daily slice-of-life photo blog of a Gen-X dad
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Today I had a solo lunch at 脂楽亭, a nearby katsu restaurant. I went with the katsu curry, and I was not disappointed. The katsu was thick, tender, and juicy, with panko breading that was crispy and delicious. The curry was really tasty too, and I left feeling very satisfied with the meal.
The chef and server were both friendly and efficient, which made the whole experience even better. The restaurant has a long counter, regular tables, and a tatami mat area, so it works well whether you’re dining solo or bringing the family. 🍛
After lunch, I went for a short stroll in the neighborhood and enjoyed the summer breeze and beautiful clouds. So nice!
Today after work I went for my daily osanpo (walk) around the neighborhood. This time I skipped the historic part and headed into the regular part of town instead. I made a point to hit the big three convenience stores: Lawson, Family Mart, and 7-Eleven.
I didn’t buy anything at Lawson, but Family Mart had a pudding that looked too good to pass up. It was delicious, and only about 150 yen! 🍮 My last stop was 7-Eleven, where I couldn’t resist grabbing an egg sandwich. I only had my cross-body bag with me, so it got a little smashed on the walk home. Still, it tasted excellent.
Here are some photos I took on today’s walk around the neighborhood.
We made a big batch of umeshu (plum liqueur) today. Mariko has made it before, but it was my first time. It’s basically just ume (plums), rock sugar, and liquor, all combined and left to sit for at least 3 months. So this batch will be ready by the next time we’re back at our Japan house. I can’t wait. Right now is actually the best time to make umeshu, since the plums need to be at that perfect not quite ripe stage. Our local market even has a little umeshu station where you can grab all the supplies for your own batch. Fun! 🍶
We visited Akashi today, mostly to eat (obviously). We had an amazing omakase sushi lunch, then followed it up with the city’s signature dish, akashiyaki. I had no idea, but akashiyaki actually came before the more famous takoyaki. It’s dipped in a warm broth instead of covered in sauce, and the batter is eggier too. It was really good! But if I’m being honest, I think I still prefer takoyaki, sauce, mayo, and all those toppings. 🐙
Today we drove out to the town of Shiso for lunch at 森蔵/Morizou, a tiny restaurant and bakery. We treated ourselves to a really good Italian meal. The highlight for me was the sardine pasta. I’ve been on a bit of a sardine kick lately, so I was happy to see it on the menu! 🍝
This morning we finally made it to our house, unpacked our suitcases, and got settled in. After that we walked over to the local shrine to pay our respects, then wandered the neighborhood for a bit. I love exploring the streets and shops around our place. Always fun! 🏠
By then our appetite was building, so we headed to Rikimaru for kaitenzushi. It was just okay, honestly a bit of a letdown. Mariko and Bay had gone a few months back and said it was much better that time. Oh well, at least the meal was cheap. It still amazes me how affordable some meals in Japan can be! 🍣
