Testa-Coda Italian in Shinjuku

When our family is looking for convenience, Excellent Choices from antipasti to dolce and good service at a reasonable price we visit the testa-coda restaurant. The restaurant is well designed to give a modern and spacious feeling even when every table is full.




Location: Shinjuku Station: 6th Floor Lumine Building 1 (Phone: 03-5909-1931)


We optioned for the Dinner Set and feel it offers best value. Two set courses were more than enough for my wife, 9 year old daughter and myself. Our favorite item for the evening was a sautéed pork entre served with a gorgonzola sauce. It edged out a lovely roast duck, spicy Penne All’arabbiata, and a seafood pasta combination. (No complaints; we’d order all these items again.) The Penne is our family’s restaurant acid test. My daughter refuses to eat pasta that isn’t al dente. (Let’s pray for the young man that one day takes her to the “macaroni grill” on a first date.)


















The anti-pasta weren’t bad. A tempura like “fritto misto” was well received and as usual my daughter loved her Prosciutto (Parma-Ham). The Bagna Calda (Italian hot anchovy garlic dip for vegetables) was passable as were the yogurt sherbet and tiramisu we shared at dessert. The wine list has several nice options at varying price levels. We selected a 2006 Barolo and were not disappointed. It was our third trip to the testa-coda and we’ve enjoyed quick and energetic service each visit. The atmosphere is more enthusiastic than professional and some nuisances such as wine etiquette seem to have been lost. This didn’t stop us from enjoying the evening. We’ll visit the testa-coda again. Hopefully soon.








Testa-Coda http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g030049/map/


Japanese only with coupon - print this page out to get the complimentary offering below:


1) One complimentary drink with course menu, or　2) 1 complimentary bottle of wine with 4 people’s ordering 3800 yen course each.

Don’t miss a meal when you visit Hamburg

 

Last week we were treated to three Excellent Restaurant Experiences in the February Cold and Beautiful City of Hamburg, Germany.  All the establishments offered sensational scenery, creative décor, extensive menus/wine lists and first rate service.  Hamburg is built around two lakes, the inner and outer Alster, & lines up against the very busy and scenic River Elbe. Hundreds of canals run thru Hamburg creating the necessary infrastructure of bridges. (Hamburg has more bridges than Venice.)  The City is known for its greenery in spring and summer but this winter it was covered in snow.

The FISHclub

The FISHclub offers you tables facing Bay Windows that allow views of huge Cargo, Cruise and Sailing Vessels.  The frosty weather made our dinner especially picturesque as thousands of little icebergs floated down the Elbe from the North Sea and ground up against the nearby dock.  You can reach the FISHclub by Ferry Boat starting near “Speicherstadt” the former Brick Warehouse Area near the River. (It’s now home to tourist attractions including the world famous “Minatur-Wunderland’ and ‘Hamburg Dungeon.”)  We drove to the Wittenbergen (White Hills) Restaurant Location and admired the beautiful large homes originally founded by Sea Captains stationed in Hamburg. Three of us shared a mixed grill of local catches and a rump steak.  Nothing was left on our plates.  

www.restaurant-fischclub.de

 

The Fischereihafen

The Fischereihafen Restaurant is located just outside the huge Hamburg Fish Market and has been run by one family for over 60 years.  This restaurant’s view of the Elbe and the impressive “Dockland” Office Building resembling a huge glass ship make a cocktail at the Oyster Bar a must if you don’t have time to dine .  Meals at the Fischereihafen are exquisite. I sampled the lobster bisque while my colleagues favored the popular Hamburg smoked eel soup.  The menu included something  for anyone who loves seafood.  My pouched sole was served with a light safarin based sauce delicious. Especially matched to a crisp glass of Riesling.  Caveat: you’ll enjoy everything from start to the highly recommended Tiramisu but might suffer sticker shock when the check is politely dropped at your table.

www.fischereihafenrestaurant.de

Die Bank

If the raw beauty of the partially frozen Elbe River was dynamically impressive at the FISHclub and the stately views of modern architecture enhance  the charms of the Fischereihafen Restaurant, the “Die Bank” has the best sense of humor.  The popular Dining Venue is built in a large retired bank building in Central Hamburg. An old vault is used as a cloak room, pictures of famous American Bank Robbers grace the walls and modern art is strategically placed around the room.  We all selected the “Wild German Venison” and were not disappointed by this course.  We preceded the Venison with a selection of appetizers prepared upon special request.  Everyone finished the evening with a satisfied smile.

www.diebank-brasserie.de

 

My wife, daughter & I left for a vacation in Spain the day after work & school finished.  Our preparation consisted of booking flights, hotels and rent-a-cars.  Standard stuff for the seasoned traveler.
 

What we didn’t do was research places of interest, cultural specifics such as dining, language or common manners.  Our saving grace was the purchase of a couple of travel guide books including the Lonely Planet. (We read them on the plane.)  Add a little positive energy to these powerful travel digests and you’ve got a great holiday. 

Lonely Planet Travel Guides and Travel Information   http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

Everything we enjoyed in Spain is well documented in travel books and on the Web. If you’re going for the first time you might review the following list of “no brainers” and compare them to your sources.  These are our favorites:

-1-The Beautiful City of Caragena: Walking the Port, Roman Ruins and finishing with Lunch in the main square of Cartagena.   The warm January morning was perfect for a stroll along the Port, thru the town full of “rich Modernista Buildings” and finishing with lunch outside in the main square.  We loved the restored Roman Theatre, dating back to the 2^nd Century AD.  Caveat: plenty of stairs to walk but worth it for the views.

Cartagena Roman Theatre Museum

http://www.spain.info/en/conoce/museo/murcia/museo_del_teatro_romano_de_cartagena.html

-2-The Restaurant Cuines Santa Caterina in Barcelona:  The venue has a choice of a nice Tapas Bar or table seating.  Menus come in English and their simple matrix style allows for selections free of misunderstanding and stress.  Everything ordered was delicious and came quickly.  The recommended house wine was reasonably priced and suited the occasion very well. Our favorites were the Sea Food Paella, the Calamari with Vegetables and a Lamb Roast that cut with a fork. 

Cuines Santa Caterina  http://www.grupotragaluz.com/rest-cuines.php

-3-The La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.  Everything you read and learn in documentaries can only understate a visit to this incredible Cathedral.  We found the following essential to a comfortable and enjoyable visit:  booking tickets on line to reserve a time to enter the Cathedral Grounds, a trip up to the top of a Tower by Elevator and the thrill of the walk down the tight & steep staircase, and the portable audio-guide that connected the history, science and economics of the Antoni Gaudi’s magical architecture and intricate façade.

Sagrada Familia                           http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/sf-eng/

-4-A Guided Tour of the Museo del Prado in Madrid: our knowledgeable art tour director Maria ran us thru 90 minutes with Goya, Velazquez, El Greco and other European Masters.  She made it understandable and fun for our 9 year old daughter while directing us thru a maze of hallways.  After this education we walked 20 minutes to the “Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia to see Pablo Picasso’s Master Piece; Guernica, 1937. 

Museo Nacional Del Prado        http://www.museodelprado.es/en/

-5-Running along the Beach as the first Sun Rise of 2012 brightens the Mediterranean.  Joggers starting the first morning early are in good company as many people enjoyed finishing their New Year’s Celebration by the Sea Side.  Barcelona is an exciting city by night and the Skyline is beautiful in the morning.

Trattoria ETERNITA in Futako-Tamagawa

The Trattoria Eternita is a quaint restaurant with a friendly atmosphere and a first rate product. It’s conveniently located within 5 minutes walking distance of Futakotamagawa Station. You’ll need to watch carefully for the Italian Flag and Street Sign Board by the entrance on your first visit. You enter the restaurant by descending one flight below street level.





Maestro Igarashi will be more than happy to assist you with menu choices and wine selections. The kitchen is especially good with antipastos and meats. The Set Menus are reasonable offering antipastos, salad, a main course and dessert.
Our favorites are the Vegetable Antipastos, Penne Arrabbiata and Grilled Lamb. The Teramisu complimented with an Expresso never disappoints. We recommend calling in a reservation as the Trattoria is always full on Weekends.


Trattoria ETERNITA

http://www.r-two.jp/shop_map.asp?shopid=1500

The Hakodate Marathon: a Great Reason for a Canadian to Visit Southern Hokkaido

Last Spring we visited my wife’s 94 Year Old Grandmother in Hakodate.  Impressed by the beautiful scenery inclusive of Hakodate Mountain and its famous Million Dollar Night View, the Water Front, interesting shops and fresh seafood we promised to return.  My wife and her relatives in Hakodate decided that it would be especially worthwhile if I entered into the Hakodate Half Marathon.  The Window for entries opens and closes full with 3000 runners in less than a week.  We applied on line on the first possible day and were fortunate to be accepted.

My wife’s Uncle kindly picked up the Race Entry Package before meeting us at Hakodate Airport on the Saturday before the Race. (Hakodate is only a 90 minute flight from the Haneda International Airport in Tokyo.)  This gesture was appreciated as flights booked quickly and we only managed a 17:00 arrival.  The package included a nice program listing all 3000 runners, race numbers with timing chip, and a rain jacket with the Marathon Logo.  (I wore this to the race but morning temperatures were warm enough to warrant short sleeves & we didn’t witness anyone else wearing the give-away the morning of the race. (As if I didn’t already stand out.)

It wasn’t difficult to pick me out of the crowd lining up at Hakodate Stadium. Few runners at the Hakodate Event weighed near my 98 Kilograms nor did they exceed 185 cm in height.  Most Japanese Runners observed the Local Race Rules. (It seemed strange to me that no one else listened to their iPod during the run.) My Wife informed me after the 2 hour stride by the Sea that listening to recording devices was prohibited. 

They also disallowed any other costume than standard running gear.  (We were gratified to witness one A Class Runner dressed in a black cocktail dress and Marilyn Monroe Wig.)  Humor is not lost on everyone at the Hakodate Marathon. 

Most Race Volunteers were helpful, friendlyand water stations were large and strategically located throughout the race.  A nice finishing certificate was offered immediately upon return of the Race Time Chip.  The Hokkaido Newspaper also published race results right down to the final finisher. 

We peppered our short stay in Hakodate with two nice Restaurant Experiences.  The first, a Spanish Tapas Restaurant called the Casa de Norte.  The food was Excellent and service Suspect.  We tried to order dishes made from local seafood and found items made with squid & octopus especially tasty. 

The second venue was a traditional Sukiyaki House with 100 Years of history.  The Asari began as a Beef Distribution Company and evolved into one of the best Sukiyaki Restaurants in Hokkaido.  We were especially pleased to find a 2002 Beringer Knights Valley (Alluvium) on the Menu at a reasonable price. It complimented the Marbled Kyushu Grown Beef perfectly. 

 The Establishment remains a Family Business and traditional customs continue to be observed.  We were seated at a low table placed on tatami mats and the Sukiyaki was prepared in front of us.  I’m not fond of this seating arrangement even without the pre-exhaust from a 22 Kilometer Run.  The beef was great.  The Experience was Painful.

The La Vista Hotel located in Hakodate Bay was a perfect choice for a short weekend stay.  Their Inclusive Breakfast is a full assortment of local seafood served in Buffet Fashion.  Salmon, corn on the cob, fresh potatoes and other fish are cooked over coals and served hot.  Sashima prepared from local catches is offered with rice and proper Japanese Condiments. It was the main choice of most guests we observed in the Buffet Line Up. Common Western Style Breakfast items were also offered. 

The 13^th Floor Spa with open air baths and massage services was worth the Hotels’ Price of Admission. In Late Evening it was especially enjoyable to relax in the individual sized tubs and take in the lighted view of Hakodate.  The La Vista is designed to service Japanese Guests.   Travelers without some Japanese Language capability should be intrepid and patient should they elect to stay for a night or two.  We encourage you to try the La Vista and the City of Hakodate on for size.

Casa de Norte         http://www.hotespa.net/hotels/lahakodate/english_rest.html　

(Inside Hotel  La Vista Hakodate Bay）

Asari (Sukiyaki) http://r.tabelog.com/hokkaido/A0105/A010501/1003362/ (Access Japanese only)

Hotel La Vista Hakodate Bay  http://www.hotespa.net/hotels/lahakodate/english_room.html

Les Cristallines (Cuisine Francaise) in Omote Sando: A Can’t Miss for an Impressive Lunch

One of the best value options for Fine Dining is the Lunch Set offered by most Restaurants in Tokyo.  The Les Cristallines located within a ten minute walk from Omote Sando Station defines the opportunity for friends to enjoy Exceptional Cuisine Francaise,  Professional Service and a Cozy Atmosphere.    

Our Set Lunch included a delicious plate of hor d'oeuvres made up of Duck Pate, Salmon Mousse,  Quiche Lorraine, Potato Salad, Carrot Salad and Olives.  This was followed by a lightly spiced Pumpkin Soup served chilled .  

Les Cristallines offers several options for a Main Course and three choices dominated our Groups selection.  This included a sautéed “Suzuki” (Sea Bass) served on a bed of mashed potatoes and enhanced with an “American” Sauce.  Two other popular choices were the Australian Beef Steak and a Sausage prepared and served in a fine Pastry.

   Everything was presented carefully and served in an impressively timely fashion.  Chocolate Dessert Fans will leave Les Critallines satisfied.  The Choux a la Crème Patissiere au Chocolat will knock your socks off.  The entire set inclusive of consumer tax rounded out under 2000 Yen.

The Wine Selection was more than adequate and Maitre D’Hotel Bauer Jean-Luc suggested affordable options that worked nicely with our choices from the Menu. 

His personal interest in maximizing our lunch experience was most appreciated.  (He encouraged me to focus more on my Suzuki and less on Dialog “to enjoy the Main Course Selection while it was Hot”.)  A nice selection of cheese served with Raison Toast is not normally available at lunch but Jean-Luc made this happen upon our request.

We hope that most groups visiting Les Cristallines enjoy it as much as Steven Quaiver  & his 6 “Old Boys”.  You can reserve a table in the semi-private room at the rear of the Restaurant . We can attest that it is suitable for a lengthy lunch peppered with conversation and loud Camaraderie. 

Les Cristallines              http://r.gnavi.co.jp/p241300/map/ (access – Japanese only)

Nirvana Restaurant: a Very Nice Surprise for Lunch near Yokosuka Chuo Station

We love dining at Indian Restaurants as a Family but few are standouts worthy of recommendation.  This changed today.  We reserved a table & visited the Nirvana Indian Nepali Restaurant across from the Seiyu Department Store near Yokosuka Chuo Station. 

It’s your Classic, No Thrill, Family Owned Ethnic Restaurant that every diner likes to discover & record in their personal book of “go to places”.  Prices were very reasonable even in consideration of the high powered yen.  The Nirvana “C Lunch” Set is inclusive of soft drinks or tea, two curries, Nan, Tandori Chicken, rice, samosa, coleslaw salad & a Yogurt Fruit Dessert ( 1150 Yen).   A small draft “lunch” beer is 250 Yen & a larger pint sells for 350 Yen.

Our orders were taken and served in a timely and friendly manner.  The Tandori Chicken was especially good; juicy and properly spiced.  Curries can be specifically ordered mild to blast furnace chili hot levels and every order met expectations.  My in-laws lived and worked in Calcutta for five years and they expressed sincere appreciation for the “Healthy Curry” made with spinach, asparagus and Okinawan “Goya”or bitter melon.  The mutton/ eggplant curry was a favorite and the Special of the Day was a chicken/bamboo shoot combination that everyone enjoyed.

Nepal is the Home of the British Military Brigade of Gurkhas.  The famous Regiment known for bravery and their ever present heavy “Kukris” Knife.  One was gifted to the Owner of the Nirvana Restaurant by his cousin and is on display.  We were gratified that this Nepalese Family chose business and cultural education with their tasty cuisine over the rigors of the military.  Ironically, they serve hundreds of servicemen as the Nirvana has been no secret to Yokosuka Naval Base since opening three years ago.  Bollywood Fans will enjoy the movies played thru lunch and the Nepal Tourist Posters present all over the Restaurant are attractive if not informative.

Nirvana Indian Nepali Restaurant              http://www.nirvanafood.com/ (English)