Sapporo : Nanabe Ramen (highly recommended)

November means early winter for Sapporo, and what can be better than eating a nice bowl of hot ramen to battle the cold. We headed out to Nanabe Ramen which ranked no.2 as Best Ramen in Sapporo in Tabelog. The location was a bit far out of the tourist area, it’s in a more of a residential area, but it was actually pretty easy to find. Take the train to Heiwa Station, from there you can find it through Google Map. Go for it!

We arrived there around 11, there were only 3 other customers beside us, as we were planning to avoid the lunch crowd. They have a counter seating for 6 people and 5 tables in the tatami seating area, gotta say it is quite big for Japan standard.

Without further due, we ordered the most popular item in the menu, the Tori Sayu Shio Ramen, or a salty chicken ramen, with some extra tamago. Because a ramen is not complete without a well cooked tamago right?

The bowl was very simple, lots of green chives, some menma (bamboo shoot), a slice of pork, my extra tamago, all floated in a beautiful white chicken bone stock.

my mom, the biggest ramen lover I know

As you can see the noodle they use is a straight white noodle, very different than the yellow curly hokkaido style noodle.

OMG! this is just too good.. the broth is rich but very clear in taste. pretty similar to Kagari Tori-paitan ramen in Ginza, Tokyo. But this one is less buttery and less creamy, this one is lighter. I loveee the menma, it give a whole new dimension to the bowl, it is crunchy and somewhat sweet and tangy. Overall, I can see myself returning and recommending this to everyone.. worth the extra trip!

NANABE, click here

 

 

Furano : Ningle Terrace

Furano, I stumbled across this town while browsing randomly about winter in Hokkaido. I remember I was instantly hooked by the picture of Ningle Terrace. I was so mesmerized by it that I promised to myself that I will have to visit this place. If not now, then one day.

The journey to Furano from Sapporo took around 3 hours during winter time, and 2 hours on summer. I know it sounds like a long journey, but trust me it worth it. Through the drive itself we are accompanied by an endless snow covered field and mountains, which was just simply beautiful. I have always love winter, there’s something about the winter itself that give me this excitement, joy, and at the same time, serenity.

We arrived in Ningle Terrace which located right beside the Furano Prince Hotel around 2pm, after having our amazing lunch at (YUIGA DOXON). The place is smaller than I thought it would be, but it is way more beautiful than the pictures. I feel like I’m in a Santa’s hometown. Small wooden houses, the lights, the trees, the snows, everything was perfect. Even my mom and uncle couldn’t stop taking pictures.

Those small wooden house are shops selling Furano’s handmade goods, that is very unique and cute, I bought one for myself too. They even build little snowman in the front of the shops, super cute.

After around an hour just walking, taking pictures, and absorbing all this winter wonderland vibe. I know for sure that I will come back to this place. ’till next time.

Sapporo : Shubo Shinsen **

Japanese cuisine is of course like many people in the world is my favorite cuisine. My family are kinda obsessed with Japanese food, well, not just the food actually. They are obsessed with Japanese culture, you know how incredibly polite a Japanese can be, even if I have visited Japan for a few times, it is still amaze me. Not to mention how clean and thoughtful a Japanese can be, I have never been worried about their public toilets even if I was in a small old station. But yea, it is mainly about the Food.

There are a lot of Japanese cuisine other than sushi and ramen, so for this time I am interested in trying a Kappo style restaurant. Kappo itself means “To Cut” and “To Cook”, Kappo is a traditional Japanese cuisine which laid somewhere between the sophisticated Kaiseki and the casual Izakaya style cuisine. Pretty interesting huh, so with no further due I make a reservation at Shubo Shinsen in Sapporo.

Shubo Shinsen is a two star michelin restaurant run by Chef Shigeki Echigo, don’t be deceive by his cute looking appearance, his cooking is a real deal. Here at Shubo Shinsen, they change the menu seasonally, and sometimes the Chef himself will hunt for the ingredients himself. (yes, he hunted them down himself). Also, Shubo Shinsen is by reservation only, and the place is rather tiny, so make sure to make a reservation ahead. 

I make my reservation through my Hotel’s concierge around 1 month prior my arrival. I was staying at JR Tower Nikko Sapporo Hotel (which I highly recommend! Best location, connected directly to Sapporo Station) and I remember it was winter time, the snow fell heavily a couple days before, so the pavement was covered in snow. Since Shubo Shinsen is located in Susukino area, it wasn’t that far from our location, so we decided to walk there. It was cold but nice since it’s not windy at all that time, but we have to walk extra carefully so that we won’t slip.

Upon our Arrival in Shubo Shinsen, we were greeted very warmly, they ushered us to our table which located near the open kitchen. We could see Chef Shigeki Echigo smiling very sweetly from the open kitchen, welcoming us. After we settled in our table, the lady (I won’t call her waitress, she is more like a family of the restaurant, not an employee) take our drink order, we ordered some hot green tea, sake for me and my uncle, and Umeshu on the rock for my mom. She also reassured our set menu choice that was made by the concierge our was correct. There are 3 set menu, but I am so sorry I forgot how much they cost, however I remember that we ordered the most expensive one since we wanted to experience more.

Our dinner tonight was simply stunning, Chef Shigeki Echigo’s cook are very simple and comforting. I got to experience a lot of new ingredients that I have never thought of before, such as grilled deer meat, wild boar soup, shirako or in english would be fish sperm, and more. I love how they change up the menu and pay attention to the weather outside, if you notice, there are 3 soups among the 10 course meal, which we very well appreciated due to the cold outside. My mom is obsessed with his Hokkaido’s sweet corn soup with hairy crab meat. For the record, Chef Shigeki Echigo and his son who also work as the chef in Shubo Shinsen hunted the deer and wild boar himself (He showed the proof pictures).

 We leave the place with out stomach full and warm, and a little high from all the alcohol that we consumed. But one thing for sure, we will definitely come back here one day. It would be like coming home. So, till next time.

info :

Shubo Shinsen,3 Minami 6-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku | Shusui Bldg. 1F, Sapporo, Hokkaido