The best okonomiyaki, 500yen

一番お好み焼き　５００円　　

我々の日本語英語の練習を頑張りましょう　！　　下に見てください。Let's do Japanese/English practice/exchange.    See below.

 

It was Charlie Baker who first turned me on to okonomiyaki.  Over 5 years ago, back when we had recently moved to Japan and Martin was working at Honda R&D in Utsunomiya, he met up with his old motorcycle buddy and work colleague who had already been in Japan for several months.  At the time, Martin was living "tan-shin-funi" which means he lived by himself near where he worked.  Sometimes we would take the shinkansen (bullet train) to visit him on the weekend instead of him coming to Tokyo.  Anyway, Charlie and his family took us to a neighborhood Matsuri (festival) where lots of different things go on, including taiko drumming, dancing, flea market sales and eating and drinking.  Charlie told me about Okonomiyaki, and described it as a Japanese pancake, but not sweet.  Well, up until that time, I had never tried it, because I didn't know what was inside, but I'm always interested in trying something new.  I had no trouble keeping up with Charlie as he waded through the crowd looking for the okonomiyaki booth as he's a good half meter taller than everyone else.  Because of his recommendation, I did try it, but like many other Japanese foods,  it takes some getting used to, and at first, I didn't really see what was so great about it.  Since then, I've had it many times and now I LOVE IT!  It is so yummy! 

Last Saturday, at Yoyogi Koen, I had the best Okonomiyaki I've ever eaten.  It was crisp on the outside and tender and creamy on the inside.  It wasn't too bready and had lots of yummy crunchy vegetables and other stuff inside.  The friendly vendor had made several in advance, because they take awhile, and then he would heat them up when you order.  He added lots of brown sauce to mine and then I added heavy mayonaise, seaweed, fish flakes and red ginger pickles.  It was delicious.

Usually we ride our bikes to Yoyogi Park, but I still haven't been able to ride my bike since my arm injury.  I have to catch the frisbee with one hand because I kept hurting my left arm if it got involved, but but I'm starting to use both hands to throw.  It was fun.  I always enjoy a chance to play frisbee.

After the frisbee, we hung out for awhile and watched and listened to a young band right there in the park.  Cool.

Here's a link to their website. THE HOT CREWS

Okay.  As you know, I've been trying to learn Japanese ever since moving to Japan.  For various reasons, my progress is quite slow.  (We won't go into that right now. 笑)  But using this blog to practice writing Japanese is one good thing.  I also want to increase the chance of communicating with my non-English speaking friends, and those who are learning English.  So I tried to paraphrase SOME of the above story below.   

どうぞ

(改定 9月19日）　　5年半前に日本に来るまで、お好み焼きを食べたことがありませんでした。　　度々見たけど、どんな食べ物が分からなかったので、食べてみませんでした。その後で、主人の友達と家族と宇都宮のお祭りに一緒に行きました。そこで、お好み焼きを初めて経験した。外の日本料理のように、最初はあまり好きじゃなかったが、だんだん慣れた。今は大好きになった。

先週末の土曜日にフリスビーにし、代々木公園に行った。その日に一番おいしいお好み焼きを食べました。外側はぱりぱりだけど内側は軟らかくて、クリームのようです。野菜は少し歯応えがあって、完璧だと思います。

料理人はすばらしかったです。前もって、作っていた、私に出来立て厚いお好み焼きをくれた。褐色のソースをたくさん上に載せた。私は自分でマヨネーズとか青海苔とか鰹節とか紅生姜をたくさん載せた。とてもおいしかったです。

怪我するまあで、いつも公園に自転車で行きましたが、まだ自転車に乗ることができません。左手を怪我したので、フリスビーを掴む時は片手を使っているが、投げる時は両手を使うようにしています。いつもフリスビーをすることは楽します。

後で、若い人の音楽のバンドを見て，聞いて、とても面白かったです。

（訂正の手伝うをありがとう　＞まついさん）

Comments

[JOKER]

はじめまして、nice 2 meet u!
見ての通りお好み焼きは上品な料理ではありませんが、親しい友人と食事をするときには最高です。

日本にはお好み焼きの他に、鍋料理もたくさんありますね。日本にはこういった多人数で食べる習慣が多いです。

ひとつの鉄板や鍋を大勢が箸を入れる...不潔そうに見える習慣ですが、同じものを口に入れるということは相手に対する絶対の信頼表現なのです。

懐石料理や寿司といった高級和食ではなく、大衆向けの料理にこそ、その国の文化が出ているのではないでしょうか。

i think ... OKONOMIYAKI is Japanese SOUL FOOD!

[Pamela]

I never thought about it before, but I'm sure you're right about Okonomiyaki being Japanese soul food. It's a good description. JOKERさん points out that it is often eaten together, with everyone putting in their chopsticks to the same food, basically with people you trust. It's not elegant cuisine, but popular food for everyone. Like monja, which I have eaten in Tsukishima with my skater friends.

JOKERさん、サイトに来たをありがとう。文化のコメントはとても面白いです。翻訳のサイトと辞書を使ってあなたの日本語を勉強をしました。大体祭りと公園でお好み焼きを食べる。友達とそれを食べることは楽しそうです。もんじゃのようと思います。

[Hazuki]

Hi,
Okonomiyaki is my favorite food! Sometimes I cook it myself. It's easy to cook it. I want to eat Okonomiyaki now(^^).

There is interesting "Okonomiyaki-yasan" in Tawaramachi (near Asakusa). We can eat really nice Okonomiyaki. When I go to Asakusa, I go there everytime. The Okonomiyakiyasan called "Sometaro" that is traditional restaurant. The following is photos.

http://gourmet.yahoo.co.jp/0006710878/M0013001880/photo/