Category Archives: Kaiseki

KADOWAKI

by Bianca

Finally I got the chance to blog about my most favorite kaiseki restaurant in town, Kadowaki. This is actually my third visit to the restaurant but the first two were rather formal dinner invitations where taking pictures of my food and making notes probably would not have been appreciated.

Located at the edge of Roppongi in an area called Azabu-juban, Kadowaki is a small, intimate restaurant with a counter that seats six and a few tiny private rooms. Kadowaki has received a very well deserved 2 michelin star since the star first landed in Tokyo a few years ago. Food here is always excellent and changes with season. Here is what we had this time around.

The first dish was a tiny bowl of rice with salmon roe and hazelnut crumbs.

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Followed by a delicious karage or deep-fried dish that looked like chicken but was actually fugu or blow fish. Yes, it is the fish that when cut wrong oozes deadly poison but I figured if there were any poison it would have been washed away by the deep-frying,right?. This was absolutely delicious. We used our fingers to devour the fish to the bones.

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Next came a flowery refreshing mini salad dish, perfect after the oily blow fish.

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Given the fact that I consider truffles as one of God’s greatest inventions, I absolutely loved this next dish. Flounder sashimi with shaved white truffle. We were asked to eat it rolled with a touch of wasabi and salt. Delicious.

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Next came a baked uni dish with crab.

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Followed by another one of my favorite dishes, a yellow tail shabu-shabu dish.

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The fish is barely cooked and eaten with a savory sesame oil sauce.

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A lovely vegetable soup with the yellow tail fish broth is served after.

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And last but definitely not least is the dish that Kadowaki is famous for. Their extraordinary truffle rice kamameshi. I sometimes wish they would serve this up front because by the time it arrives I’m usually so full and it simply is too excellent to pass. Make sure you have enough space for this because it is to die for.

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To end things on a sweet note they served a simple dessert that I found to be absolutely lovely. Mango, strawberry and ricotta cheese served with honey sauce.

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This plethora of delightful delectable dishes will set you back about 30.000 yen but believe me, it is well worth it.

Price: $$$

Kadowaki
2-7-2 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel : 03-5772-2553

 

 

DAIGO. Vegetarian splendor.

by Bianca

I’ve heard about this restaurant a lot but haven’t gotten the chance to visit for lunch until a few days ago. Daigo serves pricey ‘shojin ryori’ or ‘monk food’ which is basically vegetarian dishes.

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The restaurant itself is exclusive and traditionally lovely with private rooms over looking peaceful Japanese gardens.

A wonderful little glass of chilled plum wine is served as a welcome drink.

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And the feast of vegetarian delights started soon after. Tray after tray of beautifully arranged food arrived at our table. I wish I knew what everything was. The waitress did not speak English and had a hard time with explanations so I will leave you with these lovely pictures to devour.

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This last dish was a tummy comforting rice porridge with mushrooms that I loved.

And for dessert a savory sweet rock melon.

IMG_5120Daigo may not become one of my most favorite restaurants in Tokyo, but that is due to my love of meat instead of the quality of food. My husband loved it and he will definitely return. Even if you are a meat lover like me, Daigo is definitely worth a visit.

Price : $$$

DAIGO. 2-3-1 Atago, Minato. Tokyo. Phone : +81 3 34310811

 

 

Kaiseki KADAN

by Bianca

If you ever find yourself in the quaint little town of Hakone (about 2 hours drive from Tokyo), having lunch or dinner at the famous boutique hotel Gora Kadan is a must. Upon entering the charming old building that used to be the house of a member of the Japanese Imperial family, you immediately travel back in time. Everything from the furniture, the carpets, the paintings, up to the lovely little vintage place mats under the vases seem to have been frozen in time and left exactly as it was 8o years ago.

We were taken to a lovely little private room on the second floor with soothing views of the neighbourhood hills and trees. Gora Kadan is well-known for their elaborate and expensive kaiseki dinners and it is advised to book way in advance. For lunch it is much more relaxed and a lunch set ranges from 3850 to 11000 yen. We chose the beef set lunch which was about 6600 yen. Even for lunch, our kaiseki set came which such intricate and adoring details presenting the fall season theme.

Our assortment of fresh and seasonal appetizers came on a raft-like base of little branches. Not only did it taste delicious but it was presented in such an adorable way, I almost felt sorry when I had to move them into my mouth. Next, came a variety of fresh sashimi which was exactly that, fresh.

Followed by a steamed dish.

And last but not least, the beef.

Dessert was a plate of fresh fruit which I must have gobbled down in such haste I actually forgot to take a picture.

It truly was a wonderful lunch. Everything was exquisitely presented and tasted delicious. It wasn’t only a feast for the stomach but definitely also a feast for the eyes and the soul.

Price : $$$

KAISEKI KADAN. 1300 Gora. Hakone. Tel : 81 (0) 46082331