Bangkok - Tokyo XXX

Dear Fork,

4 dipping sauces for your meat

Where can we find good meat in Bangkok? Oh so many. Bangkok has always been in the picture for its food scene. The vibrant diversity has so many things to offer, and I'm so glad to be here. Japanese, Korean, Indian, Mediterranean, you name it, we've got it all. Since the craving for the meat is (always) so high....so, BBQ it is!

Well, today I made it to this hidden gem called Tokyo XXX in Nihonmachi community mall in Sukhumvit 26. Located right next to the Japanese bakery, hiding behind its small wooden sliding door. Be sure to bend over while walking in, mind your head, it's real low! LOL. Due to their limited space, they only have 4 tables, so be sure to make the reservation ahead, especially for the dinner time. 

Selected Premium set TOKYOXXX

You are then welcomed with the same ole' Japanese vibe. The table is set with four kinds of dipping sauces, soy sauce with wasabi, 2 kinds of sweet Japanese sauce, salt oil. The Japanese waiter then put the fine-grained salt on our grill, good with the grilled meat. 

The waiter recommended to get the Selected Premium TOKYOXXX set. At great value, it comes with variety of quality A5 Wagyu beef from Ichibo, Tougarashi, Rump, Nakabara, Harami (beef intestine), Marucho and assorted veggies. My goodness, I'm getting hungry again. XD The combination was amazing. I loved the Harami, been loving it and will always love it. The marinade is great, not too sweet or overpowering.

Oh, the beef tongue was also delicious! It served with lemon sauce.

Beef Tongue

Tenkaichi Karubi

Here comes the climax of my meal. LOOK AT THAT MEAT!!!!!!!!!! Must try, Tenkaichi Karubi (Chuck Rib), fatty meat that melts in your mouth, UHMAZING!!! Beautiful marbled meat topped with gold flake. Be sure to take care of your meat, don't overcook or burn it! This kind of meat, people usually slightly cook it for 3-5 secs on each side. Nomm.

Order some assorted kimchi on the side, and they were really good too! 

I would give this restaurant 5/5! What do you think? 

TOKYOXXX - Nihonmachi Mall
Address: 115 Sukhumvit 26 Khwaeng Khlong Tan, Khet Khlong Toei, Bangkok, 10110
Business Hours: Everyday 5PM - 1AM
Tel: 082-337-0141
Price: ฿฿฿฿
Parking: YES
 

 

Bangkok - Hom Duan

Dear Fork, 

It's been a while! I'm now on the other side of the globe since my last update. Back in Bangkok for good after almost a decade and yes, I'm so ready to try everything. There are so many new restos and wow, how can I keep up!? :D

Well, today let me tell you about this used-to-be a hole in the wall spot for Northern Thai food, called Hom Duan. The name of the restaurant means mint leaf which has the herbal scent to the characteristic of Northern Thai food.  Located in Ekamai, just a few minutes walk from the BTS skytrain. It became so popular, they relocated to a bigger space. This place was packed for during lunch because of its good food and affordable price, but it runs like a canteen-style restaurant, so the service turned very quickly.

I managed to get pretty much all of the essential/popular Northern Thai dishes. Look at all these yummy looking dishes, so goooooood. From Gaeng Hunglay (Northern style pork curry), Nam Prik Noom (Thai green chilli dip), Nam Pad Kai (Pan-fried fermented pork with egg), Sai oua (Northern Thai sausage), and Kao Gun Jin (Pork and pork blood rice) etc. 

Nam Pad Kai

I loved the Nam Pad Kai. It was just perfect with rice. Sour and spicy fermented pork combined with the sweet flavor of the sauce and egg makes this dish so flavorful.

Khao soi Gai

First thing that comes to mind thinking of the Northern Thai food...Khao Soi Gai - Egg noodle Curry with chicken topped with deep fried egg noodle for the crispy texture. Kao soy curry tastes like yellow curry but not as thick. Squeeze in some lime and mix in the onion and you're good to go! *Slurp!

Gun Jin

It was my first time trying the Gun Jin, and woah, this thing was delicious! It's jasmine rice mixed with lemon grass and pork blood, wrapped in banana leaf, then steamed before serving. Imagine eating fried rice, it's simply just like that! Then the fun begins, unwrap, and mix the fried garlic, dried chilli, lime and onion, and voila! #yummy

Sai Oua

Always good to have some Sai Oua and Nam Prik Noom whenever I get the Northern food. The herbal sausage goes so well with the chilli dip. Nam Prik Noom is one of the staple Northern dishes. It serves with pork rind and cucumber to dip with. 

Kanom Jeen Nam Ngieo

One of the most recommended dishes here is their Kanom Jeen Nam Ngieo. This herbal soupy menu is so comforting. It has pork, pork blood with vermicelli, topped with clilantro. The soup is lightly flavored with tomato, and Nam ngiao paste, just heavenly. 

This restaurant is highly recommended for those who crave for Northern Thai food. The price is very reasonable, especially for it being in one of the most expensive locations in Bangkok. I'd give it 4/5 for Hom Duan! The parking is maybe a little hard to find during peak hours but, there's Parklane community mall on the opposite side of the street, where you can park. 

Hom Duan 
Address: 70/2 Soi Ekkamai, Sukhumvit 63, Klong Tan Nuea, Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Business Hours: Mon - Sat 9.00am - 10.00pm
Tel. 086-347-8747

 

San Francisco: Kusakabe

9/24/2015

Dear Fork,

My food experience today was magnificent, yet it was a day without you. Thus, it was an incredible day that I would love to share with you. I went to KUSAKABE, a year old Japanese restaurant in San Francisco with its honor holding a one-star Michelin. The owner/chef, Mitsunori Kasukabe has years of experiences from Kyoto, Japan to Nobu New York and Miami, to Sushi Ran. With his professional creativity, he has received many awards from all over including US Sushi Technical Champion.

Nori-san doing what he does best, creating an excellent quality food for us.

A glass of champagne to start off my meal. 

I went in at 5pm for the first round of omakase (Chef's choice). Kusakabe offers sushi in a Kaiseki style menu, which is a multi-course menu $95, including the interesting Omakase selections of the following: 

• Welcoming Tea - Konbu cha, kelp tea which which give the salty taste, to clean your palate. Interesting!
• Sushi Prelude - Zuke Chutoro (lightly seared bluefin medium fatty tuna cured in soy sauce, the first delicious bite. Plus, two kinds of seasonal sushi of the day.

Zuke Chutoro, melt in your mouth. 

Hirame - Konbu cured Halibut.

Bonito

• Sashimi - Chef's sashimi nestled in shaved ice with fresh wasabi & yuzu onion sauce. It was Tasmanian ocean trout and Hotate (scallop) today. So fresh and cold, amazing!

Tasmanian Ocean Trout and Scallop served on ice. SO FRESH!

• Soup - Suppon umami soup with Domyo-ji Manjyu (rice cake). Suppon = Soft shell turtle. It was my first time having turtle..woah! I'm normally not a soup person, but this Suppon Soup was so tasty. Flavorful soup with rice cake topped with flakes and goji berry. 

Suppon Umami Soup with Domyo-ji Manjyu.

• Hassun - Chef's assorted Les petit plats, four small bites of goodness! This course includes Young Sardine, Egg omelette, Washington oyster with French Daurenki Caviar, Toro topped with seaweed and pine nuts, and Eggplant Spring roll. My favorites were the oyster and toro... YUMMY!

Oyster + Caviar, Toro and spring rolls. DELICIOUSNESS.

One after another, I just couldn't get enough of these heavenly delicious bites! NEXT:

• Warm Dish - Crispy Chi-Ayu with Italian summer truffle & bamboo charcoal miso. This plate was really interesting. The black colored bamboo charcoal miso was light yet perfectly flavored, along with sweetness and crispiness of the baby Ayu, which you can eat everything from head to tail. It served with Shishito pepper, watermelon, mini lime and the marvelous pieces of truffle.

Crispy Chi-Ayu with truffle and bamboo charcoal miso. #yum

How about some more sushi! I loved omakase so much because it's a never ending meal. I wouldn't mind doing this everyday. :p #sushilover

• Sushi Chic - Three kinds of seasonal sushi of the day. Chefs at Kusakabe are so talented, every sushi were created professionally, giving such an impeccable taste.

Shimaaji - Stripe jack

Ayu 

Copper River King Salmon

Here comes the most exciting part, the finale, where you get to choose! Oh, let me tell you it's harder than you think...

• Sushi Finale - Toro (blufin fatty tuna) or Grade A5 Miyazaki Wagyu beef... Hey, no pressure but... YOU MUST MUST MUST GET THEM BOTH! They were extremely worth getting and oh so incredible that it's hard to describe in words. It's $12 extra if you choose to get both. These two pieces were the best. The true melt-in-your-mouth feeling was brilliant.

Chef Shinsuke-san, blow-torching our A5 Wagyu.

Beautiful toro (bluefin fatty tuna), melt my heart. #meltinmymouth + #meltinmyheart

Look at this beauty! A5 Miyazaki Wagyu strip loin  beef, the best of the best.

Aside of the omakase, I had to get something a little extra AKA my favorite, to end our amazingly perfect sushi night. Bafun Uni - It is Hokkaido short spine sea urchin, soft, sweet and also melt-in-my-mouth! :D

Bafun uni (Hokkaido uni)

Fresh corn and white miso ice cream parfait.

Ended our night with an amazing dessert for my birthday with this cute Fresh corn and white miso ice cream parfait. Must try! It's Chef Shinsuke-san's recommendation. It was very refreshing. Lightly sweet corn/white miso ice cream topped with cornflakes and fruits. nom.

Thank you for a memorable night, Kusakabe. See you again very soon!

Fork, I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. Till next time...

Love, 
Spoon

---

Tips:

• Reservation is needed at least 1-2 week in advance (in case you are very lucky!). Weekends reservation are booked up for weeks ahead.
• Dress Code: Business Casual
• Use your hand to eat sushi, trust me. :)
• It takes roughly about 1hr 30m - 2h 30m, so plan accordingly.
• Last seating is at 8.30pm
• You will love it. :D Just saying.

KUSAKABE: Opens MON-SAT 5pm-10pm | 584 Washington St. San Francisco, CA 94111

Reno: Heritage

9/19/2015

Dear Fork,

Are you enjoying our mini road trip together? I'm having a blast! It's a little weekend getaway to Reno, NV for some casino fun and of course, food hunting. Checked in at the Eldorado Reno Hotel. How about we start it off with a weekend brunch?

Inside of the Heritage. Here is our section of the restaurant. 

We stopped by the Heritage at Whitney Peak Hotel. What a nice restaurant, with modern decor, huge with high ceiling. The waiting area is super cute with 2 hammock-like chairs hanging from the ceiling on each sides. 

Waiting area. 

This chair is comfy! Can I be here all day? :p

Another dining area at the Heritage.

Fried Mac & Cheese.

Oh! Their Happy Hour menu is a steal. So many things to choose from with the price ranging from $3-$8. We started off with Fried Mac and Cheese ($5). It features green chile mac and cheese croquette, served on top of charred onion salsa. Nom.

This was my favorite! It was also on the Happy Hour menu, called Everything Bagel Dog. It was simply a hot dog but with an extra love. All-beef frank with cream cheese smear, everything bagel season on a French roll for $5! If I had more space in my tummy, I would love to try everything on this menu...Seriously. LOL

White Trash Croque Monsieur.

What's brunch without egg and cheese? I decided to go with the White Trash Croque Monsieur. What a name! It's a Grilled cheese, filled with egg in the hole, served with chorizo gravy and delicious crispy potatoes. YES! You know how I love 'em crispy.

Fork, thank you for sharing this wonderful weekend getaway together. It was delicious!

Love, 

Spoon.

San Francisco: Marlowe Burger

Dear Fork,

It was lovely to see you. Let me tell you how I met you. Today I went to Marlowe for the weekend brunch. It was my second time here, though it was at the new location (500 Brannan St. San Francisco CA). The brown and white theme always got me. The natural light that beamed in through the large glass window was just beautiful. The bathroom that has cows all over the place, that black and white napkin. #style

I have always wanted to try their dinner, especially their Bone Marrow, but oh dear, I keep forgetting that they don't serve certain thing for brunch/lunch! Bummer. 

So, according to many sources and sites, Marlowe's burger is one of the best burgers in San Francisco. Fork, why not!? 

Warm Deviled Eggs

Oh! Before I go to the burger, you must get their Warm Deviled Egg - topped with aged provolone, pickled jalapeño and crispy bacon for $2.5 a piece. This was heavenly, flavors burst in your mouth kinda egg that you shouldn't miss.

Okay, Fork, are you ready for the climax? Here comes the burger....

Marlowe Burger

Don't be surprised of the half-cut of the Marlowe Burger, you know I can never finish one whole burger, I had to share. LOL This burger is not only yummy looking, but it's filled with goodness. It features caramelized onions, cheddar, bacon and horseradish aioli. Served with crispy french fries, you know I hate them soggy. The horseradish aioli is such a great dip along with the basic, ketchup of course. The beef patty was so juicy. Get it medium rare and you will thank me. 

Burrata Tartine

Another great dish for brunch I got was the Burrata Tartine. An open-faced sandwich of grilled Levain bread topped with burrata, candied bacon, chicories and balsamic. The bacon is like Millionaire's bacon, thick-cut, sweet-glazed... NOM!

It was great to see you, Fork, though, I did not get to talk to you as much at this restaurant, but next maybe?

Love,

Spoon