Japanese food

Last night, Chihiro and I went out to dinner in Shinju-ku at Doma Doma.  I have to say this was one of the BEST food experiences of my entire life!  We had izakaya, a style of Japanese dining where food is shared, like a tapas bar.  We were given a white towel (oshibori) to wipe our hands.  We ordered tonpei-yaki, nama-harumaki, octopus and yaki-tori. 

We also got free drinks!  I got a mango and orange sangria and Chihiro got a kiwi and pineapple sangria.  Our drinks were free because on the way to the resturant, Chihiro spotted a "ticket" which is an employee standing in the street who is essentially a walking coupon.  We brought him with us to the resturant and redeemed our ticket!  It was really cool!

I told Chihuro I thought the guy was cute and when his back was turned, I blew him a kiss which had us both laughing hysterically. 

Our meal came to 2000 yen, just over $20 which was $10 for each of us, for seriously one of the best meals I have ever had!  I would expect to pay at least $40 for food like that in NY.  I wanted the experience to last forever!  It was so good!

My favorite was the tonepei-yaki.   Its a type of Japanese pancake made of cabbage, egg, tempura, flour, pork and cheese. 

My second favorite was the nama-harumaki which was served with a sweet and sour chili sauce.  Its a rice paper roll with shrimp, lettuce, and cream cheese inside. 

The yaki-tori looks is a type of Japanese skewered chicken.  As I was about to bite into one, Chihiro told me it was chicken heart.  I said, "I really wish you didn't tell me that just now!".  I ate it and it tasted like any other part of the chicken.  I also had chicken gizzard.

I tried eating the octopus but I couldn't swallow it.  It was raw (which she also told me after I tried eating it).  It was really rubbery and tasted really fishy.  The whole time I kept thinking of Ursula, the octpus from the little mermaid.

Today, Chihro worked.  I went to see Gundamu robot at Daiba street.

Then I went to Tsukishima to eat dinner.  I ordered a okonomiya, another type of Japanese pankake.  The chef heats the hot top on the table and makes it in front of you.  Then he topped it with flakes of seaweed and flakes of fried tuna so thin that it was transparent.  It was AMAZING! 

Chihro said that Japanese food is the best.  I said, "I think your a bit biased".  But it really was some of the best food I've ever eaten.

My experience the past 4 days has been so amazing.  I can't believe this is just the start of my trip!  When I think that one day it will eventually end and I'll have to go back to NY, I just appreciate the moment I'm in even more!