Snow, snow, snow. I don’t ski. I don’t snowbo. I don’t skate (on anything). Snowshoeing, icefishing, no. Truth is, I don’t like being cold. (Or hungry, as you may have noticed.) But I love seeing snow through a clear window from the comfort of a warm room. And as I learned many years ago, an […]
Month: January 2011
Yamabukitei, Shiroishi (やまぶき亭)
Once I heard an expression in Japanese that translated as “1,000 regional specialties, none of them good.” I’ve mentioned to a lot of people since then, and no one has ever heard it before. I mention it (again) now in the hope that some will verify it. If you’re at all a regular reader here, […]
- izakaya
- ...
Tarafuku, Sendai (いろり酒場 たら福)
Leaving our date with tongue, we were forcibly reminded of our dietary wants. Where would one get soba that was not a traditional noodle of Japan? And in any case, we ignored that crap and headed right back to a warm and welcoming place that we saw when on recon patrol before dinner. We should […]
Kotora, Sendai (仔虎)
So you go up to Sendai, and what’s it famous for? Well, of course there’s Matsushima Bay, but after half a day of getting up there, poking around, and getting back, you’re left with plenty of time. The other thing that’s famous in Sendai is beef. Specifically, beef tongue. Now, you can get tongue in […]
Nakasato, Matsushima (磯焼 なかさと)
We’ll start this trip with a cave, I think. Zuiganji is a nice enough temple, and really a must if you’re in Matsushima – there aren’t that many things to do other than cruise the bay. Unfortunately the harsh climate means it needs a lot of renovation, and right now it’s in one of those […]
- Other treats
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This way to…
Wherein someone and I explore the delights of: Raw oysters. Fried oysters. Oyster ramen. Oyster curry. And that’s just the first meal. Pine trees. On islands. The $7 slice of cow tongue. Sweet mashed soybeans – because all those red-bean desserts just weren’t savory enough. Bathing outside in a blizzard. All in all, a great […]
Asahiken tonkatsu, Kanda (旭軒)
A couple people have said to me recently, they said, “Jon, how’d you get so funky?” and I had to say “I don’t think that’s what you mean to ask. I think you’re really asking a deeper question about why I go to different restaurants all the damn time, and why I sometimes go to […]
- izakaya
- ...
Dottanba, Kanda (どったんば)
Came across this place while looking for targets for those big sake dinners with colleagues…and have actually been turned away trying to go for lunch. It’s decent. I like the rustic exterior, the way they’ve fitted this to look like you’re going into a cave in the woods. Down the stairs it gets darker, and […]
- izakaya
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Sato, Tama Plaza (佐藤)
Part 2 of what we should expect to be a long series of posts on the greater Kawasaki area’s greater dining options, also known as Eating Outside Tokyo With Someone (whaddya think of that, Little Lord Pottleroy?). Sato looked like the best thing on Tabelog, and I stand by the idea that it’s probably the […]
Y’villa:ge, Kanda (ワイ・ヴィラージュ)
Hmmm, this is shaping up to be a New Year’s celebration week of mediocre lunches. At least it matches the excitement we all feel to be back at work. A diligent reader and good friend mentioned this place a long time ago, and today I finally tried it while doing some other errands in Kanda. […]