東京の生活の話はまだいっぱいあります。今日もその一つの思い出。僕と妻が出かけて、吉祥寺に行った時。
We are now at Kichijoji Station. In front of us is the shotengai or market street.
吉祥寺駅に到着。前にあるのはアーケード商店街。
Before we decided to do anything, we just walked around the arcade and stopped by nearest temple. It is called Gessoji Temple.
なにをするまえにちょっと散歩したたけ。最初に行って見たのは商店街の近くにあるお寺。お寺の名前は月窓寺（げっそうじ）。
Just keeping the temple grounds clean. He is called the Souji Kozo which means "cleaning boy".
境内を綺麗にしてるそうじ小僧。
This is a statue of Xuanzang, a Chinese scholar of Buddhism. He is also a character portrayed in the famous Chinese classic novel "Monkey".
玄奘三蔵法師の像。中国の”西遊記”に出てる人物。
The hondo or main temple / 本堂
Interesting name for a ramen shop. In the parenthesis, it says "Women are Welcome!". However, we didn't eat here.
面白いラーメンやの名前。店には入ってませんが。
Art work on buildings.
ビルの壁にあたもの。
Yes, we are standing in at the back of this long line. This is one place that Kichijoji is known for. We are standing in line to buy some menchikatsu (minced meat cutlets shaped like a croquette) from a steak shop called "Satou".
はい、この行列に並んでます。吉祥寺の商店街の名物、ステーキハウス「さとう」の元祖丸メンチカツ。
Because this shop is so popular, you are given this card given you a little information about the croquettes. Also, during the weekdays, sales is limited to 20 per person. On weekends, the number is lowered to 10.
Only 200yen for 1. If you buy 5, then it will only be 160yen for each. On the bottom of the card it says if you want to purchase something other than the menchikatsu, you can make your purchase quickly.
We're getting closer. We can read the sign on the shop now.
店に近づいた。壁に店名が読める。
Almost there.
あと少し。
After a thirty to forty minute wait, we got our menchikatsu.
３０分か４０分後にやっとさとうのメンチカツゲット。
Finally enjoying the menchikatsu.
さとうのメンチカツを食べる喜び。
This shop was the other reason why we came to Kichijoji today. The name of the shop is [Paletas]. This shop specializes in frozen fruit bars. The current fad at the time.
吉祥寺に来たもう一つの理由はこの店。店名は「パレタス」。パレタスアイスがこのとき結構流行ってました。「パレタス」はフローズンフルーツのアイスキャンディの専門店。
The menu. The day we went, there were 29 different fruit bars on the menu.
店のメニュー。私たちが行った日、２９種類のパレタスアイスがあった。
The shop was so popular at the time that customers were given a numbered ticket to let you know when you would be able to come to the shop and order your item.
当時店が人気すぎて、店の混雑を防ぐため、入店の整理券を渡された。この時間内にしかパレタスアイスが購入出来たにことになってる。
The display case.
パレタスアイスのディスプレーケース。
We came back at the time listed on our ticket. I ordered the "berry berry berry". It was a gelato base of white chocolate with strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. It cost 500 yen.
僕がオーダーしたのは”ベリー・ベリー・ベリー”。これはジェラトベースのホワイトチョコといちご、ラズベリーとブルーベリー。５００円でした。
I can't be sure but I think my wife ordered the "kuri macha". Green tea with chestnuts and azuki beans.
自信がないが確か妻がオーダーしたのは栗抹茶。これはジェラトベースの抹茶とミルク、あすき・和栗入り。
An employee busily making more fruit bars.
従業員が一所懸命にパレタスアイスを作ってる。
I was wondering if the shop in Kichijoji was still open and discovered that it had closed. But fear not. They didn't go out of business, they moved to Ginza and also opened shops in Kamakura and Tokyo-Midtown. They also have an online shop.
吉祥寺の店はまだ営業してるのかなと気になってネットで調べた。びっくりしたのはそんなに流行った店が閉店した！でも安心してください。潰れたわけではない。銀座に移転しただけ。あと鎌倉と東京ミッドタウンにオープン。オンラインショップもある。
We had dinner here. My wife loves their dessert. Especially their menu of shaved ice.
ここで夕飯を食べた。妻がデザートメニューが好き。特にこの店のカキ氷。
I had the chilled pork set and had my rice come with plum flakes.
僕が食べたのは豚の冷しゃぶ。ご飯は梅そぼろ乗せ。
The set was also served with miso soup and some pickled radishes.
セットは味噌汁とお新香付。
And more ice cream for dessert.
そしてデザートはソフトだ。
Instead of a neighborhood walk, it turned out to be a gourmet tour. And now that we were full, it was time to head back home.
吉祥寺散歩というより、吉祥寺グルメ巡りでしたね。満腹になったので、あとは帰るしかない。
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