shibuya

Friday, I went to Shibuya.

My first stop was to buy some bagels from Tecona Bagel Works.

The shop is teeny and they only allow 4 people in at one time.

I purchased a salted butter bagel and a cheese with szechuan pepper bagel.

I also purchased their carrot cake.

(Since Satoshi went out for drinks Friday night, I had the szechuan cheese bagel with wine.

The numbing pepper didn’t match too well with wine but overall was tasty after I toasted it.

The carrot cake was more like carrot bread and was moist and delicious.)

(We enjoyed the salted butter bagel the next morning toasted with avocado and everything seasoning)

From Tecona, I walked back to Shibuya to have lunch at Usagi.

During the pandemic, they moved from their original space to a smaller space.

I thought the original space had so much character with all the vines growing on the outside of the building. (this is a photo of the original space)

After being seated I had to use a QR code to order…I had thought they had taco rice on their Friday lunch menu but didn’t, so I ended up choosing their roast beef bowl…and then I waited almost 30 minutes for my lunch to come out!

Bummed that the roast beef wasn’t sliced thin, it wasn’t tender AND it was ice cold!

um, if you just had to take it out of the refridge, I think I could have been served sooner…

The shop is popular for avocado, you can add it at no extra cost to almost any meal…so I did.

I think their menu has changed during the pandemic because a lot of items I had previously seen on their website is no longer there...

Not sure I’ll be back but I’m glad I tried this place.

After lunch I went to check out Miyashita Park which opened last year.

4 story shopping complex, restaurants and a large park on the roof that runs alongside of the Yamanote train line.

Beside the park, there is also a beach volleyball court, skateboard area and rock climbing area.

It’s also a great place to sit and chat (I think the arches are used to run tarp over during rain.)

13181…the weather has been great.

Usagi

2-14-15 Shibuya

Shibuya, Tokyo

Phone: 03.5778.3200

Hours: 11:30-16:00 (lunch), 18:00-22:30 (dinner)

tecona bagel works

Back in October I went to Yoyogi to check out a bagel shop, but since I didn't check their website, the day that I went, they were closed....well, I finally went to check them out today.

From Shibuya it is about a 20 minute walk.

Their shop is so teeny!

Just four or five of us in there was a major congested mess! with a massive line outside.

They have 3 types of bagels....fuka (which are soft, "fluffy" types), mochi (which are chewy types) and mugyu (which are really dense types).

I picked up mostly mochi & mugyu types.

Bacon olive and basil sandwich...this was delicious with a big slather of basil cream cheese.

Chocolate nut scone...this was filled with so much nuts, seeds and chocolate (love!).

Chestnut...this had a whole chestnut in it and a cinnamon sugar topping...delicious!

Onion and cream cheese...caramelized onion and cream cheese...topped with some shredded cheese on top...mmm!

Smoked cheese and pepper...I put this one into the freezer, so I don't know how it tastes, but I am pretty sure it will be delicious!

I hope to go back after the New Year to try more items.

Oh, this shop only takes cash...they ask you to bring your own bag (or buy one of their cloth bags) and check their Instagram account for detailed days off (they sometimes have last minute closings).

Mother Nature has been slapping us around...cold one day, really warm the next....rain most days, sun very rare.

There are Christmas decorations all around, they are even playing Christmas music in the shopping arcades AND they are already advertising for ehomaki (February)!

Most people will be on vacation from the 28th, we will probably go to visit MIL, though we haven't decided what days yet.

Hope you are enjoying the Holiday season! Have a nice weekend.

Tecona Bagel Works
1-51-12 Tomigaya
Shibuya, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6416.8122
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Hours: 11:00-18:30 (or until sold out)
*cash only, bring your own bag
check their Instagram for detailed days off

yoyogi

Yesterday, I went to the Yoyogi area.

There was a bagel shop that I wanted to check out, but I didn't check their website and they were closed...boo!

So I went across the street to 365 nichi (days) and picked up some items to try.

The croquant chocolat (left) is their most popular...a chocolate bread filled with some chocolate ganache and chocolate puffs

Randonnee (top right) which means to mountain climb in French...the bread is rye filled with all sorts of "stuff"...

Scone (bottom right)...plain filled with oats

We'll be trying the randonnee and scone for breakfast today.

The croquant chocolate was so good!

I also went to Minimal to try their chocolate mont blanc.

Phyllo wrapped chocolate chestnut tarte topped with chocolate chestnut ice cream and a chocolate cream.

There was also a chocolate wine sauce and nibs on the plate.

Delicious with some black coffee.

Afterwards I walked to Shibuya and picked up this Viennoise Tuna sandwich from Viron.

The weather was sunny and warm but not totally blazing.

There are many more places I want to check out in this area, I'll be back.

365 nichi
1-6-12 Tomigaya (moved to 1-2-8 Tomigaya)
Shibuya, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6804.7357
Hours: 7:00-19:00

Minimal
2-1-9 Tomigaya
Shibuya, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6322.9998
Hours: 11:30-19:00

springy

While the weather is really wintry in the States.

The weather is kinda Springy over here.

Friday, met up with V, her friend M, V's classmate K and K's friend E....for lunch at Katsukichi.

They have delicious fried foods like pork, oysters and shrimp...thanks for lunch V!

After lunch, V, M and I went to check out the cherry blossoms at Yoyogi Park.

These are the early blooming type and I loved the dark pink color.

We also saw some cherry trees blooming at the Shinjuku Gyoen.

I'm glad the weather was nice and that we were able to see some blooms.

V also spoiled us with all these goodies.

Thanks for today V, M, K & E!

Katsukichi
3-9-10 Shibuya, KDC Shibuya Bldg B1
Shibuya, Tokyo
Phone: 050.3134.5712
Hours: 11:00-16:00 (lunch), 17:00-22:30 (dinner)