the poop test

For most physical check ups they check your poop for large intestine cancer (not sure but maybe small intestine too?!)

Two days before your appointment you gotta take samples

This is the thingy you put your samples into

the directions...unscrew the cap 

The cap has a little "brush" at the end for you to "touch" the poop with to take the sample

Then put the cap with brush back into the container which already has some testing liquid in it then you turn these in when you go for your physical

Some kits also give you a tissue thingy to line the toilet so that you can "catch" the poop for you to take the sample

That tissue thingy usually stresses me out because if the tissue touches the water it starts to disintegrate

If there is no tissue thingy, some kits tell you to sit facing the toilet tank so that the front part of the bowl will catch the poop

I usually pour a large amount of water into the toilet bowl to "drain" the water, then I can take the sample without having to hurry

I haven't done this test in several years now, so I don't miss doing this and I also don't miss the barium test which gives you white poop

evergreen coffee shop

Last Thursday, I went to check out Evergreen Coffee Shop

From where we live it is about a 30 minute walk

I really wanted to try their lunch but decided to go early since the weather has turned blazing and humid and try their morning set instead

I love the interior

Large windows, lots of plants inside and outside 

jazz playing

Beautiful art on the walls

Their morning set includes buttered toast, salad and a hard boiled egg...750 yen (tax included)

I also had an iced coffee

The hard boiled egg was a bit overdone but at least you knew it was cooked well...ha!

The owner also has a cat, so I also made a new friend

I plan to return for lunch when the weather gets a little cooler...I'll be back

Evergreen Coffee Shop

2-9-15 Chuo

Ota, Tokyo

Closed: Sundays

Hours: 10:00-18:00

*cash only

this and that

glad we got to have this dessert again this year

the peach was a little stringy but still very sweet

the price has gone up since the last time we tried this...885 yen (tax included)!

still worth it though. 

went back to Single O to try their carrot cake...880 yen (tax included)

they call it "the almost famous carrot cake"

I think their cake could be a little bit more moist though but I like the big pieces of nuts and that you can see the shredded carrots

Their Firecracker Blend is a limited seasonal blend...the cold brew was delicious & fruity, hints of caramel

Been seeing this espresso base on television lately

 

after looking in several markets, I searched online and found out they sold it at a market we used to walk to during the pandemic

1 bottle makes about 15 cups of espresso…299 yen (plus tax)

I used this to make espresso & carbonated water

And then I used it to dilute part of this really old Choc Tease Buzzballz 1/4 cup + 1 serving espresso base + some carbonated water

 I plan to freeze the rest of the Buzzballz

This was more of a dessert type drink, so it matches with sweet things more than savory 

I noticed that while they are taking down the buildings, they also take down the walls that they have around them

Found some of those packages that were turned black and white due to the War with Iran

Calbee says that they will go back to printing "at least" the front sides of the packages with "color" (I think sales must be down! with the black and white bags)

Our weather has turned blazing and humid...eep!

We were spoiled with the cooler weather

Nectarine season!

Hope you have a good week!

 

20 years

It's been 20 years since we did the climb!

So many good and bad things happened since then

To climb Mount Fuji, there are many rules in place these days

Summer is here!

miyagi

Been wanting to try Miyagi for some time

(The first time we tried eating here, it was packed and everyone was waiting for their food, so we ended up eating here instead)

This shop has 5 counter seats, 3 tables for 4 and is run by 1 

when we arrived we were told that he is cooking to order so it will take some time for the food to come out

since we got seats at the counter, we decided to wait 

I ordered the omurice...1140 yen (tax included) plus oolong tea...390 yen (tax included)

This was delicious...just the right amount of ketchup and the egg was cooked perfectly too

Satoshi had their meat with chives, half rice, an order of gyoza and a beer...2450 (tax included)

He said he enjoyed these items including the gyoza

This shop's shoyu ramen was featured on Bananaman's Sekkaku Gourmet tv show

And the restaurant was used in J-pop boy band, Snowman's music video as well as J-drama ""Trillion Game"

I was happy to learn that I was sitting on the same seat as Meguro Ren! one of the actor’s in the drama

Even if our food took some time to come out and prices were kinda high, it was delicious

We are glad we finally got to try this place and will be back whenever we can be seated!

Miyagi

2-29-9 Nakaikegami

Ota, Tokyo

Closed: Wednesdays

Hours: 11:00-14:30 (lunch), 17:00-21:00 (dinner)

*cash only

toyokawa inari betsuin

Diagonal from Toraya is Toyokawa Inari Betsuin, a branch of the Toyokawa Inari that is in Toyokawa, Aichi

The temple houses lots of kitsune (fox) and the shichifukujin (7 lucky gods)
 

I was amazed at how many tiny shrines there were on this property!

While waiting for Satoshi, I noticed this huge root?! coming down from the branch of a tree

I'm glad we got to check out this temple and will be back to try their inarizushi, which I had marked but hadn’t realized it until afterwards!

Toyokawa Inari Betsuin

1-4-7 Moto Akasaka

Minato, Tokyo

Hours: 7:00-20:00

*no admission

toraya akasaka

Toraya started in Kyoto in the 16th century! and their head offices are now in Tokyo

The tea salon in Akasaka was rebuilt in 2018 and made with lots of hinoki (cypress) by Hiroshi Naito
 

The interior is beautiful with large windows

Pretty flower arrangement

After waiting for seats we were seated near the window...where we could watch the cars whizz past

I think all the greenery that we could see from our seats is part of the property that the State Guest House sits on

I had the half sized apricot shaved ice...1870 yen (tax included)

apricot puree, amaretto syrup and marinated apricots

this was delicious

While eating, I had eaten all the puree and marinated apricots and was sad that there wasn't any more apricots to finish the rest of the shaved ice with 

And then, I was pleasantly surprised to find more apricot puree at the bottom of the dish!

I'm glad I tried this.

Satoshi had the half sized chilled oshiruko....1320 yen (tax included)

He could choose between koshian (smooth) or tsubuan (chunky), he chose tsubuan

He said this was the perfect size

shopping on the 2nd floor

rawr

then go down to the basement to see their art gallery

during this visit, they had an ukiyoe display

beautiful building and desserts. they also have some light savory items...I'll be back whenever I am in the area

Toraya Akasaka

4-9-22 Akasaka

Minato, Tokyo

Closed: every 6th of the month

Hours: 9:00-18:00 (shop), 11:00-17:30 (cafe, lunch until 14:00), 10:00-17:30 (gallery)