It's Pasta Time in Japan!

For many years, the use of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) has been debated many times but there is still no final verdict as to whether it poses any harm or is just hearsay about its catastrophic effects.  So if you are still hesitant in using this flavor enhancer, you should know that just like any flavor additives, MSG is pretty much safe to use.  But if you want to be very safe on its usage, then better use it in moderation and not overdo on your flavor enhancement.  A pinch of this substance is enough to make any dish as flavorful as you like.

Most people would stick to the usual salt and pepper in other dishes but some dishes need other herbs and spices to let the flavor come out.  Even with various herbs and spices it seems that there is still something lacking in your food that is not satisfying enough.  That is where Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) plays its role.  This substance was extracted from seaweed called kombu by a Japanese professor.  This means that Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) in itself is a natural flavor enhancer and can easily be used besides salt and pepper.  Many react that Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) causes headaches and can poison a person into a slow death but there has never been any evidence of that happening.

Whatever the negative connotation of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) has, it is still widely used in Asian countries and other parts of the world.  Besides using such substance can make members of your family eat heartily than not eat at all.  This holds true for kids that are picky eaters and the elderly that has no appetite for food.  There is no harm in trying out this flavor enhancer on your next dish.  You might even be surprised that the dish will be a star on your family dinner.

Shinjuku Ni-Chome  is a great location to check out, especially if you are homosexual and are looking for a great tour of gay Tokyo. It is also famous for the best Tokyo foods. Weekdays in Ni-Chome are by no means empty, but are pretty quiet compared with weekends. There is the Uoya-Itcho Japanese-style izakaya in the BYGS Building, and several ethnic restaurants, including Chinese and Indian. The 24-hour MOS Burger store across Shinjuku-dori Avenue is a popular late night hangout for the gay party crowd, and features particularly gay-friendly staff.  The abundance of bars in Shinjuku Ni-Chome is something easily verified by a ten-minute stroll around its narrow precincts. Glance into the foyers of buildings, up at their sides, for confirmation.

The whole area is a crazy checker board of lit-up bar signs with amazing Tokyo food. But each speaks the dialect of a particular scene. The names themselves form a delightfully diverse vocabulary possible only in Japan where English is still foreign enough to treat entirely as one pleases – and whose meanings and associations have a Japanese-shaped history here of their own.  Wine Bar and Tokyo Cuisine, most of the restaurants in Shinjuku- Ni-Chome have a great wine bar in a great location and very reasonably priced. The restaurants feature a variety of Tokyo foods ranging at various prices. Some of the best places to visit are:

1. Madame Cirque Brasserie – The design theme of the restaurant is funky French circus, with gawdy accessories like a giant pink chandelier, swirly candy colored booths, mounted fake tiger’s heads, and a blue elephant overlooking the bar. The ambience is quiet and pleasant despite the flashy decor. French pop music plays softly in the background and the two servers were very low key.

1. Nakajima – Awarded one star by the Tokyo Michelin Guide in 2008 Nakajima is regarded as an excellent traditional Japanese restaurant. The lunch sets at Nakajima may be the only opportunity to sample Michelin rated food at budget prices, then at night the prices return to the luxury bracket. The menu features regional food mainly from the Kansai region but innovative chefs including apprectices from prestigious cooking schools all over Japan, add their own creative flair to the menu.

1. Omoide Yokocho – This tiny bustling alley is an interesting throwback to post-war Tokyo of the 1950s when a lively underworld of black markets and bars thrived along Shinjuku backstreets. Literally translated as Memory Lane, Omoide Yokocho is a small lane crammed full of tiny bars serving good, cold beer and sake and simple but tasty grilled chicken skewers called yakitori. The staffs are friendly but don’t expect any English-speaking, instead just point to the foods one wish to order and enjoy the very Japanese experience.