Rokukakutei

Last meal in Osaka  … One for the road 🙂 And I would say this is one of the favourite meal of the trip
and an Osaka special :
Kushiyaki

start

start

Ready your stomachs! here we go!

#1: Prawn

#1: Prawn

#1: Fugu

#1: Fugu

#2: Beef

#2: Beef

#3: Scallop

#3: Scallop

#4: Green bean and Prawn

#4: Green bean and Prawn

#4: Pumpkin

#4: Pumpkin

#5: Mountain Caviar ( Shisho leaf, "donguri)

#5: Mountain Caviar ( Shisho leaf, “donguri)

#6: Red Snapper with Leek and Ginger

#6: Red Snapper with Leek and Ginger

#7: Green Pepper, Pork and Ginger

#7: Green Pepper, Pork and Ginger

#8: Octopus

#8: Octopus

#9: Fish Egg

#9: Fish Egg

#10: 1 Day and 3 Day Pickled Cucumber

#10: 1 Day and 3 Day Pickled Cucumber

#10: Palate Cleanser : Yoko

#10: Palate Cleanser : Yoko

#11: Crab Claw

#11: Crab Claw

#12:  Duck with Leek

#12: Duck with Leek

#13: Anago with Burdock

#13: Anago with Burdock

#14: Hida (Japanese Vegetable)

#14: Hida (Japanese Vegetable)

#15: Chinese Yam with Raddish

#15: Chinese Yam with Raddish

#15: Shrimp with Yidi (Lotus Root)

#15: Shrimp with Yidi (Lotus Root)

#16: Salmon with Mayo

#16: Salmon with Mayo

#17: Kiss Fish with Anago

#17: Kiss Fish with Anago

#17: Kiss Fish with Prawns

#17: Kiss Fish

#18 : Home Made Sour Cream

#18 : Home Made Sour Cream

#18: Home Made Bread

#18: Home Made Bread

#18: Home Made Bread

#18: Home Made Bread

#19: Ginkgo Nuts

#19: Ginkgo Nuts

#20: Cheese

#20: Cheese

 

#21: Coffee Ice cream

#21: Coffee Ice cream

#21: Champange Jelly with Fruits

#21: Champange Jelly with Fruits

#21: Chocolate Pudding

#21: Chocolate Pudding

#21 CLose up of Chocolate Pudding

#21: Close up of Chocolate Pudding

 

Verdict: 5/5 of us will definitely return here!

The whole experience was as if a pampered whimsical representation of creative representation of a simple street food that can actually actually be simple with the ingredients used, but fun with the way the chef interacts with the customers, to the waitresses that take the effort to explain the origin and preparation methods.

This place is 1 Michelin star but
1) casual and friendly dinning
2) good service
3) YOU WILL BE FULL!!! Orders will just keep coming until you tell them you want to stop! but other than that, we managed to finish through the entire 20+ sticks (I counted and recorded)
4) For each of the sticks, they will purposely place it pointed at the specific dip, so just follow suit and you will be fine 🙂

Rokkakutei
1-21-16 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku
Takoso Bdg2F, Osaka, 
Osaka Prefecture 542-0073 , Japan

Grand Front Shin Osaka

3 Restaurants for 3 meals in Grand Front Shin Osaka

First stop, Soba

Grilled Duck Slices

Grilled Duck Slices

Assorted Tempura

Assorted Tempura

Dipping Duck Soba

Dipping Duck Soba

Hand Cut Soba ( cold dipping one for 1 person)

Hand Cut Soba ( cold dipping one for 1 person)

Duck Soba in Soup

Duck Soba in Soup

Verdict:  3/5 of us will return

Duck was their specialty but it was just abit bloody to the extent some parts of it had that “birdy-uncooked” taste.
The noodles were good .. hand cut soba is really very different from those instant ones and all ..
we would return for their tempura set instead.

手打ちそば 石月
(Hand Cut Soba)
06-6485-7571
http://www.gfo-sc.jp/shop/detail?shopid=00000415

Dessert!!!
I had to find my Green Tea Parfait ..

Green Tea Parfait

Green Tea Parfait

Verdict:  definitely without question thumbs up for me
If i had to be stuck in a shopping centre, I am definitely parking myself here.
I think the picture already says it all .  IT IS AS GOOD AS THE PICTURE LOOKS!

Nana’s Green Tea
Grand front desk
Osaka south hall 4F, 4-20,
Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi,
Osaka, 530-0011

For dinner, we decided to head towards another different type of Japanese cuisine: yakitori. .. so we tried this place: Enishi Dori

IMG_6229

What we liked:

Appetizer: Runny Egg

Appetizer: Runny Egg

Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup

Oyakudon

Oyakudon

Chicken Skin

Chicken Skin

Fried Chicken

Fried Chicken

Tonpeiyaki

Tonpeiyaki

Close up of tonpeiyaki

Close up of tonpeiyaki

What we didn’t like

Tsukune (Chicken Balls)

Tsukune (Chicken Balls)

Chicken wings

Chicken wings

Chicken tighs

Chicken tighs

Chicken leg

Chicken leg

Verdict:  3/5 of us will return

The chicken wings were super huge! but the meat was not as juicy .. turned out to be a little tough
Overall it was a maybe will return but definitely highlight was the oyakudon :), chicken skin 

Enishi Dori
Japan 〒530-0001 大阪府大阪市北区梅田3-1-3

+81 6-6485-7791

#Kyoto 3.1 Gion Hatanaka Ryokan

I thought I try the American breakfast this time around (something different)

#1: American breakfast :)

#1: American breakfast 🙂

1.1: Home made marmalade and jam

1.1: Home made marmalade and jam

1.2: Thick toasts

1.2: Thick toasts

1.3 : Bacon and Salad

1.3 : Bacon and Salad

1.4: Plain Omelette with Ketchup

1.4: Plain Omelette with Ketchup

1.5: Home made yoghurt with honey

1.5: Home made yoghurt with honey

My other family members ordered the Japanese set.

Apart from rice, they had

1.1 grilled fish

1.1 grilled fish

1.2: Tamago (Egg) yaki with assorted root vegetables

1.2: Tamago (Egg) yaki with assorted root vegetables

1.3: Toufu

1.3: Toufu

1.5 : Miso Soup

1.5 : Miso Soup

1.6: Chawanmushi (Steamed Egg Custard)

1.6: Chawanmushi (Steamed Egg Custard)

Verdict:
3/5 of us will return.

Overall the stay here was pleasant. Comparatively to the Miyajima stay, the hot tub did not have as nice a view. There was only 1 kind of indoor tub.
Food wise, I would say they did take the effort, but probably, was slightly average compared to what we have had but it is slightly above average.
However, the location of the place made up for it ..  they are very nicely situated within town .. so it is quite easy to travel around and find transport.
This would be our 3rd ryokan experience and  .. if this is going to be your first, then i think you would probably have a good time enjoying all the facilities 🙂

Bye Kyoto for now!

Gion Hatanaka Ryokan
505 Gionmachi Minamigawa,
Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto,
Kyoto Prefecture 605-0074, Japan
Phone:+81 75-541-5315

Kyoto: #2.3 Gion Hatanaka Ryokan

For Dinner at the Ryokan we had:

#1,#2,#3

#1,#2,#3

#1: Sea Urchin on Toufu in a Yuzu Sauce

#1: Sea Urchin on Toufu in a Yuzu Sauce

#2: Sea Bream Sashimi

#2: Sea Bream Sashimi

#3.1: smoked egg topped with foe gras,  heirloom tomato salad,

#3.1: smoked egg topped with foe gras, heirloom tomato salad,

#3.2: scallop sushi, preserved mackerel sushi, ikan billis 'wafer'

#3.2: scallop sushi, preserved mackerel sushi, ikan billis ‘wafer’

#3.3 the cup, candied fruit salad

#3.3 the cup, candied fruit salad

#4: Simmered Buri with daikon and spinach

#4: Simmered Buri with daikon and spinach

#5: Fish Soup

#5: Fish Soup

#6: Grilled hamachi with seasonal mushroom

#6: Grilled hamachi with seasonal mushroom

#7: Seared Beef slices with nuts

#7: Seared Beef slices with nuts

#8: Battered hamachi fins

#8: Battered hamachi fins

#9: Kani (crab) meishi

#9: Kani (crab) meishi

#10: home made vanilla ice cream with kyoto grapes

#10: home made vanilla ice cream with kyoto grapes

#10.1 Yuzu Jelly

#10.1 Yuzu Jelly


Gion Hatanaka

505 Gionmachi Minamigawa,
Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto,
Kyoto Prefecture 605-0074, Japan
Phone:+81 75-541-5315

kyoto #2.2 : Ippodo Tea House

Had a very interesting traditional Japanese Traditional Tea.
Feel free to ask the waitress to explain how you should properly enjoy your tea!

Entrance

Entrance

IMG_6121

Tenka Ichi (Gyokuro) with Tea snack

IMG_6122

Close up of Tea Snack

IMG_6123

Hosen (Sencha) with Tea snack

Note: Depending on whichever type of green tea, there will be different number of tea cups ( used as a gauge to measure accurately the optimal temperature that each type of tea should be enjoyed; if teapot [100 degrees]-> 1st cup [80 degrees] (= -20 degrees) -> 2nd cup [60 degrees] (-20 degrees)).

IMG_6125

This implies that the tea should be enjoyed at 60 degrees

IMG_6131

Outcome: Sencha 🙂

IMG_6130

Input: Sencha

The shop itself, being the main shop still maintains the historical elements and tools used to make tea.

IMG_6134

IMG_6136

Verdict: 5/5 of us will return. I wished we learned more to appreciate tea, but this was really education and a very good experience to learn about the Japanese Culture.
A very good place as well to buy souvenirs 🙂

IPPODO Tea
Teramachi-dori Nijo, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-0915
Tel: +81-75-211-3421
http://www.ippodo-tea.co.jp/en/shop/kyoto.html
Store hours: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (until 6:00 pm Sundays and holidays)*
Kaboku Tearoom: 11:00 am to 5:30 pm*
* Closed during New Year’s holidays.

Kyoto #2.2 Kuromon Nishiki

Because we enjoyed the market from our previous trip
( I do apologise for the previous poor quality and bad image – i had to start somewhere right)
we headed back there

IMG_6076

Live Fugus (Puffer Fish) for Sale

Live Fugus (Puffer Fish) for Sale

IMG_6103

This is why Kyoto is the Capital for Green Tea

IMG_6079 IMG_6081 IMG_6086
This time around, we tried:

#1: Tarts

#1: Tarts

#1.1: Egg Tarts

#1.1: Egg Tarts

#1.2: Cream Tart

#1.2: Cream Tart

#2: Cheese Fish Cake

#2: Cheese Fish Cake

#3:Soup

#3:Soup

#3.1: Daikon Soup

#3.1: Daikon Soup

#4: Maguro Sashimi on Stick

#4: Maguro Sashimi on Stick

#5: Doughnuts

#5: Doughnuts

#5.1: Doggie Bites for Dogs

#5.1: Doggie Bites for Dogs

#5.2: Soyabean Doughnuts

#5.2: Soyabean Doughnuts

#6: Goma (Sesame) Ice cream with Sesame Toppings

#6: Goma (Sesame) Ice cream with Sesame Toppings

#7: 7 flavours

#7: 7 flavours

#7.1: Customise your own furikake (rice toppings) / 7 flavours to put on your rice

#7.1: Customise your own furikake (rice toppings) / 7 flavours to put on your rice

#8: Green Tea

#8: Green Tea

#8.1 : Green Tea Ice-Cream

#8.1 : Green Tea Ice-Cream

Verdict:

Since its a returned trip, needless to say, 5/5 of us loved this place 🙂
This time around we didn’t get to see a geisha, but we saw

Live Filming

Live Filming

Kyoto : #2.1 Gion Hatanaka Ryokan

Breakfast

#1: grilled fish and fish roe

#1: grilled fish and fish roe

#2: Pickles

#2: Pickles

#3

#3

#3 : Porridge ( you can change to rice if you want)

#3 : Porridge ( you can change to rice if you want)

#4

#4

#4: White miso with mackerel and spinach

#4: White miso with mackerel and spinach

#5: plum and Seaweed

#5: plum and Seaweed

#6

#6

#6: Preserved Vegetables, Grated yam with seaweed, Stewed Root Vegetables

#6: Preserved Vegetables, Grated yam with seaweed, Stewed Root Vegetables

#7: Tamago (Egg) Yaki, fried 'ikan billis', Fish Cake

#7: Tamago (Egg) Yaki, fried ‘ikan billis’, Fish Cake

#8

#8

#8: You duo fu

#8: You duo fu

#9

#9

#9: Miso Soup

#9: Miso Soup

Verdict:  3/5 thought breakfast was ok  ..
Not saying that it all tasted bad or anything, but perhaps not much wow factor we were looking for.
To give them credit, they did put a lot of thought into throwing in ‘mini surprises’ with the way they placed some of the dishes.
nonetheless, this place seems to be very catered towards foreigner’s taste buds as well it feels.

IMG_6043

Gion Hataka
Yasaka Jinjya Minamimon Mae Higashiyama ku, 
Kyoto, 
Kyoto Prefecture 605-0074, Japan

Kyoto #1.2 Gion Hatanaka Ryokan

Stayed at Gion Hakata Ryoka.

Opted for both breakfast and dinner

Sitting Area

Sitting Area

View from the room

View from the room

Welcome snack: Matcha with Red Bean Dango

Welcome snack: Matcha with Red Bean Dango

Tea Time Snack

Tea Time Snack

So came dinner time,
this night, we heard the neighbouring room who had engaged a maiko for entertainment purposes. We could hear the laughters and Japanese instrument .. We would have called for one too .. except we probably could not understand her jokes and conversation

back to the meal,

#1 Assorted Appetiser, #2 Toufu with Palate Cleanser, #3 Sashimi

#1 Assorted Appetiser, #2 Toufu with Palate Cleanser, #3 Sashimi

#1 : Assorted Appetizer : Smoked Duck, Baby Daikon, "ikan bilis", Tamago, Candied fruit,  Boxed crab stick anago sushi with egg shreds and tobiko

#1 : Assorted Appetizer : Smoked Duck, Baby Daikon, “ikan bilis”, Tamago, Candied fruit, Boxed crab stick anago sushi with egg shreds and tobiko

Surpise Santa : marinated miso vegetables

Surpise Santa : marinated miso vegetables

Yuzu Liqueur

Yuzu Liqueur

Uni (Sea Urchin) with Annin Toufu

Uni (Sea Urchin) with Annin Toufu

Sashimi: Toro( Tuna Belly), Ika (Squid) and Tai (Sea Bream)

Sashimi: Toro( Tuna Belly), Ika (Squid) and Tai (Sea Bream)

Close up of Toro

Close up of Toro

#5: Clear Soup

#5: Clear Soup

#5: Clear Soup with Mochi, Rooted Vegetables (Lotus, daikon, Carrot)

#5: Clear Soup with Mochi, Rooted Vegetables (Lotus, daikon, Carrot)

#6: Rolled Daikon, Leek rolled in Kelp. Santa Hat ( Spinach). Santa face/beard) yuzu jelly

#6: Rolled Daikon, Leek rolled in Kelp. Santa Hat ( Spinach). Santa face/beard) yuzu jelly

#7: Soup

#7: Soup

#7: Daikon Soup with Leek and Fish Cake

#7: Daikon Soup with Leek and Fish Cake

#8: Grilled Mackerel with Mushrooms in miso

#8: Grilled Mackerel with Mushrooms in miso

#9: Assorted Pickles (Raddish, Cucumber)

#9: Assorted Pickles (Raddish, Cucumber)

#10: Mushroom Meishi

#10: Mushroom Meishi

#11: Miso Soup

#11: Miso Soup

#12: Toufu Cheese cake with Goma(Sesame) Ice cream and fruits (strawberry and black bean)

#12: Toufu Cheese cake with Goma(Sesame) Ice cream and fruits (strawberry, kyoto grapes and black bean)

Verdict:
5/5 agreed that what was the best part of this meal, would be the appetisers.
There was so much effort put into the crafting ( near Christmas season) of the food, plating and attention to the details.
Mains however, and subsequently after appetisers was good but did not wow us .

ok.. good night world

Good night

Good night

 

 

 

 

kyoto #1.1

On ward Kyoto for a relaxing Ryokan experience

Upon arrival at the station, we stopped for a quick lunch at the JR station in ISETAN

Ramen Museum : introducing only the best ramens

Ramen Museum : introducing only the best ramens

decided to go with what we couldn’t get in Singapore .. so we went for :

Settled with this

Settled with this

Free Flow of Eggs :)

Free Flow of Raw Eggs 🙂

Fish Cake

Fish Cake

Gyoza

Gyoza

#No. 2

Normal Bowl Ramen with eggs and sliced beef 

Char Han :)

Char Han 🙂

Verdict: 5/5 will return

The Fried rice was the highlight because it was really very well fried -> very fragrant even when they are carrying it to the table, you can really smell it.

The beef looked like it was marinated in sukiyaki sauce, but it was not. Just quite plain but nice for a change instead of the usual types we can get in Singapore.

Tokushima Ramen Toudai (徳島 ラーメン東大)
10F Kyoto Station Building,
Isetan

901 Higashishiokoujicho Sagaru Shiokoji Karasuma dori Shimogyo-ku,
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

Miyajima Bites

What do you do I mean staying in a Ryokan .. You have 2 meals covered, and just have to go around exploring ..
Miyajima to me is a quaint small town, a nice getaway to recharge, place for retirees to explore
This place seems to be packed with more Japanese tourists and even school children who make day trips to visit
the UNESCO sight (Torii Gate).

Day Time ( When the tides recede you can go down and touch the bridge itself!)

Day Time ( When the tides recede you can go down and touch the bridge itself!)

Night Time

Night Time

Apart from this, just close by, the
Itsukushima Shrine

haha

Itsukishima Shrine

Five-storied Pagoda

Five-storied Pagoda

Momijidani Park

Momijidani Park

Mt.Misen

Mt.Misen

Sweet Old Couple

Sweet Old Couple

There is this whole street of shops ( you won’t miss it at all i promise) of which,
what we liked and tried:

#1: Chestnuts!

#1: Chestnuts!

#2: Sweet Potato Ice cream

#2: Sweet Potato Ice cream

#2: Sweet Potato Ice Cream ( my favourite of all)

#2: Sweet Potato Ice Cream ( my favourite of all)

#3: Stall that sells Fish Cake

#3: Stall that sells Fish Cake

#3: Mentai Fish Cake

#3: Mentai Fish Cake

And of course, not forgetting what Miyajima is famous for : Momiji Manju

But we tried a different version:

#4: Agemomiji (Fried Momiji mantou)

#4: Agemomiji (Fried Momiji mantou)

#4: With Cheese Filling

#4: With Cheese Filling (Pure Awesomeness)

#5: Roasted Senbei (Rice Cracker)

#5: Roasted Senbei (Rice Cracker)

For lunch, we stepped into one of the restaurants that seemed to be packed with families ( we won’t return back btw)

Grilled Oyster in Shio (Salt)

Grilled Oyster in Shio (Salt)

Ten Don (Assorted Tempura on Rice)

Ten Don (Assorted Tempura on Rice)

Anago

Anago

Anago Meishi

Anago Meishi

Ebi (Prawn) Fried

Ebi (Prawn) Fried

Katsu Curry Don(Rice)

Katsu Curry Don(Rice)

Of course, another attraction was the giant spatula

Giant Spatula

Giant Spatula

Souvenirs can include your own self portrait/ name writing on mini spatulas

Arashi :)

Arashi 🙂

If you do get the chance,  We all definitely would return back to Miyajima for a day trip  or a night stay 🙂
Food Wise, for the Anago and Oysters -> definitely
The Deers you see around are very friendly, they do no bite but!! they seem to like paper for some reason. What I thought was amazing was the deers did not dare to enter the shops/ restaurants

Bye for now

Bye for now

On our way back to take the train to Osaka, We came across this Cafe called Blue Bird Cafe.
I totally  ask you to go inside and have a cuppa and talk to the friendly owner. He started this cafe literally by the road side. As a gimmick and as he managed to expand, he bought into the shop and it looked like his van drove into the shop. LITERALLY.

no exaggeration right

no exaggeration right

to all the book lovers

to all the book lovers

IMG_2984

Say Hi to the Owner’s cat

Chai Tea Latte

Chai Tea Latte

Green Tea Latte

Green Tea Latte

Americano

Americano

i spy the car door

i spy the car door

The Bluebird Cafe

1-3-27 Miyajimaguchi, Hatsukaichi,
Hiroshima Prefecture 739-0411, Japan