Carven's Table

Night at Shinjuku's Kabukicho entertainment district Cold, snowflakes, winter in Japan Slurping a bowl of hot ramen  Warm the belly, warm the heart  Smile on face, happy girl! That was how I fantasized about eating ramen in Japan. And that was my lifelong dream! My childhood dream finally came true last month when we stepped foot on the Land of The Rising Sun. Planning our trip around food destination was my main mission in Japan. Apart from eating the best sushi we've ever had, we also went Ramen Hunting. Having had the difficulties in looking for tips online, I want to share my experiences about Japan for a English speaking audience. Despite the slight drama of being stopped during transit in Kuala Lumpur for a night before getting myself legally into the largest city in the world. I was overwhelmed by how much Tokyo had to offer. Ramen is the Japanese working class's soul food. It's dotted everywhere in the city, high and low an...

Last week, I was lucky enough to be invited to one of Fuku's soft openings in Mosman Park. Fuku means blessed, happy or lucky in Japanese. Fuku is not just another Japanese restaurant that pops up in and around Perth. Its a warm, intimate 16-seater teppanyaki/omakase (degustation) restaurant. They only serve degustation and you get to choose among 3 menus - 'good', 'better' & 'best'. The menu for the night was from the 'better' menu, which has 9 courses and it is $160 per person. Unlimited still/sparkling water and green tea are complimentary. Array of imported sake from Japan on display Fuku has a different booking system, which is similar to Momofuku. You can only make booking from their website and a prepayment of $50 is required. Alternatively, you can try your luck by driving past the restaurant during dinner time. If the amber lantern at the door is 'on', then you are in luck for some seats. $299 a bottle of sa...

Finally I'm back in Perth just in time for the warmer weather, flowers blooming, music festival and events. Glad to be back, but was shocked to find out there were a few new restaurant sprung up during my 3 weeks holiday. And I'm in no delay in trying them out, also I will need to get groceries after flying-in if I were to cook for myself, a perfect excuse for dining out. Kai, just beneath Bull Creek's Curry House.  Kai Japanese was recommended by one of my foodie friend, but was being advised that there might be a queue. Situated beneath Bull Creek's Curry House, it's located at Parry Avenue's shopping square, next to The Cheesecake Shop. There wasn't a queue when we got there, but we waited 10mins outside for a table. The shop were tiny, only 6 tables fitted tightly in a space smaller than a normal size bedroom. If you are uncomfortable dining at such a confine space, I recommend that you get takeaway from them, though menu choices for takeaway are...

oh-hai-yo-go-zai-e-maz-da No, this wasn't Japan, although it was with full house of black-headed South-East Asian, myself included. As familiar as it looks, this is indeed in the heart of Fremantle Market, hands down one of the best Ramen in Perth, even Kevin Rudd says so! I've known this place since uni years, been there for takeway takoyaki (occy balls) and bubble tea, but never their ramen. While I'm on a  ramen hunt , we've finally decided to try their ramen and went for grocery shopping as well on a fine sunday. Without knowing the ultra long wait to dine-in, we had to order the ramen in take-away plastic bowl and find ourselves a table at the yard of Fremantle market. It sucks because we don't have 1 hr just to queue for ramen that day, our ramen wasn't served in the infamous ramen's big bowl and we don't get to enjoy the buzz cramming with other ramen slurper. Char-siu Ramen  Authentic crockery aside, our ramen in a plastic bowl did lo...