Culture

Three Places to Visit for the Most Memorable Dining in Tokyo

February 16, 2017

Whether or not you are visiting Tokyo for business or pleasure, there simply is no excuse for missing out on the finest, authentic Japanese cuisine. The sprawling megalopolis has earned its spot in the culinary spotlight by its varied, and sometimes eccentric, dining culture. At its heart is a centuries-long devotion to craft and precision. Here are three must visit locations for your next visit.

Fu-unji in Shibuya is the go to place for Tsukemen. In Tokyo the best dining experiences are found in the tiniest establishments, such as Fu-unji, where dining truly is an intimate, personal affair. What sets Fu-unji apart is the rich quality of the Tsukemen, a chicken-based broth. The soup has remarkable complexity and heft, and the creamy broth clings evenly to each noodle. The noodles are chewier than typical ramen, so they are more than substantial enough to withstand the most potent soup.

The best Tendon is to be found at Masaru in Asakusa, hands-down. Masaru has been perfecting its craft for over 50 years. Each morning, the chef selects the finest locally-caught fish from the Tsukiji Market. The standards are so high at Masaru that if the mornings catch doesn’t meet expectations, the shop will remain closed for the day.

Visit on a day when it is open, and Masaru will serve you up the most perfect Edomae Tendon you’ll ever taste. Each chunk of seafood is battered and cooked in sesame oil until golden brown with a tender center. The rice is dampened with soy sauce, and the soup is a complex blending of rich, smoky, and nutty flavors, turning an ordinary meal into a meditation on craft. Perfection!

At the end of the day, having sampled some of the finest culinary choices in Tokyo, you’ll want to experience for yourself why Tokyo has become known as having the best cocktail bars in the world.

Bar Ben Fiddich in Shinjuki provides an experienced unmatched by any. What distinguishes it from the others is the vast collection of absinthe bottles, some nearly 100 years old. Served from a traditional absinthe fountain, cocktails are made using hand-selected spices ground into a powder with mortar and pestle to achieve the highest quality of flavor.

There are many such hidden gems in Tokyo if you take the time to find them. When you’ve had the opportunity to sample various locations, some will begin to stand out above the others for producing the tastiest dishes and most memorable experiences. In time you’ll have your own “go-to” list of the finest eating in Tokyo.

Around The World

What To Eat In China: A Candid Traveler’s Guide

January 16, 2017

China is a global destination, for business and pleasure. The vast landscape, unique culture, and the unmatched history make for a truly unique and memorable experience. However, what most people do not realize is the richness in culinary diversity.

The culinary landscape in China is one of the most diverse. With 23 provinces and 56 ethnic groups, China never runs short of variety when it comes to food. The country has everything in the flavor spectrum. Any taste that your mouth (or heart desires) you can rest assured that you will get in China.

Furthermore, you need not go to the fanciest/expensive establishments to enjoy authentic and tantalizing dishes. Even small and modest eateries serve delicious Chinese delicacies. However, it is a tad difficult to pin down expressly on the best foods to try whilst touring China. Therefore, in the absence of a list of the best foods to try, we will delve into the must try foods in this what to eat in China read.

#1. The Tang Cu Li Ji/Sweet & Sour Pork – This dish features a sweet and sour flavor that leaves your tongue yearning for more. The dish is akin to Chinese takeaway dishes found in America. The dish goes well particularly with rice, owing to the mouthwatering sauce.

#2. Bamboo Shoots – While in the west, bamboos are mainly used as decorative plants; in China, bamboo is a delicacy and a very delicious one. More specifically, bamboo shoots. Harvested early in their development, usually a day old, the shoots are soft enough to cook and thereafter consume. Bamboo shoots retain a crunchy feel even after cooking and yield a milky feel too. The shoots taste is quite similar to the cooked baby corn.

#3. Tofu/Jia Chang Dou Fu – The jia chang dou fu is one of the mainstay dishes in Chinese restaurants. The interesting bit about the dish is that it tends to be prepared differently in every restaurant, but does retain the tofu foundation. Therefore, you get to enjoy a different version of the same dish whenever to take to a new restaurant.

#4. BBQ/Kao Rou – This is one the street dishes that you have to try. Mostly found in the city of Xi’an, Western China, this delicacy is delicious and easy to access as they are found on many streets. The dish is spicy as the different spices added to the meat give rise to unique taste among the different vendors.

#5. Soup Dumplings/Xiao Long Bao – One of the most popular street foods in China, the soup dumplings are a must try whilst on a visit to China. With the richly flavored filling made of ground pork, and savory soup (which contains ginger, Shaoxing wine, and scallions) encased in dumpling wrappers, you are left craving for more. Luckily, many vendors sell the delicacy. You need not search the length and breadth of China to enjoy some.

There are other delicacies to explore in China. However, the above dishes represent some of China’s unique culinary offerings. Be sure to try them. You most certainly will fall in love with them!

Food

These Are The Top Five Indian Dishes You Must Try

January 16, 2017

Indian cuisine is delicious, full of spices and often spicy, too. There are so many great dishes that selecting the top five is a little bit tricky. What are your favorite Indian food dishes? The great thing about Indian food is that India itself is culturally diverse, so that means top food dishes are also diverse and made using a variety of cooking techniques. Not only that, but addictive street food is also a thing in India, just like in say Thailand and for a stateside example, New York.

Any tourist destination has street food, but it is part of the culture in India. Let’s get down to these top five food dishes so you can start whipping up the recipes for dinner. You might have to go buy some ingredients though because you’re talking dishes of the eastern world, like the first pick for the top five, Chicken Stew and Appam.

This dish almost looks like what you would expect a creamy chicken noodle soup to look like. It is nothing like it though, and a real description would be chicken chunks in gravy with Appam. The gravy is a spicy coconut gravy, which makes it sound absolutely delicious.

The second dish that makes the top five is going to make your mouth water if you like lamb. Lamb is a delicious meat used in many Indian recipes. The Kakori Kabobs are lamb kabobs, and of course you can guess that all kinds of great spices are used.

The third dish that makes the top five is Rogan Josh, which some would say is #1. It is a dish that is again known for its special spices and is from Kashmir.

It is fun to learn where the dishes are from in India, too.

Coming in at #4 is a dish called Butter Chicken, which calls for a marinade of spices and yogurt.

At #5 is Dhokla, which you can’t pass up if you are learning about Indian cuisine.

Culture

Food Porn Revealed

January 14, 2017

#FoodPorn is fascinating. Scrolling through Instagram photos of delicious treats and zoning out to YouTube videos showcasing food you wish you had the chance to try is the pastime of many for good reason.

#CocktailPorn is also mouthwatering with drinks like the ice cold Moscow Mule mixed by the finest mixologists around the world’s metropolises.

What’s your favorite #FoodPorn?