Oh yes, since I wrote Part I previously, there must be a sequel. Here's one of my favorite Japanese comfort food called Okonomiyaki (literally means "Pancakes However-You-Like"), known better as Osaka-regional grub, than in Tokyo. Certainly not Western breakfast pancakes with gooey yummy maple syrup and blueberries, Okonomiyakis are bit more savory - good for lunch, better post-work with Nama-Beeru (Asahi Super Dry, thank you!)
Business traveling alone is just that, lonely sometimes. It gets more depressing when you eat-in room service - so when in Japan I leverage my American-personality (although in meetings, I am more chameleon-like and turn serenely Japanese), and walk into restaurants pushing my way with a big smile in English. It's quite comical because I can hear them fussing around me "She's a gaijin/foreigner - she looks so real (Japanese?) . Someone get her an English menu, or get the busboy who always sings in English R&B!" In any case, this is grub-pub-fare in Osaka -- and the restaurant itself is very casual and easygoing.
The pancake batter is really flour / water & egg / shredded raw cabbage mix & pickled ginger - seasoned with salt & pepper - yes, it sounds a little weird now that I have written this outloud. You sizzle that batter on a teppanyaki grill - for a little carmelization on the bottom, at which point, you place your favorite toppings - bacon or thin sliced pork, shrimp, calamari , more veggies, whatever delights you, -- and then you top it with another drizzle of pancake batter. Flip the now bottom - toasted pancake and heat the other side -- and there you have it. Shake a little bonito flakes on top, with a little aonori/pulverized powder seaweed flakes, and drizzle some savory Bulldog sauce (OK - it's like A1 sauce -- but infinitessimely better tasting and aka TONKATSU sauce at any decent Asian store), and get your spatula. Why, it's a mini pizza / pancake!!
MMM.... Oishii , deelish :) Here's a link to a recipe I googled: http://www.ifood.tv/recipe/japanese_okonomiyaki
damn im having an okonomiyaki withdrawal here
Posted by: Morrissey | December 13, 2008 at 05:59 AM