I’m a foodie. Good food is really important to me and there’s nothing I enjoy more than sharing a delicious meal and great drinks with friends and/or family. Eating out has always been something that I really enjoy and I love trying new restaurants and sampling different cuisines. When I talk to my friends and family back home about whatever country I’m living in or visiting at the time, a question that always comes up is, “what are you guys eating?!” I’ve decided to feature “Eating My Way Through (insert applicable city)” to highlight and share restaurants that I try while living abroad. Since we are currently living right outside of Japan’s capital city, I’m excited to share some of the cuisine that I eat during our time here in hopes to inspire other foodies to add awesome restaurants to their lists of dream eats.
On Saturday, I spent the afternoon and early evening showing my mom around Tokyo and doing some Christmas shopping in Ginza, a neighborhood known for it’s amazing boutiques and department stores. It is so nice to have my mom in town for a visit and, knowing that one thing we both love is a nice dinner, I spent days trying to decide where to take her for her first dinner out in Tokyo. Somehow, among all the famed sushi and traditional Japanese picks, I settled on Cantonese food. We enjoyed a great dinner at Ryutenmon, located at the Westin Tokyo.
Beautiful Christmas Tree at The Westin Tokyo
Although it may come as a surprise that I decided to take my mom out for Chinese food in Tokyo, it’s because we both LOVE peking duck and I was having a serious craving for it! Peking duck is a dish that was born in Bejing, China during the imperial era. The best part, the meat’s thin, crisp skin, is served as a starter in “pancakes” rolled with scallions, cucumber, and plum sauce. The meat is then typically stir fried in a sauce or seasoning blend and served as part of the main course. The Huffington Post named peking duck as number one on their list of “10 Foods Around the World to Try Before Your Die” and I’m happy to share that I have now eaten peking duck in 4 different countries (the United States, Singapore, Bangkok, and, now Tokyo). I can’t wait to try the traditional delicacy in its native land during my trip to China this upcoming spring. Although the best duck that I have had thus far was at Singapore’s Imperial Treasure Peking Duck, a restaurant that specializes in the dish, the cuisine and atmosphere at Ryutenmon did not disappoint!
The Starter: Peking Duck Pancakes
The Main Dish: Stir Fried Duck in Chinese Soy Sauce
Have you ever tried peking duck? If so, what were your thoughts? If not, would you?
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