foodie saturday

This past Saturday, Satoshi had the day off. After taking care of some appointments, we headed to Sone (so-nay) for lunch. (Sone is a couple of train stops from where we live.)

I had been looking through a foodie guide and they featured a little restaurant that served some enticing curry.

Bull's Kitchen is about 10 minutes from the Hankyu Sone station. They serve lunch and dinner and everything on their menu is meat! no seafood or chicken...just beef or pork.

Satoshi ordered the hamburger simmered in a clay pot--1200 yen (about US$12). This came out sizzling with a demi-glace sauce and some veggies. The hamburger was huge too (though it is hard to see under all those veggies). There was also an easy over egg (under the renkon). He said the hamburger was tasty and liked the sauce.

I ordered the beef curry--1000 (about US$10). This came in a l-o-n-g dish, with green beans, an eggplant, mushroom, carrot and renkon.

From the photo it looks like there was no meat, but there was ONE big tender piece. The curry was spicy and came with a cup of consomme.

I think we may go back to try their cutlet.

Up the street was Patisserie Vin Blanc, a cake shop I had read about before. They don't have a place to eat-in so we took out.

Satoshi got their caramel cocoa 330 yen (about US$3.30), this had a caramel mousse, almond cake, cream and coffee flavored cake. I got to taste a bit and it was really light with a light coffee flavor.

I chose the strawberry charlotte 330 yen (about US$3.30). This had a strawberry mousse layered between yellow sponge cake. The strawberry mousse was light and a little tart. The only bad part of this dessert was trying not to crunch on the seeds from the grapes.

A couple of doors down from Patisserie Vin Blanc was Butter Flake, which was also noted in the foodie guide. This tiny bakery had all kinds of breads and really cheap. Satoshi picked up their mixed sandwich 262 yen (about US$2.62), which was filled with egg salad and ham. He said that it was tasty.

I chose the tea melon pan, a soft milk bread flavored with Earl Grey topped with a sugary coating 116 yen (about US$1.16).

Whenever I go to the bakeries I usually don't get melon pan (the calories are kind of high, I've heard it to be around 340 calories)--because the top is made by putting puff pastry and then sprinkle sugar on the top of the milk bread). But I couldn't resist trying something flavored with Earl Grey. I am glad I tried it. Though it was sweet, the tea flavor really shined.

The weather is getting warmer, I think over the past couple of days the temps were 28C (82.4F) and 29C (84.2F)...yikes!

I am glad we were able to try some new places.

Bull's Kitchen
2-12-5 Sonehigashinocho
Toyonaka, Osaka
Phone: 06.6864.5537
Closed Tuesdays
Lunch: 11:30-14:00, Dinner: 18:00-22:00 (UPDATE: 10/2012 this shop no longer in business)

Patisserie Vin Blanc
1-3-5-101B Chokojiminami
Toyonaka, Osaka
Phone: 06.6866.6901
Closed Wednesdays
Open 10:00-20:00 (take out only)

Butter Flake
1-2-6 Chokojiminami
Toyonaka, Osaka
Phone: 06.6866.1936
Closed Sundays
Open 7:00-19:00