yokoso hokkaido!

In July, I took my parents on trip to Hokkaido (the most northern island in Japan) to celebrate their 80th birthdays. Here are some eating highlights. So many things to blog but I dont want to overload the blogosphere. Beware 39 pics to follow!

Ebi furai room service at the Park Hyatt Tokyo. Nice way to end a 12 hour flight.

Gyudon near the hotel

Gotta have my security food snacks right?

Lunch at Haneda. So good!

Mini eggplant tsukemono - Asahikawa

One of the best ramen I've ever had.

Unfort. the gyoza wasn't on par. But I ate it.

The beginnings of many "nabe" meals.

Mmmm. But I was so full from the sukiyaki I didnt even touch this.

Now this was good! The aji (flavor) was exceptional. And I rarely think sukiyaki is the go-to dish. 

Mom enjoying it as well.

Dad chowing down. This man can put it away.

One of many bfast buffets.

Tempura soba. Again.

Baked goods at Isetan.

Yakitori.

Agemono.

More nabe.

Another nabe. At this point I was done with nabe.

Bfast.

Dinner buffet. Hawaii peeps like buffets. I am not such a fan.

Mutton BBQ

Feeding time.

Udon.

Pork donburi.

Cherries.

Guess? Yes another nabe type lunch. I starved.

Roadside ramen. Oishii.

Now thats a musubi.

Chix wings

Shoyu braised pork belly.

Dinner in the room - Sapporo.

Here's the beef! Look at the marbling.

Tonkatsu in Sapporo

Close-up.

Can you tell I liked it?

One more tendon before my flight home.

Meal on ANA.

Braised shrimp fritters.

Comfort Junk

Recently I was down south in Alabama, Jacksonville, FL and Monroe, NC on a photoshoot. We didn't have the time to search and find authentic southern food but nonetheless the eating was not too bad. The highlight for me was Chick-fil-a. I don't know what it is about this fast food chain but I love it. Basically they make a fried chicken sandwich. The waffle fries are pretty darn good too. They do a good job. I love the logo too!

Perfection!

First time for me at WAFFLE HOUSE. I did not know it was a chain. It was just ok.

I prefer a nice yeasted waffle. This was kinda thin. I still ate it though.

No "real" maple syrup but I ate it.

Now this pulled pork was mighty tasty. Doesn't look very pretty here but so what. Tasted like kalua pork but not as smoky and salty. Definitely needed some bbq sauce to go with.

There ya go!

Mediocre guacamole, way too salty salsas. Chips were good though.

Chips. My favorite food group.

pie

I didn't get to make much pie this year. I usually make a few sour cherry pies in July but this summer I couldn't since I was in Hokkaido.

Did manage to make a couple of apple ones in the fall though. First one was probably the best. I tried a new recipe for the second one but I didn't love it. I missed the bright flavor of the original and I prefer the butter/shortening crust vs. the all butter one. For me all butter overwhelmed the pastry. Live and learn.

Nothing like the smell of this pie when you are putting it together. The combination of cinnamon, lemon zest, nutmeg create a wonderful homey aroma.

When done the pie is hard to resist. Golden brown and mile high, nothing says country apple pie than this.

All butter crust. Truly a deep dish pie. Pre cooked apples help to eliminate shrinkage of apples when they are baked.