Sometimes the best things are unplanned.
One of my best meals in Tokyo was at Afuri Ramen (Harajuku). No guidebooks, no recommendations from friends; simply discovered because we stayed in the area, only to find out after that it's quite 'famous'. We passed by a few nights and there was a long lineup each time – I had to check it out!
Method: Order from the ramen machine and sit at the bar that encompasses the 'kitchen'. I had the Yuzu Shio Ramen which is light chicken broth infused with yuzu – the most refreshing, unique, fusion experience ever. Opted for the thin noodles and light oil. Topped with greens instead of the usual green onion, and the egg was delicious as well.
Overall a totally different experience and flavor than Ichiran. Highly recommend this spot to surprise your tastebuds!
Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course Japanese meal. It
refers to the skills and techniques used to prepare such meals and places a
strong emphasis on highest quality seasonal ingredients and artistic
presentation. (Wiki)
On my recent trip to Kyoto in May 2017, we splurged on a
15,000 yen 12 course meal at Gion Nanba.
Hidden in a dark, narrow alleyway, you will be transported to
a quiet, private dining space once you enter the restaurant. You will be asked
to remove your shoes at the door, which makes for a more comfortable experience.
Choice of seating: Bar, Table, Tatami – I would recommend sitting at the bar so
you can watch the chef prepare the dishes.
English is limited but I found it cute that they had a
dictionary to help translate the ingredients and explain the dishes.
Course 1: Scallop with tomato and a thousand-island-type
dressing
Course 2: Fish Soup with the thinnest sliced celery ever!*
1. Seafood Platter & Smørrebrød at Torvehallerne Market
Torvehallerne is a quiet, higher-end food market. Here you will find a variety of vendors selling fresh seafood, meats, open-faced sandwiches (Smørrebrød), etc. Smørrebrød is one of the "national dishes" if you will - a slice of rye bread typically topped with egg, shrimp or smoked salmon.
Price: 100-200 kr/person
2. Soft Ice
The icecream here tastes different. Rajissimo is a chain that serves churros, soft serve and gelato. My favorite was the pistachio & mango gelato!
The second place we tried was a liege waffle place at the corner in Nyhavn. Fresh piping hot waffle topped with soft serve, they also have a variety of icecream. We couldn't help but stop by twice (for both dessert shops!)
3. Paper Island (Papirøen) Street Food Market
Paper Island is a 'hipster' indoor street food market that offers everything from tacos to pizza to butter chicken to cheesecake. Here is the Smorrebrod we got from one of the vendors. We also had shrimp & beef burger and pizzas. The food is alright; more about the relaxing & chill vibe, with outdoor seating by the water.
4. Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are a popular street food in Copenhagen. The appearance is quite different from the American version. Didn't try this but it's a cheap & quick meal.
5. 7-Eleven
There will always be your trusted 711 for a budget meal. We had this for lunch a few days - foccacia, hot dog rolls, skewers - not bad for the convenience and price.
Restaurants:
- Höst: new Nordic
- Kødbyens Fiskebar: fish bar
In the past year or so, I've developed an interest in hiking. The popular Dragon’s Back (龍脊) is easily accessible by MTR & Bus that brings you directly to the foot of the hill. The trail is fairly moderate and offers spectacular views of the water, buildings and islands. There are some steep steps and no shade until the latter part of the trail. Since hiking is rising in popularity, it was quite crowded on the paths, but once you reach the top, it is so tranquil and relaxing that you forget you’re in Hong Kong.
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| Views from the top |
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| Starting point |
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| On the way up |
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| Nothing like a cold drink & bowl of noodles after a long hike! Comes with a bowl of house-made plum sauce. |
Date: Early October 2016
Weather: Sunny & Hot
** If you have any hiking recommendations, let me know in the comments below! **
This was my lovely pre-birthday dinner at Speceriet - a small, modern Swedish gastro-bistro that focuses on local produce. We were fortunate enough to get a table as we didn't have a reservation and sort of just stumbled by to try our luck. The exterior is unassuming on a quiet street; interior features simple decor, communal seating, beautiful wood tables with copper lamps.
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| Beef Tartare from wagyu, hazelnuts, black trumpet mushroom |
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| Squid from Kattegat, black garlic, kohlrabi |
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| Wild Salmon from Junkon, miso and fennel |
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| Beef, beans and grilled butter |
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| Monkfish, peas, artichoke, buckwheat |
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| Mushrooms, egg yolk and pear |
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| Bread on a stick & wood board, fresh butter, traditional wood knife |
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| Round 2 before desserts |
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| 'Kalvdans', cloudberries and fennel |
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| Roasted carrots, sea buckthorn and hazelnuts |
Since they are small plates, we ordered 6 out of 7 items with a few repeats, as well as both desserts. Visually appealing and detailed dishes - if I had to make a comparsion, I'd say it's similar to Bar Buca style in Toronto (replacing the Italian influence with fresh, light New Nordic flavours). Some of the special Nordic ingredients include cloudberry and sea buckthorn, which are both berries. My favorite dishes of the night were the beef tartare and the salmon.
At the end of the meal, my parents ordered coffee and the server told us that they will always give free refills (in restaurants at least) because the Swedes need their coffee!
Specrereit
Artillerigatan 14, 114 51 Stockholm, Sweden
Price: 135-195kr/dish; total meal ~2000kr; $50CAD+/person
Recommended: fit for foodies
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| Seafood platter for two: grilled prawns, tuna, trout, side of fries |
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| Fish Casserole/Stew: shrimp, mussels, aioli, dillgremaoulata, parmesan, croutons |
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| Classic Steak Tartare: tartar sauce, egg yolk, Beetroots, cornichons, onion, ud's own mustard |
* Long overdue post from my June 2015 NYC trip.
I love checking out the local markets when travelling. Chelsea market is an indoor market filled with food vendors and independent shops, similar to Toronto's distillery district/St. Lawrence Market. We enjoyed:
- Delicious corn tacos at Los Tacos No. 1* fav
- Lobster roll at The Lobster Place*
- Chili dog at Dickson's Farmstand Meats
- Brownies at Fat Witch Bakery
- Blue Bottle Coffee (outside of the market - honestly nothing out of this world)
If you like to eat and sample different foods, I recommend stopping by Chelsea Market!
Shake Shack
Of course we had to try the famous burger chain. It blew me away how delicious it was - so good that we had to visit twice in our short trip. Juicy patty, and the Smoke Shack, with bacon and chopped cherry pepper, had a nice sour-spicy kick. The cheese fries were amazing as well - salty, crispy, soft and cheesy! For milkshakes, I prefer the coffee over the strawberry (too sweet and artificial tasting). Definitely one of my fav burgers now, and way better than In-N-Out in terms of US burger chain.
Lady M
Another popular ig spot, the crepe cake is as good as it looks. Arriving just an hour before closing, they only had the Green Tea Mille Crepe and Checkers cake left. The Green Tea was so soft melt-in-your-mouth creamy that you cannot even distinguish the layers of crepe. The Checkers was surprisingly good - very light with prominent chocolate flavor.
The Halal Guys
When in New York, gotta try the street food like the locals! Attracted by the smell as we were walking by, we settled on this Gyro + Rice for a quick, cheap meal. It was so delicious! The white sauce is good but go easy on the red - way too spicy for me! And as I write this post, apparently this chain is coming to Toronto!