Friday, January 22, 2010

tougarashiya

Yesterday, in the early morning, we were jolted awake by a teeny earthquake. I am normally a light sleeper so I normally hear and feel these things, but Satoshi is a deep sleeper, so he usually doesn't hear or feel anything.

I was surprised that he felt the earthquake. I actually heard it work its way up the street, it didn't last very long but still scared us.

Anyway, do you like kim chee?

I think I love it.

I must, I have about 20 posts tagged with the word "kim chee" and about 60 posts with the mention of it.

Anyway, I was surfing the web and came across something that piqued my attention.

Kim chee sandwich. Have I piqued your attention too? I hope so...

The best part? They are made near our shopping arcade.

The weather was rainy yesterday, not really fun weather to go out for groceries, but we needed some fruit, and I needed something for lunch, so I walked to our shopping arcade and decided to check out the shop that makes the kim chee sandwiches.

Tougarashiya is a tiny shop located a minute or two from the West Exit of the Hankyu Ishibashi station. By the way, tougarashi is chili and ya is shop, so in essence the name is the chili shop.

They sell kim chee, chijimi (pajeon) as well as a kim chee nori maki (which I think is kim bap and will have to check out on my next trip there!)

Everything is reasonably priced too.

The sandwich comes in two sizes, small and large. I bought the small...350 yen (about US$3.50). By the way, the large is 600 yen (about US$6)

I watched as the lady made the sandwich and it is so easy to make! Lots of kim chee, a layer of scrambled egg, sliced cucumber, mayo & bread.

I gasped when I saw her squirt about a tablespoon of mayo on both slices of bread AND the egg.

And then was sad when I saw her cut off all the crusts.

It was a little messy to eat, but was really delicious. I also had it with some leftover 4 bean salad.

I am re-creating this sandwich soon and eating them with the crusts.

Tougarashiya
1-10-24 Ishibashi
Ikeda, Osaka
Phone: 072.761.1125

It's Friday here, hope you have a great weekend!

16 comments:

Hannah said...

I just tried kimchee for the first time last week, and absolutely loved it! I knew I would, as I adore pickles, and chilli, so kimchee is like a heavenly combination between the two.

Definitely think a sandwich like this could work for me right now :P

Su-Lin said...

Eeks! Glad it was just a small earthquake - they freak me out!

But you definitely got my attention with the kim chee sandwich!

K and S said...

So glad you like kim chee Hannah :) Hope you make this soon!

Earthquakes freak me out too Su-Lin, they aren't too common in Hawaii. Hope you get to make this too.

Take care you two.
Kat

jalna said...

Just the slightest trembling of the earth freaks me out. Luckily, I've only experienced it a few times. I'm glad it was just a light one for you. That kim chee sandwich sounds really good, not so much the choke mayonnaise part though.

K and S said...

Yeah we hardly have earthquakes on Oahu Jalna...hope you try making a kim chee sandwich (without so much mayo).

Take care.
Kat

Jenster said...

Kat, I'm glad the earthquake wasn't more serious!

I love kim chee and am so lucky to have a Korean neighbor who makes her own and shares with us. Once I was craving the spiciness and crunch of kim chee but also something chewy (like bread) and creamy. So I made a cream cheese and kim chee sandwich on whole wheat bread. It might sound gross to some but I thought it was very tasty!

K and S said...

Thanks Jenster, actually if you whiz the two together in a food processor/blender that is how I make "kim chee dip" and serve it on Ritz crackers.

Take care.
Kat

Deb in Hawaii said...

Fun idea--I have seen it on burgers but never as a sandwich. Mmm...

K and S said...

Yes on burgers is delicious Debinhawaii, I have also put it into tuna sandwiches.

Take care.
Kat

Rowena said...

Earthquake?! Glad that it wasn't serious (can't help thinking about Haiti). Now as for kim chee goes, you already know how I'd be crazy mad for the stuff. So glad that I was born in Hawaii...all the different ethnic foods we grew up eating!

K and S said...

Rowena, I hope the people of Haiti will be able to get back on the feet a.s.a.p....and hope you get to try this type of sandwich soon :)

Take care.
Kat

2kamuela47 said...

Wow...those all look so ONO!!!

KirkK said...

Hey Kat - Geeez, earthquake is not the word you'd like to read nowadays! I'm glad you're well.

K and S said...

Thanks Laura :)

So true Kirk, thank you!

Take care you two.
Kat

Kim said...

Ooh I'm craving kim chee now. My mom usually makes a huge batch only once or twice a year because she says it's so labor intensive. Guess I'll have to settle for the jarred stuff from the supermarket.

How come all the sandwiches in Japan seem to be served crustless? Would they look at you funny if you asked for the crust on?

K and S said...

I have a feeling the no-crust is an influence from England Pocky. I dunno, guess I'll try to ask for the crusts on next time :)

Take care.
Kat