3/30/2009

Northern Noodles Ji-Yu-Yuan—北方麵食冀豫園

Because of Petekobe's article, A-Mao went to Ji-Yu-Yuan to experience what is noodles from the north part of China. Assorted beef noodle soup (or ngiu chap noodle soup) and pork dumplings (or jiaozi) was ordered. It was not lunchtime then, but their business is really good. Good look! The soup tasted fine, but it was dressed too sweet, and it is a minus that there was basil. Overcooked assorted beef made A-Mao sad, and the noodles was very normal. In fact, nothing about the north……

看了日本網友ぺてこべ的博文,介紹在龜山有間「北方麵食冀豫園」,依然保持著古老的風味。因此,住在桃園的A-Mao,一日特地前去“考古”;看到位置與招牌,才突然想起:他的一位親戚,正是這家店的供應商之一喔!點了牛雜麵與鮮肉水餃;雖說已過下午一點,生意還是給他不錯。上桌的熱騰騰湯麵,賣像頗佳。先喝一口湯,味道好是好,但調味實在是太甜了!另外,添加的九層塔只有扣分、並沒有加分的效果。再吃一塊牛雜,燉煮到軟趴趴的,著實浪費了內臟該有的嚼勁。最後論及麵條嘛……亂沒特色的。坦白說:一點也不北方。

But the pork dumplings, filled with cabbage & spring onion also, changed his first impression. The stuff was seasoned fresh & juicy, whereas the mouthfeel of dumpling dough is sturdy. Next time, A-Mao will still order dumplings, whatever pork or leek ones. Their spring onion pancake smelled so good, and the other customers’ steamed dumplings & hot and sour soup looked great. Will not go for their noodle soup anymore.

失望地吃了快半碗麵,一點也不寒酸的水餃才亮像。先來一個原味的,品嘗到內餡的鮮美多汁;沾些佐料,更彰顯了餃子皮的扎實口感。嗯,這才地道嘛!除了一個餃子煮破了之外,讓A-Mao對冀豫園的印象大逆轉!下次來,還是要吃水餃,管他是鮮肉的還是韭菜的、門口現煎的蔥油餅聞起來可真香、隔壁桌的蒸餃和酸辣湯看起來也不錯……就是不會再點他們的麵了!

Address:桃園縣龜山鄉自強南路19號

The head store of Ji-Yu-Yuan—冀豫園亀山本店

Oyster Vermicelli Near by Taoyuan Jingfu Temple—桃園大廟口蚵仔麵線

桃園大廟口の蚵仔麺線は珍しい逸品です。新鮮な牡蠣と旨い豚の大腸だけ、「あさぶる」のうずら卵や安い団子などなし。麵線が手製でないが、風味は素晴らしい!少々の烏酢または辛いソースを加える事は推薦されます。注:「あさぶる」は台湾語です。これは「あさふろ・朝風呂」から来るようでした。意味は不必要なことである。

Oyster vermicelli is a popular light repast in Taiwan. Nevertheless, now it is hard to find a one which is traditional and without unnecessary ingredients, such like egg flower, quail's eggs or various cheap balls. This bowl with lots of oyster & pork intestine is served near by Taoyuan Jingfu Temple. Although the vermicelli isn’t handmade, its taste and aroma is rarely wonderful! Don’t forget to add some black vinegar & special hot sauce.

二十多年前,公路局三峽站對面的蚵仔麵線,是A-Mao與他阿娘永遠思慕的小吃、和永遠不變的話題:濃稠的柴魚芡汁、噴香的蒜酥與油蔥酥、手工的紅麵線、帶勁的滷大腸、加上甘美的裹粉蚵仔,少少份量當點心,讓母子倆幸福滿溢。然而,啥時開始,市面上的麵線裡多出了“阿沙不魯”的蛋花、鵪鶉蛋、或五花八門的廉價丸子?近來在位於桃園的公司,中午吃外送時,竟吃到一碗糜爛糊塗、又滿是味精、又略帶藥水味的麵線(大腸跟筍絲似乎有問題)!憤怒地整碗倒掉;心中OS:煮出這種玩意兒的,還算是個人嗎?!不過,在桃園景福宮旁邊的「桃園大廟口蚵仔麵線」,卻與記憶中的美味頗為神似:好吃的小顆蚵仔與香Q大腸給得很大方;料理得也挺不賴的。建議加些烏醋與特調辣醬;不建議他們家的甜不辣。

Address:桃園市博愛路65號

Oyster Vermicelli near by Taoyuan Jingfu Temple—桃園大廟口蚵仔麵線

3/20/2009

Matsumotoro in Big Sight—Big Sight松本楼

Security Show at Big Sight in March is the Japan's largest exhibition for security & safety industry. Compared with it last year, the scale this year is small, and stream of people is not growing. Because of Financial Tsunami! Anyway, A-Mao went to Matsumotorou in Hibiya Park before and got a nice experience in 2008. This time he visited its branch in Big Sight and chose beloved omuraisu. Though the omelet was a little bit overdone, with hashed beef sauce—better than the head store, the whole plate was very enjoyable. Maybe to taste Matsumotoro has become his must when tripping in Japan.

每年三月上旬在東京Big Sight的Security Show,是日本安全監控的一大盛事;跟往年比較起來,09年的規模小了很多,人潮似乎也有下滑的趨勢,金融大海嘯的影響,實在不容小覷!話說回來,與孫中山革命滿清頗有淵源的松本樓,在Big Sight也有分店。因為有08年在日比谷公園的本店之美好經驗,這次就近,A-Mao完成再嘗一次的心願,午餐點了オムレツライス・ハヤシソース(譯:蛋包飯佐燉牛肉醬)。蛋卷有些過熟,但燉牛肉醬比本店更出色,搭配番茄醬炒飯,除了有那麼點太鹹之外,非常好吃有味。A-Mao心想:也許品嚐松本楼,已經成為他在日本差旅時的一個傳統。

延伸閱讀:日比谷松本樓


Matsumotorou in Big Sight—ビッグサイトの松本楼

Kanda Wise Ramen—神田ラーメンわいず

It was lightly snowing in Tokyo this March. Albeit it is strange, A-Mao's main duty was foraging then. Around Kanda Station of Yamanote Line, there are so many different restaurants that hard to pick one up. After walking around for quite a long time, it is impossible for him to reject the half boiled egg on the billboard of Kanda Wise Ramen (神田ラーメンわいず). Seaweed ramen was selected, and one bowl of rice was ordered also because that Japanese ramen is extremely salty and it is so strength-consuming while doing business trip alone. The shouyu-tonkotsu soup with aroma from oceans was really impressive. Tender & juicy chashu was not worse than yummy half boiled egg. The rice was finished, and N cups of water was finished; nevertheless, there remained quite a lot of soup because it is salty Stupidly.

三月的一個晚上,東京竟飄起小雪;罕見歸罕見,那當下的任務還是覓食。山手線上的神田駅周圍,有各式各樣的大小餐館,著實讓人難以選擇。東挑西揀,這家要排隊的神田ラーメンわいず(譯:Wise拉麵),看板中的糖心蛋,徹徹底底地降服A-Mao。點了海苔拉麵;因為日本拉麵普遍很鹹、加上獨自出差極耗費體力,另外多叫了一碗飯。洋溢海潮風味的濃厚豚骨醬油湯頭,讓人驚豔!叉燒又軟又甜,硬是不讓心太軟的糖心蛋專美於前。然而,麵湯真的是Stupid的給他塩辛い:嗑完一碗飯、喝下N杯水,舌頭已經麻痺的A-Mao,依舊未能完食大半碗湯。

Snowing in Kanda, Tokyo—東京神田下著雪

3/19/2009

Matsuya isn't that Matsuya—不是那個松屋的松屋

Kanda Matsuya isn't that Japanese gyuudon chain Matsuya but an old restaurant providing Tokyoites' flavor. Ikenami Shoutarou (池波正太郎), a novelist as well as a gourmet, also liked their foods. With an atmosphere of history, guided by a old & kind waitress, A-Mao sampled cold soba. It smelled mellow, its mouthfeel was exquisite, and the dipping sauce would bring you to the Edo period! After that, please do pour some cooking water out of the red pot into the sauce. Not to waste this delicacy.

神田まつや(漢字:松屋)並不是遍佈日本的牛丼連鎖店松屋,而是小説家暨美食家池波正太郎鍾愛的手打蕎麥屋。此次在懷舊的氛圍中、親切的老奶奶侍者帶領下,品嘗了冷蕎麥麵,氣味芳醇,口感俐落;薑是老的辣,沾麵的醬汁也頗匠心獨具,展現過去東京下町的風情。食畢,還可以倒些煮麵水中和醬汁來喝,美味一點也不浪費。

Address:東京都千代田区神田須田町1-13

延伸閱讀:神田まつやの七味唐辛子


Kanda Matsuya—神田まつや

3/18/2009

Orthodox GUI—啥叫GUI?

Ultracker, a H.264 stand-alone DVR manufacturer in Taiwan, has designed a unique display chipset that offers 64-layer overlap to supply full color graphical user interface (GUI), unlike text user interface (TUI). Therefore, the monitor can vividly reproduce a variety of graphics; in addition, customers could also have exclusive, customized ones. This photo was taken at Big Sight.

每每看到各家DVR廠商在spec上標榜有GUI(graphical user interface);然而實際操作一看,介面實在是陽春的可憐,太唬爛!有些應該叫TUI(text user interface)才對。艾創的H.264 DVR,能做到64層的全彩疊圖,也能提供客製化GUI的服務。這張是在Big Sight照的。

This picture was taken at Ultracker—這張在艾創照的

3/17/2009

The Kakiage of Shoueitei—松栄亭のかきあげ

"I Am a Cat" is one of novels that A-Mao bought but hasn't been finished reading. The author, Natsume Souseki, appeared on the 1,000 yen bill before, and he loved the Kakiage of Shoueitei, which is an old Western-style restaurant in Kanda. The novelist's favorite was ordered then, whereas the locals did not but went for omuraisu and korokke mainly. This dish smells fantastic, but it is so tasteless that soy sauce & mustard is must. Really hard to tell whether it is delicious or not. Even though interesting, the first & last time to savor it.

「我是貓」是A-Mao幾本買了卻沒看完的小說之一,不是說不好看,奇怪的是,往往有其他事件中斷閱讀。新井一二三就提到過作家夏目漱石,過去常造訪這家位在神田的洋食老舖:松榮亭;而這道かきあげ(漢字:掻揚)是他的至愛,所以就選它吧!其間,看見週遭的上班族不是點蛋包飯、就是可樂餅,開始有些不安;但文學家的品味,應該是可以信賴吧?嗯,聞起來很香很誘人;但,吃起來怪沒味道的。就著醬油與芥末嗑,既不覺得美味、也說不上難吃。其實有些有趣,不過也沒有下次了。【松荣亭】

The Shoueitei in Kanda—神田の松栄亭

3/16/2009

Funabashiya—船橋屋

Before landing on the Land of the Rising Sun, in the cabin of ANA, one of A-Mao’s compatriots asked: Where is the must visit place in Tokyo? Shinjuku, he said: You can find lots of fun as long as you have cash! Arai Hifumi’s favorite tenpura restaurant is near by Sinjuku Station, too. Although business trip this time was very tight, finally, the Funabashiya was visited. He was planning to go for tenpura course but went for tendon & taranome (or shoot of aralia elata) in order to save money for his company. The octopus sunomono (or Japanese salad) is a free but nice appetizer, whereas the fried taranome is evocative of spring. There are two shrimps, one sand borer & eggplant on the delicious rice; in addition, the excellent, unforgettable sauce seems to be added something like marijuana or opium! No wonder Arai Hifumi likes to celebrate her birthday at this long-established store.

09年三月,第九度踏上日本前,在ANA的飛機上,隔壁的台灣同胞問:東京最值得一去的地方是那裡?新宿!A-Mao立即說:吃喝玩樂要啥有啥,只要有鋃。新井一二三最愛的天婦羅餐廳,也位在新宿駅周邊;此行差旅百忙抽空,終於造訪了這間「船橋屋」。本來想仿傚她點天婦羅套餐的;不過,為了幫公司省錢,還是乖乖點了最經濟的天丼、外加春日才有的たらの芽(譯:楤木芽)。招待的章魚醋物,搭配著小黃瓜,著實開胃。たらの芽爽脆甘美、帶著一丁點山林的苦澀味,沾些蘿蔔泥醬油吃,既別致、又可口。而主角天丼,有兩隻蝦、一條沙梭和炸茄子,擺在粒粒分明的米飯上,散發著麻油馥郁香氣。嘗試一下,竟是又濃又重的美好滋味。卍我的天啊卍,難怪A-Mao喜愛的新井一二三,會喜愛船橋屋如此這般;這家老鋪除了用料新鮮、醬料更是卓越不凡。確實美味非常!更讓人懷疑,店家是否在醬汁中,添加些大麻還是罌粟什麼來著,在離開日本東京回到寶島台灣後,叫人這樣魂牽夢繫、回味再三。【船桥屋】

Address:東京都新宿区新宿3-28-14

延伸閱讀:再訪船橋屋


Funabashi-ya in Shinjuku—新宿的船橋屋

3/13/2009

業務的悲哀

跑遍

走進

用盡

說完

做到

老闆

歷經

最後

























客戶不下訂單

・・・・・・・・・・・・

3/10/2009

One Night in Shinbashi—那晚在新橋

On night in Shinbashi, Miss Y & K would like A-Mao to be their gourmet guide. They were going to go to Honjinbou to eat soba, but the pity is that customers without reservation have to wait, and no answer for how long. They gave up and visited Karikaru in the basement of Shinbashi Station Higashi-guchi. It appeared two girls were enjoying their meals, and A-Mao reviewed fried oyster curry, as tasty as usual! It was the fifth time visiting this small curry bar, each time was with different people or alone, and honcho A, who found it with A-Mao in 2006, has left Ultracker already. In the future, maybe, shall come back again with other ones. Suddenly, a little bit somber……Thinking whether or not lonely Tiffany has run out of her food.

09年那晚,Y小姐與K小姐臨時要A-Mao做覓食的動作。其實,讓他有些不知所措、也讓他想在來自非東京的日本客戶面前,大秀本業務除了會賣H.264 SXGA DVR之外、也大展本愛吃鬼的美食功力。本來要去新橋「本陣房」吃蕎麥麵,無奈沒訂位、無法預估要等多久而作罷。之後轉戰新橋站東口地下街的「カリカル」(音:咖哩咖嚕),兩位小姐似乎吃得很開心、A-Mao也複習了朝思暮想的炸牡蠣咖哩:一樣香辣有味;但,炸牡蠣比記憶中來的小,味道卻濃郁、口感更酥脆。算了算,06年無意與A老大發現、07年分別帶M老闆與R同學賞味、08年一人獨自前來追憶。這次,已是第五度造訪這家咖哩老店。多麼惆悵,與A-Mao一起偶遇カリカル的A老大,早已離開艾創;也許在未來,會與不同的人造訪這家小店;這世間的悲歡離合,又有誰說得準?想起台灣正在孤單看家的妮妮,不知道貓食吃完了沒有?

Address:日本国東京都港区新橋2-20-15(東口地下街)

延伸閱讀:咖哩製造商:カリカル
延伸閱讀:那天在新橋


I also miss you so much—我也好想你

3/09/2009

Atago Rokusuke—愛宕六助【閉店】

A-Mao is still uncertain when he will not lose himself in Tokyo, a maze that even locals cannot show ways to where you want to go. One night he was a gourmet guide for Miss Y & K, K said that she would like to sample ramen. Well, although a map was printed, and there is a ramen store we hasn't visited on it, A-Mao was afraid of getting lost, especially for that it was raining and we had no umbrella. Lucky that we went to Atago Rokusuke (愛宕六助) directly from Shinbashi Station. Their concept is tonkotsu, thin straight noodles goes well with the rich, milky broth, and the chashu is as delicate as juicy. During dinner time or on Saturday—off on Sunday, in addition, the first beverage, including beer, is free; besides, up to 2 nigiri (or rice ball) is without charge. If A-Mao had not just finished one plate of curry, he would have asked for 2 nigiri to make a delicious porridge. Very good cooking in its category!

在這個當地人通常無法指示你要去的方向的迷宮,讓A-Mao不知道:到底到何時才能夠在東京不再弄丟自己。一天晚上,當上Y小姐與K小姐的美食嚮導,K說想吃拉麵。那當下印滿餐廳的地圖已經準備好了,附近正好有間拉麵店;然而,還是害怕會迷路,特別是那時下著大雨、恰巧又沒帶傘。幸運的是,最終自新橋駅,直達這家以豚骨醬油為號招的「愛宕六助」。爽口的細直麵條,與香醇馥郁的高湯,搭配超合;叉燒則是又香又軟又多汁。店家星期天休業,週一到週五的晚上、以及週六整天,第一杯飲料(包含生啤酒)都是免鋃的喔!除此之外,追加的第一和第二個飯糰也是不要鋃的。要不是剛嗑完一大盤カリカル的炸牡蠣咖哩,A-Mao可是會要兩個飯糰,弄一個美味的泡飯呢!生平第一碗吃到碗底朝天子的日本拉麵,心中默默地給他一顆星星!

Address:東京都港区西新橋2-13-8

A-Mao's Star in Shinbashi—新橋中的一顆星