Delicious Japan: Eggs!

Unlike here in the good ol' U S of A, you can consume raw eggs just about anywhere you damn well please in Japan. There are no worries about food poisoning, and even at fast food joints you can count on being able to purchase a raw egg to top your meal for less than a dollar!

Online menu from major fast food chain Sukiya
Image from sukiya.jp

As a college student studying abroad in Tokyo, eggs were my main source of protein. I could pick up a dozen for ￥98 at a nearby drugstore and have a week's worth of lunches. If I wanted to splurge, I could pick up some higher quality eggs and make tamago kake gohan (卵かけごはん). Literally... rice with egg on top. It's healthy, cheap and quick -- what more could you ask for?

An elaborate bowl of TKG

This delicious breakfast can be as simple as an egg cracked into hot rice, or be complex like the one pictured above which features sesame seeds and eel. My personal favorite way to eat TKG is to whisk the egg with soy sauce in a separate bowl before pouring over the rice. Add shredded nori and some chopped green onion that's it! For those who are wary about eating raw egg, the best way to try this dish is to use a low egg-to-rice ratio to start.

Since I have another 7 weeks until I can enjoy the delights of raw egg for every meal (kidding), I'd like to share a recipe for something equally as satisfying, simple, and delicious!


Vegetarian Eggs Benedict (serves 1)

1 english muffin, toasted*
1/4 of a ripe avocado
5 grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup baby spinach
1 egg
garlic salt
pepper
chili powder
dried chives

1. Toast your english muffin. (I used 2 mini-homemade whole wheat english muffins.)
2. Layer sliced avocado on top of the english muffin.
3. Saute tomatoes and spinach with garlic salt, pepper, chili powder and dried chives until the tomatoes are soft. Adjust seasonings to your own preferences.
4. Layer the cooked veggies on top of the avocado.
5. Wipe excess moisture from your pan and lightly fry one egg. Make sure the yolk is still runny!
6. Layer cooked egg on top of the veggies and voilà! 

The finished product!

While this is not a traditional eggs bene recipe by any means, it's perfect for summer and definitely a recipe you can make anywhere - whether in the US or Japan! :)

06. Bar Del Sole - Roppongi

When you're a college student preparing to travel abroad to Japan, you're pretty much told to avoid Roppongi at all costs. Our Bureau of Consulate Affairs considers it so dangerous, in fact, that there are specific warnings on their website instructing travelers not to go there because you will either (a) have your credit card stolen, (b) get roofied, (c) be assaulted, or (d) all of the above. A lot of my Japanese friends are shocked to hear this. The long and short of it is that there is a potential sketch factor to any entertainment district (not only in Japan,) but this doesn't mean you shouldn't avoid them at all costs... because then you would miss out on awesome places like Bar Del Sole.

Exterior of Bar Del Sole

Bar Del Sole is an Italian cafe/bar hybrid located just a short walk from the station. They offer lunch, dinner, a decent selection of desserts and gelato and (best of all) coffee and espresso. You can sit either outside or inside. Because the summer weather was still in full swing back in September when I went, we opted to sit inside. The lights inside are dimmed and the decor is simple... a perfect setting for an afternoon break.

The best part about this place is that although they're an Italian-style cafe, they offer set menus which seem to be standard at most Japanese eateries. This means you pay a set price for a meal or course and drink and sides are included. They offer two different dessert sets: one with your choice of espresso or coffee drink and a dessert, or one with the drink, desert and gelato.

Kabocha (Japanese Pumpkin) Cake

Cappuccino

Tiramisu and Strawberry Gelato set

Being a fan of all things kabocha, I'm definitely biased when I say that this is one of the best things I've eaten since coming to Japan.





















Heavenly doesn't even begin to describe their cappuccino. It was perfect, and I would happily make the trip all the way back to Roppongi just to have it again.






















This was my friend's order. While I was a little disappointed by the portion of gelato (I suppose this is a cultural bias, portions are typically smaller in Japan) the portion of the tiramisu made up for it!







In terms of food, everything was fantastic. Even though it was probably pushing 90 degrees outside, the cappuccino was worth it. I would drink it outside on a 100 degree day - that's how good it was. The service was so-so, they forgot to bring us one of our drinks and the price the charged us on the check didn't match what was in the menu (!). If my friend wasn't a native speaker of Japanese, I'm not sure how easy it would have been to clear up the issue. I can't say that this is typical of their service though, since I've only been once. That being said, if you want to experience some awesome coffee in a charming little cafe go to Bar Del Sole. You can find more info about their menu and location here!

03. Settling In

Eeeeek, it's been almost a month since I last posted. I had no idea maintaining a blog would be this difficult. I'm always thinking about interesting things to post, but I never get around to actually typing anything. Whoops.

It's hard to believe that it's been over a month since I arrived in Japan. At this point, I can definitely say I've settled in and adjusted to life in Tokyo. Unlike being back home though, I don't feel like I'm stuck into a routine yet. Although I am plagued with homework for 5 classes (18 credits worth... 6 days a week... bleh...) I'm still getting to try new things on a weekly basis. That being said, I plan on taking fewer courses next semester so I can do more exploring.

Since starting school here, I feel like I've entered into some kind of weird time paradox. Tokyo is indeed a city that never sleeps, but although I attend class, have club practice, run errands, participate in dormitory events / chores and spend an inordinate amount of time doing homework.... I can't help but feel that my life has slowed down at the same time. I have crazy, long days but I enjoy the process of it all because it's so different and new.

There are a lot of things I've begun to appreciate about my life back home since being in Japan.

For example, I cook for myself 3 times a day (almost) 7 days a week. I was so used to the convenience of the dining hall at school and the well-stocked fridge and pantry at home that I didn't realize how much planning it takes to feed yourself. I share a small fridge with my roomie, so I can't buy a week's worth of food at a time, so as a result I go grocery shopping 2-3 times a week. The closest major grocery store (which is also by the nearest station) it's a 30 minute round-trip by bike, so I have to plan in advance when I need to go since I'm usually busy with class until 7:00 pm some nights.

(side note: There are convenience stores close to campus, but it's hard to eat well on a 7/11 diet! That being said, the selection of food in the convenience stores here is impressive, and there are wayyyy healthier options than in the US).

typical lunch: steamed cabbage, brown rice with furikake, spicy tofu

The upside is that I consider cooking one of my hobbies, so I always enjoy these breaks in my hectic schedule where I can just stop and do something for myself. The kitchen in my dorm is a popular place to socialize, and spots at the table are often full around mealtime. Getting into a habit of cooking for myself has also given me a new awareness about the foods I consume, and as a result I've been eating a lot healthier! The bike ride to the station is also a decent workout. ;)

There are some things I'm still not quite used to yet... like the group showers, the smaller portions at restaurants and all of the customs surrounding shoes in buildings. I'm already thinking about the subtle changes that I'm making to my behavior and normal habits and I wonder how I'll feel once I return home having totally embraced my Japanese lifestyle. I suppose that's a question better left for next year.

As for now, my goal is to update at least once a week for the remainder of the month and *hopefully* get around to posting some pictures that I've neglected up until now!

じゃ、また。

02. Arrival

Since getting off the plane at Haneda Airport over a week ago, I've barely had time to breathe let alone sit down to write a blog post! It's been an exhausting but rewarding week, and I'm finally hoping for some downtime this weekend (but not until after my class on Saturday morning)!

I'm finding that life in Japan is much more of a juggling act than being back at my home university and I'm slowly learning to adjust to all of these minor things. One of the most difficult things is the fact that International Christian University, like many other Japanese universities, does not have a meal plan. Although there's a dining hall on campus, it's only open during limited times and the average price per meal is around $5, but it depends on what you want to eat. The food is delicious and the portions are generous, however, my wallet and waistline will probably not be as appreciative by the end of autumn term.

Tonight for dinner I made チャーハン or chahan, which is just a general name for Chinese-style fried rice. The ingredients for it cost maaaaaybe $5, not including the kitchen staples like soy sauce or oil. It's cheap, filling, and isn't totally loaded with sodium and fat. My favorite part about this dish is that you can adjust the amounts of each ingredient to your liking, although I recommend using 1 egg per serving. 

Here's how I made mine:

Chahan, or Fried Rice

Cooked rice

Frozen veggies (or use fresh ones and steam them beforehand)

Eggs

Milk

Garlic

Canola oil

Soy sauce (or other preferred condiments)

1. Prepare your rice, preferably a glutinous sushi-rice variety. I find that one handful of uncooked rice is about enough for one serving.
2. Begin by slicing the garlic and frying it in a healthy splash of canola oil. The amount of oil necessary will depend on how many servings you want to make. Once the garlic is cooked, pour the garlic and oil into a separate bowl for later.  
3. Prepare your scrambled eggs and use about a tablespoon of milk per egg. This makes them nice and fluffy. 
4. Use the oiled pan to cook the egg mixture.
5. Once the eggs are mostly cooked through (slightly moist looking but not runny) add the cooked rice, veggies, garlic/oil mixture and splash of soy sauce. Add salt, pepper, or whatever seasonings you prefer at this point.
6. Allow the eggs to cook through the rest of the way and then serve hot!

I'll have to write a longer post about International Christian University and my first week in Japan, but I wanted to at least do a short update before I'm buried under mountains of schoolwork! 

じゃ、また。