FOOD FASHIONISTA

Royal/T - Party Animals Exhibit by Lindsay Scoggins - Culver City

 
 

Last night we attended the "whimsy and fun" launch event for the new PARTY ANIMALS exhibit curated by electronic media artist Lindsay Scoggins at Royal/T in Culver City. This dreamy and alluring installation features today's top contemporary artists including Andre Ethier, Christen Bach, David Ellis, David Shrigley, David Tamargo, Friends With You, Jeff Koons, Jillian Mayer, KAWS, Ken Kagami, Ken Tanaka, Mike Reynolds, Misaki Kawai, TM Sisters, Takashi Murakami, Yoko Ono and Yoshimoto Nara. 

From the moment you step foot in Royal/T, you will feel as if you are in a magical adult wonderland. Perhaps it's the giant and pricey ($27k) customized teapot bed which awaits your arrival, or the giant floating black and white dog bed which hovers above the room like a curious dark cloud. In addition to the escapist artwork, we spent a generous amount of time browsing the FriendsWithYou pop-up shop at Royal/T. It will keep children and adults entertained for at least a half hour. They offer some truly unique and unpredictable items that'll keep you entertained and at times, speechless.

We took in the art, and enjoyed tasty snacks from The Dim Sum Truck while sipping specialty Rosemary and Watermelon Soju cocktails. Cool Haus ice cream sandwich truck was on-site too, but we noshed on so much dim sum and sugary animal cookies, that although extremely tempted... couldn't have one more bite. The evening at Royal/T was so delightfully absorbing, that my friend Kyra is planning on visiting again with her son this week. PARTY ANIMALS will run from July 7th - September 24th, 2011.

For additional information, visit ROYAL/T.

For our ROYAL/T Photo Album, visit our Facebook page HERE 

 

 

New York Cooks for Tohoku, Japan - Big Chefs with Big Hearts

 

On a daily basis, my inbox is jammed with quite a number of press releases, pitches... and like most emails, there are many (not all, folks relax) that classify as spam-box worthy, and others which I don't immediately have time to get to (sorry, the truth). And then there are those, that truly make you stop, put aside the blackberry, close the facebook window and digest with 100% focus knowing that this is something that must be shared. This was one of those times. Yes, I am originally from Japan, so this may touch a part of me in a slightly personal way, but the reality is that as a human, how can it not strike a chord when you see selfless goodwill shared. I decided to share the whole press release since every detail and every person deserves to be mentioned in this post.

 

“Our goal is to provide some comfort, encouragement and a little something special,” explains Daniel Boulud, with the understanding of just how meaningful a special meal can be.

 

 

NY Cooks for Tohoku
Goodwill Lunch by NY Chefs in Kamaishi, Japan
July 3, 2011

 

Benefits for Japan Relief Effort

 

Bakudan-Yaki - Japanese Street Food is the BOMB!

As Japanese food becomes more and more popular around the world, it's interesting to witness the foreign influence on Japanese cuisine. With Costco food courts and mammoth sized burgers readily available, the proportion size of the food and people in Japan are quite literally beefing up. One example of this is the popular Osaka/Kansai originated street food Takoyaki.

                                Fried Takoyaki in San Francisco

This warm and savory snack was always a favorite of mine at Japanese street festivals or in our home kitchen growing up. They are usually served in a set of six and casually eaten with a toothpick skewer. Takoyaki consists of a batter of flour, eggs and dashi with fillings of chopped octopus (tako), red ginger and green onions. They are topped with katsuobushi (fish flakes), green seaweed powder (aonori) and Japanese mayonnaise with a drizzle of Worcestershire or Takoyaki sauce for added zest and flavor. Though I believe the best way to experience Takoyaki in it's purest form is street style, all the above ingredients are available at your local Nijiya or Japanese grocery store, if you choose to create the Takoyaki at home.

                            Bakudan-Yaki  in Tokyo, Japan

So, on a recent trip to Japan, I was a bit stunned or maybe even mesmerized to find my favorite little Takoyaki balls turned in to one gargantuan takoyaki on steroids. Appropriately no longer titled a "takoyaki", it was now a "Bakudan-Yaki" which translates to "Grilled or Fried BOMB". Since these are much larger, a meal in itself, they have more filling options than the bite-size original. Ingredients such as shrimp, corn, onions, cabbage, ham and even "ki-mu-chi-zu" a.k.a. kimchi (written in Japanese above) are yours for the choosing.

Back when I lived in Japan, I wouldn't have ever imagined a Takoyaki the size of a small bomb. Well, times have definitely changed and the world has really gotten much smaller or in this case a WHOLE LOT BIGGER.

 

More Japan Photos from Food Fashionista...

As many of you know, a massive 8.9 earthquake struck Japan earlier today. When devastation like this occurs, we are reminded of the enormous power of Mother Nature and the fragility of life. Please pray for the people of Japan and the world during this sensitive time. 

These photos below are from a previous post I shared on my home country. If you would like to make a contribution to the relief efforts, you can donate to the Salvation Army or Red Cross below. Every donation makes a huge difference.

 

The Salvation Army - Text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 to make a $10 donation to the Salvation Army’s relief efforts.

Red Cross -Text the letters REDCROSS to 90999 to make the $10 donation

              Late night Takoyaki (Fried Octopus) Street Cart

Just because I am super missing Japan lately, I am going to share some more of my fun Nihon (Japan) photos with you today. Hope you enjoy these colorful images I took on one of my last visits to Tokyo and Yokohama. I'm sure they'll put a smile on your face and brighten up your Monday after the long Holiday weekend...

     Winnie the Pooh & Piglet Bento Display at Tokyu Hands

 

                     Standing room only Sushi Bar in Tokyo

                 Assortment of Fresh Seasonal Pastries

       UFO Catcher Game to win Frozen Ice Cream (Haagen Dazs)

              Loving my curry at Nakamuraya in Shinjuku

             Custard & Red Bean Imagawayaki (Japanese dessert)

                      RazzleBerry Frozen Yogurt - So Very Pink & Girly

             Had to take a pic of the Shaka Shaka Chicken!

                                Spanish Mackerel & Giant Squid

           Chocolate Banana Drink at a Convenience Store

Tea & Dessert w/ Toshiko & Yoshiko Obachan (Grandma) while they play & share tips on their keitais (cell phone) :-)

                 Yummy Homemade Sweet Potato Cupcakes

Bento Box - Many varieties in Dept Store Basements (Food Level)

     A Charming little Wine Shop in Tokyo - Vinos Yamazaki

Katsukura Tonkatsu - Deep Fried and Oh So Good!

Kani (Crab) Croquette and Tonkatsu (Pork Cutlet)

Why does fried food taste so amazingly good? Well, I can definitely vouch for that when I confess that one of my favorite Japanese foods is Tonkatsu - breaded, deep fried pork cutlet. Usually served with tsukemono (Japanese pickles), shredded cabbage, miso soup, and rice, this is a meal that one must definitely experience when in Japan.

Tsukemono (Japanese Pickles)

Tonkatsu has become quite popular in Japanese restaurants outside of Japan, but for the very best Tonkatsu I've had, it's definitely been in Japan. There are many tonkatsu shops in Japan that offer all you can drink miso soup and all you can eat shredded cabbage along with your tonkatsu order.

 

Stuffed Yuba (bean curd) Croquette and Fried Shrimp

 

Tonkatsu (Pork Cutlet) with Cabbage Salad

If you are not a pork eater, there are many other options usually offered including kani (crab) cream croquette, fried shrimp, chicken katsu and sirloin katsu. When you eat really good tonkatsu, you will not taste or smell the oil. My friend Samya was so impressed when she peeked in to the open kitchen at Katsukura and noticed no sign of grease, or dripping oil. 

  

Love the Open Kitchen!

Katsukura restaurant is a fabulous choice for Tonkatsu in Japan. They originated in Kyoto with four locations and now have branches in many other places across Japan including the Tokyo area. The location we dined at was the one in the Takashimaya Times Square building in Shinjuku. The meals are delicious and extremely affordable with most set combo meals for lunch under JY 1,720 ( approx.$17) and dinner going for about JY3000 (approx. $30). With each meal comes a soothing barley tea, cabbage salad with a delicious Citron dressing from the Tokushima Prefecture, Tsukemono (special Japanese pickles from Kyoto), Miso Soup, and Mugi Gohan (Rice mixed with wheat). The bonus is that the barley tea, pickles, soup, and cabbage salad all include free refills.

 

Katsukura

Tel: 03.5361.1878

Takashimaya Times Square Main Build. 14F, 5-24-2 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan

L Garden Restaurant and Bar - Roppongi, Tokyo

L- Garden Restaurant, Bar and Saloon is a recently opened hot spot located in Tokyo's Roppongi District. Since it's opening in the beginning of 2009, L-Garden has become a favorite among locals and visitors alike. With it's location close to a major American movie studio, a lot of well known celebs have enjoyed spending a quality evening at the one of many L-Garden's intimate spaces including their understated dining rooms, the traditional Japanese saloon upstairs, or the detached contemporary L-Garden bar where private tables with bottles of Dom Perignon are a common sight to be seen.

One of the many aspects that makes L-Garden so unique and special is the absolutely stunning one hundred year old classic Japanese style architecture and garden which has made this a neighborhood gem for decades. Surrounded by modern buildings in Roppongi's nightlife district, L-Garden is a peaceful getaway in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of Tokyo.

Although the building's exterior and manicured garden is all Japanese, the food has an Italian theme with delightful offerings such as White Asparagus with Black Truffle Dressing, Gnocchi with Truffle Sauce, several Risotto specials, and a number of other dishes combining the freshest seasonal ingredients. L-Garden Restaurant offers a reasonable 6 course menu for 8,400 yen (approximate $85) and wonderfully priced set lunch menus ranging from 2,520 to 4,620 yen ($38-$50). This is an extreme bargain for this Tokyo - Minato neighborhood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L-Garden offers it all - Great service and staff, delicious contemporary cuisine well suited for vegetarians and meat lovers, and a multitude of different drinking/dining spaces for whatever vibe fits your mood. This is all set within an authentic Japanese garden setting which brings you back to the traditional roots of Japan's rich history and culture. L-Garden is one of those rare delights in the center of a futuristic like city.

L- Garden Bar and Ristorante
3-15-15 Roppongi
Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 106-0032 Japan

Izakaya in Japan

In the last few years, I've noticed how popular Izakaya style restaurants have become in the more populated cities in the United States including Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Izakayas are also quite popular in other countries including Sydney, Australia and Dusseldorf, Germany. Vancouver, British Colombia also is home to a number of Izakaya restaurants due to it's Japanese population.

Back in the old days, Izakayas were casual spots in Japan frequented by a mostly male clientele who enjoyed drinking their beer and sake while sharing small plates after work. These days, Izakayas have become quite hip and chic with both women and men going to enjoy this social form of drinking and dining. Although there are still the traditional Izakayas in Japan, there are now many Izakaya spots that offer a fancy well thought out cocktail selection and an impressive wine list.

Izakayas are fantastic because they offer eclectic, delicious and affordable cuisine for everyone to share. You can continuously order additional items through out your meal and if you are particularly loving one dish, more than another, you can feel free to order as many as you'd like.

During my most recent trip to Japan, I enjoyed Izakaya out with my girlfriends in a new hot spot in Yokohama called Tsuki, which translates to Moon in Japanese. The decor in Tsuki was ultra sleek and the view of the Yokohama skyline in certain rooms of the restaurant were absolutely sublime.

Here is a sampling of some of our contemporary Izakaya dishes at Tsuki:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Fashionista in Japan Pictures - some colorful favorites

Here are some of my favorite food related pictures from my recent eating excursion to Japan. I have much more to share with you, but for now, please enjoy...

Hello Kitty Obento Display at Tokyu Hands

Strawberries are EVERYWHERE in Japan right now ( in this picture strawberries with red bean and mochi)

Of Course in Japan there is a "Food Concierge" in the Takashimaya department store

Aji (Spanish Mackerel) Sashimi on Shiso Leaves at my family's house

Squid in Tokyo

The bakeries are one of my many favorite things in Japan

The food displays are the BEST...and so very life like. Don't you want to just eat the above!

Sweet Potato Croquette in Kamakura

Maison Hermes - a part of the family :)

 

Izakaya in Yokohama

In Japan, you can order your meal ticket for noodles, curry, etc out of a machine

 

Chef Wolfgang Puck in Harajuku

 

The Japanese LOVE their fruit... these are sold proudly on a stick

 

Royal Jelly honey in an assortment of flavors

Breathtaking view from the Park Hyatt Tokyo

Unagi - Hitsumabushi style in Tokyo

The Ishiyaki Imo (Baked Sweet Potato) Truck - a MUST DO in Japan!

I will be sharing many more details, photos, tips and favorites on my recent visit to Japan all this week on Food Fashionista! XOXO

Food Fashionista feasting in Tokyo all week...

eating Shabu Shabu high above Ginza

I am in Japan eating, drinking, eating, shopping, eating and eating some more. In every corner, down every basement and train station, in the department stores and hotels, and on every street, there is the most delectable cuisine from all parts of the world to be found in Japan. It is no surprise why there are more Michelin starred restaurants here in Tokyo than any other place in the world, including gastronomy capital, Paris. The choices here for the finest cuisine and desserts are endless. You will find many of the top Parisian chefs with flagship restaurants and bakeries here in Japan. Although I call this a home away from home, I still find myself in awe and wonder at Japan's culinary advancements and traditional techniques used in every day life. On one street, you will find old world Japanese cuisine from the Edo period, and a few steps away, a Chanel boutique with a premier Alain Ducasse restaurant. The Japanese culture as I mentioned in a previous posting is food obsessed and that is why I just absolutely love it here and feel right at home.

All this week, I will have updates on Twitter and will also be sharing all my pictures with you all on Food Fashionista in this next week.