Jugetsu Ginza Kabukiza, Tokyo JAPAN

In August last year, I had a few days to myself in Japan to explore the city, something I have been meaning to do but never did get the opportunity. Making my way around Narita airport felt akin to walking around Melbourne CBD in terms of familiarity and soon enough, I transported myself to the heart of Tokyo, ready to check-in and explore.

Knowing that I was a bit early to check into my hotel room, I headed to Jugetsu Ginza Kabukiza which was located about 10 minutes by foot from the hotel. Unfortunately, the blazing summer heat made it unbearably hot and I appeared rather flushed upon entering the premises. 

The menu comprised of a few sweet treats in addition to a good selection of drinks to enjoy with it. After gulping down two cups of water, I proceed to order a rich matcha drink which came accompanied by a little sweet wagashi (traditional Japanese sweet) filled with red bean paste. 

Yes, there were other options to sample but being a solo traveller, I wanted to save my tummy space for other prospective treats scattered around Tokyo. My cup of matcha was certainly rich and had an almost syrup like texture; not everyone's cup of tea but was a good contrast to its sweeter companion. 

Upon finishing off the last sip, the waiter then poured some water into the matcha bowl before giving it a good whisk to evenly mix the remaining matcha into a lighter cup of tea. Ahhh the simple pleasures of life extended by another drink.

Decorated by polished bamboo branches and overlooking a small, tidy garden, the cafe itself is designed to look like an escape away from the bustling city. Would happily go back again granted the opportunity and not only sample other items on their menu, but also to purchase more tea from their shop. Tea may cost slightly more compared to those available at the markets but it's quality is undeniable. Oh they do also sell snacks which I too endeavour to try in the future. 
 

Korea: Myeongdong Kyoja SEOUL

Myeongdong Kyoja was one the many places I found whilst randomly searching the neighbourhood for good and affordable bites on my last day in Seoul. With two branches located in Myeongdong, diners do not have to wander far to recharge from shopping around the area.

Seeing as I was travelling by myself, I chose to have a later lunch to avoid the lunch queue and albeit being very popular on the internet, I was surprised to know that small groups can be easily accommodated as their turn over rate is relatively quick.

For those interested, I was observing from a single diner table aka a communal table with a divider between patrons. Cutlery is kept in the drawers and sauces/condiments are placed on the table.

My order was taken as soon as I sat down, not sure if it was because they assumed, I was a local and hence, did not require a menu. Thankfully, I had a dish in mind that I have been craving for which was kalguksu aka knife cut noodles.

Served with four dumplings and a generous dollop of minced meat, I was immediately hooked on the dish after slurping a spoonful of handmade noodles. I would have loved to order a plate of mandoo (dumplings) but was concerned the portion might be a tad overwhelming. Broth was flavourful, dumplings were well seasoned and noodles had a good bite to it.

Having read ravings about their house made kimchi, I do agree it was tastier compared to the others but also verging on the spicier side of the scale. As per norm, kimchi refills are available upon request.

Overall? Thumbs up to this place, worth a visit for those in the vicinity and are looking for a quick bite!

Singapore: Odette

Odette has been on the sister’s list for some time and seeing as this trip is meant to be a celebratory one, it seemed appropriate to have it at the right location. Reservations can be made up to 2 months prior to arriving and there’s a dinner or lunch option.

After a little navigating and some assistance from a kind security guard, we found ourselves at the restaurant’s doorsteps located in the heart of the national gallery. Service was prompt, attentive and friendly. The waiting staff knew when we needed help (for example, with the WIFI) and even noted my preferred cutlery arrangement.

Even our bread crumb mess was turned into an understanding exchange of giggles. Diners can choose between a vegetarian or regular degustation, with the additional option of wine pairing and an extra appetizer/ main lobster meal.

First up was an assortment of miniature appetizers, starting from edamame tartelettes to gruyere filled breadsticks to salsa canapes. Tartelettes were a refreshing option to start with as their mild taste allowed us to transition smoothly to the stronger tasting cheesy breadsticks. 

I was expecting a crunch from the breadsticks but was pleasantly surprised to note that it had a softer texture which I preferred. Canapes were faultless and each piece had a plump sized prawn flesh underneath the hill of dressed vegetables.

 Next up was a delectable bowl of what appears to be chawanmushi (steamed Japanese egg) infused with mushroom tea and a small side of mushroom brioche. Loved every spoonful of this airy concoction and would love to have the recipe for it. Truly one of the best steamed egg dishes I have had and one that I daresay, salivate, over from the mere thought of it.

Olive bread, sourdough and truffle croissant – A brilliant combination of bread, each with their own unique texture and flavour profile. The sister had seconds of the truffle croissant whilst I chose the olive bread. 

It had a slightly salty exterior but interior wise, it was pillowy soft and filled with a nice aroma of olives. Personally, I did not think butter and olive oil were needed in this case!

Marukyo uni – spot prawn tartare, mussel cloud and caviar, served with a side of uni canapes. A very fancy dish that champions milder, sweet tasting seafood flavours that work harmoniously together. Every single ingredient was neatly and symmetrically presented on the plate.

Trondheim bay scallop – horseradish cream, dill mayonnaise, scallops and rice and seaweed crackers. Albeit simple and a no brainer flavour combination, I loved every single bite of this dish be it from the soft scallop texture to the addition of small pickles to the fragrant cream dolloped onto the scallop medley. 

Faultless once more.

Heirloom beetroot variation – basically beetroot done many ways. A brilliant play on the many textures of beetroot paired with cheese, one might even consider becoming a vegetarian after tasting this dish. The sister’s favourite dish for the night.

Rosemary smoked organic egg – another clever play on visuals and on soft textures. I have a newfound interest in soft/creamy types of food now.

Bouillon paysan – foie gras, abalone and shitake dosed in broth. I was slightly dubious about the foie gras having had an unpleasant experience once but thankfully, the amount used in the dish was not overwhelming. 

In fact, most of the ingredients here had been sliced to be similar in size and shape, making it easy for pairing on a spoon.

BBQ king – squid, saffron, fish and prawn. Simple but I fancied this a lot being that each individual flavour had been showcased well. I do like the sauce served here as it was fragrant and flavourful, quite possibly from a good dose of saffron.

Kampot pepper crusted pigeon – served with bessenay cherry, pickled onion and black garlic. The sister and I were curious about this small box that has been making its way around the dinner tables and when it came to ours, we realized it was the next meal. 

Kudos for having it smoked and texture wise, it was could be easily sliced with the knife.

Yuzu tart – the prettiest tart I have seen and one that has a few layers of flavour over it starting from shiso to basil, yuzu curd and lastly, a buttery biscuit. My taste buds were instantly awakened by the strong aroma of yuzu and basil that was evident even before I took a spoon of it. Another winner in my books and one that I would love to have the recipe for.

Petit fours – a simple treat to end the night. Little ice cream balls followed by canelé, tarts and Japanese melon. Whilst not as mind blowing as the previous dishes, I do agree that it was a good way to cap off our night. Simplicity enjoyed slowly over a cup of coffee or tea and one that also helped to bring our elevated spirits (from all the yummy food!) back to earth.

Overall, I do highly recommend Odette for anyone who happens to be in Singapore and if they are a fan of fine dining. Price wise, it was indeed justifiable for its quality and service.

Would I visit again should time permit? You bet I would ;)

Europe: Florence, ITALY

Unlike metropolitan Milan and Rome, Florence has a more toned down charm and serene atmosphere, especially as the sun rises and sets over the city. A very easy city to navigate around and one that is filled with hidden gems in every corner, be it a traditional bottega housing a small collection of wines or a copy of Michelangelo's famous work, the David, casually posing for passerby outside a government building.

Known for the birth of Renaissance art and home to the Demedici's, Florence is no stranger to international attention and upon entry to this city, it's almost difficult to distinguish the city's lavish history by it's laidback nature.

Two nights here was far from enough to soak in everything about this city but perhaps, a later visit may be in the books. For now, snippets of the past will have to do.

Europe: Osteria Dai Zemei, Venice ITALY

Overcrowded, expensive and stinky. As what most people would say about this northern Italian city that is composed of islands and canals dating back to the glorious Venetian merchant days.

Whilst I cannot disagree about the sinister perfume wafting the city, more so when one gets closer to an old, crumbling building, nor can I argue about the number of gondolas and boats ferrying excited, tourists on a photo frenzy; I do disagree on expenses in the city as a visitor.

Accommodation may be expensive but food wise, I had no trouble finding a decent feed for less than 10euros. Sitting at restaurants located by a canal would cost an arm and leg but for those seeking a bite of local fare, I highly recommend checking out chicetti bars.

These bars offer quick meals that are filling and delicious, provided that one is happy to squeeze in with the locals or sacrifice the need for that celebrity inspired Instagram shot. We visited Osteria Dai Zemei after finishing our quick tour of the city to refuel ourselves before continuing our journey.

Chicetti bars offer small snacks or bar food to accompany drinks, mostly seafood type of dishes as topped onto pieces of bruschetta. The sister and I asked the friendly bar lady for her recommendations to which, she happily gathered a little feast for us.

We had two seafood and meat variations, the former being a codfish and sardine version, the latter, in the form of prosciutto. The codfish version was a pleasant blend of creaminess and saltiness whilst the fishy sardine version was toned down by a refreshing bed of salad underneath it. Both types of prosciutto bruschettas were paired with slightly more robust tasting flavours like capsicum.

A must try whilst in Venice for a reasonably priced good feed, minus the crowd 

Europe: Albert Cuyp Market, Amsterdam NETHERLANDS

And just like that, two months have lapsed since I visited Europe and till today, I am still struggling to find time to blog about the entire trip. This blog post is dedicated to the Dutch, one of the tallest people in the world and also the country with the best waffle snack. And cheese as well, but we will get to that a bit later.

Albert Cuyp market in Amsterdam is such a touristy site, selling knickknacks ranging from *ahem* magical brownies to clothing to household toiletries, and fresh fruit and vegetables. Having said that, I did buy a punnet of raspberries which, sadly, had mould growing beneath them and I had to throw out a large portion of it...

The highlight of this market visit was obviously the stroopwafels. Truly the best ones I had in Netherlands in terms of quality. Stroopwafel was thin, crisp, warm and filled with gooey goodness. Kudos to the friendly chap (probably the owner too!) who was all smiles and patient. Am more than happy to come back, not because of the stroopwafels, but also for this guy's personality.

On the flip side, lots of street food around the market, all offering samples to passersby. The sister stopped to order a barbecued chicken sandwich topped with melted cheese and some pickles. No regrets there.

Europe: La Maree, Brussels BELGIUM

Belgium oh Belgium....an easy town to wander around and one that is full of delicious treats or delicacies lurking at every corner. Just like the Spaniards, the Belgians halt restaurant or cafe operations until approximately 7pm where business recommences as per usual. Well, at least for the traditional restaurants..waffle shops in touristy locations do not really account for this population.

Being the foodie that I am, I dragged the sister to La Maree, reputably one of the better moules et frites joints within our vicinity and albeit coming back here early on day 3 (we were too peckish on day 1), the restaurant was still fully booked.

Outdoor seating it was for the both of us and lady lucky was shining brightly at us in the weather department. Service was prompt and friendly initially although their pace slowed down once the restaurant starts to get busy.

Fish with veggies - please excuse me for the once again, inadequate dish description. My phone had sneakily deleted an entire day's worth of photos and one the photos included was of the menu. Fish was soft, buttery and paired well with the mildly seasoned steamed vegetables.

Moules et frites - mussels cooked in white wine, served with chips. The epitome of my visit here and true enough, La Maree exceeded expectations. Mussels were plump, juicy and well cooked in a milky, alcohol infused broth, seasoned cautiously. Going overboard in flavour here would certainly destroy the mussels' overall taste and I am glad the chef took great care with them.

Chips were nothing short of a good chip. They were crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.