Tuesday, April 13, 2010

foodie friday and saturday

Friday met up with Tamakikat. In Kyoto as with most areas in Kansai, the sakura (cherry blossoms) are nearing the end. On this particular day it was gloomy and cloudy.

We had lunch at Cafe Bastille, a tiny shop near Sanjo. The portions are very generous. Tamakikat had the soup set (soup, salad & bread). I chose the sandwich set...980 yen (about US$9.80). This came with what I thought was a French style hamburger (hamburger patty, dijon mustard, mayo on a baguette) and some fries. A bit hard to eat as a sandwich but very filling.

After lunch, we walked up to Chionin and Maruyama Park. There was an area above the hanami (cherry viewing) madness that was quiet and beautiful.

We then walked Shijo to Fukujuen. Awhile back, I had seen that they renovated their building and found out that they had a cafe. I chose the matcha cappuccino...700 yen (about US$7), this came with a piece of matcha cake, renkon mochi (sweet made with lotus root) & matcha cookie). Tamakikat chose the dessert set, this came with an assortment of different cakes and mochi.

It was great meeting up with Tamakikat, I had a nice time and hope she did too.
Saturday, Satoshi had his German class and then planned to meet up with a friend afterwards, so I had to figure out on what to do with my time.

I decided to head to Kobe. There was a French film, which I had found out awhile back through a report on Cannes that I'd been wanting to see called "Yuki and Nana". The film was being shown at the Kobe Art Village Center in Shinkaichi. This center shows many foreign films, films that are normally shown at film festivals.

They also have a gallery where upcoming artists can show their works. Though the film was subtitled in Japanese (which was too quick for me to read) and they spoke in French, I enjoyed the film.

After the film, I went to have lunch at Freundlieb (german for friend love and the name of the people who own the cafe/bakery), which we tried to check out on Wednesday. This cafe is located inside of a renovated church.

It is rare to find entree sized salads here, so I was happy to see some on their menu.

I ordered their chef salad 1050 yen (about US$10.50) and boy, was it huge! Everyone around me had ordered sandwiches and so all eyes were on my salad when it came out. You could hear whispers, "look at that salad!"

It was really good, there was toasted bread on the bottom (like croutons), lettuce, ham, roasted chicken, a soft boiled egg, asparagus, cheese, tomato, raw and fried onions. The salad went nicely with their creamy mustard dressing.

This cafe also gives you some cookie samples when you are seated, which you can purchase more of in their shop on the 1st floor.

I really enjoyed the salad and cookies and was very stuffed afterwards.

I stopped at their shop and I picked up some large palmiers, which I think in Germany they refer to as "ears". This was the "large ear". I bought one of each flavor, plain, chocolate & goma (sesame seed) to share with Satoshi...315 yen (about US$3.15) each (UPDATE: his favorite was chocolate, mine was plain)

I then walked to Le Dimanche on Tor Road and picked up some items for my tea time and dinner.

It was a delicious foodie two days. I hope you had a nice weekend.

Cafe Bastille
94 Aburayamachi, Sanjo Agaru
Yanagino Banbadori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Phone: 075.222.1228
Closed Mondays

Fukujuen (2F)
Corner of Tominokoji and Shijo-dori
Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
Phone: 075.221.6172
Closed New Years Day and every 3rd Wednesday

Cafe Freundlieb
4-6-15 Ikuta-cho, 2F
Chuo, Kobe
Phone: 078.231.6051
Closed Wednesdays

17 comments:

  1. Yum, that Chef's Salad looks delicious!

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  2. The closest thing in france to that "french style" hamburger are döner kebabs.

    The french culture as a whole don't really understand sandwiches, despite the fact that sandwiches are ubiquitous here. Dry affairs with a slice of ham, sad spreading of butter, and half a baguette. The sad thing is that the baguette is usually good to excellent, but would work better in slices with ingredients next to it. Baguette being crisp (if it isn't, then it isn't baguette, just a baguette shaped bready object) it scrapes the palate if you take a big bite, so you take small bites... Problem is that small bites will push any soft filling out the side... A grave logistical problem. Which was apparently solved by hardly having any filling at all.
    The other solution is to make open faced baguette sandwiches (tartines).
    Incidentally, real hamburgers (setting aside fast food of course) of any sort are only just coming to fashion. I have yet to find a satisfying hamburger in Paris, though I can't say I've tried the one they had at the hotel niko made with wagyu beef and foie-gras.

    What is a green tea cappucino?

    Mmm, love making palmiers, an easy treat.

    As usual, excellent photography!

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  3. I've spent most of the afternoon reading your past posts. Very interesting and nice pictures. So very different than things I am used to, especially here in the desert.

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  4. It was good K, I would definitely have it again :)

    Thanks for the info on hamburgers Alesa. Green tea with frothy milk = green tea cappuccino.

    Thanks JoeinVegas :)

    Take care everyone!
    Kat

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  5. Wow, between your French lessons and Satoshi's Germans lessons...with Japanese and English...you both will have everything covered! Impressive!! :)

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  6. Thanks Kathy, now if Satoshi's company would just transfer us to Europe ;)

    Take care.
    Kat

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  7. Don't we call the "'palmiers" "palm leaves" here in Hawai'i? Best ever I've had was from the former Alexander Young Building's bakery!

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  8. All I can say is that you guys - gals - have the best outings. Yummy desserts every single time!

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  9. Looks like a great foodie day. The salad looks especially good and I love palmiers too. ;-)

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  10. I think so OkiHwn :) Is that bakery still in business?

    Take care.
    Kat

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  11. Thanks Rowena :)

    I really liked this salad, I should try re-creating it Debinhawaii :)

    Take care you two.
    Kat

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  12. Naw the Alexander Young Hotel Building on Bishop Street hit the dust years ago and so did the bakery. Have no idea if it opened up again under a new name or location. The Dream Cake from there was also a great treat growing up.

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  13. Okay Nate, now that you Alexander Young Hotel makes me think that is isn't in business. Too bad about the bakery, sounded like they had some delicious items.

    Take care.
    Kat

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  14. Thanks for the review of the cafe at Freundlieb! I received some temiyage from the bakery and liked it so much I returned yesterday to get some gifts for some other friends, then I saw your review and will have try the cafe next time - very interesting building yes?

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  15. You are welcome Jonathan. I hope you like the cafe, I want to take Satoshi there soon :)

    Take care.
    Kat

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  16. I just started reading your blog and I'm really enjoying it. The matcha cappuccino looks delicious as do the palmiers.

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  17. Thank you so much Kirbie :)

    Take care.
    Kat

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