Wedding Blog

Mr. Ant and I have very different interests and polar opposite personalities. But when it comes to our burning love for food, the gastronomical stars aligned perfectly for us. We truly are tastebud-dies, best-foodies-forever, restaurant-affectionados, and even soul-food-mates.

One of the reasons why we chose to honeymoon in Tokyo was because it’s one of the Culinary Capitals of the world. And our experiences there fulfilled all of our food fantasies. Here are some honorable mentions. (click on images to enlarge)

::TRADITIONAL JAPANESE BREAKFAST::
(at our ryokan in Asakusa - Sukeroku No Yado Sadachiyo)

We enjoyed two traditional breakfasts at our ryokan, both of which included 8 or more courses such as soup, rice, fish, egg, and pickled vegetables. Many of the flavors were new and unexpected, including eggs in a soup of sweet syrup, candied beans, and sweet n’crunchy mini-fish. I really enjoyed experiencing so many different textures and tastes before 9am in the morning.

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::YABU-SOBA::
(in Caretta Shiodome)

Soba, my favorite type of Japanese noodle soup, is a type of thin noodle made from buckwheat flour that can be served either in hot broth or chilled with dipping sauce.

This restaurant is a popular chain in Tokyo, and it was rather good. Of note were the succulent grilled duck, a super-concentrated sweet miso paste that is a perfect complement to beer, the fluffy and airy tempura, and of course, the perfect soba noodles in hot broth.

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::AKASAKA SHISEN HANTEN::
(Iron Chef Chen Kenichi’s Szechwan Restaurant)

The talented and lovable Chen Kenichi is our favorite Iron Chef by far, so we were determined to make our pilgrimage to his restaurant in Tokyo. We really enjoyed the blending of authentic Szechwan flavors with the freshest of ingredients that the Japanese are known for.

Notable dishes included: Baby bok choy in a lobster and egg white reduction, Fried jumbo prawns sauteed with chilis and peppercorn, Mapo tofu with do-ban-jian, and Silken almond tofu dessert.

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::NATARAJ::
(in Ginza)

Curry is a national obsession in Japan. So we figured that the Indian food in Japan would be worth trying.. and we were right! Deelicious aloo gobi (potatoes & cauliflower) and pumpkin curry. Their nan was especially aromatic and chewy- perhaps the best nan I’ve ever enjoyed.

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::MEAT BUNS::
(from Family Mart)

Family Mart is pretty much equivalent to a 7-11. But the meat buns they offered were so delicious that we actually stuffed our faces with them for not just one, but two meals. Our favorite meat buns were: Stewed pork bun, Pork curry bun, and Chashu pork bun (aka roast pork).

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::FRUIT TOMATOES::

Do not underestimate the deliciousness of these tomatoes. Sweeter and larger than any cherry/ grape variety, the fruit tomatoes in Japan were packed with concentrated, zesty tomato flavor! Words cannot describe how ambrosial these tomatoes were…

We actually bought them by the boxful at local markets and snacked on them throughout the trip. And that’s saying a lot considering just how determined we were to ration our stomach space for new restaurants and dishes. We even bought a handful at the airport and snacked on them during the flight back!

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Are there any other food-obsessed couples? Anyone plan on enjoying a culinary focus during their honeymoon?

Previously in this series: * Traditional Tokyo, * Modern Tokyo, and * Mt Fuji and Hakone
Coming up next: * Top 4 Tokyo Meals