Bubby's at Shiodome

I noticed there is Bubby's at Shiodome City Center building early this year on the way back from my office. As I checked their web site, it seems it opened last July. Just saw the sign of the restaurant when I used the subway, but I haven't been there until last Sunday. My friend and I looked for the place where we have the lunch on Sunday, and I remember she once told me she wants to eat pancakes. Over the last two to three years, Pancakes are tremendously popular among Japanese women. They wait for it 1, 2 or more hours, if the restaurant is famous one from abroad. Anyway, Bubby's not the famous restaurant for pancakes, but I recommended this restaurant for our lunch to her.  

I am not the big fun of pancakes, so I ordered spinach egg Benedict after I pondered among the burgers and egg Benedict.

My friend ordered sour cream pancakes.
One of my friend had the pancakes here told me that the bottle of maple syrup comes to the table with the pancakes. I  usually don't see this service in Japan...what a generous they
are! 



 After we both finished half of them, we got tired of eating the same thing... We switched our dishes, but I was too full to eat any more after two or three bite of pancakes. We switched our dishes again, and the egg benedict was back in front of me. She again ate little bit more of pancakes, but I gave up to finish mine. Both were really good, but it was a little too much for our stomach. 

Pies and cakes are available for your friends or family who wait for you at home :) Muffins and pastries are also able to buy near the entrance. I want to try something sweet next time. 

New Chocolate Shop "RINALDINI"

Where there was formerly a chocolate shop “Joel Durant” located in Ginza, there are now new chocolate shops “Rinaldini” and “Nicolas Charles.” Right after both shops opened in January and February, I tried to visit there couple times, but it was always packed and I saw many people wait a long line to get in, especially weekend. I almost give up visiting there until I don’t see the long line.

Finally, I could walk into “Rinaldni” a few weeks ago, and one of a shop staff who used to work for Joel Durand remembered me and we chatted for a while. Now they are offering 8 kinds of flavors and I could try some samples. I wanted to buy a box of chocolates, but I changed my mind when I checked the price. I allowed myself to buy three pieces of chocolates and the chocolates I got were Lemon, Orange and Caramel. Lemon peel, Orange peel and toffee bits were hidden inside for each chocolate. According to the staff, Rinaldini has won the first place in the ice cream competition couple times, and they will start offering his gelato from this summer. I can’t wait to have it. 

Afternoon Tea at Marriott Hotel

 TOKYO MARRIOTT HOTEL was opened last Autaum, and it was remodeled of the former Gotenyama Garden Hotel Laforet Tokyo. I just knew its open one month ago, and I found I can have afternoon tea there. Soon I emailed my friend to ask for visiting the cafe on weekend. The reply from her was "YES!" :)

Now they are offering the Cherry Blossom (SAKURA) afternoon tea until April 15th. All desserts are pink, pink and PINK!  Some were strawberry pink and some were cherry blossom pink. I could feel the spring from the foods.  

1st Plate

Cherry Blossom Opera

Fresh Fruites with Cherry Blossom

Whoopie with Cherry Blossom and Cherry Blossom Jelly

2nd Plate

Cherry Blossom fromage petit scone & Marchmalow

Cheery Blossom Jelly

Plain Scone with Three kinds Jam

Strawberry Chocolate Cup Cake

3rd Plate

Spring Vegitables Vernier Fredda

Petit Scallop Burger Ham Mousse & Mustard Flower Pancake

Deep fried rolled Shrimp

Smoked Trout Salmon Wrap Sandwich

The day we had the Afternoon tea, we were seated by the window. The sun was a bit bright and it was not good for the cold desserts. We had to finish them first... Next time I visit there again, I prefer to sit near the bar counter.

 

Day trip to Kyoto

My best friend lives in Shiga where is located next to Kyoto. I usually see her if we both go back to our home town at the same time. Once I visited her to Shiga right after she got married and moved to there, but it was almost 10 years ago… Suddenly I felt like I wanted to go somewhere, and I went to Kyoto. Luckily, she was free the day I went there and we could spend the whole day together. I left my place at 6:00am and took the 7:30am flight to Itami airport.From the Itami airport to Kyoto, I took a non-stop bus which takes me to Kyoto directly. The bus was arrived at the Kyoto station before the time we expected to meet. I found my friend and her baby boy "Haruto" around 10:00am.First we stopped by TOFU store "三田久" for buying a Ama-Yuba(Tofu skin curd). It was 5 mins from Kyoto station on foot.

I wanted to visit a few temples this time, and we went to Nishi Honganji first.Unfortunately, the weather was not good all day long, and it was raining a little bit when we got there. I wanted to see all buildings, but we went inside the main building and stay there instead.

Shoin(書院）

I don't know this building...but it seems it was used for the reception room when guests visited the temple.

Karamon gate(National Treasue of Japan)

The gate is pretty big. The little boy in the middle is "Haruto." You can guess the size of the gate if you compare with Haruto. 

 After we left the temple, we headed to the cafe "La Voiture" where is famous for Tart Tatin(French upside-down apple tart). On the way to there, we found the traditional Japanese confectionary shop "Kameya Yosinaga(亀屋良長）near the bus station. I wanted to buy something Kyoto as a souvenior, and I got some Japanese sweets there.  

 The cafe is very close to the Shrine "Heian gingu." We didn't have a time to see inside, and  I just took a photo when I passed by.

Right after we paased by the shirne, the weather was suddenly changed... The sky turned black and it started raining, and it got worse and worse even we haven't reached to the cafe :( We all wet head to toes in a few min while we were running to the cafe. I supposed to buy the tart and leave the cafe, but we decided to stay the cafe until the weather gets better. We wanted to stay there until the rain stopped, but it never stopped after we entered the cafe.

The tart tatin was really good! The cafe seems very popular, and many people were kept coming and waited for the seats while we were eating.

We also went to Kagizen Yoshifusa(鍵善良房) that my another friend recommended me to eat at Kyoto. I ordered the Kuzukiri(葛切り）which is the most popular menu as my friend recommendation.

The container is very Japanese :) 

Kuzukiri is a Japanese traditional sweets and it has no taste. It dipped in the syrup and eat.

I got souvenir for my father there :)

I only could stay in Kyoto for about 7 hours this time, but I had really nice time with my best friend. I should visit there in another season again!

Good Bye Joël Durand, "Liegeois"

My favorite chocolate shop "Joël Durand" was closed on December 23rd. It was suddenly announced...There must be something reasons...

I enjoyed last Liegeois twice before it closed. My favorite flavor was "Clove & Lemon" and I had it a week before its closing. Everytime I ate it, I felt like it takes me to Summer France with one bite of it. 

I don't know customers know closing or not, there were no empty seat while I was eating it.

The day before the store closed, I went there with my friend again. My last Liegeois was Almond & Pistachio. I realized the Macaron was on top instead of a chocolate they used to have.  

The store stuff told me two new shops will open next year, and one shop will have smilar parfait on a menu. I want to try it at the new shop when it opens.

Christmas Cookies

My friend got me the royal icing cookies! I bake cookies and do icing, so I know it takes a lots of time for the icing if it's a complex pattern. They're too lovely to eat. I'll keep them for a while.  

Ladies Champagne Social

"The Champagne Bar" at ANA Intercontinental Tokyo, Akasaka
They have the plan "Ladies Champagne Social" only for woman . Their home page introduced the plan as "The Champagne Bar is pleased to introduce an added food menu to its popular Ladies’ Champagne Social plan. To accompany the free-flowing champagne, guests can now choose one of three food menus: class, trendy or elegance."

After work, seven of my co-workers joined this ladies night and enjoyed champagne and the foods for two hours with chatting.

As they explained in their website, they have three choices of food menues. 

When I see the menu, the dessert "Pistachio Cream Brulee with Almond Croquant"got my attention.

I had "The champagne elegance" because of the dessert :)

Top of the plate was "Vegi sandwich" (Roasted tomate, mashroom, rocket salad with pesto genovese)

Second plate was "Sauted foie gras on toasted apricot bread with balsamic vinegar and blueberry"

It was very samll...but it was REALLY SO GOOD! I don't remember how many times I said "so good" while I was eating... I wish I could have it more...

The dessart was "Pistachio Cream Brulee with Almond Croquant"

Two other foods' plates "The champagne class" and "The champagne trendy" are like above.

My last two drinks were champagne cacktails, "Mango Passion" and "???"(I don't remember the name...it could be somthing Blue Hawaii.) I usually don't drink, but the night I probably drunk 6 glasses of bubbles. :)

I can't stop thinking about the sauted foie gras...I already decided to go back there next month again!