dryer

Wondering why the built-in dryer of our washer is so "weak"...look how teeny the filter is.

There are 3 filters...but still.

No wonder it takes forever for things to get completely dry.

My peeve with this built-in dryer (besides the fact that the clothes do not get completely dry) is that the clothes do not "relax" in the dryer, they dry as a scrunched up ball...which increases my ironing work load...oh well, we'll see what happens when rainy season starts...

score

I recently was at the department store and they were having a campaign.

If you spent $10 you would get a spin and chance to win prizes.

I spent $20 and got two spins.

On my first spin I won 2nd place and was allowed to choose 2 prizes from their prize table.

I chose a package of arare for Satoshi and a package with 2 huge dorayaki in it for myself.

On my second spin I got the booby prize and was given a piece of hard candy.

Stoked that I won but bummed that the dorayaki has sorbitol in it...boo!

boulangerie corse

I realized that the sandwich I tried earlier from Boulangerie Corse, was not their fish but their tatsuta chicken (a type of fried chicken).

THIS is their fish burger.

Sad that I couldn't tell the difference between chicken and fish, but it was still delicious and better than Ikegami Orient Bakery.

momotaro tomato suzuke

　I got this idea from watching "Kodoku no Gurume", a soap opera (Japanese call these dramas) which a lonely businessman eats at different eateries while out on business.

I recently came across these tomatoes called Momotaro.

This variety has a "pink" flesh which apparently resembles peaches...thus the name Momotaro (Peach Boy).

I'd never bought them in Osaka because they were mostly found in the department stores and expensive, but these were grown in Aichi Prefecture and rather inexpensive, 5 were 276 yen so I decided to give them a try.

Using a paring knife, take out the area around the stem.

Make an "x" at the bottom.

In boiling water, place the tomato in for 30 seconds.

Then place the tomato into an ice bath for 30 seconds.

Peel the tomato skin.

Put the peeled tomato into this pickling liquid
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons shoyu
2 tablespoons dashi(stock)

Scoop some of the pickling liquid into the area where the stem was.

Refrigerate for a couple of hours and enjoy!

NOTES: The pickling liquid is actually the amount for 1 large tomato but I used it for all of them, pickling them over 3 days.

These tomatoes were sweet and went nicely with this pickling liquid.

Super refreshing, especially on these hot days.

I am gonna be making this more often this summer.

guru guru bagel

We recently tried their Osatsu Keema Curry (spicy keema curry with bits of sweet potato) and Kamata (yomogi (mugwort) with sweet bean paste and cream cheese).

The bagels have a nice chew and are filled with a good ratio.

I don't think Guru Guru Bagel is related to Guru Guru Bakery.

They are also close to the JR Kamata station, so whenever I am near, I plan to pick some up.

We'll be back.

Guru Guru Bagel
5-13-32 Nishi Kamata
Ota, Tokyo
Phone: 03.5711.0581
Closed Sundays, Mondays & Tuesdays
Hours: 12:00-19:00 (earlier if they sell out)

guru guru bakery

Guru Guru Bakery is located one train station away from us, about a 25 minute walk.

Their baked items seemed like French style and I love that you need to communicate with the people behind the counter as to what you want instead of taking things with a tray and tongs.

Everything looked so good that I bought 4 different things...

caramel nut danish...this was good, though the caramel oozed out of the container they had put it in and went all over the plastic bag that the rest of the items I bought were in...

chocolate walnut scone (square)...a bit dry but flaky

meat gratin pie (bottom right)...flaky pastry lots of italian seasoned tomato, meat and cheese filling...delicious.

sakusaku apuri...flaky crispy pastry mixed with walnuts and apricot jam...so good!

I am glad I tried these and that they are not too close to where we are...I'll be back.

Guru Guru Bakery
1-3-8 Chidori-cho
Ota, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6410.5962
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays
Hours: 7:00-19:00

otto pan

We stumbled upon Otto Pan when we explored Hatanodai Station.

We picked up their walnut chocolate bread, fig bread, cheese bacon foccacia & curry pan.

Satoshi enjoyed the foccacia and curry pan.

I loved the chocolate walnut and fig bread.

We'll be back!

Otto Pan
5-9-10 Nakanobu
Shinagawa, Tokyo
Phone: 03.5498.0255
Closed Mondays
Hours: 10:00-18:00