Lazy Update

It's been a while since a proper update...

Honestly, I've been way too lazy to carry around my camera and it doesn't help that the iPhone camera is quite decent. Here are some snaps on my phone of summer in Tokyo.

I love this "tree tunnel" on the walk to the station.

Beautiful, colorful hydrangeas everywhere!

My absolute favorite pizza in Tokyo (and currently my favorite Italian restaurant):

Spinach Pizza at Tarantella-da-Luigi

(blogged about previously here)

Sunday Farmer's Market at Daikanyama T-site

Indian Curry Lunch: Priya

Shaved Ice to cool down with: Koyomi Hiroo

The homemade strawberry syrup is SO good!

My friend treated me to a fancy birthday lunch: Les Enfants Gates

(blogged about previously here)

Cherry Pie: Matsunosuke NY

Pizza lunch with bubbles: Napule Omotesando

Refreshing Tororo Soba: Honmura An 

Walking through Roppongi with an awesome view of the Tokyo Tower.

Japanese sweets: Naniwaya Souhonten

(blogged about previously here)

Hertog Jan

Haven't updated in a while. I've been fully enjoying my stay in CA but I've also started to countdown the days until I fly back to Tokyo.

Finishing up on my updates from our Eurotrip...

The reason for our detour to Bruges was to eat at Hertog Jan. The Chef and Sommelier co-own the restaurant and they organically grow most of their vegetables, herbs and flowers to create modern, gastronomy dishes (you can read more here). They earned 3 Michelin stars last year in 2011 after taking over the restaurant in 2005.

We ordered the 5-course menu paired with wine. Luckily, we got seated right next to the kitchen so we were able to watch all of the chefs in action.

It's difficult to put into words all the elaborate flavors of each dish. Actually, its impossible.

All I can say is that this truly was an "experience". Once we step in the restaurant, we get an opportunity to sample a taste of Chef Gerd De Mangeleer's culinary genious. All of the paired wines that we had were very interesting (never had wines from the mountains of Portugal, Greece and small islands in Europe) but was the perfect accent to that specific dish. The interior was so simple but the ambiance was warm and inviting and not at all stuck up. And the service was beyond amazing. They explained each dish and wine in depth, made sure everything was perfect without being in your face or staring you down. Everything about the restaurant and the food had an elegant flow that made us forget we were in there for a good 4 hours.

If you are ever in Belgium, the trip out to Bruges and Hertog Jan is SO worth it.

Frenchie Bar à Vins

Our last meal in Paris was at Frenchie Bar à Vins.

This wine bar is adjacent to Frenchie, Chef Gregory Marchand’s restaurant that is very challenging to book. They made this wine bar so that you can enjoy Chef Marchand's dishes tapas-style with wine, without having to make reservations months in advance. We didn't want to wait so we just went 15 minutes before they opened and were able to be get seats. By the time we were leaving, this tiny bar was PACKED! The food was unique and delicious (my fave: foie gras mousse, 3rd pic) and the wines were very reasonably priced.

Agapé Substance

Agapé Substance is a restaurant in the Saint Germain district that opened last year. It was voted one of the most anticipated restaurants of 2011 and is a contemporary, gastronomy/molecular French cuisine. Gastronomy/molecular cuisine is very fascinating to me, especially with the bizzare flavor combinations and modern presentations. The menu at Agapé Substance is very unique because they hand you a card with a list of ingredients, nothing more (current menu is on their site). You don't know how it's prepared or what other ingredient is in it, until its served.

On a side note, the multi-seed epi bread (5th picture to the left) was fantastic. In general, every restaurant has great bread (and butter!) but this bread really stood out.

Frederic Simonin

A lot of restaurants in France are closed on weekends, a concept that would never work in both US and Japan. Frederic Simonin was recommended to me by my Mom and happened to be open on Saturdays. We booked for lunch and each got a course with wine pairings. My favorite dish was the Fish that I ordered for my main. The flavors and presentation were very clean. It's classic French cuisine with a modern touch.

The French Kitchen

Catching up on some updates...

Champagne Brunch at The French Kitchen inside of Grand Hyatt Tokyo last month.

Entrance.

Interior/Buffet Station.

The absolute BEST part of the buffet part was the Fruit Station. They have a selection of fresh fruit and will freshly cut anything you want. Felt like I got my money's worth with the fruit alone (fruit is extremely expensive in Japan).

Freshly made Egg's Benedict.

Buttery & sugary French Toast.

Buffet.

You choose one main dish. This is my boyfriend's duck dish.

It was the better dish out of our table (I ordered fish, our friend ordered Chicken) but it was unimpressing to say the least...

Dessert is also buffet style.

Personally, I am not a fan of buffets. I hate that overly-full feeling that lingers. But this was a rare case, I really enjoyed the dishes offered for the buffet but didn't enjoy the main dish that came with it. Especially at 6,500 yen (main, buffet & a glass of Louis Roederer Champagne). I wish they would offer a buffet only option for about 4,500 yen.

Oh, and a heads up, I ordered an extra glass of Champagne which cost a third of the price of the entire meal! Obviously, should have asked before I ordered... but it would probably be a better option to hold off on that second drink and instead, enjoy one afterwards on the balcony of The Oak Door upstairs.