I was beaten by first-class okonomiyaki in Kyoto. At least the view from the restaurant was nice. Oh, and the beer was frosty cold, which brings good marks in my book.
Food
Okonomiyaki:1 Me:0
30Sep09After nearly two weeks of being in Japan and dining on some of the best foods around, I found a dish I just couldn't eat: okonomiyaki. It's a kind of grilled pancake consisting of various types of meat and doused in the namesake sauce (and apparently one of Japan's favorite foods). I even tried yaki udon (prepared the same way, but instead of a pancake, it's fried noodles) with shrimp, but nothing worked. Nino says it was some of the best he's had, but I was not having any of it.
I was beaten by first-class okonomiyaki in Kyoto. At least the view from the restaurant was nice. Oh, and the beer was frosty cold, which brings good marks in my book.
I was beaten by first-class okonomiyaki in Kyoto. At least the view from the restaurant was nice. Oh, and the beer was frosty cold, which brings good marks in my book.
The Japanese Sure Know How to Do Donuts
23Sep09I usually stick to donuts with sprinkles, but I'm so glad I went outside my comfort zone during our trip to Akihabara yesterday. Nino remembers Mister Donut from his childhood in Japan (and can still sing the commercial) so we stopped in for a treat.
Not to put the States down, but I'm not kidding about the title of this post — the Japanese produce some amazing foods, one of which is donuts. A variety of creme filled, powdered and frosted delights greeted me at the door. I got the Angel donut in the wrapper, which was chocolate cake filled with the lightest and silkiest cream I've ever tasted, topped with a thin, but oh-so-rich layer of chocolate topping, and paired it with an iced coffee to combat the humid heat we were walking in. I was in heaven. No, no — this is Japan.
Not to put the States down, but I'm not kidding about the title of this post — the Japanese produce some amazing foods, one of which is donuts. A variety of creme filled, powdered and frosted delights greeted me at the door. I got the Angel donut in the wrapper, which was chocolate cake filled with the lightest and silkiest cream I've ever tasted, topped with a thin, but oh-so-rich layer of chocolate topping, and paired it with an iced coffee to combat the humid heat we were walking in. I was in heaven. No, no — this is Japan.
Tsukiji Fish Market FAIL
22Sep09After a 14 hour journey, we finally arrived in Tokyo yesterday! We immediately dropped our bags and headed out to the Shibuya district to catch some action and finally eat a full meal. There's nothing like authentic ramen from the source — and we haven't even been to the Ramen Museum yet!
Its well known that if you want fresh sushi, you head to the Tsukiji Fish Market for mind-blowing fish, so we headed out at 4:00 am this morning for a pre-dawn walk to the market, but a national holiday stopped us from indulging. There's always tomorrow. Instead, we had this great oyako donburi (chicken, egg and onions over rice) for breakfast. I know the chopsticks in the bowl is a bad omen, but I had to grab this pic quick before diving in.
Its well known that if you want fresh sushi, you head to the Tsukiji Fish Market for mind-blowing fish, so we headed out at 4:00 am this morning for a pre-dawn walk to the market, but a national holiday stopped us from indulging. There's always tomorrow. Instead, we had this great oyako donburi (chicken, egg and onions over rice) for breakfast. I know the chopsticks in the bowl is a bad omen, but I had to grab this pic quick before diving in.
Indulge In Your Noodle Fantasies at the Yokohama Ramen Museum
15Sep09If you can suck it up and take the hour-long commute (or 15 minute bullet train trip) from Tokyo to the bustling city of Yokohama, you'll find the amazing Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum . This landmark is a must-see for any ramen or Japanese food fanatic, since the "Disneyland of Noodles" is three floors of history, souvenirs, and food. Oh, the sweet noodle food.
Modeled to look like the busy Japanese business district from the 1950's, there are nine specially selected ramen shops from around the country for you to savor and slurp. Admission is only 300 yen (about $3), and bowls of ramen start at around 900 yen ($10). The best part? They are open till 11pm, which is great news for all you night owls that need a cup of noodle soup to end your day. Check out more pics of the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum when you read more.
Modeled to look like the busy Japanese business district from the 1950's, there are nine specially selected ramen shops from around the country for you to savor and slurp. Admission is only 300 yen (about $3), and bowls of ramen start at around 900 yen ($10). The best part? They are open till 11pm, which is great news for all you night owls that need a cup of noodle soup to end your day. Check out more pics of the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum when you read more. Close To Home: Ikes Place Sandwich Shop
09Feb09
I'm extremely happy that I live in such a diverse city. I can walk out my front door and pretty much see the world within a mile in each direction. But some of the best things in life are things that are close to home, and for me, one of those things is Ikes Place Sandwiches. A tiny little store front just off Market St. in the Castro district of San Francisco brings people in from all across the city, just to get a warm sandwich dripping with Ike's special "Dirty Sauce". Oh, that dirty sauce.
I may really be Ike that's taking your order, most likely dressed to the nines in slacks and a pin stripe vest as the line out his door grows down the block. What's the deal with Ike's sandwiches? Well, it may be the dirty sauce, it could be the fresh baked bread, possibly its the a-maz-ing Halal chicken (although there are plenty of vegetarians in line as well), or it could be that you can tell the difference between these sandwiches and all the others out there by one ingredient. That's right, love. My first love came when I tasted the Sarah Palin (named after the Alaskan Governor, natch), which included halal chicken, peppers, and mozzarella sticks, but true love came when I tried the Backstabber. Halal chicken, artichoke hearts, Caesar dressing, and provolone, all on a toasty fresh dutch crunch roll? Yes please.
If you ever find yourself in San Francisco (and why wouldn't you?), it's worth the $1.50 trip on the street car up to Market and 16th from the tourist trap called Pier 39 to get your hands on an Ike's original. Trust me, you won't be sorry.
