Backdated entry - Tampopo

Lynn found out about a foie gras katsu deal at Tampopo, and we both felt like ramen, so in a rare non-steak dinner date, we went to Tampopo. We were seated next to the automatic delivery conveyor belt, much to my amazement. Our thick and fresh salmon belly sashimi was delivered via this conveyor belt. It was a little silly though, cos the waitress had to come to our table to announce that the food is coming and that we should make be careful not to block it. She then stand there until it arrives, and take it off the belt onto the table proper. Why not just bring it from the kitchen herself and bypass building such a fancy system in the first place?

The foie gras katsu was actually a black pig cutlet stuffed with "authentic French foie gras" (so say the poster). The cutlet is good as Tampopo's always are, and the foie gras lended a very nice touch to it without being too oily. When we were ordering our ramen, we ordered additional "tasty egg" each. Lynn then saw another ramen's picture with an egg, so she asked the waiter whether that was a full egg or half an egg. The waitress's reply was hilarious. She said it was half an egg, and the egg is not tasty. When we looked at her stupidly, she quickly rephrased and explain in Mandarin that the egg is regular hard-boiled egg, and not braised egg which the "tasty egg" is. The ramen, as always, came in really well-flavoured stocks. This is what I love about Tampopo - their stocks are great! The baked scallop with cheese I guess is pretty normal. I don't actually remember it, so it wasn't fantastic enough to leave a mark, nor bad that I will remember it.

My trying to be artistic shot of green tea

Sashimi arriving via the conveyor belt

Salmon belly sashimi

Black pig katsu with "French" foie gras

There's the foie gras (its actually in every slice, this is just for presentation)

Black pig toro ramen?

Tampopo is popular for their black pig

Black pig shabu ramen with a "tasty egg"

There's the shabu

Baked scallop with cheese

Tampopo is a good place to go for good ramen and cutlet. The foie gras deal is no longer available, but their regular cutlets are good too, especially for a fried food junkie like me.