Tokiwa is an unassuming noodle shop in central Kyoto that serves a huge variety of perfectly average canteen-style meals. It's also the first place that I ever tasted nishin soba. And for that reason it holds a very special place in my heart. I can't remember when exactly I first entered this place, but it must have been over a decade ago, just after I had first moved to … [Read more...]
monk: Light and Shadow on the Philosopher’s Path – Reflections and Recipes from a Kyoto Restaurant
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links from which I will earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As this long, strange interlude continues, many of us are hankering for a trip overseas, craving fresh cultural encounters, and hungering for a taste of authentic foreign cuisines. No doubt many have Kyoto at the top of their … [Read more...]
Christmas Dinner at Tadg’s 2018
We had very happy tidings from Tadg McLoughlin today who has announced that he will be back in the kitchen at Tadg's Pub this Christmas preparing a very special Christmas dinner. If you are looking for a traditional turkey feast with all the trimmings then you can do no better than Tadg's! Tadg’s Christmas Dinner Menu ~ 25th December from 6pm. Small plate of … [Read more...]
Ramen Factory Kyoto
Ramen Factory Kyoto is a new place near Tofukuji Temple where you can experience both making and eating your very own Kyoto style ramen. This shop is a side project of Menbakaichidai, a famous "fire ramen" restaurant that has been serving and entertaining ramen fans in Kyoto for the last 30 years. Check out the video for Ramen Factory below. Updated Details Ramen … [Read more...]
Eri’s Vegan Cooking Kyoto: Late Summer Recovery Lunch Lesson
Thanks to Eri Okada-Berkeley for sharing information on her new vegan cooking class. Eri's Vegan Cooking Kyoto: Late Summer Recovery Lunch Lesson "Hot Summer seems endless! Join me and learn how to make delicious and nutritious vegan dishes in a small and relaxed home class. And enjoy a fabulous four course lunch!" Eri has over 20 years of vegetarian/vegan cooking … [Read more...]
Gods, Monks, Secrets, Fish – An Extract from Deep Kyoto Walks by John Ashburne
Today John Ashburne takes us on a mouth-watering tour of Nishikikōji market and along the way adds a sprinkling of zen spice from the Buddhist teacher Dōgen Zenji... Maintain an attitude that tries to build great temples from ordinary greens, that expounds the buddhadharma through the most trivial activity, handle even a single leaf of a green in such a way that it … [Read more...]
Kyoto Fish Market Tour
Kyoto International Community House ("kokoka") have organized a free tour of Kyoto Central Wholesale Market for Saturday May 10th. What they don't mention is that the market is open to the public, every second Saturday of the month, 12 months of the year and worth a visit with or without a guide. It's not quite on the league of Tokyo's Tsukiji of course, but an interesting … [Read more...]
Support Maki Shoten!
Charles Roche writes, I have a favor to ask. For many years Maki Shoten was the imported food lifeline for the expat community in Kyoto. We would certainly have survived the holidays without turkeys and mince meat and cheeses and honey and candy canes, but without the smile. Today, with large import shops in more convenient locations Maki is being forgotten. That’s a … [Read more...]
Papa Jon’s Honten
On Saturday we took a stroll up to the Shimpukan, intending to grab a bite to eat at Papa Jon's Eatery. Unfortunately for us, they were hosting a wedding party. However, very fortunately for us, we bumped into Charles Roche (the owner) on his way out, and he offered us a lift up to the 本店. Nice chap, isn't he? I'd noticed this place on the way to events at Impact Hub but … [Read more...]
Strolling down Kyoto’s Nishiki Food Market
Nishiki Market is an essential sight-seeing spot for food lovers visiting Kyoto. This 400 year-old market extends for 400 meters between Teramachi and Takakura and has the reputation of being a place where you can find anything! Almost everything here is locally produced and reasonably priced. Filled with all kinds of colorful sights, unusual smells and the cries of the market … [Read more...]
