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 –…
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The Tavern at Andaz Tokyo
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….
Nihonbashi Yukari Shōkadō Bentō
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…
Tsukiji Turret Coffee
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,…
Inarizushi Bentō
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.
Tsukiji Breakfast Toto Grill
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,…
Mikado Kissaten Hot Dog Breakfast
The morning hot dog set at Mikado kissaten in Nihonbashi. Mikado has been roasting coffee beans and serving coffee since 1948. The shop is also famous for its mocha soft serve. Service here is very kind. Tokyo-to, Chūō-ku, Nihonbashi Muromachi 1-6-7 https://mikado-coffee.com
Kyobashi Isehiro Yakitori
Not far from Tokyo Station is one of my go-to yakitori shops. Isehiro has been grilling chicken skewers for over one hundred years (est. 1921). The tsukune chicken balls, my favorite in the city, have a meaty texture. Isehiro calls these dango on their menu. When I worked at Takashimaya depachika down the street I…
Food Sake Tokyo
Three years ago today I had the pleasure of taking Alton Brown on a tour in Tokyo. We did a book exchange at the end, he gave me a copy of this newest cookbook and I gave him Food Sake Tokyo. It was such a pleasure to meet him and help him find knives at…
Department of Salad
It’s been a long time since I have updated my blog. While coronavirus cases in Japan are relatively low to the US, we are far behind on getting vaccinated. The Olympic Games start in about a month and the Paralympic Games in about two months. For now the Food Sake Tokyo market tours have come…
Nobu’s Cup Sushi
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,…
Salmon Takikomigohan and Ikura
Salmon cooked with rice and topped with ikura. A mother and child dish, oyakodon. Most people will think of a chicken and egg dish. This is the same, just a seafood version. Grilled salmon (we use salted salmon filets) is added to the rice before it is cooked. Do not put in raw salmon as…
Food Sake Tokyo Updates
Thank you very much for purchasing Food Sake Tokyo. Arigato. Here is a PDF of the Food Sake Tokyo Updates 20170829. It is current as of 4 July 2019.
Food Sake Tokyo Cooking Classes
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…
Metropolis magazine for restaurants, trends, and new openings.
I have returned to writing for Metropolis magazine. Here you’ll find restaurant reviews and monthly columns on new restaurants and food trends in Tokyo. Here is a link to my pieces: https://metropolisjapan.com/author/ysakamoto/ Thank you for following Food Sake Tokyo. We are still offering market tours in Tokyo.
Yukari Sakamoto: Shochu advisor
About my wine and Shochu days for The Indigenous Bartender.
New Breakfast Spot at Tsukiji Market
There is a brand new place to have breakfast at Tsukiji Market that is void of tourists and offering a value priced meal. There is a new facility, Tsukiji Uogashi, with about sixty retail shops for seafood and produce on the first floor. The first floor is open to the general public after 9 a.m. Prior…
My Go-To Brasserie
My go-to brasserie is Girandole at the Park Hyatt Tokyo. The menu includes many classics like Salad Nicoise (2,300 JPY) and Pate de Campagne (2,600 JPY). I love the Japanese twist on the salad which included seared tuna. The pate de campagne is dense without being heavy. There is a nice selection of wines by…
A Rainbow of Pickles
A colorful meal based on Japanese pickles is refreshing and light. Nishiri is a famous pickle shop based in Kyoto. My favorite meal here is the pickle sushi, made with pickles on top of the rice instead of raw fish. Here are two other set meals composed of pickles including eggplant, daikon stuffed with lemon,…
Meruhenk Sandwiches
Japanese sandwiches are my go-to meal when I am on the run, even before onigiri rice balls. Meruhen is my favorite sandwich shop and if I am not near one, then some of the convenience stores like 7-11, Lawson, or Family Mart, also has great sandwiches. The sandwiches are built on crustless pain de mie (white bread)….
Food Sake Tokyo 