Welcome back guys and as the title suggests,me and wifey had a teppanyaki voucher to utilize. She had a lot of expectations from this one,as she had to put in a lot of effort to get a reservation. Between language barriers and getting a suitable date,she had her blood pressure going up a few times. The best part was that the reservation was for 6PM. Yes,you read right,6PM! Even by western standards its a tad early. I had the good fortune of visiting Japan with all expenses paid, and the earliest we ate dinner there was six thirty or so!

Anyway,me being the eager beaver landed up with wifey at sharp 6PM at Tem Ichi. Not too much of a tongue twister, is it? There was a bit of a confusion at the reception,despite my wife’s many reconfirmation calls,including one that afternoon. Anyway, we were ushered to a teppanyaki seating area and my mouth was watering. As some of you maybe aware, teppan means iron plate and yaki means grilled. So basically,its grilled food on an iron plate. To our utter chagrin a large group of  guests’ were soon seated next to us,and we suddenly felt very insecure. They were about ten of them, a large family get together I reckon. We chose to move around,to let them sit together. A little later an older couple were seated next to us. The Iron chef or teppan chef started cooking and told us and the other couple that he would be cooking for us. More people joined in and another chef also joined in,he didn’t look like an iron chef,more like a clay chef.

My studied better half advised that there were 11 items to be served,and I should be counting. She was barking up the wrong tree. All the smoke and the confusion had made me very hungry and impatient.All I wanted was to eat and scramble.But that was not to be, as the night had other plans for us. From what I saw(pic) there were prawns and scollops being served to the group,but we got none.Probably they were not on any voucher! Anyway, the prawns were grilled to perfection and very succulent. While the prawns cooked,they served us some salad and miso soup. Are you counting?

Then came the spring rolls, 3 of them with bbq sauce on top.That was a bit weird!

The group next to us got green tea earlier but we had to ask for it thrice before they obliged. I loved the green pot. These were then followed by some beef,chicken and fish. Are you counting,as I have lost count! ): I heard the group asking for the beef to be well done and the chef in hurry just dumped some blood oozing beef pieces on our plates. My wife wanted to experiment but I forbid her. I told the chef that these are individual tastes and need to be asked before making. I refused to eat it. He was a bit taken aback and told the clay chef to re-do it for us. He gave such a grumpy look that our beef buds disappeared.

Bleeding beef

The clay chef did make some beef for us that was well done,but it can’t hold a candle to the kobe beef I had in Osaka. Mmmm.. that was sooo good!! Then came the fried rice which was burnt at the bottom and had no taste.We had to add some sauces they provided for the entrees. All this happened,as the iron chef left the rice to roast,while he played childish games with the group. He made yummy looking omelettes,folded it into tight crepes and threw them at the people in the group.Some caught with their mouths and others didn’t. What a waste. The omelette that went into our fried rice was no great shakes.

As you can see above ,eggs were being arranged to be thrown at the hapless guests’ and they had to catch it in a bowl without breaking it on themselves. Ha ha,it was fun to watch them,but we didn’t participate. Why?Because we don’t like to! They also had plastic bowls stacked up to throw at the guests’ and the some chef’s on other tables were throwing food at unsuspecting guests’ and babies. This is definitely not Japanese and no Ozzy would waste food like that.Wonder where that came from?

Bowls to throw

It was so hot and smokey in there that I was sweating and the camera lens was all fogged up,giving the pictures a soft focus look. I apologize for that!

Tem Ichi before the smoke

We didn’t bother with the ice cream because there were no clear instructions on what to do and confusion reigned. The large group abruptly left after the games and congregated in another side of the restaurant. When asked, a steward said that ice cream was being served there. We left the place and came back home to have some yummy gelato and walnut liqueur. I would recommend that people go there as a group,then they are more willing to give you reservations. Otherwise,you will get shunted around like us. Overall it wasn’t too bad an experience!Its unfair to compare with what I had in Kobe. Arigato Gozaimasu Tem Ichi!!

Level 1, 51 Phillip Street Parramatta
 NSW 2150