Back on the blog! Tokyo – day 1

I think after the blogging hiatus – i’ve reached a writer’s block (ie. slightly rusty on letting the words just flow as I type) anyways.  with so many things that have happened during the new year… shall we kick off the first post back with lets say…  Tokyo, Japan?



Although having been to this city three times during my childhood, revisiting again was yet another reminder of how amazing the city is- the lights, the atmosphere, the food (which was pretty much life-changing) and how this city nurtures and appreciates my love for cute characters…

Despite the early morning start to catch our flight, the trip started off on a high note with an upgrade to business class!  With the flight being four hours long, food was served continuously- starting with wasabi peas, to a gorgeous appetizer platter that was already satisfying enough for lunch

served with either homemade Japanese curry ( no cheating with those pre-packaged cubes here!) or if you still fancied some Chinese food, braised pork ribs

And to top it off the meal concluded nicely with a cheese platter, haagan daaz ice cream, and an assortment of pralines (hmmmmm) – unfortunately as I was slowly trying to wean myself off of sugar from overindulging during Christmas, I reluctantly said no to these offerings.

Once landed, we decided to take the shuttle bus straight to Keio Plaza Hotel  (instead of taking the narita express from the airport – as the bus offers a door – door service) And sorry to make you jealous, but we were somehow… SOMEHOW … awarded with a second upgrade for our hotel room.  Shocked but like little kids giddy with happiness at our incredible luck, we quickly dropped off our bags to explore the city!

To have a better overview of the city, we thought stopping by at Skytree was an appropriate choice for our first destination.   Skytree is the world’s highest free standing broadcasting tower –and even from our flight, it was the first landmark immediately spotted from our window apart from the iconic Tokyo tower.

Now, a visit to Skytree is definitely not like a visit to any other tower.  We made the mistake thinking that 2 hours was more than enough time to go up and down the tower + viewing time- HOWEVER, just adjacent to Skytree is an overwhelmingly large shopping complex filled with unique boutiques that you could spend hours just browsing through. And not only that, if you ‘somehow’ end up losing track of time being distracted by all the shopping (ahem not me here), the complex has a plethora of dining options too.

As we were in Japan, I was intrigued to try their okonomiyaki (Japanese cabbage pancake) and a tokyo regional version, the Monjayaki.  Although a word of warning… male patrons MAY require additional sustenance after this meal…

We ordered a seafood okonomiyaki

Cooked on the spot

And a cheese based Monjayaki

Again cooked right before you

sizzle

sizzle (for sound effects) 

the difference between the two?

the Monjayaki had a more glutinous texture whilst the okonomiyaki felt it was more loaded with vegetables.  Whilst our server suggested that the Monjayaki be eaten plain with a simple sprinkle of dried seaweed 

I preferred having it with the brown okonomiyaki sauce as it provides a nice contrasting tartness to the savoury and cheesy flavours of the Monjayaki
For customers (like me) who have a tendency to ‘play’ with their food, you are provided with your own mini-scrapers to eat with for the ultimate interactive experience. 

With my belly full and my dad’s perhaps about 3/4 of the way there, we wandered back out into the cold, ready to hit the pillow in preparation for day 2!

Change.

As you may have noticed, February was a month of blogging explosion. I had the privilege to go home but now I am back in the UK again and lets just say life has not been as… exciting. Apologies for the ambiguity, but April onwards will be a month of change. Not only is it going to be a change in season- I ‘m taking a huge step in life in general, making changes I should have done a long time ago and undoing all the bad habits that have accumulated the past year since I’ve started my job.  I know this is intended as a food blog but as I was writing my posts in February, I realized it was so much more than just that!  It was a way to document experiences- a virtual diary- in which I hope in a couple of years time I can look back, read, and laugh (also at my stupidity and awful writing skills)

So this is why this post comes in.  I’m ready to really smile again for the long haul 🙂 – I want to stop binging on junk food after a stressful on-call day as a means to be ‘happy’ to save quota for stuff like this which I can share with those I love
mouth watering roasts at Joy Hing in Hong Kong Wan Chai

My mom’s delicious honeycomb sponge

I want to set new challenges for myself which I want to conquer.

Such as… climbing a mountain– the Lantau Peak

Immersing myself again in things I love doing: Travel
Bruges station

Santorini

culture – An abandoned amphitheatre in Greece

running and exercising

All in all I guess this is a much more personalized post than all the ones I had in the past but I am taking that big leap of faith…

and I am quitting my job. I realized I lost myself in the midst of stress, breakdowns and despite my best attempts to cope, I just cannot not do it for now. I am ready to wish, to dream…

and replan from the mistakes I’ve learned to be happy and to be me again.

A four month delayed new years resolution, however…. I am ready for the change!

Venice – the eating bit.

The abundance of tourists in Venice meant we had to be extra picky about restaurant choices.  I steered clear of restaurants near the Piazza and opted for the quiet neighbourhood of Dorsoduro where we stopped by at Oniga. (that being said, many tourists were also in this restaurant mixed with locals)

I loved the bread basket- especially the circular dried bread crackers

Sarde in Saor served with creamy polenta

A traditional Venetian dish of sardines soaked in vinegar garnished with onions, pine nuts and raisins. Obvious win for a date night (no sarcasm hinted)

Squid ink spaghetti 

I have never seen my squid ink spaghetti so dark!  Obvious win number two for a date night.

You should have seen my grin afterwards. A full set of previously white turned into black teeth!

Vegetables drizzled with olive oil

But like any best dates (ie. with my mom), regardless of the aftermath of eating sardines and onions, and the messy squid ink, you will always get a laugh out of the experience. Day 2 dinner was the day we were most drenched in rain. Tired and frustrated, we were just about to throw in the towel and simply retreat back to our hotel when we stumbled upon a restaurant hidden away from the main streets called Al Vecio Marangon.

It is a small but cozy restaurant

Bread to start

Seafood Linguine

This was… really….. good…. trying to describe it I think would do it injustice.

Assorted Venetian delicacies

We thought this would be a good selection considering day 2 was our last evening in Venice! It included the Sarde in Saor, fish paste, fresh octopus, grilled polenta…. and sorry I can’t remember the rest! However, I do remember that it was good and fun eating this dish with the variety given on a plate (oh Ash you are a bad blogger).

Day 3 was finally a sunny day! We took full advantage of this and opted for a quick day tour to Murano. The ambition to also hit Burano failed as we had to leave to catch our flight back to London. Murano is famed for their glass however I was a bit disappointed by the selection they had at the stores…
Yet I liked the much quieter ambience of Murano

For lunch we dropped by Busa Alla Torre Da Lele, seeing that it was teeming with customers
Bread to start – the unique bread also found in Bologna that we had numerous times during lunch in the past two days

Anchovy Bigoli

This dish was somewhat disappointing… and swimming in olive oil. At all the restaurants that I’ve been to in Italy, pasta dishes have been nicely garnished with olive oil, not completely covered.

Gnocchi

I enjoyed the Gnocchi! Unlike the ones we made at CIBO, these ones were sweet- perhaps made with the addition of ricotta cheese adding an extra lightness to the dish.
Venice is also known for their Cichetti- tapas like dishes served with an alcoholic drink.

Unfortunately due to the weather, we weren’t in the mood for small nibbles and wanted more heartier meals. But definitely something to try the next time I visit! There are other notable dishes too such as Carpaccio the famed Venetian seafood risotto.

The more incentive to return!

Venezia – The Silver Lining

The morning of our departure from Bologna after my cheeky detour to the Cioccoshow, we were off to Venice!

Unfortunately, 2/3 days in Venice were heralded by torrential rainfall which became an obstacle for discovering the city.

Here’s what Venice looks like minus the rain (I also came here two summers ago)

The city is a maze in itself – like my last visit, I found maps more or less useless for navigating the city as there are so many sidestreets and deadends that aren’t printed. For a hopeless map reader like me (I can’t tell which way is north, south etc.) its easier to just get lost and miraculously somehow you manage to find your way around!

However we did catch the famous flooding, as the locals call it ‘Acqua Alta’ due to the high tide coming from the sea

Which periodically flood the Piazza San Marco. The locals are used to the high tide- many were prepared with knee length boots and confidently told us the waters would recede by midday.

Amidst the flood, we managed to scurry into the St. Mark’s Basilica

As they were renovating the exterior of this gorgeous Basilica, here’s also what it looked like during the summer although you can still see some construction underway

We admired the beautiful and impressive Byzantine architecture

and momentarily forgot about our drenched feet

The Doge’s Palace is also a good spot for rainy days and is situated conveniently beside St. Mark’s Basilica. We took the secret itineraries tour (highly recommend!) where we learned of Casanova’s questionable yet famous (and elaborate) escape from his prison cell to navigating through the palace’s less glamourous rooms often hidden from the public eye.

I also recommend going to the Galleria dell’Accademia on a rainy day, which was showcasing a Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibition as it houses some of the world’s most famous Venetian painters including Bellini and Carpaccio.
After a day of braving and shivering in the rain, we found ourselves back at the Piazza during the evening and was rewarded with this stunning view

As they say, every cloud has a silver lining.

Bologna- feasting continues

During our trip in Bologna, I signed up for a four hour cooking class at the CIBO cooking school to really have the full ‘Italian food’ experience considering our stay was short and we couldn’t afford the time for a full day foodie tour.
Our chef first took us to the market to source the ingredients. However he seemed a bit moody at first at my suggestion of using fresh porcini mushrooms in one of the dishes. After much debate and coercing, he eventually warmed up to the idea.
I underestimated the amount of labour going into make pasta! We used a rolling pin that was more than a meter long to roll out the dough. (I think this was also an indirect message of how unfit I am currently!) The process of rolling out the dough also required a lot of muscle work.

But in the end all worth it!

The beauty of hand-made tagliatelle is the different lengths, widths and thickness of the pasta, making the dish much more three-dimensonal as the variation between each strand provides a unique combination of textures to the dish.

We also made handmade gnocchi- (look at all those nuggest of pillows!)

Served with an indulgent and creamy broccoli gorgonzola sauce

Souffle with blended dried porcinis

Unfortunately the souffle sank by the time it arrived to the table…
And the star of the dish was the tagliatelle sautéed in fresh porcini mushrooms

Fresh porcini mushrooms were only available during November and I felt very lucky to be sampling them.
Cauliflower heads gently steamed and drizzled with olive oil on the side

Pear jam with fresh cream and crumbled amaretto biscuits to end

We were joined with another Australian couple who were touring Italy for a month. And….. surprise surprise… no matter where I run or hide my job never escapes from me! Yet, the evening was still filled with discussion and an endless flow of wine (although I didn’t drink any – not due to my dislike for wine, its more rather my genetics which limits the amount I can consume…)

Through the experience, I learned the heart and soul to Italian cooking. Simple, but elegant, all down to the quality ingredients which made all the dishes I had so amazing. It was a heartwarming end to our two days in Bologna.

And now, off to… Venezia!

Ibiza – Eivissa

Did you know that a majority of Ibiza is registered as part of the UNESCO world heritage site?

Did you know that Ibiza is not just a party town?
I visited Ibiza during their ‘winter’ season which starts end of October and runs till the beginning of May.  Although many shops were closed in preparation for the summer influx of tourists, Ibiza offered a tranquillity and escape that I did not expect from an island notorious for their wild and epic parties.

Eivissa or their main town centre (‘Ibiza town’) was only a short 10 minute cab ride away from our hotel in Playa En Bossa and a 15 minute bus ride.   However I recommend taking a cab if you have more than 3+ people since we were consistently waiting for the bus for over an hour since the departure times were so unpredictable.

Eivissa is beautiful.  Like many other Mediterranean islands, it has its own unique character and charm.   Dalt Villa, known as the ‘old city’ is a must walk as you can easily get yourself lost among the maze and narrow alleyways of the Renaissance houses and buildings.   As you ascend higher into the Dalt Villa, you will encounter a castle which serves a landmark overlooking the town.

There are maps at the tourist information desks which provide suggested walking routes (although a recurring theme we discovered during our stay is often directions for the location of certain landmarks are very vague and you could spend hours trying to find a restaurant/ info centre/ bus stop……. etc.).  Yet, it can be much more fun exploring the steep, winding, cobblestoned streets yourself.

oh, and of course.  The Spanish really know how to enjoy their food.  The first evening we went to Bon Profit, a small local restaurant located in the Plaja  del Parque.

Plaja Del Parque during the day 

We had some difficulty ordering as the menu was only in Spanish! and majority of waiters were also only Spanish speaking.  Bon Profit seems to do local ‘comfort foods’ as each main was piled up with thinly cut fries.

For starters we decided to try the red bell peppers stuffed with fish paste doused over a cream based red pepper sauce.   It was quite an indulgent starter, and quite filling so I was glad that they came in small bell peppers rather than the large ones.

The waitress recommended a braised lamb shoulder dish that many tables were ordering however my friend and I were both craving fish so we each decided to get the pan-fried fish (sorry I don’t know what type since menus were in spanish!)- and I can definitely say that the portions were very very hearty.  The fish was seasoned simply with salt bringing out the natural flavours of the fish.    The meat was soft and the fish itself was quite moist too with fat oozing out from each layer of meat.

Wines are also very inexpensive in Ibiza.  We ordered a bottle of white house wine for only 6 euros- that being said it wasn’t a particularly good wine since it didn’t have much body and flavour to it.  Yet, I felt it complemented well the ambience and flavours from our meal.

During the day, we usually would have lunch quite late (2:30-3:30pm).  We visited was La Cava, a small tapas joint serving Mediterranean  fusion food in the Vara De Rey square.  Unfortunately they did not serve tapas during the lunch service so we opted for their two course lunch menu.

Tagliatelle with salmon cream sauce
Since Ibiza is a large port, Italian cuisine seems to have a heavy influence and presence on the entire island.    Therefore,we were interested in sampling some Italian food during our trip as well.   The tagliatelle was  handmade and cooked perfectly al-dente.   The salmon cream sauce provided a perfect compliment to the pasta as it was not too heavy or rich.  I planned to only eat half of the tagliatelle (as it was quite a large portion for an appetizer) but ended up clearing the plate and craving for more.

Grilled sardines served with a side saladI felt I needed something light after the first dish.  The grilled sardines were good but not as much of a standout in contrast to the tagliatelle.

Beef stew with artichokes and butter flavoured riceI found this dish a bit disappointing.  The beef was not properly braised long enough as it still had a very chewy and tough texture.

In attempts to be healthy, we had a very fancy salad at a small cafe in the Plaza Constitucion for one the lunches in Eivissa.

Artichoke, olive, salad with gorgonzola cheese served on endive leaves

Prosciutto,  white asparagus salad served with pesto and an olive based dip with two wedges of parmesan cheese

I guess our appetites had also increased from the two days of eating and we both found the salads not very filling.  After further exploring of Dalt villa, we ended up at another cute little cafe that provided a nice scenic view overlooking Eivissa.  We munched on Pan Con Tomate, the Spanish equivalent to a bruschetta.  The difference being that the tomato spread consists of tomatoes that are much more finely chopped and generously mixed with olive oil.

Our second paella binge was in Eivissa near the port at the Formentera restaurant.   Funny enough, all the diners were males- and the restaurant provided a very romantic ambience.  This evening would mark the second occasion of our paella binge.

Carne Asada

Carne Asada was a small tapas dish we ordered to start.   It is thinly sliced roasted Iberico ham that hasn’t been cured with salt but roasted instead.

Similar to the dinner at Playa en Bossa, there were complimentary olives, bread with garlic spread and a unique olive spread with melba toast to open the appetite whilst we waited for the paella to cook.

Blind PaellaA blind paella is a seafood paella with all the shells removed.  It is a perfect option for a romantic evening if you want to save yourself from embarrassment of  attempting to pick at the meat from the shell fish with your hands (or for those who are just lazy as well).  I personally prefer having the shells included since I get a sense of satisfaction after the process of removing the meat from the shell.   I also enjoy sucking on the shells as well for the additional seafood flavour.

Although served piping hot, this paella was not as impressive as the one at Playa En Bossa.  It was a tad too salty on some bites and had much less seafood.  Nonetheless, it was still better than anything we would get in London.

Eivissa provides only a glimpse of what Ibiza has to offer as we would discover when we venture out towards the other two major cities of the island: Sant Antoni and Santa Eulalia.

Ibiza- Playa En Bossa

We stayed in Playa En Bossa during our time in Ibiza at the Migjorn Ibiza Suites and Spa.   It is conveniently located 10 minutes away from Ibiza Town , 5 minutes from the airport and 5 minutes from the beach.   We were in a 2-storey apartment complex with a personal balcony although the view did not over look the sea.

Playa En Bossa has the longest stretch of beach found on Ibiza.  Although Ibiza Town is usually recommended for eating since there is much more variety, I found that we had our best meals in Playa En Bossa.  We were highly anticipating  for an Italian meal at Ciao Ciao, since it apparently has ‘the best’ Italian fare recommended by tripadvisor and the locals of the area.   Unfortunately, it was closed for renovation during the ‘winter season’  😦

To nurse our disappointment we walked along the beach drinking in the beautiful surroundings before stumbling upon a small Italian cafe, Buena Onda.   Since we only had breakfast, we were famished by 3:30pm and wanted a nice meal to make up for our Ciao Ciao loss.  As advertised, Buena Onda does ‘simple and fresh’ food.  The owner of Buena Onda was very charming, friendly and clearly passionate about the food offered at the cafe.  My friend opted for the set lunch menu which was a steal compared to ordering from a la carte.

Set menu first course:  Riz au wok / Fried rice (Mediterranean style)

Burratina salad (my a la carte/ second main)

A burratina is a mozzerella ball- the skin is made from stretched mozzerella and as you cut into it, a  rich cream and mozzerella filling gently oozes out.  I also had this course without having a first course and I could say that this was one of the best burratinas or mozzerella cheese balls I have ever had. The owner also insisted on trying their cappucinno which provided a satisfying end to the meal since it was very velvety and creamy despite the lack of latte art.

Cappucinno

Further down the beach past Buena Onda cafe, we visited a local seafood tavern.   We could immediately see that it was a local favourite as it was packed with Spanish families singing, dancing and laughing.  There was a never ending parade of dishes marching out the kitchen – clearly the Spanish knew how to feast.

We ordered a seafood paella for two- and let me tell you, although you can get paellas in London, all the paellas we had during our trip (oh yes and we went on a slight paella binge/ craze having it a total of three times!) far exceeded any paellas I have had previously in the past.  IT WAS THAT GOOD.  The paella served to us easily could have fed a family of 6.

Seafood Paella
The paella had a rich sweet seafood flavour and was generously piled with chunks of grouper fish, razor clams, crab, mussels, squid and roasted bell peppers.

I also became obsessed with the rice bits at the edges of the paella plate as those  mouthfuls had the richest flavours.    Apparently these are also the bits that Spanish families would fight over at the dinner table.

We were also offered Complimentary bread and olives with a garlic- mayo paste as the paellas took about 20 – 30 minutes to cook.

Since many of the other families were also nibbling on almonds, I requested for some as well.  The almonds were some of the best that I had ever had- they had a glossy exterior with a very strong almond taste.   It was only later that I found out from a local tour book that Ibiza is known for their almonds! perhaps that is why the almonds tasted so much better than ones from home.   

On our last evening we decided to have  a meal in our apartment suite to take advantage of the kitchen facilities.  We had fondue, chorizo, olives,  a selection of crudités including bell peppers, green apple, mushrooms, zucchinis and a fresh baguette from a local bakery.   Interestingly in Ibiza, even their tap water is salty hence the washed vegetables required minimal seasoning.

Staying in Ibiza at Playa En Bossa was such an amazing experience.  From what I heard it gets very crazy during the summer especially from the opening of Bora Bora, a club known for its beach parties however if you are looking for a weekend getaway I recommend coming to Playa En Bossa for the food, location and its beautiful stretch of beach.