Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Rome - To Eat ABBA Contribution 24March2015 Frankie Tan (Pizzeria Da Baffetto, Frigidarium)

Italy, Rome - To Stay
Italy, Rome - To Do
Italy, Rome - To Eat 
Rome - To Eat
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 Pizzeria Da Baffetto
 
 
A small pizzeria run very old fashioned way with "not too great service" but excellent pizzas made by a skillful master using real wood oven.
It is touted as the Best Pizzas in Roma place. I witnessed tourist as well as locals patronizing. Always full. Go off peak hours to escape queues. Pizzas ranged from 7€ to 12€. This place is only a 5 min walk from Piazza Navona. I recommend you to visit the Pantheon at noon. Thereafter walk and visit the Piazza Navona prior to selling for a late lunch after 1330H at this place.
Click here for ABBA location of Pizzeria Da Baffetto, Via del Governo Vecchio, Rome, Italy

Frigidarium

 
After a Pizza lunch, visit this gelato place right next door with delicious dessert. Range 2-4euros. Excellent and strongly recommended.
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Monday, March 16, 2015

Mile High Shots - HND 15March2015



HND
15March2015
Fuji-san seen below clouds
 and Fuji San seen above clouds
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Japan - Haneda To Eat 14Mar2015(Ichiran Ramen, Nakajima)

Haneda - To Stay
Haneda - To Do
Haneda - To Eat 
Japan - To Buy
Haneda - To Eat 
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Ichiran Ramen open 24hrs
(Sakura Gicho station branch,
located 1.4km from Yokohama Grand Hotel)
 *pictured left are your private booths with option to open divider to chat with your friend. Pictured on the Right is where the noodles are churned up and delivered to your booth*
*Pre purchase your order then proceed to a booth*
*A display shows seat availability*
 *Your custom order sheet which they have in English*

Getting There
Located at South 2B exit of Sakura Gicho Subway, Ichiran stands prominently as you exit, unmissable.

Finally after so long, and having reading other crew reviews, am finally having the opportunity to try the ramen. It doesn't disappoint! As advertised, everything is fully customizable, as seen from the menu. Hugely popular with the crew and even a craving for some.

Ichiran's philosophy is that Ramen is best enjoyed in isolation and in private, hence the separated booths for private dining. A truly intimate experience between diner and
Ramen.
Not going to Japan anytime soon? There's a 24hr branch located in Hong Kong causeway bay as well Click here for details on location!
Ordered on:
14March2015
Standard Ichiran Ramen with additional soft egg.
Noodles ¥790
Egg ¥120
What I feel really sets Ichiran apart from other ramen joints is their amazing broth. It's not your typical, sometimes oil heavy, pork soup base that over powers everything else. There's almost a subtle, gentle hints of bonito and spring onion extracts picked up in this multilayer-ed flavored soup. I could be wrong of what some of the thousands of ingredients that goes it, but really the soup is the real star, setting itself apart from so many other ramen joints.
*How every ramen meal should be*
The ramen itself is somewhat a cross between al dente spaghetti and springy wanton noodles. A high-breed of the two, to deliver this amazing, springy noodles that many have had as an add-on dish.
The egg pretty much to standard in Japan and a perfect soft interior.

Ichiran, is an assured chain where when in doubt when out in the jungle of Ramen stores grabbing for your attention.

Nakajima
1Michelin StarOpens from 1130am

From online searches, it is said to be second cheapest Michelin stared restaurant after Tim Ho Wan (Sham Sui Po Hong Kong), Nakajima offers Kansai-style fish dishes for a mere 800 yen.
Getting There:
Exit from Shinjuku Santcome Exit 9 is the nearest to location.

In this basement, in an unassuming corner, hides a Michelin star Restaurant. Already arriving on site at 1110am there was a queue as pictured and in and instant the place was filled up.

There are only four menu items on the menu, all of which consisting of sardines done
every which way. I asked for the recommendation and was directed the sashimi.
Ordered On: 
(08June2016 ABBA Contribution by Hendri)
Ordered sashimi meal (800 yen) + yanagawanabe side dish (700 yen). Rice seems to be free flow, I added one more bowl but no extra charge
"The yanagawanabe (fried with eggs and green onion) is awesome!" - H.B
Ordered On:
14March2015
¥800 Sardine Sashimi ¥600 for just the main and
¥200 comes with rice and soup.
 
Who would have thought sardines could be done sashimi style. More like a caparcio really. Briefly and lightly pickled in vinegar, served together with a wedge of lemon,grated young ginger and a balance mix of sesame seeds and chives.
Overall, it was quite pleasant but the constant tiny bones, gave a somewhat irritating and disconcerting feeling of sharp bone going down the gullet. I didn't think too much of the sardines served but am also no expert in its preparation. However, It was still a delight  watching the chef prepare patron's servings. Looking around, the sashimi and fried sardine with bento sauce with egg dishes were the most sought after.

Perhaps the refined pallet could better appreciate the star, undeniably earned by this tiny restaurant for its sardine dishes.
The fried variant looked really good as I watched the chef behind, taking care in frying it in a cast iron skillet. Very tempting. The long queue of locals and foreigners that follow after my meal are a testament to its success/popularity.
*The line after my quick meal*

For your exploration of the second cheapest Michelin stared restaurant in the world! I'll probably go back to try the other Sardine Dishes.
ABBATip:
- Go there early. 1110am was a good time to just be early in the queue and beat the crowd. At least you can get your order in before the place gets packed!
Click here for ABBA location of Nakajima, located 新宿割烹 中嶋 Nichihara Bldg. B1, 3-32-5 Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan
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Haneda - To Eat (Sushi Zanmai Open 24hrs, Roppongi Hill Starbucks , Jiro.Jr, Ah Jia Ya Shibuya Branch)

Haneda - To Stay
Haneda - To Do
Haneda - To Eat 
Japan - To Buy
Haneda - To Eat 
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Sushizanmai
 
Sushizanmai Open 24hrs. The individual pictured is a known celebrity and interviewed many times over in Tsukiji for the fish he sells. He has since opened many chains in Japan with another branch found in Shibuya.
ABBATips on eating sushi from a local!
- Having too much soy sauce in your saucer is deemed insulting to the chef.
- The head sushi chef is often positioned closest to the main entrance.
- Wasabi is meant to open the sensory passage to enhance the taste and appreciation of the fish. Only a little is needed.
- When ordering fish, you start with the white meats first before progressing to the red meats.
- People tend to finish off a meal with Tamago (egg) as a dessert.
- To enjoy sushi, one should dip sushi a little soy sauce, (fish side down) and the fish portion first to meet the pallet.
- The fish tank behind is not for show. Its to fish out the specific fish, when counter supply runs low, ensuring the freshest fish used for sushi. 

Sushuzanmai Shibuya Branch
(Locaed 600m from Shibuya Station)
 *Good soup but the preference still goes to the clam version*
Staff allow for half portions which is always a welcome.
400Yenn. Dressing not over powering and a respectable serve of sashimi. 
 A re-order from a previous visit. Really good.
Batter is light and buttery, encasing juicy squid tentacles inside.


Sushuzanmai Roppongi Branch
(Located 450m from Roppongi Station)
ABBA Recommendation by Yuko
01Sep2014
 
Sushizanmai Open 24hrs. The individual pictured is a known celebrity and interviewed many times over in Tsukiji for the fish he sells. He has since opened many chains in Japan with another branch found in Shibuya.
 
 Ordered at Sushizanmai, Roppongi Branch On
01Sep2014
Complimentary Appetizer with order of Beer
 *Pictured Left Sweet raw prawn, with the head deep fried in Tempura batter. Its like two dishes in one! Pictured Center, Yuko with bowl of, succulent, juicy clams in an amazing soup broth. Pictured Right, the light battered squid. Succulent and fried beautifully, accented with salt served at the side.*

*The eel sushi looks so much larger in Yuko's hand beside. Everyone gets one! Tender and accented with their sweet yakitori sauce. Amazing stuff.*
Total ¥ 16,251
Fed very well 3 happy individuals.
Cheap, good and fresh! We must have ordered almost half the menu on the sushi page alone! Great value, flavors throughout and learning so much more about the proper way to eat Sushi whilst in Japan.

Starbucks at Roppongi Hills
Open 24hrs
(600m from Roppongi Hill train station)
This must be the coolest Starbucks location that I've ever been too. Similar to what boarders used to be in the the day, but better ten fold. Loads of books with very cool products and motoring dioramas spread throughout the place.

A great place to hang, with free wifi and open 24hrs to boot.


Jiro 
(Roppongi Hills Branch)
*Hopes to review*
This is the second branch opened by Jiro's son. Price point wise it is slightly cheaper and some people prefer this location. It offers a more relaxed environment as compared to eating at the father's joint, whom may seem very stern and intimidating whilst eating counter side.
The restaurant is a direct copy of the original and has a very small seating capacity. Advanced booking is definately required, but a meal at the master's restuaruant would require at least 3months advance booking.
Click here for ABBA location of Jiro Roppongi Hills 6-12-2 Roppongi | Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka-dori 3F, Minato, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan 

Ah Jia Ya Shibuya Branch 
(Located 350m from Shibuya station)
02Sep2014
English menu is available. Staff would still require you to make the purchase through the ticketing machine and are on hand to help. Traditional Hokkaido Ramen available in Tokyo! 
Ordered:
01Sep2014
Standard Pork Miso Soup
Frank ,"Taste comparable to the chain crew go to in Fukuoka." *Broth is full flavoured. Although there's only two pieces of tender pork, the soup isn't too heavy, and the fresh chives and blenched bean sprouts bring the whole dish together. The additional order of egg, en-capsules a gooey, delectable, orange center. Their noodles perhaps similar to potato noodles served in Korea was bouncy and starchy.*
Approx ¥920 Each
with additional order of egg.
Click here for ABBA location of  Ah Jia Ya Shibuya Branch, 2 Chome-29-22 Dōgenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to, Japan

First Kichen
(Chained Fast Food)
Survival food, with no beef burgers to be found. There is an english menu available on hand as well.
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