jiyugaoka

I needed to replace my portable sun umbrella, so I went to check out the Waterfront flagship store.

They make all sorts of umbrellas and many are super light and compact.

On top of protecting you against sun and rain, this one is supposed to be able to withstand wind too.

Hopefully this one will last me a couple of years.

Lunch was at Mellow Brown Coffee.

I love the space of this cafe...large windows looking out onto the street, perfect for people watching.

Ice brewed coffee, it apparently comes out of a tap (just like beer).

It looks like beer but there is no alcohol in this it was super smooth coffee.

The avocado smash plate...mashed avocado, some feta cheese, a squeeze of lemon...oozy poached egg...perfect on their toasted bread.

Will be back to try more of their menu items.

Kouign Amann from Patisserie Paris S'eveille.

Super flaky, buttery...simple goodness.

I want to go back to try their cakes.

I've roamed around Jiyugaoka on past trips to Tokyo, but this time around I think the layout of the area has changed a little (or I've probably forgotten how the layout was in the past).

I'm glad we live relatively close by now, I'll be back to explore some more.

Waterfront Flagship Store
1-9-1 Jiyugaoka
Meguro, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6421.2108
Hours: 11:00-20:00

Mellow Brown Coffee
2-12-10 Okusawa
Setagaya, Tokyo
Phone: 03.5726.9805
Hours: 8:00-21:00

Patisserie Paris S'eveille
2-14-5 Jiyugaoka
Meguro, Tokyo
Phone: 03.5731.3230
Hours: 10:00-20:00

tofuya gen-san

There is a small tofu shop on my way to Kamata station...Tofuya Gen-san.

Before going to Hawaii this summer, we tried their oboro tofu.

For 200 yen, this was huge!

At least 2 blocks worth and the texture seemed like firm tofu.

Then after coming back from Hawaii, we tried their yose tofu.

For 170 yen, this was smaller than the oboro, but it was creamy and almost like custard.

They don't always have the yose tofu, so I am glad we got to try this one.

Apparently there is no difference between oboro and yose tofu.

Hope to try their other items like aburaage (fried tofu) and yuba(bean curd skins).

Tofuya Gen-san
7-14-3 Nishi-kamata
Ota, Tokyo
Closed Sundays
Hours: 7:30-19:30

fish drawer (success)

You may or may not remember that I was going to try using the fish drawer.

Well, in that time, we moved to Tokyo and I now have a totally different fish drawer.

On top of that, there are no instructions on how to use it...boo!

So, thankful for the internet, including YouTube on how to grill fish using it. (You may not be able to view the YouTube video if there are country restrictions)

Anyway, according to the video, the guy instructs you to line the bottom of the drawer with foil.

Put the rack on.

Put another layer of foil onto the rack and poke holes in the foil.

Dry the fish well and put it on top of the foil layered rack.

Cook the fish.

Get your "fish plate" ready...

I need to figure out how long to cook the sanma (saury), and how to control the heat, but I think this came out pretty good for my first try.

Also, clean up was a cinch with the foil...all I needed to wash was the rack.

Glad I got over my fear of using the fish drawer and will use it more often.

curry okayu

Super easy (as long as you have the "okayu" (porridge) button on your rice cooker).

1/4 cup washed rice
600 milliliters water or dashi(stock) (3 cups)
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/4 onion, diced
1 small tomato, chopped

Cook on "okayu" mode.

NOTES: Next time, I would saute the onions before cooking them with the okayu. Also I would add the tomato before serving. We'll be having this again, especially when the temps get colder.

hiroeya

We tried a soba shop near the Hasunuma station, Hiroeya.

While their soba was delicious, I think the place could be a little cleaner...eek!

Not sure if we'll be back, but I'm glad we tried them.

Hiroeya
1-17-14 Higashi Yaguchi
Ota, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3731.3097
Hours: 10:30-21:00

on the lanai

So far, these are the only plants left on my lanai.

The tropical ones...because we get the afternoon sun and it was blazing this summer...

At least the ti plant has babies...



And the pineapple looks like it is getting big.

I will need to dispose of the other plants, not sure if the freesia survived, will find out after winter.

Hopefully the cyclamen is okay too...for now though these are the only ones that are still alive...sigh.

rengetsu

Rengetsu is a cafe near Ikegami that is in a machiya (old Japanese home).

We had their jitabyodon which is part of that stamp rally I told you about earlier.

Super tender pork, rice, some pickled ginger and sweet potato chips.

This was delicious but pricey.

We'll be back to try other items on their menu.

Rengetsu
2-20-11 Ikegami
Ota, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6410.5469
Hours: Mondays-Thursdays 10:00-18:00, Fridays-Sundays 10:00-22:00