Japan

Tokyo’s Best Sushi You’ve Never Heard Of: Sushisho Saito

Posted on January 20, 2011 by Foodie International Posted in Japan | 2 Comments

Don’t confuse Sushisho Saito, a tiny, hushed sanctuary for the serious sushi aficionado, with the 3 Michelin-starred tourist haven Saito. Though the latter has received much international press, our destination, Sushisho Saito is where the real foodies go. Like many of Tokyo’s hidden gems, the restaurant is located on the second floor of a nondescript office building, in Akasaka. “Sho” means “master,” and Sho Saito is known throughout Tokyo’s culinary underground as one of the most gifted sushi masters in town. Read more

Tokyo by Night, Living out a Foodie Fantasy

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Foodie International Posted in Japan | Leave a comment

Tokyo is a city of fantasies, from the current cosplay rage (dressing up in costume, in public, mostly anime characters) to hyper-sexualized maid cafes. When I called the “Tokyo Fixer” Shinji Nohara, I had my own specific fantasy in mind (albeit a foodie fantasy): a wild night of izakaya-hopping. An izakaya is a Japanese gastropub, churning out a variety of small plates with an endless supply of drink. They come to life after dark, when the salarymen hit the town. Picture that scene in “Kill Bill: Volume 1”, you know the one – the restaurant slaughter… THAT is an izakaya (although the actual izakaya that inspired the film is now overrun with tourists, overpriced and allegedly serving subpar food.) I wanted an entire evening dedicated to eating and drinking my way through the real Tokyo-by-night. Read more

Meet Japan’s Food Expert: The Tokyo Fixer

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Foodie International Posted in Japan | 1 Comment

Following A Food Expert’s Guidance on Tokyo’s Best:

Tastes of Ramen, Tonkatsu Fried Pork and Late-Night Organic Fare

Every great adventure has a jumping off point, but where does a foodie even begin in Tokyo, the world’s largest metropolis; a city housing more than 100,000 restaurants?

Because of spoken and written language barriers, it’s difficult to immerse one’s self in the local food culture without a guide. It’s nearly impossible (but for luck) to stumble across some divine, out-of-the-way eatery, or to go where the locals go. Master chefs, foodies and even Anthony Bourdain have sought the assistance of one man in particular: Tokyo’s most famous gastronomic guru. His name is Shinji Nohara but he’s known throughout the culinary world as the Tokyo Fixer. Read more

Cheap Eats and Traditional Bites in Osaka, Japan

Posted on December 27, 2010 by Foodie International Posted in Japan | Leave a comment

Osaka, Japan: a sprawling metropolis that makes up the country’s third largest city. Osaka is like Tokyo’s bolder (and grittier) little sister with an affinity for junk food and punk rock. I was planning on skipping Osaka altogether on this foodie trip, but was convinced to change my itinerary by a friend who had recently spent a year in the city teaching English. I’m glad I detoured to the city known as the culinary capital of Japan, famous for it’s foodie philosophy of Kuidaore which literally means “eat until you drop.” Intriguing, right? Read more

A Kaiseki Dinner in Kyoto with Iron Chef Japan

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Foodie International Posted in Japan | Leave a comment

During autumn, Kyoto explodes with color. The ancient Japanese city is world-famous for its palaces and temples, but also famous for its food. Some view the city as the seat of Japanese cuisine, referring to the art and tradition of Kaiseki, multi-course Imperial-style dining.  Read more

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