Here we are in Osaka, where Gen's family is from. Gen had a business trip in the area, so he left on Wednesday and I met him on Friday. I took the bullet train (
shinkansen) all by myself! It was really nice. It looks like a plane without wings. The trip from Tokyo to Osaka took 2 1/2 hours. Unfortunately it was raining.
We were so excited because they filmed in this area for Tony
Bourdain's show
No Reservations, which we love. We wanted to try to find the exact restaurants he ate in, but no dice.
I think this crab restaurant is part of a chain. We didn't eat here because it looked really expensive. Also, Osaka is famous for
takoyaki (octopus balls) so we had to try some! Gen's cousin met us and took us out for a
takoyaki feast. I never knew there were so many types of octopus balls. We had
shoyu (regular soy sauce flavor), fried, cheese filled, and
tako croquettes (fried with potato filling). Gen's favorite was the cheese filled. I liked the fried and the croquettes.
These pictures were all taken at a restaurant row. I can't remember what the angry chef up there was selling. Maybe
yakitori (grilled chicken skewers).
This is me with Gen's cousin,
Sho. We got along swimmingly, despite his lack of English and my lack of Japanese. He's a terrible influence on me. He took us out after dinner and I was completely useless the next day. I blame peer pressure.
Here we are in Osaka, where Gen's family is from. Gen had a business trip in the area, so he left on Wednesday and I met him on Friday. I took the bullet train (shinkansen) all by myself! It was really nice. It looks like a plane without wings. The trip from Tokyo to Osaka took 2 1/2 hours. Unfortunately it was raining.
We were so excited because they filmed in this area for Tony Bourdain's show No Reservations, which we love. We wanted to try to find the exact restaurants he ate in, but no dice.
I think this crab restaurant is part of a chain. We didn't eat here because it looked really expensive. Also, Osaka is famous for takoyaki (octopus balls) so we had to try some! Gen's cousin met us and took us out for a takoyaki feast. I never knew there were so many types of octopus balls. We had shoyu (regular soy sauce flavor), fried, cheese filled, and tako croquettes (fried with potato filling). Gen's favorite was the cheese filled. I liked the fried and the croquettes.
These pictures were all taken at a restaurant row. I can't remember what the angry chef up there was selling. Maybe yakitori (grilled chicken skewers). 
This is me with Gen's cousin, Sho. We got along swimmingly, despite his lack of English and my lack of Japanese. He's a terrible influence on me. He took us out after dinner and I was completely useless the next day. I blame peer pressure.
Ewwwwwwwww, octopus balls!!?? You ate em??? I fear I might just have to starve to death over there. Sounds like you are having a blast. Love all the pictures!
ReplyDeleteLet me know hoe the sumo wrestling match goes....ewwwwww again!
Oh, and my office smells loverly!! Thanks!
Sandy
No, octopus balls are great! They're not, you know, testicles. They're little fritters made with batter and chopped up (cooked) octopus. Octopus over here is like calamari at home. We had some great fried octopus on Wednesday at the Sapporo Brewery restaurant.
ReplyDelete