Restaurant that serves cold canned food out of the tin trending in Japany

At a Japanese restaurant chain thats set to expand across the country, diners tuck into international canned foods straight out of the tin. Afp pic
TOKYO, July 15 In Japan, the latest gastronomic trend set to expand across the country involves choosing between tins of bear curry, French salad and American smoked oysters, and eating out of the can with plastic cutlery.

What to Western consumers may just sound like a trip to the local grocery store, has become a trend in Japan where diners pack themselves in at Mr. Kanso, a restaurant chain which plans to open more than a dozen new outlets across the country by the end of the year, reports trendspotting site Rocketnews24.com.

There are no menus at Mr. Kanso. For that matter, nor are there any chefs or waiters. The pitch and appeal, however, is supposed to lie in the more than 300 varieties of canned goods from around the world filled with all manner of strange and exotic foods and flavours which can be chased down with beer and sake.

The first location opened in Osaka in 2002. Currently, there are 17 branches. Given the low start-up costs theres no need for trained kitchen staff or even stoves for that matter the chain plans to franchise out the brand with 15 new branches throughout the country, including six new branches in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, says Rocketnews24. Japan is a hotbed for innovative, strange and interesting dining concepts and culinary experiences.

While the country boasts the most three Michelin-starred restaurants of any other country, its also home to wacky theme concepts like the Vampire Caf, Ninja Akasaka, and the Wizard of the Opera. Afp-Relaxnews


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House of Croissant & Lola Cakes

House of Croissant (not 'Croissants,' unfortunately) is an oasis of calm, a ten-minute drive from Bukit Jalil, but its off-the-beaten-track location off Sungai Besi might baffle some GPS navigators.

True to the cafe's name, the specialty here is croissants, including savory stuffed versions. Filled with steak, beef bacon, creamy egg and cheese, this one's pretty enjoyable.

Besides croissants, there are also house-made chocolate-packed rolls ...

... as well as ones laced with cinnamon and vanilla. Worthwhile treats, prepared with TLC by the husband-and-wife team who run this unassuming cafe.

Lavazza! roasted almond latte and iced hazelnut latte. Not bad for a neighborhood hangout that's so far from Ampang, Mont Kiara and Taman Tun.

House of Croissant's neighbors include mamak eateries, Secret Recipe and Pappa Rich; we popped into Tutti Fruitti for a double dose of Red Velvet and Death By Chocolate-flavored frozen yogurt before fleeing.


From an obscure cafe to a needs-no-introduction one: Fun is afoot at Wondermilk, which recently launched a range of handmade "Lola Cakes" available in both one-kilogram and smaller sizes.

Not all eleven varieties of the Lola cakes are always available at Wondermilk's Publika branch, but at 9:30pm on a weeknight, we were fortunate to find the Caramella (RM15), lined with caramel and butterscotch frosting, still in the chiller.

Skinny Devil, a cute-moniker moist chocolate cake that's healthier than the norm, thanks to the absolute absence of butter in it, but still ri! ch-tasti ng, mercifully.

Other Lola cakes include this Foxy Red Velvet (not bad at all, brilliant for two to share), Coconut-Lime, and chocolate-cherry Cherie Amour.


House of Croissant,
53, Jalan Tasik Utama 6,
Medan Niaga Tasik Bamai,
Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-9054-4866
Open through 9pm. Closed Wednesdays.
Lola Cakes @ Wondermilk,
Publika, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.

Vietnam Kitchen, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya


There's nothing more comforting than a bowl of noodles...

..says the noodle addict. One evening while we were in 1 Utama, we headed to Vietnam Kitchen for our dinner. This was before the existence of the Isetan Eat Paradise and "new old wing" in 1 Utama Shopping Centre.


Decor inside Vietnam Kitchen



Since we were relatively early, the restaurant was fairly quiet, so we sat in one of the large booths at the corner. The menu is made up of a la carte items as well as sets. I was craving for a bowl of noodles, so I went for the Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup Set (RM16.90) while Hubby went for the Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup Set (RM17.90).

Hubby's set came with a deep fried chicken thigh, and a bowl of noodles topped with some mince (pork or chicken I cant remember now). The chicken was moist and tender. I enjoyed my bowl of beef noodles soup (pho) - it certainly hit the spot and curbed my craving. The noodles came with slices of beef, beef balls, beansprouts (which you put in yourself so that it retains its crunchiness), lime and Thai basil. Both sets came with an appetizer (spicy radish) and spring roll. The spring ro! ll was n ice and crisp but a tad oily, but since it is only 1 piece, it is forgiveable.

Braised peanuts (RM2)

Mango drink (RM6.90)


Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup Set

Crispy skin, tender chicken meat

Spring roll


Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup Set



This bowl of noodles was comforting and delicious



Service: Good.

Price: Reasonable.

Location: Vietnam Kitchen, S312, Second Floor, 1 Utama Shopping Centre,1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama City Centre, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya,Selangor Darul Ehsan.

Tel: 03-7724 1336

*Those planning to visit 1 Utama now should visit the Eat Paradise... I'm going next week (I must be the slowest person to do so ;P)! Yippeeee.


Superb Chirashi @ Le Cafe Michi

When it comes to Chirashi in Toronto, no place does it better than Cafe Le Michi. Like Zen, Cafe Michi's chef/owner is Japanese and its small restaurant is located in a dinky strip mall on Pharmacy and Sheppard.


Starter
Starter



Cafe Michi Signature Chirashi
Cafe Michi Signature Chirashi
The Chirashi was superb. Our assortment of seafood included Fresh Uni, Ikura, Flounder, Salmon Belly, Hamachi, O-Toro and Maguro. The rice was also really good and was layered with Unagi and bits of shiosai leaves giving it a nice refreshing taste.


Hazelnut Meringue Cake
Hazelnut Meringue Cake
This was a very light textured cake. The sponge was very airy and the Meringue had a nice light crunch. Flavor-wise it was mild. One could eat the whole cake without feeling guilty.


Earl Grey Chiffon Cake
Earl Grey Chiffon Cake
My favorite. The Chiffon Cake had a light texture and was layered with whipped cream and lime zest on top.


English Triffle
English Triffle
Jason devoured this dessert before I could even try.


I was really satisfied with my meal at Cafe Michi. It is the only Japanese Restaurant I know that serves up a killer Chirashi and really good Cakes.


Food: 4.8/5
Service: 4.8/5 (We sat at the Sushi Bar and learnt a lot from Sushi Chef Toshi)
Ambiance: 2.5/5
Price: $$$$ (Approximately USD $40 per person)


Contact Information
Address: 1802 Pharmacy Avenue, Toronto, ON M1T 1K1, Canada
Tel: +1 416-490-9688
Map:

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Sbread, The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley City

MidValleySbread1

a popular lunch place for weekday office crowds, above is local delights menu

MidValleySbread2

toast, even otak-otak toast

MidValleySbread3

assam laksa, only RM7.50 for gardens office workers(original price RM8.50), can add noodle without additonal charge

MidValleySbread4

yam cake, ~RM5

Address: Sbread

Lower ground floor, The Gardens Mall,

Mid Valley Megamall

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Sharons World

Sun, Sea and Sand

still crazy after all these years

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