UPDATE: Curry Shop Sakura カレーショップ桜蔵 022-307-6320

Website:  http://www.warashibesha.com/index.html

If you haven't read about Curry Shop Sakura before, please read my previous post:  Curry Shop Sakura.

Another first-rate chicken curry lunch!  Tasted just as great (and spicy) as the last time.  But last time I forgot to mention that the chicken is a chicken leg, bone included.  But the meat is so soft that it easily slips off the bone.  Again, I went with the regular-sized spicy curry (600円); not so spicy that it's uncomfortable to eat, but enough to cause sweat beads to start appearing on your head.

My wife went with the regular-sized sweet flavor vegetable curry (500円).  I tasted it and, though very tasty in its own right, is quite different from the spicy flavor.

やさいカレー

We ordered two sets of the cake/drink set (500円/each), one with banana pound cake and the other with spicy chiffon cake and decided to split the cakes so that we could try both of them equally.  The banana pound cake arrived first and the serving size was quite generous!  To be honest, we should have just ordered this and split it.  And like before, it was scrumptious!

Then came the even bigger piece of spicy chiffon cake.  Between the two cakes, I couldn't finish my portion (much to the delight of my wife who obliged).  I couldn't identify the actual spice in the chiffon cake but I think it was either ginger or nutmeg, or perhaps a combination of the two.  It tasted okay, but it wasn't in the same league as the banana pound cake.

スパイシーシフォンケーキ

When paying, I used a 500 円 coupon that I had received on my last visit for filling up my stamp card.  And because it's the New Year season they had a special drawing.  We walked away with a bag of cleanser (which they make) and two decorative coasters, which were made from recycled milk cartons.

Again, I'd like to remind you that this a very special restaurant in that it employs mentally challenged individuals and allows them to support themselves and achieve a sense of self-worth and accomplishment.  

View Larger Map

Update: Saint Marc Bakery / Restaurant サンマルク 022-307-4309

Website:  http://www.saint-marc-hd.com/saintmarc

Also look at the following website for coupons/map/info: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/t247400/

If you haven't read about Saint Marc's before, please read my previous post at: Saint Marc.

My wife and I revisited Saint Marc's yet again for another appetizing outing.  "Yet again" because, in all honesty, this was the second time this week that we've eaten there.  It's that good!

Today we used the ランチの女王 with パスタ campaign postcard that we received from St. Marc's because we are on their mailing list (this same campaign meal can be found at the above "gnavi" coupon website!). 

This bargain 1290 円 meal included a green salad (consisting mainly of mizuna), a small bowl of pasta (meat sauce or duck with tomato sauce), a main entrée, rice or bread, drink, and dessert.

Green (mizuna) Salad

Here are the choices available for the entrée:  

grilled chicken with honey mustard sauce (what I ordered), minced katsu, chicken katsu, hamburger steak, white fish w/eggplant, white fish w/vegetables, beef stroganoff, beef stew, or scallop & salmon combo.

Grilled Chicken with Honey Mustard Sauce

The meat sauce pasta that I ate was good but not extraordinary, while the honey mustard chicken (with potatoes, string beans, and red bell pepper) was quite flavorful! 

Meat Sauce Pasta

Today, my wife ordered the white fish with vegetables and was quite satisfied with it, but she did say that she preferred the white fish with spinach that she had ordered just six days before.

White Fish with Vegetables

The bread rolls I devoured today were the following:

yomogi, sesame seed croissant, hotel pan (a regular dinner roll), garlic roll, spicy pepper stick (very good!), walnut roll, sesame seed roll, chocolate, chocolate croissant.

I passed on the following offerings:

milk roll, cheese croissant, cheese roll, and onion roll.

ゴマ Roll, Chocolate Roll, and Chocolate Croissant

For dessert, I opted for the mouthwatering chocolate mousse (which was 100 円 extra).  Once more, the coffee was grand and added a great finishing touch to tantalizing meal!

Chocolate Mousse

View Larger Map

UPDATE: Miyakoshiya Coffee 宮越屋珈琲 022-225-7111

UPDATE, OCT. 13, 2013:  UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CAFE IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS AS A CAFE.  I VISITED MITSUKOSHI DEPARTMENT STORE YESTERDAY AND I FOUND THAT IT NOW ONLY SELLS COFFEE BEANS.

I WAS SORRY TO SEE THIS PLACE GO.

OH, WELL.

If you'd like, continue to read the post to see what you missed out on.

Website: http://r.tabelog.com/miyagi/A0401/A040101/4008025/dtlphotolst/

If you haven't read about Miyakoshiya before, please click my first Miyakoshiya post.

This past weekend I returned to Miyakoshiya for the Honey-Chocolate Pound Cake that I saw on the menu last time.  I imagined this to be a big hunk of chocolate pound cake with a taste of honey.  But, to my disappointment, this is what it turned out to be ...

hmmmf.

Two small, thin slices of slightly honey-flavored pound cake with chocolate chips.  The fresh whipped cream did add a nice flavor to it but it was not what I was hoping for.  It didn't taste bad, and most people would probably enjoy this.  And for only 263 円, it's not a bad deal.  It just didn't live up to my expectations.   

The saving grace was the French Blend Coffee and, again, it was strong and flavorful.    There was a posting for a brownie so perhaps I'll try that next time.

UPDATE #2: Billy's Sandwich

UPDATE: MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015.

IT IS WITH GREAT REGRET TO ANNOUNCE THAT BILLY'S IS NO LONGER.

I DROVE HERE LAST FRIDAY TO DINE ON YET ANOTHER FILLING AND FLAVORFUL SANDWICH ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE BUILDING WAS BEING DEMOLISHED.

I WISH THE OWNER, IIBUCHI-SAN, THE BEST, AND AM GRATEFUL FOR THE WONDERFUL LUNCHES SHE PROVIDED OVER HER FIFTEEN YEAR RUN.

Website:  http://www.billys.jp/


If you haven't read about Billy's before, please click my Billy's and Billy's Update posts.


A short update on Billy's.  Just got back from another delicious lunch at Billy's.  I went with my usual (Clubhouse w/avocado) and my wife with her usual (BLT half sandwich set).  But today's set came with 特製ポタージュスープ.

BLT Half Sandwich Set with 特製ポタージュ and Banana Mousse

This "Tokusei Pottage Soup" was a creamy mixture of vegetables including cauliflower, cabbage, celery, and others.  In my opinion, it didn't look so hot, but I tried a wee bit and it was DELICIOUS!


Today's set dessert was a choice between chocolate cake or banana mousse.  My wife chose the banana mousse and, unfortunately, ate it all before I could sneak a taste.  But she said it was yummy!


After coming to Billy's for many years, this was the first time we saw either of these items on the menu.  Perhaps Iibuchi-san (the owner) is trying out some new side items for the menu.  So far, it's working out good!


View Larger Map