April 2025 – Food Sake Tokyo

Daishichi The Gate

One of the highlights this week was a tasting of the release of a new sake called The Gate made in collaboration by top sommelier Xavier Thuizet and Daishichi sake brewery in Nihonmatsu, Fukushima. Xavier san presented the same sake at three temperatures and in three different Riedel wine glasses. Fascinating tasting three expressions of…

Uokyu

I love the shitamachi area, old part of Tokyo, in particular Nihonbashi and Ningyocho. There are many historic shops – including many food shops that go back many generations. Uokyu in Ningyocho specializes in kasuzuke – fish filets marinated in sake lees and then charcoal grilled. There was already a queue before the store opened…

Tara-chan

One of the things I love about Tokyo is that there is never enough time to try all the cool restaurants. So one has to create lists and consider what dishes to try. Unique meals like this one jump to the top. Even better, it opens at 7:00 a.m. and is on my way to…

Mishima Sakuraya Unagi

Shizuoka prefecture is famous for unagi. Sakuraya 桜家 has been serving unagi since 1856. The unajyu is an eel, grilled, and seasoned in a not too sweet soy sauce over a bed of rice. A big difference from the Tokyo sweeter soy sauce. It’s a popular restaurant, so best to have reservations. We called ahead…