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Markets in everything
French fry tempura; that's in case they didn't fry them right the first time around. You might find it in the food basement of a Takeshimaya department store.
The "sushi pizza" (melted cheese on your sushi) is also delicious and it is served in very good restaurants.
Did I mention that Japan has arguably the world's best baked desserts?
Posted by Tyler Cowen on May 28, 2008 at 12:33 PM in Food and Drink | Permalink
Comments
I think the Japanese actually invented markets in everything. At least I tell myself that whenever I reflect on the fact that they sell pre-worn girls' panties in vending machines.
Posted by: Franklin Harris at May 28, 2008 1:58:03 PM
Reminds me of a BBQ place in Southe Lake Tahoe called Rojo's serving Tempura French Fries (fried twice)...amazing.
Posted by: Josh Weinberg at May 28, 2008 2:35:46 PM
Sushi pizza is served in some American sushi restaurants too. IMO, its consistently under-ordered by most patrons.
Posted by: Grant at May 28, 2008 2:49:52 PM
Did I mention that Japan has arguably the world's best baked desserts?
I was surprised and delighted by how easy it is to find a good cup of coffee and something to nibble on while you eat it in Kyoto. Especially recommended: Le Petit Mec on Imedegawa St., where I had the best petit pain au chocolate I've ever eaten there, as well as a delicious apricot tart. I had a very nice sesame cream cheese cake in Nara, too, and I know there are some world class boulangeries and patisseries in Tokyo, although the only one I was able to go to was the boutique Pierre Hermé has in the Hotel New Otani, with which I was vaguely disappointed. I think I just ordered the wrong things, though.
Posted by: Andy H. at May 28, 2008 3:14:03 PM
And the portions served are appropriately sized, too.
Posted by: RW Rogers at May 28, 2008 3:55:32 PM
The basement cafeteria in Takeshimaya NYC is a gem. I have always wondered how the Japanese could manage to make spaces so beautiful and serene while they are, actually, quite crammed up. The Japanese are so capable of anything, really.
Posted by: Yan Li at May 28, 2008 4:10:02 PM
Didn't Tyler warn against Eastern desserts for the Western palate in Discover? (Does the "baked" qualifier change the recommendation?)
Posted by: JH at May 28, 2008 4:19:42 PM
I'm going to Japan later this year. I'd
love to hear what baked desserts you
recommend.
Posted by: RZ at May 28, 2008 4:29:19 PM
When in Japan, check the nicer hotels for an upcoming 'cakee viking'. For whatever reason, they use 'viking' to mean 'buffet'. Periodically, there will be a cake tasting event in certain hotels and hotspots. In Osaka, there used to be one in the Miyako Hotel every so often. Yum.
Posted by: JasonL at May 28, 2008 5:59:13 PM
The linked article says nothing about "french fry tempura". It mentions frying french fries twice - a method you can find on display at your local McDonalds, or anywhere else in the world that serves fries. Any decent cookbook, including the ones that come with countertop deep fryers, will tell you to fry them twice.
Actually dipping fully cooked fries in tempura batter and then frying them a third time would be an interesting experiment, and something I would easily believe might come from the Japanese (or the Scots, or I guess Lake Tahoeans).
Posted by: eddie at May 29, 2008 10:16:04 AM
Uh, they have to fry them twice anyway...
Posted by: Sanjay at May 29, 2008 11:25:48 AM
On the baked desserts here, go French all the way. The Japanese desserts still don't thrill me, too much sweet bean paste.
Posted by: Tyler Cowen at May 29, 2008 10:15:31 PM
"On the baked desserts here, go French all the way. The Japanese desserts still don't thrill me, too much sweet bean paste."
In my first month in Japan, I went to one of those chain norweigian bakeries, wanting a bit of sweet bread of some sort. The bean paste is pronounced "anco" with the "a" as in "car". With the sloppy vowel usage I came by honestly here in KY, I ordered sans "unco".
Not getting the joke at first, I eventually unravelled that "unco" is "shit". Word to the wise. I'm not a fan, but if you really like sweet bean paste, you will want to have pronunciation down cold before ordering extra.
Posted by: JasonL at May 30, 2008 11:45:02 AM
