Tampopo

In this continuing quest to eat the foods of other sovereign nations submitted for your amusement:
Tampopo (タンポポ) means dandelion in Japanese and for many evokes the 1985 Juzo Itami ramen western movie chuck full of food fun. Day 6 of the 30 day ethnic food challenge is returns to Asia and Japan specifically in search of a different delicious dandelion at the Porter Exchange. The warren of...+READ In this continuing quest to eat the foods of other sovereign nations submitted for your amusement:
Tampopo (タンポポ) means dandelion in Japanese and for many evokes the 1985 Juzo Itami ramen western movie chuck full of food fun. Day 6 of the 30 day ethnic food challenge is returns to Asia and Japan specifically in search of a different delicious dandelion at the Porter Exchange. The warren of Japanese businesses there, recently minus its anchor grocery (Kotobukiya), is a concentrated mix of mini Ginza and shopping mall. Bakeries, sushi bars, sit down restaurants and Ramen are all close neighbors with Tampopo which specializes in agemono (fried foods) and serves some spot on artfully sizzled tempura, udon noodle and crunchy cutlet katsu don rice bowls.

Hot green tea, salad w/ginger dressing and simple miso happen in a blink. The minuscule kitchen for one and waitstaff of one manage well even when busy at this cash only trip to Cambridge’s little Tokyo. Across the way the Japanaise Bakery which bakes super enriched Shoku Pan white bread is also selling “pray for Japan red bracelets”. A sobering reminder of Japan’s recent unfortunes, a certain upcoming diaspora and the Japanese community abroad who will continue so many cultural traditions including foodways.

Octopus doughnuts or Takoyaki are crisped dough balls with octo bits inside akin to New England clam cake fritters. Drizzled with a savory sweet dark tako yaki sauce and rice vinegary mayonnaise the octo balls have been masterfully fried with tempura scraps, pickled ginger and green onion inside. Next the Spicy Tempura of acorn squash, sweet potato, broccoli, green bean, zucchini, eggplant and carrot are not too spicy and splashed in the provided citrusy ponzu shoyu. The ethereally light crisp on this is the work of a master who knows when the heat is just right. All this happens for 5 tables and 4 stools in one great wok of oil.

Katsu-Don with its choice of crispy panko bread crumbs or kara-age deep fried in light corn starch spanked chicken cutlet sat atop rice with the spicy (not so much) mayo sauce. A quick scan around reveals Japanese clientele enjoying comforting food. The Saboro Tofu Bowl with beef, fried tofu cubes and heavenly tartly sauced asian eggplant also arrives on rice that has been handled brilliantly. Tampopo gets it right and why not? They know the way to Carnegie hall and it passes right by our tastebuds. Mango mochi ice cream bites are a sweet finish to this escape.

Day 7. Back to the new world.-COLLAPSE / REPLY (100 Replies) (by EATTV, created June 14, 2011)