NY Gramercy: Depato (department store) Cakes, Anyone?

NY Gramercy does not refer to the famous street in NY but a Japanese-company-run cake shop that is located at some selected department stores like Takashimaya. I seldom patronize these kind of shops with many outlets as the quality is usually average. However, after giving this shop a try, I was impressed by the pillowy and moist texture of the sponge components and that was kept amazingly consistent across all the cakes.

 

Kept within the price range is between ¥500-¥700, these sweets won't really burn a hole too much as they are generally larger than the independent patisseries and not too heavy on mousse--appealing to those who prefer the traditional light Japanese cakes. 

Koicha (Matcha Cream, Black Beans, Matcha Sponge) 

Another of the memorable matcha cakes that is available without having to travel far to certain shops. My favourite item here as there is an almost full-bodied matcha taste that complemented the rest of the components. 

New York Brownie

This is unlike those dense fudged version but two cakey chocolate sponge studded with rum raisins. The concept is simple but to transform a rustic homemade treat into such elegant form is not definitely not in everyone's ability.

Anyone who walk passes the cake display would simply stop and stare in admiration. 

Melon Shower

The chef is simply too ambitious to shower the cake with so many chunks of honeydew and pineapple that cause that they fell apart before I could take this picture. Looked rather dishevelled but one can forgive the chef because the fruits are so sweet and fresh. It's a fruit + cake gateau and not a fruit cake (if you can understand the difference) so what consumers are paying is the fruits. 

The Mango Pudding is different from mango puddings elsewhere as the sweetness stemmed mostly from the tropical fruit itself and not artificial sugar. Even my picky mum who is a huge mango pudding fan herself enjoyed this tremendously.

 

Other seasonal creations include the Sakura Sponge (see top pic) and Okinawan Sweet Potato.

NY GRAMERCY グラマシーニューヨーク

Takashimaya Shinjuku, Nihonbashi

Daily 10am-8pm (except Fri/Sat until 8.30pm)

Tokyu Food Show Tokyu Department Store Shibuya

Daily 10am-9pm

Other outlets include Takashimaya Yokohama, Seibu Ikebukuro

http://www.gramercy-newyork.com/

Ootsuka おおつか : Hidden Wagyu Rated No.1 Tripadvisor Japan

 

Thanks to my good friend Pearlyn’s recommendation, I could indulge in the premium Wagyu beef without breaking my wallet. Ootsuka is a very exclusively hidden place situated in the quiet residential estates about 20-25minutes walk away from Kyofuku Line Arashiyama Station.

If you are not familiar with the place, you might easily walk past the restaurant thinking that it is just another private house. One feels very relaxed dining at Ootsuka because it doesn’t remind you that you are eating at a restaurant until the moment you pay at the cashier. Even the toilet is so nicely decorated! (Yes, do check out their toilets too haha)

Ootsuka is not listed on most guidebooks, which would name several tofu restaurants instead when it comes to gourmet in Arashiyama. That said, Ootsuka was rated the No.1 popular restaurant on tripadvisor japan. With just three family tables and 5 counter table seats, this place can become crowded during peak hours and thus it is best to place a reservation to avoid disappointment.  Lunch sets start from a super reasonable price of 1000 yen and would not exceed 5800 yen for the most expensive dish--  150g of Murasawa A5 Wagyu Steak that comes in a set with rice, soup and salad.

From the teishoku section, my favourite was the Roast Beef Rice Bowl (1500 yen) that boasted an alluring pink as the meat is only treated with a light sear and retained a soft chewiness. Some people might find this a bit raw but it was not too lean. See top pic for close up shot of this bowl of deliciousness!

The Beef Tendon (1000 yen) looked quite dry at first but I was surprised by that the meat was interspersed with fats that disintegrated in my mouth without any chewing. This is quite good for people who are not huge fans of beef because there are other ingredients such as eggs and tofu.

For a more satisfying meat experience, go for the Roast Beef or this Japanese short plate beef set (1500 yen) where the rice grains soaked up some of the mildly sweet sauce and natural oil/juices that seeped from the beef atop.

All the steaks are served on sizzling hot plates in two sizes; 100g and 150g. Just get the 150g because they are so good you’ll be crying for more if there was only 100g.

Besides the prime Japanese Beef that is used for most dishes, the chef-owner also uses A4 grade Kuroge (Black Hair) Wagyu and Murasawa Wagyu. The Murasawa might not be as popular as Kobe or Matsuzaka Beef but the marbling of fats and lean meat met my ideal proportion. They are soft, tender but not too greasy as if you were swallowing a whole cube of butter.  

In fact, the chuck flap steak is already a decently good cut at 3000 yen for 150g or 2200 yen for 100g. Those who don’t wish to invest too much money can opt for this without getting short-changed for the quality. I can’t tell which cut is which now from the pictures I took but it doesn’t really matter because everything is good.

Ootsuka おおつか

京都府京都市右京区嵯峨天龍寺瀬戸川町20-10

20-10 Sagatenryūji Setogawachō, Ukyō-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyōto-fu 616-8376, Japan

Lunch 11am-3pm

Tel: 075-864-7989 (Reservations are HIGHLY recommended)

English Menu is Available

Yap Kee Wanton Mee @ Holland Drive : Light Crunchy Angel Hair Noodles

"Fine blonde Angel-hair noodles with a gentle spring and crunch". 

I could not forget these words as I read Tony's (@ johorkaki) about this wanton mee stall at Holland Drive. I actually had a wanton meeting with my friend Kerri who is a lover of wanton mee but it had been postponed for too long because of the busy schedules. Alas, we made our trip here, under the mercy of  35 degrees weather. 
 
Everything was true to what Tony had described. The noodles might not be exactly like the typical angel hair (my favourite kind of pasta) but they came close to it. Though we ordered Xiao la (smallest degree of spiciness), the chilli was potently spicy with a satisfying kick. It was so good that I decided to ask more chilli. 

Precisely because each strand is so fine, they are evenly coated with the sauce base that is a blend of soy sauce and vegetable oil.  The char siew were not memorable but the dumplings were smooth and juicy. I doubt I missed the fried lard as I did not realize that it should be there until I read Tony's post again.

The owners were very friendly and I told them how I learnt about this shop. Good to know that his brother is the legendary flying wanton Mee man of Johor Bahru. 

 

"My name is Handsome. Not Richard" he introduced himself.
"......."
"Just joking" he quipped.
Uncle Richard sure had his sense of humor :)

 

Yap Kee Wanton Mee

Holland Drive Food Centre

44 Holland Drive, #02-04, Singapore 270044
6:30am to 2:00pm daily

Nearest MRT Station: Buona Vista

Cascade Brewery Tour

I got back to Hobart basics at the weekend with a trip to Cascade Brewery.

I've been to Cascade before (see my South Hobart post here) but I've never done the Brewery Tour.

We arrived early for the 2.15pm tour to check out the onsite restaurant.
The regular menu is pretty extensive but we decided to take advantage of the tour menu ($18 main courses offered to tour guests).
I opted for fish and chips.

And D went for steak and stout pie.

 

Both served with chips and salad.
Both pretty huge servings, nothing extra special but tasty and filling.
The dining room has a pretty basic set up but its dotted with cascade memorabilia.

 

 Along with a pretty cool looking bar and conservatory area.

The gardens are pretty fabulous too!
It's a great venue for lunch and a taste of the local tipple if you don't fancy the tour.

I've seen the building a thousand times but it was time to go inside!
Unfortunately photo taking inside is prohibited so you'll just have to go and check it out! 
It's pretty cool to see the inner workings of one of our icons.
The tour lasts for around an hour and a half and mainly focuses on the brewing process, there is some of the history but I would have liked a bit more. (I did however see that Cascade do a Heritage Tour, maybe that's more your bag!)
And then it's back to the bar for tastings and taking in the view. 

The brewery tour costs $25 p/p but if you're living locally (proof of address required) you can go in for $15.
The price of entry includes three 7oz tasters of any of Cascades many beers and ciders.
So, if you're a Tasmanian this is pretty awesome value.
If you're not it's a must see on our isle so you're $25 is well spent.

We went on a Sunday so didn't get to see some of the processes first hand but our guide informed me the best time is the 11am tour if you're keen to see some of the bottling etc (they can't however guarantee that you'll see this at any given time).
I would suggest trying to catch it though, it sounded cool!

Finally another local bonus, if you're a Tassie local the gift shop offers a 10% discount off all the beers purchased at any time from the onsite shop. 

 I really like that some places offer locals a discount, don't you? Do you know anywhere else that offers discounts for Tasmanian residents? It'd be cool to know!

Find all the info for Cascade at there awesome website here!

Hobartian Patisseries

I've been on a mini mission the past couple of weeks and it involves two of my favourite things. 
Tea and cake.

Hobart is famous for its fine produce and one thing that we don't lack down here is a good olde bakery. (Sorry, patisserie).
There is so many to choose from so I thought I'd give you a couple of options. 

First up I've got a couple of high profile Hobart staples. 
Jackman and McRoss is a Hobart icon. 
Tourists and locals flock to three city based stores to sample some of the best sweet and savory treats in the state. 

Their dining rooms are always simple and relaxed with freshly baked produce adorning every open space. I headed to the Battery Point store recently to refresh my memory. We enjoyed a J&M take on a vanilla slice and a strawberry and pistachio tart.  
Along with tea it's a gorgeous afternoon snack in a gorgeous location.

I've also had seriously delicious savory breakfasts and lunches from Jackman and McRoss. 

Next up Daci & Daci. 
Another extremely renowned patisserie on our shores.
Daci have a beautifully styled shop close to the waterfront that will transport you to Europe in a flash. 

The amount of cakes and pastries on show along with savory delights is almost overwhelming.

Almost.

The range in Daci is outstanding and it all looks mouthwatering.
I opted for the chocolate and hazelnut tart.
 
It was totally perfect. I can't fault it, beautifully made and expertly presented.
Daci & Daci bring a sophistication to Hobart that you are likely to find in cities around the world.
I'm always so proud to show off these world renowned 'bakeries' to out of town visitors and share them with friends when we have catch ups.

Now for something in my opinion more 'Hobart'. 
To me the high profile patisseries feel like they are giving me an almost foreign experience. 
Little Missy Patisserie makes me feel right at home.

Located on the way to North Hobart it's a little bit out of the way but it makes up for it with its charm.

A cute, kitsch tea room feel with an open kitchen where you can see the amazing food being created.

I went for a citrusy number. Lemon brûlée tart.

It tasted fantastic and I saw the chef blow torch the top before she brought it to our table, bonus.
The table tops and side boards are dotted with delicacies and whilst we were there a delicious looking cake was popped up right next to me. 
As I've mentioned before I like to be part of the process and I'd seen the chef baking this chocolate salted caramel cake when we first arrived. (Note chocolate shards on the kitchen picture above and below on the outside of the cake).
 
It would be rude not to try it.
Beautiful flavours and all around great cake.
Little Missy offers no European feel just amazing food and Hobartian hospitality.
You might find places in Hobart where you feel as though you're somewhere else but this little spot is totally ours.
Which ever one you decided to pick for your sugar fix you can't go wrong with any one of these.

Where do you treat your sweet tooth? I'd love to know of any sneaky cake shops I've not visited yet!