Osechi ryōri is the traditional New Year’s Cuisine that is rich in symbolism. Over the years I have slimmed down what I prepare to only my favorites and then enjoy these dishes over the first few days of the new year. Here are some of the auspicious dishes: kuri kinton sweet potatoes and chestnuts –…

Lovely lunch at The Tavern – Grill and Lounge in the Tokyo Andaz hotel in Toranomon. On the 52nd floor and with high ceilings there are some dramatic views of the city overlooking the Imperial Palace and towards Tokyo Sky Tree. The salad Nicoise includes seared tuna, quail eggs, and caviar is a lovely starter….

The shōkadō bentō at Nihonbashi Yukari is a luxurious lunch. In the evenings the Iron Chef @kimiononaga serves a multi-course kaiseki menu of seasonal dishes. The lunch starts with a savory custard which is chilled in the summer and hot in winter. The bentō box has four sections: a collection of small bites – like…

My favorite coffee in Tokyo is Turret Coffee near Tsukiji Market. The seasonal latte at the moment is a Christmas inspired Buche de Noel with berries and a hint of rum. If you go be sure to check out the turret parked inside. It’s the vehicle used at the market for deliveries. Turret Coffee Chūō-ku,…

A vegetarian bentō of inarizushi fried tōfu cooked in a sweet syrup and stuffed with rice. Inarizushi are popular with many of my food tour clients.

Tohto Grill @totogurill is where the workers at Tsukiji go for breakfast and lunch. This breakfast is the B Set for the day. Seven small bites including tuna sashimi, oysters, and shūmai dumplings for 950 yen ($7). As you can see in the photos of the was food the menu is extensive. Fried shrimp, curry,…

I was so happy to pick up a yunomi tea cup from Katsuya Kato. Kato san’s kiln is in Aichi prefecture. I love the contrast of the clay and the natural ash glaze. It’s hard to choose one to bring home. Holding the cups in my hand I could find one that felt just the…

Nobu Matsuhisa introduced serving sushi in sake guinomi cups in his sushi cookbook. It’s a quick, easy, and fun way to serve sushi for parties. While we’re not hosting friends in our home we sometimes use this colorful method for ourselves. Simply put vinegared sushi rice in guinomi sake cups and top with sashimi, roe,…

Food Sake Tokyo has resumed cooking classes out of our home. The private cooking classes are held in a traditional (small) Japanese kitchen. We can host one or two guests. The topic of the class are catered to your needs. Some possible topics include: Japanese Basics (rice, miso soup, two vegetable dishes and a protein…

About my wine and Shochu days for The Indigenous Bartender.

Berkeley’s Tokyo Fish Market is as close as you’ll get to grocery shopping in Japan. Whether you’ve just gotten back from a trip to Japan or have a particular craving, this place is hard to beat. The selection of fish is superb, the seafood and deli section is clever, and the aisles of imported products…

Staying on top of the food scene at Tokyo has become much easier with social media. Ten years ago when I started research for my book, Food Sake Tokyo, I relied heavily on Japanese food magazines and tips from food writers, chefs, sommeliers, and other industry insiders. I still rely on these same sources, but…

A recent trend with Japanese beer companies is to produce a high-end brew for their portfolio. Suntory’s newest product to this category is Master’s Dream. This is a rich, aromatic beer with a nice balance of bitter and sweet notes. It is made with a traditional “diamond” malt, European hops, and spring water. I also…

camp (small letter c) has been on my Go List for a long time. The signature curry at camp serves up a day’s recommended portion of vegetables. Most of us could probably do better at eating vegetables, so to get my daily requirement in one delicious meal makes me happy. The curry is quite smoky….