My first encounter with 'Osechi Ryouri'

I have spent my New Year for the year 2013 in Japan. Once I get out of bed that morning, I quickly get myself ready for the luxurious breakfast.

During the very last day of 2012, I have participated in this 'event'. This annual event was held by the 'Isetan' departmental store located inside 'JR Kyoto station'. They will be selling the 'Osechi Ryouri', which is also known as traditional Japanese New Year food, over here. In fact, there's already a long queue of people queueing up for it at 8am in the morning. I managed to secured a place in the queue 安ｄget myself a set of 'Osechi Ryouri' too. O.OV

Here's my reward for queueing up for more than an hour+.

Here's the 'Osechi Ryouri' by 'Izusen' restaurant.

And here's the menu. According to the menu, there's a mixture of seafood, meat and vegetables dishes. And I'm looking forward to taste everything.

Not only luxurious, it looks glamorous and there's a great variety of tastes. In fact, though most Japanese will have it for breakfast, but it took me 2 whole hours to finish up all the food. I even have to skip my lunch to finish this. My conclusion for this meal, 'Satisfying'. (My only regret for this meal, would be the beef stuff. Since I couldn't eat them, therefore I have to throw them into the rubbish bin. :( )

* Click here to find out more about the restaurant 'Izusen'. (Japanese website)

Kyoto's speciality - Simmered Tofu

Whenever I made a trip to Kyoto, besides paying a visit to some of the interesting sightseeing spots, there are a few restaurants that I would definitely be going. For example, the infamous 'Soba' restaurant 'Honke Owariya' and...

the infamous Simmered Tofu restaurant 'Junsei'.

The above shows a photo of the Simmered Tofu Course - Flower
(From left to right) Tempura (Deep Fried Vegetables), Simmered Tofu(top),
Rice and Pickles(bottom), Simmered vegetables, sesame Tofu, Dengaku
(Grilled soy bean paste on tofu skewer).
Depending on the restaurant, the method that they are using to create a
pot of Simmered Tofu can varies.
As for this restaurant, you don't get to see traces of 'Konbu', but you will
be getting the skin of the 'Yuzu' floating in the pot of simmered tofu.
The simmered tofu isn't too hard and it's pretty soft. The taste of it
is pretty much tasteless but it does comes with the fragrance of the 'Yuzu'.
In other words, this dish is pretty delicious. :D
Besides for the simmered tofu, the other dishes are pretty nice too,
do give it a try. :D

Besides for the delicious food that they are offering,
this restaurant also has a magnificent garden too.

* Click here to find out more about the restaurant 'Junsei'.
^ Click here for the photos of the restaurant 'Junsei' that was taken by me.

Kyoto - Kaiseki Cuisine - Chihana

When I went to Japan for a trip last year, I was eating Kaiseki Cuisine for the first time in my entire life. The name of the restaurant was 'Chihana'. In fact, 'Chihana' was one of the Kyoto restaurant that Michelin Guide had awarded a rating of 3 stars. Therefore, I decided to dine at the restaurant when I went to Kyoto last year.

Here are my opinions: The service and the cuisine provided by the restaurant was fantastic.

The following were photos I had taken at 'Chihana':

'Chihana''s appearance from the outside

The following were photos of the Kaiseki Ryori I had eaten at 'Chihana':


* Click here to find out more about 'Michelin Kyoto'.
^ Click here to find out more about 'Chihana'.
~ Click here to find out more about 'Kaiseki Cuisine'.