Unforgettable Hakone
Hakone is a quite a popular destination with tourists in Japan due to its vicinity to Mt. Fuji and its lakes. In fact, the place we stayed in is a typical onsen that faces a lake and the mountain. But before we got to the ryokan, we made a few stops at typical touristy attractions along the way.
Lake Ashi, or Ashinoko (???) is one of the lakes around Mt. Fuji and a scenic cruise was part of the itinerary. The “cruise” was barely ten minutes long but the view was breathtaking.
We had bento lunch with chicken and udon around Lake Ashi. Tender chicken with stir fried cabbage and carrots was a good accompaniment to the fluffy rice. I have always loved the Japanese short grain rice. The fried fish was a tad cold but the hot udon warmed me up.
Another stop that we made was at Owakudani, which is famous for its kuro-tamago, or black eggs. Word has it that eating one can prolong one’s life by 7 years! Apart from the black coloured shell (due to the sulphur from the soil), it tasted no different than your regular hard boiled egg. Apart from the eggs, there are other snacks such as buns, fried fish cake etc being sold here.
We arrived at the ryokan in the evening and settled down in our rooms. During the day, the mattresses are rolled and kept away and at night, spread out for the guests. I love how the rooms were almost like a studio suite by itself, with a small seating area, complete with fridge and washing basin, and the room had tatami mats, dining table and chairs, telly etc.
Another must-do in Hakone is of course to try the onsen. In fact most ryokans here will have their own hot spring facilities. Ours was located indoors on the top floor, with a gorgeous view of Mt.Fuji during the day.
Usually dinner is served in your room at the ryokan. However we were a bigger group so we got a function room to ourselves. Dinner was also in the bento form, with many small dishes. We had a small hot pot with flat noodles and some vegetables, grilled fish, seaweed salad, squid, chawanmushi, tempura and sweets in the form of jelly and melon slice.
What’s a trip to Japan without having sashimi right? But as it was not included in our meal, it was an additional 11,000, which sounded a tad expensive initially. However our sashimi boat was fairly big and could feed 4pax, and had 12 types of fresh, raw seafood such as lobster, salmon, tuna, scallop, sea urchin, sweet prawn, prawn, squid, octopus etc. Very fresh and sweet, sashimi’s indeed not to be missed in Japan.
After our good meal, some telly, a dip into the hot spring, we had a good night’s sleep and awoke to…
this view of Mt.Fuji from our room window the next morning. It was particularly refreshing walking by the lake in the crisp morning air.
We had another simple Japanese breakfast before we set off. Rice with miso soup, grilled salmon, tamago, yasai salad and another green salad.
It was quite lovely taking this break at Hakone as one can experience all the Japanese culture we’ve come to know with the tatami sleeping arrangements, hot spring and food.
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Happy Holidays
Hope you are enjoying the holidays with friends, family, and mugs of spiked egg nog
xoxo
Mary
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Hon Kee Famous Porridge @ Petaling Street, KL
It’s been more than a year since I visited Hon Kee ???? for their famous porridge. How time flies. I remembered my first time eating there. SL brought me there for breakfast on the day I traveled back to Penang for my new job. Now, I am back to Cyberjaya and it’s my turn to [...]
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The Pink Sage Diner And Pantry @ Jalan Dang Wangi, KL
I remembered blog hopping one day and stumbled upon epicuriousgirl’s dining experience in a diner and pantry called The Pink Sage at Dang Wangi. The images of the hearty breakfast stuck in my head ever since, because it looked just too good.
And much to my delight Shaun Chan, one of the three partners of The [...]
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vkeong’s Taiwan Trip Day 2 – CKS Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple & Taipei 101
Continued from Day 1 of my Taiwan trip. We decided to skip the free breakfast provided by our hostel because I have made it a point to try the Taiwanese traditional breakfast.
I guess because it’s a different culture, most Taiwanese do not have their breakfast in the food shops. Instead, they take away the prepacked [...]
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Graze T
I love brunch. Having breakfast food in an al fresco setting, with natural lighting and warmth, glass of chilled white wine, good friends with endless chat and no busy schedule to follow, would be most brilliant and make me a very happy girl.
Recently, I went to Graze for brunch. The restaurant, set in a colonial bungalow house, made me feel like I was invited to someone’s house – cosy and comfortable. Besides, the service was good and nothing to complain about. Definitely a place to return again and again.
Graze
4 Rochester Park
Tel: 6775-9000
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Yountville – The French Laundry
As you know, God is amazing. If you want something bad enough, he will give it to you. That was how I got to have a grand meal at The French Laundry anyway. Leading up to the dinner, I was just really excited, like a teenager going on her first date.
The food was excellent. Most of them I had read so much about, seen so many pictures on other blogs and reviews, that it actually felt so surreal when I saw them presented in front of me. The service was professional yet very warm and friendly. I loved the whole experience and it was nothing short of memorable.
airy and gone in 3 seconds
salmon conets
cute mini cones crunchy and savoury. perfect complement to the smokey salmon.
oysters and caviar
If I had to choose (reluctantly), this would be my favourite dish. generous amounts of caviar only to be eaten with a mother of pearl spoon of course, paired with the freshest little oysters and a thick, rich, custard. it was orgasmic.
Somewhat like a blend between bread and brioche. nonetheless very good and very addictive. no additional butter was required but then I needed something to spread the Vermont Butter and Local Californian butter with.
sweet navel orange wedges and fresh greens that were very flavourful despite the lack of dressing or sauces.
the scallops were raw and sweet and the cream sauce went well with them. the vegetables were again, very fresh and tasty.
beautiful dish. the lobster really was fresh and not overcooked. i loved the morels.
wolfe ranch white quail
that my friends had and claimed was the most tender.
very tender and went well with the cauliflower puree, which was suprisingly the thing that binded the dish together.
the beef looked so good doesn’t it?
the pastry crust could have been ‘puffier’. compared to the beef, this was not quite visually appetising so perhaps that was why i didn’t think much of this course.
pickled red endive, medjool dates, pistachios and black truffle
the sheep’s milk cheese was not so strong in smell and had a firmness of gelatine. you experience different tastes when you pair the cheese with the different condiments. it was good but i had enough after two pieces.
oatmeal cookie, yogurt sherbet and apricot jam
this dish had the combination that reminded me of breakfast muesli. clever and tasty too.
candied buddha’s hand, lemon snow, biscotti tuile
a very refreshing and light tasting dessert. but was not overly exciting.
shortbread cookies to bring home
became supper for me.
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Curry Mee @ Hoi Yin,Teluk Cempedak, Kuantan
Early in the morning , we headed to Hoi Yin @ around Teluk Cempedak for breakfast which is one of the places where ho chak recommend in their program. Hoi Yin is one of the shop with Ho Chak recommended the curry mee at the nearby shore of Teluk Cempedak
-the shop -
From wat I can see, the business is real good where everyone coming in waiting for sit and they served non- stop. It is hardly you can get a place to sit if you are not fast enough on your legs and eyes is not sharp enough.. so u can imagine how good business is it??
-the stall -
After we get a seat, I din waste any of my time doing wat ? Snapping pictures as well and taking pictures with dear.. since each of every moment of both of us .. we wanna have a photo memories.. together…
-me and dear -
The food can say is not bad.. the soup is not as pedas. as well as not much coconut milk they put.. so can say the curry mee is kinda healthy one lo.. and the taste is not bad.. oishi
-the curry mee -
Overall the taste is kinda good. Wat we rate:
Taste: 3/5
Price: RM 3.50
Posted By : StrawberrY Gal
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San Francisco – Maverick
I caught up with one of my college friends over brunch at Maverick’s. This restaurant is located at a more suburban area of SF called Missions and honestly, I would not go a foot near that place unless it is broad daylight. It is really really dodgy.
The restaurant is tucked in one of the smaller streets and decked out in cherry oak wood that felt very welcoming and casual. The almost full-length windows open up to the sidewalk and on a Sunday, it felt very relaxed and chill. Recommended for brunch! The restaurant serves proper food for lunch and dinner but I didn’t get to try. Anyways, the brunch menu is not very complex but the staples of brunch are there.
I got a crab and creamy spinach benedict that was simple but soooo satisfying! A lot of fresh picked crab, perfectly poached eggs, thick toasts. Yums. Of course, I had to throw in a pomegranate bellini as well, to make the brunch just that bit extra special and indulgent.
Did I say yums?
Maverick
3316 17th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
T:415.863.3061
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Apom @ 1997 Coffeeshop, Paya Terubong, Penang
Apom is another famous food in Penang and its mainly sold by the Indian community around teh streets and its claims as Apom Balik or Apom Manis.
Is kinda hard to fnd Apom stall at night since this is mostly sold during the day and is served during breakfast as is light ..
Apom is generally make of floor and eggs plus a bit of sugar. This stall Apom is kinda nice as it is not that sweet as well as is tender.. overall is not bad and delicious as well as is reasonable price
Taste: 3/5
Price: 5 for RM2
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