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Marseille accueille la toute première édition française d'Assemble !

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Bianco

Tokyo

We start this guide with a special place. We go to Yakumo in Nakameguro. A great neighbourhood and insanely good ramen with some extra good wonton. My job as a trend researcher and many interviews with Tokyo streetwear designers, shop managers and so on have always brought up this name. I don’t know what it is, but the streets seem to love this shop. It's a fancy place, but offers real ramen love. Perfect wontons and a smooth soup that will delight you.
If you want way more read my big guide.
Matane motherfuckers.

Again one of my absolute favourite places in this town and a high percentage to find me here when in Tokyo. I live very close to this shop and go there at least once a week together with my girl. This shop is insanely good. From their clear chicken ramen with Japanese citrus to their Tsukemen and their chiso miso ramen that adds extra cheese to heavy miso ramen. All bowls are god level, and the shop has a really laid back atmosphere. Say hi if you see me.

Yamaguchi Ratsushiki is one of these places and they are Bib Gourmand famous for their special Mabo Mazesoba. Same as Mabo Tofu, this dish holds a lot of Sichuan Pepper that will numb your lips, tongue, and mouth like crazy over time. I think the first time I tried this pepper I referred to its effect as a big spoon full of Charlie going down your throat. This still might make sense, I am a good guy now... I don’t know. So Yamaguchi Ratsushiki manages to really balance these levels and turn this ride into a good one. Loads of coriander and pork belly cubes and slices help, the extra egg, too. All in all, this is a real love affair, and Mazesoba is something you def should not miss at all.
If you bring enough time go to Yamaguchi Ratsushiki a bit away in Koto and enjoy this lovely hood and bowl. Oishii.

Let's head to Ikebukuro and eat at Kinkanbo. This neighbourhood is a bit like Shibuya just without all the tourists. It's famous for its various ramen shops, and Kinkanbo is one of the legendary shops in these streets. They do a crazy good and spicy miso ramen, with an incredibly tender piece of pork meat on top and extra optional coriander and spicy levels. If you can take it. The whole shop has a lovely design and is full of devil masks and dark-red walls. It's a one of a kind experience. Go to hell and enjoy it.

Time for another heavyweight champion and the place with probably the longest waiting time in this list, but the good guys at Tsuta are… good guys and invented a ticket system. Come early, pick a ticket and then come back later and just wait a bit on top. Don’t worry about spending too much time in front of the shop and instead check out the beautiful Rikugien Garden near Tsuta and eat a Kaki Gori (shaved ice) in there while you wait for the magic doors to open up for you. Tsuta really is one of a kind. The whole shop is quiet as fuck, and the ramen is incredibly tasty and finessed with some truffle paste. It's hard to explain what all happens in this bowl, but let's just say it was the first ramen that got a Michelin and those rich fucks only give stars to the best food, I guess.

Fuck, I love this shop and I love this neighbourhood. By now you can prove if you really came here for ramen. 'This shop is a bit far off the usual routes and only a few that love good food and the real Tokyo will go for it. The rest can take the same pictures and walks the same roads as the million other tourists before. We getting emotional here. For real, Matador Gyukostu is my absolute favourite. Maybe the best ramen I ever ate. It's a very rare beef ramen - you don’t find it that very often. It combines thin slices of beef, minced meat and a lot of other good things that will make your taste buds explode. I salute everybody who makes it out there. Be aware that there might be a long line on the weekend, so come early.

Let's go to Ueno, one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Tokyo. Next to a banging bowl of ramen, you will find the Ameyoko Market here, that will sell you everything you can think of. It starts with cheap souvenirs and ends with a golden Rolex. Believe me, they got everything you can imagine in between these two products. On top of that, there is Kamo To Negi. A ramen specialised in healthy vibes and duck meat. No artificial flavours, a light broth and a perfect piece of duck meant. Yes, a perfect piece and perfect bowl. Believe me.

We stay in Ueno, and we go from duck to crab. Sanji sells special crab ramen that is super super deep in flavour and has an optional option to add as many qualm eggs as you want to eat (3 cost 50 yen). The taste is one of a kind. 100% unique and nothing you will ever get anywhere else in the world. It's hard to put in words, just go there and eat their 'crazy crab' bowl.

The next ramen sends you right to Ginza, Tokyo’s very posh and high-class shopping district. KAGARI is specialised in Tory Paitan ramen, which is the best chicken soup you will probably eat in your whole damn life. KAGARI is world famous for their soup, and after this bowl, you will probably, never enjoy ramen outside of Japan again. It's def worth it. Go for it.

Let's end with one of my favourite bowls deep down in Shibuya. A lucky one for you cause you probably don’t have to go too far since your Airbnb or hotel or whatever might be close. But you gotta come early, cause Hayashi gets sold out quick. Come a bit before they open at 11AM and enjoy the most comfortable ramen machine of them all. If you did not know that yet, you buy your ramen at a machine/get a ticket. And usually, they have a million options, all in Japanese. Hayashi is different. Three buttons that just change the number of extras. Get the biggest one, and don’t talk that much. This shop is quiet, everybody enjoys his or her bowl. Shut up and enjoy the definition of an OG, extraordinarily good ramen.

Bianco’s Guide to Ramen in Tokyo

Moonchild Sanelly

Johannesburg

You are guaranteed to get some quality drinks here!


You can find great music and good vibes. If you like braised meat this is the perfect place.

Head to the Marabi Club for tapas. It's also great for jazz bands and discovering local talent. 

Bantu records in Parktown North is great for classical records. You can find everything from Miriam Makheba to my idols Busi Mhlongo and Erykah Badu. 

Kwa Mai Mai Traditional Market is an off-grid location I suggest exploring. It’s an under-the-bridge experience, where there's makeshift South African restaurants and groove (party) all in one place. 

For my baddies with class and no budget, the Italian restaurant Gemeli is the perfect place to line your stomach.

For a night out I would suggest Nostra for a good after party. It’s a club that will have you on your feet all night long! 

To experience the arts check out the Goodman Gallery in Rosebank. To anyone reading this, you need to follow Trevor Stuurman, the owner of the manor.

For those that can last until after the after party, SUMMIT is the place to go. It’s a super fun strip club.  

The Magaliesberg in northern South Africa, it’s just 30 minutes outside of Johannesburg with rock pools and lots of greenery, it’s a real wilderness experience. I think anyone reading this should definitely check it out if they are ever in northern South Africa. 

“It’s a Super Fun Strip Club”: Moonchild Sanelly Knows a Good Time in Johannesburg

Lorenzo BITW

Rome

One of the biggest food markets of the city and a place where you can get lost really easily. I love to go shopping there when I have time to spend and find some particular food or something very typical that you won’t find in supermarkets.

Il Mangiadischi is a small record store situated in the area of San Lorenzo, Fidel Kato the owner is an hip hop and rap connoisseur and he will make you feel at home when you enter into the store.

The place is tiny and you can’t even sit inside, they will call it now street food but it’s something we always had in Rome. Supplì is the best thing to try there, a fried rice balls with ragù inside.

I love the fact that the owners of this spot are quite rude and they have the characteristics of the typical Roman guys. The bar is situated in popular area of Testaccio and the best thing to try there is Zabaione.

This is where locals in my area, Prati, go to have a drink or to chill but it’s not the usual Prati spot because it’s cheap and people are friendly. If you go there try Spritz mezzo e mezzo.

This beautiful building was built by Borromini and it has a unique architecture, inside there is also an incredible library. The place is not always open so it’s a matter of luck of walking by and find the doors opened.

This place is kind of magic and it has his own charm. Hanging everywhere there are communist posters and they serve only wine or prosecco. They have a really good selection of wine and you can also bring your own food and eat there.

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