Ladies’ Brunch at Park Hyatt Tokyo

It is very easy to get wound up in the daily routine of a nine to five job and running family errands. That’s why it is so important to leave some space for “me time” and to treat ourselves from time to time, don’t you agree? Thankfully, I quickly found partners in crime, and planned a girls’ day out in Tokyo together with my lovely coworkers last weekend. We agreed to dress up, enjoy a lengthy brunch and then wander the streets of this amazing metropolis to take some photos. It was also a wonderful excuse to properly test out my new camera and the “nifty fifty” lens!

I chose Park Hyatt Tokyo, the iconic luxury hotel,  as a ground zero for our shenanigans. Along with stunning views of the city, the famous New York Grill on the 52nd floor offers a highly-acclaimed brunch menu which I have been keen to try for a while now.

Formally set tables with white linens and heavy silver, as well as cordial and attentive waiters created quite formal atmosphere, although we quickly eased into our brunch with a complimentary glass of Roederer Estate Brut.

We then were invited to the all-you-can-eat appetizer buffet which featured a selection of beautifully presented cooked and raw vegetables, cheeses, beef, ham, seafood, and salads – basically anything your heart desires.

Honestly, I have mixed feeling towards buffets. Most often than not, everything looks eye-catchy and appetizing, but then only a selected few dishes turn out to be truly tasty. However, as I sampled a little bit of everything on the buffet my apprehension was very soon put to rest because every single dish was prepared with equal attention, packed tons of flavor and was very tasty. I particularly liked the delicious house-made ricotta cheese which we drizzled with lavender honey. The pate, the carrots with walnuts and the salmon salad were outstanding, as was the asparagus salad – crispy and crunchy like a cucumber (major envy here, because mine always turns out quite soft). We were quite happy with our choices. So much so that we went back for seconds completely ignoring the fact that we had the main course ahead of us!

Thankfully we were given a little bit of time to take a breather before our gorgeous main courses arrived. The menu offered a choice of beef, chicken, fish, pork or lamb. I opted for the Australian sirloin beef steak, while my ladies decided to go for a lamb and a chicken. I was so busy taking pictures of others’ plates that I forgot to photograph my own, but you have to trust my word, my beef was cooked perfectly medium rare and was juicy with that heavenly char and smoky flavor. I also quite enjoyed the side of creamy and velvety mashed potatoes that came with it.

Chicken and the lamb were quite popular as well, as the meat was cooked beautifully and paired well with the sides and sauces.

Once it was time for the desserts we were asked to proceed to the legendary New York Bar where a special table was set up for us. A live music was playing, beautiful afternoon sun was pouring into the hall and the entire city could be seen from the massive floor-to-ceiling windows. I felt like I was on top of the world, so relaxed and content.

For the sweet course, we had yet another fabulous buffet to go through. The choice was quite mouthwatering – pecan pie, cheesecake, carrot cake, chocolate cake, apple crumble, strudel, gelato – you name it! Let’s just say it was pointless to count the calories I consume that day, there were many. But I do not regret a single bite and cannot wait to go back!

In desperate need to walk off all the delights we just consumed, we headed to Shibuya for some photoshoot. We had so much fun walking on the crosswalk back and forth to get the photos “just right”. We made tons of great memories! It was a truly fantastic day filled with great food and even better company.

And here are some of the portrait shots I took with my Nikon 50 mm ( I always post-process my photos in the Lightroom).

Let me know what you all think!

xoxo, nano

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