Olympic Club buffet














Food: ★★★★☆
Service: ★★★★
Ambiance: ★★★★
Presentation: ★★★

The Other Naughty Piglet

Westminster, London, UK






We came here for this dish! 



XO linguine, cured egg yolk
Such a nice twist to a usual carbonara



Ham Croquette


Butter poached halibut, Romana courgettes, wild garlic



BBQ pork belly, sesame, Korean spices



Plain pasta off the menu just for my kids (what a nice thought!)
~

DESSERT:

Chocolate mousse, honeycomb, salted caramel
*




Pistachio ice cream, blood orange
*





Food: ★★★★★
Service: ★★★★★
Ambiance: ★★★★☆
Presentation: ★★★

Kin Khao

San Francisco, CA 







Mushroom Hor Mok:
Curry mousse in-a-jar with mushrooms, crisp rice cakes


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Caramelized Pork Belly:
Sweet, savory, voluptuous pork belly cooked in a clay pot

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Plah Pla Muek:
Charred Monterey Bay squid with a tangy+spicy seafood sauce, peanuts, cilantro

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Waiter recommended to have the squid and caramelized port belly together with sticky rice
Results = pure unami



Namprik Long Rua:
Spicy, umami-bomb Kapi shrimp paste relish, served with caramelized pork jowl, crispy Passmore ranch catfish, seasonal vegetables

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Khun Yai’s Rabbit Green Curry:
Kiew Wan curry paste, coconut milk, rabbit leg + saddle, rabbit meatballs, apple eggplants, Thai basil

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Black Rice Pudding
Served with strawberries in hibiscus, salty coconut cream, puffed rice+peanut+sesame praline

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Thai Tea Soft Serve

Served with tapioca, condensed milk and toasted coconut





Food: ★★★★☆
Service: ★★
Ambiance: ★★★
Presentation: ★★★

Asakusa Imahan - 浅草今半

Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan



Our local friend made dinner reservation in advance at this authentic tatami seating restaurant.  Asakusa Imahan has been in operation since 1895 and is a legend in the art of sukiyaki and shabu-shabu with its signature Imahan Wagyu Beef. 


Once we walked in, we were told to take off our shoes as the whole restaurant is carpeted by tatami mats.  


Tatami floor in the elevator

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The artworks hung around the restaurant are registered as the national cultural property.


Food is served on low table and patron seats on the tatami floor.   





~
Sakizuki (先附)


beef jerky

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Shabu Shabu:



The waitress dressed in kimono assisted with the first cooking of the beef and vegetables. 

Video 






marbled meat slices of certified A5 Wagyu beef
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Video: Shabu beef 






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Sukiyaki







Video: boiling 






Video:   simmered in an iron pot.

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This is how you eat it: 


Shabu Shabu: Beef dipped in house-made secret sauce
Sukiyaki: Beef dipped in raw egg


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house-made udon




Incredible mochi like glass noodles

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Miso soup

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souvenirs!


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Video: as we leave our semi-private room 


Video: to get our shoes



Overall, our Wagyu A5 Yamagata beef was amazing.  This thinly sliced, well marbled gem was tender and moist.  As the meat cooks, the fat melts and infuses the meat with rich flavor.  

Unami! 




Impeccable service, even if they speak little English.

Asakusa Imahan is definitely a classic once-chance-of-a-lifetime experience of the glorious wagyu beef. 


Food: ★★★★★
Service: ★★★★★
Ambiance: ★★★★★
Presentation: ★★★★★