antica osteria gondoletta

We finally got a chance to try Gondoletta, a tiny Italian restaurant nearby.

(I would recommend making reservations because both times we tried to eat here they were packed!)

We started off with this half portion of mussels and clams cooked in a light broth.

Delicious with some bread to mop up the broth...Japan needs to learn more about bread mopping up broth/gravy...

1 roll cut into 4 pieces definitely wasn't enough (we ended up ordering another order of the roll)...

We also ordered their warm vegetables which on this day was asparagus.

After the asparagus is cooked, they slice it and put cheese shavings on it.

While it tasted good, we were bummed by the teeny portion (two "sticks" of asparagus) of this dish.

Another dish we ordered was the filet.

This was grilled and sliced...so tender!

It was served with a oozy truffle egg (top left), pepper oil (bottom left) and red wine butter (bottoms right).

Each topping was delicious with the grilled beef.

The amuse bouche (things you pay for but do not order) was a teeny bottle of mineral water...

Everything was delicious, though the portions were kind of on the small side.

We want to try their lunch menu, we'll be back.

Antica Osteria Gondoletta
7-50-4 Nishi Kamata
Ota, Tokyo
Phone: 050.5869.3747
Hours: 11:30-14:00 (lunch), 17:00-24:00 (dinner)

pariya

I've been to Pariya twice, they have several locations around Japan and their desserts are more popular on social media...

The first time was after my physical check-up last year (but I didn't blog about it)...can't remember exactly what I chose, but their bento was quite filling.

The other day after my dental check-up, I went to eat lunch at a different location of Pariya.

This bento had fried onion and takana (mustard cabbage) rice, natto pork (not stinky), pumpkin and renkon (lotus root) and pickles.

If you eat-in, they also offer you all you can drink tea or coffee and a cup of soup.

Each location has different choices and their menus change weekly.

You can get your bento without rice if you wish and the "fancier" the rice the higher the price of the bento.

The soup was a little too salty for me, but I enjoyed the foods I chose and herbal tea...I'll be back.

Pariya (UPDATE: 2021 no longer in business at this location)
3-13-8 Yanagikoji-Minami
Setagaya, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6447.9825
Hours: 11:30-22:00

thanks for today

Thankful for...enough food to eat.

A roof over our heads.

(relatively) Good health.

Friends and Family.

Hoping you all have a delicious Thanksgiving, and a great start to the Holidays.

lady salad

Recently came across this pink radish called lady salad at the market.

Apparently this is grown in the Miura Penninsula area of Kanagawa.

I sliced it thin and marinated it with some red onion and lemon using this marinade recipe.

This morning I grated some for our grilled salmon.

I like this pretty pink color...tastewise it tastes the same as daikon (long radish).

It is cheaper than daikon these days so I hope to pick this up again at the market.

taishu sakaba beetle

Sometimes plan A & plan B go out the window and you just need to go into a place without any research or social media hints...

That was the case for us on Saturday.

The two places we had in mind for dinner were packed and only people with reservations were being accepted.

Right across the street from plan B, I noticed an izakaya (bar) with the sign "Beetle" on their noren (entrance curtain).

The windows were purposely frosted, so you cannot see inside.

I told Satoshi, "we're eating here"...he kept saying, "are you sure?!" because it was "his" type of place to eat and not really "mine".

But, when you are nearing "hangry"...anything flies...

When we entered, we were surprised with how packed the place was.

We were also surprised at how huge the place was, with 3 wrap around counters...many people eating in groups, others eating alone.

It was noisy, a little smoky...

We didn't know "the drill"...so it took a bit getting used to.

I ordered this...ume syrup...70 milliliters of shochu (sweet potato liquor)...bottle of fizzy water.

You can add the amount of syrup you wish and the amount of fizzy water.

The syrup and fizzy water turned out to be enough for two drinks...

Sashimi assortment (maguro (tuna), hamachi (yellow tail tuna), tai? (snapper))

These were pre-sliced, so it came out right away...still quite fresh.

Grilled eggplant...delicious with the katsuobushi (bonito shavings), a little shoyu (soy sauce) and a dab of grated ginger.

Beef harami (skirt steak) grilled perfectly!

Chicken tsukune (meatball) delicious with green onions & renkon (lotus root) mixed with the minced chicken.

Made in house chips.

Oden...you can choose what items, we chose daikon (long radish), atsuage (fried tofu) & shirataki (konjack, devil's tongue jelly noodles)

Salmon harasu (belly)...the skin was so crispy! with grated daikon this was delicious too.

Skewered tomato...loved this too.

It was a bit too loud for us, but we enjoyed the food.

The woman next to us ordered a large beer and the beer mug it came in, surprised all of us (even her), it was like a little bucket!

We also liked that this shop does not do the amuse bouche thing (things you pay for but do not order)...

We'll be back.

Taishu Sakaba Beetle
7-4-3 Nishi Kamata
Ota, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6428.7375
Hours: Mondays-Fridays 16:00-25:00, Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays 14:00-25:00
*cash only

fans

Yesterday, I went to see "Life Itself" which was a movie by Dan Fogelman, who writes "This is Us", a television show that I really enjoy.

The weather was rainy, cold.

Before going into the theatre, I spotted a group of people...when I asked around I found out that the group were fans of the Takarazuka shows.

When we lived in Osaka, I would often see these fan groups waiting outside of the Takarazuka theatre.

I have heard somehwere that these fan groups have a "dress code" and "unwritten rules".

Anyway, thought it was pretty krazy to see them out in the pouring (freezing) rain...

Our temps have dropped to single digits (Celsius), (and it is supposed to rain all weekend) but are expected to go up to 24C (75F) on Monday...WTH?!

Hope the weather is nicer where you are, have a nice weekend!

shunpachi seikaten

Last month, when I went to Gotanda, I stumbled upon Shunpachi Seikaten.

They sell fruits and veggies under the tracks of our train line.

Yesterday, I noticed they also sold bentos.

I picked up this pork kakuni (shoyu pork) bento, especially since the sign said "tender" pork...

Ha! their pork could've been WAY more tender.

But, I enjoyed all the different veggies that topped the bento.

I want to try their other bentos, so I'll be back.

Shunpachi Seikaten (2023: no longer at this address)
1-22-4 Nishi-Gotanda
Shinagawa, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6417.0685
Hours: 11:00-19:30 (weekdays), 11:00-19:00 (weekends & holidays)