Episode 27: Going cookbook-crazy in Japan, and noodle bowls the size of your head!

We only had two more days together in Tokyo before Allison and
Son headed to Kyoto for a few days and Rachael and her family
stayed in Tokyo, and there was a lot for us to do!
Day 6

First off, sushi. Because hello, we're in Japan... but we hadn't
had sushi yet! (I know, what's wrong with us?)


We headed off to a good kaiten sushi place ("conveyer belt"
sushi) where we ate our fill of good, but super-inexpensive
sushi.


(Kaiten sushi, or "conveyer belt" sushi, is a type of sushi bar
where the sushi chef(s) stand in the center and make the sushi,
and then place each plate on a conveyer belt that revolves around
them. The customers sit at a bar around them, and take a plate
off the conveyer belt anytime they see something they want to
eat. You pay by plate (sometimes they color-code the plates; here
all the plates cost the same amount, except for a few
specially-marked ones) so at the end of the meal they just tally
it up for you.)


The mango pudding also really hit the spot on this hot, hot day!


Look how much we ate!


After lunch it was a bit of shopping (where we picked up the two
pairs of silicon saibashi that we're giving away!), then made a
stop at a combini to get these "Coolish"... ice cream in a pouch.
Yes, they're just as awesome as they sound.


And then, off to a bookstore in Roppongi Hills... to buy waaaay
too many cookbooks.


(It's all Rachael's fault.)


Rachael and her family had a dinner with Mr. Fuji's work at a
super expensive place, so Allison and Son decided they would pass
and instead take Rachael's recommendation to go to her favorite
udon place.


As Rachael describes it, "the bowls are the size of your head."
Seriously. It was so good.


(If you're ever in Japan, it's called Tsurutontan, and there are
several locations. Rachael loves the Nabeyaki udon, Allison
adores the curry udon. Really good noodles... and cat-approved!
~_^)
Day 7

The next day was our last day together... and we spent it doing
more shopping!


This time, a trip to Kappabashi, the street that is home to
Tokyo's cooking district. Tons of cookware to look at and buy
(and wish we had room in our luggage to take more back!)


After that, it was off to Ginza... to get lost.


Eventually we found the yakitori place we were looking for (which
was in a basement, and you entered from an alley, so it was
pretty had to find).


The yakitori place - Torigin - was seriously good. All sorts of
delicious grilled foods!


And then it was time to say goodbye. We wish we could have had
more time together! But there's always the next time... and until
then, we can promise you there will be tons of episodes about all
the delicious things we ate in Japan!
We're having a contest!

You can enter to win one of two pairs of silicon saibashi
(cooking chopsticks, like these) that we brought back from Japan.


Today is the last day of the giveaway, so don't forget to
go enter!


All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on Episode
25's post.


One entry per person. You have until 11:59PM on Monday, September
24th, 2012 to enter. We will ship internationally, so anyone may
enter. The two winners will be chosen using random.org.


Good luck!