Toshie Hiraide, Sake Samurai Japan – interview
Japan has many icons. Sumo, sushi, kimonos are among the first that spring to the non-Japanese mind …along with sake! Japanese food and sake are...
Sake in London? It’s an education – drinks review
Half a decade ago one could find Japanese Sake in London. Yes, of course one could. The ordering of such a beverage would usually elicit...
The Saké Handbook by John Gauntner – review
Saké has become more popular than ever in both restaurants and bars. One can find good quality saké by the bottle and made into cocktails,...
Dozo Japanese Restaurant, Soho – review
This is a relatively new kid on the block although Dozo in Old Brompton Road has been around for a while. This new Soho branch...
Kaiseki Yoshiyuki – Singapore – restaurant review
Ignatius Chan is unique, a quiet and gentle man who is sparked into animation when talking about food and drink. He is celebrated and respected...
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...