Schnitzel
On this weekend day, I made a rare expedition to Shimokitazawa. I heard that the restaurant of Japan's largest cruise ship, "Asuka II," is setting up a temporary shop for 8 days at the end of February in the Shimokita Line Street, which was developed along the former Odakyu Line tracks. Although I am not particularly interested in long boat trips due to my impatience, I decided to visit based on the strong recommendation of a friend who saw the chef of Asuka II showcasing his skills on TV the day before. I arrived at the "Kuuchi Kitchen" in the Shimokita Line Street area, which is a space converted from shipping containers, around 12:30 pm. There were several food stalls in the area, but the Asuka II shop was not as crowded as I had expected after seeing the news report the day before. The menu offered grilled black wagyu beef, soft serve ice cream, various drinks, as well as chocolates and Asuka II merchandise for sale. I planned to have lunch, so I ordered the only option available, the grilled black wagyu beef, which came with colorful vegetables and herb toast for 1200 yen. I thought it was self-service, but it turned out that if you tell them your seat number in advance, they will bring the food to you. After waiting for about 7-8 minutes, the lunch box arrived at the table I had reserved. Inside were three slices of reasonably thick beef, each weighing around 70-80g. The beef was tender and flavorful, topped with a sauce made of finely chopped onions. The side dishes included potatoes, eggplant, and rapeseed flowers. The herb toast was like a garlic toast made with baguette. The beef was delicious, and the onion sauce complemented it well. I wished there was a bit more volume, but considering the quality and price, it was acceptable. The warm vegetables and toast were also tasty, making it a satisfying lunch despite the portion size. However, the problem arose when my friend mentioned that if the food was this good, he would like to try sailing on the Asuka II. I have heard that going on a cruise and renovating your home are both paths to poverty in old age. The fear of being poor in old age and the boredom of a boat trip are both concerning.