Jun 26, 2015

mAAch ecute

mAAch ecute
-KANDA MANSEIBASHI-

Refreshing from the daily work, shopping is one of the best thing to do! The day I visited Kanda Manseibashi for shopping and having the lunch was bit cold,but sunny. Kanda is well known for second hand book and historical restaurants. 
It seems the theme of each store is Scandinavian countries and Hokuriku region(northern part of Japan) Inside the building is pretty lovely. Small shops are located inside, and there are cafe, sweets shop, flower shop and restaurants outside of the building, too. Even you don't buy anything, you can kill your time for just checking the shops. 


Shops share the space on the same floor.



Time was almost noon we got there, and we had the lunch at one of the restaurant. The foods are local dishes from Akita(Akita is also located in northern part of Japan.)
My friend ordered the fried "Fu" set. Fu is made by flour. It's fried, but I guess it's healthier than the fried chicken. We amazed its texture, it's soft and juicy!
Mine was Yonezawa beef (one of the Japanese brand beef like Kobe- beef) humburg. 




Soon we finished our lunch, we moved to coffee shop to get coffee and sweets shop for a pound cake as a dessert.

Jun 3, 2015

TORO at Ginza

My friend and I tried to find a place where we could have a lunch on weekend, and she suggested me "TORO". I remembered the coupon from this restaurant I found in my mail box, but it was last December and I totally forgot about it for a while.   
It just opened last December near Yurakucho-station, and it is not far from my place.
I grabbed the coupon and we walked to the restaurant for a lunch.

We ordered the lunch buffet "Churrasco lunch." Buffet can be ordered only on the second floor of the restaurant, and the set menu is served on the first floor during the lunch time.

Buffet consists of the followings:

TODAY'S CEVICHE
freshly prepared

QUINUA SALAD
red onion / roasted corn / mint

BUILD YOUR OWN SALAD
mixed greens / assorted / condiments / dressings

TOMATO MOZZARELLA SALAD
hearts of palm / basil / chipotle dressing

DAILY SOUP
freshly prepared

MEXICAN RICE

TODAY'S DESSERT

~ DRINK ~
SOFT DRINK, COFFEE OR TEA


 In addition to the above menu, we could chose two items from the main menu,
"PICANHA(Beef), CHORIZO,CHICKEN,PORK,SHRIMP and Fish."
 
We both ordered the beef for our first choice, and shrimp was my choice for the second, and fish was my friend's choice for the second.

 I also got small Enchilada and it made my stomach satisfied :P

Of course, I had the desserts, too! 

I often evereat at buffets...
How to not overeat???

Yuki no shita(Cafe)

Pancakes captured the hearts of Japanese women couple years ago. I believe Hawaiian pancakes was trigger to the boom. Since then, pancakes are often introducing in magazines on TV program. 

I was back from my trip to Europe two weeks ago and I went back to my home town last week with the teas which my friend asked me to get in London.
I met her at "Yuki no shita" where I have been wanted to have pancakes and
 shaved ice. 
"
"Yuki no shita" is located many places, and there is a one near my house in Ginza, Tokyo. But it's hard to have it because of long wait for a table, so I gave up to have it.

Just went back to my home town, I found the one opened in Takamatsu in January.
I thought we should be there before the cafe opens, but we didn't see people were waiting for a table when we arrived there... 
It's good, we could get a table without waiting. 

Kochi Ginger Shaved Ice was the one my friend had.

I had "Kokuto Kinako" (Brown suger and toasted soybean flour) Shved Ice. 
The ice is pretty fluffy and melt right away.The taste was so good, too!!!

We both ordered the fine butter pancake,too. It's really simple, but we thought this is the one we can enjoy pancake itself.


It comes with butter and Japanese orange honey. The size is small but it's quite thick. We had to wait for 20 mins for cook. The outside is nicely crunchy, but the inside is really moist and soft. 


We enjoyed both shaved ice and pancakes and spent more than 2 hours for chatting!
Only few people came into cafe while we were there. 
Wondered...why it's not popular inTakamatsu...???

I already decided I will go back there and try other flavored shaved ice next time!