Neil Duckett » Food

Lamb On A Spit

Neil — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:21:23 +0000

Last weekend to celebrate the AFL Grand Final we had a party at a mates places …. the beers were flowing but more importantly the lamb was rotating on the spit.

With the belly stuffed with spuds, peppers, onions, garlic and all manner of herbs and spices the only thing left was to stitch it up and get it spinning

A little over 2 hours later and it was pretty much done.

Believe you me, It tasted every bit as good as it looks.Similar Posts:

Post from: Neil Duckett

Lamb On A Spit

Nihonshu

Neil — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:11:19 +0000

Nihonshu 日本酒, or sake as most people know it, is found in most bars and restaurants in Japan.

I generally lean towards atsukan 熱燗 which is hot sake but last night at Sushi in Shibuya I went for the cold stuff, served in a masu which is a wooden, box-like cup.

Whenever it’s served in a masu it’s also accompanied with a saucer underneath as it’s tradition to overfill the cup, great value for money.

As you can see it’s necessary to get you head right into the cup to kick things off, some salt placed on the corner first makes for a tasty sip.

Nihonshu is not all that strong, this was about 17%, it’s gets things though going that’s for sure … and things went downhill considerably as the night progressed, lucky i didn`t have to get up for work today.Similar Posts:

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Nihonshu

Sashimi In Shibuya

Neil — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:08:39 +0000

I went for a bite to eat with a friend last night a Sashimi place in Dogenzaka.

I generally go the easy options when i eat raw fish … Nigiri Sushi and nothing too adventerous at that. Last night i wasn`t in charge of the menu so it was a bit out of my comfort zone.

Despite my initial hesitation i gave everything a go and enjoyed most of it.

The cooked fish head was right up my alled though, had it a few times and recommend it to anyone.

But when push comes to shove i guess i tend to go places i`m a bit more familiar with the whole menu, like last Friday nights Yakatori … fantastic.

Been a bit slow around here these days due to some work issues keeping away from regular posting.

That will be over soon so it will be back to normal …. when maybe not “normal” but i`ll be writing a bit more.Similar Posts:

Post from: Neil Duckett

Sashimi In Shibuya

Jangara Ramen

Neil — Mon, 18 May 2009 23:41:34 +0000

I was out late in Harajuku the other night and happened to be a little peckish, if would be fair to say it probably had a little something to do with a belly full of beer.

Late night food for me in Japan usually leads to 1 thing …. Ramen.

The usual masses of people were absent from Jangara Ramen so there was no trouble getting a seat right away.

Scanning the menu i noticed a spicy miso ramen i hadn’t seen before, ’nuff said …. and YES, it was every bis as spicy as it looks!

Jangara Ramen has 6 shops around Tokyo so if you love your Ramen i suggest you give this place a go.Similar Posts:

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Jangara Ramen

Sunday Carvery At The Meguro Tavern

Neil — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:52:25 +0000

Yesterday i had the pleasure, and i really mean it was a pleasure, to go to the Meguro Tavern in of all places …. Meguro, and partake in the all you can eat carvery.

The system is simple, it’s served between 12 and 1 and lasts until it’s gone, which is usually between 2 and 3 …. yesterday there was still roast meat left over at 3pm.

There’s roast beef, lamb and pork to choose from along with yorkshire puddings, roast spuds, mixed vegies, brussel sprouts and all manner of condiments including apple sauce for the pork.

Upon entry to the tavern you pay 1950 yen, provided you buy a drink you can hit the carvery as many times as you like … and i did, i left fuller than a fat lady’s sock.

Do yourself a favour and get in to the Meguro Tavern for a Sunday Roast and a few pints, it was a nice change to have something a bit more similar to what i’d usually eat at home.Similar Posts:

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Sunday Carvery At The Meguro Tavern

Breast Milk – Are You Getting Enough?

Neil — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:29:50 +0000

If not, then why not pick up a 500ml carton and top up on your daily quota of breast milk aptly named 母乳 .. Mothers Milk.

Maybe i have it wrong and it’s meant to be for the mother to drink to make for healthier breast milk for the tot still on the tit? A little help with deciphering please JT.Similar Posts:

Post from: Neil Duckett

Breast Milk – Are You Getting Enough?

Kohmen Ramen

Neil — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:33:56 +0000

I live by a few simple mantras, 1 of them being “hot day cold food, cold day hot food”.

That being said this winter i`ve scoffed down my fair share of ramen and if i had to narrow it down to a top 3 then Tantanmen at Kohmen Ramen would be in it.

Up until a fortnight ago i`d only known of 2 shops, both a train ride from home …. that was untl i walked home a new direction and found a shop on route.

See, it actually does look like the picture.

My money is on the Tantanmen all the way. The taste is hard to describe …. but it`s absolutely delicious.

There`s 12 stores around Tokyo so do yourself a favour and get in there one time.Similar Posts:

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Kohmen Ramen

Wontonmen

Neil — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 08:00:59 +0000

In the pursuit of something different to eat the other night i stumbled across Wontonmen at a local restaurant just near Yoyogi Station.

Up until then i`d never seen in on the menu but now i`m glad i did, it`s a great blend of Ramen with a good 3 or 4 steamed Wontons floating in a great broth.

It was bloody well priced too coming in at 1200 yen for the Wontonmen and a beer.

Take a sharp left from the West Exit and walk 30 metres the wrong way down the one way road under the tracks … X marks the spot.

Tell them i sent you and they`ll look at you with a confused look so don`t say anything just get in there and give it a go.Similar Posts:

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Wontonmen

Standing Bars

Neil — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:58:26 +0000

On the back of last nights bar opening near my place, I got into a conversation this morning on Twitter regarding the size of some of the standing bars in Japan which prompted me to dig up some photos from when i first arrived in Japan.

More on the new bar later but this one, situated close to the Century Hyatt in Nishi Shinjuku, doesn’t look like much and it isn’t but it’s fun and there’s no danger of not meeting anyone.

Peering in you can get the idea there’s not a whole lot of spare space in there.

I took up a position just inside the door. There’s room for 2 people at this end … note the full head of hair.

Down the long side of the bar there’s room for another 5 at most with the last in being hard up against the door.

The toilet is at the other end, near old mate with the fur collar, which means when anyone needs to use it the whole bar has to back out the door single file.

The bar owner perched on his stool, ready to make you some food or pass you another very reasonably priced grog.

From memory a bottle of beer was 300 yen.

It’s bars like these that make your experience in Japan unique and they’re bloody good for practicing your Japanese.Similar Posts:

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Standing Bars

McDonalds Menu #4

Neil — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:42:42 +0000

Earlier in the week i mentioned the McHotDog Classic and despite the debate whether a Hot Dog that followed i wasn’t deterred and this morning, on route to work, i took the long way round past the golden arches and grabbed one for breakfast.

I went for the McHotDog, minus the set which was coffee and what looked like a hash brown, and opted for the medium coke instead.

On first glance it seemed a little small and i questioned whether it would be enough to be me through to lunch.

It actually looks pretty similar to what the poster depicted, i guess it’s pretty hard to stuff a hot dog up.

Taste? hmmmm, not bad, the bun was soft the sauce and relish were OK, the actual dog though is very typical of the other hot dogs i’ve had in Japan … a little plastic for the want of a better word … all up though, it filled a hole.

As for the should a hot dog have sauce debate, or ketchup if you must call it that, i’m keen to hear from a broader cross section that just a few select Americans that say it’s taboo …. you can also cast 2 votes if you wish.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.Similar Posts:

Post from: Neil Duckett

McDonalds Menu #4