Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2014
The Ukai group of restaurants including the popular teppanyaki, Ukai-tei and tofu restaurant Tofu-ya Ukai, has opened a new Kappou (B1 Jewel Box Ginza, 8-9-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku) restaurant in Ginza.
The Delicatessen at the Park Hyatt Tokyo will start its summer Park Brewery menu on July 1, which includes free-flowing ales from Sankt Gallen served with antipasti for only ¥3,500. The event runs daily from 6 to 8 pm through September 30.
The depachika at Ginza Matsuya has undergone an extensive renewal. New shops feature chocolates from Bulgari, smoked salmon from Moulin de la Vallee in Nagano and a larger wine and sake department.
Toriba (7-8-13 Ginza, Chuo-ku) a new coffee shop just opened in Ginza features a first floor with a corner full of high tables to sip on an exceedingly reasonable ¥100 cup of Joe. Beans can be purchased to take home and customers can smell their way through a variety of coffee notes. Toriba also sells espresso machines and other coffee essentials.
Famed ice cream brand Haagen-Dazs has come out with two new vegetable ice creams: one is a carrot-and-orange flavor reminiscent of Creamsicles and the other is a tomato-and-cherry treat.
Still need more vegetables in your dessert? Then check out Yasaigashi (literally “vegetable sweets;” 3-1-5 Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku) in Azabu-Juban. The line-up includes kabocha (pumpkin) or spinach financiers (friands) and eggplant or celery jams.
Le Cordon Bleu in Daikanyama is offering wine classes in English in association with the Wine Spirits Education Trust starting on July 26. You can register here: www.cordonbleu.edu/tokyo/wine-apply/en
Stacey Ward has opened Mornington Crescent, bakery school and online shop, in Azabu-Juban. The focus at this teaching space is on British sweets and baked goods like scones, Victoria sponge cakes and British Christmas cakes. You can check the schedule and sign up online at mornington-crescent.co.jp/about.html.
A new Neopolitan pizzeria worth checking out is La Tripletta (3-13-12 Oyama, Shinagawa-ku), which also has an extensive menu of side dishes to enjoy with your vino.
You can catch up on all of this season’s Major League Baseball action over New York-style pizza at Rocco’s (1-1-24 Oji-Honcho, Kita-ku) in Oji. Check the website for their schedule.
Shimbashi adds yet another drinking spot with Brasserie Beer Boulevard where you can stop by for a glass of one of the craft beers on tap and a few small bites before (or after) you stumble on to some of the other watering holes in the area. (2F Culture Center Bldg, 5-10-8 Shimbashi, Minato-ku; )
Satiate your caramel craving with handmade caramels at Number Sugar (5-11-11 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku). Flavors include ginger, almond, salt, or cinnamon and tea.
Perhaps the long lines for popcorn in Harajuku will move to the new Magnolia Bakery (B1 Gyre Bldg., 5-10-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku) for its signature cupcakes. The original shop is in New York City.
Garrett popcorn, famous for the long lines at its Harajuku branch, has opened a new shop in Tokyo station’s Ichibangai underground mall.
Sales are now on for an ice cube in the shape of Fuji-san.
Stay cool this summer with a frozen Mitsuya cider—one that only freezes up after the bottle is opened (on sale at 7-Eleven). Prefer your frozen drinks with a kick? Then try Merican’s frozen Franzia wine.
