Asa and I went to this place in Hiroshima that served these small grilled “appetizers”, like 13 of them, for the meal. They spoke no English, there were no English menus, but they had the wonderful plastic food int he window, so we got what we wanted. It was fantastic.

SHABU-SHABU, mmmmmmmmmmm.

I miss it all so much.

And to think, we did not want to go there. How wrong we were.

Miss you all too.

I remember California Chicken and their exceptionally tasty chicken.  I remember the chicken shack and all its’ knick-knacks, but I don’t remember the food oddly enough.

I remember the “yellow sign” restaurant and that deep bowl of gomoku-soba that drove away the winter chill like holy water on a hellspawn demon.  Plus they made gyoza that was nearly spot on to my grandmother’s mandoo.

I remember the bar(Rainbow?) that served up drinks like “boogies.” My God, I still remember that hangover.  Ugh.

I remember Gyoza House, Denyen(God, the look of FEAR on their faces when they saw Americans come in).  There was another all you can eat place not far off we went to, but alas I don’t remember the name.  I took Michael there once and he pointed out to me that a particular slice of beef that I enjoyed was actually horse.  Then again, maybe that was by Camp Zama/NAS Atsugi.

I remember the first time I had Okonomiyaki and I’ve yet to find any place like that.  Thanks Yoshi.  I still search for Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki in the US.  I have a recipe for it, but I gotta get Michael to translate it for me.

I too have had the pleasure of eating at the JN dining hall at Yokota AB.  The chow hall there was dang good, but the teriyaki chicken was divine.  The Soba Hut was still good eats, even though it couldn’t pass a Preventive Medicine inspection to save its’ life.

But hey, we had great cookouts at the Corpsman penthouse – BBQs, hanging out at the watering hole, Breakfasts, potlucks that shut the clinic down early.  Remember that big Thanksgiving dinner we all chipped in?

I also remember the mom & pop fruit stands on the way to and from the train station where I’d easily drop $50 on fruit that was immaculately delectable.  There was DQ by the train station where Michael and I figured out that Michael is allergic to bananas.  There was an Anderson Bakery on the corner which I always bought a fruit tart on the way to Hiroshima. 

One time I was deliberately making myself lost in downtown Iwakuni.  Upon my stumbles, I came across a mochi store and enlightened my senses with a strawberry daifuku.  It was a delish.  Alas, I could never find that store again. 

Wow.  Many a fond memory is tied to food.

And yes, that’s where we had your fairwell party in 1995 I believe.

:)

Wait, is that the place we did my going away party at? the all you can eat for 15 bucks place?

what was the name of that all you can eat beef place we used to go to???? i have pictures of it, but i can’t remeber the name…