Red Wine

Synoro at Pylos

Dolium

Palazzo Della Torre

Tignanello at  The Mark

Santambra 2009 $16.79

Motorino Pizzaria/ Veniero Pastry/ Kong Fu Tea

since these 3 stores are only one block away from each other.. perfect for a casual dine out day

First order puffy, creasy, yummy, heavy in flavor pizza at Motorino... the dough is different than regular pizza you would get from other pizzeria.. it taste more like italian bread but with QQ chewy texture... i had a take out today, just want to chill and enjoy my pie at home...
love their Brussels Sprout & Pancetta w mozzarella / garlic/ percorino... since Brussels Sprout is such a hard to cook-well veggie.. they do a awesome job on putting it as topping and baked it w other ingredients... soooooooo goooooooood....
their 12" personal pie price range from $9 -17, and also have some small Antipasti to choose from

next, after yummy greasy pizza, M's must have after meal dessert this time, would be heading over Veniero... This italian pastry shop has been open since 1894... NEVER GO OUT OF TREND... one of the best cheese cake place i would go to and of course their other fruit tarts and pastries....oh oh... loving their frozen cappuccino.... don't miss that.....

then, found this newly open bubble tea place "Kung Fu".. the best to try is "Kung Fu tea" a bit different that regular milk tea.. made of brown sugar tapioca blend with fresh milk... taste sooooooo good.. will get addicted... :p


Kung Fu Tea
East Village
241 East 10th St., New York NY 10003
Tel: 212-777-3747

Tokyo shopping and art

Shops

丸ビル、新丸ビル
take red Marunouchi Line to Tokyo Eki. 2 shopping malls carries some luxury/ local brands. Check out BEAMS, Lavenham store and definitely check out H.P France Bijoux store, you will find some interesting designer jewelry pieces there..











Marunouchi Nakadori
A pleasant shopping street next to丸ビル, check out Tomorrow Land, Edition, Beams Men, Edition and other luxury brands...

Ichigokan Square
few blocks away from 丸ビル, it's a newly open square where has Mitsukoshi museum, Joel Robuchon Bakery, Cacao Sampaka Chocolate store... enjoy afternoon coffee break at this mini park...

新宿
Lumine 1 and 2
http://www.lumine.ne.jp/shinjuku/index.html

六本木
Midtown
http://www.tokyo-midtown.com/en/

Roppongi hill
http://www.roppongihills.com/en/

輕井澤 (Karuizawa)
Prince Shopping Plaza
take JR 長野 to Karuizawa about an hr, 5240 yen
ART
Midtown 2121 design sight
built by Tadao Ando, a contemporary art museum
http://www.2121designsight.jp/en/

Mori Art Museum
http://www.mori.art.museum/eng/

Toto Gallery Ma
a gallery specialized in architecture, free admission
http://www.toto.co.jp/gallerma/

Tokyo Fall 2010

Summary of my Fall 2010 Tokyo dining trip

11/16 Arrived at Narita Airport, got Limousine bus ticket 3000 yen, add 100 yen can get an one day metro pass (normally cost 700 yen)..

Tokyo Subway Map
http://speedymole.com/Tubes/Tokyo/tokyo-subway-map.html


cousin took me to couple famous yummy restaurants with good deals.. check it out...

叙叙苑 (Jojoen)
An upscale japanese yakiniku chain stores.. we went to the one on top of the Tokyo Concert Hall building in Shinjuku. Famous with its wagyu beef yakiniku, usually it would cost about 10,000yen per serving for dinner, during lunch time has better value .. We ordered a yakiniku set and galbi noodle soup.

美登利 (Midori Sushi)
This place serves great quality fish that you normally would get in high-end restaurant but in low price, has couple locations. As cousin's advice do not go to the one in Shibuya.. I LOVE their broiled sushi... it's soooooo good, if anyone ever been to Sushi of Gari in New York, probably would know what kind of sushi style i am talking about... but the price is much cheaper than new york, of course...

crab salad

追分だんご (Oiwakedango): 東京都新宿区新宿３-１-22

located in Shinjuku in between O1O1(MaruiOne and Marui Accessory). Specialized in 和菓子, rice cake

Katsu-gen: in Marubiru (old marunouchi building)

Best Tonkatsu I had in tokyo..  Usually Tonkatsu has 2 different kinds of pork texture, Rosu (lion, has better aroma and texture) and Hire (tenderloin, has good tenderness and texture). This restaurant also serve 黑豚 (あぢもり,Adimori) I ordered the ochazuke version (お茶漬け), about 3/4 way done with the meal, put in all the ingredients (Shirasu boshi- dry anchovies, pickles, sesames) and pour "green tea" over the rice.. it has very different taste, 2 in one dish... :) 

叶 匠壽庵 (Kanou Shoujuan)

heeheee... another fav. must visit dessert place in tokyo..:) I always go to the one in 新丸ビル. Another traditional japanese dessert shop, famous with its 葛, あんみつ, よかん... its freshly made 葛, usually take about 20 mins to prepare, better go there earlier as they have limited quantity per day...

Kyoto Fall 2010

Kyoto

My very 1st time visited this charming old city. During my staying, happened to be its annual Momiji season (japanese maple foliage)... The mountains surrounding Kyoto became a palate of vibrant red, orange and yellow; breathe taking scenery, hard to be described in words and captured in photos.....

Using JR PASS(28,300 yen, need to be purchased at foreign country before arriving Japan), take 新幹線 ひかり(Hikari) from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station, total about 2.5 hrs.. (JR Pass does not valid for のぞみ(Nozomi- express train), suggest to make seat reservation at any JR ticket booth before the trip) ひかりruns almost every 30 mins.

11/20
Headed over 祇園 (Gion) area around noon, visited 1st temple :)

八坂神社 (Yasaka Jinja)

I was lucky, ran into a traditional wedding ceremony

followed guide book to おかる(Okalu) for lunch - curry udon 840 yen (to be honest, i think it was just okay... :P)

after lunch, I got attracted by all the small traditional gift shops on東大路通 (Higashioji-dori)... 

stop by祇園小石 (gion koshii) for dessert (average about 20-30 mins wait), this store is famous with it's gluten dessert, love the あんみつ(anmitsu, abt 850 yen) basically, this is the main course i have everyday for the entire trip...:p 

wandering around 花見小路 (Hanamikoji), an alley where still preserve traditional building architectures from ancient time.. and currently occupied by small tea houses, restaurants and ochaya (geisha house).. 

at the end of Hanamikoji, you will see a small temple-Keni-ji (Kyoto's oldest zen temple. Founded in 1202 by the priest Eisai, it was patterned after Bai-zhang-shan, China's first Zen monastary, in accordance with the Song dynasty style of architecture. The garden is done in the "dry mountains and water style" often found in Zen temples.)

Finally, ended my day at this Japanese-French style restaurant O.MA.YA, reservation recommended. Tatami seat setting, prepare to sit for 2.5-3 hrs... average set menu 3200-6000 yen

11/21 day trip to 奈良 (Nara) - home of deers....:)

JR 新幹線 from Kyoto station. It was quite easy to explore Nara's historical area. Got off at Nara station, walked across the street and follow newly renovated pedestrian path, it will lead you to couple famous temples. Due to time limit, I only visit 2 temples this time

東大寺 (Todai-ji), with entrance fee 500 yen

二月堂 (Nigatsu-do) - giant lantern from old time looks like a spaceship shape, quite unique... also a great location to overview the entire area..

late lunch at 天極堂 (Tengyokudo) - famous for its 葛 product, supposed good for health

11/22

since JR pass is 7 day unlimited, took advantage of it and went to another temple at Kyoto outskirt, one stop away from Kyoto Station to

東福寺 (Tofuku-ji) - my favorite temple among all others that i've been visited this time... however, visiting this temple needs to pay entry admission for every tourist spots, which's still highly recommended... During momiji season, walked thru 通天橋(400 yen),  all you can see are maples leaves in red/ orange/ yellow color, felt like got sink into an ocean of maple leaves...

after an unforgeable momiji baptism, took 京板線 to 清水寺 (kiyomizu dera), get off at 清水五条通, it might be difficult to get cab over there, take about 20 mins walk to the temple..on the way, do check out kiyomizu yaki stores (kyoto style porcelain/ pottery)...

inside of 清水寺, there's another small temple which is specializing on blessing for relationship and marriage.. at the entrance you will see 2 big stones set in at both side of the alley, as traditiona, if ones can safely walk from one side to the other with eyes closed, will successfully get the love s/he wants. who knows... :p

make sure walk around surrounding area (三, 四, 五条通, there are lots of small store and craft shops.. 

Kyoto is also famous with its TOFU cuisine... cousin recommend this restaurant on 三条通 

奧丹 (okutan)- tofu here are still made with traditional method, got a yutofu set abt 3500 yen... come with boiled yutofu, tempura, sesame cold tofu, natto for rice topping and grill tofu.. 

after satisfied my tummy, randomly walked into a small alley around 高台寺(didn't get to this temple due to bad weather) ねねの道 (nene no michi), and found my FAVORITE dessert place- 都路里 (Tsujiri, this is the must have every time when i am in tokyo, kyoto is the original store and have couple locations) even thought i was heavily stuffed from my late lunch, still couldn't resist dessert temptation, and was really lucky only waited for 10 mins.. usually is about 1 hr wait, no matter which location you go.. gotta plan ahead... they are famous with their green tea products... yummmmmmm~~~~~

afterwards, walked all the way back to GION and check out dry food market 錦市場 (Nishiki market), it was a bit late when i got there, only saw couple stalls.. most of them has already closed... but got the idea how it looks like during day time... 

Around Nishiki Market is probably the most busy shopping area in Kyoto, quote from Jessy, it's the 5 Ave of Kyoto... you will find Takashimaya, Louis Vuitton, Tommorrow land, Ships, and other brand stores here.. 

As for dinner.. i was still full from all the eating, got take out order from かねる(kanenu) 鰻屋 from guide book..  > <

(picture upload)

My shopping victory... ^0^

Kyoto Subway Map for ref

http://www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/eng/access/subway.html