Wrapping Up 2016

My short trip to Penang, Malaysia was over as of December 30th in time for me to be back in Tokyo for the new year celebration, the most important of the holidays and very much a family event in Japan.  The Penang report will continue later but here is a post to wrap up the year 2016 with scenes from my monthly “eating around the world” get-together with a couple of very good friends.  The rule we try to keep is that we go to a place managed by someone from the region (not always possible but we manage for the most part) and we try not to repeat the same region.

Here we go.

January:  Paraguay

February, nao’s birthday month:  Hong Kong

March:  Moldova

April:  Afghanistan

May:  Kenya

June:  Palestine

July:  Spain, the first time to repeat a country though in a good way to celebrate taka’s birthday

August:  Pakistan

September:  Tibet

October:  Basque Country, my birthday month

November:  As with every year, this month is saved for “Beaujolais Nouveau”

December:  Christmas which we save for French or Italian dining every year and try to choose a restaurant where we are not forced to eat a Christmas menu.  Italian it was for 2016 managed by a chef from the south of Italy.

Happy new year’s eve!!

 

One More Birthday Bash

For the October version of “eating around the world” my friends and I chose the “Basque Country“, one of the areas I really want to visit for real as do my friends.  We talked about going next summer over my birthday celebration.  🙂

Both of my friends got me the same cookware, only in different sizes!! LOL

Saint-Jean-Pied-Port

A Basque Night Out in Shibuya

There is a Basque restaurant with a Michelin star diagonally across from our office which I wrote about some time ago.  I recently found out that the chef who worked there left and opened up another Basque restaurant nearby or more precisely I was passing by a Basque restaurant and thought, in such close proximity, even in Tokyo, that’s interesting, and looked it up.  This is it.

Very nice food.  I wonder how the other restaurant is doing.

Saint Jean Pied de Port

A-Basque Night in Tokyo

A friend originally from Tokyo but currently living in Brussels, Belgium was back visiting her parents last month.  We decided to hit (my choice) a Basque restaurant across the street from my office to which I had been to for lunch (not offered anymore) but not dinner.  It was a great experience.

The smoothest liver paste I have ever had. So good.

My wine connoisseur friend was choosing the wines with a help from the sommelier. Good choices.

Boudin noir. Again, the best I have ever had. The texture was perfect.

Excellent home baked bread.

Very tasty.

We were three people and so very full and content (and very tipsy) by the end of the evening.  (There was other food not pictured.)

Abasque

Learned afterwards that it is Michelin-starred.

A Basque Restaurant

I was so glad to have finally had a chance to visit this tiny restaurant specializing in Basque cuisine that’s right at our office doorsteps for lunch today.

"Abasque"

Open for lunch only from Wednesday through Friday and on Sundays and national holidays.

I was told that at lunch time it is much more French than Basque.

Lovely duck confit.

Japan Time’s review

Abasque