Monthly Archives: July 2012

Going back in time at CAFE 1849

by Bianca

 

You don’t find places like this a lot in bustling, modern Tokyo. High ceilings, dark wood, intricate details and a wonderful waste of highly valued space. Walking into this cafe nestled in a corner of the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum is highly refreshing. You instantly walk back in time and feel like you are in an old cafe in Europe, probably in the year 1849.

There is a simple lunch menu but it is probably best to visit at tea time for a cup of coffee and dessert.

A cup of latte costs about 600 yen and we tried two desserts, the apple crumble and the crepes. The apple crumble was delicious with the perfect amount of sweetness embedded in its savory dough. The crepes were so-so, probably because I was too busy taking pictures and it was cold by the time I tasted it.

Loved this little cafe and will definitely be back for some more coffee and apple crumble.

Price : $

CAFE 1849. Marunouchi 2-6-2. Open 11am-10pm (LO; Sat, Sun -6pm) daily. Phone : 3212-7156

 

A Singaporean affair at ANTHEMBLE

by Bianca

Ecstatic is the perfect word to describe my feelings about discovering this restaurant tucked in a corner of the third floor of the Marunouchi Brick Square Building. Anthemble has the perfect mix of ingredients that makes a restaurant great ; authentically delicious food, good location, warm interior, cheap prices and good service.

You almost forget you are in Tokyo upon entering this restaurant with its warm wooden floors and dark furnishing. The perfect view towards the Marunouchi Brick Square makes you feel you are somewhere in Europe instead of the midst of bustling Tokyo.

Their set lunch menu costs 1000 yen and you have five choices including laksa and Singapore style chicken curry. The highlight is their Hainan chicken rice. You have choices of steamed or roasted chicken. The roasted one seems to be more popular since it was sold out when we arrived around 1 pm.

I chose the steamed Hainan chicken rice and to be honest, I was expecting a mediocre attempt at Singaporean food whose blandness would be nicely swallowed by the restaurants wonderful surroundings. I was however quite mistaken. The food was actually very good. I am Asian, so I know my Asian food. The chicken rice was tasty and the chili sauce spicy. My friend ordered a Laksa and that too tasted authentic.

I almost passed on desert since I finished the whole set of chicken rice but could not resist their almond jelly. Thank God for that, because their almond jelly with avocado puree is simply out of this world. I don’t think I’ve ever used so many mmmmm’s and yummmm’s in one dessert helping. It really was absolutely exquisite. If you aren’t into Asian food than drop by at tea time for this. It’s really worth it.

So today, I have an intensely happy tummy, which makes me intensely happy.

Price : $-$$

ANTHEMBLE Phone : 5220-1923 . Marunouchi 2-6-1, Brick Square 3F. Open 11am-10pm daily.