we're 21

another trip around the sun!

can't believe how long this blog has kept going

appreciate all the comments and messages

grateful for all the friendships made over the years

thank you for coming along with us on our adventures. 

mitas coffee

Wanted to try Mitas Coffee but wanted to have Satoshi along with me.

The reason is that this coffee shop is cashless, and I have a rule about using my credit card in Japan

I only use my credit card when my bill is 1000 yen or higher

So just to buy a coffee is a no go for me

I think they first started as a coffee truck...

Their menu says their coffees are pour over, but they actually had the ones we tried pre-made

Satoshi ordered the Mitas Blend 1 (Brazil and Costa Rica)...600 yen (tax included)

watch your step when going to the 2nd floor, there is a huge step down...

Kat tried the Mitas Blend 2 (Brazil, Costa Rica & Kenya)...600 yen (tax included)

They also have two expensive pour overs and two types of espresso drinks

Delicious coffee, free wifi and air conditioning on the 2nd floor!

I'll be back whenever Satoshi will be able to come along.

Mitas Coffee

1-2-18 Tamagawa

Ota, Tokyo

Hours: 7:00-17:00

*check their Instagram for days off

*cashless only

ps our weather has been so krazy, rainy ("cool") days, blazing days...maybe another typhoon on the way?!

as for Chiba, it looks like it will take a minimum of 3 months to get their train service and electricity restored?!

hope you have a safe weekend!

namara masara

Reconnected with Namara Masara.

We tried them during the pandemic, then they went out of business, not sure exactly when

And while I was walking around the neighborhood recently, I noticed they were now operating from a house.

So, Satoshi and I went to check them out

They share a space with a beauty salon 

This time around the owner explained what this spicy condiment was.

Satoshi said it wasn't too spicy and enjoyed the flavor of the katsuobushi that was also used

Satoshi didn't remember that he had tried their salmon ikura curry during the pandemic.

Lucky we have this blog to remember what we tried.

This time around he tried the pork nankotsu (cartilage) curry, he said he enjoyed this...1190 yen (tax included)

Kat tried the no water chicken curry, this is cooked with just veggies, spices and chicken and uses the liquid from the veggies....1145 yen (tax included)

Delicious

We're glad we reconnected with this shop and look forward to trying their keema curry...we'll be back

Namara Masara

1-14-7 Higashiyaguchi

Ota, Tokyo

Open daily: 11:00-22:00

on the lanai

repotted the cyclamen, we've had it for over 20 years and the plastic pot finally started to break

the ti leaf plant that was in the pot had died, I think it was too hot this summer for it

so I dug up the roots and took out some of the soil

and put cyclamen into the "new" pot

I wasn't able to "loosen" the dirt up because it was in that old pot for so long...

I hope it will thrive
 

typhoon 25

Typhoon 25 (Dujuan) finally passed 

We had been staying indoors since Sunday.

There were times when our tv antenna went out, but at least we didn't lose power and only had lots of rain

Chiba on the other hand had major flooding and power outages

I feel so bad for Chiba they had bands of rain last month which caused flooding and power outages and two weeks later it happened to them again and now the typhoon!

I cannot imagine!

Hoping the people in Chiba and the areas that had flooding and power outages can get back to their daily routines soon. 

nazo no chicken (mysterious chicken)

I was watching a television program and was intrigued by this recipe by Kobori Kiyomi

Luckily, I found a version online to try

Nazo no Chicken (Mysterious Chicken) by Kobori Kiyomi

600 grams chicken thighs

160 grams mayo

160 grams sour cream

30 grams curry powder

20 grams lemon juice

80 grams chutney

Mix all the ingredients except the chicken

Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces and put in the "sauce"

Bake in a 200 C (400 F) oven for 15 to 20 minutes

NOTES: super easy and tasty

I cut the sauce recipe to 1/4

I didn't have sour cream so I used plain yogurt

I also put some garam masala in even though the recipe doesn’t call for it because I always put some when making curry

I used boneless chicken and removed the skin

I greased a ceramic dish and baked it for 15 minutes but it could have been cooked for a little longer

The chicken stays quite tender

And the sauce is good with rice

I'm glad I tried this and want to make this again

p.s. we're still waiting for Typhoon 25 (Dujuan) to pass, we're staying indoors and laying low 

sakanaya iki

Friday, we found ourselves in Hatanodai at dinner time, so we looked for somewhere to eat...it was our first time at Sakanaya Iki

Since we didn't have reservations, we were seated at the counter

ootoshi (amuse bouche)...daikon oroshi and shirasu (whitebait)...500 yen (plus tax) per person

bell pepper and eggplant agebitashi...380 yen (plus tax)

so soft! and flavorful

tako karaage...780 yen (plus tax)

fried perfectly but not as tender as the tako we had here

interior

3 types of sashimi but more than 3 types...980 yen (plus tax) for two people

The owner said that he adds another 3 types because it looks more "impressive"

if you order the 4 type, he'll add 4 more types, 5 types = 5 more types

the fish was super fresh and delicious! don't remember what every type was...

Jyozan sake from Fukui...700 yen (plus tax) 

Satoshi said this was delicious

toro taku hand roll...480 yen (plus tax)

huge! and so ono!

hojicha to end

we enjoyed this place, the prices are fair and the owner is friendly

they have a curry rice chawanmushi that sounded interesting, we'll be back

Sakanaya Iki

3-13-5 Hatanodai

Shinagawa, Tokyo

Hours: 17:00-26:00 

*check social media for days closed