Gourmet Corner N° 31

Gourmet Corner N° 31
TOKYO 2008

The Most Secured Restaurant in Tokyo!

By Freddy Santamaria

My last two Tokyo surveys in April 2006 and October 2004 gave you some possibilities to visit & live in Tokyo without "big expense accounts." (See Gourmet Corner Archives)

Yes! In 2006, Tokyo is Still Inexpensive if You Know How

Who says Tokyo is Expensive?

Today’s "Gourmet Corner" continues the trend and gives you more addresses to achieve the goal: "Inexpensive Tokyo!"

For the majority of business travelers, if we follow the statistics, Tokyo is supposed to be the "Most Expensive City in the World." Well, in a way that's true, but not if you know your way around the city, and you have the right information at hand.

The Most Secured Restaurant in Tokyo!

"HIBIKI FUTEI AKASAKA"

Located next door to the U.S. Embassy in Akasaka District, the arrival to the restaurant is via a "bamboo trees path" at the border line of the "security wall" of the Embassy with guards every five meters, so you can be sure is impressive and you will feel in total security. The building of the restaurant is ultramodern and the decoration of the restaurant himself outstanding, all in wood & stone walls with large bay windows facing a Japanese garden.

For a restaurant of his class the prices are very competitive for the Tokyo standards.

Tempura Menu:

The primary ingredients of the Tempura Corner are vegetables delivered direct from the producing areas, the master chef deep-fries them in fresh oil. There are two course menus for lunch and three for dinner.

Tempura Lunch:
# Enoki — (3,800.00 Yen)
— Seasonal vegetables, fresh shrimp & fish, rice & soup, dessert.
# Tendon — (1,800.00 Yen)
— Tempura over rice served in donbury.
# Tempura Meal — (2,000.00 Yen)

Tempura Dinner:
# Sakura — (7,000.00 Yen)
Seasonal vegetables, fresh shrimp & fish, kakiage, rice & soup, dessert.
# Aoi — (9,000.00 Yen)
Seasonal vegetables, fresh shrimp & fish, seasonal special, kakiage, rice & soup, dessert.
# Kaze —(11,000.00 Yen)
Choice sashimi, seasonal vegetables, fresh shrimp & fish, seasonal special Kakiage (a mixture of chopped vegetables & other ingredients), rice & soup, dessert.
Lunch Menu:
A meal with eight-grain cereals and grated Japanese yam
# Fish of the day — (1,400.00 Yen)
# Hyuga pork cutlet — (1,500.00 Yen)
# Steak (over rice served donbury style) — (1,800.00 Yen)
# Nagoya Cochin meal — (2,800.00 Yen)
# Futei meal (vegetarian) — (3,800.00 Yen)

Dinner Menu
The primary ingredients are from the producing areas
# Recommendation of the day — (600.00 Yen)

Vegetables / a fish / meat
* From Moritaya Tofu Shop, Shiba Village, Miyazaki
# Yukihada Tofu — (1,600.00 Yen)
* From Kumamoto
# Horse Fillet Sashimi — (1,800.00 Yen)
* With Eggs from Hinai Native Chicken from Akita
# Japanese Steak-Flavored Omelet — (1,200.00 Yen)
* From Kyoto
# Daitokuji Natto Grilled in Deep-Fried Tofu Pouch — (1,000.00 Y)
* Thin Slices of Tongue of Japanese Cow
# Grilled with Natural Salt — (2,500.00 Yen)
* From Saga
# Cutlet of Minced Saga Beef — (2,000.00 Yen)
* Pork from Ryukyu Islands
# Aguh Pork Steamed with Vegetables — (2,000.00 yen)
* From Okuizumo Shimane
# Koshihikari Rice Cooked in Stone Pot — (950.00 Yen)

The Restaurant has several areas for your choice of seating:

— The Main Dining Room
* Dine in relaxed and spacious ambience, enjoy the seasonal display of the beautiful garden & forget the bustle of the big city.
— The Tempura Counter
* Enjoy the special tempura of the house, which uses vegetables from the best farms from the producing areas.
— The Bar Lounge
* Relax with a drink on the genuine bar, serving mainly spirits, as you wait for your friends & if you are hungry choose from the bar menu dishes designed to compliment your drink.
— The Private Rooms
* Five private rooms with a "kotatsu" built into the floor, seating from four to eight guests.
* Four private rooms with a table seating from eight to 20 guests. Whatever your occasion, you can be sure of the appropriate seating.

The "motto" of the restaurant!
Honor the season.
Be devoted to the moment.
Revere the gods & Love the soil.

— The essence of cooking is ninety percent ingredients & ten percent skills.
— The nourishment a body seeks each season cannot be achieved unless the dishes bring out the distinctive quality of their ingredients.
— There exists a true flavor that is simple yet elegant.
— The natural flavor is fleeting.
— It continually changes while dishes are brought from the kitchen to your table.
— In tasting, time also plays an important role.
— The unique taste comes from between the season & the moment.

"HIBIKI FUTEI AKASAKA"
— Akasaka Inter City 2 F
— (Next door to the US Embassy)
— 1-11-44 Akasaka, Minato –ku
— Tokyo, 107-0052
— Tel: (+81) 3 5545 7615
— http://www.dynac-japan.com/hibiki/
— (Link in Japanese)

Weekdays:

— Lunch: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM — (Last order 2:00 PM)
— Dinner: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM — (Last order 10:00 PM)
— Closed on Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays
— By Tokyo Subway: Tameikesanno Station (Ginza line)
— 3 minutes walk from Station Exit N° 13

Other Places & Restaurants of interest!

ROPPONGI CROSSING

Is the place for nightlife in Tokyo. Many restaurants are open until 3:00AM, with almost 130 to choose from – unfortunately, not all of the restaurants are up to the best standards – and some pubs, bars, discos and eateries are open all night.

For the top range of restaurants go to the complex;

"Roppongi Hills" – one of the landmarks in Tokyo – where you can find some "Class" restaurants, including a branch of Spago, sister restaurant of Spago in L.A. and Las Vegas.

"Gourmet Guide of Roppongi Hills" — (Short List)

# ROPPONGI SARASHIMA — (North Tower B 1F)
— Soba (Buckwheat noodles), Udon & Tempura
# IZAKAYA ROKUZO — (West Walk 5 F)
— Japanese Style Pub, Specializes in "Shochu" & "Plum Wine"
# KUSHINOBO (Kushikatsu Cuisine) — (West Walk 5 F)
— Restaurant dating back to 1950, Japanese style "Shish-Kebab"
# TORA (Charcoal Grill) — (Hillside B 2 F)
# KASUMI-CHO SOBA MASUDAYA — (West Walk 5 F)
— First Opened in 1884 at Nishi-azabu, now has reborn in R.H.
# WONG’S CHINOIS (Chinese Seafood) — (West Walk 5 F)
— Magnificent panoramic view from most of the tables

Don't forget to visit the Top View Deck of Roppongi Hills., You can have the best view – 360°of Tokyo – and much better than the Tokyo Tower, Shinjuku Tower, or the Park Hyatt.

Traditional Japanese restaurants near Roppongi Crossing:

ROPPONGI KUSHIMURA
Charcoal Grilled Yakitori & Kamameshi
1F Woo Bldg.
3-8-8 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel: (+81) 3 3401 9460
Open from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
On the corner of the street of the "Oakwood Apartments Roppongi Central"

This restaurant is a "GEM" for a Yakitori treatment, run by a family with a "Mama San" for the welcome and the "Papa San" as the cook, the place is full every day, with a "Special Yakitori Course" for only: 2,000.00 Yens for 10 Pieces or 1,200.00 Yens for 6 Pieces. The restaurant is small with a counter & 5 tables, all the cooking is prepared in front of the guest at the center of the counter, and the quality of the ingredients is top class.

The Yakitori specialties of the house:
Chicken Meat – Scallion & Leg Meat – Chicken Meatball Chicken Liver
– Gizzard – Meatball Rolled in "Shisho" Leaves
Chicken with Wasabi – Tomato Rolled in Bacon ─
Asparagus Rolled in Bacon – Small Green Pepper – Ginkgo Nuts

The Kamameshi specialties of the house: (Charcoal, Steam Slow Cooking)
(Served with Miso Soup & Pickles)
Salmon > 800.00 Y
Sea Bream > 850.00 Y
Crab > 950.00 Y
Mixed > 900.00 Y

Other "original specialties:"
Chicken Skin with Ponzu – Chicken Sashimi – Sea Weed – & Chicken Meatball Nabe
(the most expensive dish at 1,600 Yen)

Well, this is the place to be and to go for a real Japanese dinner in a typical "Bistro" on the Japanese way.

SUSHIZANMAI
Sushi & Sashimi
3-9-10 Roppongi Street
Tel: (+81) 3 5772 1005
Just 1 min. walk from Roppongi Station on Hibiya line – Exit N°5
From Roppongi Crossing > South to Akasaka
Interesting Lunch Menus (11:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
From 750.00 to 950.00 Y
[NON Smoking Restaurant at Lunch]
Evenings open very, very late [Smoking Restaurant]
With a very large choice of "Sushi’s & Sashimi’s at very reasonable prices - "super quality"
Avoid the seats at the counter and reserve a table!

GONPACHI
(Traditional Japanese Restaurant with Great Atmosphere)
House Specialty is "Soba" – Japanese Noodles served cool, hot, in soup, roasted, you-name-it, and "Yakitori" – Japanese Skewers of everything. Both are available at very moderate prices. The kitchen is located in the middle of the restaurant with a counter around. The best tables are located at the "Smokers Mezzanine" on the right side.

There are nice cubicles for two, three or four persons where you can see the kitchen and the entire restaurant. There's great atmosphere, even if you are a "non-smoker", so try it at least once because you won't regret it. Anyway, with the smell of the Yakitori grill and the Soba cooking, you don't smell the cigarettes smoke!

Gonpachi Restaurant is located in Roppongi Street (direction to Shibuya - right side) from the Roppongi Crossing, past the level of the Roppongi Hills Complex after the corner of TV Asahi Street (They have a beer garden at the entrance)

Tel: (+81) 3 5771 0170
Ask your hotel for a reservation, the restaurant is normally full.

TSUKIJI SUSHIKO
(Sushi & Sashimi Restaurant)

Roppongi is a Branch of a famous Tokyo chain of top quality fish restaurants. The restaurant is small, only two tables (max 8 persons), and a "Sushi Counter" for about I2 people. The food is excellent, the quality of the fish top class, and the prices very budget minded for a sushi restaurant. You can eat for 10, 20 or 30 US Dollars depending the number of beers or sake you drink.

They have only one menu in English with photos of the dishes, but you can always see at the counter what is on sale from the fish of the day, or you can ask Rintaro Hariu the Maitre D and the only person in the restaurant who speaks English. The restaurant doesn't take reservations; so the first to come, the first served!

Tsukiji Sushiko is a "hole in the wall!"

Located in the middle of Roppongi Crossing, corner of Gaien-Higashi Street & Imoaraizaka, next to Citibank Cashing Corner & in front of "Almond Coffee Shop" the landmark of "Roppongi Crossing" & the Meeting Point at the Crossing

Va-tout Brasserie
A Real French Brasserie (Japanese Electronics Press love’s it) Excellent place for a working lunch or intimate dinner, just five minutes walk from the "Roppongi Crossing". With real French food & French wines, and with a "Lunch Menu".
— Axis Building 1 F
— 5-17-1 Roppongi Minato Ku
— Tokyo 106-0032
— Tel: (+81) 3 3568-2080
Next to the Corner of "Roppongi 1 Chome" Subway station
Open Daily from: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

And if you don’t like the Roppongi District, you can always go to "Shibuya District" near the "Shibuya Station" with another way of Japanese Life (Younger) and a "Bar & Restaurant" everywhere on the streets surrounding the Shibuya Station. One of my favorites is the: "Kirin City" (Beer Communication) Bistro Where you can find top quality beer "Kirin N° One in Japan" Since the Streets Crossing near Shibuya station is to difficult to explain, the best idea is to ask for directions.
Tel: (+81) 3 3461 9807

On the accommodation side, always on the "In" Tokyo District of Roppongi.

THE ARCA TORRE HOTEL
On Roppongi Street
Roppongi Station – Exit 3 – Hibiya Line
Just 30 meters from "Almond" (a landmark on Roppongi Crossing)
Direction "Roppongi Hills Complex"
Tel: (+81) 3 3404 5111
Fax: (+81) 3 3404 5115
Room Rates (Tax not Included) – Per Night
Single Rooms > From Around 11,000.00 to 13,000.00 Yen
Double Rooms > From Around 14,000.00 to 17,000.00 Yen
Twin Rooms > From Around 21,000.00Yen

Apart Hotel SOMERSET ROPPONGI TOKYO
N° 3-4-31 Roppongi Street
– Minato-Ku,
– Tokyo 106-0032
– Tel: (+81) 3 3568 3939
– Fax: (+81) 3 3568 3971
– Email: enquiry.tokyo@the-ascott.com

Just 5 min. walk from Roppongi Station on Hibiya line
– Exit N° 5 From Roppongi Crossing > South to Akasaka
Fully Furnished Apartments (Free Access to in-house Fitness Gym)
Interesting Weekly Promotion Rates:
(excl. tax & svc.)
Studio (~ 43 m² ) —Around 120,000.00 Yen (~17,000.00 yen Daily )
One Bedroom (~ 49 m² ) — Around 120,000.00 to 138,000.00 Yen
Two Bedrooms (~ 75 to 102 m² ) — 180,000.00 to 246,000.00 Yen

Apart Hotel SOMERSET AZABU EAST TOKYO
N° 1-9-11 Higashi Azabu
– Minato-Ku
– Tokyo 106-0044 (Near Tokyo Tower)
Just 5 min. walk from Akabane Bashi Station on Oedo Line

Fully Furnished Apartments
Free Access to in-house Fitness Centre – Indoor Heated Pool
Interesting Weekly Promotion Rates: (excl. tax & svc.)
Studio (~ 44 m² ) — Around 126,000.00 Yen
Superior Studio (~ 54 m² ) — Around 144,000.00 Yen
One Bedroom (~ 55 m² ) — 144,000.00 to 150,000.00 Yen

For Reservations on Somerset Roppongi & Somerset Azabu
Tel: (+81) 3 5575 5512/13
Fax: (+81) 3 3586 5144
Online Reservations: enquiry.Tokyo@the-ascott.com
Web (in English): www.the-ascott.com

OAKWOOD APARTMENTS ROPPONGI CENTRAL
3-8-5 Roppongi - Minato-Ku
Tokyo
(Next door to Roppongi Crossing)
Tel: (+ 81) 3 5412 6800
Fax: (+ 81) 3 54126801
Email: roppongicentral@oakwood.jp

Studio Unit [34+ m²] – Around [Daily: 18,000.00/22,000.00 Yen]
One Bedroom (Superior) [37+m²] – Around [Daily: 26,000.00 Yen]
One Bedroom (Deluxe) [48+m²] –Around [Daily: 28,000.00 Yen]
One Bedroom Executive Unit [74+m²] – Around [36,000.00 Yen]
Two Bedroom Executive Unit [105+m²] – Around [45,000.00 Yen]

Copy & Fax Service - Concierge Service - Morning Coffee Service (Until 11:00 AM)

Valid Credit Card required guaranteeing reservations. Guaranteed reservations are held until 6:00 PM on arrival day unless otherwise notified.

To avoid one night charge at confirmed rate - Check in until 10:00 PM unless otherwise notified. Minimum 3 Days; Very interesting discount rates for: One Week (one night free) or Monthly Stays

For next summer Rates can be up by 10%

For your information, 2007 Rates in Tokyo hotels such as the Hilton Tokyo, Cerulean Tower Tokyo Hotel, Park Hyatt Tokyo, or the Westin Tokyo, range from: 30,000 to 55,000 Yens, for a single (small) or double room
That's all!

And now, you don't have an excuse to complain about your "expensive" expenses in Tokyo!

*****************************

Freddy Santamaria "The smooth Operator"
Paris, France
November 16, 2007

fredmarcom@aol.com

For EDA Confidential: www.aycinena.com