I haven`t been back in Japan for a long time now, but still sometimes I feel like having a treat from home. A range of European products are available in Department Stores food section. You must imagine this to be something like Globus Delicatessa, a great array of delicious and fresh products, but they come with a hefty price.
So this week I treated myself to Swiss cheese, goat cheese and crispbread and a tiny Toblerone. The cheese usually costs around 700 Yen per 100g, that is 9 CHF at current exchange rates. I was lucky enough they had some discounted Gruyere in the shelf, so a few bucks less. The small container of soft goat cheese was quite expensive too while the crispbread could pass as ok priced. As usual, the customer service was superior and I could practise Japanese conversation on food... In the chocolate section they had the usual broader selection of Lindt chocolate. Almost anywhere you go these days you find Lindt chocolate (plus Toblerone at the airports), so they seem to be the most active abroad. What is new, at least I had not seen it before, is Movenpick chocolate. I bouoght just a mini Toblerone though.
Eating out in a European restaurant is the other way to indulge in stuff from back home, or at least a neighbour country. There are tons of European restaurants here in Tokyo, some faring more original, other Japo-European fare with a more "original" touch. Funny was the Italian restaurant I recently went to. The older waiter must have spent considerable time in Italy, seriously. Couldn`t explain otherwise how he could mimick a Italian riviera Gigolo waiter so well. With his hair slicked back, heavy rings on his finger and an equally heavy fake tan and a stilted walk, he could easily pass for Italian. You have to congratulate te restaurant for their hiring decision.
My favourite place so far is a French, or rather Breton crepe restaurant on Timesquare building in Shinjuku, the Breizh Cafe. It`s on top of the building and outside there is a lovely roof garden where you can sit in summer. The decoration looks very lovely and French, wooden tables and they have French magazines. Two of the waiters are French or Japanese-French and are happy to speak French with you. The menu is available in French as well and features all types of sweet crepes and salty galettes. I love the original homemade apple juice from France, too expensive, but too delicious as well. I love going to this place, it`ll be nicer even to sit outside again.
So this week I treated myself to Swiss cheese, goat cheese and crispbread and a tiny Toblerone. The cheese usually costs around 700 Yen per 100g, that is 9 CHF at current exchange rates. I was lucky enough they had some discounted Gruyere in the shelf, so a few bucks less. The small container of soft goat cheese was quite expensive too while the crispbread could pass as ok priced. As usual, the customer service was superior and I could practise Japanese conversation on food... In the chocolate section they had the usual broader selection of Lindt chocolate. Almost anywhere you go these days you find Lindt chocolate (plus Toblerone at the airports), so they seem to be the most active abroad. What is new, at least I had not seen it before, is Movenpick chocolate. I bouoght just a mini Toblerone though.Eating out in a European restaurant is the other way to indulge in stuff from back home, or at least a neighbour country. There are tons of European restaurants here in Tokyo, some faring more original, other Japo-European fare with a more "original" touch. Funny was the Italian restaurant I recently went to. The older waiter must have spent considerable time in Italy, seriously. Couldn`t explain otherwise how he could mimick a Italian riviera Gigolo waiter so well. With his hair slicked back, heavy rings on his finger and an equally heavy fake tan and a stilted walk, he could easily pass for Italian. You have to congratulate te restaurant for their hiring decision.
My favourite place so far is a French, or rather Breton crepe restaurant on Timesquare building in Shinjuku, the Breizh Cafe. It`s on top of the building and outside there is a lovely roof garden where you can sit in summer. The decoration looks very lovely and French, wooden tables and they have French magazines. Two of the waiters are French or Japanese-French and are happy to speak French with you. The menu is available in French as well and features all types of sweet crepes and salty galettes. I love the original homemade apple juice from France, too expensive, but too delicious as well. I love going to this place, it`ll be nicer even to sit outside again.
They`re obviously a chain, the Tokyo restaurant was the first one: http://www.breizhcafe.com/gbjapon.html
The lady on the picture might not approve of it, I caught her with her mouth wide open ;-)
The lady on the picture might not approve of it, I caught her with her mouth wide open ;-)
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