Travelogue around Asia Pacific Part II

Tokyo - After my meeting I took the subway to Kappabashi.   From Toyocho station, I took the Tozai line and changed at Nihonbashi station to the Ginza line bound for Ueno station.   It was quite straight forward and Japanese are very helping in pointing the correct directions. I finally reach Kappabashi after a good 20 minutes of walking from the Ueno station.   It was surreal to find both sides of the street with shops selling every culinary requirement to set up a restaurant.   From kitchen knifes, plates, lacquer ware, notice board, uniform, fake food, etc... all kitchen stuff uniform for sale dinning ware fake food 'unreal' food Fake Food sold here.. Fake seafood The weather was cool and easy on the walk down this long row of shops.   After about an hour of looking around; it was backtrack to the subway bound for the hotel to check out.  I have a red eye flight to catch home.

Tokyo - This restaurant was tucked in a corner of a street.  Upon reaching; we had to climb a steep flight of steps to reach this restaurant but the effort paid off in the good food and service rendered by the owner and chef. wide selection of food to choose I was surprise when the chef came with the spread of fresh seafood for us to choose and also how it was to be cooked.   It was a nice gesture because Terry knows the owner of the restaurant through a close friend introduction. The attention paid to our table was exceptional. apetitisers Small plates of apeitisers from Lotus root, anchovies, soya bean and special Japanese mushroom. Sashimi prawn and clams special fish only during this season Abalone and innards Chicken Yakitori Wagyu beef to be cooked in Sukiyaki Desert - Green tea ice-cream with red bean paste It was a delicious dinner....

Jakarta -  This is one satay chain that is new to me - Te Sate.   The food is very good and tasty.  The interesting dish was Serabi Solo which was prepared near the entrance of the restaurant. preparation of Serabi Solo Chocolate Serabi Solo Sayur Lodeh This is an Indonesian popular dish cook with lots of vegetables. 3 flavours There were 3 flavours - coconut, chocolate and tapioca topped with vanilla ice-cream.   It tasted so delicious. Winged bean vegetable dish Chicken satay A must have at a Satay restaurant - we had chicken and mutton satay.  The mutton meat was too tough but the chicken was juicy and tender dipped into peanut sauce it was really good.

Jakarta - Staying at Ascott Jakarta has many advantages and one of them is the convenience of 3 nearby malls.   We walked to Grand Indonesia level 5 for our dinner @ Jun Njan seafood restaurant.   The steam Gurame was not fresh and had a stale smell to it and maybe the reason many of the Gurame sold by restaurants are deep fried. Kailan with Oyster sauce Crab cooked in salted egg It tasted good and we tried to order another dish but was told the kitchen is closed. mini mantou The food is so-so and not worth a revisit again....