群馬県 - 鹿火屋 Kahiya sweets shop review

I found this review unfinished sitting in the back of my drafts folder, so I thought I should finish it... I visited this Sweets Shop in November 2017.

It is Kouyou season (紅葉)!!!  We are excited so we decided to go up to Ikaho, Gunma (伊香保、群馬県.

My friend took us to a place called: 鹿火屋, which literally translate to Deer Fire Shop, is a traditional Gunma Prefecture (群馬県) snack shop (和菓子屋).

as pictures are worth a thousand words, I will let you be the judge of this place. I, for one, found it fascinating, it was very uniquely Japanese and very traditional.

abacus used to calculate your orders

simple menu

seating area

we order pretty much everything on the menu

source of fire to keep us warm and toasty

unfortunately, this source of heat made my clothes stink... but still nice

grilled yam skewer

watching the chef/master do his job

I wasn't much of a fan of the food, I felt it was too bland. It wasn't filling either. But if you are up for an interesting experience, to see and feel another side of Japan, I would suggest this place.

score: food: 7/10; atmosphere: 9.8/10
no website
Address: 1329-127 Kaminoda, Yoshioka, Kitagunma District, Gunma Prefecture 370-3606
Phone: 0279-54-3920

Doutor’s こんがりうす焼トースト review

Doutor is one of the most popular coffee chains in Tokyo. Their coffee is one of the local favourites in Tokyo. You can find a Doutor at most places around Tokyo. Since it is a local favourite, it is no wonder they would start selling products under their name using their famous coffee taste.

The title, こんがりうす焼トースト, literally translates to thin toast crisps. 

[栄養成分] 1袋（52g）当たり
エネルギー：248kcal / たんぱく質：4.9g / 脂質：10.1g / 炭水化物34.3g / 食塩相当量：0.68g

[Nutritional information] per bag (52 g)
Energy: 248 kcal / Protein: 4.9 g / Lipid: 10.1 g / Carbohydrate 34.3 g / Salt equivalent amount: 0.68 g

inside of the package

impressions:

• sweet, but not too sweet
• toast taste on one side
• sweet coffee sugar (similar to cinnamon toast crunch... but with coffee) on the other side
• addictive
• literally tastes like plain toast (if you take off all the sweet coffee sugar)

the actual product

I really liked these... I couldn't stop munching on them... they were really good and make a good snack, the whole bag is only 248 calories and only ¥100/bag.

Score: 9/10
website: https://www.doutor.co.jp/business/wholesale/snack/57_42.html

The Body Shop Vitamin E serum review

product

The Body Shop packaging is always changing so I'm not sure what it would look like by the time this post comes out. Just remember the name: Vitamin E Moisture Serum

Since I got this in a Canadian store, the packaging might be different than if you buy it somewhere else.

product and product

Details and info about product:

A concentrated pre-moisturiser treatment for the skin, for continuous, enhanced moisturisation and protection. Vitamin E protects, while tara bush seed extract works within the skin to boost moisture levels. Skin is instantly smoothed, while the future of your skin is protected over time, with regular regime use.

It claims it is:

• Suitable for all skin types
• With vitamin E
• With Community Trade honey from Ethiopia
• Facial serum
• Concentrated formula
• Enhances moisturisation
• All-day protection

impressions:

• pump type (easy to use and hygienic)
• very thick (consistency is between a serum and lotion)
• works!
• has a lightly baby powder scent
• your skin just grabs it and absorbs it

I was impressed. What seemed to be an innocent purchase became a great find! This serum must be paired with a moisturizer or it won't work. (I've tried). You do not have to use a body shop moisturizer, but you NEED a moisturizer.

This is definitely a product I was glad I picked up and I highly recommend it.

Score: 9.8/10
Website: https://www.thebodyshop.com/en-sg/face/moisturizers/vitamin-e-moisture-serum/p/p000878

Daikanyama's Doree cafe review

Doree Cafe

This "cafe" is situated in a food court next to Daikanyama station. The food court is a perfect place to finish work as it is spacious, quiet, and well lite. 

Mango Milk and Avocado Milk

I didn't order the mango milk, so I will just type out what my friend said about it: not enough mango... she could hardly tell it was mango... (oops).

around ¥500

On the other hand, the Avocado Milk was definitely much worth its money than the Mango Milk. 

While I would expect more avocado, the avocado was fresh. I could actually tell it was an Avocado shake... but I still thought it was pricey. It is one thing to be in Daikanyama and charge more, but it is another when the quality isn't so good.

score: 6.5/10

address: 〒150-0034 東京都渋谷区 代官山町20-20 モンシェリー代官山

Botanical Force Lip Essence Produced by Fancl review

product with the product

This product is called Botanical Force Lip Essence Produced By Fancl

"Hope this product will bring you a wonderful time"

For those who live in the North Hemisphere, this would have been one of the worst Winters we have had in a loooooonnnng time! It is cold... and dry. The first signs of dryness are shown in my hands and lips. And behold! My lips are so dry they are peeling every day... I have had suspicions that the dry patches are getting eczema. (That is how bad they are).

My Lip Problem:

They itch so much!! Sometimes during conversations I have to use my teeth to scratch them... and then they start flaking... it is terrible!

I tried using different types of lip balms (from Burt's Bees to Mentholatum lip balm to Vaseline and everything in between... NOTHING worked). Burt's Bees gave temporary relief but my lips will go back to being dry in a few hours.

Out of frustration, I was willing to pay ANYTHING just so I could relieve my lips. I came across Fancl and found this product.

Claims and Description:

Dense gel confines cosmetic ingredients and leads to plump lips that keep moisture for a long time. Preservatives-free, perfume-free, and colouring-free.

Impressions:

• tasteless and odourless (no scent)
• very thick
• relieves my skin of itchiness right after application
• works, but requires 2 applications (once before applying lip products in the morning and once at night after your skincare routine)
• not a fan of the applicator
• hard to control how much product you use
• expensive

I really like this, it works, it is more of a medicated treatment more than a skin routine. I have to use it twice every day, if I skip a session, my lips go back to the same dryness. I am a bit disappointed that it doesn't permanently fix my problem, rather, I have to rely on it.

the applicator

I must comment on how much I hate the applicator. You just squeeze the product out and the applicator does not help you smooth the product around, you have to use your finger, or sometimes I try to use my lips and puck them together till they spread evenly. 

I also found that when I squeeze out the product, I sometimes end up with too much... which is a waste... since I can't use it anywhere else...

This is an expensive product (I can't remember the exact cost, but it does range over ¥1200 JPY) but the good part is that it does work, and that's important.

score: 9/10
website: (to 7-eleven, where I bought the product) https://sej.qrtranslator.com/0014000002/000018/

Daikanyama Henry's Burger review

Every once in a while you will find something and it turns out to be good... and that was what happened to me this week. I was walking around Daikanyama (代官山) and came across this burger shop. The smell of their burgers just filled the streets so I was intrigued. I was also aware this was Daikanyama, so it might be slightly pricey.

To my surprise, it was not! in fact... it was quite reasonable... it was comparable to most burger shops in Tokyo. I suggest getting a set. I decided on Combo A for ¥1188 (tax included). The set includes a drink, a hamburger and fries.

While waiting for my burger, I couldn't help but do a quick google search, I saw a Japan Times article feature them a few years ago. It turns out they serve 100% Japanese Wagyu (Japanese beef) burgers with no fillers, extenders or binding agents! I was excited!

seating area

It took them around 10 minutes to get my order. The seating area is extremely small. I was lucky I got to sit down as the people were leaving.

only 4 seats!!

They only have 4 seats. I suggest getting take out and eat outside on the bench. I do not suggest waiting... because there is no guarantee how long it will take.

so my food arrived!

impressions:

• fries were fresh
• ingredients were fresh
• fries were super thin
• burger was really juicy and tasty
• burger melted in my mouth
• burger was small

served on a cute diner type tray

My order came on a cute looking tray. It had a very diner type of feel to it.

close up of burger

look at how fresh the lettuce is and how juicy the burger looks.

the burger!

the burger felt slightly thin. The combination of ingredients was good.

another look at the burger

the burger is tiny...

I finished!

it wasn't hard to finish this burger. It was small... (you can tell from my closeups).

Overall

I was quite satisfied. The ingredients were fresh and the taste was good.

score: 8/10
website: http://www.henrysburger.com/

Haagen-Dazs Specialite 抹茶のオペラ review

Haagen-Dazs Specialite Matcha Opera

As Christmas approaches, there is bound to be some seasonal limited food items available. And of all products available, Haagen-Daz's was the one that caught my eye!

After dinner, I found this Haagen-Dazs Specialite 抹茶のオペラ (Matcha Opera) at my local convenient store. My friend told me that this is heavily advertised around Tokyo: trains, subways or even random posters. After indulging in this, I started seeing this everywhere, too.

layers

This ice cream consists of 4 layers:

• gold and chocolate
• matcha ice cream
• almond sauce and cookies
• blond chocolate ice cream

impressions:

• slightly pricy (¥450)
• the chocolate layer was very richly chocolate
• there was gold dust to justify the price (?)
• the vanilla ice cream cookie crumble layer was really delicious!
• each layer was very well defined bringing out their characteristic
• the layers tasted good together and apart

Haagen-Dazs Matcha Opera

was it worth it?

despite the pricey price tag, I would say yes, it was worth it. This was probably one of the best desserts I have had this year! It was extremely well made, like a very expensive ice cream cake in a small container (the kind of cake you would find in patisseries which cost ¥500+). The combination of flavours was impeccable. While the chocolate and matcha layer were on the bitter side, the almond sauce and blond chocolate layer were sweet, creating a perfect balance between the layers and producing a delicious result.

score: 9.5/10

website: http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/matcha_opera/

(press release) http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/company/newsrelease/2017/_specialite_1121.html