サカキシンイチロウ
First Kitchen Wendy's. A strange name that has been popping up in Tokyo recently, piquing my curiosity. There is only one directly operated store. It's located in a minor place like Akebonobashi, and a small company has acquired First Kitchen. This happened at the beginning of this year. Suntory, wanting to streamline its food service business and focus its resources on its core business, made an unusual M&A possible with a company that is good at raising funds. It's a symbolic event of the current times, and I wonder what will happen... Today, I came here for breakfast. The location is Akasaka-Mitsuke, where First Kitchen used to be. The logo and design of the store are more Wendy's-like. The breakfast menu is very Wendy's-like and quite limited in content. In the afternoon, they also serve pasta. There are some First Kitchen-style menu items, but in the morning, it's clearly a hamburger shop. I ordered two types of hamburgers and a hash brown set, and added Wendy's famous dish, chili beans. By the way, chili beans. Originally a product available after 10 a.m., but when I said I wanted to eat it, they kindly made it for me. Thank you. One of the hamburgers is a Bacon Egg Burger. Bacon and eggs are First Kitchen's specialty. It's boldly listed on the menu. This aspect also feels like First Kitchen Wendy's? The bun is a slightly crunchy Kaiser bread-like shape. The patty is square, a characteristic shape of Wendy's. The flavor of the meat is substantial, with a satisfying chewy steak-like texture. So the bun must be like this, not just an ordinary bun, to properly absorb the meat juices. Grilled bacon with a fried egg. Generously filled with tartar sauce that melts in your mouth. Mayonnaise's power is truly amazing... as I eat heartily. It's a good feeling. The other one is a hamburger sandwiched in a pretzel dough bun. It's a recommended item at Wendy's lately, a bit more expensive than a regular hamburger. The wheaty burnt flavor and caramel-like sweet aroma are unique, slightly sticky and chewy. Plus, the bun itself is assertive, making it feel like you're eating bread rather than a hamburger. I don't like it very much... I think. The bun and patty don't go well together. The fillings inside are all lacking in volume or quality. It makes your mouth feel dry, so you want to come up with a plan. The idea struck me. Why not sandwich the chili beans and make a chili burger...? And generously. Putting it between the bun and patty, the mouthfeel becomes juicy. The bun absorbs everything, making your mouth feel fresh. The acidity and spiciness of the chili beans, the occasional crunch of the crushed beans, all delicious, making your mouth lively. By the way, the chili beans come with hot spices. When you tear open the packet and pour it in, you'll be surprised to see that the sauce is white. In the past, there used to be such spices, which were red and spicy, not just hot but with a unique spice smell, but now it's more subtle. Things are changing... That's life.