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{ Yokohama Ukaitei — 横浜うかい亭 }
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Tag Archives: 4.5 stars
{ Toshi Yoroizuka }
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Toshi Yoroizuka is known as one of the top 3 pastry chef’s in Japan and he is famous for his exquisite desserts. I had an amazing opportunity to be part of a French film documentary with both Toshi Yoroizuka and Christophe Adam, a Michelin-rated French pastry chef. This was such a surreal experience, I still can’t believe it happened and I’d have to say that my experience and review may be just a little biased :)
Although I’ve tried Toshi Yoroizuka’s desserts before, I’ve never had the chance to dine at his salon in Roppongi Midtown until now. Let me tell you, it’s a completely different experience compared to simply purchasing his desserts to-go. His salon is a cool chic space with 14 seats. Chef Yoroizuka explained that he never plans to make the seating space larger because this personal feeling/atmosphere cannot be achieved if it becomes too big.
Dining at his salon is a MUST if you are into sweets. It is such a special experience as you get to enjoy freshly made pastries that can only be savored to the fullest when they are just made. For example, I had the mouth-watering ‘Watermelon mille-feuille’ (1200 yen) which is a seasonal dessert that includes watermelon from Tottori, puff pastry straight from the oven, and is topped with homemade salted ice cream. This perfectly constructed masterpiece can only be appreciated within minutes of its creation since the delicate balance of the ingredients would quickly collapse. I literally melted after my first bite. It was SO good. In fact, everyone kept taking bites off of my plate! (Please note that the menu changes frequently so you may not be able to eat the same items.)
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{ Shoraian — 松籟庵 }
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What a treat. Shouraian is located in Arashiyama, Kyoto, where the beautiful bamboo forest and the famous Togetsukyo (渡月橋) “Moon Crossing Bridge” are located.
Shoraian, a restaurant that specializes in Tofu cusine (豆腐懐石) is tucked away in the middle of the mountain and a little bit difficult to find, but it is worth the journey and every penny of the price. Beyond the precise detail of the presentation of Japanese cusine, the location and intimate beauty of the surroundings are unbeatable. The fact that you get to dine right next to the river overlooking the lush and colorful mountain makes this the ultimate Japanese dining experience in Kyoto. We ordered the 3800yen Matsuba lunch course and everything was absolutely delicious… it’s really amazing how much they can do with tofu!
This place is by reservation only so make sure you call in advance to reserve a spot.
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Related Posts on Kyoto:
1) Fall in Kyoto
2) Iyemon Salon
3) Shoraian 松籟庵
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Address // Sagakemonoocho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 075-861-0123
Website // http://www.syouraian.jp/
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{ La Table de Joel Robuchon }
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I’ve been dying to try Robuchon’s restaurant in Ebisu because it’s one of only 11 three-star Michelin rated restaurants in Tokyo. Although I later realized the one I went to was La Table de Robuchon and the three-star rated restaurant was on the 2nd floor (called Joel Robuchon Restaurant)… oops
Anyhow, as soon as you arrive, you are greeted by this beautiful mansion and you instantly feel like you are walking into luxury. When we went, the restaurant was completely full with madames having lunch. The food and service were exquisite and it was definitely worth checking out. The attention to detail and presentation of every dish transformed the food into more of art pieces than dishes for eating. I definitely recommend giving this restaurant a try for a special occasion.
Address // Ebisu Garden Place, 1-13-1, Mita, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-5424-1338
Website // www.robuchon.jp/ebisu/la_table.html
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{ Aoyama Flower Market Tea House }
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Aoyama Flower Market Tea House was beyond Ah-mazing. This beautifully put together tea house is located inside of a flower store. If you are just passing by, you would never know such a gem is inside. But because of that it’s still the best kept secret in town. Actually, this tea house only recently opened less than 3 months ago. We were in awe of how much thought was put into creating this space. The tables are transparent so that you can enjoy the fresh flowers beneath them – some tables even have tiny holes in them for white roses to peek out above the glass like a vase.
Though they only offer tea (no coffee), they have a large variety including herbal, dry herbal, and special seasonal teas. They also have a small food selection – which happens to include the most delicious french toast I’ve ever had (the food rating is strictly based on the french toast we had). It was so good that my friends and I had to order another plate before the first plate was even done – and we noticed the lady behind us did the same! The service is very slow since they are under-staffed, but it’s brand new, so I can definitely look past that. The ambiance, food, and tea were so perfect together that you’ll almost certainly find yourself not wanting to leave. We certainly didn’t!
Address // 5-1-2, MinamiAoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-3400-0887
Website // www.afm-teahouse.com
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