From Meguro to Ginza

I'm always looking for interesting things to see when I travel. One day during my last trip to Tokyo in March this year, I found myself walking along a long river under sakura trees. 

It's interesting and sometimes sad to see what Japan does with their waterways in their urban landscape. Not just the sides are bricked up, but the bottom too. 

Even so, it was a pretty river. And even prettier when when the sakura bloom. 

Along the way I came across what I think is Jizo, possibly for travelers along this river side road.

Along with this balcony full of aliens. 

Sadly the sakura were not blooming yet. The buds meant it would happen soon. 

As for the river, it was Meguro-gawa. 

and in Meguro, I was headed to this place. 

However I didn't realize there was a number of steps required to enter the building. First one went in another building to get a number. It appeared people were filling out forms there. After that one had to wait in this line. Information that is missing on the English Starbuck's website. 

I wasn't too bothered by this, since Starbucks isn't high on my list of places to visit, in part because there are Starbucks everywhere in the US. I just thought it would be interesting because it was brand new in Tokyo.

Heading back to the Naka-Maguro Station, I still wanted something to drink. I stopped in this cute little restaurant Longcafe Stand.

I enjoyed a bit of iced tea while figuring out where I wanted to go for dinner. 

One train ride later I found myself back under that moon. 

In the luxury shopping center of Tokyo. Where I made a reservation for dinner the next night at the Vampire Cafe.

Yes it's Ginza again. 

Fun to see this Queen pop-up shop in front of one of the ritzy stores. Japan still loves Queen. 

It was nice to see again the astrology clock of Ginza Diamond Shiraishi.

Since the Moi-même-Moitié collaboration dinner at Vampire Cafe didn't start till the next day, I headed over to my other favorite place in Ginza. TAU Hiroshima Brand Shop. I thought I would try the Italian place upstairs, MERI Principessa. But unfortunately the whole restaurant was reserved for a company that evening. My luck this day was not going well.

So I ended up at a place I'd eaten at before. But the name of the place had changed. It's now Koi Koi. But they still serve Hiroshima okonomiyaki.

And they still have the long grill where it gets a little warm. So it was one of those moments that a tall beer was welcome. 

While I watched the show. Fire up that okonomiyaki! 

Or slather it with this white gloop. That white gloop was grated mountain yam, naga-imo.

And that was my okonomiyaki. 

 And it was quite good. I was happy to sit down and enjoy this meal. If you happen to be traveling to Tokyo and want to try okonomiyaki, Koi Koi in TAU Hiroshima Brand Store in Ginza is one place you can do that.

Okonomiyaki from Hiroshima

I've watched a professional make Hiroshima okonomiyaki. I've made Hiroshima okonomiyaki. Saw this in the Tau Hiroshima shop so thought I would try it. 

Clever replacing baseball bats with spatulas. 

I will say this is not for first timers unless you can read Japanese or find decent websites with steps and videos that can help because making Hiroshima okonomiyaki is not a simple process. 

Inside the box were ingredients to make two okonomiyaki. And a sticker. Go Carp!

Along with two of the crepes/pancakes. 

Fixings for one okonomiyaki. Besides this an egg, cabbage, green onion, bean sprouts and oil are needed along with suggested pork or other main ingredient. It's okay to be creative with that part. Seafood is acceptable. 

This time I had bean sprouts. Not easy to find around here. I don't know why. When I enjoyed Hiroshima okonomiyaki in Tokyo bean sprouts were part of the dish. On top of this were some of the fixings from the package. I think it's katsubushi and maybe something else.

I used my large griddle for this. Really helps. Cooking the yakisoba noodles and the tempura toppings have been placed. 

Normally one would cook pork and put the cabbage and all on top of that. But I've tried that and personally I found it a bit too fatty. I know, I am a heretic. I've never been one to just step in line so my choice is surimi. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Sauce from the packet on the yakisoba along with that circular "crepe" on everything else. I did like that the noodles were pre-cooked. 

This is where it gets messy. Crepe and everything on top of the noodles. Meanwhile an egg fries. 

I did say messy. I will spare a look at it on my plate. 

Another day, another attempt. This time less cabbage and bean sprouts.  

Toppings in place and noodles cooking. I did add a bit of shredded konbu (seaweed) this time. It's not included in this kit but is something used in Hiroshima okonomiyaki. I don't know if there is some in the little packet with the katsubushi. I missed the flavor of it which is why I added it.

Hey it's not bad this way. 

The big flip. Crepe, veggies, noodles all on top of that egg. Definitely need two spatulas for this. 

One more flip in hopes of getting some color on that crepe. 

And onto a plate. Still needs the aonori seaweed on top. I will say the kit makes it a little easier to make but the crepe did not match up to what I've eaten before. Very flat and no flavor. The rest of it was good. I will stick with making these from scratch for now. Still it was a fun item to try out.

Hiroshima Okonomiyaki at Santakumi

Yes "Wakako Zake" is why I went to Tau Hiroshima. Not just because of the episode set there but because of their okonomiyaki episode. I saw that while preparing for my trips and the wish for Hiroshima style okonomiyaki set in. Sadly I wasn't going to Hiroshima so I thought I was out of luck. But after viewing the Tau Hiroshima episode in the second season I discovered I didn't have to go to Hiroshima for okonomiyaki.

I could have it in Tokyo. In Ginza. At Santakumi.

Santakumi is on the second floor of TAU, where all the Hiroshima Carp goods are. I was really unsure of myself since I was dining alone. Along with not thinking about how I should remember how to write my name in katakana because it turned out they had a wait list. But no one waiting so I hung out by the front door and eventually was seated at the counter. Where I ordered that Hiroshima oyster okonomiyaki and a beer. Because it was pretty hot in there. And beer goes really well with okonomiyaki.

Part of the fun of a place like this is watching them go through all the steps in making okonomiyaki. Hiroshima style has even more. First the chef spooned some batter on the grill, smoothing it into a circle.

Then the toppings begin. Cabagge, crispy tempura bits, and a variety of dustings. I know there is katsuobushi and seaweed that is part of this.

Bean sprouts and shredded kombu were next. And more mysterious sprinkles. These are getting pretty tall.

Strips of pork on the others, seafood like oysters on mine. A little batter to hold the meat in place.

And the big thriller, can she flip all of that safely?

She did. Takes a lot of experience to do that without having everything go flying or end up a big mess.

Meanwhile wheat flour yakisoba noodles are cooking at the other end of the grill.

Another flip and the okonomiyaki is on top of the noodles.

But it doesn't end there. Because eggs are frying.

Now the okonomiyaki is put on top of that with the pancake side up and once the egg is fully cooked it's flipped one last time.

The top with the egg gets a nice coating of okonomiyaki sauce, a sprinkle of green nori seaweed and in my case some lovely tempura Hiroshima oysters.

They slide your order over to you where it sits on the grill being kept warm. There are little spatulas which you use to eat your okonomiyaki. Or you can use chopsticks. Nice noodles under there.

Along with the delicious oysters.

When in Rome...or at an okonomiyaki shop you can also put mayo on top.

This was really delicious and very filling. I felt bad because I could not finish it. But really glad I went to Santakumi. Because the food was really good and the service was too.

Santakumi's information is on the TAU website here and they have it in both English and Japanese. It's a small place so be prepared to write your name in Japanese on the wait list if they are busy. I do recommend Santakumi for their Hiroshima okonomiyaki. It was a really good experience.