Exploring Arakicho at Yakitori Ogawa

Arakicho is an interesting neighborhood in Tokyo that I fell in love with during my recent trips there. It could be a little off-track for some, but it's only a few stops away from Shinjuku and a short walk from either Yotsuya-sanchome or Akabonobashi metro stations. It's characterized by narrow and quiet streets with twist and turns, and small bars and restaurants in between, which I found it lovely just to stroll around in the evening, something for a change then the often busy Tokyo streets.

Right on time - Lunch at Sushi Daisan Harumi

After a gruesome flight out of Hong Kong (which involved a 3-hour delay in the middle of night sitting in a plane on tarmac), I barely made it from Narita Airport to downtown on time for lunch at Sushi Daisan Harumi in the Shinbashi neighborhood in Tokyo.

Enjoyable night at Sushisho Saito

I was merely looking for a half-decent place to eat on my last evening of the trip in Akasaka - hardly a destination when you think of good sushi - when I stumbled across Sushisho Saito on Tabelog, and I couldn't resist checking it out, given my previous experience at other "Sushisho" restaurants were nothing but spectacular. Chef Keiji Nakazawa of Sushi Sho at Yotsuya was known to have a unique way of serving edomae sushi, and many of his disciples named their restaurants "Sushisho" (which literally means Sushi Master) out of respect of their teacher - including Sushisho Masa near Roppongi, which I went last November and Sushisho Saito.

iStockalypse Hong Kong

Have been slow in blogging this month because so many things are going on and now I can finally catch up on all those happenings. To begin, I took a week off from my regular work in early May to participate in the iStockalypse event in Hong Kong.

Cook "By Numbers" - Experience with Secret Ingredient

Recently I received a generous offer from the folks at Secret Ingredient to try out their products. In case you haven't heard of them, basically they are a company based in Hong Kong targeting those who love a home-cooked meal but either don't have the time nor the skill to make one themselves. Basically you order the dish online, and they deliver with all ingredients necessary with just the right portions to your home or office. All you need to do then is to follow the simple instructions, put everything in step by step in your own kitchen, and voila, you get a home-cooked meal done by yourself. Well, sort of. If you have played those "paint by numbers" kit growing up, it's basically a similar concept.

Long Table Brunch at Restoration

I was organizing a "mini" high school reunion/gathering of sorts with a few last month, but these days, with spouses and toddlers and children in the picture, that has suddenly became a meal for 20 people. I was looking for a venue that is convenient to all, where adults can chillax while children can hang around comfortably on a Sunday afternoon. At the end I decided on Restoration on Wyndham Street, one of the few restaurants in town specialized in Creole food, partly because I had an enjoyable dinner there a few months back and the place seems to fit the criteria.