Restaurant-Dining Critiques

Le Bistrot de Suzuki, Yonago, Tottori – Japan

July 13th, 2010

Le Bistrot de Suzuki, Yonago

Tel. 0859-22-6080

Opening Hours: 11am-2pm (last order 1:30)

5:30-10pm

Le Bistrot de Suzuki, Tel.0859-22-6080, Opening Hours: 11am-2pm (last order 1:30); 5:30-10pm

I enjoyed a particularly well made Vichyssoise, the accompanying bread (crispy and delicious) was served in a yellow imprinted paper bag; chicken confit was garnished with ocra, carrot, broccoli, onion, peppers, potato, green beans, lentils and tomato sauce flavored with garlic. Vanilla custard with creme Anglaise along with a small slice of heavenly chocolate cake.

Chef Suzuki has the skill to cook, although more importantly, he has the feeling and sensitivity that is evident in every dish he creates.

The main dining room

Vichyssoise

Chicken Confit

Vanilla Custard with Creme Anglaise & fresh fruit

Vichyssoise with rose petals below

Pork with light pepper jus, freshly picked vegetables

Crème brulée, caramel ice cream, small cherries

Tags: Bistrot de Suzuki fine cuisine Tottori prefecture Japan, Top cooking in Yonago Japan
Posted in Japan | Comments Closed

Sanpou Chicken Restaurant, Yonago, Tottori, Japan

July 11th, 2010

Pictured above: The owner, Jun Nadatani who has owned and operated the restaurant for 42 years in the same location as of 2010.

Bransh Avenue, Ellmole 1st Street, Kakubancho, Yonago City, 683-0812, Tottori Pref.

Tel. 0859-22-5850

Sanpou means “Three Treasures” and Chef Jan Nadatani serves chicken in every conceivable way. If you feel like having chicken this is the destination and all of the recipes have survived the test of time.

Beer

Sake Local Sake

Home made pickles to accompany the beer and sake

Chicken gizzards from what we know are reliable birds

Sanpou

Sanpou Fried chicken with just a light dusting of coating

Sanpou

Sanpou Bento Box chicken

Tags: Sanpou Chicken Restaurant Yonago, Tottori prefecture, Yonago
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Pousse Cafe Restaurant, Yonago, Tottori – Japan

July 11th, 2010

Pousse Cafe

Pousse Cafe Restaurant, Tel. 0859-32-6688 is located on the second floor with a separate entrance up a stairway from the street. It has been proven to me to be consistently good over a long period of time, and is run by Mr. Kanyou Tsubokura, the same manager/chef that has been there for years. The restaurant focuses mainly on French bistro cooking, with the occasional Italian dish, to give a bit of diversification. It is a comfortable place with a good view of the tree lined street below. On this latest visit the tuna was very good along with the tomato salad, pork belly and the outstanding potato crusted snapper with fresh basil leaves.

Pousse Cafe, Panna Cotta A well made Vichyssoise was a good choice for a summer lunch

Tuna sushi, wasabi & ponsu sauce tuna sashimi with wasabi and ponsu sauce

Tomato salad with oil and sesame seeds

Marinated tuna with tapenade

Pork belly sandwiched between zucchini slices

Snapper with basil in shredded potato crust

Panna Cotta

Tags: French cuisine, Pousse Cafe Restaurant Yonago, Tottori prefecture
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Tampopo Curry Restaurant, Yonago, Tottori – Japan

July 7th, 2010

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In downtown Yonago, Tottori prefecture, Japan, Tampopo has a small, bright and cheerful room with a counter-bar containing mainly tables for deuces, with one four top near the entrance. Their specialty is curry and they have a large assortment with a changing daily menu, all of the plates I tried were very good and they have on offer other dishes in the evening such as roasted chicken.

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Tags: downtown Yonago, southern Japan, Ttampopo curry restaurant
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Sushi Waka, Yonago, Tattori – Japan

July 7th, 2010

Sushi Waka

Sushi Waka is a conveyor belt operation, but don’t get the idea that it is the normal, tired-looking sushi traveling around and around endlessly on a belt. This place has the freshest sushi you can hope to obtain anywhere, as it is situated in the port city of Yonago in southern Japan. Actually, since my wife’s brother Eiji Kagawa and his wife Kumi are friendly with the owners, all orders were hand-delivered, and everything we sampled was excellent.

Below: a really fresh scallop

Scallops

Tuna Maguro tuna

Pickled ginger

Sea Urchin roe (Uni)

Scallops

Computer Ordering 2 Selecting your order on a touch screen by computer

Sake

Three cousins eating ice cream: Reina, Hoshino and Akiko

Tags: freshest sushi, southern Japan, Sushi Waka Yonago Japan
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Sommelier 2010, Dusit Thani Hotel, Napalai Ballroom – Bangkok

July 3rd, 2010

Sommelier 2010, Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok

Sommelier 2010 took place last night at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Napalai Ballroom from 6-midnight. Over 100 wine labels were available for tasting. It was a fun evening and everyone seemed to be having a good time.

Sommelier 2010

Sommelier 2010 Dusit Thani Hotel

Tags: Napalai Ballroom, Sommelier 2020 Dusit Thani Hotel
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Torajiro Japanese, Sukhumvit Soi 26

June 29th, 2010

Torajiro Entrance

Sukhumvit Soi 26 (2F), 2/1, Soi Atthakrawi 1, Soi 26, Sukhumvit Rd., Bangkok 10110
TEL: 02-259-6075-6
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 17:00-01:00; Sun Nat’l Holiday 17:30-23:00
Credit Cards: Yes
Prices: Inexpensive-Moderate
www.torajiro.net

Torajiro has two locations, the first in Japanese town off Thonglor and the other located on the 2nd floor behind S&P on Sukhumvit Soi 26.

I find the cooking generally better at the Soi 26 location and it also has a more comprehensive selection of spirits, Shochu and Sake.

Sushi

Vegetables

Skewer

Shochu

Sake

Calpico

Tags: Torajiro Japanese Restaurant Bangkok, Torajiro Sukhumvit Soi 26
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Oriental Spa, Summer Rejuvenation 15 Jun – 30 Sept – Bangkok

June 24th, 2010

Oriental Spa, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok

Tags: Oriental Spa Rejuvenation 15 Jun - 30 Sept
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Sparkles, Gourmet Cupcakes & More – Bangkok

June 23rd, 2010

Sparkles Cupcakery Bangkok

2/6 Sukhumvit 53, Thonglo BTS
Tel. 081-136-3367
Email: sparkles.sweetlife@gmail.com
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-7pm; Sun 11am-6pm

Sparkles is a small, gourmet bakery created by Sophie, a Thai-American from Southern California, who now resides in Bangkok. She started with just 6 different cupcakes that have now exploded to 47 different types. Each cupcake has its own unique style, design and taste. Sparkles never comprises when it comes to health; they use the finest ingredients and never use preservatives, artificial flavors, corn syrup, margarine or palm oil. Trans fats are never used in their products!

The bakery is on street-level with a kitchen up a steep stairway on the 2nd floor, everything is organized very well to make up for the lack of space, although a compact kitchen is sometimes a blessing, as ingredients and equipment are within easy reach.

Sparkles Cupcakes A sampling of six different unique types of cupcakes with no artificial flavors and NO TRANS FATS!