KYOTO: Kichi Kichi ザ・洋食屋 キチキチ

I remember many many years ago, when I was still a lowly medical student, there was this viral internet video. It was about a chef cooking Omu-rice. It was so fascinating and entertaining for me, and I told myself, when I ever go to Kyoto, I would have to make a pit stop there.

First trip to Kyoto - Didn't make it there. I was only there for 2 days with a friend and I didn't prebook it before hand.

Second trip to Kyoto - I told Nick, I DO NOT CARE. I HAVE TO SACRIFICE A KAISEKI MEAL FOR THIS OMURICE!
I remember counting down everyday to 6 weeks before my dining date so that I could make a booking and secure my seat.

I was SO EXCITED.
I was talking about it and bragging to all my friends about me having secured a reservation.

TADA! MY OMU RICE !!!

 Beef stew

Truth to be told...... The taste was lacklustre... However.. I don't think I would say I'm thoroughly disappointed. Because what attracted me was the cook up, was the entertainment the chef provided. And he delivered his performance SO WELL. 110/100!

Would I go back again? I probably wouldn't. I think I cook a better tasting omurice to be honest. I would highly recommend any couple to just order 1 serve of omurice and 1 beef stew. I don't think the 1 serve each of omurice is worth the space in your stomach.  The beef stew was nice.

Kichi kichi ( click for website and reservation) 
185-4 Takigi cho Nakagyo-ku
Kyoto
Opens everyday 5pm-9pm

KYOTO: Tendon Makino Kyoto Teramachi

Back to Japan food blogging! I've been trying to blog a little more these days because I've realised that everybody need to have a hobby in life. People need to do something apart from just work. I'm actually a really boring person without much interests. My interest will probably be.. hmm shopping? hmm Netflix? etc Things that neither help me grow as a person nor benefit others. 

Food blogging is sedentary lifestyle. It fits me. However, it also benefits others because it empowers others to make the right food decisions.

Nick and I decided to meet our friends Yihan and Enxin for lunch post sunrise at kiyomizu dera. 

Yihan and Enxin were talking about how everytime they walk past this Tendon shop it's always crowded and there's always a long line. 

Super asian mentality: Long queue = Damn good food.

We were super lucky because we managed to get a seat even without queuing !

Presenting... Tendon 1390yen

Super cheap for the quality and taste 

Tendon Makino Kyoto Teramachi

481-3 Teramachidori Kudaru Nakasujicho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8047, Kyoto Prefecture

Opens everyday 11.30am-9.30pm

ADELAIDE: Orana

Taking a short break from the Japan food posts, Nick and I decided to spend our 7th anniversary at Orana - Pride of Adelaide's Food scene, Australian 2018 hottest chef of the year ( btw, what do they mean by hottest chef ah? Most goodlooking ??? ) , Gourmet traveller 2018 Restaurant of the year.

We feel extremely proud of Orana because we have essentially seen it grow from a new restaurant ( our first time there was a few weeks after they opened in 2013) on Rundle to what it is now. Our previous photo post here ( I think this might have been our 3rd time ).

Presenting... THE MENU.

BEST POTATO DAMPERS. with the best macadamia and native thyme soup

Always impressed with their squid dish. 

Spencer gold prawn roti. The mayo went really well with the prawn and the roti. I wished they used some bigger, more succulent prawns eg, Tiger prawns. It was good, but I would love to have more prawns with every bite of my roti. At the end, I was just left with eating roti and mayo because I suck at portioning my prawn ):

This made me feel one with nature. I felt like I was eating a tree bark. I felt.. Healthy. haha.

This " soup soup" is possibly the best broth I've ever tasted. Made with Kingfish and Australian botanicals that was specially foraged. 

Kohlrabi. haha. Just when I thought kohlrabi has fell out of fashion. 

 I love this Kohlrabi vegetable. It goes so well with soup soup.

Macadamia butter is mad good. 

I probably say this is my least favourite dish of the night. I love seafood, but this mud crab dish was a tad too fishy for me to handle. I felt like I was drowning in the sea.

Orana does Kangaroo the BEST. I've never been a fan of Kangaroo meat. My neighbour gave some to me 7 years ago ( it was my first time trying ) and I told myself NEVER AGAIN. When I first went to Orana and they served Kangaroo I remember going like " ohgod. this is going to spoil my meal " But. IT WAS SO GOOD. It wasn't gamey or tough or anything. It was. Just right.

This set buffalo milk, strawberry and eucalyptus is a constant in their menu since the start. And I'm so glad it didn't get replaced by something else because, this is really so good ! I love the consistency of the buffalo milk curd. And the strawberry and eucalyptus goes fantastic with it.

With a price tag of $195 per person, it is not exactly the cheapest. However, I really must say that I've enjoyed every experience I had at Orana since 2013. And I think it's definitely a place to bring someone for a special occasion :D

Orana (click for website) 

Tuesday to Saturday 6-8pm