my favolite book

I haven't read Jay Rainer's article or story before.
When I took this book I've recognised his face on the back cover but I can not remember who he is, and what he does...
This is the perfect book for somebody who loving to eat, travel, eat out and also working in restaurant or hotel. His phrases are seasoned with wit and humor. The book is start with his first eat out when he was 11 years old which made me smile and hungry...
He described many things about restaurant, lots of politics and gossip which I loved it. Most interested part were about Moscow and Dubai for me.
He is writing about Tokyo as wel but I was a bit dissapointed that he didn't have great experience at few restaurant and he even didn't know what he is eating.
But this is definitely one of my favorite book. And I'd love to take him to some of my favorite restaurant in Japan when he go there next time... thats all I thought.
この本に出会うまで、私はジェイ　ライナーという人を知りませんでした。
初めてこの本を手にした時、裏表紙の顔写真を見てやっと、”あぁ、なんか見たことある顔”と思ったぐらいで、何を実際している人物なのか、まったく思い出せませんでした。
この本は、恐らくレストランやホテルで勤務している人、外食や、旅行好きの人にはもってこいの一冊ではないでしょうか。
初めは、彼の11歳の時に実際に起きた、初めての外食の経験話から始まりますが、ユーモアで軽快な表現に、私は何度も笑いをこらえた事か、それにお腹が空いて来てしまうのは言うまでもありません。
業界の政治的な噂話、目からウロコのチョット感心してしまう話題など盛り沢山で、私のお気に入りの章はモスクワと、ドバイでした。
日本についても書いていますが、たまたま何件かのレストランで良い経験が出来なかったこと、それから彼が何を食べているのかも解っていなかったことに少しがっかりしてしまいました。

それから最後に、もし彼が日本に行く際には、私のお気に入りのレストランに連れて行ってあげたいと強く思いました。

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Who-Ate-World-Perfect/dp/0755316355/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264721524&sr=1-1

Healthy eating by post 郵便で届く健康おやつ

What do you think if you receive a box of healthy foods at your desk or home　everyday?? And if its just ￡2.99 p/box.

Graze is providing a carefully selected natural seeds, fruits, nuts, olive and even chocolate etc.. and deliver it wherever you are.

As well as loads of different types of fruit, they have 17 different varieties of nuts and seeds. The graze range provides essential nutrients that are all to often missed in our modern diets or it may replaces your lunch or you add a little something extra.

Anybody can place the order easily from this http://www.graze.com/ website.
You have to chose type of box from 2 different types, and choose a day that you want to get deliver, then enter your e-mail address, name, work/home address etc then you'll receive box of personal tastes.

This service is only available in UK.
There is great offer of gift vouchers as well. It would be great for something different to send your colleague or your family....




健康と、ダイエットと、それからおサイフにもとてもうれしいおやつが毎日自宅や会社に届くというのはどう？しかも一箱たったの￡2.99で。

Grazeというおやつのデリバリーサービスがあります。

17種類あるナッツやフルーツ、チョコレート、オリーブ、ヨーグルトコーティングのレーズン、、、ナドナド、種類もとても豊富で、しかも箱も2種類から選ぶことが出来るので、現代の食生活や、ダイエット、飽きっぽい方にも最適です。（私…）

オーダーはとっても簡単で、こちらのhttp://www.graze.com/から。
箱の種類、一週間のうち何曜日に配達してもらいたいか、注文したいものを選んで名前、住所、e-mailアドレスを入力して、おしまい。
初めの一箱は￡1割引から、他にも割引があったりと、チョットうれしいお知らせもあったりします。

郵送できる範囲は英国内に限りますが、いろいろな種類をチョコットずつ頂けるのと、かさ張るお弁当箱などを持ち歩く必要もないので、忙しい方、ダイエット中の方、健康を気にしている方にもお勧めです。
また、ギフトバウチャーなどもあるので、少し変わった贈り物にいかがでしょうか。

My favorite cupcake...

I hope nobody take this one.
I am not a chocoholic.
I'm not lying.
I'm very serious about this. But most of the people are not believe me.
Only few times a year I have craving for chocolate.
I don't think I have sweet tooth.

However I'm a big fan of cupcake from this shop on Kings Road. Huge Fan.
When I saw that small, bright pink (!!) cake shop at first time, I thought I'd never go in there. Once I tried one from this shop, it quickly became my favorite cup cake shop.
There are so many different shapes, sizes and types of cupcakes and everything looks so pretty.
The sponges are very soft and with a medium moisture.
Decoration on the top of the cake such as fruits and icing, are fresh.
They are definitely perfect for gift.

Love Bakery
319 Kings Road London
SW3 5EP
0207 352 3191
http://www.lovebakerylondon.com/


私はチョコレートがあまり好きではありません。
こんな事を言ってもほとんどの人が信じてくれないか、チョット変人みたいに見られるかのどちらかです。一年に数回、無性に食べたくなるぐらいで、あとはチョコレートを食べなくても悪い夢を見たり、いらいらしたりする事はありません。
たぶん私は辛党なんだと思います。

そんな私が、驚くことにダイスキなカップケーキ屋さんがキングスロードに有ります。

初めてその店を見た時、そのショッキングピンクの壁の色といい、小さすぎる店といい、”うわ!”って言う言葉しか思い浮かばず、この店には多分足を運ぶことはないだろうなと思っていました。しかし、近くをぶらぶらしている時、無性にこの店が気になって、勇気を絞って何個か試してみました。

それからと言うもの、私の頭の中はこのカップケーキのことでいっぱい。

朝出勤中に店の前を通るだけで、”あぁ、カップケーキ…”　という日が多分3.4ヶ月は続きました。写真でもお分かりの通り、なんともかわいいデコレーションで、アイシングも柔らかくて、全然ゴリゴリしてない。スポンジは、ややしっとり目でとても柔らか。

お土産や、おやつの時間にもってこいです。

sake blind tasting vol1

At Yoisho London


It was a hot sunny day, I was walking from Goodge street station down to the restaurant. I’ve arrived at station quite early than supposed to be, so I was walking very slowly.
I couldn’t even remember when was the last time I’ve visit small Izakaya in Charlotte Street called Yoisho. I think it was 3 or 4 years ago, just few months after I’ve arrived to London.
I through the door with nerves feeling. It sounds a bit strange.
The smells, temperature, the texture of shining old wooden table and cozy lightings … it doesn't take so long to bring me back to Japan.

We have 7 different types of sake, inc. my bottle that I brought from Japan.
We started to try sake from “bottle 1”.
We discussed a lot about many things especially kobo; yeast in Japanese.
I will talk about kobo maybe another time…
After we tried all sake and filled up tasting sheet, we’ve opened the blindfold.
First sake and second sake was actually same sake but second sake was decanted before we arrived. Let me see my tasting note again…

Number 1:
Alcohol vol: 14-15%,
Rice polished ratio: 60%,
Classification: Junmai Ginjo
Subtle flavour. Slightly bitter finish, acidity is quite high. Medium- bodied, still delicate and elegant style.

Number 2:
Alcohol vol: 16%
Rice polished ratio: 60%
Classification: Ginjo
Soft and smooth textured. Very spicy and dry finish. Acidity medium. Body is also medium. Yamahai style? Touch of green leaves such as bamboo leaf

As you can see from my tasting note, it is completely different between two sake!! I was so excited.

The correct answer was
Hoyo “Genji”, Tokubetsu Junmai
Alcohol vol: 15.5%
Rice polished ratio: 55%

Third bottle was very clear. I know already what exactly it is.
I filled up my note like this…
Name: Tamaki Yamahai Junmai Ginjo
Region: Akita prefecture
Alcohol vol: 17%
Rice polished ratio: 60%

My answer was correct except polished ratio and alcohol volume. The rice polished ratio was 50% and alcohol was 17.5% actually it is quite higher than I thought… mmm

Fourth bottle was Himekanade Junmai Ginjo Muroka from Fuyo brewery
It has elegant nose of Ginjo flavour. Herbaceous and acidity is slightly higher.

Fifth sake is Izumi Judan Daiginjo From Dewazakura brewery
I thought this brewery is from around the mountain in Japan, because I could taste the mineral also it has been added distilled alcohol.

Sixth, Tedorigawa Yamahai Daiginjo
I thought this sake had been storage in the fridge with bottle, not tank because this sake has absolutely clean and delicate style. Also it has added alcohol…. That I thought.

It was great night.

I really enjoyed talk about sake like that.

Mr. Tachikawa is importing sake from Japan by himself.
He has great character and passion. Seriously since he’s started his business in UK our sake environment in London has changed a lot.
We are talking about “Yamahai” style.
Trying same sake pours in to different shape of the glass. It does make different.

Tasting sheet.

Gyoza!! it was so good.

My bottle, Isojiman

All sake that we’ve tried tonight
Thank you so much for the great night.

Special thanks for Watanabe san from Yoisho, Asamisan, Tachikawa san, and Kobayashi san.