May 2015

31 May 2015

Park 75, Four seasons hotel Atlanta, Atlanta, geogia, USA

Lim Ken 31 May 2015 16:00 American food , Atlanta , Hotel , Restaurant , USA No comments :

Park 75 is the main dinning of Four seasons hotel Atlanta, one of the most luxury hotels in Atlanta. The beef steak is my favourite one in Atlanta.

As the first course, I usually have some seasonal dishes. On this visiting, I ordered the tuna with yuzu-bonzu. The tuna was nicely matured and nice flavour with yuzu. But the taste was a little bit salty. For Japanese, I can feel some nostargic on this dish.

The beef steak was served by ounce. I have six ounce with midium rare. The texture and taste was very lovely. The taste was juicy with red meat and nice crispy surface. The strong American meet taste was very nice.

I visited at Atlanta on spring. The side dish was grilled asparagus.

the entrance of the Four seasons hotel

30 May 2015

Mifen (Rice vermicelli), Hsinchu(炒米粉，新竹), Taiwan

Lim Ken 30 May 2015 16:00 Chinese food , Far East , fast food , Taiwan No comments :

The Mifen city in Taiwan.

Hsinchu is the city it takes one and half hour from Taipei. This city is known as the city of wind. The winds come from east for whole year. When I have visit, there is very nice dry and cool winds going through the city. This city is also the cilicon valey in Taiwan.

This winds are good to dry the rice noodle at the factory.

Hsinchu main station. The building was built on 1913.

Mifen is very popular rice noodle in Asian area. There are a lot of variation in the rice noodle around the South eastern Asian countries. semmie in Thailand, pho in Viet num, Laos, Cambozia, When you go to the Aisian countries, you will find a lot of types of rice noodle in each country. The mifen does not generally have so strong chewy in itself. But the mifen from Hsinchu is special with it has the chewyness. The Hsinchu mifen were dried with the cool, dry and strong winds coming through the Hsinchu city. The noodle got chewy firm and good texture in itself.

Taiwanese people cook this noodle to braise with soy source or to be dipped in the chicken soup stock. I prefer to the braised one, because I can feel the texture of the noodle well.

炒米粉

The noodle stand usually has ordering sheet listed the dishes they can serve. Only you should do to order is check on the menu list sheet and hand the sheet to the staff. The Ding tai fen has similar ordering system for the customer.
I just list the translation between the Kanji and English to be comvinience for your ordering. Please find the ordering sheet at the stands.

pork meat ball soup (貢丸湯)

米粉--- Mifen, rice noodle
炒 --- braised
湯 --- served with soup stock. The soup stock is changeable depend on the stand
貢丸--- pork meat ball. This pork meat ball is also famous as the Hsinchu food.

It is very reasonable to eat these fast food from Hsinchu at chénghuángmiào (都城隍廟(廟口小吃)). Some fast food stand were geathered in the temple.

The browm mountain in front of the man is Mifen.

When I go to Taiwan, I love to go to the food court or the stand bar in the city to have Mifen. I hope you will enjoy as I have.

28 May 2015

The Ritz Carlton Kyoto, Nijo, Higashiyama, Kyoto

Lim Ken 28 May 2015 19:06 Far East , Hotel , Japan , Kyoto No comments :

The hotel I would like to try to staying when I visit Kyoto.

The Ritz carlton Kyoto is the newest luxary hotel in Kyoto. The hotel has very nice view and location to looking and access the Higashiyama(東山) from this hotel. I will introduce this hotel just the entrance or the loby area because I felt very beautiful and quiet time when I have been this hotel without staying or dinning.

This luxury hotel was located in Kiyamachi area, the posh area in Kyoto. The sound from the stream in Kamo-gawa River has nice rhythms in this quiet area. From the hotel room, you will have signature skylines of the Higashi-yama Mountains and Kamo-gawa River. These landscapes are one of the most beautiful spots in Kyoto. From Ancient, Arashi-yama, Kamigamo and Higashi-yama areas were known as the religious area. There are a lot of temples and shrines in these areas. The towns were built around these areas for the visitors of these religious facilities.

You will find a lot of dinning spots or bar, sightseeing spots or excurtion spots around this hotel. This area the hotel located is my favourte in Kyoto
I think we do not need any word, just looking the picture.

The gallarie of Hotel

The cafe space

26 May 2015

Danbo, Nakasu, Fukuoka (暖暮，福岡), Japan

Lim Ken 26 May 2015 18:53 Far East , fast food , Fukuoka , Japan , Japanese food , Ramen No comments :

The Top ranking in the Kyushu Ramen general election. -- the most heart touching ramen in Kyushu --

Fukuoka is the city has passion and optimistic atmosphere. Fukuoka is located at the heart of Southern – Eastern Asia where foreign culture was imported and introduced at the first time in Japan from ancient. The people who live in Hakata are very passionate and prefer the fast development in everything. There is one very interesting story about a bowl of Udon noodle. The people in Hakata prefer speedy development everything also to prepare the Udon noodle in Udon noodle bar. The Noodle bar has already prepare the already boiled noodle in their shops. The Nobita Udon noodle has already been elongated and very soft for eating (“Nobita” is very important for Japanese people when eating something noodle please read here). The most speedy order to eat ramen bar is Konaotoshi (粉落とし) which is just go through the boiling water during washing out the powder on the noodle (it will be very short time, and the noodle is very hard and may not be so tasty).

This Ramen bar is located in Nakasu, the city centre of Fukuoka. They serve very classical style of Tonkotsu Ramen (Pork bone soup stock ramen 豚骨ラーメン). The very white and milky brown soup has traditional pork bone soup stock flavour and taste. The noodle is straight and has great texture. This combination is very important for the people from Kyusyu Island. The soup has the essence of nice smells of the pork bone soup stock without spoiled with spend the days. The noodle hardness is very nice marriage with the soup. And we can feel the freedom in how to eat the ramen when we order a bowl of ramen in Fukuoka, because we can choose from the variation of the hardness of the noodle, the spicy or chili taste or topping. You can choose from the all staff except the thickness and taste of the soup stock.

When the bowl with soup and noodle was served, the first thing you should do is feeling smell, colour and taste from the soup in the bowl. These three things are very important things for the Ton-kotsu ramen to assess the soup stock.

Kaedama Service, drop the boiled noodle into the soup bowl

Of course, they are serving the Kaedama service. Please enjoy the soup and noodle till the soup has gone from your bowl.

This restaurant chain is running a lot of bars around Fukuoka. They also have the shop in Vancouver or Viet num.
The web site

22 May 2015

A feature of Bar in Kagurazaka, Tokyo

Lim Ken 22 May 2015 16:00 Bar , Far East , Japan , Kagurazaka , Shinjuku , Tokyo No comments :

“Tell me at which bar and what you drink and I will tell you what you are.”

What you drink or where you drink is as very important as what you eat. Kagurazaka is the town that a lot of bar were located in very small area. In this town, these “what” or “where” is very important for us, visitor.

To drink to be satisfied himself or herself is very difficult; to drink to be drunk will be easy.

There are a lot of conditions when someone choose a bar, from location, cocktail, bartender or bar interior. There are also a lot of factor to satisfy someone when drinking at a bar, as customer-self (physical or mental condition), weather, temperature, society or companion so on. These factor and condition will be a matrix which made a customer satisfactory.

I would like to introduce the bars from Top of the hill of Kagurazaka.

Sanlucar bar

The barman plays the harmony for your glass.

The cocktails are based on the harmony of the liquors. The hard shaking which is special in Japanese Bartenders will make a glass of cocktail beautiful and mellow inside. The technique is very sophisticated and the service is warm.

The right brown wood and white wall show very nice contrast. The latticed large window will be the design from traditional Japanese town house, Machiya (町屋).

I felt yearning toward my visiting to drink a glass of cocktail on the early afternoon.

*This bar is very famous and popular for Bar-geek in Tokyo or Japan. It is very difficult to find a seat for yourself.

The article

Bar Kakinuma (Bar 柿沼)

Feel the marriage of the liquors.

The balance of the cocktail served at this bar is lovely, sweet, dry, bitter or spicy etc. All flavour and taste have nice marriage in a glass. The Bartender’s skill was wonderful on steering and shaking. The selection of the vintage liquor, whiskeys or Rums is perfect.

The grey brown wood counter and white Japanese stucco made a traditional Japanese atmosphere. I feel comfort to drink a glass of gimlet on leaning against the mortal wall.

The article 1, 2

The Lantern was a small sign of the entrance of bar Kakinuma.

BAR MULE

The liquor history in the historic area

There are a lot of vintage whiskeys on the shelves behind the bartender. I will not be able to decide the liquor which I would like to have. You will find the history of the whiskeys or other old liquors from his selection. The cocktails are also lovely.

The red brown wood bar counter were well polished. The lalique glass will reflect the beautiful days in Kagurazaka. I need a jacket to visit this bar for presenting my respect for the barman and the history of liquors.

The Royal Scotsman

The Traditional Scottish public house

Fish and chips, bitter beer and Whiskey.
The sapper is lovely as the public house in Scotland. Sudden some Scottish words were kept on rising to my lips. The interior is very traditional British style.
The article is here

21 May 2015

Hanadako, Shin-Umeda-Shokudo-gai, Umeda, Osaka (はなだこ新梅田食道街大阪), Japan

Lim Ken 21 May 2015 16:00 Far East , fast food , Japan , Japanese food , Osaka , Takoyaki No comments :

Takoyaki is the famous first food in Japan, and also the most important soul food for the people in Osaka. On this visiting to Osaka, I found the most delicious Takoyaki in Osaka.

Takoyaki is the ball like pancake including the chopped octopus, pickled ginger, Agetama (あげ玉 flied flower) and Japanese reek. In Osaka, that is a rumour, almost all family or house has one Takoyaki maker in their home. People come from or live in Osaka has some important opinion to make Takoyaki for each. The method to cook Takoyaki is very simple but might be very difficult to make some delicious ones. And there are some favourite styles for Japanese or the Osaka as the crispy or soft outside, the octopus size or the Takoyaki base taste.

The staffs made Takoyaki with beautiful and speedy movement.

The Takoyaki in Hanadako was very lovely. The soft skin like mashumaro, the large chopped octopus, soft and creamy inclusion and classical Wooster source and scattered dried tuna are nicely balanced and harmonized in our mouth. The soft skin was limited till the strength we can hold with chopsticks. The texture of the skin was very nice, very small bubbles were including in the dough and made very soft and shape the beautiful ball on the tray. The chopped octopuses are de-frozen but the size is one of the important parts in Takoyaki for the Osaka.

You can drink a cup of beer and dose takoyaki.

Left is normal takoyaki, Right is Negi(ネギ spring onion)

This Hanadako, Takoyaki stand is located in the food court area near Osaka Station. You will find very long queue in front of the stand. There are a lot of local food stands, small restaurants or bars in this food court, named Shin-Umeda-Shokudo-gai(新梅田食道街). This local area was crowded with businessmen, tourist or local people in all day. The food court is located under the railway guard and in front of the Midosuji gate at the Osaka station.

The staffs are professional in making Takoyaki. They will not be able to speak English.

19 May 2015

Chirin-Chirin ICE, Nagasaki (チリンチリンアイス, 長崎), Japan

Lim Ken 19 May 2015 16:00 Far East , fast food , Japan , Nagasaki No comments :

The classical sorbet in Nagasaki city

“Chirin-Chirin”(ting-a-ling), “Chirin-Chirin”(ting-a-ling).

In one afternoon in the middle of summer, the small bell was ringing to inform a small ice cream stand reaching. One old woman in white coverall apron (Kappougi　割烹着) sat beside the small wood stand for ice cream.

After I ordered a cup of ice cream, she decorated ice cream like rose on the ice-cream cone.

The ice cream is soft and sweet and melted on my tongue. This was called as ice cream in Nagasaki, but I think it is milk flavour sorbet.

The refrigeration method is very simple and elementary school level method. The woman does not bring refrigerator with her at the stand. They bring just ice with salt to keep their ice cream chilled.

The manufacturing method was also simple and classical. They used much ice cube and salt to chilled the ingredient to make the ice cream. They muddled and muddled the liquid of the ingredient till become ice cream.

This sorbet has very long history in Nagasaki for more than fifty years. After World War II, this taste of sorbet was kept in Nagasaki. When you come to Nagasaki and find the ice cream stand, please try and refresh during your sightseeing. They stand at the sightseeing spot in Nagasaki, as Peace park(平和公園), Megane Bridge(眼鏡橋) or Glover Garden(グラバー園)

Megane Bashi

Please use the following sentence to order.

One ice cream please. è Hitotsu Kudasai (ひとつください).

If you want two ice cream, Futatsu Kudasai (ふたつください)

Thank you è Arigatou Gozaimashita (ありがとうございました)

16 May 2015

Sushi Kohzo, Nagasaki (鮨幸三長崎), Japan

Lim Ken 16 May 2015 19:47 Far East , Japan , Japanese food , Nagasaki , Sushi , Sushi bar No comments :

The sushi bar was located in the heart of Nagasaki, Shianbashi (思案橋) which was the most crowded downtown. When I go through the small street from the tram road, it was a little bit darker than Main Street. This sushi bar was very famous as whoever passed in front of this restaurant looked inside to find the seat.

The chef has very nice hospitality to serve all of the customers who visit to enjoy his sushi. He was born in Nagasaki and speaks in the Nagasaki distinct. I have eaten sushi course with my friend from Canada once. The chef talked the heart of sushi and the mentality of the Japanese sushi chef in Japanese. He spoke in Japanese, but my friend can understand without my translation. The chef has huge passion on the Sushi cooking.

The Bar counter was made of right caramel brown wood and it was beautifully polished. The chef placed the bamboo leaf as the serving place and pickled sweet ginger in front of me. The interior is based on the modern Japanese style. The wall was plain undressed concrete and has very beautiful contrast with the wood counter place. All staff of the kitchen space was traditional Japanese sushi bar style, which was made of wood, had colour-full fish meat on fresh bamboo leaves and dull-shinny Japanese cooking knives. The chef has beautiful wooden box(Neta-Bako, ネタ箱) for storing fishes. The chef has Edo-mae skill on cooking sushi.

I had order the chef’s recommendation, Omakase (おまかせ) in Japanese (In Japanese, there is some differentiation between Omakase and Osusume in the words, but the meanings are almost same, Recommendation.).

The sushi course was as following: Hirasu, Ika, Ebi, Uchiwa-Ebi, duke of Maguro, Anago, Tsukemono and Dashimaki-Tamago. The course will be changed depend on the chef’s recommendation, season or daily landing. All pieces are very beautiful and lovely sushi. Once I put the piece of sushi, I can feel the harmony of rice and fish meat. The rice ball was easily broken into grains of rice in my mouth without using my teeth.

In Nagasaki, the white meat fishes are very popular and are mainly landed at the fisherman’s port. The red meat fishes as tuna or Katsuo are very minor fishes in Nagasaki. The people in northern part of Kyushu island, including Nagasaki, love to eat the white meat fishes. I will show the name list of the white fish with translation at the bottom of this article.

Anago was excellent. The crispy surface and soft but good texture inside was lovely. The fish meet was simply tasted with just sea salt but the umami taste of Anago has huge fullness. I was very satisfied with this last piece. In Tokyo, the Anago was served with soy source, but I prefer the Kohzo style.

12-2 Doza-machi Nagasaki city, Nagasaki
長崎市銅座町12-2
095-820-7757
The location is complement. Please use the map from the Location.
I recommend you making the reservation. Please ask your staff in your accommodation.

14 May 2015

Public house The Royal Scotsman, Kagurazaka (ザロイヤルスコッツマン神楽坂), Tokyo

Lim Ken 14 May 2015 16:00 Bar , Far East , Japan , Kagurazaka , public house , Shinjuku , Tokyo No comments :

The British public house(Pub) in Kagurazaka

There are small counter for 5people, some tables and high tables and barrel from the Chichibu distillery in this pub. The white wall, dark brown floor and black or dark green furniture are shown the traditional Scottish pub atmosphere in the United Kingdom. The brass knobs or goods on the counter are shining with warm yellow light. Some cloths like souvenirs from Scotland add the colour in this pub. The customer can choose their style on drinking, standing, sitting on the high counter or the table space.

The food menu has very variety in this pub. The chef has trained in some famous restaurant and is serving very traditional pub food and some seasonal dishes. This pub is known as the restaurant serving one of the best Fish and Chips in Tokyo.

Fish and Chips, small size

The Fish and Chips is a little bit small, compared from the British. But the taste of the fish is better, fresher and nice texture. They also bring the malt vinegar for your fish and chips. The chips are very lovely size for the malt vinegar and portion to eat. The potato was come from Japan but the oil flavour and tastes are lovely.

They have various selected beer or whiskey. The foods were also nice. Some traditional and typical pub foods in UK were served in this pub. This pub is for whoever enjoys some drink and eats delicious food from afternoon. The beer selection was mainly craft beers which come from small local brewery in Japan. Another popular beverage in this pub is whiskey. The whiskeys are come from Scotland and Japan. The Ichiro`s malt, which are very rare in the market nowadays, were served in this pub. They had the trump series in their shelf. You can enjoy them by half shot.

the exterior of the public house

This public house is located in the heart of Kagurazaka, lower Kagurazaka. The neighbourhood is very quiet and clam area, Italian restaurant, Soba noodle bars, authentic bars or small Japanese traditional Kapo were located around this pub. When approaching through the Ohtemon street(大手門) and turn right the corner at the Kenban-yokocho(見番横丁), you will find the corner of the triangular building. I prefer the view of pub from this point. The sign presented above us is The Thistle and the name of the pub. The signboard is "The public house The Royal Scotsman."

The Royal Scotsman
3-6-28 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, Tokyo
東京都新宿区神楽坂3-6-28
+81362808852
http://royalscotsman.jp
pay at the counter.Cash only.

12 May 2015

Matsuba, Kyoto (松葉京都), Japan

Lim Ken 12 May 2015 16:00 Far East , fast food , Japan , Japanese food , Kyoto , Soba noodle No comments :

The Soba noodle in Kyoto is noodle on the soy source braised Pacific herring with Kyoto style low salty soup. All things in Kyoto are special, Soba, Ramyen, Japanese food, entertainment in Ozashiki(お座敷), Geiki and Maiko wearing Kimono, old temple and shrine, Old palaces (Palace in Japan is Only for emperor. The buildings were sometimes moved to rebuild in the temples as Chishaku-in (智積院)), mountains and rivers. These were continuous building and keeping for one thousand and three hundred years, from Ancient to Future. On walking around the small space in Kyoto, we seem to have the small class of history, Musashi Miyamoto, Heike and Genji, Nobunaga and Yoshitsune Minamoto. Each religious facility has the long nalative history.

The Nishin Soba (herring Soba noodle) was established in Meiji era, one hundred years ago. The Kyoto's signature Soba noodle does not have so long history in Kyoto. The herring is reasonable and easy to process and good preserved fish for Kyoto. Kyoto was capital and large city in Japan but place was difficult to get fresh fish because the location is very far from the sea.The herrings were good and reasonable fish for the Kyoto people.

What I just to say is I like this Soba noodle.

The texture of the noodle is like Nobita(see here), but it nicely matched the Kyoto Dashi soup stock which has low salty but nice flavours. Please enjoy this noodle with Shichi-mi(Nana-mi 七味).

7 May 2015

The oriental suite, Unzen kanko hotel, Unzen (雲仙観光ホテル, 雲仙), Nagasaki, Japan

Lim Ken 7 May 2015 16:00 Far East , Hotel , Japan , Nagasaki No comments :

This hotel has oriental suite room on the first floor, his majesty emperor and empress Showa had staid on their proud visiting to Nagasaki. The Oriental suite has two room, bed room beside the door and the living room faced to the corridor of this hotel. The wall was covered with the Morris textile wall paper and the furniture is very classical style.

The wall papers were products from the William Morris factory. The total atmosphere was very classical European style.

For making reservation: Small luxary hotels , Please access and type "unzen."

5 May 2015

Yamanoo, Higashiyama, Kanazawa (山の尾金沢), Ishikawa, Japan

Lim Ken 5 May 2015 16:00 Far East , Japan , Japanese food , Kanazawa , Ryokan , Traditional No comments :

The Yamano-o is one of the luxury Ryoh-tei Ryo-kan(料亭旅館 luxury facility for staying and dinning dinner and breakfast). I have never heard about the foreigner stayed in Yamano-o. Each room is separatly located on the hill like the cottage but kept the Japanese traditional house style.
Yamano-o was established on Meiji era. This luxury Ryo-kan was located on the hill-top had the beautiful view of Higashi-Cha-ya town. The most posh room has the down seeing view of the main street of Cha-ya town. Rosanjin(魯山人), the famous potter and epicure in Japan, has stayed this Ryokan.
All buildings were built of wood more than 50years ago. The real Japanese style facilities and funiture were prepared for the customer. There are, futon for you sleeping, traditional bath for you bathing with the eight to ten tatami mat room.
In the winter season, people in Kanazawa prepare for the wet heavy snow. They call Yuki-tsuri(雪吊り). They tie the branches of the tree with ropes from the top to protect from broken by heavy snow. This Yuki-tsuri is the seasonal sign in the late Autumn to winter in Kanazawa.

They served the dinner and breakfast and futon for the customers. The dinner and breakfast will occasionally be served in other room or customer room due to the availability.
The full courses of Japanese traditional styles are cooked with seasonal seafood or vegetables from the Ishikawa prefecture. The seafood are come from the Sea of Japan, the Kohbako crabs(香箱ガニ) were served only in permitted fishing season in the winter. Each course is decorated on the Kaga Japanese lacquer wear or Kutani-yaki porcelain. The local food and local table wear with the posh cooking will be satisfied with the travellers.

an hors d`oeuvre

Wann mono: Japanese dashi soup

Kohbako crab(香箱ガニ), with vineger- soy source

Jibu ni(治部煮) duck meat stew with wasabi

Each staff is like the concierge of the luxury hotel, has each opinion about the lifestyles, sweetshop, restaurant or sightseeing spot. Unfortunately, I am not able to confirm the English availability of the staffs.

2 May 2015

The Bar, Unzen kanko hotel (雲仙観光ホテル). Unzen, Nagasaki, Japan

Lim Ken 2 May 2015 16:00 Bar , Far East , Hotel , Japan , Nagasaki No comments :

After you stay in the hot spring bath, you will feel very sturb. On the dinner, you can choose from the French or Japanese resetaurant. The French restaurant served the courses with vegitable and meat from Shimabara. They can serve the french full course from apetiser to cheese and desert and very nice wine list from their selar.

The grand piano and congs in front of the bar. The congs was used to informed the dinner time for the customer in the hotel.

The entrance of the bar

After dinner, you can have several glasses of alcohol in the Bar. The bar interior made very classical atmosphere. The wood small counter has just three or four stools. The touch feeling of the counter is very confortable. The floor was decorated with the tile which were calm colour and has aged polished shining.

The darts corner

The floor with mosaic tiled