Sukiyaki @ Sahbu Hana
It used to be whenever I have a craving for a specific Japanese dish, I had no idea where I could go. But with the openings of more specialty Japanese restaurants over the years, this is no longer an issue today. Like the other day, I was craving for some good Sukiyaki; I knew immediately where I could go – Shabu-Hana.
Come with us as we track down Tokyo!!
I’ve been wanting to do this for the longest time and with some good professional photos from J I could finally put together the snapshots of our Tokyo trip. As much as we have a “standard” itinerary, there’s nothing standard about each experience simply becos the people in our group are different and the climate are never quite the same thus the seasonal food and experiences are unique on their own. I think there have been enough of food photos so here’s the other “thing” Tokyo is famous and known for….PEOPLE!
Enjoy the pictorial depiction of our Tokyo Foodie Trip!
Scallop carpaccio in yuzu dressing
Kanpai my firend! I think most of us is relieved to know that crazy October is finally over. It has been quite a month of drama with all that has gone on around the world. From the bankruptcies of a nation to the downfall of banks, from villainous milk powder to products recall, we have really seen it all this month. Everyday something new unfolds.
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Sinma is so lucky, he gets to visit Japan for business every other month. And each time he visits Japan, he is so kind to accede to my request to bring me stuff I like from Japan. So each time as he packs for Tokyo, I would be happily preparing my shopping list for him.
These are some of the “food-related” things he got for me on his recent trip to Japan.
Japan we come
On my autumn trip to Tokyo, it is such a great pleasure to have an international cast of precious friends with us from Egypt and Singapore. In fact Toshi was also with us for 1 night, joining us from California. I must say this must be one of my best trips ever. And the best part for me is that knowing this is the actually first trip for all four of them to Tokyo and I’m glad everyone departed trying food they had not tried or known before.
Once again, we came, we ate, we shopped, we saw, we conquered endless walking (haha!) and had a great time in Tokyo!
And I want to put this on record that even as this happens during one of the most turbulent times of our generation as finanicial markets reel in turmoil, currencies markets are on a headspin, governments are working out unprecedented bailouts after bailouts, here we are enjoying and eating ourselves happy like no one’s business. Hahaha…unfortunately there isn’t much of remorse or guilt among us. Lol…We’re simply having too much fun to realize what’s going on.
Meguro magic
Ok many of my friends have been telling me I’m visiting Tokyo too often. And I admit I’m becoming like this mad scientist who refuse to leave his lab doing his crazy little tests and experiements. Well even though I would never agree I’m a mad scientist becos I think I looked better (Ha!) yet in many ways, Tokyo is just my perfect test laboratory.
With my fifth trip this year to Tokyo, I am beginning picking up every bit of the local Tokyolite culture on each trip with our guys. My obsession with getting in lines (queues), sleek design and of course wonderful food. The photo of our meguro set on the right at Tsukji market is always one such obession of mine and on this trip I am very pleased to share my obession with friends who went with me. J, O and I had the meguro set, A had the ladies set while Al missed it all becos of her jet lag but of course we all had our toro high on a subsequent meal which to my pleasure everyone loved.
To understand my pleasure you need to understand first that O and Al are not a real fan of tuna in his home country (Egypt) at all while J is rather selective with his choice of raw fish in his home country (Singapore), A is ok and generally the more experienced and discerning sushi-sashimi lover.
Simply my favorite
This is one of the surprises during my recent trip up north. Before I came to Langkawi, I really didn’t know what to expect and let alone find a stall that till this day I can still recall its yummy taste. When you travel to a place for the first time, you want to find surprises, you want to make new discoveries and Wonderland Food Store is definitely one of those. This has got to be one of the MOST highly rated local food places (the place is packed!). I’m really grateful to the local chap who recommended a visit to this area of town (from Kuah right before Langkawi Parade Mall), with rows of hidden and good local restaurants and food stalls are found. But the place is quite amazing. I was here during the Ramadan period so at dawn, many street stalls and street markets start to get busy as the time for breaking fast approaches. There are quite a handful of night street markets that I saw bustling with activities, with local selling everything from local pastries, sweets, kuehs, BBQ meats, rice, rendang and curries.
Chef tossing his wantan noodlesWantan noodles in dark sauce
Wantan noodles in dark sauce
I think for as long as there is wantan mee (noodles) in Singapore, there is that age old arguement (and joke) about Singapore’s wantan noodles can never live up to the dark soy sauce version up north.
Last night, I ventured to the west part of the island and dined at a one of a kind, hole-in-the-wall Japanese restaurant called Chako. Chako is run by Hisako-san and apparently she has been at it for over 20 years (according to Tim who used to patronize her shops), but I have never heard of it until recently.
Totally unfamilar with that area, my attempt to locate her shop wasn’t exactly easy as Chako is nestled in a deep corner of Hong Leong Garden Shopping Centre and rather well-hidden among the several other bigger Japanese restaurants within the building. Plus, the overly-simple fully-enclosed (san glass windows) frontage didn’t help much either.
When I finally found the place, I was pleasantly surprised. The shop heavily exude the old Japanese eatery charm that I didn’t imagine to find in Singapore . The decor also totally reminded me of one of those old tiny cozy shops in Japan.
Rootian Seafood. Yum!
Chilli snow crab
I didn’t know Langkawi is known for good seafood until I visited. But to think about it, it make sense since it is an island right? And indeed I had some of my nicest seafood in a long time in Langkawai. The local food is rather unique because you can easily tell it is a cross between Malay and Thai food given it close proximity to Thailand. It is even common to hear local people speaking in Thai on the streets.
Rootian restoran is one of the more crowded restaurants in downtown Kuah. in fact, most of the good food in Langkawi is found in this part of town, do not expect high rise and towers but it is really just a laid back town with couple of rows of shophouses.
