this and that

"someone" finally realized that using a sun umbrella is not only for women...got him this one from Hands (used to be Tokyu Hands) since they were kinda on sale
 

huge fuji apples

reconnected with onipan their baguette sandwich filled with ham and cheese was tasty though I kinda burnt the top in the fish grill when I tried to heat it up...

unfortunately their cinnamon roll had way too much cinnamon in it and was so bitter!

"mcgyver"-ed our vacuum handle which was already pre-mcgyvered and broke

So I taped on one of these handles

I know I should just get a new vacuum but I recently just bought new vacuum bags for it so I want to use that up before getting a new vacuum

Bob Bagels' pumpkin hummus (half)...670 yen (tax included)

Cacao kokuto (black sugar) pink pepper bagel, kale salad (wilted kale dressed with vinaigrette), steamed pumpkin mixed into hummus, topped with pumpkin seeds and za'atar...love!

Sounds like a lot going on but everything balances each other out.

I think the kale salad makes things a bit "wet" and soggy though.

still would get this one again.

So humid sometimes cool, sometimes hot...still kinda wearing slippers...some days not

Hopefully it will get cooler soon...

inari eggplant

Saw this on IG and had to try

Inari Eggplant seen on IG : suntory japan & tanoshoku megumi, serves 2

2 small eggplant, peeled then  cut in half

2 aburaage, cut in half

hot water

1 cup water

1/2 teaspoon powdered dashi

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon mirin

1 tablespoon shoyu

After peeling eggplant, wrap in plastic wrap and nuke for 1 minute

With hot water pour over aburaage to take off some of the oil

Open the aburaage pocket and put in one half of the eggplant in

Put the filled aburaage in a shallow pan/pot

Add the powdered dashi, water and sugar

Bring up to a boil, turn down the heat to low, use drop lid, cook for 5 minutes

After 5 minutes, add mirin and shoyu

Cook for another 5 minutes

NOTES: The first time I tried this, the aburaage wouldn’t open up, so I couldn’t put the eggplant in (photo of 1st try)

Also I think the person who created this recipe used way smaller sized eggplant (or had larger aburaage) because half could not fit in one pocket

(The eggplant that I bought was small about 4 inches long)

Instead of powdered dashi and water, I just used 1 cup of cold brew dashi*

*(put 1 dashi packet (tea bag like thingy) into 4 cups of water and "cold brew" overnight in fridge)

I had not noticed using a drop lid when I scribbled this down, but used it the second time

Both times, I ended up cooking this longer because the eggplant was still firm, even after heating in the microwave

Taste wise it is like the aburaage in kitsune udon or inarizushi

Even though this didn’t come out exactly as the video on IG, I like the idea and would make this again.

shinbashi & akasaka

Satoshi wanted to check out some things for another upcoming tour so we headed to Shinbashi

While he does his checking, I usually hang out somewhere

One thing I did while I was waiting for him was watch the Shinkansen pass by....short video here.

After he checked what he needed to, we headed to Akasaka.

Again, while he checked things, I waited for him.

When he was done, we went to get some lunch at Authentic. 

It was my second time here, and first time for Satoshi.

The owner cooks everything to order so it does take time and on this day, he had just seated 9 people, so we would need to wait quite awhile if we wanted to eat there...

At least there were seats at the counter, so while we waited, Satoshi organized his notes...FYI do not sit at the counter unless you want to smell like you just cooked hamburgers…ha!

Satoshi had their egg burger with bacon...1290 yen plus 220 yen (plus tax)

And he also had a cup of coffee...400 yen (plus tax)

Satoshi said he enjoyed his burger

I had the chili cheese burger with oolong tea 1550 yen plus 440 yen (plus tax)

Loved this, the chili could have been a little spicier but was still delicious.

The chili was different because there were potatoes and olives in it

I started off eating it from the paper wrapper, but it got too messy so I switched to knife and fork

The fries were better on this day.

After lunch, we went back to Shinbashi for Satoshi to check out more things

A lot of times what he is checking is the train station, where to get off, where things are located, so that he can guide his clients smoothly.

It was quite a long day but he got to check all the areas he was concerned with.

caraway

Have had Caraway on my "to try list" for some time now

They have been in business since 1974 and serve different curries and hashed beef (hayashi rice) if curry isn't your thing.

The lines are always krazy long but we went at about 16:00-ish and only had to wait about 20 minutes or so for a table.

Love the retro interior

There are 4 types of condiments...chutney, takuan, another type of tsukemono and fukujinzuke

Satoshi chose their beef curry and their regular portion of rice (550 grams!) 930 yen (tax included)

Kat chose their chicken curry and their small portion of rice (300 grams!) 800 yen (tax included)

Both meals came with a small salad

First off, their portions are huge! especially the rice and their prices are super reasonable

300 grams of rice for me is about 3 servings!

Their curry is super flavorful and has a slow burn.

I tried some of Satoshi's and it was super beefy!

I also gave some of my curry to Satoshi since he had so much rice.

The vinaigrette on the salad was super puckery and help change things up.

Since the other pickles looked like tsukemono that I’ve seen/tried before, I only tried the chutney, which I think was mango chutney.

I overheard a person who I think was a regular customer and she ordered the child's portion...will definitely do that next time.

Another thing I thought was cool was they sell their curry frozen so you can eat their curry at home (and without having to stand in line), would definitely want to try this too.

I'm glad we got to try this, would like to try their other curries too.

We'll be back.

Caraway

2-12-20 Komachi

Kamakura, Kanagawa

Closed Mondays

Hours: 11:30-19:30

*cash only

chikaramochiya

Chikaramochiya has been in business since 1690!

Their most well known item is the Gongoro Chikaramochi

Oblong shaped mochi is topped with oblong sweet bean paste

I read something online that if you purchase this, it needs to be eaten that day.

Unfortunately they do not sell this version individually or in small amounts.

We instead tried their Gyuhi Chikaramochi...120 yen each

This version has gyuhi (soft mochi) wrapped with sweet bean paste

This is bite sized and perfect for trying.

I'm glad we tried this and would get this version again.

Several things in this area of Kamakura that I had been wanting to see...

Gokurakuji station...which has been used in many J-dramas

Gokurakuji...very peaceful temple

And Goryo Shrine...there is a train crossing right in front, so you can see the train up close...short video here.

We were surprised to learn that Goryo Shrine is right around the corner from Hasedera!

Chikaramochiya

18-18 Sakanoshita

Kamakura, Kanagawa

Closed Wednesdays

Hours: 9:00-18:00

*cash only

idobata

Been wanting to try Idobata’s pour over coffee for some time now

In his family's garage, this grandpa works out of a teeny truck and makes delicious cups of coffee

Choose your coffee

Choose hot or iced

Prepare to wait 

It was nice to sit and talk story with him while he made our cups of coffee

He is super knowledgable about coffee

Satoshi had their Costa Rica served hot...500 yen (tax included)

Kat chose his iced Kenya…600 yen (tax included) so smooth!

Will come back next time I am here

Idobata

2-14-13 Hase

Kamakura, Kanagawa

Closed Thursdays

Hours: 9:00-17:00

*cash only

shamoji

Saturday Satoshi wanted to go to Kamakura to check out some things for an upcoming tour

I don’t remember paying admission (pre-pandemic) to see the Great Buddha (maybe I forgot) but apparently now they charge admission

I waited outside while Satoshi checked out the things he needed to

We then went down to Hasedera, again I waited outside while he went to check out the things he needed to

Lunch was at Shamoji which I had bookmarked

It is a small restaurant serving teishoku (set) style meals

Satoshi chose the 3 local fish sashimi teishoku 2100 yen (tax included)

He said he enjoyed this

Kat chose the fried aji teishoku 1500 yen (tax included)

loved the citrus dressing on the salad under the fish

and the hijiki was delicious too

I’m glad we got to try this place and would come back again

Shamoji

1-15-2 Hase

Kamakura, Kanagawa

Closed Tuesdays

Hours: 11:30-15:00 (lunch), 17:00-21:00 (dinner)

we’re 20

so much has happened in 20 years

some bad

mostly good

lots of travels

lots of delicious 

if you’ve been with us from the beginning…thank you

or joined us mid-way…thank you

with so much uncertainty these days 

not sure how long our tiny blog will continue but we are glad you are here with us

be well 

be kind

 

this and that

tokyo furry people: huge!
 

tokyo furry people

cooler weather = plants waking up...cyclamen

and freesia

probably the most I've paid for these pizzutelle bianco grapes...1599 yen (plus tax)

still crisp and sweet

my "on this day" in IG told me it was pizzutelle bianco season...I had gone to the market but didn't see it...then I saw a woman pick up something...it was the pizzutelle bianco and there were only two bunches left!

then she put back the bunch she was holding...which is when I swooped in...since both were the same price, I bought the bigger of the two.

did you hear about the paper clip? I learned about the resistance message that the people of Norway used back in the 1940s

People of Norway wore a paperclip on their clothing as a way to silently show unity and solidarity against the Nazi occupation 

The paper clip symbolized "being bound together"...interesting and courageous!

reconnected with oomasari this variety is still huge! and delicious

it was a short week because of the holiday on tuesday (the 1st day of Autumn) 

the temperature has been flip flopping between warm and cool.

have a safe weekend!

yurakucho & ginza

Tuesday was a holiday (the 1st day of Autumn) and Satoshi wanted to check out the Yurakucho/Ginza area for an upcoming tour
 

We also went to Ginza Six to check out the new Laderach and back to Kimuraya for anpan

Lunch was at Royal...which has been in business since 1965

Kat had their napolitan while Satoshi had their takana pilaf...1000 yen each (tax included)

I would've liked some veggies in there, but at least it wasn't sickly sweet like some napolitan can be.

Their lunch also comes with a small salad and your choice of coffee or tea...Satoshi had hot coffee while Kat had iced

there are other items on their menu that we want to try...we'll be back

After lunch we went upstairs to the Hokkaido Antenna shop for soft serve...

Kat had their milk "flavor" while Satoshi had milk mixed with yubari melon...500 yen each

We then walked around Ginza Inz and Nishi Ginza

Papabubble was giving out samples...this was grape flavored and the picture was of Hokusai's wave

Hokusai's Mount Fuji was cherry

we also watched them make more candy

and walked through the Okuroji area of Hibiya, this area is filled with eateries and shops and uses the space under the train tracks.

It was my first time here but reminded me of the one in Akihabara

Not too much walking but at least it wasn't krazy hot

Royal

Kotsukaikan B1F

Chuo, Tokyo

Hours: 8:00-19:30 (weekdays) 11:00-19:00 (weekends & holidays)

Closed when Kotsukaikan is

*cash only

kimuraya

We recently tried some of Kimuraya's autumn an pan

These  are Satoshi's choices...the one on the left is their original tsubuan pan

The one on the right is their an pan filled with sweet potato

These are my choices...the one on the left is their original tsubuan pan

The one on the right is their an pan filled with fig paste
 

loved this one!

We hope to try their restaurant soon!