Some of Our New Favorites!

So when you go about the process of moving to Japan, along the way you have to tell a lot of people about it... And of course those people invariably want to know the same things... When you tell someone "I'm moving to Japan", their response is one of two things:

1. "Do you speak Japanese?" (As if I hadn't realized that people in
different countries speak different languages...)

2. "Do you like sushi?" (As if that's all Japanese people ever eat...)

So, in an effort to help people understand that all Japanese food is not sushi, here's a look at some of our favorite dishes we've eaten over here so far... Click on the names to go to the Wikipedia article on them:

Okinomiyaki - A "Japanese Omlettey-Pancake" made from eggs and cabbage, usually with some pork and seafood mixed in... Grilled and topped with a sweet semi-barbecue-y soy-y type-y sauce... Okinomiyaki restaurants usually have griddles built into the table and they serve it on your table sizzlin'! Yum!

Takoyaki - Are fried (yaki) balls (mant...) of batter, diced octopus (tako), and spices... A very similar sauce to okinomiyaki is put on them... They are usually fairly cheap (10 for $2.50)... Many many sidewalk shops sell them fresh while they cook them on the sidewalk or in the front window of the shop... Yum!

Yakisoba - Basically very similar to the Lo Mein noodles you get at a Chinese restaurant... Usually has bits of pork, octopus, and cabbage in them...

Beef Bowl - A bowl of rice with thinly sliced beef (or pork) and onions on top... Then a sweet soy sauce is drizzled over it... Served ridiculously fast when you order... I'm talking they take your order, they walk back to the kitchen and walk back with your bowl... Awesome... And most beef bowl places are open 24 hours, and a beef bowl is $2.50... And usually comes with...

Miso Soup - A broth-y semi-salty soup made from soy bean paste and various things... s'Good...

Curry and Rice - Just as it sounds, you get a plate that has some rice on one side, and curry on the other... We make rice in our rice cooker, then heat a curry packet in boiling water... Dinner in minutes! We like beef curry the best...

Nigiri-Sushi - Yes, we have eaten sushi... Yes, it is very good... Yes, it is raw fish... Usually I think people think all sushi is the rolled type of sushi... But actually, Nigiri-Sushi is more popular... It's basically a block of sticky rice with a slice of raw fish on top... s'Good... My favorite is salmon or tuna... Good stuff!

So those are some of our new favorites... Obviously there is so much more... I mean even a loaf of bread is different here!

Yum!