Kappo Nami Nami

Great sushi and traditional Japanese dishes.

Kappo Nami Nami
240 Castro St
Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 964-6990

First meal back in California - Orenchi ramen

OMFG


Look at that f'in egg. PERFECTION


The ramen here is pretty f'in good. Not sure if I like this better or Santouka.... Santouka's is saltier (being a super-taster and all...) but no one can beat that egg.

Orenchi‎
3540 Homestead Rd
Santa Clara, CA‎
Tel: (408) 246-2955‎

Juji-Ya bento boxes

Another introduction formally made by Sophie.

Here is the chicken, kabocha squash, sesame haricots verts, and potato salad. Make sure to request the Japanese rice.


Juji-Ya
46 Rue Sainte-Anne
75002 PARIS, France
01 42 86 02 22

Tataki Sushi

Tri-style poke - pretty terrible, fish was mushy/old, seasoning too sweet and off (pineapple... ?)


Spicy tempura - shrimp tempura, spicy albacore tuna, jalapeno, masago - this was quite nice although the tempura was slightly soggy like it had been left out for awhile before rolling/plating


Extinguisher - albacore tuna, avocado, habanero, masago, spicy aioli - this one was good. Nice balance of spice and flavor.


It's great that Tataki aims to spread the word on sustainable sushi, but with odd-tasting poke, lukewarm miso soup, decent rolls, doesn't make it completely exceptional.

Tataki Sushi and Sake Bar
2815 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 931-1182

Kaygetsu Restaurant

I had interviewed with Kaygetsu last year for a line cook/hot foods position. I was able to see the back of the house (which is great, by the way), however, I had never officially eaten there until tonight (FINALLY!). With several postponements of this reservation, my sister and our other friend, Elva, finally made it tonight for the kaiseki.

Sakizuke (starter):
- spaghetti squash salad with string beans
- red bell pepper, shiitake mushroom and micro shiso
- black sesame flavor, topped with dried bonito threads

This was a great starter. Light and refreshing.


Sashimi: (upgrade) octopus, hamachi, toro

Um, YES. They do live up to their reputation as having some of the best sushi in town. Fabulous, fresh, melt in your mouth sashimi.


Hassun (assortment of flavors):
- washu beef sushi, nori topping, oak leaf
- seared white tuna, carrot daikon, warabi fern, ponzu gelee
- julienne potato and carrot tempura
- burdock rolled with anago (sea eel)
- rolled egg omelet, topped with uni
- sautéed konnyaku (yam jelly)

This was a great assortment of small bites. I wasn't a big fan of the yam jelly or tamago with uni, but going back and forth between the potato/carrot tempura and seared tuna with ponzu gelee was very nice. The washu beef sushi was to die for. I absolutely LOVE raw beef sushi. In fact, it was the first thing I ate during my first trip to Japan when I was 15. I could have just eaten a plate of the lightly seared washu beef sushi here. Wonderful!


Seasonal dish:
- eggplant, flash fried and cooked with dashi
- minced shrimp with thickened kudzu sauce
- sugar peas, tororo konbu

This is the first time that I've tasted tororo konbu, which is seaweed that has been soaked in vinegar for a day before being shaved into fine flakes and dried. The texture was wonderfully light, but at the same time, full of flavor. The combination of eggplant, shrimp, dashi and kudzu sauce was nicely balanced. Another dish that we all enjoyed very much.


Yakimono (grilled dish):
- organic petaluma chicken with fuki (butterbur) miso
- spring salad with bamboo, bakchoy, radish, orange, chive and chervil
- side of clear miso soup, pickled vegetables

Let me just point out that I typically don't order chicken dishes (aside from at Commis restaurant). What a difference free range, organic chicken has. Some of the most moist, tender, perfectly cooked and seasoned chicken that I have had since Commis. I loved this dish, though I was too full to finish the clear miso soup.


Dessert: green tea bavarois with Okinawan black sugar molasses, red bean, strawberry, mint and whipped cream

The dessert was alright. I found the Okinawan black sugar molasses quite interesting. But give me anything with matcha green tea and red bean, and I am a happy girl.


I found this meal to be very well-balanced, and "light" even though I was pretty full by the end of the meal. The kaiseki here sticks to it's Japanese tradition and roots. I'm glad to have finally dined here. Highly recommended.

Kaygetsu Restaurant‎
325 Sharon Park Drive
Menlo Park, CA
Tel: (650) 234-1084‎

Narita City - last day in Japan

Only one stop away from Luigi's place. At the famous Anko place.




Delicious! Raf went back for seconds!






Local goodies - typically Japanese biscuits/cookies, pastries/mochi, and eel


This was super cool - fresh eel


Look how fast he filets




Then off to Narita-san


Huge






Then a bowl of crappy ramen - I noticed the ramen shop was filled with pilots/anglos. So if you happen to walk by this place, don't eat there.


Unless you want gyoza. It was quite good - even better than what we had in Tokyo.


Going back home

Cherry Blossom Festival @ Ueno Park

Roppongi, Tokyo and Curry udon

Went to Roppongi later; where all the American and European expats live. A bit quiet, very modern, and a lot of English around here.

Getting tea


Matcha and red bean, bitches!


They have these all over the world...


...in Paris too, in my old hood, Jardin des Tuileries where I used to run, and enjoy the sun. (Looks better in Roppongi, IMO)


From the big ex-pat mall




Decided to hit up a curry udon place in the mall.




Delicious curry udon with a side of shrimp


It hit the spot.