This Weekend: Notable Sale News You Won't Want To Miss

For this weekend only, Mango is having their shopping weekend where for two whole days, you get 30% off the entire store and online! (exclusions apply) For online purchases, just key in the promo code 5WEEKEND11 at checkout and you automatically get the discount!

As for other sale news, starting October 10 till November 2, RSSI is having their mid-season sale.  Get as much as 50-70% off the following brands:

...and if that isn't enough to get you moving, then I don't know what will.  Well I for one will not sit this one out.  See you at the stores! 

Outfit of the Week: Comfort is Key

September in Tokyo is not really cold.  But yes, I am still wearing boots.  Because I love boots and have nowhere to wear them so I figured might as well wear it out in another country.  LOL.  And thank you, wind, for that windblown hair effect :)  As I've mentioned in my past outfit posts, I'm a lazy dresser.  Minus the boots, tunic+leggings is actually my daily uniform.  Love this combination to bits!  Why?  Because with tunic+leggings, you could actually just change shoes and voila!  From casual to a bit more formal in a second.  Just make sure your top is not too casual, or it wouldn't work.  Speaking of tops, this tunic is actually a dress, but comes up a bit short on me.  So pairing it up with leggings is the perfect thing to do.  And since I'm travelling, comfort is key.  And there's nothing more comfortable than a roomy top and a pair of soft, stretchy leggings.  Feels like pajamas, only better :)  How about you?  What's your travel outfit musts?  Would love to hear about it!

Top:  Nava
Leggings:  Cotton On
Bag:  Longchamp
Shoes:  GU
Watch:  Rolex

Tokyo Eats: Imahan at Ginza

For day 2 dinner in Tokyo, Hubby and I went through the exact same scenario.  Trying to find a restaurant by means of Google Maps, and getting lost along the way.  Sheesh.  But we found it anyway, thanks to a bunch of nice Japanese people and one not so nice one (who claimed he didn't know the place, which was just right in front of him, we later found out .  Boo!).  I've read great reviews online about this place, and when you say sukiyaki and wagyu in one sentence, I'm so there.  

Due to our predicament, we arrived late at Imahan.  Good thing we didn't make a reservation.  But since it was already 8:30PM, the one who greeted us asked if we could finish by 10PM, since that's the time they close.  An hour and a half?  Are you kidding me?  I could probably wolf down everything in 10 minutes if needed.

We were handed the menus right after we were seated.  And at first glance of the menus, both our eyebrows shot up.  We're not cheap people, but heck, this place is expensive.  But since we were already seated, and went through all that lost-in-Tokyo situation, we didn't want to find another restaurant to eat in.  Plus it was already late.  Might as well go with the flow.  We decided to just order one dish to share, then hit the fastfood or convenience store, should the order not be enough.  We did our ordering, and surprise, surprise, our server told us that the minimum orders are one dish per person.  (cue big, round shocked eyes and daydreams of a bleeding wallet.  LOL!)  Pfffffft.  Fine.  Two orders it is to save face.  Haha. 

First order came.  We had the Sukiyaki with High Quality Beef.

Vegetables

High Quality Beef

My initial reaction:  3pieces?!?

Your server will cook the Sukiyaki in front of you.

After cooking, the beef will be dipped in the egg yolk mixture, and handed to you for consumption.

After all the beef is gone, the vegetables will be cooked and served.  If you're curious why I still had a small chunk of beef on the side of my bowl, it's because I purposely did not eat it and saved it so that I can show you guys how pretty it is.  LOL.  But make no mistake about it.  Imahan's sukiyaki is entirely different from the sukiyaki we've all come to know here in the Philippines.  How?  Well first, you've seen the way it was served.  Piece by piece.  Second, you will not be provided with the soup.  As you can see from the photo above, there's barely a hint of soup, unlike here where there's plenty of it.  And third, fancy the glass noodles?  Yes they have it, but only a spoonful and not a strand more.  I guess you could say that I was surprised with how different the sukiyaki in Tokyo is compared to ours in Manila.  I'm not sure if this is really how the Japanese eat their sukiyaki, or just Imahan's version.  Does anyone know?  Please do comment below on the comments section :) 

And for the second order, we had the Shabu Shabu with Top Quality Beef.

Top Quality Beef

Initial reaction:  Hey, four slices instead of three!  (insert mental fist-pump).  Then comes the realization that this is actually more expensive than the High Quality Beef.  So it's kind of getting what you've paid for.  (but still freaking expensive!!!)

Again, not what we're used to.  For the Shabu Shabu, the meat is dipped in a pot of boiling water.  Yes, WATER, not soup.  So it's basically tasteless.  After cooking, each piece will be dipped in two different sauces (one sour and one creamy) then served.

  

This is is creamy sauce.  I think it's mayonnaise mixed with something else, but I'm not sure what.  After the meat is finished, the server will use the boiling water from which the meat was cooked in, put some in a small bowl, add pepper, and serve it as "soup".  One small bowl and no more.  And it still tasted like hot water.  That's it!  Dinner done.  Imagine my frustration.  Argh.

Ok, ok, so you guys might be wondering about how expensive this dinner was and why I was complaining nonstop about it on this post.  Well... I did the liberty of snapping a photo of our receipt.

Two orders = Y20,790.  Which roughly converts to Php 9106.  And it wasn't even a filling dinner.  $%&@*!!!  I guess you could say that this was the most expensive dinner for two Hubby and I ever had.  

So the verdict?  Yes, you could say that the wagyu was delicious.  Correction: extremely melt-in-your-mouth amazing.  That's what it is.  But for the price?  I think there are other restaurants in Tokyo that offer more value for money wagyu compared to what we had.  Heck, it's Japan!  This is a country where wagyu is as common as clouds on the sky.  So yes, it was good, but not that good to warrant the price.  4 out of 5 stars.

Imahan Ginza is at Kojun Building, 5F, 6-8-7 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Tokyo Eats: Ippudo

On our first night in Tokyo, Hubby and I explored Ginza.  It was already late when we finished shopping, and we were both hungry and wanted something fast.  I checked the internet for something nearby, and was pleasantly surprised when I saw Ippudo pop up.  I've already tried Ippudo in Hong Kong and  Singapore, might as well try out the original, right?  

Thanks to Google Maps and our rented wifi stick, we got there after some time of going around the wrong streets.  LOL.  There was a line outside when arrived, but we were ushered inside after a few minutes of wait.  The Japanese are really efficient that way :)

Unlike their branches in other countries, Ippudo Tokyo's menu is very minimal.  Two kinds of ramen and a few side dishes is everything they have.  Makes it easier to order since the items are few.

Hakata Bite-Size Dumplings

 The first dish that arrived was our appetizer:  The Hakata Bite-Size Dumplings.  The skin was thin and crisp, and the insides were juicy.  We finished it in minutes and found ourselves ordering another plate, in 10s!

Shiromaru Special 

Ippudo's original tonkotsu broth served with ultra-thin noodles, pork belly, bean sprouts, black fungus and spring onions.  Classic Hakata-style ramen.  It's the original taste of Ippudo.

The Shiromaru Special comes with 5 cha-shus, 3 roasted seaweeds, flavored soft-boiled egg, scallion, bean sprouts and tree mushroooms.

The Shiromaru Ramen is their basic ramen.  In Ippudo, you can choose to either get the one with cha-shu, the one with egg, or their Shiromaru Special with everything and more.  This was my order.  Of course I had the Special!  *glutton alert*

What I noticed about Ippudo's tonkotsu broth was that it tastes lighter than what I've grown accustomed to.  I ordered my noodles to be very soft, but the one that was served to me was a bit tough.

Akamaru Special

Ippudo's original tonkotsu broth enhanced with special blended miso paste and fragrant garlic oil.  Served with think and straight noodles, pork belly, bean sprouts, black fungus and spring onions.  A refined, modern-style ramen.

The Akamaru Special comes with fragrant garlic oil, 5 cha-shus, 3 roasted seaweeds, flavored soft-boiled egg, scallion, bean sprouts and tree mushrooms.

Hubby's order.  Also the special.  And he too found the taste to be a bit lacking.  It was fragrant alright - with the garlic oil and all, but the broth itself was not that impressive.

Overall, both of us were a tad disappointed with Ippudo Tokyo.  We wanted the flavors to be richer, bolder.  We're spoiled that way.  But to each his own.  Some find richer broths to be too much.  So if you like a cleaner and lighter taste, then Ippudo is definitely for you.  I'd have to give a special mention to the dumplings though, they're superb!  2 out of 5 stars.

Ippudo Ramen is at Daiichi Nakayama Bldg. B1F, 3-11-14 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Tokyo- Kyobashi

I'm back!  Yes I'm a delinquent blogger.  If you've noticed my absence, it's because this lady went to the land of the rising sun - Japan!  Last year, I fell in love with Osaka.  So this year, I figured if Osaka was nice, then Tokyo must be spectacular.  So this time around, Miss M went to Tokyo!  And before I share with you all those yummy food posts, first, let me share with you where we stayed at: Sotetsu Fresa Inn Tokyo - Kyobashi.  

From the moment I booked the tickets to Tokyo, the next thing I do is always find accommodations.  In booking a hotel, I only have three definite musts: first is that the hotel must be of reasonable amount.  Second, the reviews must be pretty good.  And third, the location must be either right smack in the middle of somewhere fun or has public transportation nearby.  A handful of hotels fit my criteria, and in the end, Sotetsu Fresa Inn Tokyo - Kyobashi won me over.  Why?  Because some reviewers claimed that they give out Shiseido bath products.  LOL.

Fast forward to our trip, our flight landed pretty early in the morning.  When we got to the hotel, we were told that our check-in time was still a couple of hours away.  So Hubby and I left our luggage at the front desk and ventured out.  It was already dark when we got back.  By that time the room was ready, so we headed up to the room.  

View from the door

View from the opposite side

Bathroom

Work area

Closet

TV and mini-fridge

So far so good?  Well the room was pretty small.  Something we have yet to get accustomed to.  Had to remind ourselves constantly that rooms in Japan are always this size.  Aside from the room size, everything was looking good.  Well, until we saw this:

And this:

What is it?  I'm not too sure.  Dirt, probably.  Though one thing I am sure of is that it can be cleaned up and it wasn't.  The dirt remained on all 4 nights at the hotel.  Oh well.  I wouldn't have really minded had the dirt been somewhere far, but the one beside the painting was right above our bed.  Couldn't help but think we've inhaled some of it as we sleep.  Eeeew.   

So will I stay at the Sotetsu Fresa Inn Tokyo - Kyobashi again?  Probably not.  Shame really, as the location is really good.  There's a Family Mart around the corner and it's a few steps away from the subway station too.  Guess we'll have to find another place to stay at the next time we find ourselves in Tokyo.  And just in case you're curious... No, there were no Shiseido bath products.  The only Shiseido they had was the hand soap.  Guess they changed toiletries.  Boo.  2 out of 5 stars.

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Tokyo-Kyobashi is at 2-11-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0031, Japan.

Vita Fede, CC Skye and Gorjana's Premium Closing Out Sale!

Ever had a "blah" day where no matter what you do and how many outfit changes you make, there seems to be something lacking in your outfit?  Accessories to the rescue!  It adds that extra "oomph" to an otherwise simple outfit and turn the ordinary into something extraordinary.  We all know that diamonds are a girl's best friend.  Well, I say that accessories are a close second!  And whether you're a master at accessorizing or a newbie who wants to add a little spice, I've got great news for you:  Vita Fede, CC Skye and Gorjana is having their premium closing out sale!  

If you're familiar with the brand, then chances are that you're already all ears.  If not, let me give you a little background on the brands.   

Vita Fede

CC Skye

Gorjana

Excited yet?  To fuel more excitement, let me give you a sneak peek.  Here are some of the Vita Fede styles included in the sale:

Chiave

Como Circle

Fascino Wraps

Lagina

Luca

Monaco Double Multi Wrap

Vero

Prices for the Vita Fede accessories are 60%-90% off.  CC Skye and Gorjana will be marked down at 50%-75% off.  YES.  HUGE DISCOUNTS!  Have your eyes popped out of their sockets yet?  LOL.  I'm personally really excited with this sale, so much that I've already marked down the dates on my calendar.  And I think you should too!

As they all say, there is no such thing as over-accessorizing, so run over to Hotel Celeste this weekend and get these premium brands for a steal!  See you there!

Sakura by Edo-San

A few months ago, Hubby mentioned something about a Japanese restaurant in Alphaland Southgate Tower.  He was in the area, and the interiors of the restaurant caught his attention.  Thus, he wanted to try it.  Months passed we both forgot about it.  That is, until I saw the post of Jin Perez, one of my ever favorite food bloggers.  And if she says it's good, then it's good.  Of course, I had to try it!  

One Saturday night, I dragged Hubby out for a mandatory date.  LOL!  Contrary to other popular Japanese restaurants, Sakura Edo-San is not one of those hyped up restaurants with about a thousand other noisy people in it.  It's a perfect date place; cozy and quiet.  But the more important question is, what about the food?  Let's take a look, shall we?

Appetizer

Uni Sashimi

Shake Sashimi (Fresh Salmon)

Shime Saba (Marinated Mackerel)

...and because I don't eat anything raw (I know, BO-RING!), I'll skip the raw stuff and go straight to the others.

Aburi Uni (Lightly grilled sea urchin)

I've never been a fan of uni, but I got a bit anyway.  Well, it didn't appeal to me in any way, but in Hubby's books, this was really good.  

Gyoza (Pan fried Japanese dumpling)

Nah, this was the major fail of the night.  See the dumpling wrapper?  It was torn even before we got to it.  Tastewise, it didn't do anything for me either.

Kaki To Papaya Yaki (Grilled oyster in papaya with special sauce)

 And now we get to the three best dishes for the night.  First one is the Kaki To Papaya Yaki.  OH MY GOODNESS.  I rarely eat semi-raw oysters, but this one was simply mind blowingly amazing.  The mixture of the big, fat, juicy oysters with the sweet papaya was simply an explosion of orgasmic proportions in my mouth.  I had to close my eyes and moan in pleasure with every bite.

Edo-San Maki (Cream cheese, kani, avocado, tobiko, anago with sauteed shrimp on top)

As for the Edo-San Maki?  This reminded me of the Tempura Maki I had at Yanagi in Midas Hotel.  Just when I thought nothing could compare to it, here comes a contender.   

Unagi to Mango Tempura (Eel, mango with special sauce)

And finally, the Unagi to Mango Tempura.  When I saw this on the menu, I just couldn't pass up the chance to try out a dish which was made from two of my favorite things.  Good thing too!  Because it was sooo good!  The strips of unagi was creamy and crunchy at the same time, and the mango was oh so sweet.

Overall, Sakura by Edo-San has now edged out other Japanese restaurants in my book and has claimed the top spot.  Though the prices may not be for the faint of heart, I can assure you that the quality and taste of the food is top notch.  4.5 out of 5 stars!

Sakura by Edo-San is at 6/F, Alphaland Southgate Tower, EDSA cor.  Pasong Tamo, Makati