Ayumi Burger Kidz

If you are fond of Japan and/or burgers I am sure you will enjoy watching Ayumi Seto's burger reviewing segment 'Ayumi Burger Kidz' on popular YouTube channel HARAJUKU KAWAii !! TV. 

Check out the episodes below:

The Great Burger

6-12-7 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo // (03) 3406 1215 // 11:30AM - 10:30PM
Check out Fashimi's burger review here!

San Francisco Peaks

3-28-7 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo // (03) 5775 5707 // Open daily 11:30 AM -11:00 PM

Burger Goods
Burger related collectables // Ayumi Kidz book // Village Vanguard Diner Cherry Bomb Burger collaboration


Fellows
3-8-11 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo // (03) 6419 7988


Whoopi Gold Burger
1F Shibuya 1-9-4 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo // (03) 3407 0232 
For more information check out another of Fashimi's burger reviews here!
And 8Tokyo's burger review here!

 For more on the adorable Ayumi Seto you can visit Ayumi's blog here and Ayumi's twitter here. 

Have a break, have a Kitto Katto! 「キットカット」

Nestle Japan have released an Adult Sweetness 「オトナの甘さ」line of KitKats which includes a Matcha Green Tea flavour. I happened upon these very KitKats while browsing the shelves of my local Asian Grocer here in Melbourne and being the Matcha enthusiast that I am, I couldn't resist sampling them.

This particular KitKat owes its flavour to Matcha from the Uji region of Kyoto, famous for their green tea. 「〜こだわりの 宇治抹茶〜」As the name suggests, the level of sweetness has been moderated to suit an adult palette and is marketed to us grown ups. 

The Kitkats I bought came in a pack containing 12 individually wrapped KitKats. They are perfect as omiyage (souvenirs) or just for sharing with friends. 

I really liked the level of sweetness but I found the Matcha green tea flavour a little too subtle. The green tea flavour is more of an aftertaste and the outer chocolate is really creamy.

お試しください !!

[Adult Sweetness Kit Kat TVCM staring Manami Higa who you may recognise from Tokyo Zenryoku Shoujo]

What do you know about heart shaped food?

Did I mention I'm crazy for heart shaped things? And food... I'm quite fond of food too.

Dominos Pizza Japan Happy Valentines Day set / Quick 40th Anniversary 'Love Giant' Burger /  Dunkin' Donuts Cupids Choice donut / Dunkin' Donuts Royal Wedding donut / watermelons from Fukuoka, Japan / tangerines from Hyundai department store Apgujeong,  South Korea

Miranda Kerr in Lipton Limone CM

Australia's Miranda Kerr features in a Japanese CM for Lipton Limone lemon tea. Pretty funny huh... and so catchy! 

Muji Gateau Au Chocolate cake mix

So, Valentine's Day has been and gone for another year but White Day is fast approaching... and I only got my hands on this last night. Anyway, I'm personally I'm fond of chocolate and love-hearts all year round. 

From what I've read, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Japan with the ladies giving gifts of chocolate as an expression of love, Honmei-choco, or social obligation, Giri-choco. And nothing says Valentine's Day quite like homemade sweet treats. Around Valentine's Day stores like Muji, Loft and Tokyu Hands have a variety of helpful DIY baking mixes. 

As a big time lover of love-heart shaped things, I was quite fittingly given a box of the Muji Gateau Au Chocolate cake mix. Once the cake is baked and cut each slice is an adorable chocolate heart! Super cute!!

I haven't baked it yet but if turns out OK I'll post photos of the final result. 

Rinko's Restaurant

I had been meaning to watch this film for a long time after reading about it on Make It Easy and I wasn't disappointed by the recommendation - I loved it!


Based on a novel by Ito Ogawa, Rinko's Restaurant is a food lovers fairy tale. It is such a beautiful film to watch; filled with imagination and magical, mouth watering food.

Directed by Mai Tominaga, staring Kou Shibasaki

Ps. Aren't the heart shaped bowls adorable?! I painstakingly brought back my very own heart shaped tea set all the way from Japan. Needless to say, my hand luggage was quite heavy. 

Oishii

Freshness Burger

Maedaya Sake & Grill

Sushi Burger

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

David Gelb captures on film the masterful work of Chef Jiro Ono of Sukiyabashi Jiro. Did anyone happen to see this film when it was screened during the Sydney Film Festival? Nom, nom. Watching this trailer has made me hungry!

Address: Tsukamoto Sogya Building, Baement 1st Floor, 2-15 Giza 4-Chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Phone: 03-3535-3600

Lunch: 11:30 - 2:00

Dinner: 5:30 - 8:30

Iron Chef in Melbourne

I've always really enjoyed watching Iron Chef so I was very excited to find out that two Iron Chefs will be here in Melbourne later this year. Iron Chef French, Hiroyuki Sakai and Iron Chef Chinese, Kenichi Chen will be here for an extravagant cooking event.

It takes place on the 18th and 19th of June and at $485 per person includes a six course degustation menu complemented by match wines. The even will be held at the RACV City CLub and will also feature the RACV City Club's Executive Chef, Mark Normoyle. 

Sounds good huh?

Cookie Boy クッキーボーイ

Story

ある日、記念日にクッキーを作ってプレゼントした。
箱を開けた瞬間の子どものような笑顔が、うれしかった。
アートな食感に目覚め、お菓子を独学で創る日々。
過去に学んできたテキスタイルデザインの技術を生かし、型をつくり線を描いていく。
食べることで近づくモノとの距離。
クッキーが口の中で溶けるように、人と人の気持ちがほどけてゆく。
僕は、クッキーというキャンバスを見つけた。

As the beginning of the Easter weekend approaches I can't help but think of chocolates, spicy hot cross buns and other sweet treats.

However, I am sure you will all agree that these wonderful cookies by Cookieboy are much nicer than any old foil wrapped egg. And even better, cookies are enjoyed all year round!

You can visit the Cookieboy's blog here. 

(Source: a lovely blog called Polkaros.)

Daisuke, the Daikon Radish

One of my favourite blogs, Japan Probe, posted a hilarious story about a 'Radish Shaped Like a Person'. Check out the video - it's so cute!

Snack attack

This feature in the March issue of Spur got me thinking... what's your favourite Japanese snack? Mine would have to be Meiji Chocolate Almonds, Ginoko Gohan Onigiri and Yukimi Daifuku Caramel!

ps. Happy Valentines Day everyone!! ♥