Category: Japanese

Endo at the Rotunda

restaurant details: website , IG I am so glad to finally see Endo san in his own digs. I’ve been waiting 3 years since my first taste of Sushi Endo courtesy of @natsukipim‘s Hoxcup sake bar popup, and knew then that he had something very…

Tonkatsu Hinata, Tokyo

The last time I wrote about Tokyo tonkatsu, was a back to back post on two of Tokyo’s best – Narikura and Tonta. As you know I love tonkatsu and this year chose to visit this relative newcomer to the Tonkatsu scene, which is slowly…

Florilege Tokyo <-> logy Taipei

Having followed the rise of Restaurant Florilege with great interest for the last few years, I’m glad to have finally made it not just to honten, but also to the crew’s sister restaurant located in Daan, Taipei. I’m certain you’ve already come across Hiroyasu Kawate,…

Wagyu Mafia, OAD2018 London

It’s been over a year since Wagyu Mafia crew were in London to ‘perform’ (in their vernacular) a one-off event (titled Grilleasy) for the OAD awards ceremony for the 2018 revision. This year Steve is in food heaven Donostia to announce the 2019 list. It…

Dersou Paris – Sunday Brunch

…I really didn’t expect to be, but came away very impressed by this brunch. Gyu don was comfort food 101, some kaffir lime in the bowl of beef and onions on rice. Will have to pop back in for a proper dinner at some point.…

Passage 53, Paris

As you know, L’Inconnu is one of my favourite haunts in Paris, and its connection to Passage53 is through Chef/Owner Koji Higaki who was the sous chef there for five years, but I hadn’t yet paid a visit to this two starred restaurant of quiet…

Abri, Paris

If I had to pick one restaurant this year that surprised/excited me, it would most definitely be Abri. Opened by Katsuaki Okiyama in 2012, it is part of the original set of Japanase-French restaurants that has long since become a permanent feature in the Paris…

La Table d’Aki, Paris

You’d think he would have got tired of the fish section after 20 odd years manning it for the great Bernard Pacaud at L’Ambroisie, but evidently not, as here is Aki san going strong at least 5 years now with his solo gig doing only…

Sushiya, Ginza Tokyo

Isn’t he just the minimalist. Sushi ya or Sushi house/restaurant (すし 家) is one which has built up a quite the following since it opened in 2012. The Itamae fronting this is Takao Ishiyama, barely 30, who has been widely lauded for his potential as…

Sushi Ichikawa, Setagaya Tokyo

Katsumi Ichikawa carries an interesting legacy, especially to Londoners, since you in the know, know him as apprentice to the great Mitsuhiro Araki. He worked for the sushi master for 4 years, including the year when Araki san won his 3 stars in 2011. Araki…

Tokyo Tonkatsu: Narikura x Tonta

*DEC2017 Update : Narikura is bib gourmand in the 2017 Michelin guide for Tokyo. I caught up with my old boss in Tokyo last week and he told us about the Japanese fondness for shortening names. For instance the omnipresent corner shop Family Mart is…