The Just Bento Cookbook by Makiko Itoh – review
It’s a bento cookbook. But I know for a fact that not everyone in Europe will know exactly what bento is. Most people would have...
Ramen at YO! Sushi – restaurant review
I guess it’s a sign of the times. We want good food but money is tight so we look for something delicious, fun and warming...
The Last Concubine by Lesley Downer – review
There will be many UK readers who will remember Lesley Downer not for her books, although there have been many, but for her enlightening and...
Inamo – St James – restaurant review
Inamo is the brainchild, more accurately brain children, of owners Danny Potter and Noel Hunwick, who met when they were undergraduates at Oxford. Inamo is...
YO! Sushi, Waterloo Station, London – restaurant review
Catching a train isn’t like catching a bus. There isn’t going to be another one along in a minute. Stations are filled with folks who...
Ignatius ‘Iggy’ Chan – Singapore’s Sommelier – interview
There are few restaurants owned, run by, and named after a sommelier but Singapore’s iconic “Iggy’s” is just that. Ignatius ‘Iggy’ Chan is an immensely...
Visiting and sharing Japan – travel review
Planning a trip to Asia? I can almost guarantee that Japan isn’t first on most people’s destination list, if indeed it is a part of...
Chisou Japanese Restaurant, Knightsbridge – review
A decade ago there were few Japanese restaurants in the UK. It was partly due to the fact that we hadn’t had the close ties...
Ichi Sushi & Sashimi Bar – Park Plaza Westminster Bridge – review
There are lots of sushi bars in London but you will find surprisingly few reviewed here. Well, to be honest I have visited quite a...
Hashi – A Japanese cookery course by Reiko Hashimoto – review
I have reviewed many a cookbook and a good number of these have been Japanese, but it’s the first time I have looked up from...
Serene Gardens by Yoko Kawaguchi – review
What vision do we have when we think of Japan? Well, in truth there will likely be a few images. If we are into anime...
My Japanese Table by Debra Samuels – review
The author of My Japanese Table is Debra Samuels. Doesn’t sound very Japanese, does it? Well, perhaps not, but her credentials are impeccable as this lady...
Furoshiki – The art of wrapping with fabric by Kumiko Nakayama-Geraerts – review
Furoshiki is an ancient practice that seems to be very trendy now in Europe. I first came across it when a friend arrived from Marseille....
Japanese Bible – cookbook review
There is no denying the popularity of Japanese food in the UK these days. There has been a proliferation of new restaurants showcasing that cuisine....
Inamo Techno Restaurant, Soho – review
Wardour Street is celebrated as one of London’s night-owl alleys. Its selection of clubs and eateries is legendary so it’s no surprise that it also...
Bento Love – Easy Japanese Cooking by Kentaro Kobayashi – review
All of my regular readers will know the name Kentaro Kobayashi. I have reviewed another book of his which had its focus on Donburi, an...
Kitcho – Japan’s ultimate dining experience by Kunio Tokuoka – review
Kunio Tokuoka is executive chef of Kyoto Kitcho. He was born in 1960, and is the grandson of Mr. Teiichi Yuki, founder of Kitcho. He...
Japanese Home Cooking with Master Chef Murata – review
You probably won’t recognise the name of the chef unless you are reading this in Japan. It’s no surprise, but our ignorance has everything to...
Tsunami – Charlotte Street – restaurant review
This restaurant is the haunt of many regulars who, if they are sensible, will not be spreading the word. Who wants to find their favourite...
Itsu – Notting Hill Gate – restaurant review
I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy the experience. For me, it’s all about the food: a themed restaurant makes me suspicious. Why is...