If you are hankering for some Italian culinary magic in Tokyo, you could do a lot worse than Appia Alta at Nishi Azabu. When our waitress pushed the bountiful appetizer cart over to our table, I resisted the temptation to order everything on display. Here is a selection of what my party of four had.
The Spanish word ‘tapas’, is loosely translated into English as ‘lid’. Legend has it that the term was coined when the parched King Alfonso XIII visited the coastal city of Cádiz. The gusting winds were moving so much sand in the air that a waiter had to cover the royal chalice with a slice of cured ham, acting as an impromptu lid. Whatever its origin, tapas is now enjoyed by foodies (thankfully without the tiny granules of sand) from all walks of life.
Squinting through the wet, side window of the Miyako Taxi, I could just about see the bamboo clad façade of Jiki Miyasawa as we crawled to a stop. I quickly handed over the correct mix of metal and paper yen and made a beeline for the well-known Kappo restaurant. I was 20 minutes late for my lunch appointment!
My wife V, who’s almost as greedy as I am, loves dining at private kitchen dining concepts. Of course, I’m always delighted to discover them with her. Liberty Private Works in Hong Kong ups the ante by offering modern counter seating and a commanding view of the Central district. And the food was so artfully done and beautifully delicious. Enjoy.
“Otsukaresama desu”, belted out our taxi driver as he pulled to a gentle stop in front of an old double-storey Japanese house. Save for the fluttering Tempura Matsu banner, you would be hard pressed to spot the family-owned restaurant in Kyoto’s Arashimaya area.