The seaside city of Karatsu in northern Saga prefecture might not seem like the place to come on a tofu pilgrimage but if you love soy in all its incarnations, you shouldn't miss a meal at 200-year-old Kawashima Tofu. Chef Kawashima keeps baker's hours, in the kitchen by 3am every morning to start boiling and... Continue Reading →
Good Eats: Gyoza Center (Hakone)
**I returned to Gyoza Center in March 2016 and was just as impressed with the garlic gyoza and shrimp gyoza as before. Still a winner in my book. ** The hot springs resort area of Hakone is a popular getaway from Tokyo. It's easy to the train out for a day, or book one of... Continue Reading →
Good Eats: A.K.A. (Kanazawa)
**A.K.A closed down for about 2 years (2014-2016) but now seems to be reopening/reopened closer to the Higashi-Chaya district near Share Hotels Hatchi. Check their website for details. For a small city on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa delivers a weighty culinary punch. On my trip through the region in the fall, I researched... Continue Reading →
Good Eats: Olmo Coppia (Kumamoto)
I'm returning to my own "backyard" for this Good Eats post. I've actually been out exploring quite a bit of Kumamoto this past month. With guests in town, it was the perfect excuse to show them our favorite spots and track down a few more. On a return trip to Kurokawa Onsen, we stopped off... Continue Reading →
Good Eats: L’Effervescence
Tokyo is a foodie city. You don't have to take my word for it - just go ask Michelin. Tokyo eateries have more Michelin stars now than Paris, a virtual coup in the culinary world. Thankfully, though , a Michelin star doesn't have to mean an extravagent, thousand dollar meal anymore. Last week, I booked a table... Continue Reading →
Good Eats: Vegetable Sushi Potager (Tokyo) – CLOSED
Update March 1, 2014 - Sadly, Vegetable Sushi Potager has closed. I'll now be on the lookout for other unique sushi and vegetarian options. This eatery will be missed! _________________________________________________________________ At first glance, the meals on offer at Tokyo's Potager seem like any other top-quality sushi restaurant. Look a bit closer, however, and you'll discover there's nothing... Continue Reading →