I spent three years in Sugamo when I was in high school. Now, my alma mater has become one of the top schools in Tokyo, but back then, it was a diverse high school with different departments like mechanical engineering and design. There were classmates who excelled in fields other than academics. For example, there was a senior in mechanical engineering who would say "Eat cicadas" and a senior in design who graduated many decades ago, named Akimoto Osamu, whose character Ryotsu Kankichi was the model for. The art teacher who drew the character did have connected eyebrows. When it comes to selling bright red pants in Sugamo, the shop that comes to mind is Maruji, which comedian Chihara Junior uses as his lucky pants. So, for tonight's drink, I chose Maruji pickles. With the trend of eating out less, I decided to enjoy beer and snacks at home on weekends. I remembered it being introduced on "Matsuko & Yurijo Karisome Tengoku" and decided to try it out. There were many snacks that seemed to go well with alcohol. The shiitake mushrooms I sampled were crispy, and I thought they would definitely go well with beer, so I ordered bamboo shoots and oil-pickled kikurage mushrooms. I bought a Sapporo Lager beer from a local liquor store and popped open the cap. It's still early in the day, but planning to drink alcohol from noon onwards as a legitimate reason for not being able to go out is acceptable. The refreshing taste of Sapporo Lager goes down smoothly. The kikurage mushrooms have a hint of sesame oil and a punch of chili oil, which complements the beer well. This is a perfect snack to go with alcohol. I was also interested in the pickled bettara-zuke and takuan I saw in the store, but next time, I'll buy the eringi mushrooms and enhance my home drinking experience.

I tried the "Bamboo Shoot and Kikurage Mushroom with Spicy Chili Oil" from "Otsukemono Maruni Asakusa Store" in Asakusa Kannon-dori Shopping Street, Taito-ku, Tokyo. The nearest station is Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Tobu Isesaki Line (Tobu Skytree Line), and Toei Asakusa Line, about a 5-minute walk away. The store offers about 40 varieties of tsukemono (pickled vegetables) and side dishes, where you can enjoy various samples. I purchased the Bamboo Shoot and Kikurage Mushroom with Spicy Chili Oil to take home. It is an original tsukemono recipe created by the store, featuring a nice crunchy texture from the kikurage mushrooms and bamboo shoots. The spicy kick from the chili oil, the savory aroma of fried garlic, and the punchy flavors all blend perfectly, creating a taste that lingers. I finished it all in one go. I will definitely visit again when I go to Asakusa next time.

Right next to the Thunder Gate, this lively shop was easy to spot. They have a wide variety of items, so it's easy to get overwhelmed and end up buying too much. I enjoyed the snacks I bought there.

On January 28, 2018 (Sunday), it was the 5th stop of my food tour in Asakusa. I was craving for meat, meat~ as I walked and drooled, when I heard a voice saying, "Would you like to try some pickles?" I saw a bunch of sample signs and couldn't resist the temptation. I ended up making a detour for the second time today, giving in to the temptation of samples. I call it "Can't pass by sample syndrome" (what's that?!). Inside the store, there were sample signs all the way to the back. With the help of the store's friendly lady, my older brother (eldest son) tried the "Spicy Sesame Oil Pickled Cucumber" and said, "This is delicious." Let me try... "Yes, it's spicy and salty, goes well with rice." The "Pickled Daikon with Rice Bran" was also tasty (pickles gotta be salty, right?). So, I bought the Spicy Sesame Oil Pickled Cucumber (500 yen excluding tax) and the Pickled Daikon with Rice Bran (650 yen excluding tax). It was reassuring to be able to taste before buying, and even though I only bought two items, I tried over 10 samples and felt like I got a great deal. The conversation with the lady at the store was also enjoyable. Now, time for some meat~ Thanks for the meal! ☺️

I stopped by this pickle shop on Metro Street while visiting Senso-ji Temple for Hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year). The main store is located in Katsushika Shibamata, specializing in Tsukudani (preserved food simmered in soy sauce), but this branch focuses on pickles. The pickled bettarazuke caught my eye at the storefront, prompting me to enter. It's interesting how there are always pickle shops in tourist areas with a higher age group. Even though Kyoto's Gion area is known for its pickle shops, places like Kamakura's Komachi Street, Sugamo's Jizo Street, and the old Karuizawa Ginza always have pickle shops offering samples for sale. Despite not being as famous as Kyoto's pickles, items like Senmaizuke, Shibazuke, and Suguki are always present. The bettarazuke I saw this time is a true Tokyo specialty. The bettarazuke market in Nihonbashi has been around since the mid-Edo period, with a history of at least 200 years. Besides the standard skinless variety, this shop also had a rare skin-on version, which I tried. A half-size portion costs 700 yen. I also bought a pack of delicious Kimchi Daikon after sampling it. The coffee-flavored beans were interesting but too sweet for my taste. Back home, I started with the bettarazuke. Unlike takuan, it's moist and has a natural sweetness from the koji. The skin-on version adds an interesting texture. On the other hand, the Kimchi Daikon, made by marinating dried daikon in chili, garlic, and kelp, offers a mix of Kimchi and Japanese flavors. It's a perfect side dish for sake or rice. I realized that daikon is delicious whether dried or not.

I stopped by on my way back from Asakusa to buy something for home cooking. The shop is located in an arcade street, a short walk from the intersection of Asakusa Nitchome towards Nakamise. Although they specialize in tsukudani, I ended up purchasing "Spicy Kikurage Mushrooms" 100g (500 yen excluding tax) and "Snack Enoki Mushrooms" 100g (500 yen excluding tax). The flavors were rich, making them delicious as a side dish with rice.

It was hot today, but I decided to take a stroll to Asakusa. Feeling thirsty from the heat, we were looking for a place to have some tea when we stumbled upon a charming snack shop. The first thing that caught my eye was the bamboo shoot and kikurage mushroom in chili oil. I tried a sample right away. It was delicious. I sampled a few more items, but ended up buying the kikurage mushroom. I think it will go well with rice.

In the famous restaurant in Asakusa, Shibamata, they offer both extremely aged pickled daikon radish and various types of pickles, which are both delicious. The Asakusa branch is generous with their samples for customers to try. The customers are generally pleasant, and those who taste the food appreciate its quality, but there are no people who feel like they would miss out if they didn't try it. It's a good business with loyal customers. In terms of taste, it can be considered as one of the traditional flavors of Edo, but if we are to be strict in evaluating, it is above average but not the best.

Bamboo shoot with chili oil and jellyfish.