Gastronomic Destinations: Dinner at Yuki Gion Izakaya Restaurant in Kyoto City!

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Service: Smiling and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Old but very clean overall. Excellent gender-separated washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Kyoto-style izakaya cuisine. Okamura Honke Brewery sake! English menus.

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Yuki Gion does not advertise much but it is always crowded even on weekdays as it is an old-style izakaya where the atmosphere is really informal and where customers sit elbow to elbow enjoying some very reasonable cuisine and fine sake!
Japanese tourists, foreign tourists and locals mix in at ease and the staff is simply easy-going but very attentive at the same time.

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The restaurant is actually the property of Okamura Honke Brewery in neighboring Shiga Prefecture!

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The whole range of their sake is available from 90% to 40% millage!

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One of the sake we had, with rice milled down to 60%!

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A nama genshu, it was served to you directly the Japanese izakaya traditonal way, that is very generously!

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Everything is prepared in front of you!
Note that the top chef (there are at least four of hem!) is the only one wearing a neck tie and also the only in charge of the raw fish!

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As this is typically slow food style, you have plenty of time to enjoy the sight of chefs at work!

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We started with sashimi moriawase/raw seafood assortment!

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Urchin, tuna, salmon, black seabream!

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More of the same as we were two of us!

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Tomorokoshi kakiage/Japanese-style corn fritters!

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Local vegetable salad!

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Kyoto City specialty: Hamo/conger eel pike tempura!

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Grilled nodokuro/a variety of rosy seabass!

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Sake white lees pickles vegetables!

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To finish, mentaiko gohan/steamed rice with spicy cod roe for the Dragon!

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And grilled salmon chazuke for me!

A discovery!

YUKI GION, Izakaya Restaurant

605-0078, Kyoto City, Higashiyama Ku, Gion Tomi-naga Cho, 111-1
Tel.: 075-525-2666
Opening hours: 17:00~23:00 (weekdays), !7:00~24:00 (Saturdays and days before National Holidays)
Closed on Sunday and National Holidays
Credit cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine
, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Gastronomic Destinations: Brunch at Coffee House Maki in Kyoto!

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Service: Smiling and very attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Overall very clean. excellent wahroom. Completely non-smoking on Sundays
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Morning/brunch sets/ sandwiches/fine coffees/take-outs.

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Coffee House Maki in Kyoto is an extremely popular cafe in Kyoto for many reasons. First of all,in my own biased opinion, it has successfully preserved its “Showa Era” atmosphere over the years to the point you definitely experienced a time slip every time you enter the establishment! Having lived 40 years in Japan it certainly brings back many memories!
interestingly enough the smoking half area (oh well….) consists of long sofas against the wall while the non-smoking half consists of tables and chairs.
Fortunately Sundays are completely non-smoking!

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Another reason is that they add seasonal sets on top of a an already long menu (for a cafe) and it is no wonder that the place is mainly, on weekdays that is, patronized by locals and regulars who all seemed to be known by name by the smiling staff!

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Incidentally, this is still a place where slow food is the name of the game, so do take your time!
As we had had no time for breakfast, we decided to order two different sets as brunches!
Dragon opted for the hot sandwich set!

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Served with salad and coffee!
Special for the coffee by the way! Dripped coffee of course!

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For all its apparent simplicity the hot sandwich was succulent ( I stole a portion of course!) with fluffy eggs and three more fillings!

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As for me, I ordered the “Chiri Kon Kan Dogu”, that is the Japanese for Chili con Carne Hot Dog!

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Simple enough again, but they make a point of creating their very own chili sauce and use locally grown vegetables!

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Just the right size and taste for breakfast or a light brunch!
Satisfying but not overfilling!
No wonder the place is always crowded!

COFFEE HOUSE MAKI

〒602-0822 Kyoto City, Jyoukyou Ku, Kawahara Cho, Imadegawa Agaru, Seityuu Cho, 211
〒602-0822 京都市上京区河原町今出川上ル清龍町211
Google map
Tel.: 075-222-2460
Opening hours: 08:30~19:00
Completely smoking on Sundays
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine
, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Gastronomic Destinations: Dinner at Ikariya Shokudou in Kyoto!

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Service: Smiling and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: overall very clean. Small but excellent washroom
Prices: reasonable (for Kyoto)
Strong points: French and fusion bistro cuisine with a Japanese accent. Veranda in summer overlooking Kamo River

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Veranda seating.

We had been wishing to visit Ikariya Shokudou on our previous trips to Kyoto but every time it was full. At long last we somehow managed to get a table on the veranda by coming a bit later than usual on a week day

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They classify themselves as a bistro and I agree although I would prefer to say they are a typical Kyoto fusion bistro!

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Their bilingual menu is easy to read and in any case like in many establishments in that city the staff speaks enough English to make all customers comfortable!

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And they do have a reasonably-priced wine list!
naturally they cater for all kinds of drinks!

So, what did we have?

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Seasonal white-flesh fish carpacccio!

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Light and delicious five-mushroom terrine!

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Turbo shellfish gratin!

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Succulent duck confit and French lentils!

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Peperone scampi pasta!

A very reliable address in a too often overvalued city!

IKARIYA SHOKUDOU

〒600-8012 kyoto Fu, Kyoto City, Shimohara Ku, Mokuya Cho, Kuribashi Sagaru, Saito Cho, 138-2
〒600-8012 京都府京都市下京区 木屋町団栗橋下ル斎藤町138-2
Google map
tel.: 075-276-2067
Opening hours: 17:00~24:00, Limited lunch sets on Saturday, Sunday and National Holidays
Reservations highly recommended
Credit cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine
, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Gastronomic Destinations: French Kappo Dominique Corby in Tokyo!

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Service: Smiling, attentive and so kind
Equipment and Facilities: Overall spotless clean, beautiful washroom
Prices: Slightly expensive (this is Shinjuku in Tokyo!)
Strong points: refined French fusion cuisine mainly based on perfect seasonal Japanese products. Rare sake. Superb wines and champagne. Sublime pairings either with Japanese sake or wines.

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A simple and exquisite noren/Japanese entrance curtain decorated with its Japanese crest!

I’ve always had the ambition to visit Dominique Corby’s first own restaurant he finally opened on March 19th, 2015 in Tokyo after years spent in some of the top establishments in France and Japan including la Tour d’argent in Paris and memorable stints as the Master Chef de l’école Le Cordon Bleu Japon, Chef at la Tour d’Argent in Tokyo, and Chef du restaurant Sakura de l’hôtel The New Otani. Dominique is not only a chef of enormous repute here in Tokyo and all over Japan but also a true gastronomic monument who is always in search of a new and seasonal produce to add to his already infinite palette, be it vegetable, seafood, meat, fruit or spirit/sake/wine.

For more details about Dominique, check the following website (in French)!

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The Man of The House!

In spite of his unnumbered appearances on TV, media and magazines, he has always kept his inborn simplicity and authentic kindness for the utmost pleasure of his clients and friends.
He is never satisfied with his immense knowledge and is always ready to board a plane, train or car to discover new products all along the Japanese archipelago such as the high mountains in Shizuoka in search of real wasabi and green tea, the rugged land of Kochi for its vegetables and a myriad of other locations where his friends, producers, hunters, fishermen or simple citizens, Japanese and foreigners alike, ensure that his kitchen never lacks any ingredient his restaurant is so celebrated for. When you add his rare sake and sublime wines, you nurture the certainty that you will never be disappointed!

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Starting the festivities with a flute of Champagne is naturally a must and what would be better than a nectar by R. L. Legias with his own Japanese crest on the label!

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Prawn mousse with oba/sort of large perilla leaf!

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White Bourgogne, Santenay, Clos des Champs Carafe, by Antoine Olivier!

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Namazu/catfish and sawara/Spanish mackerel seared with shio konbu/salted Japanese seaweed!

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A glass of rare sake called “Kamenoo Kurabu”!

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Created with Kame Sake Rice Grown by five different farmers by Takeno Brewery in Kyoto. Bottled on January 27th 2015. Alcohol: 16 degrees!

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Chilled kabocha soup, kurozu/black rice wine, kogashi, ikura and amago trout roe!

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White Bourgogne: Domaine de la Bongran, Cuvee E.J. Thevenet by Thevenet & Fils in Quintain, Saone et Loire!

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Shark fin chawanmushi/Japanese salted pudding with momiji ororoshi/grated daikon and chili pepper!

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A red Bordeaux with an original label sporting a crane made with folded paper in origami style!

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90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Bordeaux Origami by Famille Capdevielle Proprietaire!

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Sauteed calf liver and ballantine!

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Steamed rice and scallops paired with its sake!

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Mitake Honten Brewery in Hiroshima Prefecture: Jinriki Kimoto junmai! Jinriki Sake Rice milled down to 85%. Unfiltered. Genshu (no pure water blended in). Bottled on July 16th, 2013!

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And the dessert: Nanashi japanese pears, Kyoho grapes, kyoho grapes sherbet, tomadillo on Fromage Blanc Mousse!

Fusion cuisine at its best! A real adventure!

FRENCH KAPPO DOMINIQUE CORBY
(フレンチ割烹 ドミニク・コルビ)

160-0007, Tokyo To, Shuinjuku Ku, Araki Cho, 9-7, Nao Building, 1F
〒160-0007 東京都新宿区 荒木町9−7 ナオビル1階
Google map
Tel.: 03-6457-8899
Opening hours: 18:00~24:00
Dinners until 21:30 (last orders), Wine and a la carte bar until 24:00
Fixed menus at 8,000, 10,000 and 15,000 yen
Reservations highly recommended for dinners. Do make a point to call beforehand!
Holidays: indeterminate (check on the phone, first!)
Credit cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine
, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City