Thailand is Our Pick for the Start of 2015

I was somewhat surprised that my two buddies and I had not included Thailand until earlier this month on our almost-monthly expedition of “eating-around-the-world in Tokyo”.  I guess that was because we have so many Thai restaurants in Tokyo that we did not feel the urge.

We chose this particular one because of proximity to one of our workplaces and we had read that the staff was Thai though not necessarily the owner which we prefer.  Anyway.

 

Wine from Thailand, my first.

Another wine from Thailand, my second. ^^

Old Thailand

A Friendly French with a Playful Name

Went to a neighborhood bistro in Shimouma, Setagaya-ku, pretty much in the middle of nowhere though not far from Shibuya.  It was cute and friendly with good “home cooked” food.  The only drawback was that they were showing the Asian Cup quarter final, Japan vs. UAE, and it seemed more like a sports bar while it was on.

As for the name of the restaurant, a couple of Japanese words are hidden in the seemingly French name, Volailler Cibaraque, “iller” = “ie” and “cibaraque” = “shibaraku“. Kind of cute.

 

An Izakaya with a Star

The 2015 Michelin restaurant guide for Tokyo introduced (too) many new restaurants especially those serving Japanese cuisine of different variations. This popular Yotsuya-based one-menu-only “izakaya” with an extensive line-up of good sake from across the country I went to with a visiting friend from Brussels (though she is Japanese by nationality) was not this year’s addition but I was new to it.

A fun night out with plenty of good sake.  The food very pleasing but at the end of the menu we needed more to nibble on so ordered gingko nuts.

Yorozuya Okagesan

 

Mother’s Tomato Soup

She had a new recipe and made it during the new year holiday when I was visiting.  Wow.

And other classic dishes she served on that day.

I eat out a lot but my mother is the best cook ever.

Random Philippines 2

More pix from my Filipino trip in December, 2014.  These are from Vigan.