Spent good part of last week in Tokyo with wife since I was there for business. Arrived Tues night and Narita is the usual painful experience to get through. Japan is an amazing country with beautiful scenery (think temples in Kyoto or Shiretoko in Hokkaido), wonderful food and friendly people but it is so inefficient! The other observation about Japan is that it might be advanced in certain areas, with 3G cell phone, automated bathrooms and the like, but it is more an exception to the rule. The companies that I have seen might be large but they certainly are not technologically savvy. After so many years in reverse gear, can Japan really salvage itself?
Wind up taking a bus and then taxi to the Ritz Carlton. Have tried most of the top end hotels in Tokyo except the Ritz since it just opened recently and I got a good rate here. Located on the top floors of the tallest building in Tokyo in the Tokyo Midtown development, it is steps away from Roppongi. The hotel itself is quite nice though I think the lobby, public spaces and rooms at the Conrad are better. Ritz has a better location and pool than the others and given a choice, I would stay here again just because it is so close to all the reataurants and action in Roppongi. The pool is worth a mention since it is located on the top floors with a good view and is unusually large for a hotel pool. Think it is 20m long and at least wide enough to accomodate 3 to 4 lanes.
We arrived just in time to have dinner with a good friend. We tried out Ryugin which is a recommendation from Chowhound and what a recommendation! It is new style Japanese kaiseki with beautiful presentation (think Alinea or WD 50) and solid food. Not all of the courses are spectacular but I still remember the taste of the foie gras with fresh fig! It is a bit expensive at 15,000 yen per person just for food but probably worth it as a splurge once in awhile.
On Thurs, went to Harumi sushi for lunch which is the fav of my sushi-loving wife! Excellent as usual except for the otoro since they gave us the frozen type. Last time we were here for dinner, they taught us to eat otoro sashimi with salt and wasabi and it is a combination we have never forgotten about. This time, they have Asakusa sea weed which is supposed to have been resurrected after being almost extinct. Can't really tell the difference and I think the previous sea weed might even be better.
Thurs night was our first time to Birdland in Ginza for yakitori. Can't believe it is right across from Sukiyabashi Jiro and both located in the basement of a non-descript building. Birdland is supposedly one of the best yakitori restaurants in Tokyo. The decor is like any other modern izakaya and I was surprised that it didn't look more special. Would have thought it is either darker in a romantic mood or more opulent but it looks just like an ordinary modern yakitori place. Food is not that expensive with a full course at 8,000 yen. The food was very good especially the "butt" of the chicken and the chicken egg rice. Wouldn't say it was a wow experience though. For yakitori, think Isehiro is better. Paired with a Moss Wood Amy's Blend which is a good wine at reasonable price.
Walked around Tokyo Midtown for a couple hours and didn't see anything interesting. A big and beautiful mall but nothing stands out.
Showing posts with label Wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wine. Show all posts
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Evening at Robuchon
Last night was an enjoyable evening with friends at Robuchon a Galera in Macau. Good food, good wine and great company! What more can one ask for?
Food is excellent as usual and at HK$1,200 per head for 8 courses, quite reasonable. The wine lovers were seated at the "high rollers" table and we splurged for some really nice wines.
Started with a 2001 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Dr. Loosen. Lovely German Riesling with a slightly sweet taste to start off the evening. Decent acidity to balance the sweetness and best serve very chilled.
The stand outs of the evening are:
1) Crispy French frog's legs with parsley and garlic sauce. Tiny little frog's legs are fried like a mini chicken drum sticks to be picked up as a finger food. Despite a very large group, the frong's legs are crunchy and a good complement to the 1985 Montrachet, Jacques Prieur.
2) The Duck Breast and foie gras cooked in rock salt with pepper in a reduction of juice from seasonal fruits is to die for. Very small portion with a small piece of foie gras on top of a slice of duck breast. The duck carries a good amount of fat and blends perfectly with the foie gras. We paired it with a 1996 La Romanée, Domaine du Château de Vosne Romanée, Bouchard. Goes reasonably well together. The La Romanée has good bouquet but is in rapid decline after being opened for 45 minutes.
Other courses for the night: Turnip raviolis of lobster, nutmeg and rosemary flavoured with a sweet tangy vinaigrette, Green peas bouillon perfumed with mint and onion royale, Back of seabass with an essense of vegetables and basil, Lamb au jus with a salad of herbs, served with mashed potato, Chocolate ganache with prune compote, apricots, figs, orange and white chocolate ice cream.
Other wines for the night:
1989 Clos de Vougeot, Méo-Camuzet: bouquet OK but good taste of berries. Decent but expected a bit more from a 18 year Grand Cru.
1981 Château Haut-Brion: not a great year but still an Haut-Brion! This is my first one so no basis for comparison.
2000 Château Tertre-Roteboeuf (RP98): a young Bordeaux with smell of leather that tastes of fruits at the same time!
2001 Château Climens sauternes (RP100!): this is a wow! taste exploded in mouth!
Food is excellent as usual and at HK$1,200 per head for 8 courses, quite reasonable. The wine lovers were seated at the "high rollers" table and we splurged for some really nice wines.
Started with a 2001 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Dr. Loosen. Lovely German Riesling with a slightly sweet taste to start off the evening. Decent acidity to balance the sweetness and best serve very chilled.
The stand outs of the evening are:
1) Crispy French frog's legs with parsley and garlic sauce. Tiny little frog's legs are fried like a mini chicken drum sticks to be picked up as a finger food. Despite a very large group, the frong's legs are crunchy and a good complement to the 1985 Montrachet, Jacques Prieur.
2) The Duck Breast and foie gras cooked in rock salt with pepper in a reduction of juice from seasonal fruits is to die for. Very small portion with a small piece of foie gras on top of a slice of duck breast. The duck carries a good amount of fat and blends perfectly with the foie gras. We paired it with a 1996 La Romanée, Domaine du Château de Vosne Romanée, Bouchard. Goes reasonably well together. The La Romanée has good bouquet but is in rapid decline after being opened for 45 minutes.
Other courses for the night: Turnip raviolis of lobster, nutmeg and rosemary flavoured with a sweet tangy vinaigrette, Green peas bouillon perfumed with mint and onion royale, Back of seabass with an essense of vegetables and basil, Lamb au jus with a salad of herbs, served with mashed potato, Chocolate ganache with prune compote, apricots, figs, orange and white chocolate ice cream.
Other wines for the night:
1989 Clos de Vougeot, Méo-Camuzet: bouquet OK but good taste of berries. Decent but expected a bit more from a 18 year Grand Cru.
1981 Château Haut-Brion: not a great year but still an Haut-Brion! This is my first one so no basis for comparison.
2000 Château Tertre-Roteboeuf (RP98): a young Bordeaux with smell of leather that tastes of fruits at the same time!
2001 Château Climens sauternes (RP100!): this is a wow! taste exploded in mouth!
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