"If You Shall Ever Tire of Yakitori, I Shall Tire of You" Japanese Proverb














Okay, so I made that up. But they are words to live by as far as I'm concerned. One of Hideyoshi's specialties is a yummy slab of duck grilled with their secret yakitori sauce. Customers can purchase it to go, (on a stick,) or eat it on a plate in the shop. In the background are the last bites of heart, tsukune and cheek, (my current favorite.) We're going to eat there tonight...again;) This was taken umm...two weeks ago? (Hideyoshi Yakitori Restaurant, Kamakura Japan)

Alternative Tentacles

The beautiful hand modeling a delicious chunk of octopus is Blanca. We grabbed some bar snacks at 7-11 before hitting a local bar. On the left is slightly pickled Bok Choy (Chinese cabbage,) in the middle, boiled Octopus with soy sauce and on the right--quickly pickled cucumbers, (Oshinko.) In the background is what I call "a drink for drinkers." It's made from some ginger looking root and is supposed to help your liver deal with booze thereby easing your hangover. It's no match for a night at the chuhai stand but then again, nothing really is...

Scenes From a Japanese Restaurant -------------------------------------------------
I haven't posted in weeks because the old man is gone and the most exciting photos I took were of my rose bush blooming. So here's a collage of some of the more exciting food I've had this month:



Tsukune (Don't Try to Pronounce It...Just Eat It!)

On this beautiful plate is tsukune, (tsoo-koo-neh,) or minced chicken, vegetables and seasonings pressed on a stick, then grilled over a hot charcoal grill, (aka "yakitori" for those who have really been paying attention.) It's swimming next to a raw (quail?) egg in Hideyoshi Yakitori Shop's secret sauce. The sauce is a highly guarded recipe at all Yakitori shops. (taken at Yumi's wonderful family's restaurant in Kamakura.)









Stamina Tofu (My First Nato Experience)

Nato, the brown clumps between the tofu, is fermented beans with a stickiness similar to okra times ten, (okra is also also between tofu.) It's famous for either being loved or loathed by Japanese but especially loathed by gaijins, (foreigners,) partially because of its repugnant odor. For this reason, my lily ass has avoided the stuff. Yumi and I went to a yakitori restaurant in our neighborhood and I finally got to eat some! It tastes like beans with a hint of coffee or cocoa. She looked at me crazy for saying that, but it's true! It's no takoyaki, but guess what--I dig it! Next time I get sushi--I'm ordering nato!
Oh, and why "stamina tofu?" Nato is supposed to increase stamina. Aren't the strangest foods in every country good for our sex lives?!?! Raw oysters anyone??? (Yakitori Restaurant, Zushi City)





Me to Turtle: "Got Any Last Words?"

I know you've seen Mrs. Ashida holding a turtle, but c'mon! It never gets old! This was two weeks ago when we ate at Ashida's restaurant with the Tanakas. When I first starting eating here, I thought it was a sushi shop and that the owners had a flavor for decorating with turtle shells and Fugu fish. After the strange food experiences, my genius finally figured out that Ashida's specialty is "Supon," (turtle soup, pronounced "sue-pohn") eel and fugu fin sake--all delicious!

(For me, eating something after I've seen it alive is bittersweet and barbaric but it helps that these are the ugliest turtles I've ever seen.)

(Restaurant, Yokosuka)

Japanese Sumo Torture
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Forget Chinese Water Torture! To bring your enemy to his knees, I recommend springing for this eighty dollar patch of real estate at a Japanese Sumo tournament! Today I attended the Yokosuka Sumo Tournament. Here are the photos on Picasa with no sign-in required, (you're welcome, Dad.)

Kyoto: The Road Trip From Hell
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As previously mentioned, we stopped in Kyoto first before heading to Osaka. With only one day to explore, we squeezed in as many temples as possible. This was taken at the largest temple for those who wanted to go inside to pray. Here are the scant photos of Kyoto but don't worry--we're already planning our next trip back.

Where the Hip, Horny Kids Go
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Last month, we FINALLY got to travel a bit and headed to Kyoto for a day and Osaka for two. It wasn't enough time for either city! Here's the link to the Osaka photos.
Inspired by Bourdain's visit to Osaka, we ate what he ate and tried to walk where he walked. Check out the photos and see--that town rocked!

So just a "Drug Body" is . . . Courtney Love?
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I've never had a drug body or a drug store body, but apparently, this is the latter.
(Osaka Aquarium.)

Sure He Can Act--Act Like It's Cool to Sell Out!
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Pitt's face is everywhere right now as he's not only getting overpaid to hold a mobile up to his head and act engaged but he's also gazing afar for clothing co. Edwin. Ahem....if you read this blog at least remotely often, you're familiar with that post! (Shin Osaka JR station.)

No Profound Winged Insects to Be Found...
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To think this poor restaurant actually PAID some company to print and/or design this menu for them! All I can picture is some beatnik-type, black turtleneck and shades wearing fly smoking a cigarette and going "yeah..man, intense."
Oh...food was good though FYI:)

Yokosuka Blossoms
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The Cherry Blossom were 100% bloomed a few days ago. The weather has been so terrible that today was the first day to get a photos of these almost week-old blossoms. Click this link to see the rest of the photos. These photos are for those of you that used to live in Japan that have a special place in your heart for cherry blossoms, or "sakura," especially those from Yokosuka Base.

Enjoy:)