グラッパ55
At the beginning of this week, I enjoyed exploring delicious food in Osaka, especially in the Namba area. Due to the impact of Typhoon 24, my plans were delayed by a day, but I set off from Kokura Station on the Mizuho 600 feeling excited. I arrived at Shin-Osaka Station in just 2 hours and 10 minutes. Osaka is surprisingly close, isn't it? Dotonbori Street. It has been over twenty years since my last visit to Osaka. The crowds of people have not changed much, but I feel like there are a lot more foreigners now. There was a line in front of Takoyaki Juuhachiban. The view from Ebisu Bridge over Dotonbori. There is a crowd of people on the promenade along the canal. The departure point for the water sightseeing in Dotonbori, the "Ponpoko" boats. There are crowds of people everywhere you go. The Glico sign on the other side of Ebisu Bridge. The Glico sign first appeared at this location in 1935. That's 83 years ago now. Over the years, the current LED version, which is the 6th generation (since 2014), has been introduced. I tried to imitate the many tourists and did the pose, but I lifted my leg the wrong way. Since I came all the way to Osaka, there are many things I want to try, but I only have 3 days. And just one stomach. After searching online, I decided to try Takoyaki at "Akao." They use fresh octopus, which sets them apart from other shops. The owner, Mr. Hirose, has a concept of "spreading the culture of flour dishes to the world." I ordered the basic Akao sauce, but the recommended option is the rock salt, which brings out the true flavor of Takoyaki. While chatting with the owner, he kindly split the sauce into half Akao and half rock salt for us since we came from far away. The rock salt was indeed our favorite as it brought out the deliciousness of the dough itself. It was great to be able to try two different flavors. The Takoyaki is served floating in dashi broth. It's quite hot, so it's best to eat it before the shape starts to break down. It has been featured in the Michelin Guide for 3 consecutive years. Originally, there was a plan for my classmates to gather in Nara for the first time in 40 years, and my husband and I were planning to attend. However, Typhoon 24 approached Honshu, aiming directly at the Kinki region. The reunion was abruptly canceled due to the typhoon, leaving only our Osaka food trip for my husband and me. I will continue to share our 2-night, 3-day Osaka flour dish journey in a few more posts, so I hope you can continue to follow along.