The Izakaya: the Japanese Pub Cookbook review done by Metropolis has me itching to get a copy. While the title may seem a little misguiding, the book is not just about recipes. It’s also a guide to fine watering holes and good eats around Japan.

Neither restaurant nor bar, the izakaya is more than a place where you can share delicious food and relaxing drinks—though it is certainly that. In many neighborhoods, it is a community hub with a cast of characters and ongoing narratives. The customers will range from locals and regulars to office workers, academics or day-laborers. They will order small-dish delicacies throughout the evening, perhaps in the beginning sharing just a couple of items. The menu is like a road map and the diners are at the wheel, calling out orders as the mood takes them. All dishes are inexpensive, and as the “scenery” and conversation changes, items that initially escaped notice acquire new appeal. No inquisitive diner can fail to broaden his or her horizons, wandering side routes into exciting new food avenues. And as the evening progresses and energy levels rise, you will hear straight talk and the uttering of hard truths that won’t ordinarily be spoken. In short, at the izakaya, people are more themselves.

REad the entire article here…

Edible gold

The idea of edible gold is not unheard off. Many chefs and cuisines around the world, has incorporated gold leaves into their dishes as an edible aesthetic enhancement but this company, Tsukioka Co., Ltd., based in Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture., has taken gold eating to the next level. They’ve actually created gold letterings like “Happy Birthday” and designs that floats in your cup of coffee or tea or punch bowls, basically anything you can think of.

There are currently 42 messages and designs available. The film is wound into a roll, and pieces are peeled off one at a time. With the smallest-sized packages at just ¥525 ($4.38 at ¥120 to the dollar), it is not at all expensive for a product made of pure gold. Messages and designs can also be custom made, although only for large-volume orders of ¥65,000 ($542) or more. Also on sale are a gold-leaf powder that can be used to decorate cakes and other confections, available in spray-can form, and a sprinkle-on flake type.

That is an advertisement on canned coffee, Wonda. I guess Wonda for Wonda-ful! :P Excuse the lame joke.

Coffee is such an important part of a working adult’s life. I don’t drink coffee as much as some but I do sometimes depend on it to help me kick start the day. This is the survey (in Japanese only unfortunately) made about what Japanese thinks about the role of coffee>> MyVoice. If you want a good breakdown of that survey and you don’t read Japanese, I suggest going here >> What Japan Thinks

Apparently theme restaurants are getting more and more popular around Tokyo area. These restaurants are offering what I would call an escape from reality during your mealtime. And I am sure many Tokyoites would appreciate that after a hard day’s of work :) There is a theme that suits everybody. One particular theme that was featured in Metropolis.co.jp is Alice in Wonderland. The setting of the restaurant looks exactly like table of Wonderland’s inhabitants with the checkered flooring and dark ambiance.

You peeps should really check it out. I can only hope that such things exists here where I live :(

Check out their website:Diamond Dining

Burger Wars!!!!

It has begun, again. Burger King has reopened in Japan after succumbing to defeat to the McD’s Big Macs in 2001 after a very cutthroat competition. Burger consumption in Japan is a big as 441 billion Yen in the year 2006. This amount is according to McDonald’s stats. Burger King, no doubt, wants a piece of that cake…if not the entire cake!

Frankly, I feel that Burger King’s burgers are heartier than filmsy McDonald’s burger. BK burgers are just better made. You can feel it in your hands when you hold that morsel of food in your hands, you know what I mean? No? You need to go down to Shinjuku or Ikeburuko’s BK joint for a chow down. Yes, Yes, I am an advocate of BK..what can i say?

The new re-entrant in the burger business is counting on their Whoopers to make it in the fast food industry. I don’t understand why the Japanese consumer didn’t like their Whoopers. They are so much better than the Big Macs…:/ Anyway, i hope BK lasts longer in Japan this time. I love their Mushroom Swiss Double Cheese Burger! :) I hope they sell that in Japan.

Photo by Tsutomu Fujita
There is a large selection of appetizers, including a plate of five assorted cheeses (¥1,200) to go with, for example, something from the small wine selection. But Sato’s true love is obviously nihonshu and shochu, and most of the menu pairs itself perfectly with items like famous Hakkaisan sake from Niigata (¥1,000), or Kiroku sweet potato shochu from Miyazaki (¥750). - Metropolis

According to the review, the food’s quality was excellent and with the combination of its beautiful atmosphere, the dining experience in Ra Ku Ra was definitely something to look forward to again in the future.

Address:
Court Modelia Nakameguro, 2-7-4 Kami-Meguro, Meguro-ku. Tel: 03-5879-7021. Open 11am-5pm, 6pm-midnight, closed Sun & hols. Menu in Japanese, reservations not required, smoking unrestricted.

Going Vegan

Being vegetarian in Japan can be quite tough. Everything ‘vegetarian’ includes dashi stock which is made from fish flakes. But fret not as now, there are many vegan eateries sprouting around and you can grab your favorite veggie version of Japanese food. Going vegan is a healthy option that many are opting for these days.

Here’s a list of Vegan eateries i found from Metropolis complete with directions. I hope it’ll come in useful to you in the future. Perhaps keep this list at home by printing it out and strapping it to the fridge with a fridge magnet.

Here goes:

Brasserie Chaya
This elegant brasserie sits in marked contrast to its plastic food-displaying neighbors on the seventh floor of Shinjuku’s Isetan. Formally dressed tables and a large stylish bar give the place a sophisticated air. The menu eschews meat, egg, dairy and sugar, but the ethos here is macrobiotic, so seafood appears in around half of the dishes. Still, Chaya offers perhaps the chicest vegan dining in the city, and one of the priciest options, with lunch sets at ¥2,625 and à la carte dinner dishes about the same. The English translations of the dishes aren’t always appetizing—flour gluten and millet hamburger, anyone?—but fortunately the chef does a far better job than the translator.

7F Isetan Main Bldg, 3-14-1 Shinjuku. Tel 03-3357-0014. Open 11am-10pm. Nearest stn: Shinjuku San-chome. www.chayam.jp/restaurant/shinjuku.html

Eat More Greens
Azabu-Juban’s Eat More Greens (above) is the most overtly vegan joint on our list. The menu proudly marks two thirds of the dishes as pure vegan, and there’s not a trace of fish, egg or meat. But the eclectic crowds that have been flocking here since it opened in March probably don’t care. Menu highlights such as the falafel plate or salad of rice and 16 cereal grains are worth crossing town for, and the setting—an attractive collision of industrial shell and pop visuals—is the perfect blend of casual and comfortable.

2-2-5 Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku. Tel 03-3798-3191. Open daily 7:30am-11pm. Nearest stn: Azabu-Juban. www.eatmoregreens.jp

Little Maman
This curry and soup pit-stop inside Shinagawa station’s Queen’s Isetan supermarket looks just like myriad other fast food counters across the city. But closer inspection reveals a menu that’s both vegan and macrobiotic, eschewing also white sugar and artificial seasonings. This is slow food—served fast. The menu is limited, but great value, with curry or soup sets for ¥600. Little Maman also sells an impressive range of vegan groceries, from tempeh blocks to heat’n’eat soup packs.

3F Queen’s Isetan, Atré Shinagawa, 2-18-1 Minato Minami, Shinagawa-ku. Tel: 03-5462-1551. Open daily 10am-8pm. Nearest stn: Shinagawa. www.little-maman.jp

Pita the Great
The yin to Little Maman’s yang, Tameike Sanno’s long-running pita joint serves fast food slowly. The meals are portable and filling, but it’s all cooked to order, and you’ll damn well wait for it. And wait for it. But all good things come to those who don’t mind a few extra minutes of drooling anticipation, and these meal-sized pita pockets are full to bursting with pure vegan fillings. Falafel is the top pick here, but there’s also crispy fried tofu, hummus and battered broccoli spears, among several other options.

2F ATT New Bldg, 2-11-7 Akasaka, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5563-0851. Open Mon-Fri 11:30am-6pm, closed Sat-Sun and hols. Nearest stn: Tameike-Sanno.

Deva Deva Café
Tokyo Walker magazine recently rated Kichijoji the best place to live in Tokyo for its wealth of funky independent cafés and affordable eateries. Casual vegetarian diner Deva Deva fits right in with a pristine white interior and a tasty menu that specializes in veggie burgers, served in a bun with potato wedges for the Western palate, or as “hamburg steak” in a veggie gravy for the local take. The restaurant guarantees at least one vegan plate at lunch or dinner, clearly labeled on the menu, and offers a range of vegan desserts.

2-14-7 Kichijoji-Honcho, Musashino-shi. Tel: 0422-21-6220. Open Fri-Wed 11am-8pm, closed Thu. Nearest stn: Kichijoji. www.devadevacafe.com

Shojin Bento
Shojin ryori typically means budget-busting kaiseki-style fare in fancy settings. Dinner courses can cost up to ¥18,000 a sitting in the formal restaurants. But Daikanyama lunchers can enjoy Zen vegan cuisine in the more accessible, and affordable, bento of Buddhist monk Tenkai Miki. Each lunchtime, Miki offers bamboo boxes of delicately flavored Japanese veggies and rice for just ¥1,200. The kaiseki rituals might be missing, but the beautiful packaging more than compensates.

Daikanyama station exit. Available Mon-Fri from noon.

Brown Rice Cafe
Stuffed tofu pockets, vegan curries and miso soups at this charming cafe just off Omotesando.

5-1-17 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5778-5416. Open daily noon-9pm. Nearest stn: Omotesando. www.brown.co.jp

Cafe 8
One-time favorite of the Aoyama crowd, now relocated to an Ikejiri backstreet.

3-17-7 Aobadai, Meguro-ku. Tel: 03-3585-6333. Open daily 11am-10pm. Nearest stn: Ikejiri Ohashi.

It’s Vegetable
Grammatically dubious name (the restaurant is also known as Ling Ling Saikan), but interesting menu of mock meats, with 90 percent of dishes vegan.

4-1-9 Kinshi, Sumida-ku. Tel: 03-3625-1245. Tue-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm (LO 2pm), 5-10pm (LO 9:30pm), closed Mon. Nearest stn: Kinshicho.

J’s Kitchen
Delicious macrobiotic vegan fare in a two-story Hiroo restaurant.

5-15-22 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5475-2727. Open Mon-Sat 11am-10:30pm, Sun & hols 11am-4:30pm. Nearest stn: Hiroo. www.js-kitchen.com

Pure Cafe
Nutritious vegan soups, sandwiches and salads in small portions.

5-5-21 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5466-2611. Open daily 8:30am-10:30pm. Nearest stn: Omotesando.

Wow…this is so useful to new expatriates who can’t speak Japanese to save their lives. Foreign Buyer’s Club is a home delivery service that delivers food and all other knick knacks you need at home in Japan. Just join their club and be a member then start browsing through their catalogue and order online. It’s easy. Only set back is you don’t know if they’ll be picking your veggies the way you want it. I’m quite fussy about that. Since i knew how to differentiate sweet oranges to the sour ones, I want my oranges sweet only. It would suck big time if the oranges were sour.

Anyway, check out their website online: FBC it’s like a supermarket at the tip of your fingers.

Source: GaijinPot

Being a vegan and living in Japan is a tough thing really simply because it’s hard to find Japanese food that’s completely without animal products. A lot of the so called “vegetarian” food contains dashi stock, and as we know…one of the main ingredients in dashi stock is bonito and dried fish.

In short, Japanese food is not exactly the most vegetarian friendly kind unless you’re happy just eating Kappa Ma everyday.

BUT…I found a Vegan cafe in Shibuya for you Vegans out there. The name is simple Vegan Healing Cafe and they serve, yes that’s right, only vegan food. No animal product whatsoever. The little gem of a cafe is nestled up on a hill in Shibuya next to NHK.

The one woman helmed cafe serves excellent full course meals from appetizers to dessert. Now, we all know that dessert is usually a disaster in vegan cuisine ..they either turn really rubber, flaccid and just ewwie but reviews for the dessert at Vegan Healing Cafe came far from negative:

The only thing left was dessert—which is where vegan restaurants usually go horribly wrong. Because baking almost always requires milk, eggs or butter as emulsifiers and thickeners, substituting other ingredients tends to yield dry, crumbly and bland results. It was therefore with trepidation that we ordered the soy whipped cream cake (¥490) and the apple cobbler (¥410). Sadly, the cake was sold out—next time we go for lunch, we’ll arrive before 1pm—but thankfully, the pie was not. Soft, gooey and sweet is what we were hoping for, and soft, gooey and sweet is what we got. Finally!

:) It’s a happy thing really. So here’s the map to the vegan restaurant courtesy from Metropolis.co.jp.

Source: Metropolis

For those of you who are thinking about where to go for lunch, dinner, dinner date or just plain hanging out with friends, I have found something really useful online for you. It’s a Gourmet Navigator around Japan. It’s a pretty cool link actually, it covers practically every major city around Japan like this:

Navigation Page 1

And when you click on Tokyo-Yokohama, it goes to different spots around the city to which you can choose from:

Navigation Page 2

People should have something like this everywhere!

Check out the Gourmet Navigator.