Eggy B Abroad: Leaving on a high, Two Room - Aoyama

My last weekend in Japan was spent exploring Kyoto before heading back to enjoy some final culinary delights in Tokyo. I was determined to make brunch on Sunday a good one. And after a couple of online recommendations for Two Rooms in Aoyama, I decided it was worth a try.

On the pricey side (but then again, what isn't here) I took my beloved to Two Rooms, a terrace restaurant and bar, for an indulgent two course brunch with bonus views over the city.

We both ate the same (after three... awww) which included:

Duck and chestnut sausage, served with chestnut honey.

Not only was it exceptionally presented (although I have become to expect nothing less now) it delivered on flavour more than I expected. The combination of pf the earthy chestnut, sharply sweet honey and gamey duck worked well, and had an air of 'Christmas at home' about it too. (Nicc decided it would make a good stuffing, so looks like we'll be trying that out with the turkey this year). Whilst it was more of a roulade, the sausage was most certainly the most meaty we have had since moving here. Most of the offerings are German frankfurters and make us miss our Queens Park farmers market delicacies back home! Enough said. This starter was perfectly sumptuous and filling.

And so came seconds... Of course I couldn't refuse the eggs bendict, even though it was an extra 500 yen (approx £4) there was simply no point in even turning up if I was not going to eat it.

On the menu it stated "Two Rooms Eggs Benedict", which often lends itself to one assuming that the restaurant offer this with a special in-house twist, so I expected something a little different to the standard muffin, ham, eggs, hollandaise. Delightfully what made the Two Rooms Eggy B good was that it came with a healthy handful of watercress. I'm not usually a fan of unnecessary garnish, especially in such a large quantity but their choice to use watercress added a seasoning which meant no need for a turn from the pepper mill.

There was also a generous (and I mean generous) hunk of ham. Thick and moist it was much more like gammon. My only criticism is that it could have been slightly saltier but really this was a mild complaint. The hollandaise on it's own lacked a sharpness and would have benefited from more vinegar however the overall taste was divine. As for the eggs, they were perfectly runny. Ever so slightly on the under-cooked side for me but I scraped away very little gooey egg white and not enough to ruin my meal. The muffin really was just stodge on this dish, not particularly buttery or crisp but it was overshadowed by the topping anyway. Overall verdict: delicious!

Our brunch set also included tea or coffee too which was a good strong cup of joe - at almost £10 a cup off menu I should hope it was good and strong too.

Finally, what made this brunch one of the best was it's location. We were lucky that it was a warm and sunny winter's day in the city and the terrace on a 5th floor of a bustling area overlooked the famous Shinjuku district.

So glad to be leaving Tokyo on a brunch high, and if you are ever in town. This place is a must visit.

See you back in London. Sayonara Tokyo!

B x.

Eggy B abroad:: Tokyo reviews, 57 and Roti Roppongi

I've been in Tokyo for the last five months and have trialled a couple of restaurants for brunch. I must admit, despite the rest of the cuisine being absolutely spot on, my experiences on the search for the best Eggy B abroad had left me a little uninspired. Until Sunday that is. My last weekend here was rounded off nicely after finding a knock-out venue in the Aoyama district. First though, here's a round-up of the highs and lows that came after my first the Oak Room...

Review: 57, Roppongi, Tokyo

57 closed down at the end of September this year. Having only discovered it a few weeks previous I can't say I am sad to see it go. I opted for 57 based on the fact they not only had eggs benedict on the menu but it was served as part of an all day brunch menu, which if you so fancied could include all you can drink champers for a mere 3,500 Yen (approx £30). There is no real point delving into detail of this place as their closure does save any future patron being severely disappointed with the eggs benedict they were serving.

The Japanese (I have noticed) when serving do not tend to time the dishes well so that all plates for all diners arrive at the correct time. It's more of a 'you'll get it when it's ready' kind of affair. So, when in 57 I was pleasantly surprised mine and my dining partners mains all came promptly together, so that no-one was left with watering lips while the other tucked in! However, this prompt arrangement came at a cost. For the first time ever I have been served a dry hollandaise sauce. Yes, dry. The sort of dry you get on top of rice pudding, or worse, the cooled milk skin on hot drinks. Simply disgusting. In a foreign place I saved myself the energy to complain and just tried it. Plus, I was starving as we arrived late for our reservation because the venue was mere impossible to find (first time around at least). The taste however was very well balanced. It needed no seasoning and the ham was carved at a delightful thickness, enough to pack a salty punch but not too much that it was overbearing. The yolk of the egg also spot on. But the hollandaise. No. Even if 57 were still open I would be avoiding any recommendations. A sad time any bar closes, this ex-pat hang-out provided a little entertainment for fellow Gaijin's getting lost in the city. But I guess places like this should stick to what they know best and keep the drinks flowing after dark. R.I.P.

Review:  Roti, Roppongi, Tokyo.

Looks good? Thanks to CNN Go for this image, as the dog ate my original.

Finding an affordable joint of value in Tokyo is harder than one might imagine. You are surrounded by high rises filled from top to bottom with a bounty of restaurants, and hidden streets crammed with izakaya's. If you want good Japanese fayre, you don't need to look long or hard. However, when you come to Tokyo to live, there comes a point when you crave that taste of home. Most non-Japanese visitors will flock to Roppongi, the cities international district popular with partying ex-pats all after a sliver of comfort. I don't venture to this part of town often myself but what does draw me here is the 'recommended' places for a good feed, western style. What drew me to Roti was the excellent price (even considering the exchange rate). The venue and staff all seemed nice enough but it was lacking a certain charm, that I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe it was our mildly scruffy outside seating or the distinct quietness of the main dining room (despite a group of gaggling girls and the restaurant's best attempt at ambience). That said the service was great and the food not too bad. My eggs benedict was served unusually with olives on top. The sauce was a good consistency and eggs perfectly cooked. I had a delicious chai latte alongside my brunch too which was so delicious I finished in a flash and promptly ordered another! So, whilst it ticked a couple of boxes I was not convinced enough to go back.

Have you had a good (or bad) experience home or away you can share? Please post your comments below and I will be sure to check each one out... Especially the good ones'!

Foodie news update

This week there's a run down of the El Bulli closure, introduction into the latest high street - high end - butcher and the opening of Senkai on Regent's street in London...

Here in Tokyo we are in the midst of the Summer heat, so foodie culture is stemming from festivals and beer gardens, where even the most basic of delicacies are celebrated. Kampai!

Eggy B abroad: The Oak Room

Sunday's in Tokyo are a bit like Sunday's in London. A quiet buzz of people finding somewhere good to eat, to cure the hangover lingering from the night before!

And at the weekend, brunch is popular. Most certainly a western influence brunch is mostly available in hotels but there are a handful of other more local venues too.

On 14th August we chose the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi Hills. The sister hotel of the one made famous in Lost in Translation, we were not disappointed with it's welcoming atmosphere and choice of restaurants.

We opted for The Oak Room, as they offered an all day brunch menu. A true mixture of lunch and breakfast served over a whopping four courses. The set menu's showed exceptionally good value... At 3,800Yen (approx £35) it was one of the cheapest deals we have come across in the last month. And the a la'carte prices were in the same bracket for just one dish. A no brainer!

There were three of us and well all ate something different. Here is a quick run-down:

Starters
Toasted ciabatta with ricotta cheese, tomato and prosciutto ham. Verdict: the ciabatta was not toasted enough, the tomato was too thinly sliced and of a quality that you might find on a mediocre shop brought salad sandwich and the ham, well that was the saviour but then how wrong can this get?!
Blueberry pancakes with maple syrup and banana. Verdict: good grub! Fluffy pancakes nicely sweetened and in a generous portion.
Smoked salmon. I didn't taste this one but my friend cleared his plate so I think that is a good sign!

Soup
Sweetcorn, crème fraiche and coconut. Verdict: cold! Not what we expected, and it needed heavily seasoning. Whilst it was quite refreshing and palette cleansing, it would have tasted better with some crusty bread served hot and fresh.
Seafood chowder. Verdict: portion size too small, which was disappointing because it tasted good! Although my personal opinion is that in a menu of four courses it was probably just enough...

Mains
Minute steak, bacon and fried egg. Verdict: the equivalent of a good ol' English fry up! Served on a sizzling platter it looked good. The downside though was that the meat was overdone.

Grilled seabass with sautee vegatables. Verdict: a nicely cooked piece of fish with disappointing and over cooked selection of veg.

The Oak Room Benedict - poached eggs, hollandaise and...crab cakes? Yes, that's right this was not Eggs Benedict, or even a Florentine but more of an Eggs Royale, with a twist!

My verdict: I was very happy to be presented with this dish and after a four weeks of mostly Japanese cuisine, it put a huge comforting smile on my face. The crab was an interesting replacement for my much loved ham, but I'm sorry to say it did not entirely work. It needed heavily seasoning and there was not enough hollandaise! I believe it would have tasted better without the muffin. It was just too stodgy with the crab cake as well. 

Again unusually for Brunch, we didn't wash it down with a Bellini or Bloody Mary or juice and coffee but a couple of bottles of Stags Leap Merlot! The entire meal was finished off with our fourth course; a nice French tart avec strawberry sorbet.

Overall I had a good experience, but I fear that might be the hazy wine memory talking. The Oak Room is typically American: the portion sizes and wine list say it all. I wouldn't really recommend it as a restaurant as it leant more towards standard 'hotel food'. I would go back for the bar though. The venue had a good atmosphere, friendly staff and in an elegant setting. 

Why go to Tokyo?

Londoners, behold! A little taste of Japan has just arrived near Brick Lane and will stick around for one week only. Get your fix at the Kirin Ichiban Yatai pop-up restaurant (then come back and tell me how good it was)!


Reviewed by meemalee's kitchen, it sounds like a sumptuous after work treat.


There's no doubt that the Yashin Sushi duo (Yasuhiro Mineno and Shinya Ikeda) have the skills needed to pull off such simple and tasty Japanese food. 


Yatai (street food) is quickly becoming one of my favourites here in Tokyo too. There is an abundance of restaurants to choose from and with yatai you can keep it simple and cheap, without comprimising on taste or authenticity. 

More to food than eggs benedict....

In a bid to keep this blog alive and kicking, I decided to make some changes.

Not only will I share with you some new foodie finds from the Japanese capital but I will be keeping a firm eye on the UK food scene and reporting back some of my favourite mouth watering goodies.

May I introduce you to two new pages:

Dinner time
Inspired by Heston's Mandarin Oriental based restaurant this is my space for reviews and updates. I've started with an overview of my London hit-list and hopefully as I explore Tokyo a little more we can start to incorporate some of those adventures too.


Foodie news
A new bi-weekly page dedicated to some of the latest food news. And to get started I decided to publish a some of my favourite finds from last few weeks, just to bring us all up to speed!

All in all I hope to keep you informed and entertained. I hope you like it.


Signing off.
B.x.

Eggy B abroad!

Tardiness must be a trait of my supposed dedication to this blog... But fear not followers, friends, acquaintances, I assure you all is not lost!

So, I've somehow found myself in Tokyo, and I'm surrounded by entirely new sites, sounds and tastes.  I'm yet to discover a decent eggs benedict, but a tip off has ensured me that the Hyatt do a good brunch - so I aim to be checking that out soon.

The London arm of my adventures has been put on hold, just until I get back. In it's place I'll endeavour to update you on my favourite foodie finds and unusual breakfast combinations (which until recently involved boiled eggs and edamame beans)!  

In the meantime here are some charming pictures from the fabulous @xSamanthaKelly. It was a farewell Paris eggs royale cooked up by her own fair hands, so looks like I have some practising to do myself!

Sam says: "I needed a method that allowed me to cook 4 at the same time. I was tempted by the 'whirlpool' as it seemed a pretty fun (and possibly disastrous) way to start my day, however, Delia Smith recommended 4cm of boiling water in a frying pan and that's what I went with in the end. Three minutes later & voila!"

Good ol' Delia! And, served with grapefruit juice and sparkling wine, this seems like a brunch to die for - and is making my mouth water.

Signing off,
B.x.