Obachan!

Ueno Zoo, Tokyo

I'm a creep

tsukiji, tokyo

is it weird that these pictures make me really hungry?

zenkichi

So I did actually make it out to Zenkichi, with a little difficulty. Even though it's on a busy and uber-hip street (N. 6th and Wythe), I'm under the impression that this restaurant exists in relative secrecy. When I told my friend Johnny where I ate, he was flabbergasted-- he lives two blocks away and has never even heard of it. That's because there is no sign and no facade. That corner of N. 6th and Wythe is covered in wood-- what looks almost like construction at first glance. And the small opening will take you in to Zenkichi.

I thought the restaurant looked quite dark and a little weird upon entering, but soon the host led me back to beautifully arranged izakaya-style sectioned off booths, in a room flooded with natural light. Just like the izakaya I visited in Tokyo, the waiter only comes when you push a button. The service and atmosphere were wonderful, but who cares-- onto the food!

First course: Sakura Clear Soup.
Salt-pickled Japanese cherry flower & yuba soymilk velvet in traditional clear dashi broth soup


Second course: Raw Tasting Plate
Firefly squid in miso vinegar (pictured), ginger bonito, maguro with yuzu


Third course: Tiger shrimp and grapefruit salad


Fourth course: Broccoli rabe and berkshire pork, tempura fried with plum salt


Fifth course: Miso cod with shiitake mushrooms


Sixth course: Kobe beef in ginger garlic soy sauce


Final course: Snapper sushi with pickled turnip

Desserts!


Sakura mochi with bitter maccha


Soy cheesecake with dessert sake, which tasted like a nutty whiskey

and all this food was $50.

lanterns

Tokyo: Day 1

Checking in and wandering around Asakusa at night...












(Yes, Denny's exists in Japan, too... No, I didn't eat there)

Last night in Kyoto

We have a fantastic bartender and Emilia nearly sets her pants on fire

Nijo-jo, Kyoto

Tokyo was great too, but I don't miss it the way I do Kyoto

kyoto haru

peach blossoms in the park, too early for sakura

udon in kyoto

after mountain climbing, we found a street barely long enough to have buildings on it
but there was a path leading to a curtain
and behind the curtain
the most delicious udon EVER