京都：名物・湯豆腐 / Kyoto's speciality - Simmered Tofu

僕は京都へ行った時、いろいろな観光名所以外、たくさんレストランは必ず行きます。例えば蕎麦の老舗「本家尾張屋」と。。。
Whenever I made a trip to Kyoto, besides paying a visit to some of the interesting sightseeing spots, there are a few restaurants that I would definitely be going. For example, the infamous 'Soba' restaurant 'Honke Owariya' and...

湯豆腐老舗「順正」です。
the infamous Simmered Tofu restaurant 'Junsei'.

以上は「順正」の湯豆腐コース「花」の写真です。
（左ー右）野菜てんぷら、湯豆腐（上）、御飯と香物（下）、小鉢（二種）、田楽
湯豆腐は店によって作り方と味が全然違います。
あそこの湯豆腐は昆布の痕跡を見なくて、柚子の皮が見られます。
豆腐は硬くならず、柔らかいです。味は浅いし、柚子の香があります。美味いです。
湯豆腐以外の材料も美味いです。ぜひ試してください。
The above shows a photo of the Simmered Tofu Course - Flower
(From left to right) Tempura (Deep Fried Vegetables), Simmered Tofu(top),
Rice and Pickles(bottom), Simmered vegetables, sesame Tofu, Dengaku
(Grilled soy bean paste on tofu skewer).
Depending on the restaurant, the method that they are using to create a
pot of Simmered Tofu can varies.
As for this restaurant, you don't get to see traces of 'Konbu', but you will
be getting the skin of the 'Yuzu' floating in the pot of simmered tofu.
The simmered tofu isn't too hard and it's pretty soft. The taste of it
is pretty much tasteless but it does comes with the fragrance of the 'Yuzu'.
In other words, this dish is pretty delicious. :D
Besides for the simmered tofu, the other dishes are pretty nice too,
do give it a try. :D

あそこは美味い料理以外、素敵な庭もあります。
Besides for the delicious food that they are offering,
this restaurant also has a magnificent garden too.

* こちは湯豆腐老舗「順正」の資料です。
^ こちは僕が「順正」で撮った写真です。
* Click here to find out more about the restaurant 'Junsei'.
^ Click here for the photos of the restaurant 'Junsei' that was taken by me.

京都：竹の聖地・竹林の道 / Bamboo Grove of Arashiyama, Kyoto

僕は京都へ行った時、たくさん場所は必ず行きます。例えば清水寺や平安神宮や伏見稲荷大社や八坂神社のような観光名所はとても面白いでしょう。その上、京都は面白い神社や寺だけでなく、他の有名な観光名所もありますよ。例えば。。。
Whenever I went to Kyoto, there ought to be a few places that I would visit. For example interesting shrines/temples like 'Kiyomizu Dera', 'Heian Jingu', 'Fushimi Inari Taisha', 'Yasaka Jinja', etc... However, besides for the shrines and temples that Kyoto is famous for, there are some other places that one should be visiting. For example...

京都市 右京区(嵐山)の「竹の聖地・竹林の道」です。
あそこへ行った時、同じ道路へ二回、三回、繰り返します。
同じ道路なのに、違い角度によって、素敵な風景も全然違います。
the 'Bamboo Grove' located in the western outskirts of 'Kyoto', 'Arashiyama'.
Every time I went to the 'Bamboo Grove', I tend to walk from one end of the
the 'pathway' till the other end for more than 2 or 3 times.
Though the path that I have taken were pretty much the same but as the angle
changes, the scenery view of the 'Bamboo Grove' is completely different.

そこで、静かだし、美しいです。
だから、あそこへ行った時、僕は心の平和を得ます。いい(≧∇≦)b
The 'Bamboo Grove' is pretty quiet and it's beautiful.
Therefore, whenever I went there, I could easily attain inner peace. :D

以上は他の「竹林の道」の写真です。 The above shows some other photos that I have taken in the 'Bamboo Grove'. 皆さん、もし時間に余裕があったら、ぜひあそこで行ってください。 Therefore, if time permits, one should give the 'Bamboo Grove' in 'Arashiyama' a try.

* こちは「竹林の道」の資料です。
^ こちは僕が「竹林の道」で撮った写真です。
* Click here to find out more about 'Arashiyama Bamboo Grove'. (In Japanese)
^ Click here for the photos of 'Arashiyama Bamboo Grove' that was taken by me.

万城目学・偉大なる、しゅららぼん / Manabu Makime - The Great Shu Ra Ra Bon

先日、万城目学の新しい小説を読んでいました。小説の名前は「偉大なる、しゅららぼん」です。（僕は中国語に翻訳されているバージョンを読んでいました。）小説によると、日本で古い湖から特殊な力を授かってきたの家族があります。湖おかげで、思想控えるとか、時間控えるとか、様々な超能力も持てます。最初のチャプターはちょっとつまらないけど、それと普通の高校生の日常生活が大体同じです。しかし、ストーリにつれて、内容が段々面白くなって行きます。面白いでしょう。もし時間があったら、是非読んでみましょう。
A few days ago, I finally finished reading the chinese translated version of the Novel 'The Great Shu Ra Ra Bon'. In the Novel, it has stated that the lakes in Japan have been giving selected family members of a family great powers and it can be powers like mind control and time control. Though the first few chapters can be kinda boring but as the story progress, the story will get more and more interesting. In fact, it was so good that I finished the book in 2 nights. :P Therefore, if you have the time, I would highly recommend you to give this novel a try. :D

しゅららぼんのカバー
Cover of the Novel 'The Great Shu Ra Ra Bon'

* こちは小説「偉大なる、しゅららぼん」の資料です。
* Click here to find out more about the Novel 'The Great Shu Ra Ra Bon'. (In Japanese)

モツ鍋の初体験／First encounter with a Internal Organs Hotpot

「Mohamed Sultan Road」という道と「Liang Court」というデパートの距離がとても近いです。だから、もし時間があったら、「Liang Court」へ来た後、あそこを通って、ゆっくり歩いて、ぶらぶらして、家に帰りました。たまに、あそこで食事をしていました。以下は先日の晩御飯です。
'Mohamed Sultan Road' is located pretty near 'Liang Court'. Therefore, if time permits, after making a trip to 'Liang Court', I will cut through 'Mohamed Sultan Road' on my way home. And usually when I do that, I would do a bit of window shopping around that area too and once in a while, I will be having a meal or two at that area... The following would be one of the meals I had at that area a few days ago...

'炒モツとキャベツ'
モツの味が新鮮だし、プリプリだし、キャベツがカリカリだし、
美味いでしょう。一瞬で食べ終わりました。
'Fried Internal Organs and Cabbage'
The taste of the internal organs are pretty fresh and chewy,
and the cabbage are pretty crunchy, which makes the overall
experience to be pretty nice. In fact, this dish is so good
that it's gone within minutes.

'出し巻き卵'
全然甘過ぎるけど、味は普通です。
たぶん、もう少し砂糖を加えたほうがいいです。
'Dashimaki Tamago'
This isn't too sweet but the taste is pretty normal.
Probably by adding a bit more Sugar might make it better.

'羽餃子'
形と「煎餅」という中華料理が大体同じです。形が面白いでしょう。
餃子の皮がこりこりけど、味が普通です。
'Ba Gyoza'
The shape of this dish is pretty much similar to the deep
fried pancakes that one can find in a Chinese Dim Sum place.
Though the skin of the Gyoza is pretty crispy, the taste of
it is pretty normal.

'モツ鍋'
これはそのレストランの一番人気の食べ物です。
僕はスープと火鍋が大好きです。だから、モツ鍋を見た時、試したいです。
そこで、牛肉、豚肉、鶏肉、のモツ鍋があります。
スープは特製醤油、味噌、塩、辛味噌の４種類から好みのものを選べます。
'Internal Organs Hotpot'
THis would be the infamous item of this restaurant.
And since I'm a fan of steamboat and Soup, I decided to
give this a try. This restaurant is offering Beef hotpot,
Pork hotpot and Chicken hotpot. As for the soup, they have
4 different types of soup for you to choose from.
There's 'Shoyu', 'Miso', 'Shio' and 'Spicy Miso'.

以上、は毎日限定10食の鶏モツ鍋です。鍋にたくさん野菜があって、
底に鶏モツがあります。素晴らしいですな。
The hotpot that I have shown here would be the 'Chicken Hotpot',
which is limited to 10 servings per day.
The top is covered by all sorts of vegetables and the bottom is
filled with the internal organs of the chicken.

以上は調理した後の様子です。様子はちょっと。。。しかし、味が美味しいです
～～～(ﾟдﾟ)ｳ-(ﾟДﾟ)ﾏｰ(ﾟAﾟ)ｲ-…ヽ(ﾟ∀ﾟ)ﾉ…ｿﾞｫｫｫｫｫ!!!!
それと中華スープと大体同じです。様々な美味い材料があって、スープも濃過ぎます。
その上、食べ終わる前に、ラーメンを加えるのがおすすめです。
僕たちはラーメンを二回以上を注文していました。ｲﾔ-----(*ﾟ∀ﾟ*)-----ﾝ!!!!
（注意：スープを無料に無限加えられます。
その上、あそこで酒の種類も豊富で、特に梅を使ったワインもありますよ。）
This will be a rough idea, how the hotpot will look like
after spending some time cooking. The look might be awful,
the taste is delicious. It's pretty much similar to the
Chinese soup that has a lot of ingredients and a very thick
taste. And I would highly recommend you to go for the extra
ramen noodles to be added to the hotpot, which is pretty
delicious too. In fact, we ended up ordering 2 rounds of
extra noodles. :P
(Note: you can add unlimited rounds of soup for the hotpot
for free. And besides for the food that they are offering
here, they also have a large variety of Sake and Wine too.)

じゃ、モツ鍋はどこで食べられますか？
Well then, where can we have this (Internal Organs Hotpot)?

そのレストランの名前は「Goku　博多もつ鍋 悟喰」です。
The name of the restaurant would be 'Japanese Restaurant Goku'.

営業時間：

• 18:00～02:00
• 休業日：日休

Operating Hours (Daily):

• 6pm - 2:00am
• (Closed on Sundays)

* これは「Goku　博多もつ鍋 悟喰」の所在地です。
* Click here for the location of 'Japanese Restaurant Goku' on Google Maps.