food pix from kyoto, japan

I just returned from a conference in Kyoto (my first trip to Japan). I made a point to eat as the residents do. Some images are at:
http://homepage.mac.com/wroberts/PhotoAlbum12.html
http://homepage.mac.com/wroberts/PhotoAlbum13.html
http://homepage.mac.com/wroberts/PhotoAlbum14.html
http://homepage.mac.com/wroberts/PhotoAlbum15.html
http://homepage.mac.com/wroberts/PhotoAlbum16.html
http://homepage.mac.com/wroberts/PhotoAlbum17.html

Um . . . there are a few sightseeing images and conference photos, but the majority involve food. Highlights were noodle/beef soup for breakfast, street sushi, a potato/mayo pizza, noodles in a hot dog bun, and the egg/bacon cheeseburger at McD's.

Cheers,
Wade

waderoberts wrote:I just returned from a conference in Kyoto (my first trip to Japan).

Wade,

Great pictures and looks like an interesting trip. I've never been to Japan and your photos made me realize, once again, how much I'm missing.

Enjoy,
Gary

Indeed, really interesting pictures... I'd like to go too but I think I'll pass on the "Homo Sausage", a.k.a. "fish sausage"...

A

I haven't had the, uh, opportunity to try the "homo sausage" during my visits to Japan, but I did wash down some yakisoba once with Pocari Sweat. Had I seen this website, I'd likely have skipped the "drink with properties similar to your body's own fluids" and stuck with Ebisu. So, if offered Pocari Sweat (or any other brand of "sweat"), I recommend replying politely: Biru onegai-shimasu!

Choey wrote:So, if offered Pocari Sweat (or any other brand of "sweat"), I recommend replying politely: Biru onegai-shimasu!

Choey,

Not quite sure what Biru onegai-shimasu! means, but I doubt, from context, it's please sir, may I have another. Personally I'm quite fond of Pocari Sweat as it saved my life.

5-6 years ago I was getting odd muscle cramps, right out of the blue, doctor wasn't exactly sure what caused them, but suggested I eat bananas, drink oj, tonic w/quinine and have a supply of Gatorade type drinks on hand for emergencies.

I had read about Pocari Sweat, I think Dick Smith mentioned it on chi.eats, and, just for sh*ts and giggles picked some up at Yohan, which was Mitsuwa's previous name.

My wife was not wild about the name so Pocari Sweat was relegated to my upstairs home office and was resting comfortably next to my bottle of cool-as-hell Snake Wine from Vietnam. Just to digress, this really is an incredible looking wine, with a cobra poised to strike and two smaller snakes facing each other.

I was upstairs and, out of the blue, I was stricken with a really bad muscle cramp, so horrid I was lying on the floor in pain screaming "I'm coming, Elizabeth, I'm coming." (Sanford and Son reference)

Then I spied the bottle of Pocari Sweat, same basic properties as Gatorade, I chug down the Pocari Sweat, 5-minutes later I was right as rain.

Pocari Sweat saved my life!

Enjoy,
Gary

Gary, I didn't mean to disrespect the "Sweat." Indeed, there was a time when I could be seen jogging around the Imperial Palace with a stylish Pocari Sweat in my hand (however, that was before I adopted pork as the fundamental tenet of my personal belief system). But the web site I listed above caused me to rethink my favorite Japanese sports beverage: I just can't do "the drink with properties similar to your body's own fluids" as refreshment...though maybe I might if I were on a pub crawl with Vlad the Impaler.... I prefer tannins, hops, yeast, etc in my beverages. The Japanese phrase translates as "May I have a beer, please," a phrase I have memorized in 14 different languages with never a cause for regret.

The chicken on a stick is Yakitori, a favorite food over there. Usually you get several skewers each with a different part of the bird (light, dark, skin, organs). In some of the street markets you can also find charcoal grilled whole fish on a stick as a snack.

Fond memories of Kyoto on a business trip. Our host was great for taking us out to see the sights. Ate at a tofu restaurant near one of the temples. You sat outdoors on a bench and your food was placed next to you on the bench. Our host exclaimed in his limited English "I love tofu!" It was quite a challenge to eat tofu with chopsicks in that position.

At night we went out to a very expensive place that served Kobe beef and plenty of side dishes. When we thought we were done eating, here comes another round of food, with an endless supply of beer and saki. Afterwards our host enthusiastically announced "Now we go to Kabuki bar for whiskey!"

We were so stuffed we pleaded to go back to the room. Our host nodded and smiled as we piled into a cab. Next thing we were geting out at the Kabuki bar where several of his coworkers were waiting for us. A few rounds of Suntory (which is actually pretty light as far as whiskeys go), and we mentioned in the US we drink a brand called Jack Daniels. He calls out to the bartender "Jack Daniel" while motioning for another round. I don't remember too much after that round.

Ever wake up the next morning wondering where the hell you are? I opened the hotel room curtains and as my eyes opened I was greeted by a huge red neon sign in Japanese characters accross the street. I had an epiphany; what a great country Japan is, these people sure work hard and party hard!