Thanksgiving in Roppongi, Tokyo; Romance Car to Hakone

[phaleesy]

We ate at 2 Michelin starred Japanese restaurants & 1 no star restaurant.

All were superb. Good food in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.
Our friends Robert & Lydia went to a third but found the atmosphere more formal. And no photos allowed!

What's more, they said that the no star restaurant was better than the no photos allowed Michelin starred restaurant!

So it begs the question: Are Michelin starred restaurants worth the premium?

I leave it to you to decide..

Food researching at the moment. ONe of the Michelin was Kanazaka in Ginza. Which was the other one?

How about the no star restaurant?

I think I'd do no star restaurants this trip.

[9V-SIA]

The culinary "face off" in post #12, Michelin* vs non* , was between Ryugin & Nabura.

Hyatt Concierge made the bookings for us.

[Stratoliner777]

This trip report was mouth-watering and amazing, thanks for sharing!! I visited Tokyo a while back and went to the Roppongi Hills complex at night, it was quite spectacular.

[phaleesy]

Fugu Course
There is a scene in the movie where he goes up to his boss' s flat and he is grilling fugu Shirako over a charcoal fire.

Then they ate it together.

Looked absolutely delicious. Classic Japanese food porn.

Significantly, shiroko was out of stock. Will have to come back..

Some interesting trivia:

1. Best time to eat is in winter, when they have a lot of fat to ward off the cold
   
2. Farmed fugu is not poisonous anymore so try it! Very firm textured flesh

Still doing my food research...

The Michelin fugu restaurants seem to offer wild fugu only. I think some don't serve fugu after May.

Your 'best time to eat in winter' comment refers only to the fish I presume? I cannot imagine how different shirako would taste in winter compared to spring.

I don't know why the fugu restaurants I'm interested in are open for dinner only!

Would concierge think I was crazy if I ask them to make a reservation at a restaurant with guaranteed shirako only? They might think I have a weird food fetish. Those two male characters in Departures looked really happy when eating shirako and I want to be as happy as them.

I am interested in Ajiman in Ginza.

[phaleesy]

Ippudo: The Ramen Place
When we left on this calorie run, Singapore did not have an Ippudo.
A branch has just opened in the new Mandarin Gallery.
In Roppongi, it's found in an alley between Tokyo Midtown and the elevated highway.
And it's good..

Okay, I tried googling Ippudo Japan and I still can't find any information on the branches and locations in Japan. How did you find out about this branch in Roppongi?

I'd like to know if they're in Kyoto, Nara, Kanazawa and the locations of the Tokyo branches.

I suppose I could ask the concierge for help but I'm afraid they might think I'm such a pig.

[jhm]

Okay, I tried googling Ippudo Japan and I still can't find any information on the branches and locations in Japan.

http://www.ippudo.com/store/

Google translation:
http://translate.google.co.uk/transl...ore/%26hl%3Den

Areas on the right, e.g. Kyushu, Kansai etc. There's a branch in Kanazawa.

[phaleesy]

Would concierge think I was crazy if I ask them to make a reservation at a restaurant with guaranteed shirako only?

If you don't ask, you won't know.

Concierge says:
'I would like to suggest restaurant "Kuromonto" in Aoyama for Shirako.
This restaurant is highly recommended and it takes apx 20min by taxi from our hotel.
They have Shirako course 15,000JPY per person and you can enjoy several style of Shirako cuisine.'

I used Goggle translation and got this!
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ amputee albino course
15,000 yen for a limited time special course
The lamp is our Kuromon 致Shi fresh milt available this year.
Please relish this opportunity to come.
● Appetizers
● stab fugu
● Chawanmushi albino amputee
● Grilled 陶板 albino amputee
● fried fugu
● blowfish stew pot collagen
● Zosui fugu
● sweet

I think it's dish number 3 and 4 which I'm looking out for. Amputee albino indeed.

[9V-SIA]

Bravo! Thanks for the wonderful TR.

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it

This trip report was mouth-watering and amazing, thanks for sharing!! I visited Tokyo a while back and went to the Roppongi Hills complex at night, it was quite spectacular.

Thanks. And welcome to SQTalk Stratoliner777

If you don't ask, you won't know.

Concierge says:
'I would like to suggest restaurant "Kuromonto" in Aoyama for Shirako.
This restaurant is highly recommended and it takes apx 20min by taxi from our hotel.
They have Shirako course 15,000JPY per person and you can enjoy several style of Shirako cuisine.'

I used Goggle translation and got this!
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ amputee albino course
15,000 yen for a limited time special course
The lamp is our Kuromon 致Shi fresh milt available this year.
Please relish this opportunity to come.
● Appetizers
● stab fugu
● Chawanmushi albino amputee
● Grilled 陶板 albino amputee
● fried fugu
● blowfish stew pot collagen
● Zosui fugu
● sweet

I think it's dish number 3 and 4 which I'm looking out for. Amputee albino indeed.

You have to post pics! Looks like hard core food porn..

[Kyo]

I think it's dish number 3 and 4 which I'm looking out for. Amputee albino indeed.

Kinky tastes ey?

Non-amputeed albinos are struck off the list, then!

[jhm]

I've had second thoughts about a "shirako course" - it may be okay for girls like phaleesy but too much for a man like myself I think. So I will stick to sushi where I might have a piece of shirako, some aburi toro, uni, hotaru ika etc but not mouthfuls of shirako continuously!

[Kyo]

jhm: Since you are doing a tour of Kyushu from the looks of it, you should visit this sleepy town of Karatsu I went to for their 'live' Ika sashimi (1st course) / tempura (2nd course). The views from the cliff-top castle, stunning - you can see all the little surrounding islands (and if you have time, take boat trips to them). A charming little train takes you there from Nagasaki (not the fast ones, so be prepared to let time pass you by). An even more scenic train takes you from Karatsu to Fukuoka as it winds its way along the coastline (really, really beautiful scenery!).

Go here for a few pics of the castle: http://www.answers.com/topic/karatsu

I've started a separate "We Love Japan" thread... and here it is

(hope the OP doesn't mind)

[phaleesy]

Kinky tastes ey?

Non-amputeed albinos are struck off the list, then!

mouthfuls of shirako continuously!