big boy

Where some US chain eateries don’t exist in the US anymore, they still exist here in Japan. 

Like Bob's Big Boy, or Big Boy (BB) as it is called here, I remember we used to have one in Mapunapuna and used to go for breakfast…I think they still exist on “the mainland”

Japan’s BB only serves steak, hamburg & chicken, sizzling hot plate style.

They have add on options like drink bar, salad bar, soup bar, curry bar & rice bar.

I was craving mashed potatoes with my meal, so I got the salad bar & drink bar

Satoshi wanted rice with his meal, so he had the soup, curry, rice & drink bar 

He had about 2 servings of curry before his lunch came out!

BB is a “family restaurant” so there were tons of families here.

Our steak cut was called “misuji” or top blade, I was unfamiliar with this cut...there was some “suji” (gristle & tendons)...150 grams

Glad they also give you a little griddle to “cook” your piece of meat more

It was our first time trying this place and we were glad we tried it, it is more aimed at families, so it was quite chaotic at times.

Big Boy

1-2-4 Omorikita

Ota, Tokyo

Open daily: 10:00-23:00

this and that

I kind of stopped making my own granola because it was hard to find reasonably priced maple syrup, so we’ve been trying all kinds of granola…this peanut butter chocolate granola was too sweet

Loved this cat posing...saw him in a record shop in Jimbocho

This “granola” by Ogawa Herbal Medicine, uses no oils or sugars, just toasted/puffed rice and roasted soy beans...nutty in flavor, delicious

Tokyo People: saw these two going somewhere dressed in yukata (summer kimono)

7-eleven now sells donuts...I bought one to try, this was their maple flavored...140 yen (tax included)...they give you a little sugar to put onto your donut, I didn't use it, the donut was quite soft and a little sweet.

They also have chocolate and custard filled

Tried this O-i ocha Premium strong...it is brewed really strong, a little bitter.

Apparently they have a limited amount out on the market, so I’m glad I got to try this

Tokyo People: this guy's helmet!

Satoshi's friend, A, sent us a boxful of shine muscat...Thank you!

I had also ordered an assortment of grapes from Asunaroen through Tabechoku...and they came a day after A's grapes...so my refrig has been taken over by two boxes...

There are 9 different grapes and they also included a "map" to explain which grapes were which, but we couldn't tell them apart

Some had seeds, some did not, some outer flesh could be eaten, some could not, some were sweet, some were not...glad we got to try them.

The sunset the other night....

also came across the new 5000 yen bill (top) which features Umeko Tsuda, who spent her life fighting for higher education for women and founded Tsuda University 

Almost the end of September...so fast!

we’re 19

Can you believe it?

This blog is in its last year as a “teen”

Who would’ve thought this blog would still be going

Most bloggers, that are still my friends on social media have stopped blogging, miss those days!

Not sure how much longer this blog will continue, but I’m glad you are reading and coming along on our adventures.

Thanks for today!

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Yesterday met up with V and her friend K, they had some free time, so we went to check out the spider lilies in Saitama, at a park called Kinchakuda

From Tokyo it was about two hours one way.

On their pamphlet, when in full bloom there are 5 million blooms!

When V& I were planning to check this place out, the flowers had just begun to bloom because of the l-o-n-g summer heat

I saw on the news where these spider lilies need at least 20C (68F) to start blooming

Luckily, there were a lot of people going to check it out, so we followed them to the park from the train station.

It was about 30% in bloom when we went.

Also, luckily it was a weekday, it was still crowded, but not krazy crowded 

There were food stands and merchants selling crafts and other items.

It was my first time out here and would definitely like to come back here next year

Thanks for today V & K!

Kinchakuda

125-2 Komahongo

Hidaka, Saitama

*admission: 500 yen (adults)

kinda empty nest

Tuesday, two pupa "hatched".

When I woke up, they were still pupa and then when I looked again...one "hatched" and was a butterfly! (tap on the photo to view the video)

(The one pupa that got “gnawed” by one of the caterpillar, is still a pupa, we’re gonna wait to see if it will turn to a butterfly, or not.)

After "hatching", we brought them outside and the smaller of the two pupa "hatched", its wings were all scrunched (tap on the photo to view the video)

Apparently they need an hour or more to get their bearings and wings in working order.

We're kinda sad because they left, but (we still hope that gnawed pupa makes it) and we appreciate learning about them and their different stages.

back to yildiz

Saturday night we went back to Yildiz

Most of the tables were reserved, but they were kind to pull a 4 seater apart for a table for us.

We ordered their peynir salad. Peynir is Turkish cheese.

This salad was super refreshing with lemon and olive oil 

The Lamb sis kebab was so tender!

And since we enjoyed the Lahmacun so much the last visit, we ordered this again.

Note to self: no need to order a separate salad as all dishes come with some veggies

We tried the baklava...different from what I've tasted in the past, this wasn't sweet but was very sticky

Dondurma, literally "battered ice cream", is a "stretchy"  textured ice cream...this was super sweet

Turkish black tea to end.

Glad we got to try different items and we'll have to remember to make reservations the next time we want to return
 

virtual hugs

Sending good thoughts to the people of Ishikawa prefecture.

Not only did they endure a huge earthquake at the beginning of the year, but over the weekend, they had heavy rains and flooding from Typhoon 14 (Pulasan)

So heartbreaking to see all the damage and hear all the updates

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Saturday, we went to Jimbocho.

I saw this tiny bookstore on social media that is all about cats.

All the books were in Japanese but were fun to check out.
 

I bought a tote bag..."nya" (meow) what the cats say in Japan

The owner was nice to give me a cat postcard.

Lunch was at Sumatra Curry Kyoeido, which has been around since 1924

I tried the beef tongue curry while Satoshi tried the beef curry

I was disappointed that the tongue was not tender.

This "curry" was very smokey, rich.

It was spicy but it also seemed to be missing something.

Glad we got to try this place though.

Nearby is Kamezawado, who has been in business since 1905

We bought their dorayaki and mame daifuku to try.

Usually mame daifuku has black beans worked into the outer mochi, this one had soy beans...different with the soy beans overall delicious.

At Satoshi's alma mater, Meiji University, they were having an exhibit for Mibuchi Yoshiko, one of the first female lawyers in Japan.

There is a drama that we've been watching over the past 3 months that was modeled after her.

Think it is so cool how stickers are being used for advertising these days, there is a QR code on the back to promote the show

Not sure if you can see this video taken from Hijiribashi, near JR Ochanomizu station. 

This is where, if you are lucky, you can see the Marunouchi line train (red), Chuo line train (orange) and the Sobu line train (yellow) criss cross each other

Hope to try again another time...the weather is still humid and hot...

Sumatra Curry Kyoeido

1-6 Kanda Jimbocho, B1F

Chiyoda, Tokyo

Closed: Sundays

Hours: 11:00-20:00

*cash only

Kamezawado

1-12-1 Kanda Jimbocho

Chiyoda, Tokyo

Closed: Sundays & Holidays

Hours: 9:00-18:00 (weekdays), 10:00-18:00 (Saturdays)

*cash only

Anegawa Nyankodo Bookstore

2-2 Kanda Jimbocho

Chiyoda, Tokyo

Closed: Sundays

Hours: 10:00-18:00

this and that

Been watching this Taiwanese drama, "Gourmet Affairs", I don't understand Taiwanese and the Japanese subtitles are a little too fast for me, so I am just watching by "feel", this is a foodie drama so the food shots are ono looking.
 

Tokyo People: the pet trimmer, love how she puts the dryer in her apron, so she has one hand to hold the furry one and one hand to use the brush

Pizzutello Bianco season...these were from Yamanashi prefecture from a farm called Midorien, sweet, delicious and crisp!

Koshi no Shizuku, figs from Niigata, these ripened quickly so we ate them over the weekend with proscuitto.

Harvest Moon

Beautiful sunrises.

Satoshi's been taking tours around and since most of his European clients do not eat lunch, he hasn't been able to. 

I’ll probably start sending him with a musubi or two so he won’t have to go without eating.

Hope you have a safe weekend, we have another 3 day weekend, hoping it gets cooler soon.

ease

Still blazing, the days are getting shorter and stollen have started appearing...

I ordered this one from Ease, they had this chestnut version last year and I had missed getting one.

Though we tried their chocolate stollen earlier this year. 

This was delicious with lots of chestnuts in it.

I'm glad we got to try this one.

fyi

My Google Photo space is reaching its max, I think it said I only have 12% left...

If you’ve been reading this blog for some time you’ll know I'm not willing to put any money into this blog, so I've decided not to link albums to my travel posts from here on out (and will go back to delete other travel albums to free up more space)

Anyway, just thought I'd let you know.

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Sunday, we wanted to check out the basement arcades of Shinjuku that we learned about from a television show.

Godzilla Road

Kabukicho sign

New Kabukicho Tower

Underground area near Lumine. 

The show said these areas were cooler…not!

Lunch was at Curry House 11 Imasa

mini curry for Kat...360 yen (tax included) comes with hard boiled egg & sausage

Katsu curry for Satoshi 740 yen (tax included)

so cheap and delicious...in business for 60 years...we'll be back
 

Stood in line at Oiwake Dango for shaved ice...Uji Matcha Kintoki...1595 yen (tax included)

So good and so much azuki!

Daruma gatcha...500 yen

Daruma from the 47 prefectures of Japan

You aren't allowed to keep the daruma that rolls out, but receive a prize instead...the daruma that rolled out was Hyogo, we received this yuzu cider from Hyogo

We also bought some dango from Oiwake Dango...I tried their shoga (ginger) with nori...savory!

And I've tried the ume myoga in the past, this didn't disappoint.

The humidity and heat have been brutal, hopefully it will start to cool down soon.

Curry House 11 Imasa

Keio Mall B1F

Open daily 7:00-22:00

Cash only