Minato Sushi Japanese Restaurant
Wandering around Halifax, we saw a number of sushi spots. But which one? Being near the sea, I was looking for some good sushi, so how to tell? In this case, we got lucky and were overheard discussing options in the lobby of the hotel. One of the staff quickly opined that Minato's was the best spot in Halifax.
So off we went.
On walking in, I spotted the server carrying a big bowl of kimchi! Hmmm. Interesting. On sitting down and seeing the menu, not only was kimich offered, but a wide variety of Korean dishes. Turns out the owner was Korean. So, in addition to some edamame and sushi selections as appetizers, I had the Korean beef and an extra order of kimchi.
The beef (pulkogi, bulgogi, pick your spelling!) was excellent and the kimchi just right. The sushi was also fresh and well prepared.
Highly recommended.
Meal: Dinner
Date Visited: 14 August 2010
Rating: ****
Address: 1520 Queen Street, Halifax, NS, Canada
Website: http://www.minatosushi.ca/
Showing posts with label Cuisine: Japanese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cuisine: Japanese. Show all posts
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sushi, Brasilian Style
Sushi, Brasilian Style
After a couple of days of all steak, all the time on my trip to São Paulo, I was in the mood for something a little different. There was a sushi place across from the hotel and another that I'd found on a walk around the neighborhood.
So, after the like-clockwork afternoon thunderstorm, my colleague and I took a stroll down Rua Borges Lagoa towards Gendai. The restaurant was very nicely laid out “Japanese style”, lots of wood, low seats, etc. We chose a quiet (meaning away from the tv screens with futbol on) outside.
After looking at the menu for a bit, I realized that Gendai was a chain of some sort. Not that there's anything wrong with that! An interesting menu, with a variety of sushi and other Japanese offerings.
Not being a sake connoisseur, my colleague offered to order for us and we got, what seemed to me to be a nice cold sake. I got some of my staples (avocado roll, gyuzo). There was also a good miso soup that came with the meal.
My next sushi stop was after a few nights of steak were again on my menu. My co-worker, who had made it out of Brazil between the snowstorms on the East Coast that trapped me, had eaten lunch at São Paolo – Toky and gave the sushi only a mediocre review. I was tired of steak, however, and didn't want to go back to Gendai, so I thought I'd give it a try.
I avoided the sushi and got a mushroom stir fry and fried gyoza (and some tasty miso soup). No sake on this night, but had a nice cold beer. The restaurant was crowded and lively. I had a good seat to people watch by and enjoyed a tasty (non-sushi) meal.
Gendai-Vila Mariana
Meal: Dinner
Date Visited: 6 February 2010
Rating: ***
Address: Rua Borges Lagoa, 245, São Paulo, SP, 04038-030
Website: http://www.gendai.com.br
São Paolo – Tokyo, Gastronomia Japonesa
Meal: Dinner
Date Visited: 10 February 2010
Rating: ****
Address: Rua Borges Lagoa, 1.172 - Zona Sul - (11) 5081-6444
Website: http://www.saopaulotokyo.com.br
After a couple of days of all steak, all the time on my trip to São Paulo, I was in the mood for something a little different. There was a sushi place across from the hotel and another that I'd found on a walk around the neighborhood.
So, after the like-clockwork afternoon thunderstorm, my colleague and I took a stroll down Rua Borges Lagoa towards Gendai. The restaurant was very nicely laid out “Japanese style”, lots of wood, low seats, etc. We chose a quiet (meaning away from the tv screens with futbol on) outside.
After looking at the menu for a bit, I realized that Gendai was a chain of some sort. Not that there's anything wrong with that! An interesting menu, with a variety of sushi and other Japanese offerings.
Not being a sake connoisseur, my colleague offered to order for us and we got, what seemed to me to be a nice cold sake. I got some of my staples (avocado roll, gyuzo). There was also a good miso soup that came with the meal.
My next sushi stop was after a few nights of steak were again on my menu. My co-worker, who had made it out of Brazil between the snowstorms on the East Coast that trapped me, had eaten lunch at São Paolo – Toky and gave the sushi only a mediocre review. I was tired of steak, however, and didn't want to go back to Gendai, so I thought I'd give it a try.
I avoided the sushi and got a mushroom stir fry and fried gyoza (and some tasty miso soup). No sake on this night, but had a nice cold beer. The restaurant was crowded and lively. I had a good seat to people watch by and enjoyed a tasty (non-sushi) meal.
Gendai-Vila Mariana
Meal: Dinner
Date Visited: 6 February 2010
Rating: ***
Address: Rua Borges Lagoa, 245, São Paulo, SP, 04038-030
Website: http://www.gendai.com.br
São Paolo – Tokyo, Gastronomia Japonesa
Meal: Dinner
Date Visited: 10 February 2010
Rating: ****
Address: Rua Borges Lagoa, 1.172 - Zona Sul - (11) 5081-6444
Website: http://www.saopaulotokyo.com.br
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Shabu-shabu Doo! ... in Vancouver
Shabbusen Japanese Yakiniku House
The first time I had shabu-shabu was in Taiwan; where exactly it was or what the name of the restaurant was remains a mystery to me. The food, however, was simply fabulous.
While in Vancouver to attend a conference, I was awed by the number and quality of Asian restaurants. When the group I was with asked where we should go, I said I didn't really care, but it had to be some type of Asian food. The rest of my group readily agreed and we quickly chose Shabusen, located right near the conference hotel and also receiving good word of mouth at the conference.
Our group of five was early enough to not need a reservation, but the restaurant quickly filled up. We were seated – by the efficient and brusque staff – in a booth designed as a small dinghy. We had some trouble climbing “aboard” (only realizing too late you should take off your shoes and just walk on the seats). Once settled in, I started to examine the complex menu. There were lots of choices, all arranged around various pan-Asian options. The rest of the group settled for the Chinese version of the bento box, but I opted for the shabu-shabu, partly to satisfy their curiosity and also to compare to my Taiwan experience.
Shabu-shabu, for those of you who don't know, is a variation on the hot pot idea. You're given a pot of broth that is heated at your table, and plates of uncooked food. In my case I had beef, various cabbages, mushrooms, tofu, etc. There is also a sauce or two for you to add to the blend.
You throw everything in the pot and stir and wait.
The non-meat options were a little heavy on the cabbage (none of the tofu variations or fish add-inn that I had in Taiwan). Also, there were only two sauces, a peanut sauce and a thicker, not too spicy sauce.
The boxes were a hit with the rest of the table (quite large servings by the way) and my shabu-shabu was good, if not great. I think it will always be hard to match that first shabu-shabu experience.
Meal: Dinner
Rating: *** 1/2
Date: 9 November 2009
Address: 202-755 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1X6, Canada
Website: http://www.shabusen.com/
The first time I had shabu-shabu was in Taiwan; where exactly it was or what the name of the restaurant was remains a mystery to me. The food, however, was simply fabulous.
While in Vancouver to attend a conference, I was awed by the number and quality of Asian restaurants. When the group I was with asked where we should go, I said I didn't really care, but it had to be some type of Asian food. The rest of my group readily agreed and we quickly chose Shabusen, located right near the conference hotel and also receiving good word of mouth at the conference.
Our group of five was early enough to not need a reservation, but the restaurant quickly filled up. We were seated – by the efficient and brusque staff – in a booth designed as a small dinghy. We had some trouble climbing “aboard” (only realizing too late you should take off your shoes and just walk on the seats). Once settled in, I started to examine the complex menu. There were lots of choices, all arranged around various pan-Asian options. The rest of the group settled for the Chinese version of the bento box, but I opted for the shabu-shabu, partly to satisfy their curiosity and also to compare to my Taiwan experience.
Shabu-shabu, for those of you who don't know, is a variation on the hot pot idea. You're given a pot of broth that is heated at your table, and plates of uncooked food. In my case I had beef, various cabbages, mushrooms, tofu, etc. There is also a sauce or two for you to add to the blend.
You throw everything in the pot and stir and wait.
The non-meat options were a little heavy on the cabbage (none of the tofu variations or fish add-inn that I had in Taiwan). Also, there were only two sauces, a peanut sauce and a thicker, not too spicy sauce.
The boxes were a hit with the rest of the table (quite large servings by the way) and my shabu-shabu was good, if not great. I think it will always be hard to match that first shabu-shabu experience.
Meal: Dinner
Rating: *** 1/2
Date: 9 November 2009
Address: 202-755 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1X6, Canada
Website: http://www.shabusen.com/
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Shabu Shabu in Taipei
Stir it up!
Sorry, I don't really know the name of the place, or exactly where in Taipei I was. I had had been at the National Palace Museum for a meeting with some colleagues and when they offered to take us out for dinner and a tour of the Shilin Night Market, it wasn't possible to say no.
This was my first experience with Shabu Shabu, a Japanese variant of the Chinese hot pot. You get a large cooking pot of broth and a selection of meats, tofu and vegetables (along with various sauces) and DIY.
Sitting at long tables, we all joined in the cooking fun and had a delicious and tasty time.
Meal: Dinner
Rating: *****
Date: 24 February 2009
Address: Taipei, Taiwan
Website: N/A
Sorry, I don't really know the name of the place, or exactly where in Taipei I was. I had had been at the National Palace Museum for a meeting with some colleagues and when they offered to take us out for dinner and a tour of the Shilin Night Market, it wasn't possible to say no.
This was my first experience with Shabu Shabu, a Japanese variant of the Chinese hot pot. You get a large cooking pot of broth and a selection of meats, tofu and vegetables (along with various sauces) and DIY.
Sitting at long tables, we all joined in the cooking fun and had a delicious and tasty time.
Meal: Dinner
Rating: *****
Date: 24 February 2009
Address: Taipei, Taiwan
Website: N/A
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Great Flying Sushi Smackdown
Sushiden & Ryo Asian Fusion
I've never been to Japan, but I have had sushi, so when I was in Japan, I felt I should have sushi. Even if the only part of Japan I was in was the international terminal at Narita airport.
So, on my way back from Taipei, I had just enough of a layover to make a quick stop at Sushiden and get a little something to go.
Would authentic Japanese sushi, even if it was airport sushi, be a magnitude of better than even the best American sushi? Well?
Not quite yet, a week or so later and I found myself at Logan Airport in Boston. While waiting for a colleague who was arriving on another flight, I spied, Ryo Asian Fusion. Would it be better, the same, worse, than it's Narita counterpart?
Well...
Sushiden had a nice layout and a couple of sushi chefs making fresh sushi. I stayed basic, avocado rolls and a bit of salmon. To go. Served in the rectangluar plastic box, ginger and wasabi on the side, soy sauce in little packets, and a bit of the fake green grass. Chopsticks. Perfect. I headed over to the gate, popped the top and did the whole soy sauce, wasabi chopstick swizzle and ... well, not quite yet.
Back in Boston, again, stayed basic, avocado roll, no salmon. The sushi chef was busy with a person in front with a complicated order, me, and one behind. She did a good job, but ...
Well. At Ryo Asian Fusion, the rice was just a little too sticky, and obviously a bit hard to spread, appearing unevenly in the roll. The avocado, a bit unripe, was sliced to order and also a bit uneven. Same rectangular box, wasabi, a nice strong ginger, soy sauce. But darn it, couldn't find chopsticks - though I saw someone with some later.
Verdict?
Sushiden. I don't think it was being in Japan that made it better, but just a little more care on the part of the restaurant to make sure staffing was sufficient and that the ingredients were all ready.
Now, for the next trip, I need to get out of the airport and into some real sushi!
Sushiden
Meal: Sushi
Rating: ***
Date: 28 February 2009
Address: Narita Airport, Terminal 4
Website: http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/guide/rest_shop/rest/floor_list/shop_page/t2_1_02_susid.html
Ryo Asian Fusion
Meal: Sushi
Rating: ***
Date: 8 March 2009
Address: Logan Airport, Terminal C
Website: http://www.ryoasianfusion.com/about-us.html
I've never been to Japan, but I have had sushi, so when I was in Japan, I felt I should have sushi. Even if the only part of Japan I was in was the international terminal at Narita airport.
So, on my way back from Taipei, I had just enough of a layover to make a quick stop at Sushiden and get a little something to go.
Would authentic Japanese sushi, even if it was airport sushi, be a magnitude of better than even the best American sushi? Well?
Not quite yet, a week or so later and I found myself at Logan Airport in Boston. While waiting for a colleague who was arriving on another flight, I spied, Ryo Asian Fusion. Would it be better, the same, worse, than it's Narita counterpart?
Well...
Sushiden had a nice layout and a couple of sushi chefs making fresh sushi. I stayed basic, avocado rolls and a bit of salmon. To go. Served in the rectangluar plastic box, ginger and wasabi on the side, soy sauce in little packets, and a bit of the fake green grass. Chopsticks. Perfect. I headed over to the gate, popped the top and did the whole soy sauce, wasabi chopstick swizzle and ... well, not quite yet.
Back in Boston, again, stayed basic, avocado roll, no salmon. The sushi chef was busy with a person in front with a complicated order, me, and one behind. She did a good job, but ...
Well. At Ryo Asian Fusion, the rice was just a little too sticky, and obviously a bit hard to spread, appearing unevenly in the roll. The avocado, a bit unripe, was sliced to order and also a bit uneven. Same rectangular box, wasabi, a nice strong ginger, soy sauce. But darn it, couldn't find chopsticks - though I saw someone with some later.
Verdict?
Sushiden. I don't think it was being in Japan that made it better, but just a little more care on the part of the restaurant to make sure staffing was sufficient and that the ingredients were all ready.
Now, for the next trip, I need to get out of the airport and into some real sushi!
Sushiden
Meal: Sushi
Rating: ***
Date: 28 February 2009
Address: Narita Airport, Terminal 4
Website: http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/guide/rest_shop/rest/floor_list/shop_page/t2_1_02_susid.html
Ryo Asian Fusion
Meal: Sushi
Rating: ***
Date: 8 March 2009
Address: Logan Airport, Terminal C
Website: http://www.ryoasianfusion.com/about-us.html
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Kanpai, more than just sushi!
Kanpai
Rosslyn, in Arlington, Virginia, is not the liveliest spot on the weekend. There are a few places that draw a crowd (Cafe Asia), but on the weekends it can be a bit quiet. Right near each other on Wilson Blvd. are two the best: Kanpai and Santa Fe Cafe.
Kanpai is a compact Japanese restaurant with a nice little sushi bar and an excellent selection of teriyaki, tempura, udon, and more.
Most entrees are served with a side salad (iceberg lettuce with a choice of sesame or ginger dressing), miso soup, and rise. I like the various katsu options (beef, chicken, pork, deep fried and covered with breadcrumbs served with katsu sauce!). The wide selection of appetizers make for a great start or options for sharing with a group.
The wine list is pleasantly varied and there is a wide selection of Japanese beers.
Dish: Beef Katsu
Rating: **** of 5
Date: 31 May 2008
Address: 1401 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22209
Website: http://www.kanpai-sushi.com/
Rosslyn, in Arlington, Virginia, is not the liveliest spot on the weekend. There are a few places that draw a crowd (Cafe Asia), but on the weekends it can be a bit quiet. Right near each other on Wilson Blvd. are two the best: Kanpai and Santa Fe Cafe.
Kanpai is a compact Japanese restaurant with a nice little sushi bar and an excellent selection of teriyaki, tempura, udon, and more.
Most entrees are served with a side salad (iceberg lettuce with a choice of sesame or ginger dressing), miso soup, and rise. I like the various katsu options (beef, chicken, pork, deep fried and covered with breadcrumbs served with katsu sauce!). The wide selection of appetizers make for a great start or options for sharing with a group.
The wine list is pleasantly varied and there is a wide selection of Japanese beers.
Dish: Beef Katsu
Rating: **** of 5
Date: 31 May 2008
Address: 1401 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22209
Website: http://www.kanpai-sushi.com/
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Asahi Japanese Restaurant: Asian buffet lunch
I was in unfamiliar territory (Maryland!) the other day and my hosts at the National Agriculture Library volunteered to drive us to one of their favorite spots for lunch.
As soon as we walked in the door of Asahi, I could tell we were going to have a good lunch!
Set up for a lunch buffet, one side of the restaurant had Japanese and Korean foods and the other a wide variety of sushi. After taking our seats in a back room and ordering tea, I hit the non-Sushi side of the buffet. I'm not a big sushi fan and prefer to have it in with people I know well who will order for me!
There were a number of choices, but I focused on the shredded Korean beef, kimchi, tempeh, and green beans.
The all you can eat buffet was complimented by friendly service from all the staff.
Meal: lunch
Rating: **** of 5
Date: 30 Jan 2008
Address: 13919 Baltimore Ave., Laurel, MD 20707
Website: n/a
As soon as we walked in the door of Asahi, I could tell we were going to have a good lunch!
Set up for a lunch buffet, one side of the restaurant had Japanese and Korean foods and the other a wide variety of sushi. After taking our seats in a back room and ordering tea, I hit the non-Sushi side of the buffet. I'm not a big sushi fan and prefer to have it in with people I know well who will order for me!
There were a number of choices, but I focused on the shredded Korean beef, kimchi, tempeh, and green beans.
The all you can eat buffet was complimented by friendly service from all the staff.
Meal: lunch
Rating: **** of 5
Date: 30 Jan 2008
Address: 13919 Baltimore Ave., Laurel, MD 20707
Website: n/a
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