Our Trip to Japan: 7 of 7 - Soaking Up Japanese Culture

     Waking up in Shrilyn's lovely home was a delight, each time.  Understandably, she slept late (from all the driving), but Lewis and I tiptoed out for a second visit to Tato Coffee.  The gracious owner was SO HONORED to see us again.  He masterfully pulled an espresso for me, and a latte for Lewis (grabbing a different jar of beans, each time--seen below).

     We wondered why the menu headers were in English, but nothing else was.

Then, we meandered through Shirlyn's neighborhood...

and came upon a patisserie called Chateraisé.  

We bought a bleu cheese pastry: something I never tasted before.  It was a mix of sweet and savory. 

and got some tarts to bring back (the price below is 378 yen ea):

Above, the "Mont Blanc" pastry (famous in Japan) was made with purple sweet potato icing and yellow chestnut icing.  Love that appearance!  The clerk was so gracious to wrap it for us, 

and the pastries went into a handled box, along with utensils, a roll of cardboard (to prevent the pastry from sliding around), an ice pack (to keep it chilled as we carried it back).

They did all of that for our $3.50 purchase.  Even the French brands in NYC, like Financier and Laduree, don't do those types of thoughtful "extras" for their pricer $12 pastries!  Japan has value and care!

     We didn't bother trying the Starbuck's, but Lewis admired how they hired Crossing Guards to direct traffic for every customer.

     Of great impression was our visit to her local 7-11 store.  In America, they are crappy, dirty stores selling below-standard, low-quality "food products" and slushies.  Insulted on TV shows like "The Simpsons", 7-11's are equivalent to "gas station food".  In Japan, they are resplendent emporiums, selling wine, sake, gin, whiskey, fresh soup, fresh baked goods, fresh juice, and freshly-prepared entrees of hot food!  We couldn't believe it was the same company... yet the prices stayed affordable: no extra charge for decency/niceties.

None of the 7-11 stores in America have clean floors like in Japan.  It was so miraculous that it deserved a picture.  But, that's how life SHOULD be, and Americans settle for less (and pay more).

So classy that at the cashier, there was a small shelf for folks to put their bags, so they wouldn't be on the floor or counter.

We spent $30 dollars there (3,000 yen) and Lewis won a contest at the cashier; he got to pick 3 coupons from a jar--wining 2 free bottles of water and a bottle of green tea.  Our purchases included dried pork tongue jerky, savory seafood chips, and sweet potato chips.

We wondered about the partial English labeling, while everything else of importance was in Japanese.

Families bring their kids to the 7-11.  

Take a look at their "Holiday Food Catalog": so elegant and upscale!  

How could this be the same company?

     Once Shirlyn awoke, she was delighted by our experience at 7-11, and she wanted to show us her local "Dollar Store".  I didn't take pictures, but it was like Crate & Barrel: clean, organized, full of quality merchandise, and being handled by necktie/apron-wearing stock boys.  So impressive!
     As our car joined the queue out of the parking lot, the manager of another store came out and gestured to our line of cars to allow another car to merge ahead.  It was done.  He bowed to the departing car (the driver probably never saw), and then he turned and bowed deeply at our line of vehicles.  All so calmly respectful and patient.

     Next, Shirlyn took us for coffee at another local café.  The wood rafters and Tiffany-style lamps gave it a cozy flair.  The waitress presented us with plastic-wrapped (and pre-warmed) moist towels to clean our hands.  They are called oshibori, and offering them is classy, considerate, and hygienic.

Hot chocolate topped with ice cream for Lewis, and locally-grown coffee for Shirlyn and I (including mini creamer).

Next stop was her local supermarket--yet another marvelous emporium of great foods!  Their seafood department is the length of the store!  The "prepared foods" area is humongous.

  
Fresh food was constantly being put out, and uniformed staff was efficiently keeping things clean.  When we bought some toasted pumpkin, the nearest employee was genuinely smiley to help us get it packaged.  

Look at the size of those red juicy apples!

Did I mention how every cashier has a tray for money to be placed, during payment/change?  Like a mini ceremony.

The cost of all Shirlyn's groceries was extremely fair--way below Whole Foods' markup.  
     Before we knew it, we'd spent an awestruck hour in the Dollar Store and another awestruck hour touring her supermarket.  It was dinnertime.  

    Shirlyn took us to an Izakaya type restaurant that served Yakitori (barbecue skewers) for a languid, multi-course meal of "treasures".  The bare-legged waiters wore traditional garb.

     

Our meal started with a small chilled salad.

Next, we ate sashimi of yellowtail and striped Jack. 

That was followed by lump-fried oysters & Age-Dashi tofu cubes in a seaweed stew.

We segued to smoked pork skewers with salted cherry tomatoes.

Lollipops of ground beef.

Then, we savored steamed clams with sake/butter broth.

A highlight was Yaki-Ike (sautéed squid).

Skewers of Kushi Yaki (crispy chicken in savory sauce).

Eggplant with miso sauce, and Kara-Age (fried chicken).

Eating shrimp tempura reminded me of some gastronomic history.  In the mid-1500s, Catholic missionaries from the Kingdom of Portugal brought the culinary notion of tempura to the Empire of Japan, where it was finessed so well that it is now mostly associated with Japan.

We munched on asparagus wrapped with thinly-sliced pork loin.

Of great flattery was the neighboring table ordering the last of a special barbecue chicken dish... but hearing that we wanted to order one, they generously offered us a piece of it.  So kind and wonderful of total strangers (considering they were partitioned from us by this screen)!

For dessert, we had a treat of baguette stuffed with ice cream, topped with Azuki red bean jam!  SO GOOD!

     We went to bed earlier, that night, to prepare for our early departure flight to NYC.  

     The next morning, we enjoyed our ride to the airport with Shirlyn, who hugged us many times--with sincere Goodbyes.  We can't wait to see her again, soon!  We had immense gratitude to her for making our trip so special!  She fondly remembers the Walking Tour that I gave her in Astoria, NYC, when she visited from Singapore.  It was so informative and enjoyable that she extended her stay at her hotel so our trio could eat in more local restaurants.  *To see the type of Walking Tour that I gave her, please use this link: https://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2015/06/walking-tour-streets-food-architecture.html

     We admired the airport's many diversions... 

It was soothing to hear their sound-system playing music by The New Roman Jazz Trio.  Classy all the way.

     Thanks to our interactions, Lewis and I absorbed some of Japan's Yamato-damashii (spirit and essence), and we respectfully cherish it.  It was sensational that we spotted a sunrise, on our way to the airport.  It was appropriate for the Land of the Rising Sun!