I am very excited to hear about this new cafe that opened today in Marunouchi. Cafe Salvador will have magazines, both Japanese and foreign, for customers to peruse while drinking their java. Titles include Vanity Fair, GQ, The New Yorker, Conde Naste Traveller, and more. The cafe collaboration with Conde Naste and the Cafe…
Month: July 2012
Gontran Cherrier Bakery in Tokyo
Gontran Cherrier’s Tiong Bahru Bakery in Singapore Boulanger Gontran Cherrier‘s Singapore outpost is very popular. As a baker I find his offerings very interesting. A dense red miso bread and an intense squid ink baguette (see photo below). I love his croissant with visible, crispy layers. I would show a photo but I can never…
Gyokueido in Ningyocho 人形町の玉英堂
Gyokueidou 玉英堂 Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi Ningyocho 2-3-2 中央区日本橋人形町2-3-2 03-3666-2625 9:30 – 21:00 (Monday – Saturday), until 17:00 (Sunday and holidays) closed the last Sunday of each month http://www.ningyocho.or.jp/shop/a28.html (Japanese) Commanding the corner, this branch of a Kyoto shop dates back 400 years. Gyokueidou is famous for two sweets, its dorayaki of pancakes stuffed with azuki paste…
Toukai in Ningyocho 人形町の東海
Toukai 東海 Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi Ningyocho 1-16-12 中央区日本橋人形町1-16-12 03-3666-7063 9:00 – 19:00, closed Sunday and holidays no website For almost 100 years Toukai has been a popular wagashi shop in Ningyocho. Be sure to pick up their signature Japanese-style waffles. There is a small selection of other wagashi confectionaries. Across the street is a well-stocked sake…
Tsukushi in Ningyocho 人形町のつくし
Tsukushi つくし Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi Ningyocho 2-1-12 中央区日本橋人形町2-1-12 03-3664-7357 8:00 – 20:00 http://www.ntv.co.jp/burari/030329/info02.html (Japanese) Tsukushi is a kanmidokoro (sweets café) that offers the classics of anmitsu and its many variations. There are sweets to go, but the real reason to come here is to sit and in the café to indulge in their signature purin, a…
Yasaiya Mei at Omotesando Hills やさい家めい
When I am craving Japanese vegetables one of the first restaurants that comes to mind is Yasaiya Mei in Omotesando Hills. While the restaurant specializes in produce it also serves meat and seafood. While classified as a “washoku” or Japanese restaurant, the menu often includes Western-style dishes like bagna cauda or a cheese fondue. The…
Gotta Get – Nama Shichimi 生七味
My latest craving is this great shichimi paste from the Kubara Honke Group. This nama shichimi is a paste of shichimi or seven spice. A little bit in miso soup for breakfast adds just the right spice to the savory soup. I also like it with some roasted chicken or yakitori. It is a thick…
Sushi on Sunday in Tokyo
*** updated 2016 November As Tsukiji Market is closed on Sundays many sushi restaurants also take the opportunity to give the staff a day off. That doesn’t mean that sushi isn’t eaten on Sundays in Tokyo. There are several places to look to for sushi on Sunday and national holidays. Check out hotels, department stores,…
Demystifying an Udon Menu
How do you like your noodles? Hot or cold? What temperature do you want the broth? Or, perhaps no broth at all? The texture of the noodle changes with the temperature. The umami changes depending on the type of broth or dipping sauce. While some connoisseurs may insist on only eating it a certain way,…