Aiste Miseviciute of Luxeat is a friend who put chef Bruno Menard on my radar. My first time to try chef’s cuisine was at a wine dinner at the Imperial Hotel with Don Melchor wines. I was taken in with not only the cuisine, but chef’s fine touches on the dishes to pair them with the…
Category: event
Tsukiji Wonderland
Tsukiji Wonderland is a documentary on the world’s largest fish market. As Tsukiji Market was scheduled to move to Toyosu on November 7th this year, this movie was a chance for the director to capture the market to share with the world. The movie currently being shown in Tokyo is only in Japanese with a…
Umami International Symposium 2016
The International Umami Symposium 2016, was held in Yokohama on Sunday, June 5th. The presenters consisted of chefs and scientists and revealed many new insights. Some highlights from my notes: Fire and fermentation are two ways to change umami in food. At two months a baby can understand umami flavor and has an innate preference…
Nose-to-Tail at the New York Grill (May 16-23)
The Park Hyatt Tokyo’s New York Grill offers a special menu from May 16-23, 2016. The Nose-to-Tail wagyu event is a five-course event for meat lovers. Chef de Cuisine of the New York Grill and Bar Federico Heinzmann is from Argentina. Federico was saying that Argentines eat about 55 kg of beef a year,…
Sumo 101
When I first lived in Japan in the late 80s, there was a great wrestler named Chiyonofuji, nicknamed “The Wolf”. He was very strong and handsome. I became hooked on sumo. We went to Ryogoku to the Kokugikan stadium in Tokyo and watched from the cheap seats in the last row. A decade later I…
Park Hyatt Tokyo Kozue’s Tohoku Heroes
Kozue at the Park Hyatt Tokyo is a lovely spot for Japanese cuisine. At lunch if the skies are clear you have a gorgeous view of Mount Fuji. At night the city twinkles below you. Two years ago Kozue did a special Tohoku menu to show their support for three prefectures that were hit hard…
Chikalicious NY Dough’ssant in Tokyo
For a limited time, Chikalicious NY dough’ssant is available at Ginza Matsuya. I still have yet to try a Cronut, but today while walking through Ginza Matsuya I saw what I thought was a Cronut. There are a few shops making these in Tokyo. The only one that I have liked until now is The…
2015 FoodEx
FoodEx Japan started today and runs through Friday. It is held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. A few highlights included tasting through Finland’s Kyro Distillery’s portfolio. I had never tried a single malt rye whisky that had not been aged in a barrel yet, the Juuri. Lacking the tannins from the barrel it was brighter…
Noma Japan at the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo
The culinary event of the century. Chef Rene Redzepi and his team in Japan. 60,000, yes, sixty-thousand people, on the waiting list. I was lucky as I was contacted by someone in New Zealand who had a lunch reservation but could not make it. I didn’t believe that I was actually going until we checked…
Chef Narisawa’s Kitchen Car – One of Japan
Starting January 7 and running through March 8 adjacent to the Diner’s Club Ice Rink in Roppongi, chef Yoshihiro Narisawa is serving cuisine from his first Kitchen Car. I much prefer the name the Japanese have given to food trucks, kitchen cars. If you are at all familiar with chef Narisawa’s gorgeous and spacious kitchen at…
Aoyama Farmer’s Market
Food Sake Tokyo is delighted to host guest blogger Janice Espa. Janice is passionate about food and Japan. She is a great photographer and all of the photos here are from Janice. Janice’s most recent guest post on the Best of Japan Tour now being offered at Coredo Muromachi in Nihonbashi, is very popular and some followers…
World’s Greatest Wine Festival
My dear friend Yamada-san September 11, 2001 was a day that changed my life. I had worked as a cellar rat at Windows on the World. A friend of mine, who also started out with me working in the wine cellar, had just been promoted at WOW. We had a wine class together on September…
ABC Kitchen’s Chef Dan Kluger at the Park Hyatt Tokyo
Toast, ricotta cheese, and kabocha puree. It doesn’t get much more simple than this, yet the combination of flavors and contrast of textures was blissful. I was satisfied and ready to call it an evening as it was so delicious. The toast is seasoned with olive oil and then pan-fried. This is exactly what I…
Park Brewery at Park Hyatt Tokyo
Now that the rainy season has ended summer is officially here. Temperatures are soaring and while many are cooling down at beer gardens on department store rooftops, a great all-you-can-drink craft beer offer is at the Deli in the Park Hyatt Tokyo. The Deli has been doing this summer only special for five…
Sepia Chicago at Park Hyatt Tokyo
It’s always nice to go home. Ten years ago, I left New York City to pursue a career in food and wine in Tokyo my first job was as the sommelier at the New York Grill and Bar at the Park Hyatt Tokyo. It’s an amazing hotel and one of my favorite restaurants in Tokyo….
Asahi Super Dry Extra Gold Bar – Summer Only Bar
As summer is approaching Japan’s big beer companies are shaking things up with new bars and products. Asahi Super Dry Extra Gold Bar Shinjuku opened today and will run through September 30th. It is located just outside of Shinjuku Station’s Nishi Guchi exit at Concourse MB on the 1st floor. It’s a standing bar only….
Hanami 101
Each spring cherry trees around Tokyo blossom while friends, families, and co-workers gather under the blossoms to enjoy the ritual of hanami. If you are lucky to be in Tokyo this week, it is the quintessential Japanese experience. A few tips on how to best enjoy hanami. Most essential is to pick up a bentō. The best place…
Jack Daniels Pop-Up Bar in Ginza
Now through March 22nd in Ginza (Ginza 2-6-3) there is a pop-up Jack Daniels bar. Hours are weekdays 17:00 – 22:00, Saturday 13:00 – 22:00, Sunday and holidays 13:00 – 21:00. No table charge, as you will find at a lot of bars. And light snacks are also served.
Amour du Chocolat at Takashimaya
Kyushu Shochu Chocolates Junmai Ginjo Saké and Uméshu Chocolates Tengumai Saké with Tsujiguchi’s Nama Chocolate * all photos are from the Takashimaya website If you are traveling to Tokyo between now and February 14th, be sure to stop by a department store to check out all of the chocolates that are for sale. Valentine’s Day…
Gourmet Fair at Tokyu Toyokoten in Shibuya ウマすぎグルメ祭
This looks like it will be a great fair. The Umasugi Gourmet Fair at Tokyu Toyokoten. (loosely translated as too delicious gourmet fair) A wide variety of food including Chinese soup dumplings, karaage (juicy Japanese fried chicken), ramen, and much more. Tokyu Toyokoten in Shibuya. 8th floor. Note that the event closes at 6:30 p.m….
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