Maru-chan Mukashi nagara no Sauce Yakisoba / マルちゃん 昔ながらのソース焼きそば

Yes, catching up on the instant noodle posts.  Today is another product from Maru-chan.  It's called "Mukashi nagara no Sauce Yakisoba".  This roughly translates to "Old style yakisoba".  And if you still are not familiar with what yakisoba is it is stir-fried noodles.  I'm a big fan of yakisoba and all the different varieties have not disappointed me.  This old style uses a thick noodle and two different sauces.

はい、今回もカップ麺のネタ。ま、カップではありませんが、インスタントです。紹介するのはマルちゃん「昔ながらのソース焼きそば」。自分は結構焼きそば好きなんで、いろいろ買って食べてみるのが楽しい。今まで不味いというような焼きそばは遭遇してない。 麺が違うと書いてます。でもつやもちってどういう意味かな？ あと２つのソースでコク＆スパイシー。

I don't know, the picture makes it look unappetizing but I assure you, for an instant, it's quite delicious.

なんだか写真で見る限りは不味そうな感じでも実際の味は美味しいですよ。

Maru-chan Ratan-men / マルちゃんらーたん

I can't believe it's been over a year since I did an instant noodle post.  I have quite a few stored up so I think I shall be writing these simple posts for a while (maybe).  I do have another neighborhood walk post waiting to be written as well.  Anyway, I can't even remember when or where I tried this but I can guess the why.  Mikako and I love spicy foods and just by the look of the picture, this might prove tasty.  The soup is soy based but also includes ra-yu.  This is Maru-chan's tantan-men with ra-yu and called Ra-tan.

自分も信じられないけど、一年以上カップ麺のネタ書いてませんね。別にカップ麺食べるのをやめたわけではございませんよ。カップ麺についてのネタ結構ありますよ。今後はじゃんじゃん書き込む予定。もちろん“近所散歩”のネタもありますよ。今日紹介するのはマルちゃんのラー油入り醤油仕立て坦坦麺「らーたん」。僕と美香子は辛いもの好きで絵を見る限り良さそうなカップ麺と思った。

The soup looks real spicy but for us we thought it could use a little more kick.  We still haven't found a cup noodles that surpasses Moukou tanmen Nakamoto for spicyness.

スープは辛そうに見えますが、僕と美香子にとってもっと刺激が欲しいね。やっぱり辛くて美味しいカップ麺の猛攻タンメン中本には勝てないね。

Premium Ebisu

Just a fun little post about another favorite subject of mine - beer!!  My blogger friend asked where was the beer from the can in the last post which reminded of the latest beer I actually did buy.  Yebisu is very popular but does the name on the bottom of the can ring a bell?  If you're a foodie you will immediately know who it is.  Kind of hard to see on the picture but it says Joel Robuchon!!  Yes, that Joel Robuchon!  Celebrity chef Robuchon has collaborated with Yebisu beer.  I'm sad to admit that I still haven't been to the Robuchon restaurant in Ebisu or the more reasonably price Robuchon Atelier in Roppongi (but I will sometime in the near future).  Now the taste.  Well - it wasn't bad, but it wasn't spectacular either, although the design of the can is nice.

本日は気軽に書いたネタ。缶詰料理で僕のブログの読者が缶ビールはと聞き、この間買ったビールを思い出した。プレミアムエビスなんですが、缶の写真でちょっと見にくいと思いますが、誰かの名前は書いてませんか？よく見るとあの有名なチェフ、ジョエル・ロブションではないか。そうなんです。ロブションがエビスビールとコラボしてます。考えてるみるとロブションのメインのレストランも恵比寿にもあるね。残念なことに私はまだそのレストランに一度も行ったことないんです。六本木にあるロブション・アテリエも行ってないな。いつかは絶対行ってみたい。で、ビールの味ですが、悪くないけど超美味しいという感じもしなかった。普通に美味しい。缶のデザインは可愛いけど、それがゥ売りだったりして。

Tonya Kokubu / 問屋国分

While we were wandering around the Tokyo Sky Tree at night, we decided to check out the Solamachi area as well.  At the [Tonya Kokubu] which I've featured before is a small cafeteria that serves different kinds of canned foods.  Of course we had to check it out.

夜の東京スカイツリーを探索したら、ついでに東京ソラマチも探索。「問屋国分」で変わったカフェみたいな所がありまして、メニューには缶詰のものばかり。気になって、食べてみた。

If you look closely, you will notice that this is a display of canned foods that they serve and sell at [Tonya Kokubu].

良く見ると、ディスプレイには「問屋国分」が扱ってる缶詰。

Aside from the beer, this meal is made with canned foods!

ビール以外は缶詰から作った料理。

You would never know that these dishes were made from canned foods.

知ってなければ、この料理が缶詰から出来たのはびっくりするでしょう。

Yes, this too.  Made from canned foods!

はい、これも缶詰から出来た料理！


Oh, and the amazing thing - its all delicious.

一番のびっくりは全部が美味しい。


Bon Appetit!

いただきます！

More Tokyo Sky Tree at Night / また夜の東京スカイツリー

After having dinner, we walked from Ryogoku to the Tokyo Sky Tree.

ちゃんこ鍋を食べたあと、両国から東京スカイツリーまで歩きました。

What do you know, two posts in one day!

あっ、一日に二つのネタを書きました！

Sazae-san Chaya / サザエさん茶屋

Sazae-san manju / サザエさんまんじゅ

Oedo Happyaku Yacho / 大江戸八百八町

We are still in Ryogoku, which means Sumo-land, so for lunch in Sumo-land, what else is there but chanko nabe!  What is chanko nabe?  It is a one-pot meal filled with vegetables and meat (sometimes fish), served in a broth.  Very delicious.  Great for cold weather.  We chose a restaurant right near the rail station called [Oedo Happyaku Yacho].

まだ両国に居ます。両国と言えば相撲。飯の時間になりまして、相撲と言えばちゃんこ鍋。両国には数多くのちゃんこ鍋の店があります。私たちが選んだのは駅の近くにある「大江戸八百八町」。ちゃんこ鍋は冬にもってこい料理だ。

Check this out, a huge Sumo ring built in the middle of the restaurant.

見て、店の真ん中に相撲の土俵がある。

Nice chopstick package / お箸入れの袋可愛い

Before digging into our nabe, its beer time.  The miso soup was delicious too.

鍋を食べる前に一杯のビール。味噌汁も美味しい。

The makings for our chanko nabe / ちゃんこ鍋の具

We ordered some side dishes as well like deep fried oysters.

他のものも注文しました。カキフライ！

Menchi katsu / メンチカツ

The chanko nabe! / ちゃんこ鍋完成！

Enjoying some Nihon-shu along with our chanko nabe.

ちゃんこ鍋を食べながら、日本酒を頂きました。

And a cocktail or two / しくあわさサワーも飲んだ

Zosui to end our nabe meal / 〆はやっぱり雑炊ですね

For dessert - warabi mochi / デザートはわらび餅

Noren at the restrooms / お手洗いにあるのれん













Signs for the men's and ladie's rooms / お手洗いのサイン

Oden master Ern / おでんのマスター

Irashaimase! / いらしゃいませ！

Edo-Tokyo Museum (Showa Era) / 江戸東京博物館 （昭和時代）

Time to continue the tour of the Edo-Tokyo Museum.  The area I'm about to introduce is from the Showa era.

江戸東京博物館探索の続き。次紹介するエリアは昭和時代の物。

The sign on the building reads "Asano Shinbun" - newspaper building.

The first Japanese "light car" - Subaru 360 / 軽自動車 スバル３６０

Datsun Truck / ダットサントラック Ｇ２２２型

The following pics are Showa era appliances.

次の写真は昭和時代の家電

14 inch Toshiba Black & White Television / 白黒テレビ 東芝 １４ＫＤ

Hitachi Electric Washing Machine / 日立の洗濯機

Toshiba Refrigerator / 東芝冷蔵庫

I read about this in a history book, balloons that carried bombs across the Pacific during World War II.

歴史本で読んだことあるこれ、風船爆弾。第二次世界大戦に使われたやつ。

Showa era home / 昭和時代の家

This living room was made in a western style.

洋風のリビングとダイニング。

1-yen Taxi (1931 Ford Model A 4-door sedan / 円タクシー １９３１（昭和１６）フォードＡ型４－ドアセダン

Model of the "Ryounkaku" / 昔浅草にあった凌雲閣。

Explanation on sign: [The "Ryounkaku" a tower also known as the "Twelve Stories" was designed by British engineer William K. Barton and completed in 1890.  It functioned as a symbol of Asakusa and appeared on many souvenir pictures.  This tower was highly popular until it collapsed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.

The Ryounkaku was approximately in sixty meters in height.  Up to the tenth floor it was made of bricks, in an octagonal shape; the eleventh and twelth floors were made of wood.  Visitors could relax at a lounge or purchase imported products at shops inside the tower.  The eleventh and twelfth floors were equipped with telescopes for peering into and over the city.  The Ryounkaku boasted Japan's first elevator leading to the eight floor.  For safety reasons however, the operation of the elevator was eventually halted.  At the time of opening, admission fees were 8 sen for adults and 4 sen for soldiers and children.

This replica is based on photographs and woodblock prints from the period.]

Old telephone box / 自動電話

No, I am not using the phone but when you pick it up, you get to hear a short history of the phone box.

電話使用はしてないが、受話器をとったら電話についての説明が流れてる。