Taking my palate and my family to Japan

Everyone said we would love the food in Japan and so I came expecting to find it to be just awful. It was a good mindset to have. Grace is surely going to roast me over this statement since she and Mikey went out last night, strolled around Shinjuku, found super-cute little alleyways to wander, and bravely tried to make a purchase at a ramen shop. The purchase involved a touch-screen menu out front, a cash deposit slot, three anxious businessmen waiting in line behind them and the need for a ticket to print out in order to obtain the food from a chef at a remote location. I’m not sure how they had the wherewithal to attempt this. The Japanese businessmen, in an effort to help them or mock them…it’s not clear…kept making a triangular shape with their hands, and placing their hands on top of their heads.

Ron and I, having long since lost track of Mikey and Grace in Shinjuku Station, set our dinner goals lower. Striking out at a Wendy’s, even with a picture menu, I set my sites on some snack food. Reminiscent of every trip we have ever taken, I announced I was going into a 7-11-type market. Ron, ever-incredulous, announced he would wait out front. I scanned the shelves and chose these two items, which, along with a daily Clif Bar, could conceivably keep me fed for our entire 17 day trip. The product on the left is super-dense Japanese rice mixed with adzuki beans. On the right is something called “Baby Cheese”, which tastes just like that Laughing Cow semi-soft cheese. Delicious!

I also spied this thing below. No money wasted on marketing or packaging, so all research dollars surely devoted to an extraordinary taste experience. Will report back after I purchase.

Here’s a shot from last night. Better photos are surely on the way, once we get our bearings. But this is near our hotel.

We’re headed to DisneySea today – supposedly the nicest Disney park on earth. For those of you not privy to the lesser details of my life, I’m traveling with a group of 5 family members for Japan – a new experience for me. I’ll be attempting to only skewer my own travel skills and no one else’s:) Mikey and Ron look excited to travel with me – Grace, not so much.