{"id":2424,"date":"2014-05-28T10:44:08","date_gmt":"2014-05-28T01:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2014-05-28\/2424"},"modified":"2014-05-28T10:44:08","modified_gmt":"2014-05-28T01:44:08","slug":"lunch-report-exquisite-teppanyaki-steak-at-the-kyoto-brighton-hotel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2014-05-28\/2424","title":{"rendered":"Lunch Report: Exquisite Teppanyaki Steak at the Kyoto Brighton Hotel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 35mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2500 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSteak on Fire<\/span>\nat Himorogi<\/i>, in the Brighton Hotel\nKyoto Japan\n\u4eac\u90fd\u30d6\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u30f3\u30db\u30c6\u30eb\u306e\u9244\u677f\u713c\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

We had a nice family lunch at the Kyoto Brighton Hotel's teppanyaki<\/i><\/a> grill “<\/span>Himorogi<\/a>”<\/span> (\u71d4). With a teppanyaki<\/span> meal, the chef prepares it on a grill<\/span> in front of you.<\/p>\n\n

This kind of meal at a Japanese Restaurant in The States often involves\na big<\/span> theatrical performance of spinning knives, flipping shrimp, and corny\njokes, but that's an invention purely for the foreign market, and there's\nabsolutely none of that in Japan as far as I know.<\/span> Rather, real teppanyaki\ninvolves quiet, reserved, and exceedingly precise preparation with the main\nemphasis on quality.<\/p>\n\n

Though it's not “<\/span>theatrical”<\/span>, it is a performance,<\/span> one of perfection in movement and preparation. No movement<\/span> is superfluous, every cut is precise and perfect. The chef doesn<\/span>'t speak except to explain\nsomething such as which sauce is what, or when spoken to.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>500 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAppetizer<\/span>\nscallops and veggies prior to cooking\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 2000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nWork in Progress<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 2000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nNow with Sauce<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I'm a big guy and like to eat, so this tiny appetizer scared me a bit<\/span> that this would be one of those places\nwhere you got food that was good<\/i> but not enough<\/i>. My worries<\/span> turned out to be misfounded.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>500 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMore Veggies<\/span>\nprecisely cut and returned to the plate to await cooking\n( the pile of garlic chips was out of place on the otherwise unworldly-clean grill )\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 2000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPlacement<\/span>\nneat and precise\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 2000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStirfry<\/span>\nwithout the “<\/span>stir”<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>500 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTouch of Spice<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPresentation<\/span>\nand the grill has already been returned to a pristine<\/span> state for the next course\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 32mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>640 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTempura<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Tempura<\/a> is veggies\nand\/or fish deep-fried in a light<\/span> batter, so I wasn't<\/span> expecting it in a\ngrilled<\/span> setting, but they did it. The chef dipped<\/span> each item into the batter (which seemed a bit<\/span> thicker than normal) and placed\nit within a large<\/span> circle of ever-hottening oil.<\/p>\n\n

The circle of oil would gradually expand as heat reduces its viscosity,\nbut the chef's quick spatulas kept it pooled around the items being\ncooked...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 70mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>800 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRe-Pooling the Oil<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 70mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nDripping Hot Oil<\/span>\nto cook the top\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCrunchy Results<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nQuick Sear<\/span>\nthis fish went from raw to fully cooked in about five seconds\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMain Dish<\/span>\nI could eat the whole thing, but this was for five\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Preparation of the steak was somewhat involved. First the bottom and the edges were seared on the grill,\nthen they were placed on a grill<\/span> for a while.<\/span>..<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nGrill?<\/span>\nor just a mesh to hold away from the heat until ready for the next step?\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThe Next Step<\/span>\nseemed conventional enough\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSteaming?<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Then came the one moment in the entire meal that could be considered “<\/span>show”<\/span>...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 35mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2500 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

It's just a brief flash of fire so I don't<\/span> suppose it has any practical purpose, but it offers an “<\/span>oh!”<\/span> moment. It's not quite<\/span> the same as the flaming ramen<\/a> that I once<\/span> wrote about,\nbut seemed to match the setting well enough.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 70mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nImmediate Cleanup<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 70mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPrecise Movement<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

When you ordered you could choose between two different cuts of meat; the steaks seen above were for those who had ordered one type. The other<\/span> type was then prepared, but in a different<\/span> way, as the “<\/span>oh!”<\/span> moment for this cut came while the meat was on the little mesh.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 35mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>800 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 70mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>800 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAftermath<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The meat was served on a plate with a square<\/span> indentation in the bottom, on top of a thin<\/span> slice of bread place into the square. You can sort<\/span> of see it\nin the shot above. We were told<\/span> not to eat the bread.<\/p>\n\n

When we were done with the meat, the chef took the bread, now flavored with juices from the meat, and grilled it, then added\nsome grilled sprouts and tarter sauce...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 66mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>500 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMaking a Mini<\/span> Sandwich<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The bread was folded over the sprouts into thirds, making a tasty<\/span> little pocket of yummy.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 36mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>800 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nYakimeshi<\/span>\nJapanese white rice grilled with garlic and spices\nit was fantastically good\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 27mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>800 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

While digesting after the meal, I finally<\/span> thought to take a picture<\/span> of the name of the restaurant.\nBased on the writing on the coaster, I thought<\/span> the name was “<\/span>\u706b\u756a<\/span>”<\/span>, but it turns out to be the rare\ncharacter “<\/span>\u71d4”<\/span>, which I look<\/span> up to find means “<\/span>burn”<\/span>. That seems appropriate for a grill.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nDessert<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

It was a great meal and great experience, a reasonable<\/span> value for $70. Dinners<\/a> are much more pricey, starting at $120 and going to $300. Drinks not included, of course.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We had a nice family lunch at the Kyoto Brighton Hotel's teppanyaki grill \"Himorogi\" (\u71d4). With a teppanyaki meal, the chef prepares it on a grill in front of you.<\/p>

This kind of meal at a Japanese Restaurant in The States often involves a big theatrical performance of spinning knives, flipping shrimp, and corny jokes, but that's an invention purely for the foreign market, and there's absolutely none of that in Japan as far as I know. Rather, real teppanyaki involves quiet, reserved, and exceedingly precise preparation with the main emphasis on quality.<\/p>

Though it's not \"theatrical\", it is a [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2424"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2424"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2424\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}