Making my ‘carvinore’ happy

A perennial dining favorite of my boys has always been Tsukiji (Arnaiz Road corner Paseo de Roxas); and in the past, there was nary a month that went by that we didn’t at least have one night of dining there. For no particular reason, this tapered off over the last year or so, and it was one recent Saturday afternoon that had us, once again, taking that slowest elevator in the world (Matteo, who’s 12, always makes it a point to take the stairs, rush up, wait for the elevator doors to open on the third floor, and act like he’s been waiting forever...between barely disguised pants). All the menu items my boys would order by rote are still there (the Karubi beef slices we’d cook tableside, the seaweed salad, etc.), but thanks to the persistence of Malu Gamboa, we tried the new stuff brewing (and grilling) at this venerable institution of Japanese cuisine.

The new attraction is the Teppanyaki table that’s found at the end of the section facing Arnaiz Ave. As Malu explained how the traditional Ohmi Wagyu beef is now coupled with the option to go Snake River Farms American Wagyu (at a more affordable price), Luca, seven, piped in with how much he loved steak and was a real ‘carvinore.’ That got his brothers laughing, and I had to hug Luca and explain his mistake gently so he wouldn’t get embarrassed and clam up. While Ohmi is the official beef of the Japanese Imperial household and has that ‘melt in your mouth’ quality, I loved how Quintin, 15, later said he actually preferred the American Wagyu because it has more taste and texture, as you really can feel the juice of the beef explode in your mouth as you bite into the piece. Beef lovers everywhere will know what he means and appreciate the difference. The prawns and squid grilled teppan-style added to the more than full lunch we ended up experiencing. Luca loved the idea of trying different types of beef, and gauging which one he preferred – he voted for the Ohmi, the Little Emperor that he is!

It’s been 17 years now that Tsukiji has been in operation, enjoying a reputation as one of the premier Japanese restaurants here in Manila. What is impressive is how the high standards have been maintained. Perceived as a rather pricey dining option, it’s great to see that certain full-meal weekend specials now come in for P400 to P500/person. And for my boys, they’re always happy to see chef Oka. In years past, they’d slip into the kitchen and give him a greeting, and he’d whip up something special for them. It’s this kind of service that Malu and J (Gamboa) have always fostered, making Tsukiji a truly unique experience.

The Chuva on Tsubo

It may sound like some cliched advertising pitch, but what can I do? So here goes: If we had access to the shoe closets of Jack Nicholson, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Brad Pitt, Will Smith, Hugh Jackman, Jamie Foxx and Jack Black, what would be the one sure common pair of shoes we’d find? If you answered in your mind Gucci, Tods or Lobb, go to the back of the class, because the one sure answer is Tsubo. Yes, Tsubo. The brainchild of one Nick O’ Rorke, a Briton who used to design for Reebok, Tsubo is that urban dream of a shoe that looks and acts like a sneaker, but has the stuff and swagger to come across as a street shoe for the unconventional and non-conformist.

Tsubo means ‘pressure point’ in Japanese, and Nick’s design conceit was to create a sole that aligned with the reflexology pressure points of our feet and come up with a shoe that is designed for comfort, via massaging, shock-absorbing bubbles – his Ergonomic Style Synthesis. To bestow ‘street cred,’ Nick designed combinations of leather with mesh, suede, or breathable neoprene, added rubber mudguards on some models, and topped off his Tsubo line with insoles of antibacterial material and with arch support. They are funky to say the least, but they are truly comfortable.

They’re available at selected Rustan’s stores, and at Bratpack (the Block, SM North EDSA). They range from about P6,000 to P8,000, which means about the same price as your high-end sneakers; but they have an urban sensibility that means you can wear them with jeans or chinos, and enter bars and restaurants at night without being questioned at the door...I hope! Thanks to the line’s versatility, they’re an ideal Christmas gift. Sure they’re not for everyone, as it will take some attitude to wear them regularly, and not think one is wearing sneakers or being too informal. Some styles even look like oversized closed Japanese slippers, but if comfort is a genuine concern, try on a pair!