In the summer, it's a pleasure to enjoy Genghis Khan on the deck. It's by reservation only, and when I made a reservation for the 5:30 pm slot, the 5:30 pm session had already started. I reserved the 6:45 pm slot instead. I thought it might be cold on the deck due to the sea breeze, but it was actually comfortable as it was enclosed with glass. However, I remember that it was not possible in case of bad weather. I ordered the meat and vegetable set (2,200 yen) and regular rice (200 yen). The portion was quite generous and I think it was worth the price. Inside the restaurant, there is also a Genghis Khan set meal for 1,600 yen, but I prefer grilling it myself. The meat was sweet with fat, and it was delicious with plenty of sauce on the vegetables and rice.

Yes, it's Ferry Meshi. I've tried most of the menu items here, so honestly I don't need to eat anymore, but I have a coupon so I decided to eat. The curry here is always reliable. I don't really care about the cost performance and the taste is always good. I had a coupon with 950 yen left, so I ordered the large size curry for 920 yen. I ended up with 30 yen left. Usually, the curry here is lukewarm, so today I decided to ask boldly, "Can you make it hot?" The staff seemed surprised and I asked again, "Can you make it really hot? Just heat it in the microwave for longer." After waiting a few minutes, the lukewarm curry arrived. The photo shows a white plate, but this time it was served on a stainless steel plate. It seems like they couldn't put it in the microwave. I reluctantly added ketchup and chili pepper to spice it up.

I boarded the "La Luce" on the Niigata-Akita route, just like Yuukari, from Tsuruga to Tomakomai. I used a suite room, so I had four meals included: lunch, dinner, breakfast, and lunch at the grill. The course meals and traditional Japanese meals were delicious. The only disappointment was that the rice for breakfast was dry. Other than that, it was really delicious!

When I went to Osaka, I used the "Shin Nihonkai Ferry Yuukari" on the way from Niigata to Tsuruga. The ferry departs from Niigata Port at 4:30 PM and arrives at Tsuruga Port at 5:30 AM the next day. It was a medium to large-sized ferry, well-maintained, and quite comfortable. The weather was good, so I was able to fully enjoy the boat trip. For dinner, we dined at the restaurant on the 4th floor of the ferry from 6:00 PM to 6:40 PM. The prices mentioned are for the restaurant. It is a cafeteria-style restaurant with a bright and casual atmosphere, offering a view of the Sea of Japan from the windows. There were many tables for 4 to 6 people. When we visited, there were about 10 other groups of customers, including middle-aged couples, solo male and female travelers, and people who appeared to be truck drivers. The menu was surprisingly diverse, with Western set meals, Japanese set meals, curry rice, ramen, soba, udon, small side dishes, salads, desserts, etc. Prices were moderate to slightly high. The cold dishes, salads, and desserts were displayed in a refrigerated showcase for customers to take. For hot dishes, after ordering, a buzzer was given, and when the food was ready, customers were called. We ordered "Beef Stew Set 1,300 yen" + "Extra Rice 50 yen" x 2 (I had this), "Western-style Hamburger Set 1,100 yen," "Special Zangi Set 1,000 yen" + "Extra Rice 50 yen," "Fresh Tomato Salad 500 yen," and "Half Bottle of Red Wine (Yoichi Wine Elm Castle) 780 yen" x 2 (all prices include tax). The hot dishes were ready in 10-12 minutes, and the buzzer rang. The "Beef Stew Set (Extra Rice)" consisted of beef stew, vegetable salad (with dressing), and plenty of rice. The beef stew had two large pieces of well-cooked beef in a generous demi-glace sauce, topped with grilled potatoes, boiled broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and cream. It had a classic taste, rich and delicious. It paired well with the red wine and rice. The Fresh Tomato Salad included a large tomato from Hokkaido (cut into comb shapes), lettuce, and shredded mizuna, served with basil-infused dressing. The tomato was firm but had a good balance of sweetness and acidity, and the basil and olive oil in the dressing added a nice flavor. It was a great ship journey, and I would love to try a longer one someday.

After the self-restraint was lifted on July 24, 2020, things got busy, and it's been a while since my last food log. I have accumulated about 30 new reviews, but I will start with the most recent ones that are fresh in my memory. Due to my daughter's schooling and work, I traveled with my third daughter from Niigata Port to Tomakomai by ferry. It has been about a year since I last took a ferry. In the past, ferry food was expensive and not very tasty, but in recent years, it has improved significantly. In particular, Shin Nihonkai Ferry is affiliated with a major food manufacturer, and even instant food is quite delicious. For lunch, I recommend the whey-fed pork bowl (as of July 24, 2020, priced at 1,020 yen). The ramen dishes are also quite tasty, even though they are instant, but in terms of cost-performance, I would choose the pork bowl. The price used to be under 1,000 yen, but with the increase in consumption tax, it is understandable. The amount of meat is generous, and the whey-fed pork with delicious fat is used. To be able to enjoy this for just over 1,000 yen on a ferry is quite appealing. When I told my daughter, "It's quite delicious," she said that last summer, she ordered the same menu and had the same impression. Therefore, it has become a tradition for us to have the pork bowl on the Shin Nihonkai Ferry from Niigata to Tomakomai.

I had breakfast and lunch on board the ship... I stayed in a suite this time, so I was able to relax with a balcony and a bathroom. Having a beer on the balcony while feeling the sea breeze was amazing. The price was like first class on the flight from Haneda to Chitose. Breakfast was served around Ryufu Point, I think. I had beer in the morning since I didn't have to drive afterwards. Even though we arrived in the evening, I would have been fine to drive. I drank at a pretty high pace from the morning. The food was a typical breakfast with scrambled eggs, sausages, and bacon.