foodie saturday

Saturday, we went to see "The Solitary Gourmet" (Kodoku no Gurume) movie.

It was mostly food and mostly fun.
 

Since the movie ended at about "our lunch time", we went to look for something to eat.

Spice Factory inside of the JR Shinagawa Station, seemed like a great place, not a long line...

Buy your ticket at the door...I chose Spicy Chicken Curry...1000 yen (tax included)

And a spice egg...170 yen (tax included)

The curry was spicy, there were all sorts of Japanese side dishes, even sweetened pieces of apple...

Do not get the spice egg, it was cold.cold.cold!

Satoshi tried the Keema Curry...1000 yen (tax included)

He said enjoyed this

After lunch we tried to visit Hebikubo Shrine, since it is the Year of the Snake...but the line "snaked" around several blocks...and at the very end of the line we were told it would take 3 hours!

Since it was kinda fahreezing...we decided to walk to Hatanodai instead 

cool looking book store along the way

for banana and chocolate parfaits with coffee at Caferia

And then picked up dinner (german potato, and demi glace hamburg) from Frou Frou

It was a nice day, lots of food and some walking...

9873

Friday, I went to Asakusabashi and Kuramae

(UPDATE: this is the Tokyo Precious Metals Association Building, love the cool windows) 
 

I needed to pick up some waxed paper at Shimojima, in the process I bought some ball point pen ink cartridges, tape and a scoop thingy for my umeshu (plum wine)…love Shimojima!

Afterwards, I went up the street to Ambika, to pick up some paprika and fennel seeds, looked at their snacks and picked up some new (to me) snacks as well as those pepper banana chips

As I was paying, I noticed they had some foods in the heated case, so I purchased a dal wada (vada) (left) and kachori (right), 250 yen (tax included) each.

These were spicy but flavorful, the dal (lentil) that was on the outside of the dal vada was a bit hard, but both were delicious.

It was my first time trying these and I would get them again. 

I stopped at Dandelion Chocolate and picked up their brownie to try...569 yen (tax included)

So rich and delicious, loved all the chocolate nibs on top

On the way back to the station, I stumbled upon a yakitori shop, Tori Toyo and picked up some karaage chicken wings...250 yen (tax included)

After checking online, I learned that this shop has been in business for 112 years!

The owner actually closed up the chicken (butcher) shop in 2016, but couldn't bear to throw away the tare (sauce) that had been in their family for the past 100 years and yakitori grill, so he re-opened in this new spot and now sells bento and other chicken dishes.

These wings were small but so meaty! wings usually have two bones in them but these only had one, he actually took the time to take out one of the bones!

Would like to try their kiji (grilled chicken) bento the next time

I rode the train to Tokyo station and bought this casse-croute printemps sandwich from Burdigala..734 yen (tax included) for lunch

Proscuitto, onions, marinated tomato strawberry and basil...different but delicious

Foodie Friday...not too much walking, it was so humid and blazing but at least the breeze (when there was one) was still cool.

Tori Toyo

2-14-4 Yanagibashi

Taito, Tokyo

Closed: Saturdays & Sundays

Hours: 11:00-20:00

20167

Since we would be staying in Kyoto on Friday night to attend FIL's memorial service the next day, Satoshi let me go earlier to go holo-holo (gallavanting).

I was lucky to get to see Mount Fuji on the way.

It was my first time back in Osaka since we moved to Tokyo

My first stop was Chocolaterie Coco which I had only learned about after moving to Tokyo, apparently he has been in business since 2015.

Since Friday was the day after White day, choices were kind of slim.

Still I was able to pick out 6 bon bons to try.

Rocher praline (noir), truffes au calvados, pistache, champagne, coco no 8 and tanzania 75...1620 yen (tax included)

All were delicious, love!

I want to try his baked items next time

And then I walked through Honmachi to see all sorts of architecture that were featured on a J-drama

Stumbling on a lot of more things along the way.

In Kyoto, I went to Matsuhiro Shoten and bought a couple of gamaguchi purses

I'm glad they survived the pandemic

And had a very late lunch at Le Bac à Sable, it had been about 8 years since the last time I ate here.

They don't have a lunch menu anymore, so I just had a cheese quiche (which I heated up with their toaster), pain au chocolat and iced coffee...980 yen (tax included)

I'm glad they survived the pandemic too

And then I went up the street to Chocolaterie Hisashi

I picked out 6 bon bons (miso, caramel chocolat, sake, praline pistache, matcha and yuzu)...2700 yen (tax included)

All were delicious too, love!

Loved the caramel chocolat macaron too...475 yen (tax included)

And then I went to Nishiki Market, because I saw something online that said Torisei, which has been in business for over 100 years, sell bentos.

Unfortunately, they only had foods on sticks...(I actually think the info online was wrong)

These days Nishiki Market is definitely not the place to be...way.too.many.people.

I was able to get teriyaki chicken from Torisei that was pre-cut...800 yen (tax included)

super meaty and flavorful

similar to the teriyaki chicken I buy at Shinanoya

And then I walked down to our hotel

Which had a free 1 hour all you can drink, in the lobby (for guests) between 16:00-21:00

Luckily Satoshi arrived in Kyoto so we could try the 1 hour all you can drink

You need to make your own drinks, and drink them in the lobby, but I think this is a nice ammenity for guests.

You can also order food...cheese iburi gakko pizza did not look too good, but Satoshi said it was okay...1000 yen (tax included)

Thankful I was able to get out to Osaka and Kyoto, the weather was nice and I'm glad I was able to see everything I had planned to.

Chocolaterie Coco

1-5-15 Minami Kuhoji machi

Chuo, Osaka

Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

Hours: 11:00-19:00

Chocolate Hisashi

166-16 Ebisucho

Higashiyama, Kyoto

Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

Hours: 10:30-18:00

Torisei

186 Higashiuoyacho

Nakagyo, Kyoto

Hours: 7:30-18:00

Closed Holidays

Il Verde Kyoto

333 Yorozuyacho

Shimogyo, Kyoto

If you'd like to see photos/videos, please look here

foodie family saturday

Aunty M1, cousin P & D have been here since the 2nd of January roaming around Japan.

It is cousin D's first visit to Japan and she is loving it.

They finally came back towards Tokyo so we were lucky that they made some time for us.

We first went through the outer market of Tsukiji.

Lots of "window shopping".

And then we went to check out the "new Tsukiji" called Toyosu and on the way stopped into Kanda Daruma for a snack.

Taiyaki (fish shaped pancake outside filled with either sweet bean paste or custard)...Satoshi and I shared a sweet bean paste filled one.)

Loved the crispy edges!

At Toyosu...the property is HUGE! At least 5 or 6 times the size of Tsukiji.

We were too late to see the auctions, but it was still cool to see the market areas.

Lunch was at Toritoh where everything is chicken based...and because there was no line (everyone was standing in lines for sushi)...

This shop has been in business since 1907 (and still has their main shop at Tsukiji).

I tried the oyako curry which was basically an oyakodon with curry on it.

The curry was spicy, the egg oozy, the chicken tender.

I loved how they put the shoyu based oyakodon sauce onto the rice before putting the curry on...sweet salty (and spicy)!

And then we went across Tokyo to Shinjuku and Shimokitazawa to do some shopping.

It was our first time to Toyosu and Shimokitazawa...I can't wait to go back to Shimokitazawa to explore some more.

Dinner was at Anna Miller's which is the same restaurant in Hawaii (but with a different menu) because they are staying in Shinagawa and we wanted to chat and have something simple.

I tried their reuben which was super cheesy, loved it.

It was nice catching up with family and exploring new areas of Tokyo.

Kanda Daruma
2-12-9 Tsukiji
Chuo, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6264.2406
Hours: Mondays-Saturdays 10:00-22:00, Sundays & Holidays 11:00-19:00

Toritoh
6-5-1 Toyosu, Area 6 Intermediate Fish Wholesale, 3F
Koto, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3542.7016
Closed Sundays, Holidays
Hours: 7:00-14:00
*cash only

Anna Miller's (UPDATE: closing 8/31/2022)
Wing Takanawa 2F
Minato, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3443.3385
Hours: 8:00-23:00

foodie thursday

Thursday I went to check out some antenna shops in the Shinbashi-Yurakucho area.

My first stop was the Tottori-Okayama shop because I was in search of rakkyo (pickled scallions).

A lot of makers in Japan use scallions from China along with artificial sweeteners (because both are probably cheaper), but the ones from Tottori prefecture seem to be more "natural" using their locally grown scallions and sugar.

The shop also had a kim chee version as well as some anpogaki.

Then I walked towards Ginza and stumbled upon Kuuya.

Apparently they have been in business since 1884!

Their monaka (wafers filled with sweet bean paste) is so popular that normally you need to reserve the amount you want to purchase.

Luckily, they were not sold out and I was able to purchase a box.

Actually, I had originally only wanted 2 pieces (1 for me and 1 for Satoshi) but they don't sell them individually, so bought a box 10 pieces.

These were delicious! the wafer was light and a little crisp, the sweet bean paste wasn't overly sweet.

Friday, I sent Satoshi with the rest of the box to share with his co-workers.

As I walked towards Ginza, I enjoyed looking at the different buildings...like the Shiseido Building.

And the Mikimoto Building.

I also checked out the new Muji.

They sell veggies as well as have a Muji Hotel above the store.

At the edge of Yurakucho is the Kochi Antenna shop.

I bought some katsuo (bonito) products and look forward to trying them.

Across the road is the Marunouchi area.

Japan has been hosting the Rugby World Cup since mid-September and the finals are this weekend.

They also have a temporary Rugby Shrine at the Maru Building...it was fun to see various objet, like this ninja

and a bronze statue of sumo wrestler Tochinoshin in "rugby mode".

Lunch was at Wise Sons, a San Francisco Deli.

I had the small pastrami reuben...delicious.

The basement area of the Maru Building have many eateries and shops.

I checked out Akomeya...a shop that is dedicated to rice and all things that can be eaten with rice. Will check out the main shop in Ginza another day!

We tried this rice flour sweet filled with sweet potato and sweet bean paste and these soy beans with seasoned arare (rice cracker) coatings.

My last stop before catching the train was Zopf's curry pan stand.

This popular Chiba bakery sells their curry pan inside of the wickets of the JR Tokyo station in an area called GrandSta.

The curry is spicy, I'm glad we tried this.

Lots of walking, lots of eating..I'm glad the last day of October was a sunny one.

Tottori Okayama Antenna Shop
1-11-7 Shinbashi
Minato, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3571.0092
Hours: 10:00-21:00

Kuuya
6-7-19 Ginza
Chuo, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3571.3304
Closed Sundays
Hours: Mondays-Fridays 10:00-17:00, Saturdays 10:00-16:00

Kochi Antenna Shop
1-3-13 Ginza
Chuo, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3538.4365
Hours: 10:30-20:00

Wise Sons Tokyo (UPDATE: 2024 no longer in business)
2-4-1 Marunouchi, Maru Building B1F
Chiyoda, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6551.2477
Hours: Mondays-Fridays 7:30-21:00, Saturdays & Sundays 8:30-21:00

Akomeya (UPDATE: 2025 no longer at this address)
2-4-1 Marunouchi, Maru Building B1F
Chiyoda, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6206.3349
Hours: Mondays-Saturdays 11:00-21:00, Sundays & Holidays 11:00-20:00

Zopf
inside of JR Tokyo wicket, in GranSta B1

foodie saturday

Yesterday I went to check out the farmers market at the United Nations University.

I bought organic beets and carrots (love that both had the greens attached!)

Red cabbage and grapes.

So easy to overbuy!

They were also having a chocolate festival...so I picked up this dark chocolate blend by Ushio Chocolatl, which I've been wanting to try.

They are a bean to bar maker from Onomichi, Hiroshima.

Lunch was at a bakery I stumbled upon last week, Pain au Sourire.

I had their petit trio...pumpkin croquette, tuna walnut and sweet bean paste butter...delicious!

It was so warm that I had an iced coffee with lunch.

When I got home, I roasted the beets and carrots.

The greens I wilted in a non-stick pan.

I'll be back to shop at the farmers market & eat at the bakery!

Farmers Market at United Nations University
held every Saturday & Sunday
10:00-16:00

Pain au Sourire (2023: moved to another location)
1-4-6 Shibuya
Shibuya, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3406.3636
Closed Sunday, Monday
Hours: 8:00-20:00

thursday with v & k

Thursday, I spent most of the day with blog reader V and her husband K.

We started out early, "fighting" the salarymen (businessmen) "ocean" at Shinagawa Station, then finding our way to Tsukiji.

Since we moved to Tokyo in April, we have not been around here, so it was hard for me to remember what everything was like before.

It seemed to me that a lot has changed.

After going row by row in the market, I'm glad we found the furikake that V wanted to get.

We then walked to Ginza/Yurakucho to have unagi for lunch.

On a previous trip V tried the Osaka shop and wanted to have unagi again at their Tokyo shop.

I liked how "crispy" the unagi was...thank you for lunch!

We then went to Kyu-Shibarikyu Garden and walked around.

Not too much fall colors, but at least they were able to experience a Japanese garden.

V gave us lots of snacks.

I'm glad we were able to meet up and it was nice to meet K too.

It was overcast and a bit drizzly, still I hope they had fun and enjoy the rest of their trip.

Thank you V & K!

Hitsumabushi Nagoya Bincho
2-2-14 Ginza, Marronier Gate 12F
Chuo, Tokyo
Phone: 03.5159.0231
Lunch: 11:00-15:30, Dinner: 17:00-23:00
Closed when Marronier Gate is