gotanda

The place that I go for rehab is closed on Thursdays (I'm getting my shoulder treated), so I try to go galavanting on these days.

This week, I went to Gotanda, which is at one end of our train line.

I first bought some baked goods from Suginoki which we'll try tomorrow for breakfast.

As I was waiting at the traffic light to make my way to Les Cacaos, I noticed a woman standing close by with several large paper shopping bags filled with boxes.

On the boxes said 7025 Franklin Avenue...which reminded me that I had bookmarked that restaurant....so I stopped in for lunch.

This shop is "fancy" but they serve burgers and sandwiches...it was fun watching the guys in the kitchen "do their thing".

Cutting sandwich towers with precision.

Another frying up burgers on the griddle.

Towers of paper boxes for take out orders.

The delivery staff running in and out.

The shop was only open half an hour and they were doing steady business with their take out orders.

I ordered the 1/4 pound chili cheese burger.

The bun was toasted, cheese oozy and the chili could have been spicier.

I enjoyed this and look forward to coming back to try other items on their menu.

After lunch, I went across to Les Cacaos, a chocolate shop.

The chocolatier/owner worked under Pierre Marcolini.

I purchased the fig orange chocolate cake, pistachio cherry cake, speculoos cookie and dark chocolate cookie.

The cookies are thick and crisp.

The cakes are moist.

Everything was delicious.

I look forward to going back to try their cakes from their showcase.

The weather has been grey, cold, drizzly.

I hope the weather is sunny where you are.

7025 Frankline Avenue
3-15-18 Higashi Gotanda
Shinagawa, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3441.5028
Closed Tuesdays
Hours: Mondays 11:00-15:00, Wednesdays-Saturdays 11:00-21:00, Sundays 11:00-18:00

Les Cacaos
2-19-2 Higashi Gotanda
Shinagawa, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6450.2493
Closed Tuesdays
Hours: 11:00-19:00

yakiimo season

It's yakiimo (roasted sweet potato) season.

This variety was Benitenshi, which we tried earlier this year, was 198 yen (plus tax).

The flesh was super sweet with a natural sugar coating from the roasting.

What are you enjoying these days?

ginza ranzu

After the typhoon passed on Sunday, Satoshi cleaned up the lanai and we got out and about.

Unfortunately not a lot of places were open.

Luckily the shopping mall nearby was opening at 13:00, so we stopped in to Ginza Ranzu, a tiny coffee shop for something sweet and to wait until the stores opened.

Satoshi ordered the mini chestnut parfait (you can kind of see it in the photo).

I ordered the chocolate parfait and was surprised with this huge thing!

This place was quite pricey...not sure if we'll be back, but I'm glad we checked out this place.

The weather was so summery and warm after that typhoon...this really hit the spot.

The news footage of the damage to some areas of Tokyo as well as Northern Honshu are sad and krazy!

Sending good thoughts to everyone in the affected areas and hoping they will be able to get back to their daily routines soon.

Ginza Ranzu
Kamata Sunrise
7-51-12 Nishikamata
Ota, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3737.7585
Hours: 9:00-21:00

update

We are fine. (sunrise this morning)

Many of the rivers around Tokyo as well as other prefectures overflowed.

Residents near these areas were evacuated, the damage near these rivers were pretty severe.

News footage shows the damage throughout Japan.

We have sun today and the temps are supposed to go to 29C (84F)...rain to return tomorrow.

Thank you for checking up on us.

We had lots of rain and krazy winds, but we were lucky.

No loss of power or any damage.

Praying for those in the affected areas, hoping they will be able to get back to their daily routines soon.

Take care everyone!

typhoon hagibis

Typhoon Hagibis (or Number 19 as Japan calls it) is making its way towards Japan and is supposed to make landfall on Saturday.

It is supposed to be bigger (and stronger) than the one that hit Chiba Prefecture last month.

It is the start of a 3-day weekend here but we are staying put and hoping for the best.

Crossing fingers we don't lose power.

Hoping you have a nice weekend where you are.

yoyogi

Yesterday, I went to the Yoyogi area.

There was a bagel shop that I wanted to check out, but I didn't check their website and they were closed...boo!

So I went across the street to 365 Days and picked up some items to try.

The croquant chocolat (left) is their most popular...a chocolate bread filled with some chocolate ganache and chocolate puffs

Randonnee (top right) which means to mountain climb in French...the bread is rye filled with all sorts of "stuff"...

Scone (bottom right)...plain filled with oats

We'll be trying the randonnee and scone for breakfast today.

The croquant chocolate was so good!

I also went to Minimal to try their chocolate mont blanc.

Phyllo wrapped chocolate chestnut tarte topped with chocolate chestnut ice cream and a chocolate cream.

There was also a chocolate wine sauce and nibs on the plate.

Delicious with some black coffee.

Afterwards I walked to Shibuya and picked up this Viennoise Tuna sandwich from Viron.

The weather was sunny and warm but not totally blazing.

There are many more places I want to check out in this area, I'll be back.

365 days
1-6-12 Tomigaya
Shibuya, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6804.7357
Hours: 7:00-19:00

Minimal
2-1-9 Tomigaya
Shibuya, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6322.9998
Hours: 11:30-19:00

this and that

There is construction happening all over Tokyo so that they will have more hotels and such for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Our station is also getting a facelift.

This is what it looked like last November.

This is what it looks like now.

Hopefully they will make it in time for the Olympics.

First time for me to see red bartlett pears at the market.

Hoping they will be sweet.