Cliff(y) Goes Dining

"Cheese Meat Mania!" While searching for a restaurant in Gifu City to satisfy my gyukatsu  (lit. beef cutlet) craving, I stumbled upon KU-DETA. Just a few minutes' walk away from JR Gifu station, this cozy eatery caters to not only meat lovers, but also fans of rich, cheesy dishes. Though I didn't drink during my afternoon visit, the restaurant also boasts a curated selection of wines and cocktails.

Virgin experience with cheesy hot cross buns! Blessed Easter Sunday! It's a cherished tradition of mine to indulge in hot cross buns for the occasion every year. This year, I bought some from Marks & Spencer, a British multinational retailer founded by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer in 1884. Also included in this blog post are a few other treats from the store.

Moreish deep-fried chicken chunks atop a bed of cold 'soba'! Managed by Gourmet Kineya, Oraga Soba is a casual chain restaurant that prides itself in serving handmade soba (Japanese buckwheat noodle) at wallet-friendly prices. Besides offering a selection of hot and cold soba , the atmosphere shifts slightly in the evening with additional offerings like kushikatsu (Japanese deep-fried skewers) that pair nicely with drinks.

A non-French restaurant atop Mount Kinka! Don't ask me why, but having a French name, Le Pont de Ciel (lit. The Sky Bridge) on top of Mount Kinka in Gifu City is a restaurant that serves Japanese cuisine. Surprisingly affordable given its offering of sweeping panoramic views of the city and beyond, the restaurant is a great spot to enjoy your lunch or tea break without breaking the bank.

Do their signature chicken wings live up to the hype? Yet another popular delicacy in Nagoya that one should not miss is deep-fried  tebasaki (lit. chicken wings). Since its humble beginnings in 1980 with only 13 seats, Sekai No Yamachan is a name that stands out among locals and visitors alike, offering delectable chicken wings with bold flavours.

Am I, or are you, as sweet as a sweetfish? After soaking myself in a hot bath, I donned my yukata , ready to enjoy the evening with kaiseki (Japanese multi-course meal) dinner that was a much a feast for the eyes as it was for the palate. It was an immersive journey through seasonal delights, truly a perfect end to a relaxing day in Gifu.

Hearty breakfast in a tranquil setting! In Gifu, I stayed at Hotel Park (3*) somewhere along Nagara River. Its breakfast was a delightful way to start the day, offering a traditional Japanese set meal that reflected both balance and seasonality. Served in a peaceful dining area, it was a quiet indulgence that allowed me to appreciate the thoughtfulness behind each dish.

A serendipitous find of homely food near the Great Buddha of Gifu! My first meal in Gifu Prefecture was at a quaint family-run restaurant for lunch. The warmth of the place, along with the kind gesture of the couple running the eatery, instantly made me feel at home. I didn't confirm with them, but my guess is that the restaurant is called Azuma Tei. Deciphering Japanese kanji characters can be very tricky since they often have multiple readings.

First time having 'miso katsu'! Nagoya is renowned for miso katsu , a regional specialty of pork cutlet doused in dark sauce featuring hatcho miso , which is made of 100% soybeans, salt and water. Since its founding in 1947, Yabaton has played a major role in popularising the delicacy, expanding its reach beyond Aichi Prefecture to cities like Tokyo and Osaka.

What's your preferred way of enjoying 'hitsumabushi'? Happy Lunar New Year 2025! To wrap up the month, let's talk about hitsumabushi , a specialty of Nagoya featuring grilled unagi (Japanese freshwater eel) served over rice. While there are many restaurants in the city to enjoy the dish, I decided to join the queue at Hitsumabushi Bincho located along Kinshachi Yokocho near Nagoya Castle for lunch.

Free-flowing 'unagi' for breakfast! Nagoya is the largest producer of  unagi  (Japanese freshwater eel) in Japan. For two mornings at the cozy Smile Hotel Nagoya Shinkansenguchi (3*), my BFF and I enjoyed unlimited servings of unagi . When else could we enjoy such an indulgent experience without burning a hole in our pockets?