Toku Toku, Glebe

Wohoo... this is my 100th post! Thanks for your support. I will write my favourite Japanese Food. :)

I always want to try this Toku Toku at Glebe and never find an opportunity to do so. Since we have finished a movie at the nearby Broadway Shopping Centre, I took my chance to pay a visit here. We were seated at the back outdoor courtyard in this lovely weather.

Salmon Carpaccio

We start with salmon carpaccio.

Popcorn Prawns

Popcorn Prawns

I cannot resist the temptation to order the popcorn prawns. The size of these prawns are not really popcorn size. It's huge!

Grilled Cod with Miso

One of my favourite Japanese dish is grilled cod with miso. Perfectly grilled with a slight miso favour. Loving it!

Wagyu Brisket

The wait stuff recommended the wagyu brisket and it goes perfectly with a bowl of rice.


I guess we have ordered too much again. Otherwise, I would love to try their tempura Mars bar.

Toku Toku

36 Glebe Point Road

Glebe NSW 2037

(02) 9660 9636

Blancharu, Elizabeth Bay

Today is Mid-Autumn Festival. It is normally where family gathering together for dinner then eat moon cakes and play lantern afterwards. My family dinner is at Blancharu. We have chosen the 7 course degustation.

After our order taken, we were served with small bread rolls, French onion or sourdough. The French onion bread roll has a right balance of onion taste.

Aburi Ocean Trout with Macedoine Salad and Dill Pesto

Shortly after our first entree is served. It is a very interesting start and looking forward to what will follow.

Second entree is chicken terrine, Tikuzen style. (Sorry forgot to take a picture of it)

Clam Broth with Carrot Flan 

We have to mix up the flan at the bottom to eat with the broth together.

Mushroom and Sweetbread Pie with Balsamic Sauce

This is deconstructed pie. The pastry is crispy and it is very interesting to try sweetbread. It is very tender.

Possion Du Jour is Pan Fried Barramundi with Garlic Butter and Cauliflower

This dish somehow gave a bitterness taste to it. 

Wagyu Beef Tenderloin, Cassava Root, Bordelaise Sauce, Wasabi Power

Never had cassava root before, first thought it is some kind of potato chip. The texture is harder than potato. 

Dessert Du Jour is Cheesecake with Passionfruit sorbet

Finishes off with a cheesecake and my favourite passionfruit sorbet... yum yum!! :D

Moon Cakes - Lotus Seed with Egg Yolk

We finished off with moon cakes at home. :) Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!!!

Blancharu

Shop 1, 21 Elizabeth Bay Road

Elizabeth Bay NSW

(02) 9360 3555

Rengaya, North Sydney

Revisiting Rengaya, my all time favourite. They use F-1 Black Wagyu and their quality never disappointed! 

Wagyu Yukke

We started off with Wagyu Yukke. This is not for someone who cant handle raw meat! I can slide the Wagyu down my throat. I like the hint of sesame oil.

Cooking...

The best part of having yakiniku is that you can cook the meat to your liking. 

Premium Wagyu Short Rib

My recommendation to cook the Wagyu Short Ribs to medium to medium well. The fatty oil melted into the meat. It is just divine!

Special Ox-Tongue

A must eat dish is Ox-Tongue. This time I had the Special Ox-Tongue which is thinly sliced. I like to cook it with a crispy crust.

Wagyu Tenderloin

If you do not like your beef to be too oily, Wagyu Tenderloin is not a bad choice! This is actually the best out of the dishes we ordered.

Wagyu Beef Rib

Since we would like to try a wide variety of different part of the beef to compare. We have chosen Wagyu Beef Rib. This is like ordinary beef slice not much of an excitement. 

Egg Porridge

We ordered porridge instead of rice dish this time. It is a very nice finish to wash off the oil we had from the meat.

Wa Plate: Green Tea Creme Brulee, Warabimochi with Sweet Black Syrup, Shiratama Zensai Served with Tea

I love zensai very much. I like that chewy texture. When I saw this from the dessert menu, this is a must have despite I am pretty full! 

Green Tea Creme Brulee

The green tea creme brulee is full of green tea favour as well as silky smooth. What a way to finish!

Rengaya

73 Miller Street

North Sydney

(02) 9929 6169

Waqu, Crows Nest

I haven't seen Miss A for awhile and organised a catch up over dinner (as usual). Waqu is the restaurant which we have been talking about and will visit there one day. This "one day" has arrived and Miss A arranged the booking for us.

Waqu Spring Menu

The restaurant offers six course tasting menu. We will only need to choose which entree and main. Since we have four people and only three choices, we choose all three choices to share among ourselves.

 Japanese Salt and Pepper squid and chicken, dashi Mayonnaise; Tiger Prawn Escabeche on Miso Paint with Crusted Rosemary

Once the waitress has taken our orders, the drinks have been served, the amuse arrives. I prefer the salt and pepper squid and chicken over the tiger prawn escabeche. This is the first time I like squid and chicken over tiger prawn!!

Spring Vegetable Soup

Then comes the soup. When we had our first spoonful, we are exclaimed cold? Did they forget to heat it up before serving it to us? Despite it is cold, this soup is quite refreshing and I can feel it is spring. :)

Three Kinds of Market Fish Sashimi, umami soy sauce

My favourite sashimi. I thought there should be nothing wrong with this one? But yes all good. :)

 Onsen Tamago + Foie Gras Parfait

Now it is our entree. I have ordered the Onsen Tamago + Foie Gras Parfait. The onsen egg is really smooth and runny. The vegetables are crunchy and fresh.

 Scallop & Crab Mousse

Roasted Duck + Smoked Oyster Salad

The other choices of the entree are Scallop + Crab Mousse and Roasted Duck + Smoked Oyster Salad.

Wagyu Beef

I have ordered the Wagyu Beef as main. Although I am not a big fan of the wagyu, the other choice of the day is either barramundi or pork with ginger, which I do not like to eat at all. Their wagyu beef is really tender and cook to perfection. I enjoyed it very much. 

Panfried barramundi, yuzu emulusion, nori seaweed paint, chamame mash potato

Miss D90 said the best part of this place is the nori seaweed paint.

65 c cooked pork loin + roasted rib, ginger jus, apple puree, braised bamboo, sauteed shiitake & zucchini

Never thought of pork can be served in so pink colour. Thought it has not been cooked well. I guess it is similar to the colour of ham? 

Finally finishes off with dessert. Tonight our dessert is strawberry based and most of the pieces are in pink.

Strawberry Mousse, Macaroon, Pink Pepper Puree, Strawberry Jelly, Cheese Ice Cream

Although the meal might not be fantastic, but with great company that what's matter most!

Waqu

308 Pacific Highway

Crows Nest NSW 2065

(02) 9906 7736

Mino, Mosman

I am very frustrating to find a restaurant which is open on Sunday! After searching and reading numerous reviews, I finally find this little restaurant at Mosman called Mino. This restaurant offers Kaiseki menu as well as A La Carte. According to Wikipedia, Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner. I have eaten Kaiseki in Japan before and the presentation as well as the food itself is amazing! I have given this restaurant a go and never regretted it. We have chosen two different Kaiseki, Mino and Goshu.

Amuse 

We started off with amuse. 

 Steamed Prawns and Seaweed with Plum Dressing

Japanese Style Fried Scallop Ball with Prawn Bisque

Then followed by the appetizer.

Chef Selection of Sashimi, Sushi and Oyster

Chef Selection of Today's Sashimi

It then followed by the Sashimi and Sushi.

Grilled Barramundi with Miso Sauce; Seared Kingfish and Slow Cooked White Radish with Japanese Yuzu Pepper; Asparagus and Duck Tempura with Miso and Blue Cheese Sauce

Buckwheat Soba Soup with Duck Mince Ball; Seared Scallop and Prawns; Grilled Kingfish and Shimeji Mushroom with Ginger and Soy Sauce-Mayonnaise in Foil
 

Then assorted entree either in 4 different with Mino or 5 different with Goshu.

Sukiyaki Hotpot (Wagyu Beef)

Grilled Duck Breast with Japanese Style Tomato Sauce

Finally our mains. There is around 12 to choose from Mino menu or 18 from Goshu. 

Seasonal Fruit, Dessert and My Choice of Ice Cream

Cannot complete a meal without dessert. We had a big smile and entertained for a good 2 hours. 

Mino Japanese Restaurant

521 Millitary Road

Mosman NSW

02 9960 3351

Wagaya, Sydney

This is one of the places which I have been a lot of time but never have a chance to take photo of what I ate so far. This time I brought my camera with me and ready to take some photos! :) The following are the sample of food which I will normally have. 

Seaweed Salad 

Mentaiko Spagetti 

 Japanese Pizza 

 Sashimi Platter 

 Spider Roll 

 Softshell Crab Salad 

 Agedashi Tofu with Softshell Crab 

 Deep Fried Salmon Skin 

Wagaya Salad

 Pancake

It has been awhile since I visited this place. Looking back on these photos and I wish to dine there soon!!

Wagaya

Level 1

78-86 Harbour Street

Sydney NSW

(02) 9212 6068