Happy Hour International

01/14-01/18. Al Sorriso chef at the New Otani.
The highly talented chef Luisa Valazza from the Michelin 3-star restaurant Al Sorriso, overlooking Lake d’Orta in the northern Piedmont region, will be bringing some of her favorite recipes to Tokyo for…

Article - Cat cafes in Tokyo
It all began in 2004, when the first cat cafe opened its doors in Osaka. Since then, the petting zoo/coffee house hybrids have invaded Tokyo, and business is booming. Last year alone saw a dozen new shops, each with its own unique atmosphere. After removing your shoes and washing your hands, you can relax or play with the cats and kittens while you have your drink. Prices are reasonable, and the rules are simple: no flash photos, no grabbing tails or waking sleeping kitties. 2008 may have been the year of the rat, but 2009 is poised to be the year of the cat.

Review - Aotea Rangi: Ebisu
Tucked into a quiet Ebisu back street, Aotea Rangi is one of the few places in town where you can experience the charms of genuine New Zealand cuisine. At first glance the small restaurant looks like an Italian trattoria with terrace seating, but once you’re inside the atmosphere seem more like a casual cafe-bar. The lighting is soft and the mood is relaxed. Service is attentive, and the friendly staff are more than ready to help you negotiate the extensive New Zealand wine list….

01/25-02/14. Guest chef Renato Morisco at the Westin.
Chef Renato Morisco from the highly regarded Villa Morisco restaurant in Puglia, will be bringing some of his regional Italian dishes to the Terrace Restaurant at the Westin….

Brews News #98
Reviews of Minoh Double IPA, and Beer Rock bar in Shimo-Kitazawa in the January/February issue of our Japan beer newsletter.

01/25-02/14. Guest chef Renato Morisco at the Westin.
Chef Renato Morisco from the highly regarded Villa Morisco restaurant in Puglia, will be bringing some of his regional Italian dishes to the Terrace Restaurant at the Westin….

Review - L’Osier: Ginza
L’osier’s chef Bruno Menard moves through the restaurant with the self-assured ease of a man who has been cooking since the age of fifteen. Known for his creativity and attention to detail, the Michelin-starred French chef produces dishes that are complex, vivid and gorgeously presented….

01/25-02/14. Guest chef Renato Morisco at the Westin.
Chef Renato Morisco from the highly regarded Villa Morisco restaurant in Puglia, will be bringing some of his regional Italian dishes to the Terrace Restaurant at the Westin….

Watson to whalers: We will never surrender
Despite speaking on a bad line from somewhere off Antarctica, the message from Paul Watson was loud and clear:
“We will never retreat or surrender the southern oceans till we drive the Japanese whaling fleet out of here. We are not going to back down on this, and we are getting stronger every year. Every year we come down with more support.”

02/08, 6-8pm. California Wine Party at Mandarin Oriental
International wine importers iwine….

01/29, 7-9:30pm Washington wine tasting at the Westin.
This biennial event showcases over 150 wines from more than forty Washington State wineries, with many of the winemakers on hand to answer questions….

Review - Aquavit: Gaienmae
Chef Marcus Samuelsson is known for his highly acclaimed Aquavit restaurant in New York City, which has been serving top-level contemporary Swedish cuisine for more than twenty years. We’re happy to report that his first venture in Japan measures up to that same impressive standard. The cooking is superb - fresh, inspired and provocative. And Aquavit’s modern Scandinavian outlook adds a welcome note of culinary diversity to the French- and Italian-dominated top ranks of Tokyo’s international restaurant scene….

01/29, 7-9:30pm Washinton wine tasting at the Westin.
This biennial event showcases over 150 wines from more than forty Washington State wineries, with many of the winemakers on hand to answer questions….

Review - Aquavit Bar: Gaienmae
This very stylish Scandinavian-design lounge features immense Austin Powers-style chairs in which you can plot world domination while you sip on unusual aquavit-based cocktails. They also serve home-made aquavit (Scandinavian schnapps) in eye-opening flavors like coconut-espresso and mango-lime-chili. The small food menu includes Swedish nibbles like roast beets with goat cheese (Y1750); and duck confit with lamb ragout (Y2400).

Review - Aotea Rangi: Ebisu
Tucked into a quiet Ebisu back street, Aotea Rangi is one of the few places in town where you can experience the charms of genuine New Zealand cuisine. At first glance the small restaurant looks like an Italian trattoria with terrace seating, but once you’re inside the atmosphere seem more like a casual cafe-bar. The lighting is soft and the mood is relaxed. Service is attentive, and the friendly staff are more than ready to help you negotiate the extensive New Zealand wine list….

02/04, 7:30pm. “Art of New Spanish Cuisine” at the Mandarin Oriental.
An entire team of high-caliber chefs from Spain will be preparing an eight-course gala dinner of modern Spanish cuisine at the Mandarin Oriental’s Signature restaurant….

New - Icepan: Gaienmae
An import from southern California, Icepan serves up artisanal custom-made ice cream in flavors like brown rice (our favorite), sesame, fresh banana and kiwi….

02/05, 7-10pm. Pacific Northwest Wine Party at the Pink Cow
Orca International wine importers will be hosting a big tasting and drinking party with over fifty different wines from Washington State and Oregon….

Bar Bourbon Street
One has to admire a bar that aims to offer a 'taste of New Orleans in Tokyo.' But this quirky, cozy bar with its homely, accessible atmosphere really pulls it off. Ideal for those feeling a tad lost in translation, those who want to slow down and chill out after a spell in the frantic Japanese capital…

02/08 and 02/22, 2-4:30pm. Dinner with beer writer Hiroyuki Fujiwara.
Antwerp Central near Tokyo Station is the venue for the Fourth Belgian Beer Mariage Dinner, hosted by noted beer writer Hiroyuki Fujiwara. Antwerp Central’s master chef Kenichi Sumitomo will be preparing dishes like Shrimp and Potato Gratin, Duck Gizzard and Mushroom Fricassee, Flanders-style Cod and Crab Stew, and Tart Tartin, while Fujiwara will select Belgian ales to match. The cost is Y6500 per person; call 03-5288-7370 for reservations and information. The event for Feb 8 is almost full, but there are still spaces available for the Feb 22 date.

Sake Brewery Fashion Watch
Yearly sake festivals in Tokyo and Osaka are a great place to try out different premium brands from around the country, and while you’re there you can also check out the latest fashions in the sake world. Here’s a look at what stylish brewers are wearing these days….

New - Terres de Truffes: Roppongi
If you’re crazy about truffles, this specialty restaurant has just what you’re looking for….

02/08, 2-4:30pm. Dinner with beer writer Hiroyuki Fujiwara.
Antwerp Central near Tokyo Station is the venue for the Fourth Belgian Beer Mariage Dinner, hosted by noted beer writer Hiroyuki Fujiwara. Antwerp Central’s master chef Kenichi Sumitomo will be preparing dishes like Shrimp and Potato Gratin, Duck Gizzard and Mushroom Fricassee, Flanders-style Cod and Crab Stew, and Tart Tartin, while Fujiwara will select Belgian ales to match. The cost is Y6500 per person; call 03-5288-7370 for reservations and information.

Article - Cat cafes in Tokyo
It all began in 2004, when the first cat cafe opened its doors in Osaka. Since then, the petting zoo/coffee house hybrids have invaded Tokyo, and business is booming. Last year alone saw a dozen new shops, each with its own unique atmosphere. After removing your shoes and washing your hands, you can relax or play with the cats and kittens while you have your drink. Prices are reasonable, and the rules are simple: no flash photos, no grabbing tails or waking sleeping kitties. 2008 may have been the year of the rat, but 2009 is poised to be the year of the cat….

Review - Dish: Yoyogi-Uehara
In laid-back Yoyogi-Uehara, magazine-reading, designer sneaker-wearing hipsters gather at Dish, a cheerful cafe just a stone’s throw from the station.