Shuzen

Last Friday, Mikako and I were going to meet our friends Mari and Nori for lunch at a new restaurant that opened in our neighborhood. It's called "Hippopotamus" and their specialty is beef stew. Unfortunately, last Friday was the middle of the Obon season and the restaurant was closed!! So, we decided to meet for dinner instead. But our second choice was also closed. As was our third. We finally ended up at this izakaya that was opened. (And if you take a brief tour to the "Tone Deaf in Thailand" blog, you will see why I'm writing up a post on izakaya fare.) Hi Janet!! And not to disappoint Janet, I will share this evenings morsels. What? Some of you are asking me what's an izakaya? It's where the Japanese hang out for beers and snacks with their good buds. Not exactly a bar or tavern and not exactly a restaurant. It's in between. But you won't find nachos or pizza on the menu (actually you can find pizza at izakayas but they won't be your idea of a pizza).

先週の金曜日、僕と美香子が友達のノリとマリとランチを一緒に食べる約束をしました。行く店は私たちの近所に最近出来たシチュー専門店の「ヒポポタマス」。でもお盆の為、店は休んでました。せっかく約束したので、ランチじゃなくて、夕飯を一緒に食べる事しました。ノリマリが提案した店もお盆で休み。その次の店も休み。最終的にたどり着いた店が「うまいもの屋Shuzen。で、なぜ居酒屋のネタを書いてるのって。それは友達のジャネットのブログに行けばすぐ分かる。「リンクでアクセス出来ます」。で、ジャネットの為に居酒屋料理を紹介します。

Pictured above: spinach salad, chicken nuggets, fried smelt, fried tofu, chicken skewers, Thai-style green curry (very delicious), whole roasted garlic, potato au gratin, fried tuna, and cucumbers with plum sauce.

今夜注文した料理：ほうれん草サラダ、唐揚げ、子持ちししゃも、厚揚げ、焼き鳥、タイ風グリーンカレー（これが一番おすすめです）、にんにく丸揚げ、ポテトグラタン、まぐろのほほ肉の唐揚げ、とキュリと梅のソース

Nori and Mari's son was enjoying his calpis (calpico in the U.S. - can't have people saying he's drinking "cow piss"). Shoei and Mikako also had ice cream for dessert.

ノリマリの息子がカルピスを楽しく飲んでました。そのあと美香子と一緒にアイスも食べました。

Mari-chan and I were talking about "red-eyes" - that's beer with tomato juice (for the benefit of my father) and since we both like them and hadn't had one in ages, we both ordered one. Unfortunately the "red eye" at this izakaya seemed to be 70% tomato juice and only 30% beer. Mari-chan and I have tasted better.

僕とマリちゃんがレッドアイの話をしたら、なんだか飲みたくなって、注文しました。でも、この居酒屋のレッドアイは７０％トマトジュースと３０％ビールであまり美味しくなかった。トマトジュースの量は多すぎますよ！