Dangerous Chicken - Niigata, Japan

Tomorrow I begin the long trek home.  But tonight I'm hungry and on my own so I do a brief search of the internet and find this place.  An Izakaya, which I think means casual eating and drinking place.  Perfect.  And, it's about a 20 minute walk, so there I head.

I sit down and right off the bat I order a Lemon Sour.  From my research I learned that this is the go-to drink.  Fresh Hokkaido lemons and some fizzy and some alcohol.  No idea on either as once again, no English.  

No English no problem.

KAMPAI!

As I look around it's a pretty cool place, small but cool, which are both super typical of an Izakaya.

Here are the menus.  What would you order?  What should I order?

Exactly, who knows.

I am also limited because no one else is eating, only drinkers at this moment, so I can't simply say "me too".

After an extensive amount of pointing, smiling, and Japanese baby-talk, I settle on the fried chicken to start (karrage).

Perfectly fried, super juicy.  It's sprinkled with a light spicy powder that only adds flavor, no too much spice.  This is thigh meat.  A good start.

Next, I'm sitting right in front of this mountain of yakitori so, yes please!  

It's chicken skin wound around the skewers.  Ohhhhh yeah.....

 Obviously they are pre-cooked, which is normal and OK, then finished off to order over a ceramic heating element on the other side of the bar.  The smell is amazing.

While I wait I realize that my drink has vanished....  So I order a larger one to fix the problem.

It's super refreshing, not much alcohol, but there is some.  It's just goes really well with the fried's.

The top 2 are sweet style, bottom 2 are salt style.  Not a dramatic flavor difference, honestly.  

Awesomely delicious though (hard to mess up crispy chicken skin).

 What next?????

I'm eyeing this bread, looks like a brioche.  I ask the dude using my amazing command of the local language (not) and he says (I think) that they have a cheese thing that is a specialty, and he recommends it.  

Yes sir!!

Please do! 

And it begins...

And then here it is.

It's pretty darn good, especially after all of the chicken, a good contrast.  The bread is light and sweet and there are 3 kinds of cheese, cheddar, Camembert, some sort of blue.  There is also a raw egg that he cracked and dumped in the middle as he built this thing.  All and all it's very well balanced, not too cheesy, etc..  A good finish and a nice thick layer in my belly as I head to sleep in a bit, the jet lag I hope is over, just in time to head home.

Thanks for reading, cheers and love to all.

DVA

Pizzeria Vento e Mare - Niigata, Japan

Vento e Mare, Wind and Sea

A very appropriate name for a business in a city like Niigata.  Niigata is located on the west coast of Japan (literally on the coast, a seaside town) and one that is battered by wind, just across the Sea of Japan from Korea.  

While Niigata is famous for the best rice in Japan (not a brag, simply an undisputed fact) and from rice comes sake (best sake here as well) Japan is also famous for perfecting something created by others.  So, as I pass this place I am simply drawn to give it a try, and it doesn't hurt that I'm hungry and out walking around looking for a place for dinner, and I've been eating a shit ton of rice/fish and ramen every day, so this feels right.

Alas, as I'm alone and don't speak the local language, this will be another post that won't have much info, just a few photos and a description of my impressions.

Sit back, enjoy, ciao ciao

Placed at every table is this Italian Restaurant Guide for Japan (I think that's what it is....  :-O)

And earmarked for your pleasure is this spot.

Tomorrow is going to be a long day of work and dinner and karaoke, so I'm enjoying water tonight.  Looks Italian, si or no?

I order the salami picante

The initial looks ends up matching pretty accurately the after consumption impression.  The crust looks legit, however the pizza is over-topped.  Too much sauce, too much cheese, and the cheese flavor overpowers the taste of anything else, I can't even taste the salami.  Bummer.

The highlight is getting to the edge and eating the dough.  It's light and fluffy, delicious, slightly crispy, beautifully burnt in places, I love it.  

Here's the dude.  

Nope, no idea his name or how long he's been here, or any relevant information that I (and you) want to know.

I would absolutely come back to this place, and I have a free night later in the week so I just might.

Put a pie in your mouth and eat it

DVA