The Best Japanese restaurant in Boston area

Happens to be one of the closest Japanese restaurants to our home! Called Toraya - it is actually owned by a Japanese sushi chef. Most Japanese restaurants are owned by Chinese - surprise surprise. It is a tiny place - 5 tables but this is where all the expat Japanese go! The fish is fresh and expertly prepared. Chef's knife skills are so good - the fish melts in your mouth (the key is to slice the fish across in a gliding action with a very sharp knife so all the cells are cleanly cut and therefore smooth to the tongue). Look at this beautiful glistening plate of sashimi - the saba (mackerel) is one of my faves as he salts it slightly. Scallop also have a delicate flavor and the nori gives the tuna a good flavor combination. The tako (octopus) is placed next to the lemon slice as it tastes even better with a slight hint of lemon. It is the best sashimi and sushi I have had in Boston. Other Japanese places may do the westernized fancy rolls - which hides a multitude of sins. But for the authentic version, you need expert preparation and very fresh fish. It is not too pricey either!

Food in San Fran

A holiday wouldn't be a holiday without tasting the local treats and for our stay in San Fran, we made sure to hit all the good spots we know. The best dim sum in all of US is at Koi Palace (not in Chinatown but in Daly City). The trio of dumplings comes with dried scallops and various other toppings. The trio of salads came from The Beach Chalet Brewery at San Fran's coast. For such a touristy place, was impressed the food was good! San Fran is well-known for its sourdough bread and in the window, were some fun sourdough shapes. A teddy bear loaf will set you back about $40. And of course, you should stop by Ghiradelli Square for some free chocolate samples!

San Fran: The Famous Roasted Garlic Butter Crab

You should not leave San Fran without eating crab. And at Thanh Long vietnamese restaurant, they do the most amazing Roast Crab with garlic, swimming in butter. It is absolutely delicious but very rich. To complement this dish, you can also have garlic butter noodles and garlic rice - both very good.

San Fran Japantown: Maki

One of my favorite places to eat in San Fran's Japantown is Maki. Their speciality is the mini wappa meals - Paul had beef and I had the salmon with salmon roe (ikura). The chawanmushi was particularly good!

Recipe: Smoked Salmon Salad

This is my latest favorite salad - mixed greens with campari tomatoes, fresh corn from the cob, smoked salmon and capers. Optional: pan-fried lotus root, cucumber, scallions or finely diced red onion. Remember to add some ground black pepper.