Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo and some bites here and there

[KitKat]

Kashu pork, Chiba
PCR 8


Fugu "Tiger Puffer" Hagi, Yamaguchi
PCR 7.5 slowly liking this fish... still alive


Tile fish, Hagi, Yamaguchi
PCR 8.5 liked this very much especially the skin and scales..
very good flavour, texture, salivating thinking back now


Barbary duck, Ibaraki
PCR 7.5 well cooked duck

 

[KitKat]

Time for dessert..


"Tsubaki" Camellia dessert
"Koji" Aspergillus Oryzae
PCR 6 this was not to our taste, but was pretty


"Kuyuzu" Magnolia
PCR 7.5 this was more to our liking

Desserts in Japan are not as sweet
and this trend continues here

 

[KitKat]

Petit four galore....





our host explaining the various mignardises

 

[KitKat]

Which ones to have?

One of each... of course... certainly sir




Beans with puree
Sweet potato
Pumpkin cheesecake
Japanese rhubarb
Sesame jelly
Matcha Jelly
Kumquat
Pomelo skin
Japanese lime
Lemon
Crispy jelly
Tea Jelly

All sensational

 

[KitKat]

In summary, another great meal

Narisawa I think is currently the best restaurant in the world to me..
Fantastic food, great service, best overall package

A steal for lunch at 14256 JPY per person food only...
Sadly from 1st April 23760 JPY per person... still a bargain I think

Dinner is a little more

Will I come back? definitely, whenever I am in Tokyo

 

[KitKat]

After such a great meal, we needed to walk this off... so more cherry blossoms!

they seem to be everywhere

Not very far from Narisawa is a not very known place to view cherry blossoms...



a whole avenue..

 

[KitKat]

last few pictures may give the location away

 

[KitKat]

Secret is out, the location is Aoyama Cemetery

 

[KitKat]

Back to other important tasks for the afternoon before dinner!


A women only carriage for the metro... avoids difficult situations during the crush

So back to credit card work out


Some new changes with the tax refund in Tokyo

You can get your $$ back at the department stores straight away
You can also get your tax back for edible gifts you may buy for friends..
(conditions apply)
worked out to be easy and convenient

 

[KitKat]

Soon it was time for another meal after an afternoon shopping, this time Ishikawa

We chose this to try a more traditional Kaiseki..




a bit of sake to get things going


sea bream milt, hard clam, and sea cucumber
PCR 7 tasty but not sure of the texture of milt!
Oh well, in Japan you eat anything


more baby Ayu
PCR 8 quite good here as well


Snow crab and bamboo shoot dumpling - loved this
PCR 8.5 like the clear simple flavours of japanese bamboo shoots

 

[KitKat]

Sea bream and sea urchin
PCR 7.5 good


Blanched blowfish tossed with japanese herbs with grated white radish sauce
PCR 7.5 (I think I like fugu...)
*next time may try the fugu set meal when in japan


Charcoal grilled conger eel
PCR 8 (they just know how to grill fish well..)

 

[KitKat]

Spear squid and bamboo shoot covered in grated radish sauce
Very tender squid
PCR 7.5


Charcoal grilled sea perch
Again excellent
PCR 7.5


The boss appeared to serve the signature rice.. steamed rice with japanese duck and peas
Friendly fellow
Was looking forward to this but was disappointed..


the rice with miso soup and pickles
PCR 5 (sorry, was disappointed with this..)

 

[KitKat]

Last course: dessert

red bean, cherry blossom agar, milk mouse, cherry blossom leaf sherbet, sticky rice

This redeemed the meal...
Not too sweet, just right, various textures and flavours
PCR 7.5

The meal was quite good but lacked the "wows" of Ryugin.
It was cheaper at 19000JPY pp excludes 10% service and 8% tax

I think the let down was the rice. Supposedly the heart of the meal but just was not right for us.
I think they were disappointed that we did not enjoy it, and we did not want to take any away as rice balls..

Anyway, the food apart from the rice was good and the service was excellent.

Would I go back again? Most likely no as there are definitely other places to check out

 

[TomVexille]

This has to be one of the best food TRs I've ever read

 

[KitKat]

This has to be one of the best food TRs I've ever read

Thanks for the kind words and continuing to read.... will try to continue soon

 

[KitKat]

The boss thanked us for coming and escorted us out till we went around the corner.
Very good hospitality.

Tomorrow would be our last day in Tokyo. We were a little sad...
Anyway, after a good sleep, woke up quite early for holiday time to try and squeeze in some final cherry blossom viewing





not many people out yet at 630!


So it is off to Chidorigafuchi today (by myself as +1 loved sleep more)

 

[KitKat]

The weather was not the best, drizzle and overcast






cherry blossoms are out..

 

[KitKat]

even the Indian Embassy was in on the Cherry blossom event...
they had a food fair on so you could enjoy some food while admiring the flowers
a little too early that morning

 

[KitKat]

final scene from Chidorigafuchi

Chidorigafuchi would probably be one of the better places to view cherry blossoms but would get quite busy..
Aoyama cemetery would be a secret place to view it


Shibuya crossing in the morning on the way back to the hotel, not that busy yet

 

[KitKat]

been a few busy days at work but will try to continue with the TR and finish this!

After the last cherry blossom visit, it was back to the hotel for a shower and breakfast...
+1 was just stirring when I got back

So it is my usual breakfast when in Tokyo
- tofu, pickles, fish cakes and fish


As today is our last day, it is shopping time..
We went to Shinjuku and spent the whole day there..... after checking out Keio for the morning, it was off to Takashimaya

but lunch first..
It was off to a chain Tonkatsu restaurant
Katsukura

Always a wait to get in even though it was a late lunch

waiting to get in


finally in with sesame seeds to grind to go with your sauce



some tofu and mushroom appetisers
not bad but we were quite hungry by then
PCR 6