristic: The first option is basic or general type of Ramen. 

Setagaya is one of the most popular Ramen restaurants in Tokyo. The name "Setagaya" comes from the district of same name (but different letters, 世田谷) where the flagship restaurant is located.

Location: "Shinatatsu (品達)", where one of Setagaya units is accommodated, is another ramen restaurant collection site along a street, like Tokyo Ramen Street near JR Tokyo station, which we introduced on another post. It is a few minutes away from JR Shinagawa station.
If your accommodation is in Shinagawa area, it will be the easiest dining spot to enjoy Japanese casual local foods.

Recommendation comment from the local Ramen lovers' team:  Enjoy very-Japanese taste stock soup made from fish powder and dried bonite

Our visiting...

When we visited at around 9 p.m., most of seats and tables are already taken mainly by Japanese businessmen. It was a bit late as dinner time in Japan. The fact already showed us how much the restaurant is popular. We can imagine people waiting for the ramen if we visited earlier.

Our order definitely "Setagaya Ramen"(せたが屋ラーメン) that includes all toppings, even though it is a bit more expensive than others.

The restaurant is international tourist-friendly

as the menu in 4 languages, Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean.

Some ramen restaurants ask us some questions for how much to cook noodle, to put galic etc upon ordering a bowl of Ramen. At Setagaya, that sort of adjustment leave on the chef.

While waiting my ordered Setagaya ramen, we enjoyed the chef and the team were working in the kitchen over there.

This is Setagaya Ramen!!

The toppings include

char siu (braised pork slices), Menma (メンマ, bamboo shoot pickles),

Nori (のり, seaweed), Tamago (玉子, boiled egg)

and Aosa-nori (青さのり, special salty dried seaweed from Shimanto-River). 

The soup referred by the Ramen Lovers team is rich and fish-origin flavor. But it is never too strong and that must be liked even by most of non-Japanese people who are less familiar with fish flavor.

If you wish more fish flavor like some Japanese locals, add the original special sauce "Gatsun-shiru"(ガツン汁) placed on your table.

The size of char siu is significantly thick. We were so happy to bite the melting piece.

Restaurant name: Setagaya (せたが屋) Shinagawa branch

Address: 3-26-20 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Official website (in Japanese) : http://setaga-ya.com

View Larger Map

 

The Ramen chain operator also has an unit in New Jersy in U.S.A. 

Lucky for you, New Jersyite! You can enjoy one of the best ramen taste in your place.

Restaurant name: Ramen Setagaya

Address: 243 Main street, Fort Lee, NJ 07024

View Larger Map

 

TETSU, Roppongi Hills North Tower

Characteristic: The speciality of TETSU is "tsukemen" (つけ麺, dipping style soup) as Rokurinsha on our previous post. The restaurant is accommodated in Roppongi Hills North Tower,  a luxury shopping complex. TETSU is recognized as one of the best Tsukemen restaurants in Tokyo, as it has been awarded by some Japanese medias.

The Tsukemen soup is profound mix of thick fish stock and chicken stock cooked for 2days.     

Location: Roppongi Hills North Tower is a part of the high-end commercial complex Roppongi Hills. The building is the closest to Roppongi subway station on Hibiya line. If you get off from Exit 1b, Roppongi station, the building is just a few meters away from the station gate. TETSU is on the Basement 1 floor, which is directly connected from the subway station and where many other casual restaurants gather on a floor.  The ground floor is occupied by Banana Republic on one side of Roppongi Street.

Recommendation comment from the local Ramen lovers' team:

The location, Roopongi, is easily accessible even by international tourists. The biggest feature at TETSU is a hot stone to be put into the tsukemen soup in order to re-heat the soup along the way. It must be fun for everyone to look at the Ramen soup heated by a stone. 

Our visiting...

Like many other Ramen restaurants, first thing we have to buy a ticket for a Ramen bowl to order, before taking a seat. The restaurant's staff came to greet and will be happy to help a new guest for the automatic ticket machine. 

The restaurant's walls are decorated with red bricks and iron-looked black plates. With the pop BGM, none can recognize it as a Ramen restaurant but could believe that it is a Western style restaurant like "American style diner" where hamburger is often provided. We observed that this Ramen restaurant is fun and a bit different from typical ones.

The restaurant asks all guests to wait for over 10 minutes until he/she get a bowl of noodle. The noodle is another feature of TETSU's Ramen. It is very thick like Udon Japanese noodle.

The restaurant offers a choice from hot or cold noodle depending on your taste. 

After 10 minutes or around from our order, we got our Tsukemen noodle.

The thick noodle is resilient and the texture is also like Udon noodle.

It is better match also with creamy tsukemen soup.

   

It is also interesting to have cold noodle dipped in hot soup. The cold and hot food are mixed in the mouth. 

"Ajitama" (cooked half-boild egg) is an optional ordered with supplement Yen 100. The value to enjoy the cooked egg is much more than a coin, Yen 100. Try it!!

One thing we regretted.... the tsukemen was so good to make us keep enjoying the noodle without a break and forget to order a hot stone to re-heat the soup, as recommended.

So we cannot show the stone and how the soup is heated visually.

Sorry, you can try it by own at Roppongi TETSU!

Restaurant name: Tsukemen TETSU 

Address: B1 floor, 6-2-31 Roppongi Hills North Tower

Official website: http://www.tetsu102.com

View Larger Map

 

 

Tsukumo Ramen (Ebisu Honten) (九十九ラーメン　恵比寿本店)

Characteristic:  Tsukumo Ramen (九十九ラーメン) seems to be a typical independent small Ramen restaurant at a glance. It has only two units in Greater Tokyo area.

It is a menu that makes Tsukumo Ramen differentiate from all other Ramen restaurants. 

We will of course talk further about the interesting food later. 

   

Location: Tsukumo Ramen is in Ebisu (恵比寿) for which JR Yamanote line serves and it is next to Shibuya. Some people may know Westin Hotel and Ebisu Garden Place with Michelin 3-star French restaurant, Joel Robuchon, as major spots in Ebisu.

The town is not known so much by international tourists but for Tokyoite it is one of the most attractive gourmet spots where we can find some small independent but very nice restaurants from casual standing bars to some Michelin-star-awarded. Tsukumo Ramen and its innovative menu may be appropriate for the town, we believe.

Recommendation comment from the local Ramen lovers' team:

Tsukumo Ramen's specialty, "Ganso Marukyu cheese Ramen" (元祖○究チーズラーメン) has a very strong visual impact and is served in the rich soup made from miso and cheese. The unique menu must attract international tourists too. 

Our visiting...

Tsukumo Ramen is about 5 minutes walk from JR Ebisu station which is one stop from Shibuya. It is located on a main street stretching away from the train station. As long as you hold a map for the direction, it won't be difficult to reach to the restaurant, going through a pedestrian bridge. 

The shop is enough big easily to find it from the exterior with a red "chochin"(Japanese lantern) lamp and a set of wooden table appropriate for family guests when the weather is fine. From the entrance, you will find the kitchen with a long counter table and some tables.

Like other popular Ramen restaurants, Tsukumo Ramen opens from lunch to dinner time (and much later until 5A.M. in the morning) without a break. 

Taking a seat on the counter table, we found three pots as condiments. 

They will be put into Ramen bowl to make the taste change a bit. 

Here we do not have to think over about what we should take.

We ordered "Cheese Ramen" as already decided.

Just keep in mind that  "Cheese Ramen" is available only for 200 bowls per day, maybe because of limited availability of the special cheese. 

As per the shop staff, the menu is likely to be run out on early evening around between 6 to 7 P.M. If you won't miss it, it is better to arrive there before 6 P.M. for early dinner or lunch.

Finally it is arrived!!!

The cheese is high quality award-wining, hand-made Tom cheese produced by Hanabatake Bokujo (花畑牧場) in Hokkaido.

It must be appreciated even if it is served only with a piece of cheese. But Tsukumo Ramen provides the cheese shredded and put on a bowl of Ramen.

The volume of cheese is impressively large like a full portion of Camembert cheese. 

For those who love both cheese and Ramen independently, Marukyu Cheese Ramen must be a dream combination.

Well, let's try.... when we try to have the first bite, cheese flavor struck us.

The way to enjoy the cheese the most, as per the restaurant's staff, is to make the cheese melt in the thick miso soup little by little. 

Actually it is interesting to have the Ramen in different way, just take a spoonful of cheese, enjoy mix of soup and cheese or have noodle with melted cheese.

We never thought Ramen with a mount of cheese until we came to know this Tsukumo Ramen. The combination is fantastic.

We could come here in a week...and are also a bit curious about other menu listed, Tsukumo Ramen with Tonkotsu soup, miso or shoyu Ramens.

 

Cheese Ramen at Tsukumo Ramen will become unforgettable meal for you too! 

Restaurant name: Tsukumo Tonkotsu Ramen (Ebisu Honten) (九十九ラーメン　恵比寿本店)

Address: 1-1-36 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Website:http://www.tukumo.com

View Larger Map

We got some other Ramen restaurants recommended by Cinema Colors team.

We will keep trying to visit them and report that on this blog continuously even from next month!

Great thanks to the Ramen lovers' team, Cinema Colors!!!

Website of Cinema Colors (in Japanese and not mainly about food though):

http://eigairo.com