noix de beurre

Wanted to send something to friend J in Sendai for her birthday.

Went to Ginza Mitsukoshi to send her something from Noix de Beurre.

They only have 3 shops and all are in Tokyo, and are supposedly super popular 

we tried their lemon cake...super moist and lemony

their financier was buttery and their pistachio financier had lots of pistachios and two griotte cherries on top

photos uploaded wonky...

These were delicious and I hope she enjoys what I sent to her.

Heard the line for the yakitate (just baked) items is always long but when I got to Ginza Mitsukoshi at 10:30, it wasn't too bad, though when I left it was starting to get krazy. (and the bulk of the people in line were Asian tourists)*

*before standing in line, grab a clipboard with an order sheet and a pen and fill out what you want to purchase, everything is in Japanese but there are photos of the products

I'll be back whenever I need to send a gift.

Noix de Beurre

4-6-16 Ginza

Chuo, Tokyo

Closed when Ginza Mitsukoshi is

Hours: 10:00-20:00

thank you

Host sister, T, sent me these chocolates and other sweets made by Yvan Chevalier.

I haven't been in the loop lately with Salon du Chocolat especially since they changed the way you can purchase the items during the pandemic.

When I unwrapped these cookies from the bubble wrap, I had a feeling some were missing and joked with Satoshi that someone ate some..

Well, my (foodie) host sister must’ve heard me because she fessed up. 

It was a new item that she hadn’t tried before, the container wasn’t sealed like they usually are, so she tasted one of each flavor of the cookies...aiyah!

Still, thankful she remembered my birthday (even if these arrived earlier than she requested).

Thank you T!

*the light blue box was milk chocolate with popcorn, the red box was dark chocolate with raspberry purée, the long white box was square cookies covered with milk and dark chocolates.

the monkey chews kitchen

Ever since moving to Tokyo, I’ve had this restaurant on my “to try” list, and we finally got to 
 

Their course menu starts off with hitokuchi (one bite) tray

we both had a glass of this, medium body, I was disappointed they served this chilled though

gougere (savory puff) filled with a mushroom purée and I think a cheese disk on top

pate de campagne (foie gras pistachio & pork, topped with a fruit leather and fig compote sitting on a mochi mugi (pearl barley) sable (biscuit/cracker)

-presentation was nice but the uncooked pearl barley at the bottom of the tray got stuck to the pate…try not to break any teeth!

anno imo (type of sweet potato) and shallot? a la grecque (type of pickling) and olive

smoked butter waiting for freshly baked focaccia 

madai (red sea bream) with fermented strawberry sauce

raw oyster topped with yogurt pineapple and dill…super refreshing!

first time for me to have raw oyster

beet crepe filled with housemade smoked salmon and lots of different herbs & greens

Satoshi had a glass of this 

focaccia finally came out drizzled with olive oil..the crust was so crisp! and the butter was delicious too, we should have saved a piece for the upcoming dishes though

scallops with risotto fermented brussels sprouts, foam (not sure what it was made of) and some yuzu zest…warm “cozy” kind of dish

sawara (spanish mackerel) cooked poiret (spooning oil over while cooking) style, shungiku (chrysanthemum greens) tempura style, blanched nanohana (rapeseed greens) matcha dashi and parsley oil

a little bitter from the shungiku, but the fish was cooked perfectly

A5 wagyu sirloin, bordelaise sauce, with beet purée, mashed potato, kale and leeks…a little fatty and some gristle but tender, delicious

The name of the restaurant is after the chef’s music band days, The Monkey Chews, when he lived in England

He also trained at La Mere Poulard on Mont Saint Michel, so he makes the airy omelette…10 servings only at lunch time, the airy omelette can be chosen as your meat dish for the dinner course menu

From November 2023, they changed their dinner from a la carte to course only.

We were bummed we couldn’t choose different meat dishes, Kat wanted to try the duck.

The interior has an English pub feel on the 1st floor and French bistro feel in the 2nd floor where we were seated

Overall, this was a nice way to celebrate our anniversary, we want to try their lunch menu so we’ll be back…18,200 yen (tax included)

The Monkey Chews Kitchen

5-8-4 Kamata

Ota, Tokyo

Closed Sundays

Hours 11:30-13:00 (lunch), 18:00-23:00 (dinner)

oui

Yoplait came out with a French yogurt called "oui" (means yes).

It is a thicker yogurt, so I'm not sure how it differs from the Greek type nor whether France or Greece actually have these types of yogurts...

I bought the coconut and blueberry flavored yogurts...

I loved the little messages on the back of the foil top.

The container is glass, so be careful when you buy them and I plan to bring these containers back with me to Japan.

I thought both were a little too sweet for me, so next time I'm home and if this is still on the market, I will try the plain.

Have you tried this brand? What's your favorite flavor?

maison du bon

Back in May (I think), we won a giveaway by Maison Du Bon, a luxury online shop for French products.

Since we were allowed to choose any of their gift boxes, we chose the chocolate one...bien sûr (of course)

It came with all sorts of chocolate goodies, a tote bag & an apron.

There were also description cards of each item with interesting tidbits of the people who make the food items.

Since our weather was quite warm when the box arrived, there were some items that were "deformed"...

even though some were "deformed", everything was still edible and delicious!

(it is hard to tell from this photo, but the chocolate was coated with a bronze/copper-ish color...

The box mix for fondant chocolat, went against my "rule" for baking (50 grams of butter and 1 egg)...using 110 grams of butter and 3 eggs...eep!

Still, this was so rich and luscious!

There was also a tiny pot of chocolate fondue which I'm gonna save for later this year...

Merci Maison Du Bon we enjoyed everything !

foodie friday in kyoto

We've been having rain off and on. Kinda gloomy.

Friday was forecast for sun, so I made sure to get out and about.

I started by walking around Tofukuji.

I didn't want to pay admission and fight the crowds, so I just admired the fall colors from afar.

Then I went to Demachi Futaba and queued up for some sweets.

They have been in business for over 100 years...

Love their mame mochi (mochi that is filled with sweet bean paste and studded with black beans).

It's kuri (chestnut) season, so I made sure to get one of their kuri mochi too.

I also got an inaka mochi (yomogi mochi filled with sweet bean paste) for Satoshi.

Afterwards, I went to Matsuhiro Shoten to check out their gamaguchi bags & purses.

I've written about them here.

After trying to decide on a print and style of bag, I got myself this one.

There may have been wine with the duck and fig terrine I had at Le Bac à Sable...the cheese bread they served was good too!

After lunch, I checked out Weekenders Coffee.

They opened a little shop on Tominokoji.

The shop is at the far end of a parking lot, so you may walk past it without noticing it...I almost did! (thank goodness for GPS!)

Their cappuccino was nice, too bad there aren't many places to sit...

Window shopped in Gion at the new Hermes shop.

This area is widely known for geisha and high end places to eat, so this shop totally fits in.

It was a warm autumn day and it was nice to get out.

Demachi Futaba
236 Seiryu-cho
Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto
Phone: 075.231.1658
Closed: Tuesdays & 4th Wednesday
Hours: 8:30-17:00

Weekenders Coffee Tominokoji
560 Honeyano-cho,
Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Phone: 075.746.2206
Closed Wednesdays
Hours: 7:30-18:00

paris in your mailbox

Are you a Francophile?

Do you know someone that is?

You might consider getting them (or yourself) a subscription from Paris Breakfast on Etsy.

Carol Gillott, the watercolor artist behind all the beautiful artwork has several categories on her Etsy such as "Paris Mail", which you can subscribe to receive a Parisien-themed print every month.

"Paris Maps" is another category.

With your subscription to the maps, you will also receive "A tip sheet of shop/bistro business cards (carte de magazine). Plus BEST BUYS suggestions, where and what to eat. Paris cards will be included if available."

All items are color photocopies of her original works.

In the past, I've received her "Paris Mail" and recently she sent me her "Paris Maps".

I love them!

I've hung most of them on my wall to daydream of Paris.

Thank you Carol!

Disclaimer: I received the maps from Carol in return for an honest product review. I was not compensated for this and the thoughts and opinions written here are my own.

kohaku

Phil is in town for a quick visit and it was nice of him to take some time out of his busy schedule to contact me to meet up.

We had drinks and some pupus (appetizers) at Kohaku.

This bar is a French-Japanese fusion type of place.

Let's start with the bad...chintzy servings of wine...and a bar atmosphere way too loud (you can barely hear each other talking)

The food...so-so.

We shared this daikon covered with a porcini cream sauce.

The daikon is cooked until tender then smothered in a rich porcini cream sauce.

We also shared this "okonomiyaki". Lots of cabbage and some beef is smothered in a fondue cheese sauce and topped with a red wine tomato sauce.

Since the waitress asked if it was our first time eating there (and it was) I think she should have told us about ordering bread on the side to mop up all that melted cheese...grr! (actually I think more places should serve bread (for free) with their dishes that have sauces that need mopping up)

Our ears blasted from the noise of the bar, we then headed up to quiet Tsutaya to hang out and chat.

Phil was kind to bring a foodie magazine from Australia for me, which I look forward to reading. (Thank you!)

The day was nasty humid and I probably won't be back to that bar, but the company and conversation was nice as always.

Thanks for meeting up Phil it was nice catching up with you!

Kohaku
Lucua 1100 Bar Chika, B2F
Phone: 06.6341.5089
Open 11:00-24:00, when Lucua 1100 is

daniel

Yesterday, after the dentist, I picked up a couple of canelé from Daniel.

Matcha, Fig & Walnut, Blueberry Coconut.

These are cute (about 2 inches high), perfect for gifts or a snack.

I'm glad I tried these, I'll be back.

Daniel
Lucua 1F
Umeda, Osaka
Phone: 06.6151.1228
Open when Lucua is

le bois

Yesterday I had an errand to run so I was in the Kitahama area. I stopped into Le Bois for lunch.

It had been nearly a year since my last visit.

I really like this cafe, super quiet. (well, until a group of chatty women came in...)

I ordered their pâté lunch...1080 yen (tax included).

This came with a piece of their cake salé (savory cake) with olives, hazelnuts and a little ham.

The plate came filled with a tiny cup of their cream soup, some pickles, their potato salad, three large slices of sourdough bread and two slabs of their pâté.

I was quite full after the first slab of pâté, so I asked the waitress if I could take the rest home. She wrapped up my leftover pâté, a slice of bread and the potato salad.

To end the meal they gave me a hazelnut cookie with my espresso.

I froze the pâté and will use it in bánh mì another day.

This place definitely doesn't disappoint.

re-connect

Phil is in town. He contacted me to have lunch the other day.

After waiting for a table, we had a nice lunch at Cercle in Nakazaki-cho...950 yen (tax included)

Starters were their sweet potato soup, a pâté with pickles, broccoli terrine and some kind of mousse.

We both chose the chicken roti. This was served with a porcini and assorted mushroom sauce.

The tables all have these cute drawers for you to get your utensils and other things like plates and napkins from.

The shop is tiny and the portions of food are kinda tiny too.

Even if the food was good, guys (and maybe some gals), I think you may be hungry after eating here...

We then went for coffee at Utena...400 yen (tax included)

This cafe is very laid back and quiet, with jazz playing in the background.

Loved the interior, really retro.

Omiyage (souvenirs) from Phil.

Since we last met, he's been working in Lyon, France, he was so sweet to bring me a foodie French magazine and some chocolates by Chocolat des Princes (a local chocolatier).

I've been using google translate to read the magazine...

I couldn't believe how many chocolates fit inside that box! I shared with Satoshi, they were delicious! (click on the photo to see what each one was)

It was a great day, lots of catching up, lots of good food!

Thanks for a great day Phil! Enjoy the rest of your stay in Japan.

Lots of re-connecting this week, have a nice weekend everyone!

Cercle
3-1-8 Nakazaki
Kita, Osaka
Phone: 06.6373.6232
Lunch: 11:30-15:00, Dinner: 18:00-22:00
Closed Tuesdays

Utena
1-8-23 Nakazaki-nishi
Kita, Osaka
Phone: 06.6372.1612
Hours: 13:00-22:00
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

Chocolat des Princes
BOUTIQUE DE LYON
49, rue Franklin
69002 LYON
Phone: 04.78.03.34.70