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コメント(36)
Foo Foo
I like ramen but I don't go to many ramen restaurants. Basically, I have 2 places that I visit often. One is "Kagetsu Ramen" near my home, and the other is "Foo Foo".
"Foo Foo" is located near the West Exit of JR Shinjuku in the Odakyu Mall. My friend introduced me to it about 5 years ago when we were walking from his company near Shinjuku Central Park.
My favorite ramen, that I always order, is the pai ko tan tan men. It's not cheap (980 yen) but it's GOOD. The soup is rich, creamy and spicy and the ground meat is also very spicy. And in the soup is a piece of deep-fried pork. On a winter day, this bowl of ramen is VERY satisfying.
But I also eat it during the summer, too.
I also enjoy "Foo Foo" for its atmosphere. It doesn't allow smoking
and jazz music is on the speakers. It's a very comfortable environment to enjoy noodles.
I like ramen but I don't go to many ramen restaurants. Basically, I have 2 places that I visit often. One is "Kagetsu Ramen" near my home, and the other is "Foo Foo".
"Foo Foo" is located near the West Exit of JR Shinjuku in the Odakyu Mall. My friend introduced me to it about 5 years ago when we were walking from his company near Shinjuku Central Park.
My favorite ramen, that I always order, is the pai ko tan tan men. It's not cheap (980 yen) but it's GOOD. The soup is rich, creamy and spicy and the ground meat is also very spicy. And in the soup is a piece of deep-fried pork. On a winter day, this bowl of ramen is VERY satisfying.
But I also eat it during the summer, too.
I also enjoy "Foo Foo" for its atmosphere. It doesn't allow smoking
and jazz music is on the speakers. It's a very comfortable environment to enjoy noodles.
This is from the 「変わっている料理」topic.
French toast isn't a particularly popular dessert here in Japan, and in fact, I rarely eat it myself...at least, not in its sweet form. Instead, I eat a savory(うまみ) form of French toast for breakfast.
So, instead of sugar I put in some salt with my beaten eggs. And I also add some grated garlic, black pepper or perhaps some other herbs and spices.
After dipping the bread in the egg mixture, I fry two slices and then add ketchup.
The Ikesaka French Toast, ladies and gentlemen!
French toast isn't a particularly popular dessert here in Japan, and in fact, I rarely eat it myself...at least, not in its sweet form. Instead, I eat a savory(うまみ) form of French toast for breakfast.
So, instead of sugar I put in some salt with my beaten eggs. And I also add some grated garlic, black pepper or perhaps some other herbs and spices.
After dipping the bread in the egg mixture, I fry two slices and then add ketchup.
The Ikesaka French Toast, ladies and gentlemen!
「Krispy Kreme」
Well, it's been 2.5 years since Krispy Kreme arrived in Japan. I remember the date that the first store opened in Shinjuku...December 15. I also remember the huge lineups that always appeared at that branch. I think the longest waiting time was 2 hours!
Those days are now over but the weekends still see some pretty long lines.
Is Krispy Kreme worth that much of a wait? I don't think so. But I have to say that until that December day in 2007, Krispy Kreme-style donuts didn't really exist in Japan. Donuts back then were all cake donuts, not yeast donuts, and they didn't have the same amount of icing.
Krispy Kreme had been in my country, Canada, for some years. I remember hearing how people and cars just ran to the closest branch of KK
whenever the neon sign lit up stating that fresh donuts were now available. But nowadays, it seems like Krispy Kreme is only successful in Asia. The stores in Canada and the US have largely disappeared since interest has gone down, people's weights have gone up, and interest in becoming healthy has gone up. In Toronto, there is now only one store and smaller outlets at gas stations.
So, I'm sure many tourists from North America must look at us with some shock when they see the locals lining up for more than 30 minutes for donuts.
Well, it's been 2.5 years since Krispy Kreme arrived in Japan. I remember the date that the first store opened in Shinjuku...December 15. I also remember the huge lineups that always appeared at that branch. I think the longest waiting time was 2 hours!
Those days are now over but the weekends still see some pretty long lines.
Is Krispy Kreme worth that much of a wait? I don't think so. But I have to say that until that December day in 2007, Krispy Kreme-style donuts didn't really exist in Japan. Donuts back then were all cake donuts, not yeast donuts, and they didn't have the same amount of icing.
Krispy Kreme had been in my country, Canada, for some years. I remember hearing how people and cars just ran to the closest branch of KK
whenever the neon sign lit up stating that fresh donuts were now available. But nowadays, it seems like Krispy Kreme is only successful in Asia. The stores in Canada and the US have largely disappeared since interest has gone down, people's weights have gone up, and interest in becoming healthy has gone up. In Toronto, there is now only one store and smaller outlets at gas stations.
So, I'm sure many tourists from North America must look at us with some shock when they see the locals lining up for more than 30 minutes for donuts.
Hot Dogs
I haven't been easily disappointed in a culinary sense in all of my years in Tokyo, but one disappointment that stands out for me is the fact that hot dogs have never really taken off in the world's largest city.
In America and Canada, hot dogs have usually been second-best, next to the all-American hamburger but they have been a pretty close second. When you go to a baseball game in the States, you have hot dogs not hamburgers. And both hot dogs and hamburgers share the BBQ grill at any summer party.
Of course, fast food restaurants in Japan sell hot dogs but they've never really impressed me. Actually, the hot dogs at McDonalds aren't too bad but for some strange reason, they're only sold as part of the breakfast menu. I like my frankfurters but not for the first meal of the day...a little too heavy for me.
Up until a couple of years ago, one restaurant from New York tried to make a name for itself in Tokyo. It was Nathan's and it was the only specialty hot dog restaurant. It is a legendary institution back in New York, and it has sponsored the annual hot dog eating contest...the one that had Takeru Kobayashi winning the contest for a few years. I loved Nathan's since it had MY kind of hot dogs...the ones I remember from back home in Canada....the ones that I had every Saturday or Sunday for lunch. There were branches of Nathan's in Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Omotesando and Shiodome in Tokyo.
But sadly, I guess I was the only real fan of the place since it didn't last too long. Perhaps the taste was a bit too American? So, I guess if I'm really hungry, it'll have to hot dogs at McDonalds for breakfast.
B
I haven't been easily disappointed in a culinary sense in all of my years in Tokyo, but one disappointment that stands out for me is the fact that hot dogs have never really taken off in the world's largest city.
In America and Canada, hot dogs have usually been second-best, next to the all-American hamburger but they have been a pretty close second. When you go to a baseball game in the States, you have hot dogs not hamburgers. And both hot dogs and hamburgers share the BBQ grill at any summer party.
Of course, fast food restaurants in Japan sell hot dogs but they've never really impressed me. Actually, the hot dogs at McDonalds aren't too bad but for some strange reason, they're only sold as part of the breakfast menu. I like my frankfurters but not for the first meal of the day...a little too heavy for me.
Up until a couple of years ago, one restaurant from New York tried to make a name for itself in Tokyo. It was Nathan's and it was the only specialty hot dog restaurant. It is a legendary institution back in New York, and it has sponsored the annual hot dog eating contest...the one that had Takeru Kobayashi winning the contest for a few years. I loved Nathan's since it had MY kind of hot dogs...the ones I remember from back home in Canada....the ones that I had every Saturday or Sunday for lunch. There were branches of Nathan's in Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Omotesando and Shiodome in Tokyo.
But sadly, I guess I was the only real fan of the place since it didn't last too long. Perhaps the taste was a bit too American? So, I guess if I'm really hungry, it'll have to hot dogs at McDonalds for breakfast.
B
Japanese Onomatopoeia (擬音語）
あつあつ steaming hot, piping hot
べたべた cloying, sticky
ふわふわ fluffy
がぶがぶ drinking wholeheartedly, drinking down
ほかほか steamy
じゅじゅ sizzling
こりこり crunchy
ことこと bubbling
もちもち chewy
ねばねば slimy and sticky
ぬるぬる slimy and slippery
ぱくぱく eating wholeheartedly
パリパリ crispy
ぴりぴり spicy
ぷりぷり succulent
ぷるぷる wobbly
さくさく delicately crispy
しゅわしゅわfizzy
I got a lot of these terms from the July 9th issue of METROPOLIS Magazine.
あつあつ steaming hot, piping hot
べたべた cloying, sticky
ふわふわ fluffy
がぶがぶ drinking wholeheartedly, drinking down
ほかほか steamy
じゅじゅ sizzling
こりこり crunchy
ことこと bubbling
もちもち chewy
ねばねば slimy and sticky
ぬるぬる slimy and slippery
ぱくぱく eating wholeheartedly
パリパリ crispy
ぴりぴり spicy
ぷりぷり succulent
ぷるぷる wobbly
さくさく delicately crispy
しゅわしゅわfizzy
I got a lot of these terms from the July 9th issue of METROPOLIS Magazine.
A Taste of the Danforth
"A Taste of the Danforth" is a festival of Greek food in my hometown of Toronto. I have only been able to visit it once since I usually never go back to Toronto during the summer (plane fare is too expensive), but over the years, I've enjoyed watching various videos of it from YouTube.
Every summer, one of the main streets of the city, Danforth Avenue, has this festival since Greektown occupies a section of it in east Toronto. Several Greek restaurants set up stands outside where thousands of visitors try dishes such as souvlaki and baklava.
I'm a huge fan of Greek food so it's too bad that I can't get back there to try some of this marvelous stuff.
"A Taste of the Danforth" is a festival of Greek food in my hometown of Toronto. I have only been able to visit it once since I usually never go back to Toronto during the summer (plane fare is too expensive), but over the years, I've enjoyed watching various videos of it from YouTube.
Every summer, one of the main streets of the city, Danforth Avenue, has this festival since Greektown occupies a section of it in east Toronto. Several Greek restaurants set up stands outside where thousands of visitors try dishes such as souvlaki and baklava.
I'm a huge fan of Greek food so it's too bad that I can't get back there to try some of this marvelous stuff.
Hong Kong Dim Sum
More than 10 years ago, I used to be a buffet monster. Restaurant staff would be terrified at the sight of me coming into their places since I could pretty much eat everything in great amounts.
Not anymore.
I'm getting older now so my stomach can't hold as much stuff. But I still like to have a bit of buffet now and then. So today I went to my current favorite buffet place called "Hong Kong Dim Sum" or in Japanese, 「香港飲茶」. It's located in Yurakucho in the Ginza INZS 1 building on the 2nd floor.
The restaurant has a 1480 yen dim sum buffet for 90 minutes during lunchtime. Not too bad. And they even have 3 approaches. Of course, there is the usual dim sum cart which moves around and offers har gow, siu mai, etc. Then there are the buffet tables with more non-dim sum food such as chow mein and ma bo do fu. And during lunch, every table has a stove and wok in which you can have a spicy hot pot with a few strips of pork and lots of vegetables.
I did my best for my age. But I was finished by around the half-hour mark. I got enough. Still, I'm sure there are many more places for me to challenge in Tokyo.
More than 10 years ago, I used to be a buffet monster. Restaurant staff would be terrified at the sight of me coming into their places since I could pretty much eat everything in great amounts.
Not anymore.
I'm getting older now so my stomach can't hold as much stuff. But I still like to have a bit of buffet now and then. So today I went to my current favorite buffet place called "Hong Kong Dim Sum" or in Japanese, 「香港飲茶」. It's located in Yurakucho in the Ginza INZS 1 building on the 2nd floor.
The restaurant has a 1480 yen dim sum buffet for 90 minutes during lunchtime. Not too bad. And they even have 3 approaches. Of course, there is the usual dim sum cart which moves around and offers har gow, siu mai, etc. Then there are the buffet tables with more non-dim sum food such as chow mein and ma bo do fu. And during lunch, every table has a stove and wok in which you can have a spicy hot pot with a few strips of pork and lots of vegetables.
I did my best for my age. But I was finished by around the half-hour mark. I got enough. Still, I'm sure there are many more places for me to challenge in Tokyo.
Smoothies
As usual, this summer is another scorcher. And this time, with electricity supplies at a limited level due to the Fukushima crisis, it's not easy to turn on the air conditioner.
Smoothies will help!
Not only are they tasty and easy to make, they can also be quite healthy.
I made one last night. I just used the following ingredients:
1 Fuji Apple
(chopped with the peel)
2 bananas
1 cup of yogurt
1 tsp. of kale powder (青汁の粉）
some maple syrup
1 cup of milk
6 ice cubes
Just mix in a blender for about 30 seconds and pour into a tall glass.
For best taste, cool the smoothie overnight or for a few hours.
As usual, this summer is another scorcher. And this time, with electricity supplies at a limited level due to the Fukushima crisis, it's not easy to turn on the air conditioner.
Smoothies will help!
Not only are they tasty and easy to make, they can also be quite healthy.
I made one last night. I just used the following ingredients:
1 Fuji Apple
(chopped with the peel)
2 bananas
1 cup of yogurt
1 tsp. of kale powder (青汁の粉）
some maple syrup
1 cup of milk
6 ice cubes
Just mix in a blender for about 30 seconds and pour into a tall glass.
For best taste, cool the smoothie overnight or for a few hours.
A while ago, I made some goya champloo thanks to some goya that my student had given me. The key ingredient that helped liven up her recipe was soba dipping sauce, which has the combination of sugar, salt, soy sauce and sake that's needed for such a dish.
I decided to try the same sauce for a chicken stir-fry...without goya. This dish was with 2 chicken breasts, a bag of bean sprouts and a block of tofu.
I decided to try the same sauce for a chicken stir-fry...without goya. This dish was with 2 chicken breasts, a bag of bean sprouts and a block of tofu.
Went out to a yakiniku restaurant in Okubo the other day with a couple of friends. Basically, the Okubo area is Koreatown for Tokyo. Unfortunately, I never got the name of the place we had decided upon but they had a 3,480-yen all-you-can-eat pork belly course which included the all-you-can-drink option.
Pork bellies aren't all that common in the big cities in the West, and I don't think I even saw them in Toronto's Koreatown. Probably the people over there are just worried about the high fat from the bellies. In any case, I've always enjoyed the Japanese approach to Korean dining...wrapping the meat in lettuce leaves with sauce and garlic. Very healthy and clean!
Pork bellies aren't all that common in the big cities in the West, and I don't think I even saw them in Toronto's Koreatown. Probably the people over there are just worried about the high fat from the bellies. In any case, I've always enjoyed the Japanese approach to Korean dining...wrapping the meat in lettuce leaves with sauce and garlic. Very healthy and clean!
I'm a HUGE corned beef hash fan. A recent trip to Eggs N' Things in Omotesando last month brought back those memories of having the stuff in Toronto, especially at my favourite breakfast place there called The Sunset Grill.
To me, corned beef hash is to a North American breakfast as kenchinjiru is to a Japanese one. Both have plenty of umami and both are great on a cold morning.
I had some extra mashed potatoes from dinner over the weekend, so I decided to use that and a tin of corned beef from the supermarket to whip up some of my own homemade CBH. Chopped onions would also have been great but I wasn't willing to buy a whole onion just for CBH so I made do without it. So, I warmed up the mashed potatoes in the range while I chopped up the corned beef and sauteed it with a bit of oil. Then all I had to do was dump the warmed potatoes in there. No need for salt since both ingredients are loaded with it.
The key point with good CBH is that you should press it down into the pan to get that crisp and charred look and texture. It's just like what you do with Korean bibimbap. Corned beef hash should have that crisp and crunchy outside while it's meaty and tender on the inside. Great comfort food and not too hard to make either.
To me, corned beef hash is to a North American breakfast as kenchinjiru is to a Japanese one. Both have plenty of umami and both are great on a cold morning.
I had some extra mashed potatoes from dinner over the weekend, so I decided to use that and a tin of corned beef from the supermarket to whip up some of my own homemade CBH. Chopped onions would also have been great but I wasn't willing to buy a whole onion just for CBH so I made do without it. So, I warmed up the mashed potatoes in the range while I chopped up the corned beef and sauteed it with a bit of oil. Then all I had to do was dump the warmed potatoes in there. No need for salt since both ingredients are loaded with it.
The key point with good CBH is that you should press it down into the pan to get that crisp and charred look and texture. It's just like what you do with Korean bibimbap. Corned beef hash should have that crisp and crunchy outside while it's meaty and tender on the inside. Great comfort food and not too hard to make either.
Swiss Chalet
If any of you aren't aware, I've returned to Canada permanently so from now on, my comments here will be based on my foodie experiences in Toronto.
One of my favorite restaurants here is Swiss Chalet...a chain of restaurants specializing in roast chicken. Even while I was living in Japan, I always...ALWAYS...returned to Swiss Chalet whenever I came back here on vacation.
For me, the aroma of roast chicken and the taste of crispy chicken skin are two of my favorite things!
If any of you aren't aware, I've returned to Canada permanently so from now on, my comments here will be based on my foodie experiences in Toronto.
One of my favorite restaurants here is Swiss Chalet...a chain of restaurants specializing in roast chicken. Even while I was living in Japan, I always...ALWAYS...returned to Swiss Chalet whenever I came back here on vacation.
For me, the aroma of roast chicken and the taste of crispy chicken skin are two of my favorite things!
T-Bones
My foodie friends and I visited a steak restaurant near my apartment last Sunday. Called T-Bones, it's basically a fast-food restaurant which serves steaks and burgers. I went up to the counter and ordereda 16-oz. (454 g) steak as part of the Steak Special for $11.99. The staff put on extra onions and mushrooms for an extra $3, and there was Caesar Salad and Fries on the side. With a large Coke, the total came to about $18. Pretty inexpensive considering other steak restaurants which charge from $25 and up!
The quality of the steak was appropriately not absolutely great, but it was good enough. The fibre in the steak was a bit too stringy. T-Bones is located in Scarborough, an area that often doesn't have the best safety and initially I was a bit leery about the atmosphere, but we ended up staying there for about 3 hours and the staff were having a great time behind the counter. No particular problems although I probably wouldn't go there after midnight (it's a 24-hour operation).
I was surprised that I could finish the whole thing....steak, fries, salad, mushrooms and onions. I thought my old days as the Vacuum Cleaner were over but I guess my stomach can handle the occasional big meal.
My foodie friends and I visited a steak restaurant near my apartment last Sunday. Called T-Bones, it's basically a fast-food restaurant which serves steaks and burgers. I went up to the counter and ordereda 16-oz. (454 g) steak as part of the Steak Special for $11.99. The staff put on extra onions and mushrooms for an extra $3, and there was Caesar Salad and Fries on the side. With a large Coke, the total came to about $18. Pretty inexpensive considering other steak restaurants which charge from $25 and up!
The quality of the steak was appropriately not absolutely great, but it was good enough. The fibre in the steak was a bit too stringy. T-Bones is located in Scarborough, an area that often doesn't have the best safety and initially I was a bit leery about the atmosphere, but we ended up staying there for about 3 hours and the staff were having a great time behind the counter. No particular problems although I probably wouldn't go there after midnight (it's a 24-hour operation).
I was surprised that I could finish the whole thing....steak, fries, salad, mushrooms and onions. I thought my old days as the Vacuum Cleaner were over but I guess my stomach can handle the occasional big meal.
Ajisen
In the last few years, ramen has become one of the growing genres in Toronto's culinary landscape. A couple of decades ago, my city actually had one lone ramen place called Yokohama downtown. The reaction was very mixed: some said it was great, others said it was a shame to the ramen restaurants back in Japan. In any case, it closed down within a few years. So, once again we were pretty much ramen-less for several years (not including Cup O Noodles and Sapporo Ichiban).
But then came Kenzo which brought over the Hakata style of tonkotsu. Again, feelings have been mixed, but I think that's more about how people feel about tonkotsu in general. I love the stuff, but others can't really get into the rich flavour and strong smell of the broth.
The other big ramen shop to hit Toronto is Ajisen. I've been to one branch up in the north of the city a couple of times, including last night. They also serve tonkotsu, but being a ramen veteran during my years in Tokyo and Chiba, I honestly cannot say that Ajisen serves authentic ramen from Japan. Now, that's not a blast against the restaurant...in a way, it's a compliment. Ajisen serves what I would call the California Roll of ramen. It's not something you would really come across in Tokyo or Hakata, but it's a new form, and I have nothing against culinary evolution.
My BBQ Pork Ramen last night had zestier if smaller slices of pork....different from what I would get in a similar bowl in Shinjuku, but it was still good. The noodles were more like real ramen noodles than the pasta-like stuff I got during my first time there. And the prices can't be beat. I paid just $7.99 for my bowl....that's compared to $10 at Kenzo. Plus, the restaurant is willing to try some offbeat combinations such as a steak-and-ramen set!
Ramen purists may frown at Ajisen (and Kenzo) but if you're willing to accept neo-ramen, then Ajisen is a fine addition to Toronto's culinary world.
In the last few years, ramen has become one of the growing genres in Toronto's culinary landscape. A couple of decades ago, my city actually had one lone ramen place called Yokohama downtown. The reaction was very mixed: some said it was great, others said it was a shame to the ramen restaurants back in Japan. In any case, it closed down within a few years. So, once again we were pretty much ramen-less for several years (not including Cup O Noodles and Sapporo Ichiban).
But then came Kenzo which brought over the Hakata style of tonkotsu. Again, feelings have been mixed, but I think that's more about how people feel about tonkotsu in general. I love the stuff, but others can't really get into the rich flavour and strong smell of the broth.
The other big ramen shop to hit Toronto is Ajisen. I've been to one branch up in the north of the city a couple of times, including last night. They also serve tonkotsu, but being a ramen veteran during my years in Tokyo and Chiba, I honestly cannot say that Ajisen serves authentic ramen from Japan. Now, that's not a blast against the restaurant...in a way, it's a compliment. Ajisen serves what I would call the California Roll of ramen. It's not something you would really come across in Tokyo or Hakata, but it's a new form, and I have nothing against culinary evolution.
My BBQ Pork Ramen last night had zestier if smaller slices of pork....different from what I would get in a similar bowl in Shinjuku, but it was still good. The noodles were more like real ramen noodles than the pasta-like stuff I got during my first time there. And the prices can't be beat. I paid just $7.99 for my bowl....that's compared to $10 at Kenzo. Plus, the restaurant is willing to try some offbeat combinations such as a steak-and-ramen set!
Ramen purists may frown at Ajisen (and Kenzo) but if you're willing to accept neo-ramen, then Ajisen is a fine addition to Toronto's culinary world.
Bulgogi Brothers
The name is pretty silly, but this is a successful Korean BBQ chain right from the home country itself. Last Thursday for my brother's birthday, my family went there for dinner. The Toronto branch is located actually outside of Toronto just beyond the northern border. The area, Richmond Hill, is one of the newer Chinatowns, but recently Korean BBQ has started to become in this neighbourhood, too.
Recently, when one thinks of Korean BBQ, one usually assumes all-you-can-eat beef for 90 minutes at a pretty decent price. Bulgogi Bros. is NOT that place. They serve the best, most tender cuts of ribeye beef but it comes at a not inexpensive price. But if customers want to celebrate a special occasion, then Bulgogi Bros is a fine place to come to.
As I said, the food is great. The service is also good quality, too. The manager was a smiling young woman who very elegantly showed us our table. And even though the restaurant got quite busy during our hour there, the waitresses and waiters quickly came to our table when we asked for help. My sister-in-law was wondering if the chefs had made a mistake in our order when she asked for the bibimpap. One of the waitresses patiently explained that my sister-in-law had ordered the cold version, and not the more famous hot, sizzling bibimpap. The staff definitely deserved the tip.
However, what was disappointing was that for such a long table, it only had one small grill for the waitress to cook everything. My family would've preferred to have had two grills for us to cook everything by ourselves. As it was, my parents had to wait at one end for the cooked meat to come by. That was perhaps the biggest criticism against the restaurant.
But all in all, it was a good experience. I would go there again but perhaps once or twice a year.
The name is pretty silly, but this is a successful Korean BBQ chain right from the home country itself. Last Thursday for my brother's birthday, my family went there for dinner. The Toronto branch is located actually outside of Toronto just beyond the northern border. The area, Richmond Hill, is one of the newer Chinatowns, but recently Korean BBQ has started to become in this neighbourhood, too.
Recently, when one thinks of Korean BBQ, one usually assumes all-you-can-eat beef for 90 minutes at a pretty decent price. Bulgogi Bros. is NOT that place. They serve the best, most tender cuts of ribeye beef but it comes at a not inexpensive price. But if customers want to celebrate a special occasion, then Bulgogi Bros is a fine place to come to.
As I said, the food is great. The service is also good quality, too. The manager was a smiling young woman who very elegantly showed us our table. And even though the restaurant got quite busy during our hour there, the waitresses and waiters quickly came to our table when we asked for help. My sister-in-law was wondering if the chefs had made a mistake in our order when she asked for the bibimpap. One of the waitresses patiently explained that my sister-in-law had ordered the cold version, and not the more famous hot, sizzling bibimpap. The staff definitely deserved the tip.
However, what was disappointing was that for such a long table, it only had one small grill for the waitress to cook everything. My family would've preferred to have had two grills for us to cook everything by ourselves. As it was, my parents had to wait at one end for the cooked meat to come by. That was perhaps the biggest criticism against the restaurant.
But all in all, it was a good experience. I would go there again but perhaps once or twice a year.
A bit too lazy to write this in Japanese, so....
Chicken A La King!
久しぶり！（ま、これだけ日本語
）
I don't think Chicken A La King is well known in Japan, although chicken is a very popular meat over there. But in North America, it's a common dinner dish. The name sounds fancy but it is actually seen as a dish that is somewhere between a dish in a decent restaurant and Macaroni and Cheese at home. It depends on the presentation.
Last Sunday, I met with my anime-and-foodie friend for the first time this year. And we went to one of our favourite Chinese restaurants which serves both Chinese and Western food. On the menu, I saw "Chicken A La King". I hadn't eaten this since before I went to Japan in 1994!
Chicken A La King is a lot like Chicken Pot Pie....which even Japanese can get at KFC during Winter, but it doesn't come in a pie shell. It is chunks of chicken breast with vegetables in a creamy sauce. Andif it's the fancy version, it is poured ONTO a small piece of pastry. However, my Chicken A La King on Sunday was brought with rice. Very tasty and hot....perfect for a Canadian Winter!
Chicken A La King!
久しぶり！（ま、これだけ日本語
）
I don't think Chicken A La King is well known in Japan, although chicken is a very popular meat over there. But in North America, it's a common dinner dish. The name sounds fancy but it is actually seen as a dish that is somewhere between a dish in a decent restaurant and Macaroni and Cheese at home. It depends on the presentation.
Last Sunday, I met with my anime-and-foodie friend for the first time this year. And we went to one of our favourite Chinese restaurants which serves both Chinese and Western food. On the menu, I saw "Chicken A La King". I hadn't eaten this since before I went to Japan in 1994!
Chicken A La King is a lot like Chicken Pot Pie....which even Japanese can get at KFC during Winter, but it doesn't come in a pie shell. It is chunks of chicken breast with vegetables in a creamy sauce. Andif it's the fancy version, it is poured ONTO a small piece of pastry. However, my Chicken A La King on Sunday was brought with rice. Very tasty and hot....perfect for a Canadian Winter!
Wild Wings
The chicken wing....the No. 1 pub food in North America. Not surprisingly, there is a restaurant which specializes in the chicken wing, and that is Wild Wings. I've been there a few times since I returned from Japan 18 months ago. Of course, I miss my tonkatsu, kaiten sushi and conbini bento back in Tokyo, but I also appreciate my Greek food, Chinese takeout....and of course, my chicken wings!
If any of you ever decide to come to Toronto someday, I would definitely take you out on a foodie tour of Toronto. And Wild Wings is one of the spots, although I've only been to the suburban outlets of the franchise. The restaurant has that homey country-western interior and very down-home friendly waitresses. It's all very casual, of course....you WILL get your hands dirty here!
There are so many variations on the BBQ chicken wing in the menu that I can't even begin where to order. But my friend and I went for the Hot Honey and Medium wings on Sunday. It's always better to bring lots of friends for more choices. And of course, I need my fries and gravy!
The chicken wing....the No. 1 pub food in North America. Not surprisingly, there is a restaurant which specializes in the chicken wing, and that is Wild Wings. I've been there a few times since I returned from Japan 18 months ago. Of course, I miss my tonkatsu, kaiten sushi and conbini bento back in Tokyo, but I also appreciate my Greek food, Chinese takeout....and of course, my chicken wings!
If any of you ever decide to come to Toronto someday, I would definitely take you out on a foodie tour of Toronto. And Wild Wings is one of the spots, although I've only been to the suburban outlets of the franchise. The restaurant has that homey country-western interior and very down-home friendly waitresses. It's all very casual, of course....you WILL get your hands dirty here!
There are so many variations on the BBQ chicken wing in the menu that I can't even begin where to order. But my friend and I went for the Hot Honey and Medium wings on Sunday. It's always better to bring lots of friends for more choices. And of course, I need my fries and gravy!
Guu Sakabar
Any foodie who has been in Toronto for the past few years has known about the izakaya boom that has brought Japanese pub food to the GTA. Even before I moved back to my hometown for good back in late 2011, I had been aware of the trend as I kept hearing about this izakaya that originated in Vancouver called Guu which came over to Canada's largest city.
To be honest, what was described about Guu was not something I would know about the real izakaya back in Tokyo and Chiba. 2-hour lineups, mandatory reservations and disco-level noise were never my impressions of places like Tengu, Tsubohachi or Nihonbashi-tei back in the Japanese capital. Y'know...an izakaya was the place I went to with friends and/or students for some mugs of beer and decent snacking food in a hustling but friendly atmosphere. It was never a disco. There is a more upscale chain of izakaya called En, but even there, the atmosphere was stylishly quiet.
So, again to be honest, I never had much of an appetite to try Guu despite its wild popularity. But since my return, I have gone to a couple of other izakayas like Kingyo. The reservations are absolutely necessary at Kingyo but the atmosphere is quieter and easier to handle. The prices are still pretty steep, but since I consider dining at a Toronto izakaya a special occasion, that's not too bad with me.
However, my frequent izakaya companion, Danny, told me about Guu's quieter and more approachable little brother, Guu Sakabar. Located in the Annex neighbourhood (near University of Toronto), the place also has a very busy dinnertime, but just recently, it also opened for lunch. Fortunately for us, the news hasn't quite gotten around so even at noon, Guu Sakabar was still fairly empty when Dan and I got there.
What I liked was that the interior of the place reminded me of the old izakayas that we frequented back in Japan, and there was familiar music by singers like bird (in fact, I think Sakabar was using one of the CDs I also owned!)
Danny and I went for the lunch special. I had the Tontoroton, a large bowl of rice topped with seasoned pork slices and cabbage, and a side dish of Mini Chasiu Don (yes, I realize that it was redundant). Both were very enjoyable although I think the pork in the Tontorodon was a bit too fatty. I have heard that the strips of fat on Japanese pork are so well-flavoured that they are a delight to eat, but frankly, fat is fat. I'm not a big fan of the texture. Bacon is fine since there isn't a huge amount on each strip.
Altogether, the bill came to about $18 per person. Yes, it is pretty expensive for lunch in Toronto, but again as I said, I consider dining at any place Japanese a special occasion. And the food and service were fine; I would be happy to go back there again. But I have a feeling that the empty lunch times will soon be a thing of the past at the Sakabar.
Any foodie who has been in Toronto for the past few years has known about the izakaya boom that has brought Japanese pub food to the GTA. Even before I moved back to my hometown for good back in late 2011, I had been aware of the trend as I kept hearing about this izakaya that originated in Vancouver called Guu which came over to Canada's largest city.
To be honest, what was described about Guu was not something I would know about the real izakaya back in Tokyo and Chiba. 2-hour lineups, mandatory reservations and disco-level noise were never my impressions of places like Tengu, Tsubohachi or Nihonbashi-tei back in the Japanese capital. Y'know...an izakaya was the place I went to with friends and/or students for some mugs of beer and decent snacking food in a hustling but friendly atmosphere. It was never a disco. There is a more upscale chain of izakaya called En, but even there, the atmosphere was stylishly quiet.
So, again to be honest, I never had much of an appetite to try Guu despite its wild popularity. But since my return, I have gone to a couple of other izakayas like Kingyo. The reservations are absolutely necessary at Kingyo but the atmosphere is quieter and easier to handle. The prices are still pretty steep, but since I consider dining at a Toronto izakaya a special occasion, that's not too bad with me.
However, my frequent izakaya companion, Danny, told me about Guu's quieter and more approachable little brother, Guu Sakabar. Located in the Annex neighbourhood (near University of Toronto), the place also has a very busy dinnertime, but just recently, it also opened for lunch. Fortunately for us, the news hasn't quite gotten around so even at noon, Guu Sakabar was still fairly empty when Dan and I got there.
What I liked was that the interior of the place reminded me of the old izakayas that we frequented back in Japan, and there was familiar music by singers like bird (in fact, I think Sakabar was using one of the CDs I also owned!)
Danny and I went for the lunch special. I had the Tontoroton, a large bowl of rice topped with seasoned pork slices and cabbage, and a side dish of Mini Chasiu Don (yes, I realize that it was redundant). Both were very enjoyable although I think the pork in the Tontorodon was a bit too fatty. I have heard that the strips of fat on Japanese pork are so well-flavoured that they are a delight to eat, but frankly, fat is fat. I'm not a big fan of the texture. Bacon is fine since there isn't a huge amount on each strip.
Altogether, the bill came to about $18 per person. Yes, it is pretty expensive for lunch in Toronto, but again as I said, I consider dining at any place Japanese a special occasion. And the food and service were fine; I would be happy to go back there again. But I have a feeling that the empty lunch times will soon be a thing of the past at the Sakabar.
Teppan Kenta
This is one of the latest examples of the izakaya boom. Usually, I don't particularly go to an izakaya so soon after it first opens up since it often has growing problems in terms of service and food in the first few months. But after reading a review on the place in a magazine and finding out that it serves Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, I was rather intrigued, and told three of my friends about it. They are also big ramen and izakaya fans. Okonomiyaki has "officially" existed since the 1980s due to just one restaurant here in Toronto, but its reputation has become infamous since it seems everyone I've spoken with has said that the okonomiyaki there is very sub-standard.
Teppan Kenta is located behind an apartment building on Wellesley St., just west of Yonge St. The magazine review said it was a bit difficult to find, and yes, it took a few minutes before we were able to track it down. Supposedly, another izakaya had been situated there the year before, but apparently it quickly closed down which makes me think the owners had only wanted to get on the izakaya bandwagon more than create a decent restaurant.
The four of us went there on a Friday, so things were already quite busy when we arrived there at 6:30. Teppan Kenta isn't a big place so reservations are necessary and the tables get filled up rapidly. I mentioned about growing problems that any new restaurant has in the first paragraph. Well, this place opened up early in September so it was about a couple of months old when we arrived there, and so I think the growing problems are still there to a certain extent. Service was fairly slow but I understand the time it takes to get a good rhythm going in any restaurant. Also, the main reason that we were there....the Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki....was a bit disappointing since it came out pretty messy. We ordered it twice and each time, it didn't come out in that so-called clean way with the yakisoba and cabbage sandwiched between the two okonomiyaki, and with the neat "icing" of sauce and mayonnaise and waving bonito flakes. It frankly came out as one big glob.
The rest of the food was fine but it didn't particularly stand out from dishes at the other izakaya. The owner of Teppan Kenta came from the most famous izakaya in Canada, Guu, so I'm hoping that in the next several months, there will be further improvement especially in the okonomiyaki department. For me, I'm waiting for the day when that first authentic okonomiyaki restaurant comes over here.
http://teppankenta.com/
This is one of the latest examples of the izakaya boom. Usually, I don't particularly go to an izakaya so soon after it first opens up since it often has growing problems in terms of service and food in the first few months. But after reading a review on the place in a magazine and finding out that it serves Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, I was rather intrigued, and told three of my friends about it. They are also big ramen and izakaya fans. Okonomiyaki has "officially" existed since the 1980s due to just one restaurant here in Toronto, but its reputation has become infamous since it seems everyone I've spoken with has said that the okonomiyaki there is very sub-standard.
Teppan Kenta is located behind an apartment building on Wellesley St., just west of Yonge St. The magazine review said it was a bit difficult to find, and yes, it took a few minutes before we were able to track it down. Supposedly, another izakaya had been situated there the year before, but apparently it quickly closed down which makes me think the owners had only wanted to get on the izakaya bandwagon more than create a decent restaurant.
The four of us went there on a Friday, so things were already quite busy when we arrived there at 6:30. Teppan Kenta isn't a big place so reservations are necessary and the tables get filled up rapidly. I mentioned about growing problems that any new restaurant has in the first paragraph. Well, this place opened up early in September so it was about a couple of months old when we arrived there, and so I think the growing problems are still there to a certain extent. Service was fairly slow but I understand the time it takes to get a good rhythm going in any restaurant. Also, the main reason that we were there....the Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki....was a bit disappointing since it came out pretty messy. We ordered it twice and each time, it didn't come out in that so-called clean way with the yakisoba and cabbage sandwiched between the two okonomiyaki, and with the neat "icing" of sauce and mayonnaise and waving bonito flakes. It frankly came out as one big glob.
The rest of the food was fine but it didn't particularly stand out from dishes at the other izakaya. The owner of Teppan Kenta came from the most famous izakaya in Canada, Guu, so I'm hoping that in the next several months, there will be further improvement especially in the okonomiyaki department. For me, I'm waiting for the day when that first authentic okonomiyaki restaurant comes over here.
http://teppankenta.com/
Zakkushi
Well, I went out with the izakaya gang again last Friday. This time, it was Zakkushi on Carlton, one of the better izakaya I've visited in Toronto. It was 7 of us, and surprisingly, the reservations weren't that difficult to get for a Friday night at 7 p.m.
Zakkushi specializes in the skewered food, namely yakitori. And those were just fine. We basically ordered just about everything on the menu, because they all looked so good, and for a few of us it wasn't the first time to the restaurant. The regular chicken, beef with ponzu and the tsukune were especially great. But they also had some fine takoyaki and okonomiyaki as well. I think we overdid it on the protein, however; we didn't order any salad or other sorts of vegetables. Frankly, vegetarians or vegans would've been very uncomfortable at our table.
Dessert was also pretty good, too. We had the dorayaki, ice cream and other goodies. Considering how much we ordered, $53 per person was not a bad price to pay for a night there.
Well, I went out with the izakaya gang again last Friday. This time, it was Zakkushi on Carlton, one of the better izakaya I've visited in Toronto. It was 7 of us, and surprisingly, the reservations weren't that difficult to get for a Friday night at 7 p.m.
Zakkushi specializes in the skewered food, namely yakitori. And those were just fine. We basically ordered just about everything on the menu, because they all looked so good, and for a few of us it wasn't the first time to the restaurant. The regular chicken, beef with ponzu and the tsukune were especially great. But they also had some fine takoyaki and okonomiyaki as well. I think we overdid it on the protein, however; we didn't order any salad or other sorts of vegetables. Frankly, vegetarians or vegans would've been very uncomfortable at our table.
Dessert was also pretty good, too. We had the dorayaki, ice cream and other goodies. Considering how much we ordered, $53 per person was not a bad price to pay for a night there.
Mongolian Grill
For several years, this chain called "Mongolian Grill" had been quite successful with a number of restaurants throughout Toronto. However, there is only one restaurant now...not too far away from my home. Last Sunday, my foodie friend and I decided to go there for some buffet and noodles.
The main point about the Mongolian Grill is that there is a counter with regular Chinese buffet stuff like Sweet N' Sour Chicken Balls, Chow Mein and Hot N' Sour Soup. Then there is the other counter which is the main purpose for the Grill. The counter has step-by-step stations. You get an empty bowl and fill it at every station with a mix of meats, veggies, sauces and noodles. I decided to go with chicken, beef, greens and udon noodles with an oyster sauce. Once your bowl is filled, you can go to the very hot stainless steel drum and the chefs will cook the contents of your bowl and then return the finished dish to you.
I realized that I was getting old after my meal at the Grill. Twenty years ago, I could go to the buffet tables 5 times for the main course and sides and then two more times for dessert. Now, though, I only went twice for the main course stuff and just once for dessert. My stomach simply isn't that young anymore.
For several years, this chain called "Mongolian Grill" had been quite successful with a number of restaurants throughout Toronto. However, there is only one restaurant now...not too far away from my home. Last Sunday, my foodie friend and I decided to go there for some buffet and noodles.
The main point about the Mongolian Grill is that there is a counter with regular Chinese buffet stuff like Sweet N' Sour Chicken Balls, Chow Mein and Hot N' Sour Soup. Then there is the other counter which is the main purpose for the Grill. The counter has step-by-step stations. You get an empty bowl and fill it at every station with a mix of meats, veggies, sauces and noodles. I decided to go with chicken, beef, greens and udon noodles with an oyster sauce. Once your bowl is filled, you can go to the very hot stainless steel drum and the chefs will cook the contents of your bowl and then return the finished dish to you.
I realized that I was getting old after my meal at the Grill. Twenty years ago, I could go to the buffet tables 5 times for the main course and sides and then two more times for dessert. Now, though, I only went twice for the main course stuff and just once for dessert. My stomach simply isn't that young anymore.
Jelly Modern Doughnuts
I don't much of a chance to go downtown anymore in Toronto since I work mostly from home nowadays. However, yesterday I had to go there because I needed to buy a new external hard drive from Canadian Computers. And fortunately, just a few doors down, there was Jelly Modern Doughnuts on College St. I've been there once before, and the shop specializes in some pretty big gourmet donuts.
This time, I had the S'Mores donut with coffee. For those who don't know what a S'More is: the name is the short for "something more". While people were camping, of course, for dinner, everything was cooked over a campfire. But some people complained that there wasn't any dessert. They wanted something more after dinner. Well, one day, a genius thought of an idea. He would melt chocolate, a marshmallow and some Graham Crackers together on a stick, and that became a S'More!
The S'More donut was covered in chocolate and had a semi-melted marshmallow in the hole, but there was marshmallow cream in the centre, The coffee, unfortunately was not hot but only lukewarm, but it provided a good balance with the super-sweet donut!
http://www.jellymoderndoughnuts.com/
I don't much of a chance to go downtown anymore in Toronto since I work mostly from home nowadays. However, yesterday I had to go there because I needed to buy a new external hard drive from Canadian Computers. And fortunately, just a few doors down, there was Jelly Modern Doughnuts on College St. I've been there once before, and the shop specializes in some pretty big gourmet donuts.
This time, I had the S'Mores donut with coffee. For those who don't know what a S'More is: the name is the short for "something more". While people were camping, of course, for dinner, everything was cooked over a campfire. But some people complained that there wasn't any dessert. They wanted something more after dinner. Well, one day, a genius thought of an idea. He would melt chocolate, a marshmallow and some Graham Crackers together on a stick, and that became a S'More!
The S'More donut was covered in chocolate and had a semi-melted marshmallow in the hole, but there was marshmallow cream in the centre, The coffee, unfortunately was not hot but only lukewarm, but it provided a good balance with the super-sweet donut!
http://www.jellymoderndoughnuts.com/
The Harmony of the Seas
Came back from a 1-week cruise of the Western Caribbean via the largest cruise liner on Earth, The Harmony of the Seas. The cruise was fine and the service was excellent but unfortunately the food didn't quite keep up to expectations. The biggest offender was the buffet restaurant Windjammer. It was exactly like any other buffet restaurant on the mainland in that quantity trumped quality for the most part. On the other hand, the main dining room known as the American Icon Grill had some good dishes such as Duck L'Orange and Mushroom Vol-A-Vent.
Came back from a 1-week cruise of the Western Caribbean via the largest cruise liner on Earth, The Harmony of the Seas. The cruise was fine and the service was excellent but unfortunately the food didn't quite keep up to expectations. The biggest offender was the buffet restaurant Windjammer. It was exactly like any other buffet restaurant on the mainland in that quantity trumped quality for the most part. On the other hand, the main dining room known as the American Icon Grill had some good dishes such as Duck L'Orange and Mushroom Vol-A-Vent.
Japanese Souffle Pancakes
Well, after the ramen boom, then the popularity of izakaya and most recently, Japanese cheesecakes in Toronto, we now have the Japanese souffle pancakes to contend with. This just started late last year with places like Fuwa Fuwa and now I think there are at least two shops here that are specializing in those really fluffy and pillowy pancakes.
Still waiting for those dedicated okonomiyaki places.
Well, after the ramen boom, then the popularity of izakaya and most recently, Japanese cheesecakes in Toronto, we now have the Japanese souffle pancakes to contend with. This just started late last year with places like Fuwa Fuwa and now I think there are at least two shops here that are specializing in those really fluffy and pillowy pancakes.
Still waiting for those dedicated okonomiyaki places.
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