16/08/2017 - Honmura An

Location: 7-14-18 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan

We were recommended this restaurant by my girlfriend's colleague to try sea urchin on soba. We used the ANZ concierge to make a booking for this restaurant before heading to Japan. I was amazed when I first entered the restaurant. There were people inside already even though it was only at 6pm (I thought Japanese folks worked late into the wee hours in the morning!)

They even have chinese characters!

The display menu outside!

We suspect that he is the owner of the place as he is the only one sitting there with all books on the table

I actually don't remember what was this...

My duck soba with soup. I didn't really like it. I was actually looking for beef but they had none :(

The infamous sea urchin soba! 

I was initially quite confused about this. This is actually the water used to cook the soba. You are supposed to drink this to help you digest the soba better (which can make you feel better after a soba meal)

Damage: This was quite expensive. I think overall, we spent about 6000 JPY. (Might get corrected by girlfriend when this post goes up). I personally don't think its worth it. The sea urchin wasn't that much and the food isn't that great in my opinion. I don't really feel that this is a must go to for soba if you go to Japan.

13/08/2017 - Kaedana

Location: Japan, 〒248-0016 Kanagawa Prefecture, Kamakura, Hase, 3 Chome−8−13

We went on a day trip to Kamakura and the girlfriend planned to go to this restaurant for lunch. it was a pretty long queue all the way upstairs when we arrived. She went up to put down her name for the queue and it was the only english name! 

All the other names were written in Japanese.  A old lady would come out of the restaurant once in a while to call names and when there were seats, people would then be brought into the restaurant. I would suggest going to this restaurant only after you have visited the Buddha Statue and the Hase temple to power up. We did the reverse and I was sleepy after the good and warm meal.

The elderly lady in action. Don't mess with her! She knows what she is doing and would bring you to your seat when its your turn!

The decor beside us. Its also the menu as well. I think...

Our 2 meals which was really very lovely and had a really good feeling after finishing all of it!

Damage: ~5000 JPY. I don't actually remember the actual price of the meal and we paid in cash. If you do visit Kamakura for a day trip, this is indeed a great place to go to recharge and continue with the rest of the trip. Do not go to Kamakura on the weekends! The crowds are crazy. We had to squeeze with heaps of people who were really intent on getting onto the train!

22/08/2017 - Naughty Nuris

Location: Melbourne Central, 317/211 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

In melbourne central, there is this indonesian food place which sells big plated Indonesian food. I was attracted to this place due to its chendol but when I go there everytime, its always sold out! This time, was unfortunately no exception at all. 

In the end, we ordered some naughty dessert for the 3 pax to share as the portions were humongous in nature and we didnt want to waste any food (#shows angelic look)

a) Es Campur
b) Banana Fritters 

Its just a big mess of avocado, jackfruit, flavoured shaved ice with nata de coco. Its too sweet for my liking. 

Looks naughty doesn't it? :p It gave me a bad ulcer after eating this bad boy. The size is pretty huge and the ice cream does make this dish pretty lovely.

Damage: 19 AUD. Pretty decent sized dessert which makes it just nice for folks to have a share and taste. If you have more people, you can go try this but go easy on the orders, the sizes are pretty huge and I felt too bloated and sweetened up after all this desserts...

17/08/2017 - Guenpin Fugu

Location: 1-13-5 Ginza, Chuo-Ku, Tokyo

It was our first holiday overseas in Japan and we decided to try puffer fish! We were recommended this restaurant and we were advised to book beforehand. If you have the ANZ black credit card, you can use the concierge to help you with the booking.

I was quite apprehensive about eating puffer fish but its once in a lifetime experience, and as the restuarant was recommended to us, it should be quite safe. (and it was, I am still alive!)

We ordered the sets to try and we were pleasantly surprised! See below for the pictures: 

Puffer fish skin and sashimi!

more puffer-fish with too much spring onions imo

Fried pufferfish in the form of popcorn chicken

BBQ pufferfish. The skin is constantly stuck which makes it hard to BBQ. and yes, you have to do it yourself!

Soupy pufferfish. Heaps of veg with just a few pieces of meat.

After that they reused the broth to make the porridge in front of you. (It's not DIY)

You serve yourself come congee with some pickles and seaweed! i had like 3 bowls worth!

Ended off with some ice cream to make it a pretty good meal.

Damage: 165 AUD. It was pretty expensive but considering that it was our first time eating puffer fish. Its a pretty good one. You should at least try it once in your lifetime. See more in the link here (Japanese).