I haven’t been by the mall recently, but when I went by Shirokiya yesterday, the Akimune-an taiyaki concession and whatever that place next to them were gone and a construction barrier wall stood in their place. I guess I’m not surprised. Their rotating bi-weekly limited flavor stopped rotating at a certain point, and became unchanging chocolate custard creme and sweet potato (although the signs claimed they were still limited). Also, when the rude/lazy Micronesian woman started working there, I really didn’t feel like going and having her tell me to just buy the pre-made ones that she would crank out and let go cold and soggy. Run something poorly – watch it fail.
Archive for the 'Food' Category
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Picked these up from Shirokiya a few weeks back (and ate them immediately) during some product fair or another, so if you go by now, you won’t find them anymore – you’ll have to wait until next year. The packaging only says “sasa dango”, “yomogi mochi, tsubu-an,” and “ this is an unpreserved product – please keep refrigerated,” and I wasn’t paying close attention to the display at the kiosk, so I don’t know the brand or manufacturer. Knowing how the Shirokiya food festivals go, it was probably someone famous. Oh well. Continue reading ‘Sasa Dango’
Thanks, Teddy’s in Mo’ili’ili. “Fish and Chips” without the fries is just “fish”. Should have known they’d screw up the order when the counter person asked if I’d like fries with my fish and chips. Hello?!?! Angry Ckucke is going to get our $2.49 USD plus tax back.
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I had to do it, got the Burger King bacon sundae as a desert with my lunch yesterday. Basically a vanilla sundae with chocolate and caramel syrup and bacon bits and strip of bacon garnish. No wussy kosher vegan bacon like flavoring, honest to goodness real pork goodness here! So the verdict? It’s a gimmick. It’s actually not bad at all, but on the other hand it’s not something I’d go out of my way for.
BK has stepped things up with a revamp of menu, and the other thing I tried and do like are the sweet potato fries. Maybe behind the times for all you hip bar flys, but pretty cool to find at a mainstream fast food joint.
So I didn’t score a hotel room for the night, but I got the next best thing – 2,000-yen in meal coupons. It sucked a little that they were only good for a few places, and they were given to me after 21:00, when a lot of the places that actually remain open after 21:00 are moving to a more limited menu. I went by the pre-immigration 24-hour restaurant and got a beer, some assorted sausages, and a tsukudani nigiri. About the time my food arrived, they switched to the limited menu, so I couldn’t get dessert. No problem: I ordered another beer!
Oops, at Shirokiya as special vendor is Usagiya, here until tomorrow, the 17th. A wagashiya from Tokyo they are known for dorayaki. Wagashi is traditional Japanese confections, manju would be an example that most people here would be familiar with. Easiest way to describe dorayaki is an anko pancake sandwich. Tsubu an usually, which is a sweet paste filling made from the red azuki bean. Tsubu-an includes whole or partially whole beans, unfiltered an, if you will. The “pancakes” are a finer texture and sweeter than pancakes we would be used to. If anything the closest comparison I could make is pancakes made from castella cake. Continue reading ‘Usagiya – Where’s the Bunnies?’
I’ll sometimes grab a salmon-on-multi-grain-rice onigiri from Mamaya on Shirokiya’s second level for a snack after work on days I linger in town instead of going straight home. Today, they had something new – Hatogarashi onigiri. The English translation on the label said “seasoned redpepper [sic] leaf” so I gave it a try. The flavor was similar to a takana onigiri, but with a hint of smokiness, and maybe the suggestion of tea. The rice was seasoned, so was slightly tan, and also had shiro goma (white sesame seeds) mixed in. With that whole pepper leaf thing going on, there was a light capsicum burn in the aftertaste. Very good. Continue reading ‘Mamaya Hatogarashi Musubi (Onigiri)’
Having missed this the first time around, I was glad to get the chance to get one, but at the same time I was a little disappointed how quickly it came around in the special bi-weekly flavor rotation. The woman working was unfamiliar, but she made my taiyaki in short order, and even left on the mold flash how I like it. I’m sure that is more an issue of laziness rather than adherence to rustic appearance traditons! After taking a bite I felt a bit let down – perhaps because I was denied last time and the anticipation of this maboroshi flavor made me expect more out of it than it had to offer. The filling was essentially coarsely crushed and moistened Oreo cookies. It is good, but it isn’t the end-all of the myriad alternative taiyaki fillings: I’d take the conventional anko filling over the Oreo without a second thought. There is a slight residual crunch from some of the larger cookie pieces. This one might appeal to those who don’t like really sweet things. Continue reading ‘Akimune-an Oreo Taiyaki’
Once again, Nagoya’s Jiraiya is back at Shirokiya selling their ebi-tenmusu – mini musubi rice balls built around a small breaded shrimp ebi tenpura. For $7.95 USD plus tax you get six slightly-too-big-to-be-a-mouthful tenmusu and a scant pinch of kyarabuki (a tsukudani made from fuki, Petasites japonicus) – they’ve gotten pretty Chang with that. That’s about the going rate, since a pack of five at the Meibutsu Tenmusu Senjyuu at Nagoya Centrair is around 735-yen. The rice in the Jiraiya ones is a bit on the gummy side compared to Senjyuu, but that could be related to adapting to the loaner equipment in the temporary space. I do actually prefer the taste of the Senjyuu ones, but I’m not flying all the way to Nagoya on a whim for them! Continue reading ‘Jiraiya Tenmusu’
I wonder if for every dozen packs of Leffe Blonde they get one of the Brune. The Blonde is being carried by many supermarkets now, I first saw it at Foodland. But then one evening I spotted a sixpack of the Brune. Unusual, but I had a full stock of beer already so passed. I have never seen it again. Fast forward a few months, I see that Safeway is carrying the Blonde also, and then wonders of wonder I spy a six pack of the Brune. I do not make the same mistake & grab it. Turns out it won’t even scan at the registers!
Anyway, on to the beer. This Belgian abbey ale pours a dark brown with a moderately strong head that persists. Can immediately detect aromatics and alcohol, even though the content is only 6.5%. There’s a fairly strong spicyness then a subtle roastyness and a pretty smooth bitterness. There’s a bit of the syrupy going on. I actually prefer this beer as it warms up, it seems to mellow it out. Not huge ABV numbers, but for some reason these Leffe’s kick my butt! 3 out 4 monatsic monkeys.