Trip to Japan

https://youtu.be/Oq58dBexXEw

Tempura

Can't remember the name of this place but it was fun.

I had tempura crab, shrimp, eel, vegetables and a shrimp and mushroom tempura.

Of course I had to try the fried tempura ice cream to complete my meal.

I love that the restaurant had instructions on how to eat their tempura. No questions should be asked lol.

Kaiseki class

Kaiseki is a series of small prepared dishes usually eaten during the New Year Holiday. I had the honor to take a class.
Tokyo cooking time is ran by a Japanese house wife and an assistant. They were so sweet and nice and had a lot of patience for those who had little cooking skills.
I'm so happy I was able to take this class because we prepared 9 small courses that packed with so much flavor. I even purchased a small pan to make tamago.
We got to cook with some of favorite ingredients like, wagyu beef and chanterelle mushrooms. I learned how to make dashi and catepillar a cucumber. Whaaaat!
The plating was so detailed (like mountains) that it made rethink my own plating all together.

Can't wait to practice what I've learned.

My new knife purchased at the fish market

Boy is he sharp. I purchased this brand because the makers were there. The atelier was beautiful filled with all kinds of knives from butchering, pairing, filleting, to samurai.

Shoyu -White Soy sauce

I purchased some white soy sauce aka shoyu at my new favorite grocery store in Tokyo, Takashimaya. I was able to use right away after incorporating it in my forbidden black fried rice.

Yakiniku Bu-mo

Mmm mm mmmm !! Exactly what I have been looking for in Tokyo.

So, I didn't know the difference between Teppanyaki and Yakiniku.

The Teppanyaki experience  is on a flat griddle typically cooked by the chef or in America... Benihana.

The Yakiniku experience is when you cook your own food and cook over a coals (or a cheap butane stove). Well I got to experience the real deal and I'm happy. Those coals were beautiful and real!

The decor was so cute and the menu was automated.

Nothing like A5 Waygu beef melting in your mouth.

Curry house CoCo

It was late and I needed nourishment asap! We went to the heart of Shinjuku and was able to get this bowl of delciousness to go. Only $10 or 1000 yen. The curry flavors were deep and rich.
After arriving back to the apartment the chicken was still moist and crispy. Don't ask me how that was accomplished but a must do if you visit Tokyo as there are several locations.

There's a place in San Francisco called Jap-a-curry that is similar but unfortunately I got sick from eating there and they dont fry the chicken or pork in panko crust.

Hands down the flavors are far more superior here.

1st Day in Shinjuku

Had a fun day getting my bearings together in Tokyo. Of course I found all of my French connections like Laduree and Le Genie. Then went on to find grocery stores both local and high end. Finally stopped and got yakitori and soba noodles in the middle of the neighborhood off the beaten path. Mmm mmm mmm mmm. Little Tokyo in LA and Japan town in San Jose I'm calling you out on the BS you serve, calling it Japanese food.

My only question is why do we only sell one type of Kit Kat in the states and Japan has a massive selection. Wth?! I'm jealous. Well it is yet to be determined what I'm missing out on. I purchased new items and will report back.