Tairagai, hokkigai, and kinmedai in a tairagai shell March is a delicious month for seafood. The cold waters still bring fish rich with fat that shines in sashimi or is nice for grilling. Asari clams are great for making into a quick vongole style pasta. Grilling salted fish heads of buri or tai is quick…
Food Sake Tokyo Upcoming Market Field Trips
Kappabashi Tuesday, March 12th 10 a.m. to noon Whether you are looking for new kitchen gadgets or for tableware, you’ll find it all at Kappabashi, the wholesale district for chefs and restaurateurs. Kappabashi is reknowned for its plastic food samples, made into keychains and refrigerator magnets. This guided field trip will introduce you to kitchenware…
Food Sake Tokyo Update – Kanda Yabu Soba is closed
Sad news came to Tokyoites on the news last night as video footage of a fire at the historic Kanda Yabu Soba. News reports that no one was injured in the fire. The fire started last night during dinner service. One of the restaurant employees smelled smoke and the restaurant was quickly evacuated. What I…
Popular Donburi in Japan 日本の丼
Oyako-don from Tamahide in Ningyocho Donburi 丼 are simple and fast meal. It is a large bowl of hot rice with toppings. We often make it for lunch as it is not only easy to assemble, but also easy to clean up after the meal. Many restaurants often serve donburi at lunchtime as an affordable option,…
Food Sake Tokyo Tours
Food Sake Tokyo conducts private guided field trips to Tokyo’s popular food destinations that is led by food professionals. Yukari Sakamoto is a chef, sommelier, shōchū advisor, and author of Food Sake Tokyo. Shinji Sakamoto is a fishmonger and former buyer at Tsukiji Market. Popular topics include market visits, saké or shōchū tastings, or shopping at local supermarkets. The customized tours are…
February Seasonal Japanese Seafood ２月旬の魚
ankimo monkfish liver February is one of the coldest months in Japan, so it is a wonderful time for hot pots (nabé). Monkfish (ankō) is one of Shinji’s favorite types of nabé. We always save the liver and serve it separately. Ankimo is often called the foie gras of the sea. It’s very easy to steam – see a…
Tokyo Pancakes and Morning Sweets
Pancakes are the hot, hot item in Tokyo now. While they are being served all over the city, for some reason many of the restaurants seem to be near Harajuku and Omotesando. Perhaps to reach out to the young, female market that come to this area for shopping? Eggs ‘n Things in Harajuku, Matsunosuke NY…
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…
2013 Michelin Guide Tokyo and Kyoto Online
Great news from Gurunavi, a major Japanese restaurant search site. It has the English-version website for the 2013 Michelin Guide Tokyo and Kyoto. Both of these publications are published by Nihon Michelin Tire Co., Ltd. The online version includes 712 restaurants, hotels, and Japanese inns. Currently, the Japanese version is available in print as well…
Madara Pacific Cod 101
Nabé with cod (small filets on the bottom) For visitors and residents of Japan, we are featuring seafood posts written by my husband, Shinji, a Japanese fishmonger. While in Japan, these are seasonal seafood and dishes that you should definitely look for. All of the food was prepared in our home. A popular winter dish in…
Food Sake Tokyo Update – Nakaiseki Sen has closed
Chef Yumiko Kano’s Nakaiseki Sen has closed. She has moved locations and focusing her energy on her cooking school. Classes are in Japanese only. I recently attended a class here and learned so much about cooking with Japanese vegetables. Definitely worth visiting if you speak Japanese. Her website is below (Japanese only). ホーム
Ginza Sake no Ana 銀座酒の穴
Some of my clients are interested in learning a bit about saké during their visit to Tokyo. However, finding somewhere in Tokyo that serves a wide selection of saké during lunch is challenging. Most of the tours we offer start at Tsukiji Market which is of course only takes place in the morning. Sake no…
Buri and Hamachi Yellowtail 101
Classic Winter Dish of Buri Daikon Buri is simmered with daikon in a sweet soy broth until both are tender. Himi Port in Toyama famous for winter kanburi. These kanburi are at the wholesale fish market which is open to the public. Kanburi at the retail fish market an hour later. Prices range from…
Rose Bakery
*** Note the Kichijoji Rose Bakery has closed. I am so heartbroken. Kichijoji is a great station to visit that is close to both Shinjuku and Shibuya. It can be reached by the Chuo line from Shinjuku or the Inokashira line from Shibuya. Inokashira Koen is a large park just minutes from the station. It…
Shochu – Mitake Imo Jochu 三岳芋焼酎
Mitake first came on my shochu radar when I was working at Nihonbashi Takashimaya in the saké department. One large bottle (1800 ml) was sitting in the storeroom as a customer had special ordered it. It wasn’t a shochu that we normally carried. I asked one of my colleagues about it and she told me…
Tsukemen Momiji in Kokubunji 国分寺 つけ麺 紅葉
Tsukemen Momiji in Kokubunji is a popular shop that almost always has a line outside of its shop. We went recently to the shop 15 minutes before it opened and joined the queue. Most of those in line looked like college students, and all were men. The sign above the shop says that the noodles…
2013 Tsukiji Market Record Tuna by Numbers
2013 Hon-Maguro Tuna sold at Tsukiji Auction photo by Ken Banwell This fresh tuna is a hon-maguro from Ohma in Aomori prefecture in the northern part of Japan. Ohma hon-maguro is considered by many to be the very best specimen of tuna in the world. It was sold on Saturday, January 5th, 2013, the first…
Tsukiji Market Move to Toyosu Extended to March of 2015
FNN News in Japan has reported that Tsukiji Market’s move to Toyosu has been extended one more year to March, 2015. Part of the delay is due to the amount of time that is needed to clean the soil in the new location. While the move was scheduled for sometime in 2014 it’s been pushed…
Tsukiji Market Cheap Eats – Tenfusa Tempura
One of my indulgent breakfasts at Tsukiji Market is tempura anago at Tenfusa. Tenfusa is on the same block of restaurants as the popular Sushi Dai and Daiwa Sushi. While crowds of people queue for a rushed sushi breakfast I like to slide right by them, push aside the noren and slide open the door…
January Seasonal Japanese Seafood １月旬の魚
Saké Steamed Asari Clams The seafood in winter is rich with fat as the fish protects itself from the cold waters. Some sashimi eaten this time of year will be a bit oily as a result. As always, we love to have most seafood as sashimi when possible, like buri, sawara, hirame and hotate. Shinji…
Tsukiji Market Cheap Eats – Toritoh Chicken
While many come to Tsukiji Market for sushi, I prefer to have warm dishes first thing in the morning. There is a wide variety of restaurants offering up more than just raw fish. Toritoh is both a restaurant and a retail shop. The retail shop in the outer market that sells both raw and cooked…
Tsukiji Cheap Eats – Orimine Bakers
Tokyo is filled with many wonderful bakeries. I have favorites throughout the city including Viron, Gontran Cherrier, and Maison Kayser. As the city is so big it’s a good to have a knowledge of where the great bakeries are as you never know when you’ll find yourself in an area with great bread. Orimine Bakers…
Food Sake Tokyo Update – Kiya Nihonbashi has moved
Kiya Knife Shop 木屋 *Note – this is the NEW address for Kiya Nihonbashi Nihonbashi-Muromachi 2-2-1 中央区日本橋室町 2-2-1 Chuo-Ku Tokyo Coredo-Muromachi. 1F Tel 03-3241-0110 STORE HOURS 10am – 8pm seven days a week Closed only on New Year’s Day. http://www.kiya-hamono.co.jp/english/index.html (English) The corner shop, opened in 1792, has a sign in English, “World’s Finest Cutlery” over the door. The…
Tsukiji Market Tuna Auction Closed Until January 21
The end of the year brings on the biggest sales for many food and beverage companies in Japan. In particular, Tsukiji Market is extremely busy in December and the beginning of January. The market has announced that the tuna auction is closed for this time of year and will reopen to the public on January…
Tokyo Station’s Popular Ekiben 東京駅人気駅弁
Ekiben are literally bento from different eki or stations in Japan. Part of the pleasure of traveling by train in Japan is sampling a variety of local foods sold in bento boxes at major stations throughout the country. A bento from a coastal village most likely will showcase locally harvested seafood while a mountain village may feature vegetables harvested from the…
December Seasonal Japanese Seafood １２月旬の魚
ankimo asari pasta buri kamayaki Winter has arrived in Tokyo. The waters surrounding the island nation are cold in most parts of the country and the fish are rich with fat. At the moment Shinji, my husband who is a fishmonger, is crazy about wild buri (yellowtail) from Hokkaido. We look for the kama (collar)…
Michelin 2013 Tokyo Yokohama Shonan
Attached please find the list of winners for 2013 Michelin Tokyo Yokohama and Shonan in English. The book is only being published in Japanese as of this year. Tokyo Michelin 2013 List of three star winners.
Michelin Tokyo 2013 Three Star Restaurants
Today Michelin announced the newest stars in Tokyo, Yokohama, and Shonan. There are 6 new two stars, 16 new one starsion the 6th edition of the Michelin Guide for the Metropolis area. 2 restaurants were promoted from one to two stars. Here is the list of three star restaurants: Azabu Yukimura – Japanese…
Tsukiji Market Move to Toyosu in 2014
NHK reports on the evening news that it has been decided that the world’s largest seafood market, Tsukiji Market, will move to Toyosu in 2014. While the information in this brochure is in Japanese, if you scroll down you can see sketches of what the future market will look like. Space has been reserved to…
Cheap Eats – Taniya Udon in Ningyocho 人形町の谷や
Udon is a dish we often eat at home for lunch. Udon noodles are sold in the supermarket as dried noodles that need to be boiled and rehydrated or fresh (and also frozen) that just needs to be blanched in hot water. While both of these versions are fine for a simple meal at home,…
Tsukiji Market Calendar 2013
Kibun Satsuma-age (fish cakes) UPDATE as of 1/2/2013: Tsukiji Market move to Toyosu has been pushed back one year to March of 2015. If you are planning to visit Tsukiji Market in 2013 it is best to consult the official market calendar here and avoid days highlighted in red or purple: http://www.shijou.metro.tokyo.jp/calendar/2013.html#tabs-1 New rules for…
Horumon-yaki Rukuma Tokyo ホルモン焼 婁熊東京
Small bite When I crave offal I usually head to the casual standing bar Saisei Sakaba in Shinjuku. When I was contacted by the production team for Andrew Zimmern before his trip to Tokyo I suggested this restaurant and was thrilled to see it on his program. He is seen on the program behind the counter…
Tsukiji Market Cheap Eats – Indo Curry Nakaei 印度カレー中栄
Half and Half (Karakuchi and Tomato Fumi) For over 100 years Indo Curry Nakaei 印度カレー中栄 has been making it’s spicy curry for the market workers. The original shop, in Nihonbashi, opened in 1912. Nihonbashi is where the fish market was before it moved to its current location. The curries here are made from scratch and…
Food Sake Tokyo Book Updates
Some updates to my book, Food Sake Tokyo: New Castle Curry in Ginza has closed. Hasegawa Saketen in Azabu-Juban has moved to a new location around the corner. The new address is Azabu-Juban 2-2-7.
November Seasonal Seafood １１月旬の鮮魚
November Seasonal Sashimi Monkfish Liver We love this time of year as the seafood is rich with fat as the waters turn cold. Some of our favorites this time of year is ankou (monkfish), for its meat which we often make in a nabe (hot pot) but also for its liver. The photo above is…
Tsukiji Tour
Tsukiji Market is the world’s largest seafood market. This tour explores the outer market and the many different food, knives, kitchenware, tableware, and more at the market. Above is my favorite tamagoyaki shop, Shouro. While Tsukiji is famous for its seafood, the outer market has many stalls with produce, pickles, kombu, katsuobushi, nori, and much more….
Ningyocho Tour
Ningyocho is a lovely district of Tokyo that is filled with many shops, some with artisans at work like this sembei shop. You’ll also discover a popular taiyaki stall as well as several sweets shops with azuki stuffed ningyoyaki cakes and much more. There are always surprising delights in the area, including these crackers with…
Kappabashi Tour
Kappabashi is where chefs and restaurateurs come to get everything they need to set up shop. I will be guiding a group through Kappabashi with Elizabeth Andoh’s Taste of Culture on Friday, November 16th. Colorful hashioki for resting your chopsticks. Plastic food samples is perhaps what Kappabashi is most famous for. These frosty mugs of…
October Seasonal Japanese Seafood １０月旬の鮮魚
As the waters become cooler the fish become rich with fat. We love sanma (Pacific saury) this time of year, both as sashimi, or simply salted and grilled. If there is a nice cup of nihonshu on the table, eating the guts of the sanma is also a treat. For miso soup a handful of…
Food Sake Tokyo Tours with Taste of Culture
Tsukiji Market, Ningyocho, depachika, and Kappabashi are four of my favorite places in Tokyo to explore the food culture of Japan. I have the honor of conducting tours with Elizabeth Andoh’s Taste of Culture this November. The tour includes a copy of my book, Food Sake Tokyo, part of The Terroir Guides published by The…
Shochu Slushee
What better way to beat the heat in Tokyo than with shochu on the rocks. Or how about a popsicle? Better yet, combine the two! A friend recently posted on facebook a cocktail that he had out at a local izakaya. This blue popsicle is called Garigari-kun. He was very popular in the 80’s and…
Japanese Beverage Trends – Low Alcohol Fruity Drinks
There has been an explosion of fruity, low-alcohol drinks on the market. Chuhai drinks or cocktails at about 3% alcohol. This is popular especially with young Japanese in their 20’s. The packaging is colorful and often includes pictures of fruit. The three big companies, Suntory, Asahi, and Kirin, are all active in this category. Back…
Popular Donburi in Japan
Donburi are great one bowl meals. A large bowl of hot rice with toppings. We often eat these at home when we are in a hurry. Or, if Shinji is making the meal, he often resorts to donburi. They are easy to assemble and only one dish needs to be washed. The Asashi Shimbun reported…
September Seasonal Japanese Seafood ９月旬の鮮魚
Grilled Nishin While summer heat is still bearing down slowly autumn seafood are coming into the market. Hokkaido harvested its first akijake this week as well as sanma from Choshi port in Chiba. We love asari clams with pasta. Nishin is a very fish fish, but easier on the palate when grilled. Hirame is excellent…
Tokyo’s Best Coffee – Five Questions for Mal Simpson
While Japan is known for its rich tea culture, there is no shortage of coffee shops, some with a cult following. Many citizens of this fast-paced metropolis stay energized with java. Shochu is more up my alley so I asked a friend, and coffee aficionado, who has made the rounds of Tokyo’s top coffee destinations…
Gotta Get? Pepsi Salty Watermelon
Having just indulged in a shaved watermelon ice with rum syrup at Toraya Cafe in Omotesando, watermelon was on my mind. We ran across this sparkling Pepsi Salty Watermelon at our local supermarket. The packaging is great with blue skies, sandy beach, and watermelon which looks like many a blow-up ball you’ll see at…
Nihonbashi Yukari 日本橋ゆかり – August Bento Lunch
My favorite restaurant in Tokyo is Nihonbashi Yukari. Third-generation chef Kimio Nonaga is the 2002 Iron Chef champion. The food is amazing and I most of all I appreciate chef Nonaga’s passion for sharing Japanese cuisine. He graciously answers all of our questions about the ingredients, where it was sourced, and preparation. He also shares…
Toraya Cafe in Omotesando
There is no better way to beat the Tokyo heat in the middle of the day than with an ice-cold sweet. This suika (watermelon) mizore at Toraya Cafe in Omotesando Hills hits the spot. What caught my attention to this when I first spotted it on a friend’s facebook page was that it comes…
August Seasonal Japanese Seafood
Photo of anago tempura. Some of my favorite seafood is in season this time of year, particularly unagi and anago. For unagi I love Nodaiwa and for anago, Tamai in Nihonbashi is a treat. Kamasu (barracuda) is lovely just salted and grilled. The meat is light and flakey. Kawahagi (thread-sail filefish) sashimi is light and…
Cafe Salvador in Marunouchi
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…
Food Sake Tokyo 