It was the summer of 2007, and my fellow exchange students and I went to Asakusa Temple to interview people who visited the place about certain things related to the temple for our Intensive Japanese class. When those interviews were over, our teachers brought us to this homey restaurant a few minutes away from the temple are by foot. There they treated us to okonomiyaki (Japanese-style pizza), monjayaki (relatively the same as okonomiyaki in terms of ingredients, but the preparations and the form is different), yakisoba (friend noodles), and a bottle of lamune (soda with a very unique bottle).

It was very memorable because it was the first Japanese meal i ever ate when I arrived at Japan, and the homeyness of the restaurant with its tatami mats and low tables with hot plates added to the experience. This is one of the many memories I’ve made in Japan that I look back to with fondness and nostalgia.

Here’s a picture of the okonomiyaki we ate that day while it was being cooked: http://joyvillar.multiply.com/photos/album/44/whimsical_adventures_in_japan_part_3#51

And can I also mention, that my friend (Ian, who has an entry too) and I are big followers of Bourdain. We’ve been sharing efforts in acquiring episodes of No Reservations and A Cook’s Tour (that’s 95 episodes and counting– we are still missing Osaka and Venice.)

http://magnetic-rose.livejournal.com/592259.html