Taking Mom to [Toro Hako] / お母さんを「トロ函」に連れて行く

While my mother was in the States, she would read my blog (actually my father would faithfully read her my blog) while she looked at all the pictures I was posting.  One of my posts was about an izakaya that a friend of ours took us to in Ueno.  It was called [Toro Hako].  The menu was mostly seafood.  We didn't take her when she was in Japan with my father and sister and sister's husband just for the simple fact that my father is not a big fan of seafood.  I don't think he would have enjoyed the loud and merry atmosphere either.  But as Mom was on her own on this trip, one of her requests was to have dinner there.  So after spending the afternoon in Chofu at Jindaiji, we caught a bus back to Sangenjaya to meet up with my wife, and then we would head out to Ueno for dinner.

お母さんアメリカでよく僕の個人ブログを見てるらしい。毎日チェックを外せないのは僕のお父さん。お父さんが必ず読んで、プリントアウトして、僕の全ネタを保管してるらしい。お母さんがあるネタに引かれたみたい。それは僕たちの友達が私たちを連れてくれた居酒屋。店の名前は「トロ函」結構人気ある店です。去年の９月お父さんと妹夫妻も日本に遊びに来ましたが、うちのお父さんはシーフードが大苦手。多分こういう様な居酒屋の雰囲気も馴染めないと思う。でも今回お母さんが一人で日本に来てるから、お母さんがどうしともその店に食べに行きたいとのリクエストがあり。昼はずーと調布にある深大寺で遊びましたが、今度間違いってないバスに乗り、三軒茶屋に戻り、僕の妻と合流。そのまま上野行き。


We found the restaurant without any problem; however, one of the staff members said it would be about a 50 minute wait for a table.  As we had no set plans for the following day, we said no problem.  Fortunately, we really did have that long a wait.  Maybe 20 to 30 minutes or so.  But hey, Mom was not going to miss this opportunity to eat here.

店は簡単に見つけましたが、店員が５０分待ちになると言われた。明日も予定もなく、大丈夫ですよと伝えました。お母さんは絶対ここに食べると決めたもんで、別の店に変更するのは有り得ない。良かったことに５０分ではなく２０分か３０分程度を待ったら席が空きました。

My mother was taking her time checking out the menu before deciding on what she wants to eat.

お母さんが真剣にメニューを読んで、なにを注文するのか迷ってました。

These women were serious about what they were ordering (even though I knew my wife would order the crab miso without doubt).

この女性二人は超真剣です。（妻は絶対蟹味噌を注文するのは分かってが）。

First, the otoshi.  This is mozuku (seaweed seasoned with vinegar).

お通しで出たのはもずく。

The wife's first choice was this large portion of sea urchin.  Spoon some of the urchin on the nori, add a dash of wasabi, dip in soy sauce, and eat.  It may be an acquired taste but fresh sea urchin is actually pretty good.

妻が最初に注文したのは生ウニ。ウニを海苔に乗せて、わさびと醤油を付けて食べる。苦手の人は大勢いると思うが、日本人はやっぱり生ウニは好きですね。

Me?  I opted to order some snow crabs to grill at our table.

僕ですか？ ズワイガニの炙りを注文。

Yes, a bit of luxury but what the hey!

はい、ちょっと贅沢ですが、たまには良いでしょう！

Happy crab eater / 幸せに蟹食べたます

 

 

Mom in serious eating mode / お母さん食べるモード全開！

 

 

What's this?  Why, it looks like three large scallops on the grill, and a couple of fish as well.

これはなんだ？ でっかい帆立じゃないか。そしてこまいも焼いてます。

You do know that you can eat the entire scallop don't you, not just the small tiny inner piece that you would find in most US restaurants.

帆立は全部食べられますと知ってますよね。アメリカでは貝柱しか提供してないよ。

The friendly staff will slice up the scallop for you as well.

店のスタッフが親切に帆立を切ってくれます。

Somehow, I always feel the need to order Hoppy when I'm at an izakaya.

居酒屋に居るとなんだかホッピーを頼むのが当たり前になってます。

Enjoying my dark Hoppy (and for you locals back home, you do realize I'm wearing a T-Town t-shirt?)

ホッピー飲むと気分が上々（そして、実家に居る皆様、僕が着てるTシャーツに気づきました？、はい、T タウンのTシャーツです）。

Mom is Japanese, she needs her rice so she ordered some yaki-onigiri.

お母さんは日本人なので、ご飯がないと落ち着かない。それで焼きおにぎりを注文。

This is not smelt, it is wachna or saffron cod.

これはししゃもではなくコマイです。

We're at an izakaya that's known for its seafood, of course we had to order a sashimi platter.

 

魚が美味しいで人気の居酒屋に居ますから、もちろん刺身の盛り合わせも頼まないっと。

 

 

 

What are those you ask?  Why, the are grilled sea urchin.  After having tasted them at the Furusato Festival a few months back at the Tokyo Dome, I have come to like this dish.

 

それはなに？ ウニの炙りです。ちょっと前で東京ドームで開催したふるさと祭りに行ったときこれを食べたら、ファンになりました。

 

 





Mom also had to have her pickled vegetables as well.

お母さんがお新香も吹かせないものです。

Of course my wife did not forget to order her favorite dish, crab miso on the half shell.

もちろん妻が好物の蟹味噌は忘れてませんよ。


Yes, we were quite full from dinner.  But my mother, the infernal ball of energy said we should go to Ueno Park to check out the cherry blossoms at night.  Who are we to refuse her request.

はい、結構満腹になりました。上野公園の近くで食べたので、力強いのお母さんの提案で夜桜も見に行こうって。帰りましょうと言えませんね。でも私たちも夜桜に賛成！


And so, instead of ending the evening by finishing our meal and going home, we went to Ueno Park to check out the cherry blossoms at night.  What a great day!

とういうことで夕飯を食べ終わったら、そのまま帰ることなく、上野公園で夜桜を堪能。 なんど良い日だ！