Japan

I arrived in Tokyo in the early morning. After I dropped off my luggage at the hotel (it was too early to check in), I headed to Miura City in Kanagawa prefecture, which is a famous sea port specializing in tuna. Because I was planning to have a nice lunch, this was supposed to be a breakfast. Three grades of tuna, akami (leanest), chu-toro (medium fat) and o-toro (fattiest) along with other kinds on tuna sushi. What a gorgeous breakfast...   

My lunch is a prix fixe tofu and yuba (tofu skin) course meal. Tofu course doesn't mean vegetarian or vegan. In general, "vegetable" dishes in Asia are dishes that feature a certain vegetable. It may happen to be vegetarian/vegan but in general, it contains a small amount of meat/fish for flavoring. The interior of this restaurant is pretty traditional, with a low table sitting on the floor. The presentation is also very Japanese. But some dishes are more fusion.

The meal started with three cold appetizers. Boiled greens with soy sauce, yuba and creamy tofu (left to right). The creamy tofu actually has heavy cream mixed in. It was almost like dessert although it wasn't very sweet. The sauce on top is miso.

Fresh tofu in a hot pot

Tai (red snapper) sashimi with soy sauce foam

Chawanmushi (savory egg custard)

Yuba wrapped tofu - deep fried, this is my favorite. I don't know how they seasoned it, but it was very flavorful.

Skewed flavored tofu with miso sauce on top

Tofu gratin, the béchamel part is made with tofu, I guess. The top is real cheese.

In the traditional Japanese course meals, rice and soup are served at the end (before dessert). These are called oshokuji (literally means "meal"). Then, what about the previous dishes?? I prefer to have rice with the other dishes, though...

 

Soft tofu with black sugar syrup and tofu ice cream with the same syrup and roasted soy bean powder

Each dish was pretty small but I was really stuffed by the end of the meal. It was less than $50 including tax (and no tip in Japan!!). I think it's very reasonable for a 12 course meal. I used to think meals are very expensive in Japan but I guess not...

I will spend three more days in Japan but there won't be any "food" events. So, this is the end of this trip.

I don't know where I'm going next. I definitely want to go to Peru, the Szechuan region of China, and Laos (the guy at the cooking class in Yangon recommended). But who knows? Stay tuned until my next trip!