In a city the size of Tokyo, it is simply impossible to visit every single new restaurant or to keep track of changes at all the established places. For that reason, the Food File does not presume to assign year-end rankings or pronounce its best-of lists for the year, especially since, in the end, it is just a matter of subjective preference and personal taste.
Nevertheless, as the holidays approach and we sit back, pleasantly stuffed from the seasonal excesses, this is always an appropriate moment to pause, reflect and sift back through the lees of our gustatory memories -- not just the restaurants but also the food shops, cafes, pubs and relevant reading matter that have impressed us over the past 12 months.
And so, this week and next, the Food File will be sticking in a thumb and pulling out a few of its choicest plums from the past 12 months.