My nephew Ali Asif loves fast cars and now works for a Japanese car company, who as fate would have it has been posted to Tokyo. He has been sending me hundreds of messages and pictures on my mobile phone about Japanese food.

Then he sends an urgent message that there is a ‘Tokyo Japanese Restaurant’ in C-Block Gulberg, which even the Japanese in his Tokyo office rate very highly. Not one to be overtaken by a host of perky ‘foodie’ nephews and nieces, I decided to visit the eatery, mind you to book a place. This is definitely no cheap place, and they have a Ramazan Menu priced at Rs. 2,155 plus tax, and I ended up paying over Rs5,000 for just the two of us. But being a food critic has its ups and downs. Just how do these youngsters afford such sums baffles me.

The ambiance is very Japanese, clean, clear lines and simple beauty in its setting. I remember going to Osaka many moons ago to be feted with live worms, raw fish and thinly sliced snake meat by the chairman of a famous multinational. How I managed to keep smiling is another story. But not at this place, of this rest assured.

At the call of the azan excellent quality dates from Arabia and a bowl of fruit was presented. With fresh fruit juices and lemonade, it was a refreshing start in the torrid sun.

For starters we both had Miso Soup. Now miso is basically fermented soya paste and the stock of ‘dashi’, basically a combination of a variety small fish like sardines, tuna and kelp. Some fresh herbs are added to give it a smooth sharp taste. It was very different from the soups we are used to, but definitely a quality addition to the Lahore ‘eating out’ scene.

We next tried out the Californian Maki, which is an American concoction of a sushi roll with cucumbers, crab meat and thinly sliced raw fish. It is consumed with some excellent sauces and makes a great appetiser. At this stage it is sensible to use chop sticks, and if like me you are a novice, fear not for within minutes you manage reasonably well.

We also tried the wasabi prawns and the ‘nana’ chicken.

Then on to the main course we went and it just had to be a ‘terranyaki’. They had red snappers and chicken. I went for the chicken with garlic fried rice. Probably I prefer to be cautious. It was immensely tasty and by this time I had made up my mind that Japanese food is a great addition to Lahore.

For sweets we went for the vanilla gelato and trust me it was divine. It seems the Japanese love to excel in everything they touch, and food is one of their strengths. Along the meal we were served with Japanese Ocha tea served in exquisite small cup bowls. Yes Sir, this was unique, classy and worth the experience.

Let me now return to our judging method, the Michelin Scale of one to nine for the attributes of the experience. For food quality it gets seven, for taste six (prejudice here probably!), for quantity of servings a seven (they are small, but appropriate), for quality of crockery and cutlery a massive eight, for the ambiance seven, for service seven, for prices five (sorry, this is steep as steep can be) and for parking and approachability comfort it gets six.

This adds up and averages a very high seven out of nine. Highly recommended, especially if you are into Japanese food.

Beating the heat:

After the disaster at Karachi it makes sense that Lahoris should be prepared for a period of intense heat before the rains arrive …. and arrive they will late this time. While lemonade with salt and sugar, as also ‘lassi’ with salt and sugar, are always highly recommended, my view is that all of us must carry a pack or two of ORS with us.

All we have to do is buy a large bottle of clean water and add the ORS to it. Sip away and you will be as safe as safe can be. For once let science beat the heat nature throws at you.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2015

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