Ruokala Lokki 　かもめ食堂

Monday, 6 July 2009
ひさしぶりに「かもめ食堂」をみた。

"Kamome Shokudo" is a Japanese movie from 2006 all filmed in Finland. "Kamome" means seagull and "Shokudo" means diner (so it's "Seagull Diner" in English and "Ruokala Lokki" in Finnish). The story is all about this little diner in Helsinki run by a Japanese lady, and it's about a life surrounding Kamome Diner.

Above four images are by Kamome Kikaku via here.
In this film you see A LOT of iittala tableware, alvar aalto furniture, and marimekko clothing so it's perfect for a Finland design lover like me :) And of course it's a lot about food so is really an enjoyable film just by that! But the story itself is quite charming too, with little giggles here and there it's very sweet. It makes me really want to go to Finland more everytime I see it (and makes me want to have really good coffee and onigiri which I always do after seeing it!).

Finland seems reallly far away from Japan but apparently it's the closest European country to us! I had been a secret finland lover for a loooong time because I'm a huge fun of Aki Kaurismäki. The impression of Helsinki in Kamome Diner is VERY different from Helsinki seen in Kaurismaki's films though! But I'm pretty sure it's a really charming city just how it's seen in "Kamome Diner" :)


Another film casting those two main actresses from Kamome Diner is coming soon, it's called "the pool" プール and is filmed in Thailand. I can't wait till September!
Comments: 11

City guide to Kamakura : Komachi Area

Friday, 3 July 2009
My favourite osusume shops around Kamakura Station:

01. cafe vivement dimanche - very famous cafe that is said to be where today's japanese cafe culture started. good coffee and brazilian music. just off Komachi street. 2-1-5 Komachi Kamakura-shi

02. claro - a small record shop specialising in Brazilian music run by (and is next to) cafe vivement dimanche.

03. Kosuzu - the best soba noodle restaurant in Kamakura! 2-13-4 Komachi Kamakura-shi

04. Toshimaya - "hato sable" (pigeon shaped biscuit) shop that has 200 years of history in Kamakura. You can get "hato sable" in many places around tokyo but "hato sable zakka" is only available at this main shop! Unfortunately the day went it was closed... but you can check out the "hato sable zakka" at 8tokyo.com. 2-11-9 Komachi Kamakura-shi

05. Kamakura farmers market - good place to visit ealier in the day. Little soufle shop inside the market is VERY GOOD! 1-3-10 Komachi Kamakura-shi

06, 07. Milk Hall - an old cafe and antique shop. great "taisho" atmosphere. 2-3-8 Komachi Kamakura
Comments: 2

Shopping at Sally Scott (and Mina Perhonen I wish)

Thursday, 2 July 2009

The summer sale started so I went to Sally Scott in Shirokanedai - this is one of my favourite shops in Tokyo. I got an embroidered shirt and a cute pale blue "pumpkin pants" and am very pleased.

In the same building thre is my dream shop minä perhonen. Everytime I walk into the shop I feel I want to stay there forever, actually I wish I could live there! Of course their dresses are really beautiful but I just love the total atmosphere of the space it's perfect. I can't afford the dress, but I can't help going back there either.

Sally Scott & mina perhonen
5-18-17 Shirokanedai Minato-ku Tokyo 108-0071 Japan
Tel 03 5420 3766 Open 12:00-20:00 Closed on Mondays

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By the way, the brand name "Sally Scott" is not a name of a designer, but she's a fictious character set for the brand concept - 25 year-old girl who is always searching for the new findings. And this Shirokanedai shop is made to be "her room". And the brand is directed by Akira Minagawa of minä perhonen.
Comments: 6

Good start for July thanks to Hello Sandwich!

Well it's July, I can't believe we're into the last half of year already! Just after I came back home yesterday I received a very special package -my prize!- from Ebony of Hello Sandwich from Sydney! Yay! She wrapped it so beautifully and it was so Hello Sandwich! Isn't it cute, the card too it put a big smile on my face :)
This was a prize for The Special Hello Sandwich Eco Giveaway Ebony had for the World Environment Day which I thought was a great act she took to help spread the world the consciousness for the importance of caring about our environment! So big thanks and cheers to Sweet Ebony! She just had a really kawaii birthday party and you can see the photos at her wonderful blog so don't forget to check out Hello Sandwich!
ありがとう◎
Comments: 0

Tea macarons from Sadaharu AOKI

Wednesday, 1 July 2009
I looooooooove macarons! Especially the ones from pâtisserie Sadaharu AOKI paris.

Sadaharu Aoki is one of the most successful Japanese patissiers who has beautiful boutiques both in Tokyo and Paris. (The boutique is all white and really lovely but they don't allow photographs so no images.) He's famous for using green tea "macha" for everything he makes, well green tea macarons aren't new at all now, but how about Genmaicha（玄米茶）or Hojicha（ほうじ茶）? Maybe they've been around for a while but I had them for the first time and they were lovely! This time I chose all tea flavours: Macha, Genmaicha, Hojicha, Earl Grey, Kuro-goma (black sesame) and Salt Caramel. Well I know the last two are not tea, but Kuro-goma sounded nice and Salt Caramel was to add a bit of colour... Oh I'm so in love with these tea flavour macarons, I need to go back there soon!!

In Tokyo, you can find pâtisserie Sadaharu AOKI paris at Tokyo Midtown (Roppongi), Shinjuku Isetan and Shin-Kokusai Building (Marunouchi).
Comments: 9
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