Gourmet

It was my first lunch in Hibiya in a while, as we were going to see Takarazuka at the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater. My wife took the lead on this one, and we ended up at REVIVE KITCHEN THREE HIBIYA in Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, a veggie-focused restaurant that caters to vegans and those with gluten sensitivities.

One of the souvenirs I always grab on my way back from Hokkaido is Sato Suisan's Rocky Salmon. I first discovered this product over three years ago. I remember being instantly surprised by the sheer size of the smoked salmon in its clear packaging, thinking it *had* to be delicious just from its appearance, and buying it without a second thought.

When it comes to Kyoto souvenirs, Ajari-mochi is my top pick. It’s hard to find outside of specific shops, so whenever I spot it at an event, I can't help but buy a bunch—even with its short 3-day shelf life!

I’ve been visiting Higashikawa, Hokkaido for over 10 years now. There are certain favorite spots where it just doesn’t feel like the year is over until I’ve eaten there. It’s a wonderful feeling to have places where the staff remembers us, even if we’re not local regulars.

Two summers ago, while staying at Maruseppu Onsen’s Maure Villa, I discovered "Okhotsk Sandai-sho." Between the label design and the description, I knew it had to be delicious, so I bought some as a souvenir. Back in Tokyo, it was so good that I tried to find more, but it was nowhere to be found—until I stumbled upon a tiny shop in Togoshi Ginza. I visited a few times and even became friends with the owner because of it!

Tempura is one of those foods I don't actively seek out, mainly because if it's not freshly fried, it tends to get soggy and oily, which I'm not a fan of. Frying tempura at home is a hassle, and eating them one by one as they're freshly made is tough when you're dining with family. So, it had been a while since I had tempura, but I decided to revisit "Tempura Makino," a place I remembered being absolutely delicious from a previous visit.

During a business trip to the US, I had a surprisingly tasty non-alcoholic IPA at a restaurant. So, I bought some ATHLETIC HAZY IPA non-alcoholic beer as a souvenir. I was absolutely amazed because it genuinely had that fruity aroma and bitterness typical of an IPA, without the usual lightness or strange aftertaste often found in non-alcoholic beers. It was incredibly delicious!

Exhausted from walking around at an exhibition, I stumbled into a burger joint. Their main menu had a strange green burger. Looking closer, I realized it used lettuce as a bun! I'd never seen anything like it and was curious, so I ordered it. What came out... well, it was disappointing just by its appearance.

I was craving some delicious fish, so I decided to head out to Omaezaki for the first time in a while. Usually, I'd go to Kaisen Nabura Market, but I wanted to try somewhere new this time. I was torn between Kaisen Ryori Miharu and Iso Ryori Kuriya. I arrived a bit early, around 11 AM, but Miharu already had a huge crowd... I considered waiting in line, but then I got lazy, so I opted for Iso Ryori Kuriya, which had high ratings and was less crowded.

After finishing my errands at Shinagawa City Office, I decided to grab an early lunch. I walked along the Tokyu Oimachi Line towards the station, ended up at Oimachi Station, and noticed Shiva, an Indian-Nepali restaurant right next to it. What really caught my eye was the sign saying "Freshly Baked Naan" – it made me crave naan more than curry!