Favorite Japanese Restaurant in Japan, Okayama City, No idea of the name tho.....

Yes, this is my favorite Japanese food in Japan.

No, I don't know the name.

Not only that, I don't know what most of the stuff I ate was.  

Doesn't mean it can't be amazing, and it is, consistently.

This is my second visit to this place.  It's located in Okayama City, about 6 blocks east of Okayama Station, straight down the main street from the station, on the left side of the street.

As you may already have surmised, this is going to be one of those posts where I won't provide much info (cause I don't have much).  So just sit back and enjoy the photos.  I'll comment where I can.

Itadakimasu

This following is the name, entry way to the restaurant.  I believe it's the name of the chef/owner

Stunningly beautiful place-setting

Always start with beer

First course

I was going to say homemade tofu but EVERYTHING here is homemade, so I'll dispense with that from here forward

Sesame tofu under sea urchin in a light ponzu type sauce

And, some sort of small shredded fish topped with salmon roe, and lots of other stuff

As you will see with everything, the presentation is as amazing as the flavors

Best tasting and best looking food I've ever eaten

Broth with some fish that I was told was extremely expensive.  The name wasn't easily translatable so we simply enjoyed eating it

FINALLY some sake!

On the right was Okayama sake and the left Niigata

I have to say the Okayama sake was the winner that night, had to be

Pick a cup, or two

Separate cups for each

A small ice boat with fish and squid.

The best tasting textured squid I've ever had.  It was perfect

Mackerel in ponzu and grated daicon

Cod and sweet potato

The most perfectly cooked piece of fish I think I've ever eaten

Yes please, more sake

A steamed custard with sea breem inside and shrimp on top.

Incredible

Sofaking good I can hardly look at the photos without crying

Handmade ceramic sake cups

More sake

Tempura

Red miso and rice, just the best way to begin to close out a meal

Desert

Green tea ice cream, red beans, something soft and giggly in cocoa powder (no idea what)

Green tea

Another great food experience in the books.

DVA - Sayonara

Appetito, Okayama City, Japan, Neapolitan Pizza

Pizza in Japan is becoming a mega industry.  New places are cropping up everywhere, and somehow they are really nailing it (Japan being nowhere near Italy).  

Cool ambience, bitchen ovens, creative take on what they offer, crafting something that is based in authentic neapolitan traditions yet infusing something that is uniquely Japanese.

My two friends Shunsuke and Ai took me to this place, I believe their favorite pizza place, the other day and I cannot wait to go back.  Super fricken cool, and delicious.

Here's both the place and my pals

Proudly displayed official seal of the Napoletana Pizza Authority, etc.. or something like that.  Means that they are doing the real deal, officially approved by Italy, or something...

The oven

Work space

Standard

Salumi and bread with olive oil, and mozzarella 

yeah, yummmmmm

Beautiful

Some antipasti containing octopus, salmon, squid, carrot, olives, spinach. 

Interesting, delicious, a Japanese twist on an Italian classic

The one to the left is a nut bread thing (no idea what it really contained or the name)

On the right was a fried fish with a relish or salsa or ????

Both were delicious

Margherita pizza

Fantastic crust, a little heavy on the cheese and sauce, but a very good pizza

Cheese, sausage, broccoli

Yummmmmm  (but the margherita was better, just sayin)

And we shared a pasta as well  Very good, everything here was VERY good

Yeah, pizza w chopsticks, it happens.....

This was some sort of seafood boulliabasse.  Whole fish underneath clams and a large langostino and whole small squid, all in a wonderful broth and tomato thing.  I want to eat the keyboard off my laptop just thinking about how good this was!

BOOM!

Duck and potato puree

On to the desert

Shunsuke had gelato

I had tiramisu

Ai had pana cotta

Espresso

Bellisimo

 Cool guys

WAY cooler guy

Eat more pie, especially Japanese pie

DVA

Japan Air, Business Class

I wish I knew how to say "Free Upgrade"  in Japan, cause that's what this was and it was nice.

But let's back up a little so I can give a bit more of the story...

I was headed back to Japan, and going via JAL again, the San Diego to Tokyo direct flight.  This time, unlike the last flight a few weeks ago, the Dreamliner was back in service, bigger, better plane than the previous one.  And, it was JAL, so everything is awesome and the attentants are nice and  helpful and everything is just, well, Japanesey.  I like.  And so, I got upgraded, for free, at the check-in counter.  Not sure why or how, but I did.  It looked like coach was oversold and they needed to move me up to make room for other paying passengers, and business class was only about half full.  Man, I hope this happens on the way back, cause this shit was awesome!

Let's start with the comfort

Fully adjustable seat, folding all the way down to a bed

Nice suede slippers

Cardigan and Bose headset to use for the flight

Loaner cardigans???  Was kinda weird, but hey, comfort is comfort

Warm towel for my face

No window shades.  You simply touch a button and the windows darken

???? I was like, how does that work ????

Yes, please bring me the drink cart

Amuse-Bouche

Carrot puree with sea urchin and bread sticks

and

Potato salad with chicken teriyaki

Both were really delicious

Specialty cocktail for this route (SD to Tokyo)

"Michizane"

Plum wine and gin mixed with lime juice

Was really good 

For dinner I selected the Japanese dinner.

Rather than explain what was what, small bites of many things, here's the program so you know the players:

Before

And after

It also came with braised beef, rice, miso soup

a little tea to wash it down

Coconut pudding

Mid-flight I enjoyed a cheese plate and some wine

I also had a truffle a bit later

JAL is great

Business class (free upgrade) is great

Traveling is great

See the world, eat food

DVA