Archive for September, 2008

Bentornato! Maggio (ベントルナート!マッジオ)

08052300310801110056
One of my favourite lunch spot in Jimbocho area! Lunch is 1000yen, including salad, bread, but not coffee. Small dessert is 200yen. Occasionally they serve free wine at lunch.
07041200130704120018
春野菜のラグースパゲッティ。
Spring vegetables ragu spaghetti.
08072900330801110053
メカジキとカリフラワーのラグー ドライトマトのオリーブオイル スパゲッティー。
Mekajiki(swordfish) and cauliflower ragu, dried tomato, olive oil.
08052300330805230037
新ゴボウのクリームソース ペンネ バルサミコ風味。
Penne with Gobo(Burdock root) cream sauce and Balsamic vinegar.
08053000370807070006
インカのめざめとアンチョビのオリーブオイルスパゲッティー パルメザンチーズがけ。
胡桃ペーストのクリームソース ペンネ。
“Awakening of Incas”(Japanese potato) and anchovy, olive oil sauce with Parmesan cheese.
Walnut paste cream sauce penne.
08061400210806140024
牛スジとレンズ豆の辛いトマトソース煮込み スパゲッティ。 カッサータ。
Beef tendon and lentils, spicy tomato sauce. Cassata.
08062800150806280016
パンチェッタ(豚バラ塩漬け)とマッシュルームのオリーブオイルスパゲッティー。パンナコッタ。
Pancetta and mushroom, olive oil sauce. Panna Cotta.
08070200260807020028
カニとフレッシュトマトのオリーブオイルスパゲッティー。フォンダンショコラ。
Crab and fresh tomato, olive oil sauce. Fondant chocolat.
08071200010807120002
豚の柔らか煮と玉葱・松の実のオリーヴオイル スパゲッティー。ティラミス。
Stewed pork, onion, pine nut, olive oil sauce. Tiramisu.
08072300060807250020
小海老とキャベツのトマト煮込みソーススパゲッティー。
蓮根のクリームソースペンネ。
Small prawn and cabbage, tomato sauce.
Lotus root cream sauce penne.
08081900530808020089
地鶏ミンチと青唐辛子の香草風味オリーヴオイル。 ポルタゲーゼ(白いプリン)。
Minced chicken and green chilli and herb olive oil sauce. Pudding.
08082600250809020008
焼きワケギと牛スジのトマト煮込みソース。
砂肝のコンフィとルッコラのオリーブオイル。
Grilled wakegi(green onion) and beef tendon, tomato sauce.
Sunagimo(chicken gizzard) confit, rocket, olive oil sauce.
08080200880801110057
彩り野菜とフルーツトマトの冷たいカッペリーニ、¥1300。
ホワイトソースのラザニア(ナス・地鶏ミンチ・ポルチーニ・エリンギ)。
Cold cappellini with vegetable and fruit tomato. This one is 1300yen.
White sauce lasagne(Aubergine, minced chicken, porcini and eryngii). This one is always in the lunch menu.

Phew~I’ve been to this place so many times that the staff definitely recognise me. Quality is amazing and the lunch menu changes weekly and always have at least 3 choices available(tomato sauce, olive oil sauce and cream sauce) so you just never get tired. 1000yen lunch is available from Mon to Sat - busy on weekdays but usually pretty empty on Sat. I always sit at the counter but there are tables too. The portion isn’t so big but it always tastes so good that it is satisfying enough for me. +300yen for large portion.

Menu: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.

Bentornato! Maggio
Add: 3-24-17 Ogawamachi, Kanda
Tel: 03-3518-0357

DEMEL (デメル)

08090600300809060031
ザッハトルテ。
Demel’s cafe in Omotesando. I got really interested after reading potatomato’s post here. Of course I had to try Sachertorte, which err…turned out to be hard and dry and unbearably sweet….
08090600340809060036
アンナトルテ。 トラッフルトルテ。
Anna Torte: The Hazelnut and chocolate cream layer on top is again too sweet but the orange-flavour sponge cake is pretty nice.
Truffle Torte: This is the least sweet amongst the three we had ordered. Like my friend said, it is basically a giant truffle chocolate. ^^;; The chocolate sponge and ganache give it a soft texture which I quite like. Coffee is very nice too - very very bitter which is perfect to go with super sweet cakes.

DEMEL (デメル)
Add: 1-13-12, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku
Tel: 03-3478-1251

VIRON (ヴィロン)

08060601150806060122
(June 6, 2008)
ステーキとフレンチフライ、¥2100。キャラメルリエジョア、¥1260。
Steak and French fries, 2100yen. Caramel Liegeois, 1260yen.
08090300790809030080

0809030083(Sep 3, 2008)
ビーツのガスパチョ、若鶏のコンフィーのガレット、ペッシュ・メルバ(白桃のコンポートとバニラアイスのクープ)。
Beet Gazpacho, 630yen. Galette of chicken confit, 1050yen. Peche Melba(Peach parfait with vanilla ice-cream and peach compote), 1260yen.

Both visits above were late lunches(after 3pm) so the food was from cafe-time menu which is different from lunch menu. Everything is nice despite being a bit expensive. I wonder why the Peche Melba is more expensive than the galette….

07081900020708190005

0711190004(May 10, 2008)
グリーンピースポタージュ。クロックマダム。キャベツとベーコンのスープ。
Green peas potage. Croque madam. Cabbage and bacon soup. Went back to this bakery cafe and tried their cafe menu(available after 2pm). The soup are both nice but don’t come with bread.

(Sep 3, 2004)
Pork in tomato stew. Quail and foie gras terrine. With coffee, 2730yen.
豚バラ肉のトマト煮。うずらとフォアグラのテリーヌ。

Izu 070(May 19, 2004)
プティデジュネ。
Breakfast for two!

061102 114061102 120
(Nov 3, 2006)
ババ。
Baba. Gosh it is soaked thoroughly with alcohol already and you get a whole bottle to add some more yourself…the waitor said a few extra drops on top will give nice fragrance - he was right! I ended up adding more than a few drops and got quite drunk…the couple at the next table said they could smell it from there. ^^;;;; Also love the cream on top.
061026 199061026 192
(Oct 27, 2006)
サントノーレ。ジャンボン・ブリー・ド・モー。
Caramel-glazed petit chou(cream puff) with praline cream inside and sweet whipped cream on top.
Jambon Brie de Meaux - ham and brie sandwich. Both delicious as usual.
061102 122061102 130
I have blogged this place so many times but never took pics of the shop. Great location right in the heart of Shibuya.
060116 051060116 058

060116 046(Jan 16, 2007)
鴨のスモーク サラダ、840円。 タルトタタン、840円。
Smoked duck salad. Nice smoky flavour. And finally tried Tarte Tartin! I have heard so much about Tarte Tartin in VIRON but somehow never had a chance to try it. The caramelized apple is absolutely delicious~. Such a big piece! But it is mostly apple and I practically inhaled it in no time. It is served hot. Could be a bit oily for some people but okay for me. Only available in winter.
VIRON

t.y. harbor brewery (ティー・ワイ・ハーバー ブルワリー)

08082900310808290036
(Aug 29, 2008)
サーロインステーキ、ペーパーコーンソース、¥1700。
Back to this place for lunch twice as I couldn’t think of better places to eat in Shinagawa. Grilled sirloin steak with peppercorn sauce. Not amazing but not bad for the price. Better than BBQ pork rib I had before.
08082900390808290043
オーガニックチョコレートのタルト、ピスタチオジェラート添え、¥600。
Organic chocolate tart with pistachio gelato.
08081800010808180004

0808290041(Aug 18, 2008)
T.Y.ハーバーバーガー(リアルアメリカンスタイル)、¥1600。
T.Y.Harbor burger, homemade brioche bun with fries (Plus topping +100). I had cheese and avocado topping so it was 1800yen in total. The patty was quite rare which got me a bit worried, but the hamburger delivered to the next table was just as red(I peeped) so I guess it was meant to be like that. For some reason, there was not enough salt for the patty, but the burger was still better than sirloin steak and pork rib I tried in this restaurant.

07102500050710250010
(Oct 25, 2007)
Could have sit outside in the “open terrace” overlooking the little “harbour”, but was a bit cold that day so we decided to stay inside. Ice peach tea that comes with lunch is refillable.
07102500130710250008
チキンとリンゴのカリースープ。
Chicken mulligatawny(small), 400yen. Very nice soup!
07102500170710250015
Salad and bread also come with lunch.
07102500200710250021
バーベキューリブ、T.Y. オリジナルソース、チーズ&ガーリック風味のフレンチフライ添え。
デビッドのニューヨークチーズケーキ。
B.B.Q. back ribs(pork) with T.Y. original bourbon B.B.Q. sauce, garlic and cheese fries, 2000yen. So huge!! My friend who used to live in U.S. for many years said this is not even close to “half-size” portion there. I am sure it depends where you go, cos I’ve never seen a really scary portion during my trip to US. Anyway, the pork is a bit dry. I wanted beef steak but lunch menu has very limited options. The fries and side salad are good though.

David’ s NY cheesecake, 500yen. I was so stuffed from the pork but I wanted to try the desserts so two of us shared this. I was expecting hard type of cheese cake(my image of NY cheesecake) but this one is very soft, more like the Japanese souffle cheesecake.

The pork was a bad choice, but my friend’s sandwich lunch(1500yen) seemed better.

N.B. It is under the same management as here and here. I prefer these two restaurants but they are more expensive.

t.y. harbor brewery
Add: 2-1-3 Higashi-shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku
Tel: 03-5479-4555

Marche aux puces (ノミの市 Nomi no Ichi)

08070300470807030052

08070300570807030058
オマール海老と茸のパイ包み焼き ラ・シブレットクリームソース(¥500)。
牛フィレステーキ フォアグラソテー添え(+¥800)。
Hot pie with lobster and mushroom, creme of chive sauce.
Filet of beef with hot foie gras.
08070300630807030065
本日のフルーツタルト(イチジク)。クレームブリュレ。
Tarte aux fruits(fig). Creme brulee.
08070300440807030043

0807030041Basic dinner course with amuse, appetizer, main and dessert is 3200yen(Tax included and no service charge). Many options in the menu to choose from but some of them have addtional charges like the appetizer and the main dish I had. Nonetheless the value is fantastic. The lobster pie which I’ve read many good reviews, is truly amazing. The accompanying chive sauce is so delicious that I mopped every bit of it with bread. Huge for an appetizer too. My main dish is also great but my friends’ beef harami steak and duck thigh confit, both without additional charge, are no less satisfying. Amongst the three desserts we tried(cassis sorbet not in pics) I like creme brulee the most - it is so common that I seldom choose it if I have other choices, but this one is exceptionally nice. See tag for lunch visit.

Menu 1, 2, 3, 4.

Marche aux puces (ノミの市)
Add: 2-5-8 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku
Tel: 03-5420-3691

和牛屋赤坂 くうたら (Wagyuya Akasaka Kuutara)

08081400410808140043
From the 6825yen course. Everything in the photos are for one person. Cold potato soup and “dadacha” beans. Wagyu sashimi. Normally it should include raw liver(what this restaurant is famous for apparently) and boiled cow stomach, but we went on “Obon” holiday and they didn’t have raw liver that day. My friend doesn’t like innards so we also skipped the cow stomach, and had three types of raw wagyu beef instead.
08081400470808140049
Fried cow cheek on a skewer. Lettuce.
08081400520808140053
Raw beef nigiri-sushi. Beef nikomi(simmered) and garlic toast. The nikomi is quite nice, but I wish the garlic toast were bigger to mop the thick sauce with.
08081400580808140061
Yamaimo. Very hot wasabi taste. Charcoal-grilled wagyu steak. Hmm, I expected better quality for the main beef steak….
08081400630808140066

0808140036Curry rice made with beef dashi. It is quite salty. Matcha ice-cream.

I can’t say the food is bad, but it is not that great either. It was just two of us and we wanted to try a bit of everything so we opted for the set course; maybe a la carte is better? Also we didn’t get to try raw liver and motsu-nabe which are recommended in the reviews I read about this place.

Menu(J): 1, 2.

和牛屋赤坂 くうたら (Wagyuya Akasaka Kuutara)
Add: 3-11-7 Akasaka, Minato-ku
Tel: 03-3568-2129

Mont St. Clair (モンサンクレール)

08081400300808140033
エムロード:バナナクリーム、アプリコットジュレ、オレンジ漬けレーズンをミントのムースで包んだ。
キャラメル ポワール:洋なしとキャラメルのムース、ラム酒風味のレーズン。
Mint mousse with banana cream, apricot jelly, orange-raisins.
Pear and caramel mousse with rum raisins.
08081400190808160001
ウフビスターシュ。メープルノア。サブレフレーズ。
Pistachio. Maple and walnut. Strawberry sable.

A SUPER famous cake shop in Jiyugaoka. My first visit to this place was some 4-5 years ago and I still remember vividly that I’d ended up waiting for one and a half hour just for a seat to eat inside. Seriously I didn’t expect it was going to be such a long wait otherwise I would’ve given up. I was too traumatized to go back ever since. ^^;;; The cafe space can only accommodate about 6 people at a time so I guess the long wait is inevitable. The best is to take away if you are going home right way.

I took a friend from overseas who, for some reason, wanted to “eat cakes in Jiyugaoka”. There are other cakes shops in Jiyugaoka but I guess Mont St. Clair is the most famous. We arrived at around 3pm on a holiday and there weren’t that many people waiting but that was probably because most of the cakes had been sold out. The staff told us that more cakes would be ready in about one and a half hour so we left our names and booked two seats for 4:30pm. When we came back, the queue waiting for seats was really long….we picked our cakes, waited for about 10mins, and in front of all the people in the queue, we were seated first. It was an awkward situation of feeling relieved and guilty at the same time. Both cakes we had were very nice - my friend seemed very satisfied. Though I can’t help thinking that, with so many good cake shops in Tokyo, there is really no need to go through so much just to eat here…^^;;

Mont St. Clair (モンサンクレール)
Add: 2-22-4 Jiyugaoka, Meguro-ku
Tel: 03-3718-5200