Monday 30 March 2015

Pilsen, the King of Towada Bars

Bar Spotlight: Beer Plaza Pilsen ビアプラザピルゼン

Pilsen is the king of Towada bars. It has a great atmosphere, tasty food & drinks, and friendly & attentive (all-male) staff.
Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市
Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市
Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市
Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市
Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市

Recommended Menu Items:

Cucumber with pickled plum paste wrapped in seaweed 350yen
梅きゅう (ume kyuu)
Ume Kyuu Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada 梅きゅう ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市

Fried Bee Hoon (Rice Vermicelli Noodles) 600yen
焼きビーフン (yaki bee hoon)
Fried Bee Hoon Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada 焼きビーフン ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市

Fried Cheese チーズ揚 (chiizu age) 400yen
Fried Cheese Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada チーズ揚 ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市

Bacon & Onion Lyonnaise Potatoes 550yen
ベーコンとオニオンのリヨネーズポテト (bacon to onion no riyoneizu potato)
Bacon & Onion Lyonnaise Potatoes Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada ベーコンとオニオンのリヨネーズポテト ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市

Simmered Giblets 400yen
(もつ煮込み motsu nikomi)
Simmered Giblets Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada もつ煮込み ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市

Agedashi Tofu (Deep-Fried Tofu in Dashi Sauce) 450yen
揚げだし豆腐 (agedashi doufu)
Agedashi Tofu Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada 揚げだし豆腐 ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市

Fried Chicken Knee Gristle (Cartilage) 400yen
鳥ひざナンコツの唐揚 (tori no hiza nankotsu no karaage)
Fried Chicken Knee Gristle Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada 鳥ひざナンコツの唐揚 ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市

Spinach Salad 500yen
ホウレン草サラダ (hourensou sarada)
Spinach Salad Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada ホウレン草サラダ ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市

Garlic Toast ガーリックトースト 370yen
Garlic Toast Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada ガーリックトースト ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市

Towada Beef Tataki 680yen
十和田牛たたき (Towada gyuu tataki)
Towada Beef Tataki Beer Plaza Pilsen  十和田牛たたき ビアプラザピルゼン

Chocolate Parfait チョコレートパフェ 500yen
Chocolate Parfait Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada チョコレートパフェ ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市

Rice-Flour Dumpling & Red Bean Matcha Parfait 500yen
白玉とあずきの抹茶パフェ (shiratama to azuki no matcha parfait)
Rice-Flour Dumpling & Azuki Matcha Parfait Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada 白玉とあずきの抹茶パフェ ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市

Strawberry & Condensed Milk Parfait 550yen (Winter Only)
苺と練乳のパフェ (ichigo to rennyuu parfait)
Strawberry & Condensed Milk Parfait Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada 苺と練乳のパフェ ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市

Unbelievable Parfait アンビリーバブルパフェ 2000yen (for 4-5 people)
Unbelievable Parfait Beer Plaza Pilsen Towada アンビリーバブルパフェ ビアプラザピルゼン 十和田市


Hours: 17:30-02:00, Closed Irregularly (Usually on a Monday)
Price Range: 2000yen
Seating Charge: ~300yen/person 
Nomihodai (all-you-can-drink): Available for parties (call for details)
English/Picture Menu: English menu available
Seating: Table and Counter 
Good For: Solo Dining; Couples; Small-Large Groups; Parties
Reservations: Recommended for larger groups on Fridays and Saturdays, and for parties
Phone: 0176-25-1231
Parking: None (pay parking available across the street/nearby)
Address/Map:
1-47 Higashisanbancho (十和田市東三番町1‐47)
Towada City, Aomori 034-0031 

Tuesday 24 March 2015

Italian Bar Sette Colore

Restaurant-Bar Spotlight: Sette Colore セッテ・コローレ

[May 27, 2016 Update: Closed indefinitely and most likely permanently]
Sette Colore Towada Italian Bar セッテコローレ イタリアンバー 十和田市
Sette Colore Towada Italian Bar セッテコローレ イタリアンバー 十和田市
Sette Colore Towada Italian Bar セッテコローレ イタリアンバー 十和田市
An Italian bar that opened in the autumn of 2014. It has a good selection of food (appetizers, fish, meat, pizza, etc.) as well as many different wines and other types of alcohol. The casual but stylish atmosphere makes it popular among the 20's-30's set.

Recommended Menu Items:

Chicken Liver Paste with Garlic Toast 690yen
(チキンレバーペースト ガーリックトースト添え)
Chicken Liver Paste with Garlic Toast Sette Colore Towada Italian Bar チキンレバーペーストガーリックトースト添え セッテコローレ イタリアンバー 十和田市

Bagna Cauda-Style Vegetables & Dip 590yen
(バーニャカウダ風 彩り野菜のディップ baanya kauda-fu irodori yasai no dippu)
Bagna Cauda Sette Colore Towada Italian Bar バーニャカウダ風彩り野菜ディップ セッテコローレ イタリアンバー 十和田市

Sette "Chef's Whim" Pizza 1100yen
(セッテの気まぐれピッツァ sette no kimagure pittsa)
Pizza Sette Colore Towada Italian Bar 気まぐれのピッツァ セッテコローレ イタリアンバー 十和田市
Pizza Sette Colore Towada Italian Bar 気まぐれのピッツァ セッテコローレ イタリアンバー 十和田市

Baked Bourgogne-Style Escargot 980yen
(エスカルゴのブルゴーニュ風オーブン焼き esucarugo no burugounyu-fu oubun yaki)

Baked Pork-Wrapped Mini-Tomatoes with Cheese  590yen
(ミニトマトの豚巻チーズオーブン焼き mini tomato no buta maki chiizu oubun yaki)
Baked Pork-Wrapped Mini-Tomatoes with Cheese Sette Colore Towada Italian Bar ミニトマトの豚巻チーズオーブン焼き セッテコローレ イタリアンバー 十和田市

3 Variety Cheese Plate 780yen
(3種のチーズ盛り合わせ sanshu no chiizu moriawase)
3 Variety Cheese Plate Sette Colore Towada Italian Bar 3種チーズの盛り合わせ セッテコローレ イタリアンバー 十和田市

Hours: 17:00-24:00 (23:30 last order), Closed Wednesdays
Price Range: 2000yen~
Seating Charge: 300yen/person (appears on bill as otoshi  (おとし) for the small appetizer you get)
Nomihodai (all-you-can-drink): 2hrs = 1500yen alcohol/800yen soft drinks; all members of the party must pay for the same level of nomihodai, i.e. either all 1500yen or all 800yen--no mixing and matching. (Only generic "red" and "white" wines included in the nomihodai menu.)
English/Picture Menu: N/A
Seating: Tables (5 tables x 4 seats; 1 tables x 2 seats) and Counter (~5 seats)
Good For: Solo Dining; Couples; Small Groups; Parties
Reservations: Recommended for Friday and Saturday evenings or parties
Phone: 0176-22-7788
Parking: None (pay parking available across the street)
Address/Map: 1-41 Higashi San-Bancho (十和田市東三番町141)
Towada City, Aomori 034-0031

Monday 23 March 2015

Asakusa Okonomiyaki & Monja

Restaurant Spotlight: Asakusa  お好み焼き もんじゃ 浅草
Okonomiyaki Monja Asakusa Towada お好み焼き もんじゃ 浅草 十和田市
Photo from "No Marrs, No Life" blog
Okonomiyaki Monja Asakusa お好み焼き もんじゃ 浅草 十和田市
A great local restaurant for okonomiyaki *(Osaka-style) and monjayaki.*

*Okonomiyaki is a dish made from batter, cabbage, egg, and various meats and vegetables all mixed up and grilled on a hot plate like a pancake. Monjayaki (or simply, "monja") is similar to okonomiyaki except the batter is more runny and it remains lumpy when cooked.
Okonomiyaki Monja Asakusa Towada お好み焼き もんじゃ 浅草 十和田市

You cook everything yourself using the hot plate grills on each table. Feel free to ask for advice if you're not sure how to cook something. But for okonomiyaki, generally you mix up all the ingredients in the bowl well and then pour it onto the well-oiled grill and shape it into a pancake. Cook until slightly brown before flipping and cooking the other side until nicely browned. You may choose to flip it one more time to let it cook a little longer. To finish, add sauce, mayonnaise, bonito flakes, ginger and nori seaweed flakes to taste before cutting it up and transferring it to your plate to eat.

Recommended Menu Items

Pizza Ten Okonomiyaki 780yen
(ピザ天 お好み焼き)
Pizza Ten Okonomiyaki Asakusa Towada ピザ天 お好み焼き 浅草 十和田市

Cheese Hamburg Ten Okonomiyaki 780yen
(チーズハンバーグ天 お好み焼き)
Cheese Hamburg Ten Okonomiyaki Asakusa Towada チーズハンバーグ天 お好み焼き 浅草 十和田市

Mochi Cheese Ten 780yen
(もちチーズ天 お好み焼き)
Mochi Cheese Ten Okonomiyaki Asakusa Towada もちチーズ天 お好み焼き 浅草 十和田市

Pork Kimchi 780yen
(豚キムチ Buta Kimchi)
Pork Kimchi Ten Okonomiyaki Asakusa Towada 豚キムチ天 お好み焼き 浅草 十和田市

Hours: 14:00-22:00 Thursday-Tuesday (closed Wednesdays)
Price Range: 1000yen~
English/Picture Menu: N/A
Seating: Table (1 table x 4 seats) and Tatami (5 tables x 4 seats)
Good For: Solo Dining; Couples; Families; Small Groups
Reservations: Usually not necessary except for larger groups
Phone: 0176-23-4811
Parking: Available (limited)
Towada, Aomori Prefecture 034-0082

Friday 20 March 2015

Katsu Curry Ramen Izakaya Yosaku

Izakaya Spotlight: Yosaku 焼肉とラーメン 与作

Yosaku is a brightly-lit and fairly spacious izakaya with mainly private booth seating and a few counter seats. Although it has yakiniku (meat that you yourself grill at the table) and other  common izakaya foods (fried chicken, grilled fish, etc.), it is best known for its katsu (pork cutlet) curry ramen (カツカレーラーメン). It's a popular place for ramen lovers to end a night out drinking.

Recommended Menu Items:
(The only things I've eaten there...)

Katsu Curry Ramen カツカレーラーメン 900yen

Yosaku Miso Mix Ramen 与作味噌ミックスラーメン 1200yen
(toppings: wakame seaweed, char siu, corn; choice of thick noodles (太麺 futomen) or thin noodles 細麺 hosomen)--I recommend the thick noodles)

Russia Gyoza (Peri Menu) ロシアギョウザ(ぺリメニュー) 550yen

Hours: 17:00-03:00 Tuesday-Saturday; 17:00-02:00 Sundays (closed Mondays)
Price Range: 1000yen~
English/Picture Menu: N/A
Seating: Booth (4-6 people) and Counter (~4 seats)
Good For: Solo Dining; Couples; Small-Large Groups; Parties
Reservations: Recommended for medium-large groups/parties.
Phone: 0176-22-6265
Parking: Available (a block southeast, next to (south of) the Civic Center Plaza parking lot and just north of an liquor store called Step)
Towada, Aomori Prefecture 034-0011

Thursday 19 March 2015

Nitobe Memorial Museum Closure Notice

The Nitobe Memorial Museum will be closed indefinitely from (15/08/31 uodate) was permanently closed on April 1st, 2015 as the strength of the concrete was deemed too weak and potentially unsafe in the event of the earthquake.

The Official Portal of Towada City, "Nitobe Memorial Museum Closure Notice" (Japanese): http://www.city.towada.lg.jp/docs/2015022600044/

Stamina Gen Tare Potato Chips

Stamina Gen Tare is a delicious sauce produced by KNK,* a local Towada company that manufactures various sauces and dressings as well as soy sauce. It is a soy sauce-based sauce made with apples, garlic, ginger, and other vegetables. The soy beans, wheat, apples, and garlic used are 100% Aomori-sourced, making it a truly local product. It is delicious as a sauce for yakiniku grilled meat, and meat & vegetable stir-fries, among other things.

*KNK = Kamikita Nousan Kakou Nougyou Kyoudou Kumiai (上北農産加工農業協同組合) Kamikita Agricultural Products Manufacturing Agricultural Cooperative

And now, for a limited time, you can enjoy the taste of Stamina Gen Tare in potato chip form!
Stamina Gen Tare Potato Chips Calbee KNK スタミナ源たれ味ポテトチップス カルビー 上北農産加工農業協同組合
Stamina Gen Tare Potato Chips Calbee KNK スタミナ源たれ味ポテトチップス カルビー 上北農産加工農業協同組合
They are made with Aomori apples and garlic and have a very authentic Stamina Gen Tare taste despite not having any of the actual sauce in the ingredients. Just be warned that the garlic smell and taste are quite strong, so you might not want to eat them at work, for example. On the other hand, the garlicky taste makes it the perfect snack to go with beer (or other alcoholic drinks).

Moreover, a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the chips will go to The Michinoku Future Fund (みちのく未来募金 Michinoku Mirai Bokin), a charity established after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011 that provides long- and medium-term support, particularly relating to education and professional training, to children in the Tohoku region who have lost one or both parents.

Look for them at local supermarkets. (I have seen then in Max Valu and Universe in Towada; I'm not sure about its availability outside of Aomori, though.) At around 100yen for a 58g bag, it is a cheap and delicious snack.

Highly recommended!

April 2015 WARAKU Traditional Handicrafts Trial Class

Gallery & Cafe WARAKU Traditional Handicrafts Trial Class (April)

Try your hand at making traditional Japanese handicrafts! Aimed at beginners, trial classes will allow you to start and complete a piece within just one class.

Dates: April 4, 11, 18, 25 (Saturday)
Theme: Six Camellia Tapestry (六色椿のタペストリー roku shoku tsubaki no tapesutorii)
Cost: 6500 yen (Kit: 5500 yen Lesson: 1000 yen)
Registration: Necessary; Register In-Store, or Call 090-5239-5832 Ikuko Hayashi (林いく子)
Towada Gallery & Cafe WARAKU April Handicrafts Trial Class 十和田市 ギャラリー布カフェWA楽 4月体験教室

Tuesday 17 March 2015

Maple Toast Cafe Restaurant Hanayobi

Cafe Spotlight: Cafe Restaurant Hanayobi 花曜日
Cafe Restaurant Hanayobi 花曜日
Cafe Restaurant Hanayobi 花曜日
Cafe Restaurant Hanayobi 花曜日
Cafe Restaurant Hanayobi 花曜日
Cafe Restaurant Hanayobi 花曜日
Hanayobi is a cute little cafe that offers generously portioned meals at a reasonable price. It is also famous for Maple Toast, an 8cm brick of toast slightly hollowed out to make room for an 8cm tall serving of ice cream. It comes with salad,* so you know it's not just a dessert, it's a meal! (*Actually, you can choose between salad or coffee...)

Recommended Menu Items:

Maple Toast Set* (メープルトーストセット) 850yen
*Choice of salad or coffee
Maple Toast Cafe Restaurant Hanayobi メープルトーストセット 花曜日
Maple Toast Cafe Restaurant Hanayobi メープルトーストセット 花曜日
Puchi Maple Toast (プチメープルトースト) 380yen*
(About 1/6(?) the size of the regular Maple Toast)
*Also available as a set (choice of hot coffee or salad) for 550yen
Puchi Maple Toast Cafe Restaurant Hanayobi プチメープルトースト 花曜日
A Set (Aセット) 880yen*
(rice, hamburg, meat sauce spaghetti, salad)
 *Get hot coffee/tea with meal for an additional 200yen, or 250yen for iced coffee/tea
A Set Cafe Restaurant Hanayobi  Aセット 花曜日
B Set (Bセット) 780yen*
(pizza toast, meat sauce spaghetti, salad)
*Get hot coffee/tea with meal for an additional 200yen, or 250yen for iced coffee/tea
B Set Cafe Restaurant Hanayobi  Bセット 花曜日
Special Menu: Stew Set (スペシャルメニュー シチューセット) 1200yen*
(choice of beef or cream stew, AND hamburg, salad, rice, and chocolate puchi parfait)
*Get hot coffee/tea with meal for an additional 200yen, or 250yen for iced coffee/tea
Stew Set Cafe Restaurant Hanayobi  シチューセット 花曜日
Stew Set Cafe Restaurant Hanayobi  シチューセット 花曜日
Stew Set Cafe Restaurant Hanayobi  シチューセット 花曜日

Hours: 11:00-17:00, Closed Sundays & National Holidays
Price Range: ~1000yen
English/Picture Menu: Pictures for Dessert Menu (cakes & parfaits) and Special Menu only
Stamp/Point Card: Free stamp card available: 1 stamp for every 500yen spent and receive a 500yen voucher after collecting 20 stamps. Also get a free coupon (100yen off, 50% off coffee, etc.) with each visit, valid up to approx. 1 month after visit.
Seating: Tables (3 tables x 4 seats; 3 tables x 3 seats)
Good For: Solo Dining; Couples; Families; Small Groups
Reservations: Usually not necessary, except for larger groups
Phone: 0176-25-7555
Parking: Available (~8 cars)
Address/Map: 
14-5 Honamicho (十和田市穂並町14-5)
Towada, Aomori Prefecture 034-0037