kipperscum

Super Deluxe

2006-04-29T15:54:00.001+09:00

Just around the corner from Roppongi Hills we have Super Deluxe. A place to entertain the "creative minds" of Tokyo.

Whether or not you enjoy your evening at Super Deluxe totally depends on what is on. The place hosts all kinds of events, of which range from architectural sessions and art exhibitions to solo vintage organ and tape loop performances. So if you like creative stuff then you'll like Super Deluxe. Make sure you check the schedule on their website before you go, or alternatively go along for a surprise. I went on Pecha Kucha Night, a night started by architects Sir Mark Dytham and Astrid Klein. It was entertaining and the highlight was a Japanese girl doing a presentation through a vocoder. You usually have to pay to get in, from about 1000-3000Yen depending on the event and this will also include a drink. I haven't been at the weekend yet, but i would imagine that it turns into a club.

The beer all comes from the Tokyo Brewing Company and is fantastic. Try the 'Tokyo Ale', a rare Japanese bitter ale. Very nice. I didn't try the food but it looked very tasty.

Go to Roppongi station and take the exit for Roppongi Hills. Get on the correct side of the road for Roppongi Hills and walk past it on your left. Stay on the main road and keep walking straight for about 100 metres. It's on the left.

3-1-25 Nishi Azabu

Ranmaru Ramen

2006-04-29T14:56:00.000+09:00

This place is a ramen (noodle) shop in Gotanda. It is fairly standard, serving a variety of ramen and gyoza (fried dumplings) dishes. The reason i recommend it is because they serve one truly outstanding dish: "Tantanmen". If you like spicy food then you'll love this. It's not ultra spicy, but has a good kick.

The dish consists of a sesame based creamy soup filled with ramen noodles and topped with minced pork and pak choi. You have to buy a ticket from the machine at the doorway. From memory the Tantanmen is the yellow button at or near the top right of the machine. If you find yourself in Gotanda and you're hungry then definately check it out.

Leave the station from the East Exit and head over the bridge.
Use the address below for directions.

2-3-2 Higashi Gotanda.

Nelson's Bar

2006-04-12T02:30:00.000+09:00

Okay here's kipperscum's next recommendation.

You may be wandering about Ginza thinking, "Jeez i can't afford to go out around here", or even "Jeez, i wanna go somewhere a litttle laid back".

Well look no further than Nelson's Bar. here is a great little nautical themed bar with all drinks and food priced at 500yen. the staff are brilliant, and it's always a great place to get involved with the other patrons.

Go to Ginza or Higashi Ginza station and find the kabuki-za, then facing the kabuki-za take the road running along the right side, it's down there about 100 metres.

print a map if you like: 4-13-15 Ginza, Tokyo.

Murakami Factory & The Pork Dish Laboratory

2006-02-05T15:55:00.001+09:00

Last night we went down to Naka Meguro (Tokyo) to visit Tony Williams and his creative partner Kevin Pereira. Tony's a friend of mine from the last time I was living here in Japan. He runs a creative workshop called hypu (http://www.hypujapan.com/), which does advertising, design and tv direction. He shot a music video for a song I made.

Anyway he recommended we go eat at the "The Murakami Factory" or the "The Pork Dish Laboratory" located underneath the railway line, a few hundred metres from Naka Meguro Station. Now this is a pretty difficult place to find. As you can see from the photograph, there is no sign on the front door, no lighting and little to suggest there is anything behind the door but an abandoned workshop. Just a very ugly, cold, dark looking facade, and a stenciled sign saying, "Don't park you're bike here". Just as we began doubting Tony, i decided to try and slide open the door.

Through the door and past a curtain is a large open dimly lit concrete room. We were seated on low wooden tables with small empty oil drum seats. The place was busy, enough room for about 25 people, all open plan, wooden tables, a counter, and one intimate seating area hidden by a dark green net. The clientele ranged from fat office worker to art student.

Then came our 'otsumami' (In Japan before you order any food, you are often given a small snack to eat while you're reading the menu and enjoying your first beer): Three dishes; a potherb mustard salad, a tuber dish (a thick potato stem, it was eaten during the war) and boiled Chinese lettuce with Yuzu (Japanese Orange) dressing. All three were delicious, and so was the draught beer.

Prices were not printed on the menu, so we were slightly cautious about what to order. Tokyo can be notoriously expensive, and even though you're sitting in a dingy secret restaurant, shaking from the trains moving overhead, you just never know. Looking around the other tables, the pork Nabe (hot pot) seemed to be the popular choice. But we went for Deer Sashimi (Shika no Yukke) and boiled Japanese radish (nidaikon). Again both were delicious.

The staff were extremely friendly and the service was impeccable. We paid 6000 Yen (including 3 small beers), which is rather expensive considering the small portions of food, but then again do you get to sit in a secret restaurant underneath the railway line eating raw deer everyday?

Next door to the Murakami Factory and run by the same people is "The Pork Dish Laboratory". Again this is a secret restaurant and we took a peek inside, it looked slightly brighter and from the name I would imagine they offer a selection of pork dishes. One to try next time. Look out for the review!

Directions: Turn left and left again out of Naka Meguro Station so you're following the railway line. Keep walking until you reach Lawson Station (convenience store) on your right. It is 20 metres further on your left.