January | 2015 | Heart-2-Heart-Online.com

January 17, 2015

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Tokyo Sightings 2014

So happy to see the Santos family at the airport also going to Tokyo 🙂 Good friends of my parents, Tito Ochie and Tita Malyn! They too like travelling with the whole caboodle 🙂

Arrived at Haneda and saw more Pinoys! 🙂 Jay, Carmen and their kids!! 🙂

Dondi and Liza Santos who are part of Tito Ochie and Tita Malyn’s group 🙂

And Monique and cute curly haired Mikel – also part of the Santos family group

New Apple Store in Omotesando

Tokyo Tower from the Taxi

Tokyo Scenes while in the taxi

More Scenes passing through the bridge over the Sumida River

A gigantic Pink rose at Dover Street Market

A gigantic fly at the Dover Street Market

A beautiful view from one of the rooms at Andaz Hotel Toranomon Hills!

Echire ice cream!

Green men at Harajuku

I love Daiso!! Its 108 yen ( not 100 yen ) so with the exchange rate of 120 yen per 1US$ – it comes out to P 40.00. And not only is it cheap but they have so many trinkets and unique things!!! LOVE!! I could just shop here everyday while in Tokyo 🙂 Plastics and ziplock in all sizes and colors with designs! I hoard!! WASHI TAPE!!! This is a new section!!Takoyaki balls with cheese sauce at Omotesando

Iggy, Cholet and kids at Church! There were around 8 or more Filipino families at church – so you can imagine the number of Filipinos in Tokyo/Japan during the holidays

In Isetan Dept. store. I am not sure if it is just an artwork or it was for sale

Pretty in Pink 🙂 at the Metro. Japanese like the color pink – maybe I am Japanese! haha

More pink outfits at Harajuku Takeshita street

Flavored Sugars at Daiso

Ladies department at Isetan department store

Isetan Men’s. A five floor department store dedicated for MEN!!! Usually Men’s departments are a neglected part of a department store -but in Tokyo, Isetan has a whole department store just for MEN! ( photo from www.jtripper.jp)

Almond Leaf! YUM! Found at department stores Food hall

Burrata al Tartufo

In Japan, they sell beef by 100 grams! They also display the owners and the farm where it comes from

Free Wifi while walking in Ginza 🙂 YIPEE!Free wifi in the Metro ( not inside the train ) in the stations and in the stopsJapanese rice!!! at The Best in the world! at Ito Yokado supermarket

Scoop as many erasers as you can for 300 yen 🙂 at Tokyu Hands Lawson store 100!! YAY!! Like Daiso 🙂 but convenience store type. There was one right across Andaz Hotel Toranomon Hillsnew flavour of Pino which I could not understand but did not try it because I like mine plain! Pino that comes in big sizes and assorted flavours [email_link]

January 16, 2015

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Rooftop Bar at Andaz Hotel

By Heart2Heart | Proud to be Pinoy!, Travel | One Comment

Our friends, Mike and Roselen told us to check out the rooftop bar, so we did. When we got up this is the first thing we saw. They knew I was arriving!!! haha!! This is the chapel where you can get married. I am sure there is a more beautiful view during the dat since it is all glass around

Thanks to Adrian, the Manager, He toured us around

Kenneth Cobonpue chairs!!!! This is what Roselen told us to look for. BEAUTIFUL!! There were more on the other side of the bar but I could not take photos since there were people seated.

Beautiful view of the city

Adrian took us to another area which is only open for private events

And from here there is a beautiful view of the Tokyo Tower!!! NICE!!!Click below to go to the website

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January 16, 2015

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Toranomon Hills

By Heart2Heart | Travel | No Comments

By Andaz Hotel, there is not much around the place.

Previous entry: Andaz Hotel Toranomon Hills January 12, 2014

Andaz Hotel Room January 12, 2014

But the hotel is in a complex called Toranomon Hills. Its connected to the hotel so it is convenient. And here there are several restaurants, a few shops and some services

Day spa

Coffee shop, bookstore and convenience store

Udon restaurant

Dry Ageing Beef Restaurant which looked interesting

Peek through the window

Click below to go to their website for more info

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January 15, 2015

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Tempura Kondo

By Heart2Heart | Foodie, Travel | No Comments

We all love tempura and I am sure many of us grew up ordering tempura and it comes to you in a bamboo plate and we would just gulp it down 🙂 But in Japan, tempura is a serious thing 🙂 We tried 2 last trip

Previous entry: Tsunahatchi January 14, 2014

Ten-Ichi January 18, 2014

and one new one this trip

In Japan, they serve your tempura one by one – so you get to eat it straight and fresh from the pan. If you get the bar seat – you see them preparing and cooking it right in front of you

Chef Fumio Kondo a Two Star Michelin Chef

Tempura Kondo (1) His wife who is also in the restaurant Tempura Kondo (29)

Shrimp head

Shrimp tempura – squeeze the orange 🙂

Scallops – this was my order 2 pcs. of this. So big, so fresh and so yummy

Squid

Preparing the ingredients

Kisu and Aubergine

Asparagus

Uni

Megochi ( Flathead fish )

Anago

One of their specialties – Sweet Potato – it took them 45 minutes to cook this. I was watching the whole time 🙂

Kakiage- also one of their specialties. It can served two ways – pouring of tea and pickles or served as tendon – soaked in sauce, on a bowl of rice

Even Obama had a hard time getting a reservation here 🙂

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January 15, 2015

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Butagumi

By Heart2Heart | Foodie, Travel | No Comments

James has been talking about this place for many years and finally we were able to get a reservation! JC Bernardo told us about this and about the pigs that look like sheep 🙂 They are called Mangalitsa, Mangalitza or Mangalica ( photo from www.becuo.com ). It’s a natural breed of pigs from Europe that are descended directly from….wild boar populations. The Mangalitsa pig is unusual as it grows a hairy fleece akin to that of sheep. It was a pity they did not have it that day we ate there. A good reason to come back because we love Butagumi

It’s in a residential area which felt secluded but later on I found out it is by Omotesando area- just keep going straight up to the road of Omotesando. So you can say it is nearby a favourite Tonkatsu place, Maisen

There are plenty choices of Tonkatsu, around 50 kinds, but not all are available everyday. They have Tenderloin-taste light, flavourful, taste rich or taste super rich. Or Sirloin- taste light, flavourful, taste rich or juicy and taste super rich

Love the collections of little pigs by the entrance of the restaurant

More pigs around the place

cute ones on top of the cash register 🙂

Piggy nose logo all over 🙂

Tomatoes which were very good with al the condiments for tonkatsu – Himalayan pink salt, mustard, and two sauces

Love the appetisers!

The sausage which was so tasty!!
Roasted Chicken and potato salad

Caesar salad

Croquettes

Getting ready for the tonkatsu

Only those with green marks are available for the day They all came together, they explained each one and then after we ate it, we could not identify anymore because we just ate it as soon as it arrived haha!! They were all good and of course the one with more fat you can really tell tastes really good compared to the lean cuts

Brown Sugar Jelly syrup

Click below to go to their website

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January 15, 2015

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Information on the Papal Visit 2015

By Heart2Heart | General Information | No Comments

[13 January 2015] As a public service to millions of Filipinos who want to share their Papal Visit experience online, Twitter and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have teamed up to offer unlimited access to the popular social networking app on mobile phones for free from January 15 to 19, 2015.

Under the service, all 69 million prepaid and postpaid subscribers of Smart, Sun Cellular and Talk ‘N Text may take to Twitter without worrying about mobile data charges, allowing more Filipinos to follow the Pope’s Twitter account (@Pontifex), send wishes and prayers to the Pope using #DearPopeFrancis hashtag, and get real-time updates on the much anticipated apostolic and state visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines.

More details of the Pope’s visit, including #DearPopeFrancis Tweets, videos, stories and the Pope’s itinerary, can be found at dearpopefrancis.ph.

“With this collaboration, Smart and Twitter aim to allow more Filipinos to get involved and immerse in this historic experience with Pope Francis, who our Catholic nation hold very dear to our heart,” said Napoleon L. Nazareno, president and CEO, PLDT and Smart.

Text DEARPOPE to 9999 starting January 15

Starting January 15, Smart, Sun Cellular and Talk ‘N Text subscribers nationwide may start their one-time registration for the free Twitter service by simply texting DEARPOPE to 9999.

Once registered, subscribers may tweet their aspirations and messages to the beloved Pope using #DearPopeFrancis. Subscribers may also post real-time updates, upload photos, and even reach out to him through his official Twitter account @Pontifex on their mobile devices at no extra cost.

‘Digital footprint’ of Papal visit experience

“In the same way Pope Francis has embraced Twitter with his official account @Pontifex to reach out to more Catholics all over the world, Filipinos may use this very same platform on their mobile devices to see events unfold and join heartfelt conversations – whether they are physically present in the event or not.

“Nowhere is this service any more timely and suitable than during a momentous occasion in the world’s social media capital and Asia’s largest Catholic country. Through this, we shall create and leave behind a digital footprint of our nation’s Papal visit experience,” Nazareno added.

The Pope is the 2^nd most followed world leader on Twitter today with over 17 million followers across his nine accounts in different languages. His Tweets are among the most popular on Twitter and are consistently retweeted several thousand times.

“Twitter is excited to partner with Smart to enable all Filipinos to get closer to the Pope and connect with the local community for this historic occasion – from expressing their hopes and prayers using Tweets with #DearPopeFrancis hashtag as well as getting real-time updates, photos and conversations in their Twitter timeline on Pope Francis’ first-ever visit to the Philippines. Most importantly, join the Twitter flock and sign up now to follow the Pope’s Twitter account (@Pontifex) during his visit, so that you can be one of the first to get the Pope’s Tweets via the Twitter app on your Smart mobile device,” said Arvinder Gujral, Director Business Development, India and SE Asia, Twitter.

With over 284 million monthly active users worldwide – 80 percent of which are on mobile – Twitter has become an essential social medium for netizens keeping an eye on real-time updates and social pulse on significant events and issues in the Philippines and around the world.

When the flock tweets

Upon successful registration, subscribers may either use the Twitter mobile app or access m.twitter.com on their mobile browser for the whole duration of the Papal visit. Subscribers have to maintain at least P1 load balance every day or be subscribed to any plan, promo or bundle to enjoy the free service.

Moreover, mobile users who are registered to the ongoing Smart Free Internet promo may enjoy the Free Twitter service on top of their 30 MB allocation.

Hordes of Filipino devotees are expected to flock to the scheduled gatherings with Pope Francis in the course of his five-day apostolic visit, the culmination of which is a big Eucharistic celebration on January 18 where over 5 million are estimated to show up and catch a glimpse of the Pope for the first time.

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January 14, 2015

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Ukai Tei

By Heart2Heart | Foodie, Travel | No Comments

Heart2Heart loves this place 🙂 It’s like Europe in Japan 🙂 the interiors atleast. We were happy to get a table since last year we were not able to get a booking

They have a shared teppanyaki table

Or private rooms for different groups depending on the number

Starter – Tofu with Back Truffles

Seasonal sashimi appetizer

Ox tail consomme soup

Lobster

Kagoshima Wagyu Beef

WOW!

Delicious! 🙂 Oishi!

This was not part of the set – Crab cooked on salt

They moved us to this area for dessert

There are several choices

Creme Caramel

Marron Glace dessert which is one of their signature desserts – seasonal

Petit fours

Click below to go to their website

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January 14, 2015

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Yamanochaya

By Heart2Heart | Foodie, Travel | No Comments

Last trip to Tokyo, we tried an unary restaurant and we really enjoyed it

Previous entry: Nodaiwa January 14, 2014

There are two One Michelin Starred unagi restaurants in Tokyo – Nodaiwa and this one, Yamanochaya. We love unagi because it is healthy and not fried yet it tastes good

A nice and peaceful location

With two floors

Love these miniatures on the wall

This was a set meal or degustation 🙂

Tofu

Putting sancho on the Unagi liver

Half an eel grilled on charcoal with salt

Miso

Main dish – Unagi

dessert 😉

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January 13, 2015

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Menya Nishiki Ramen

By Heart2Heart | Foodie, Travel | No Comments

Tokyo is very affordable now! Last year same time, the yen was 80 yen to US$ 1.00. Now it is 120 yen! So, maybe that’s why Tokyo is the new Hong Kong 🙂

As soon as we arrived in Tokyo, the Ramen boys wanted of course RAMEN! So we went very near the hotel to this place called Menya Nishiki. I didn’t read it anywhere in the place :-O But this is in Shimbashi by the railroad tracks