TRIED AND TESTED RESTAURANTS
Kazahana and Sushi SORA, Tokyo
Kazahana at the Conrad Tokyo is one of the few restaurants in the city that focuses on contemporary Japanese cuisine. The restaurant offers a range of dining options including a multi-course kaiseki, teppanyaki and sushi lunch and dinner menus. It is decorated with traditional sumi-e (black ink) paintings and overlooks sweeping vistas of the Tokyo Bay.
I tried the kaiseki menu that began with a tofu appetizer with edible burdock root and wasabi. A succulent combination, this melted in my mouth and prepared my palate for the upcoming courses. Next was a clear soup with scallops prepared with Japanese spring vegetables. I slowly enjoyed this heartwarming concoction of Japanese goodness.
This was followed by a sashimi platter of marinated tuna with smoked radish, squid with salt and citrus and sea bream with salty kelp sauce. The fish was fresh – sourced from Tokyo’s famous Tsujiki market. Then came a wellcooked charcoal-grilled codfish in soft roe and topped with maitake mushroom, grated radish and chrysanthemum. It was evident that the menu was now moving into the main course and next up was steamed
Japanese rice with the sweet and salty
Teriyaki chicken – not too overpowering.
To finish, I enjoyed a delectable brown sugar pudding that was surprisingly not very sweet.