Food miles: Kyoto Pork & Kyoto Vegetable

This restaurant, Manaruno-tsuki (meaning full moon) was talked about in the radio when they were talking about "food miles". Have you ever heard of "food miles"?

Food miles is a term which refers to the distance food is transported from the time of its production until it reaches the consumer. Food miles are one factor used when assessing the environmental impact of food, including the impact on global warming. The goal of environmental protection agencies is to make people aware of the environmental impacts of food miles and to show the pollution percentage and the energy used to transport food over long distances. (by Source: Wikipedia)

Manmaruno-tsuki serves "Teppan Ryori" which means food cooked on the cast-iron hot plate such as steak and okonomiyaki etc...

They are located in Kyoto and most of their ingredients (both vegetables and meat) use a lot of vegetables and meat from in Kyoto,. greatly reducing the number food miles! The vegetable in the vegetable grill (the photo above) are all grown in Kyoto. They call it "Kyo-yasai". You can enjoy seasonal vegetables. They cook simply, so you can taste the freshness of the ingredients.

If you sit on the counter, you can enjoy watching how they cook on the cast-iron hot plate.

This is a pork dish and the pork is called "Kyoto Pork". It's rare because they don't make it a lot. The meat is soft and juicy. You can also try Chicken from Kyoto.

As you might have guessed from the name of this restaurant, at Manmaruno-tsuki (full moon), Okonomiyaki is the one of the main dishes. This okonomiyaki is really soft and has a fine texture. I really like it!

They also have a list of Bio Wine (Organic wine). Enjoy Kyoto food with Bio Wine!

Manmaru no Tsuki (まんまるの月)
Karasuma Anex 2F 20-1 Umetada-cho, Higashi-iru, Karasuma, Sanjyo-dori, Chukyo-ku, Kyoto
京都市中京区三条通烏丸東入梅忠町20-1 烏丸アネックス2F
2min from #5 exit Subway Karasuma-oike stn.
5min from Hankyu Line Karasuma stn.
TEL: 075-211-7123
Open: Mon~Sat 18:00～02:00 (L.O.01:30)
Sun: 17:00～24:00 (L.O.23:30)

Italian cuisine at 100years-old "machiya"

This Italian restaurant called "Pasta Collection House Dogetsu(道月)" was opened in a 100years-old "machiya" (Japanese traditional wooden townhouse) in Kyoto. Even I, being Japanese, really enjoyed this relaxed atmosphere and the experience the Japanese traditional machiya gives.

If you are surprised as I was, you will realize that nestled in this at this wonderful taste of Japanese history lies authentic Italian cuisine prepared by an Italian chef. You can order both a la carte menu and course menus, but I recommend the course menu.

The course are from 3000yen and the great part is that you can choose entree, pasta, main and dessert from a wide range of choices! I like to order course meals only when I can choose the dish; I want to eat what I want! I don't like "Magical Mystery Dinner." haha

As you can tell from the name of this restaurant, you can choose pasta in a large variety of different shapes which of course are all handmade.

Wine is also reasonable.
I recommend going to this restaurant for a casual dinner on weekdays with friends. It is also a great place for couples to escape for special occasions like anniversaries!



Dogetsu (道月)
10min from Sanjyo stn.
3min from Subway Kyoto-shiyakusho-mae stn.(京都市役所前駅)
京都市中京区押小路通麩屋町東南角橘町616
616 Tachibana-cho, Tonan-kado, Fuyacho-cho, Oshikoji-dori, Chukyo-ku, Kyoto
TEL: 075-253-1185
Open: 11:30～15:00 (L.O.14:00) / 17:30～23:00 (L.O.22:30)
Closed: Tuesday

Lunch on the riverside patio

It's not easy to find restaurants which have nice "Patio Dining" in Osaka. However, there is an Italian restaurant bar called 'Moulin' and it is a rare gem for "Patio Dining". As you can see in the photos below, patio area is very casual. It's located near JR Namba station and it's along the dotonbori-river.



Also the atmosphere of the inside of the restaurant is nice.


I had lunch there. A lunch set (soup, salad, bread, and main) is around 800~1,000yen and you can choose a main dish from 5 different dishes such as pasta, fish, meat etc...


I like to go there for weekend lunches and enjoy conversation with friends while having white wine on the patio. Try "Patio Dining" at Moulin before winter comes!

Moulin (ムーラン)
大阪府大阪市西区南堀江1-5-26
1-5-26 Minami-Horie, Nishi-ku, Osaka
TEL: 06-6532-9880
Open: 11:30-24:30(lo.23:30) / open 7 days a week

Hottest Restaurant in Tennoji

If you are looking for a really nice restaurant near Tennoji. I recommend this restaurant, Wassy's Dining Souple. As you can see the photo below, they has terrace. I really like to have meals on the terrace. This is the 1st good point of this restaurant.


The second good point of this restaurant is this restaurant is run by wine shop. Wine shop is in the same building, so you can buy wine at their wine shop and you can bring to the restaurant. corkage is 1,000yen. Also they provide really nice wines in at a low price. The bottle wine is 2,000yen~. They also have all you can drink WINE service!

The third good point of staff's friendly and professional service. I am not the person who talk to staff a lot, but I really talking them at this restaurant. A few times, I chose this restaurant for my friend's birthday party and family event. I satisfied everytime.


Lastly, of course food is really delicious!!! They use a lot of seasonal vegetable and seafood. Cuisine is between Italian and French. If you take your parner here for a special occasion to make her/him happy, she/he will love you more ;)

Wassy's Dining Souple (ワッシーズダイニングスープル)

大阪府大阪市天王寺区六万体町5-13 Wビル 3F
3F W bldg. 5-13 Rokumantai-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka
TEL: 06-6774-9000
Dinner Time: 17:30-23:00(lo.22:00)
Bar Time: 23:00-26:00
Close: Monday

Recommended Italian Pizza

When I feel like eating PIZZA, I always come here! It's not downtown in Umeda or Namba. It's about 30 sec from JR Momodani station 桃谷駅 (JR loopline). They have about 20 kinds of pizzas and all created from scratch in the stove after receiving orders. They are good!


Besides the routine pizza menu, they also have creative dishes using seasonal food. This time we had Pike Conger eel (はも) and Avocado salad. (photo below) Pike Conger is an eel seasonal in spring and summer. It's very popular among Japanese.


Dishes are all large, so it's a good place for a group of people or family.



Pomodoro Fresca
大阪府大阪市天王寺区烏ケ辻1-1-22
1-1-22 Karadugatuji, Tennoji-ku, Osaka
TEL: 06-6772-9353
Open: 11:30～14:30 / 17:30～22:00
Close: Tuesday

Casual Italian/Spanish Dining in Kyoto

This restaurant, SEKAIYA is casual dining in Kyoto. Its near Shijyo-Karasuma. The cuisine is both of Italian and Spanish. I had a plate of several hams (pork, beaf, and duck). You see the big Focaccia(Italian bread) on the counter. I think that's a speciality of this restaurant. It just looks like corn bread. It goes very well with hams!


Their wine selection is good. Dishes and drinks are not pricey, so you can come here as a casual date or dropping by after work.


There are 2 floors and 30 seats total. I really like the atmosphere of this restaurant! I saw many girls enjoying girls talk while eating and drinking ;)


SEKAIYA

京都府京都市中京区錦小路通室町東入ル占出山町301-1
301-1 Uradeyama-cho, Higashi-iru, Nishikikouji muromachi, Chukyo-ku, Kyoto
TEL: 075-257-3447
Open: 17:00~25:00

Yorgurt land landed in Namba

Yorgurt / ice cream shop from America just opened one in Namba! It's the center of downtwon, so it's really good place to kill time or taking a break after long shopping.

It's a self service style. You get a cup, and put any kind of ice cream as much as you want! You can choose ice creams from 16 kinds of flavor and 30 toppings. The price is by measure. (100g is 210yen)


This is my cup. I like basic style. I had vanilla, chocolate and maccha with sweet bean paste. It was about 700yen. I thought all the flavor has yogurt taste which I don't like, but the ice cream taste just like normal ice cream.


Yogurt land
大阪市中央区難波1-4-10 h＋ビル 1F･2F
1F 2F h+bldg. 1-4-10 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Tel: 06-6212-4910
Weekdays: 11:00-0:00
Weekends: 10:00-0:00

Healthy Japanese Cuisine: Tofu & Yuba

Whenever I have guests from overseas, I often take them to "Umeno Hana(梅の花)". There you can enjoy Tofu and Yuba as a course. All of the dishes are made with Tofu or Yuba and you will certainly be surprised at how many different ways Tofu can be cooked!
As you see in the photos, each dish looks very pretty. You can also enjoy the presentation.


Tofu Dengaku 豆腐田楽 (grilled tofu) with black sesami sauce and miso sauce. (photo below)


Lastly, you can make your Yuba on your table. Yuba (湯葉) is bean curds skin: "Tofu Skin." Once the bean curd is heated, a skin forms on the surface that you can ladle out with long chopsticks. You can make about 10 Yubas' until the bean curd is finished.


I always feel happy after eating not only tasty, but also healthy food like this Tofu course.

All tables are in private dining rooms, so it's a great place to invite your important guests.
There are about 14 Umeno Hana(梅の花) restaurants in Kanasai.

Umeno Hana (梅の花 心斎橋店)
大阪市中央区西心斎橋1-4-3 心斎橋OPAビル11F
Shinsaibashi OPA Bldg. 11F 1-4-3 Nishi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
TEL: 06-6258-3766
Open: 11:00～16:00 / 17:00～23:00

Fresh Seafood: Sashimi

What would you guess to be the most well-known Japanese food for foreigners....?
If you answered Sushi & Sashimi you are right!

Japan is bursting with restaurants that have fresh and delicious Sushi & Sashimi.


Today, I want to introduce "Fugu Sashimi". Fugu (ふぐ) is the Japanese word for puffer fish.
I am not sure if Fugu is a popular fish for eating around the world... But the Japanese people love it. This potentially poisonous fish is a delicacy, and if it is not prepared properly it can be quite dangerous!

It is an expensive dish and is prized among sashimi connoisseurs. It is normally cut very thin and arranged like a flower (much like the photo above). In the middle of the arrangement - the middle white in the photo above- is soft roe. We call it Shirako (白子). It's a delicacy!


The photo above is the popular "Assorted Sashimi" We call it "Sashimi no Moriawase" (刺身の盛り合わせ) Arranged on this plate are shrimp (Ebi えび), tuna (Maguro マグロ), yellow tail (Hamachi, ハマチ), and sea bream (Tai 鯛).

As you may know, Sashimi is enjoyed with Wasabi (わさび green horseradish paste). If you don't know about Wasabi, you might take a big bite thinking it's guacamole (avocado paste). haha!
Wasabi is super powerful! Really really HOT if you eat too much at once.

Enjoy~ and be careful~!


Sakanaya (肴屋)
大阪府大阪市天王寺区大道4-2-5
4-2-5 Daido, Tennoji-ku, Osaka
TEL: 06-6773-1386
Open: 17:30~25:00

Japanese Traditional Sweets: Maccha Shaved Ice

As you might know, we had extremely hot summer in Japan.
You may think many people eat ice cream under this hot weather, but actually NOT.
Ice cream business was not so great this summer.

When it's really really hot, people choose to have shaved ice instead of ice cream!!!
I had shaved ice at least 10 times this summer, but I don't remember if I had ice cream this summer...


The photo is Matcha(finely-milled Japanese green tea) shaved ice with shiratama-mochi (rice‐flour dumplings) and anko (sweet red bean paste). It's my favorite! It's not too sweet. Just Nice!


My favorite place to have shaved ice is Maeda (まえだ).

It's a chain Japaense-styled cafe.
It's popuar, so mostly you have to wait to get a seat in summer time.
There are at least 10 of them in Osaka. Mostly it's in the restaurant floor of the big fashion building like HEP in Umeda, Mio in Tennoji, Namba City, and Namba Walk etc...

They have various Japanese traditional sweets such as...

kinako-mochi (きな粉餅)
= rice cake with soybean flour

kurogoma-mochi (黒ごま餅)
= rice cake with black sesame

anko (あんこ)
= sweet red bean paste

mitarashi-dango(みたらし団子)
= sweet dumplings covered with a soy and sugar sauce


Please try it when you have a chance~!


Amato Maeda (甘党まえだ)
〒530-0017 大阪府大阪市北区角田町7-10 HEPナビオ 6F
HEP Navio 6F 7-10 Kakuta-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-0017
TEL: 06-6315-5731
Open: 11:00~22:00

Difference between Takoyaki and Akashiyaki

Do you know Takoyaki (たこ焼き)? I don't know how famous it is...because I already knew when I was born :)

Takoyaki is..... (by wikipedi)
(literally fried or grilled octopus) is a popular Japanese dumpling made of batter, diced or whole baby octopus, tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger, and green onion, topped with okonomiyaki sauce, ponzu, mayonnaise, green laver (aonori), and katsuobushi (fish shavings), first popularized in Taisho-era Osaka.

Takoyaki is mostly sold at the food stall or at a small corner of the restaurant. Most of the time, its take away only. about 300yen for 6~8 balls. You eat them using tooth picks. The sauce on the top is "Okonomiyaki sause" and mayonnaise. The green one is seaweed called "Aonori". It tastes quite bland. You can put as much spices as you like. It can be really really hot inside, so if you eat the entire ball at 1 go, you may cry~! be careful.



This food above is called "Akashiyaki" 明石焼. It's like sister of Takoyaki. It looks almost the same as Takoyaki. But Akashiyaki has a softer, more eggy texture compared to Takoyaki.
The way of eating is also different. You dip into soup. The flavor of this soup is really mild. I like it!!

Akashiyaki is from the city of Akashi in Hyogo Prefecture, so if you want to eat it, you have to go there. It's not easy to find Akashiyaki ourside of Akashi area.

I also like the presentation of Akashiyaki. This is the way they serve. This 15 balls set is for 1 person. Isn't it a lot? But it's really soft and light, so you can easily eat them all!

Please try both of Takoyaki & Akashiyaki!!

Italian Dining: Unforgettable Urchin Pasta

This Italian Dining called "PIENO" is one of my favorite restaurant in Osaka. When I can't think of any places to go for dinner, I go here. The dishes here always makes me happy. It's located near Namba station, so it's convenient. PIENO is popular among young adults around 30yr. It's casual and price is not bad. BUT the taste is fantastic!!


This photo doesn't look that nice, but once you try this Urchin Pasta, you will be surprised! It's exquisite! You can't forget about this taste. This dish is my best recommendation.

There are various a la carte menu such as prosciuto, antipasto 6 set, veggitables with bagna Cauda sauce (oil fondue) etc... The photo below is avocado and fresh urchin canapé.


After enjoying entree, you can have pasta/pizza. I recommend pasta! especially Urchin Cream Pasta that I mentioned above. and also blue crab cream pasta is delicious!!! (the photo below)
But pizza are not so fantastic. just normal small pizza. I don't order them. Their main dish and dessert are good as well.



The other reason why PIENO is so popular is...I think wine selection and reasonable price. Most bottles of wine is 2500yen which is cheap as an Italian restaurant. and their wine selection is good. If bottle is too much, you can always order glass or decanter. decanter is only 1500yen.
Most people in this restaurant are drinking wine. Selling wine at a low price makes this restaurant more popular.

PIENO opens at 6pm. Often, people are waiting before the restaurant open! There are only 30 seats in restaurant, and they only take reservations for half of the seats at 6pm. After 6pm, they won't take any reservations. So you just have to go there and wait for seats to be available. If you are lucky, maybe you don't need to wait. But so far, every time I go here, I have to wait for at least 30 min...! But it's worth it!!!
I had seen a famous TV food commentator eating there~! hehe


Italian Bar PIENO
〒542-0076 大阪市中央区難波4-5-3
4-5-3 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 542-0076
TEL: 06-6633-0141
Open:
Lunch: 12:00～14:00
Dinner: 18:00～01:00 (L.O.24:00)

Osaka's Soul Food: Okonomiyaki

If you come to Osaka, Okonomiyaki is the one you MUST try! Okonamiyaki looks like pancake, but its made with cabbage. Okonomiyaki is from Osaka, so we think its Osaka's Soul Food. The most popular Okonomiyaki restaurant is "Fugetsu" 風月. There are over 60 branches in Kansai, so you can find it easily.



Okonomiyaki is so popular for people because it is casual and cheap. One Okonomiyaki is about 600yen to 900yen. (depends on topping) You can order 1 Okonomiyaki for your self and 1 Yakisoba (fried noodle) to share with people you go with.



You can choose the topping such as pork, shrimp, squid. these are traditional style.
If you want to make it new style and more unique food, you can also add cheese, mochi (rice cake), kimuchi (Korean spicy pickle), potato etc....as you like.
But I recommend you to try basic one which is pork.

Cabbage is the main ingredient, so it sounds healthy, but it's actually not that healthy because of a lot of sauce on top. The sauce is called "Okonomiyaki sauce". It's made for Okonomiyaki. its also called "Tonkatsu sauce". Normally, they make it for you on the cast-iron pan in front of you, so you can enjoy looking at how it's cooked. Flipping it is the most fun part! Also you can enjoy the smell. That definitely makes you more hungry ;)

They put Mayonnaise before the "Okonomiyaki sauce", so if you don't want Mayonnaise, you must say 'No Mayonnaise, please'. otherwise, they will put it.
lastly, they put "Katsuobushi" (dried bonito shavings) on the top.
The photo bellow is before it's cooked. Once you had watched how to cook it, you will find it easy. You can even make it at home! Enjoy~!




Fugetsu (風月)
〒530-0011 大阪市北区大深町1-1 ヨドバシ梅田 8F
Yodoashi Camera 8F 1-1 Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-0011
TEL: 06-6377-2319
Open: 11:00~23:00