Nepali Indian Spicy CURRY HOUSE (Yokkaichi: Part 5)

I had my first curry in college during Diwali. India Palace catered. The bright orange ambrosia’s taste lurked in the corners of my subconscious, and I wondered when I could have it again. I was a free food foodie, who frequently found free events. Each time the Indian organization organized anything, I went. When I visited my parents,…

Youkashi Napoléon (Yokkaichi: Part 4)

In a monthly coupon magazine, I came upon a discount for the Yokkaichi Baum at Youkashi Napoléon (洋菓子ナポレオン, youkashi means “non-Japanese/Western sweets”)! I love the light texture of these traditional German cakes, made dense by their many layers and wondered what made Napoléon’s baumkuchen special, so I convinced Wise to take a detour with me. We had already…

Recompense (G7 Ise Summit Yokkaichi: Part 3)

April 25 Colorful, chic, and relatively cheap Recompense (レコンパンス) is third on our Yokkaichi cafe list. Though Recompense follows Cafe Moi and Raji Cafe Apartment, I usually think of it first when considering lunch in Yokkaichi. There are three types of lunches, but the items on the menu change biweekly. Here  is the menu from my first…

Raji Cafe Apartment (G7 Ise Summit Yokkaichi: Part 2)

April 19 A friend recommended our second Yokkaichi (四日市) Cafe, Raji Cafe Apartment (ラジカフェアパートメント, raji cafe apa-tomento). It just so happened I needed to visit Yokkaichi’s Immigration Bureau. The free Black Sesame Seed Pudding (黒ゴマプリン, goma purin) coupon sweetened the deal. One grey day, I cautiously approached the menu outside Raji’s door. Why so cautious? If…

Cafe Moi (G7 Ise Summit Yokkaichi: Part 1)

April 7 After much deliberation and Sakura viewing, our next destination on the countdown to Ise Summit is Yokkaichi City (四日市市), a small pocket of urbanity between Nagoya City (名古屋市) and Ise City (伊勢市). Allow me to introduce Cafe Moi (カフェモイ), one of my frequent haunts. This two-storey, Moomin-themed cafe first attracted me when I…

1010 Banchi (G7 Ise Summit Matsusaka: Part 5)

April 1 This is my fifth and final Matsusaka post for now. After eating at Mond Cafe, I walked to 1010 Banchi (1010番地, sin juu ban chi) for second dessert: it’s like second breakfast. Most Matsusakans know of 1010 Banchi. For example, when I was talking to a local, I began to say “Juu Juu…

Mond Cafe (G7 Ise Summit Matsusaka: Part 4)

March 31 I considered taking a break from Matsusaka, but I like finishing things, like TV series and bags of cookies. There is one Double Coated Tim Tam left and I opened it only yesterday. Eating issues aside, let’s begin. Mond Cafe (it is pronounced “Mondo,” モンドカフェ) is just a little over 1000 meters away…

Copain, No Gain (G7 Ise Summit Matsusaka: Part 3)

March 25 Our third stop in Matsusaka is Copain (コパン), a bakery cafe a little off the beaten track. As I walked from Bluemint to Copain, I did not get lost; however, I did worry about tumbling into the stream. I chose Copain on a whim, and because I felt like I needed to visit one more…

Bluemint (G7 Ise Summit Matsusaka: Part 2)

March 23 In my last post, I covered Matsusaka Beef(松阪牛) and Nagomi Kitchen Hoshi‘s doria. Continuing our tour of Matsusaka, let’s sip some joe at Bluemint (ブルーミント), or rather, you have the coffee, I’ll have the cake. It is rumored to serve some of the best coffee in Mie Prefecture, but I can’t attest to that (not a…

Nagomi Kitchen Hoshi (G7 Ise Summit Matsusaka: Part 1)

March 17 This is my first official post about places to eat if you are visiting Japan for the Ise Summit, or if you are simply in the Kansai (関西) area. Everyone has heard of Kobe beef (神戸牛), but Matsusaka beef (松阪牛) is just as legendary in Japan. Japanese beef is called wagyuu (和牛). Let’s assume…