Category Archives: Tokyo

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

International Bistro: Porco Casa in Ebisu, Tokyo!

Service: Very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: very clean overall. Great washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Quiches and Pork cuisine conjugated on many nationalities! Organic and bio wines list!

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Kenjiroo Okada/岡田憲次郎さん is quite a personage! At a very young 50 (he barely looks 40!) with a strong body built with plenty of biking, he finds somehow the way to open his restaurant day and night non stop seven days a week!
Try and catch a seat on the terrace in the warmer seasons!

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Shizuoka oranges white Sangria!

Located in a very quiet back street of Ebisu, it makes use of lot of of vegetables from Shizuoka Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture and also fruit from Shizuoka Prefecture delivered directly from the producers thanks to M2 labo Inc.’s network in Shizuoka Prefecture!

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Kenjiroo is specializing in healthy organic and bio wines!
I didn’t have much of a time to visit him at ease, but at least let me introduce you to the morsels he serves there!

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On that particular he had Shizuoka-grown potatoes sauteed in garlic!

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Now, this is a dish you must try, especially in winter or in cool nights!

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Spare rib and vegetable hot pot!

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I will personally visit the place time and again for that single dish coming in many seasonal fashions!

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Quiches, the way they make them back home in France!
A succulent meal in itself!

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A dish with a twist!
Honey spare ribs!

And more from a friend who has just been there!

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Mangenton by Sanoman Co. in Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture!

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Pork Risotto!

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Shizuoka Vegetables salad with Raspberry sauce!

You can bet it’s only a start considering the menu varying with seasonal products!

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Chef: kenjiroo Okada/岡田憲次郎さん

tokyo, Shibuya Ku, Ebisu Nishi, 1-15-1, Century Home 1F
tel.: 03-3780-8669
Fax: 03-3780-8669
Opening hours: 11:30~13:00 (lunch), 13:00^17:00 (cafe time), 17:00~24:00 (dinner)
Cards OK

For more information on Shizuoka Prefecture vegetables and fruit:

M2Labo Inc., VEGI PROVIDER, Sync Foods
439-0006 Kikugawa City, Horinouchi, 110-1, 102
Tel.: 0537-28-7721
Fax: 0547-28-7724
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

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouse in Akihabara, Tokyo, by Patricia Yarrow!

“Kura” (in Japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditional Japan, especially during the Edo Era, as most of buildings and urba/village structures were made of wood, fires were the bane of society by and large.
However well-protected a fire would consume a house or buildings and all its properties within minutes.
Hence a special building or warehouse was needed to protect goods and properties against such a catastrophe.
But erecting a storehouse solely made of concrete, stones and some metal cost a vast amount of silver and gold and only rich merchants and nobility could afford them. Even castles could not be built entirely of stone then.

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My good Tokyo friend, Patrica Yarrow, who regularly visits Shizuoka, is also a fine of old houses and architecture in Japan.
She has just sent me this photo of a grand old kura in Akihabara,Tokyo!

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For all the black patina the walls and windows seem still very sound indeed!

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The roof and rain water piping are not that old, so the place is definitely still being used.
Note the grand contrast with the white building background!

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Patricia’s comments:

“Here is a photo of a fine old brick kura in Akihabara, just a stone’s throw from the highway and super-modern Yodobashi flagship store.
It must have quite a story to tell, but for now it is providing protected space for vending machines and gomi/rubbish…”

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, Pierre.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