fatmanfoo

It is perhaps not a well-known fact that burgers are quite popular in Japan. Now, I am not talking about the big fast food chains (Mcdonald's, Mos burger, Freshness burger, etc.), which are popular in their own right, but 'gourmet burgers'. These burgers can unfortunately run on the expensive side (around and upwards of 1000yen), but this is a function of the ingredients used to make them, such as buns made in house, self-smoked bacon, and organic vegetables. I've visited a number of these gourmet burger joints, but one that I frequent more often than others is FIRE HOUSE ( http://www.firehouse.co.jp/the_burger.html ). I must admit, this is mostly because of its proximity to my workplace, but they do have seriously good burgers. They have a nice selection of burgers and sandwiches for when you need your 'fix'. Their plates come with a choice of fries or chips (and a gherkin) and their menu also includes soup and salad items. The restaurant itself is on t...

Sometimes you need something quick, tasty and filling.  Yesterday's dinner was one of those occasions for me. Japanese 洋食, or "western-food" is something that I usually associate with that. Some examples of youshoku include ハンバーグ, or hamburger patty, various type of breaded and deep fried cutlets and croquettes, omelettes, omrice(egg-wrapped fried rice ), and other kinds of flavorful, filling dishes. One of my favourites is omrice, prepared just so (not the same restaurant): Doesn't it look so good (I hope to review that restaurant one day... it is in Kyoto, watch other videos on the dude's youtube channel for more 洋食 videos)!! Anyways, Japanese curry, mayonnaise, demi-glace, mustard and sauce "ソース"(a sweet and sour almost Worcestershire sauce style condiment) are just a few of the flavours that often make an appearance. Usually these meals can be found as teishoku(定食), or meal sets, and come with a miso soup, some kind of salad or veg, ...

If you are reading this blog, you probably already have an idea of what yakitori is.  If not, the title gives you a brief explanation. Chicken on a stick. One of the oldest ways of cooking meat known to man. Most cultures have their own variation of this- satay, souvlaki, kebab, churrasco- and Japan is no exception. One of the things which sets Japanese yakitori apart from the others, is the sheer variety of things on the menu and the parts of chicken used. From shiitake mushrooms, bacon wrapped asparagus, quail eggs and ginko nuts to skewers with grilled chicken skin, gizzard, heart, liver or cartilage .. the list goes on. The good places grill it front of you and it arrives hot on your plate. Also available are a selection of non-grilled dishes, including appetizers, salads, soups and rice dishes. Recently, a friend of mine visited me in Tokyo and asked me to take her and her family for some yakitori.  Of course, I was happy to do so, and searching on the int...