In search for great Restaurants in Tokyo

We're planning a holiday in March to Tokyo for a few nights. I've already sent an reservation email to Seryna Shinjuku for dinner. Hopefully I get a confirmation :)

Other restaurants I'm looking at are:

• Kanda, Minato-Ku for a Kaiseki dinner (Alteka Plaza 2F, Harajuku, 1-13-19 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku (00 81 3 5414 6561).
• Kobe Fuwatorohonpe for okonomiyaki (Manei Satobuilding 1F, 1-14-3 Ebisunishi, Shibuya-ku (00 81 3 3770 0816)
• Tempura Ten-ichi for tempura in Ginza (00 81 3 3571 1949)
• Sukiyabashi Jiro for sushi in Ginza 03-35352600

In my research, I came across a really interesting article:

• Land of the rising stars - Take a look.It talks about Michelin-starred restaurants in Tokyo and how some fantastic restaurants are quite exclusive and probably not even known to the Michelin judges.

Without booking, I also hope to rock up for sushi around Tsukiji Fish Market; go to a local izakaya; maybe eat at an onsen tea house. We haven't confirmed where we're staying yet. But it will be either Shinjuku or Roppongi. I am hoping Roppongi actually. It's just so much more homey and so much more trendy.

Apart from Omotesando, I have been told that I should go to Daikanyama as well for shopping. There are many smaller Japanese boutiques there... I'm hoping to see something that I've never seen before :)

Wishing you a fantastic weekend!

Sukiyabashi Jiro - Best Sushi in Japan

Photographs of the three chefs of Sukiyabashi Jiro restaurant in Tokyo, voted as having the best sushi in Japan, awarded three micheline stars:

• Craig Mod Photography
• Photographs of Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi dishes

"The Tokyo Michelin Guide 2008 awarded Sukiya-bashi three stars, recognizing it as one of the absolute best in the world. Its basement location underneath a business building in Ginza should not suggest anything less of a restaurant that can deliver the ultimate sushi experience. The chefs make their way out to Tsukiji every morning to find the best ingredients, which are then kept at different temperatures in special fridges to ensure that they are at their best. The interior is clean and elegant with lots of wood. Only ten counter seats and three tables are available, which makes for a cozy environment. The atmosphere is surprisingly quiet, which has led more than one person to compare the dinning experience at Sukiya-bashi to participating in a tea ceremony." Source: Sunnypages

Sukiyabashi Jiro

Tsukamoto Sogyo　Bldg.,

B1F, 4-2-15, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
03-3535-3600

Hiyoko Cakes

I received a wonderful gift from Hikki yesterday - a whole box of Hiyoko cakes that she bought from Japan! It was a thoughtful belated birthday gift... I was so touched that I set out to have two right away.. and brewed some lovely leong-jing tea to go with it . *sigh* while I was savouring the delicacy, I pondered what a blessed life I have... so fortunately to have a wonderful group of friends that know how to make me so happy!

Anyways about the Hiyoko cakes, they are my favourite cakes in the world.. It is made by a company originated in Fukuoka city, in Kushu. The soft centre ingrediants are hazelnut puree, eggs and sugar.. The outer-layer is a thin fragrant soft pastry. The pastry itself is shaped in a little chick - hence its Japanese name. Every time, I have one I can't help but kiss it before I take a bite. It is too cute!

At "Hiyoko Land", there are a lot of yummy creamy cakes as well.

Hope you get to taste one in your lifetime, because it is a real treat! Or if you are in Melbourne, remind me to let you try one, if I forget!