First TR: Local food in Kyushu & a bit of sightseeing
Feb 23, 2013, 11:22 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SYD
Posts: 160
Kumamoto Castle
Please allow me to show you some photos of two sight seeing spots in Kumamoto city: Kumamoto castle & Hosokawa Gyobu-tei before posting more food pics.
This significance of Kumamoto castle is its stonewall. The later it has been built, the steeper it has become.
This significance of Kumamoto castle is its stonewall. The later it has been built, the steeper it has become.
Mar 1, 2013, 5:17 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SYD
Posts: 160
Food 1 - Susaki
One of the reasons why I decided to create this TR is to challenge one of the myths about Japan = expensive.
Those food I am going post from now on, I assure you that the most expensive one was 5,250 yen (roughly 100 yes = 1 USD).
Allow me to start with Susaki, one of my favourite restaurants.
They serve Kaiseki style food unbelievably cheaply. The theme of the night was to celebrate new spring season (new year).
Entrance. I like the way they presented on the second floor of small building.
Tofu & seasonal leafy vegies.
Different kind of tofu in soup
Shojin-age (deep fried minced fish sandwiches)
Assorted dipping sauce
The highlight of the night was Okoze (stonefish).
There was a bit of an incident. While the chef was preparing the fish, he accidentally stung his right thumb with its fin. As you know, a spiky fish carry a kind of poison with its fin, his hand became numb. So his son had to take over the rest of the work.
Anyhow, everything was just fantastic!!
This fish turned into...
Sashimi, off course. Accompanied with king fish (L) & octopus.
It was very nice. The remain became
Stewed fin and
Soup.
The first night was a huge success.
Still more to come...
Those food I am going post from now on, I assure you that the most expensive one was 5,250 yen (roughly 100 yes = 1 USD).
Allow me to start with Susaki, one of my favourite restaurants.
They serve Kaiseki style food unbelievably cheaply. The theme of the night was to celebrate new spring season (new year).
Entrance. I like the way they presented on the second floor of small building.
Tofu & seasonal leafy vegies.
Different kind of tofu in soup
Shojin-age (deep fried minced fish sandwiches)
Assorted dipping sauce
The highlight of the night was Okoze (stonefish).
There was a bit of an incident. While the chef was preparing the fish, he accidentally stung his right thumb with its fin. As you know, a spiky fish carry a kind of poison with its fin, his hand became numb. So his son had to take over the rest of the work.
Anyhow, everything was just fantastic!!
This fish turned into...
Sashimi, off course. Accompanied with king fish (L) & octopus.
It was very nice. The remain became
Stewed fin and
Soup.
The first night was a huge success.
Still more to come...
Mar 1, 2013, 8:34 am
#21
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Left
Programs: FT
Posts: 7,285
shhhh....don't let people know Japan is not that expensive...
nice TR. i had an outstanding meal at a few higher end itzakaya's for around 5000Y also....
not sure where the myth that Japan was expesive for food comes from...i suspect it is people going to the Park Hyatt and ordering a steak...
nice TR. i had an outstanding meal at a few higher end itzakaya's for around 5000Y also....
not sure where the myth that Japan was expesive for food comes from...i suspect it is people going to the Park Hyatt and ordering a steak...
Mar 1, 2013, 4:43 pm
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SYD
Posts: 160
shhhh....don't let people know Japan is not that expensive...
nice TR. i had an outstanding meal at a few higher end itzakaya's for around 5000Y also....
not sure where the myth that Japan was expesive for food comes from...i suspect it is people going to the Park Hyatt and ordering a steak...
nice TR. i had an outstanding meal at a few higher end itzakaya's for around 5000Y also....
not sure where the myth that Japan was expesive for food comes from...i suspect it is people going to the Park Hyatt and ordering a steak...
I think the myth started in the late 80's when Japan was enjoying her hubris due to so called bubble economy.
And also, as usual, those restaurants are not so easy to find, and they usually have Japanese menu only.
Thank you, flyingstudent.
Glad you liked them. I will do my best.
Mar 1, 2013, 4:50 pm
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SYD
Posts: 160
Italian restaurant - Angelo
For a change, let me introduce two Italian restaurants.
Interesting thing is that neither of chefs has ever been to overseas. But both served very classic Italian dish.
Particularly this one, he even had never left Kumamoto. Let’s see what food he would serve.
What's inside?
Very simple, but every thing was fresh and beautifully done.
Would you feel like another Italian?
Interesting thing is that neither of chefs has ever been to overseas. But both served very classic Italian dish.
Particularly this one, he even had never left Kumamoto. Let’s see what food he would serve.
What's inside?
Very simple, but every thing was fresh and beautifully done.
Would you feel like another Italian?
Last edited by sushiinSYD; Mar 1, 2013 at 5:04 pm
Mar 1, 2013, 5:18 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SYD
Posts: 160
Italian restaurant 2 - Antico Casterro
Another one was called “Antico Casterro”. This was the most expensive food I have had in Kyushyu for this time.
Homemade bread
You cannot see, but strawberry was wrapped in prosciutto (left) and kumquat lying beneath of pork terrine. Both were very nice combination.
White broad beans soup.
Pasta folded with cocoa powder served with venison sauce.
I could not help but eating both head & tail. Yum…
Slowly cooked pork. Very tender.
Everything was excellent!!
Now I feel like a posh oden. Anyone?
Homemade bread
You cannot see, but strawberry was wrapped in prosciutto (left) and kumquat lying beneath of pork terrine. Both were very nice combination.
White broad beans soup.
Pasta folded with cocoa powder served with venison sauce.
I could not help but eating both head & tail. Yum…
Slowly cooked pork. Very tender.
Everything was excellent!!
Now I feel like a posh oden. Anyone?
Mar 1, 2013, 6:04 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ANC
Programs: AS; Hyatt; Bonvoy
Posts: 1,718
Lovely TR and photos, especially those depicting your meals. Food fascinates me.
Someday I do hope to be able to visit Japan. Until then, I shall be forced to live vicariously through you and the others who document their journeys. Thank you.
Someday I do hope to be able to visit Japan. Until then, I shall be forced to live vicariously through you and the others who document their journeys. Thank you.
Mar 2, 2013, 12:44 am
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SYD
Posts: 160
To me, Japan is a bit funny/strange country. Maybe because I am a half Japanese & a half Okinawan...?
If I may suggest you something, try to mix with local area not only Tokyo, Osaka & Kyoto if you decide to visit. That could be more interesting.
Mar 2, 2013, 12:56 am
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SYD
Posts: 160
Oden night!!
Oden is one of typical & traditional winter food.
One of the best places to get nice & cheap oden nowadays is convenience store. Why? Because they open 24 hours and 7 days a week, so everything is slowly cooked for a long time. Perfect.
This time, my sister took us to a posh oden restaurant. The idea came from one of Kaiseki restaurants in Kyoto. For several years having worked as a main chef for oden department, he decided to come to challenge in Kumamoto, probably the toughest competing place (food wise) in Kyushu.
How can oden be posh?
Ready to eat !!
Ah, daikon (white raddish)... Beautiful!!
I see. Everything was served in a elegant manner. But oden is oden, I loved them all.
After oden, my sister insisted to drop by one of her friends' restaurant (surprise, surprise…)
Shimeji (mashroom) salad
Katuso no tataki (seared bonito). Regrettably, the fish was slightly over cooked as you can see.
Sardine sashimi Wonderful.
To be continued (I hope you are not getting tired with food photos, yet)…
One of the best places to get nice & cheap oden nowadays is convenience store. Why? Because they open 24 hours and 7 days a week, so everything is slowly cooked for a long time. Perfect.
This time, my sister took us to a posh oden restaurant. The idea came from one of Kaiseki restaurants in Kyoto. For several years having worked as a main chef for oden department, he decided to come to challenge in Kumamoto, probably the toughest competing place (food wise) in Kyushu.
How can oden be posh?
Ready to eat !!
Ah, daikon (white raddish)... Beautiful!!
I see. Everything was served in a elegant manner. But oden is oden, I loved them all.
After oden, my sister insisted to drop by one of her friends' restaurant (surprise, surprise…)
Shimeji (mashroom) salad
Katuso no tataki (seared bonito). Regrettably, the fish was slightly over cooked as you can see.
Sardine sashimi Wonderful.
To be continued (I hope you are not getting tired with food photos, yet)…
