29 December 2015
Lao Lee, Taiwanese food with homely atmosphere, Shinchi China town, Nagasaki (老李 新地中華街本店, 長崎), Japan
Taiwan style food restaurant in Nagasaki
The menu card explaining about Champn noodle
The dishes from the kitchen of this restaurant showed fusion of Taiwan style and Nagasaki traditional style. They also served Champon or Sara-udon (like fried noodle), as the traditional food from Nagasaki. On my visiting, I order the Yaki-Champon, meaning stir-fried Champon. The soup was fried till getting like as sauce. The salt and pork soup essence were well mixed with noodle and vegetable.
Yaki Champon
Yaki Champon with boiled dumpling
The interior was as the Tea house of Taipei, motive from the
traditional Chinese style. The furniture or wall paper show the traditional
atmosphere of China culture.
The family of cook was new generation of the foreign Chinese
people. The old Lee had come to Japan post World War II. They originally come from Taiwan. Taiwan show different culture from
the continent of China. The shopname of Lao Lee was come from father of the chef.Nowaday, they developed four restaurants around Nagasaki city. China town, Shianbashi, Hamanmachi and Nagasaki Station.
The dumplings with soup or boiled (Nagasaki Suigyouza, Nagasaki
Dumpling) were signature food from these restaurants. The skin was thin and
wrapped minced ingredient beautifully waved shape. Boiled dumpling showed the
smooth and shined white surface of the skin. The inside of the dumpling was the
combination of pork, garlic, Nira and Ginger. The flavour and texture of the
Nagasaki Dumpling were lovely.
http://www.laolee-g.com/
http://www.laolee-g.com/
27 December 2015
Tonkotsu Ramen Oreshiki Jun, Tokyo Ramen Street, Tokyo Station, Yaesu (とんこつラーメン俺式 純), Tokyo, Japan
Far East
,
fast food
,
Japan
,
Japanese food
,
Ramen
,
Tokyo
No comments
:
Tokyo Ramen Street; famous spot where you will find your favourite style Ramen at Tokyo station
The Tokyo Ramen Street is very popular spot for foreign and
internal tourist in Tokyo. There were eight Ramen shops in small street in the
Grand building at Tokyo station complex. These eight shops were famous shops in
Tokyo area. If you come to Japan first time and do not know about the system of
Ramen shop, I recommend you to be one of the shop to entertain the common
system in Japan.
The entrance of Tokyo Ramen street
As my previous several articles, almost all ramen shop
around metropolis area in Tokyo has similar system as the ticketing machine,
seat at the counter, wait for your noodle and service of the noodle. This
simple flow will help you at the shops.
There were majorly four styles of Ramen: Tonkotsu (Pork Bone
soup stock), Miso (Miso soup stock), Shoyu (Soy sauce soup stock) and Shio (salt
base soup stock). I just lined as the thick strong taste to mild soft taste.
The Tonkotsu style is the most popular style in the world. Ippudo which has the
branch at New York city was very famous and some British Ramen geek had opened
Tonkotsu style Ramen shop in London.
The Tonkotsu style were popular in Kyushu area the west
south island. The soup stock was cooked with Bone and meet from pork. The
original style in Northern Kyushu was milky soup of the pork bone essence and the
taste is a little bit mild. The thin noodle will be rounded the soup. You can
choose hardness of the noodle as your favourite.
The Tonkotsu in Kanto area and the other place out of Kyushu
were very thick taste and strong flavour in the soup stock. The essence from
the ingredients strongly formed the character of the Ramen soup. The thickness
and strength of the soup and the noodle will show the different style of Tonkotsu
from Kyushu style.
Tonkotsu Ramen Oreshiki Jun
The Tonkotsu Ramen Oreshiki Jun will serve the Kanto style
Tonkotsu Ramen. The noodle of this shop was a little bit thicker than that of
Kyushu style. The technique of boiling the noodle may be different from the
Ramen stand in Kyushu. The people in Kyushu love the texture of the noodle
itself. Several staff will not pay attention for the boiling the noodle.
The soup stock was also different from the Kyushu style. The
powerful and thick soup taste will be enough for the lunch. The smell of
Tonkotsu is a little bit different from the Kyushu style.
26 December 2015
Transatlantic flight, Madrid- Havana, Iberia, business class meals, A330-300 aircraft
High quality long haul flight service on Business class of Iberia
The Spanish service on Iberia was very delightful as the
Business class. There was widely Spanish characteristic service from ingredient,
wines, liquors or service style and Cabin crew. We will have some selection of
Sherry wines from Spain, wines from Spain. The huge liquor selections were very
Spanish (I have no idea about the local character of Spain. Perhaps, Iberia
will serve you with Madrid style).
The aircraft was Airbus 330-300. The full flat seat staggered
arrangement were constructed. This was the first experience of the staggered
arrangement at Business class. The nice pillow and duvet were served on my
boarding. The full flat seat was very comfort as normal bed feeling.
The welcome drink on the ground was selection including
Cava, Spanish sparkling wine. The pair of Cabin crew will elegantly serve the glasses
with gentle smile.
After take-off, the drink will served with flesh olive
pickles.
The meal service will started with some cold starters. The colourful
and lovely presentation show continental taste on the meal. They also serve
some soup with Starter. Several food were served as the Tapas in Madrid. I
started with white sherry from the Starters.
-
Warm bread and extra virgin olive oil
-
Salmorejo with egg
-
Cherry tomato, mozzarella balls and watercress
salad
-
Balsamic vinegar of Pedro Ximenez Vinaigrette
-
Lemon infused chicken confit with thyme and rocket
-
Roasted apple and cranberries
-
Paprika coated Villanoble cheese with quince
jelly and walnuts
The Main Courses has Three choice from the menu.
-
Retinto beef, foie gras and mushroom burger with
piquillo pepper and roasted red onion puree in creamy sherry sauce
-
Stone bass with lemon and olive sauce, with sautéed
wheat and vegetables
-
Cheese and pear parcels with Vizcaina sauce and
parsley
I chose Stone bass. The lemon flavour was nice on aircraft dry
air condition.
Deserts has two choice.
-
Aniseed pudding with honey and guava
-
Cherry ice-cream with crepe topping
Pre landing meal was also nice. I had never imagined about
the Iberico ham in the sky. It was the most impressive light meal on airplane.
-
Iberico ham and chorizo sausage, chicken breast
and cheese
-
Tomato and extra-virgin olive oil
-
Seasonal fresh fruit
25 December 2015
The Stanlay Bay Suite, the Hullett house, Hong Kong
Old Chinoiserie green suite with terrace on lovely November
weekend
Stanlay Bay in Hong Kong was the most posh area and known as
the resort area for the Western people. This suite room is named the old image
of Stanlay Bay. The town of Stanlay was the largest fisherman’s town on the beginning
of Hong Kong modern history.
The Stanlay Bay suite in Hullett House was filled with the combination of modern design and classical culture of Chinese. The interior was motive of the hobby of Chinese, keep a
small bird in the cage. Chinoiserie taste were shown the exotic tropical birds
painting on the walls. The patterned branched bamboo painted with brown were
from the imagination of the bird cage. There was also the cage shaped lump in
the corner in the suite. The white green was lovely matched with the furniture.
The contrast of white linen, green wall paper and brown painted branch were mysterious
harmony in this space.
King size bed
the sofa sets
Study space
In Mini bar, All drinks will be inclusive for your bill
The bath room was very huge for one person. There were double
sink for couple. All fabrics of towels, bath lobes or some shampoo and soaps
were very comfortable.
like rain fall shower
There was huge terrace looking down the shopping mall. There
were a set of sofa for four persons. My visiting to Hong Kong was very comfortable
late November. The dry cool winds were running through the old building. The
sun shine with warm autumn and cool winds brought lovely afternoon.
The view from the terrace, there will be the cultural centre in Hong Kong and YMCA
There were ten suite in this hotel. If you repeat to stay at
this hotel, you can contact with staff of the hotel about the room types.
Merry Christmas!! Saesons greeting.
essay
,
Far East
,
Japan
,
Tokyo
No comments
:
Dear gentle reader,Merry Christmas. I wish you all have happy holiday with your precious persons.
In this current year, there were several but grevious events around the world. We should keep our daily life, culture and diversity in this situation. Japanese use "いつものように"(itsumo no youni) meaning "as usual". Though the grevious events must not be happened as usual, I would like to spend my holiday as usual with friends or my family.
We wish our happy holiday and present new year 2016.
Lim Ken at Tokyo
The View of Megane bashi at Nagasaki
24 December 2015
Afternoon tea, the parlour, Hullett house, Hong Kong
The Afternoon tea at Historic building in Hong Kong
The parlour of the Hullett house was located on the ground floor in the Hullett house building. The windows were faced to the Cultural centre of Hong Kong.
There was also the terrace space for some sets of table for four persons. The furniture
was classical Chinese style.
There were Chinese style and English style Afternoon tea. As
we had been to Tim ho wan in that morning, we chose the English Afternoon tea.
All items were displayed on the three plate. Each food was
nice but there was not so special thing. All foods were nice quality as the
luxury hotel service. Service from the staff, Tea selection and Atmosphere was
very lovely.
The dry cool winds past through the terrace and it was not
so hot day in Hong Kong. The lovely afternoon it was.
23 December 2015
Breakfast, Hullett house, Hong Kong
The luxury breakfast at harbour side in Hong Kong
The breakfast at the luxury hotel is one of the most important essences during our staying. The Bed, the Bath and Breakfast are necessary and important part in the hotel. These three factors may be as air of our life but will show the difference among the hotels.
This Hullett house is one of the most luxury hotel in Hong Kong. They serve luxury atmosphere and courses for my breakfast. I had my breakfast outside on the corridor faced to the star ferry station. The colonial building and interior will show the British governed Hong Kong.
The first one is the berry with Yogurt, mandarin juice and coffee. They kept nice quality of theses items.
the view from the corridor
22 December 2015
Date, Yaesu, Tokyo station (伊達 八重洲 東京駅), Tokyo
Date, Yaesu, Tokyo station (伊達 八重洲 東京駅),
Tokyo
When did Japanese start to eat beef meat in the modern age?
Till the end of Edo era, the custom of eating animal meat was strictly
forbidden under the government law and religious reason. After the regime
change from Tokugawa government to Meiji government, the new habit to eating
the animal meat spread in the islands of Japan coming from European countries.
The ox tongue was known as an ingredient for the western
food. Just after the end of World War II, the cooks in the Sendai had started
to serve the roast tongue at small restaurant. Sendai city is located in the
northern part of Honshu Island, three hundred km away from Tokyo.
Behind the counter, the cook will roast the sliced tongue on
the wire netting beyond the charcoal fire. You can choose the thickness of the
slice. They will serve the ox tongue with rice, clear beef soup and some
pickles.
I highly reccomend you to Japanese syle of roasted ox tongue when you would like to have some beef meat under 20 USD in Tokyo.
21 December 2015
Bar Kakinuma (Bar 柿沼 神楽坂), Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, Tokyo [retouched]
Bar
,
Far East
,
Japan
,
Kagurazaka
,
Tokyo
No comments
:
"To shake, to serve". Bar located on the upper Kagurazaka, proudly very nice location.The Gimlet in Bar Kakinuma had already described.
This bar, Bar Kakinuma is my favourite bar in Tokyo.
The bartender, name was Mr. Kakunuma was 30s, and one of the best young barman of who I know. He had very nice carrier of the Barman and service, once he have been in luxury hotel as the barman. He had very huge knowledge and technique to serve the cocktail and other beverage. He also knew the whiskeys, rums, tequila or sherry in the world. He usually serves the very classical style cocktails and is good at making the dry ones.
The bar has the various hard liquors like rums, sherries, tequilas and brandies. The barman selected very nice beverages for customers. If you like to stay with your friends to talk over the glasses, they have very lovely personal corner.
The lantern is the landmark of entrance of this bar. Up to the first floor!
Moving your eyes to the horizontal beamed sherves, funeture or entrance, the interior of this bar was modern Japanese. The counter is running through the room, like the bar. The shelves are motif from the Japanese sherves made alternatively as the traditional Shoin style(書院, personal library).
The bar counter was beautifully polished and showed lovely colour for the cocktails.
On this photo, I ordered Moscow Mule. The cocktail
was served with the chilled bronze cup. The Barman made with the original
ginger syrup, vodka with pickled ginger and very dry ginger ale. The Moscow
Mule was very nice for the hot days in Summer.
The contrast between white colour of the coaster and hot towel and the right brown colour of the wood was one of the beautiful scene in the daily life in Japan.
20 December 2015
Bullet train Tokaido line, Nagoya to Tokyo, Japan
Far East
,
Japan
,
Tokyo
,
Train
No comments
:
The Bullet train Tokaido line was started operation on 1964
when was the Tokyo Olympic year. The first Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train)
line was running through from Tokyo to Osaka via Nagoya and Kyoto.
The Shinkansen is meaning the “New” arterial railroad; the
newer railroad systems than the conventional railway before 1964. The
Shinkansen was the separate railway system from the former conventional line.
There was huge difference in track width (Shinkansen has1435mm gauge,
conventional has 1067mm), signal system including ATC, power source and
carriage which has smart nose and powerful motor, between Shinkansen and
conventional rail road. In Tokaido or Sanyo sections, the Shinkansen line and
conventional line were separately and parallel-ly running among the huge
cities.
The Shinkansen will be the major transportation system for
the foreign tourists. The comfortable and wide carriage and kind purser will
give us the memorable journey.
Tip: Mt Fuji view from Shinkansen?
Reserve the Seat E, mountain side window seat. There are ABC DE designation in the standard class, AB CD designation in Green car (as First class, in this carriage, D is the mountain side window seat).
You will get the view of Mt.Fuji between Shizuoka and Shinfuji. Shizuoka is the station on the Tokyo side.
To get beautiful view of Mr.Fuji, I recommend you to travel on mid winter sunny day. In winter, cold air will clear the view of the mountains.
Reserve the Seat E, mountain side window seat. There are ABC DE designation in the standard class, AB CD designation in Green car (as First class, in this carriage, D is the mountain side window seat).
You will get the view of Mt.Fuji between Shizuoka and Shinfuji. Shizuoka is the station on the Tokyo side.
To get beautiful view of Mr.Fuji, I recommend you to travel on mid winter sunny day. In winter, cold air will clear the view of the mountains.
From the page of JR central
From the page of JR central
19 December 2015
Five Authentic Bars in Nagasaki, Japan
Bar
,
Far East
,
Japan
,
Nagasaki
No comments
:
Bar Waverley [Shian-bashi area, Doza machi side]This bar was named from the station in Edinburgh. The selection of Whiskey was lovely selected. The Barman will serve various traditional standard cocktails from Gin with tonic to Cosmoporitan. The beer is also the signature drink of this bar.
Sakae Bar [Shian-bashi area, Kajiya machi side]
The martini, generally named Vesper martini, was very nice. The high life magazine from British Airways describe as the bar for Martini in Nagasaki. Fruit cocktail will also be nice for ladies.
Bar Archive [Nagasaki Station area]
The Newest bar in Nagasaki. Convienient from Nagasaki main station. There are premium beer, Scotch or Japanese Whiskey selection and liqours. The barman will serve classical style of cocktails. Several hotels are very near to this bar.
Bar Strand [Shian-bashi area, Doza machi side]
Bar IF [Shian-bashi area, Kajiya machi side]
18 December 2015
Issen yoshoku, Gion, Kyoto (壹錢洋食、祇園、京都), Japan
Kyoto will have a city with huge diversity coming from the long history of this city...My friend from Kyoto introduced me this fast food originally coming from Kyoto. This fast food stand was very strange for the outsider of Kyoto. We had the stereotyped image on Kyoto as sophisticated food as Tofu, Obanzai (local family foods) or Kaiseki course, old temples and shrines, beautiful gardens or beautiful Maiko. All symbol of Kyoto we reminded show the upper class, high grade or quality, patterned image on Kyoto.
Okonomiyaki at Issen Yochoku
Above all, the Okonomiyaki (the spell was different from the Osaka or Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki ; Japanese style Pancake) was cheap fast food as I had never imagined in Kyoto. The Okonomiyaki was served with thin sliced seaweed and brown sweet salty sauce which is stronger than Osaka in that of taste. The ingredient in the Okonomiyaki was very interesting as konnyaku(jelly made from paste of konjak flour) and chikuwa(minched fish meat shaped as bamboo) which were very traditional ingredient at our home. The half-cooked egg show the nice harmony with the brown vegetable sauce. The Konnyaku and chikuwa brought nice texture to Okonomiyaki. 
The kitchen face to the street. Issen Yoshoku means Western food just cost one senn (senn is one/hundred in Yen currency)
The Taisho era taste interior. After Meiji era, the European culture will go into the citizen in Japan as cloth, politics as democracy, technology, science and food and combined with the Japanese traditional culture to formed as Taisho culture.
interior of the Issen Yoshoku
http://www.issen-yosyoku.co.jp/
17 December 2015
Komagata Dojou, Asakusa (駒形どぜう 浅草 東京), Tokyo, Japan
Loach, the snake like shape, was very familiar to Edo-kko (people living in Edo).
The loach was known as the fast food in Edo
era. This restaurant keeps the Edo fast food style for three hundred years. The
loach may have been the familiar ingredient for the people in Tokyo.
The loach was the fish living in the paddy
field, pond or marsh. Japanese generally prefer the fish from
sea but the loach is one of the popular fishes in Asakusa area.
The Dojou Nabe (loach pot) was served on
the thin casting iron pan with braizer. The Negi were nicely coloured on the brown sauce
and brown fishes. Loach was nice with soy sauce with Dashi soup stock. This pot
was very simple but, makes you sent to Edo Era. This thin casting pan is easy to get warm the fishes on the pan.
The Dojou Nabe (loach pot) is one of the
most traditional fast food in Tokyo since Edo Era. The taste or texture and the
hobbit eating loach were very rare for also Japanese.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
