Update on Veggies ― 2023/10/29
Yesterday I saw a heap of well-grown and locally grown fresh broccolis sold at 199 yen per head at a local Marukyo. Plus, green onions from Oita began to appear, though priced at a rather expensive 250 yen per a bunch of three or four fat ones.
昨日はマルキョウでよさげなブロッコリー(しかも福岡産）が1株199円で山のように売られていました。あと、大分産のネギもありました。これはちょっとお高めな250円でしたが、太いのが3～４本で１束になっていました。
Although some, such as cabbages and carrots, are still from distant areas, I guess it is safe to say locally grown autumn vegetables have finally become available here. We might no longer have to rely entirely on Hokkaido for fresh vegetables. Which means I would be free from guilt for wasting a lot of energy and as a result producing a lot of CO2 that I would feel when I buy Hokkaido vegetable.
キャベツや人参はまだ遠くでとれたものが並んでいましたが、これはもう、秋野菜の季節到来と言っていいのでは？もう北海道産にばかり頼らなくてもいいのかもしれません。北海道産の野菜ってとてもありがたいのですが、SDGs的（なんかエネルギーとかCO2とか）に悪いことをしているようで、買うのに気が引けるんですよねえ。
Broccoli Has Come Back ― 2023/10/24
199 yen at a local greengrocer
Finally, the price of a head of broccoli back to under 200 yen range from upper 300 or even over 400 yen and came mainly from Hokkaido or Nagano. This one I got this morning at Yaoya-no-Q-chan, a chain of greengrocer run by Japan Railway Kyushu, was priced at 199 yen and is locally grown.
400円を超えることもあったブロッコリー(おおむね北海道か長野産）の値段が、ついに200円割れしました。これは今日の午前中に八百屋の九ちゃん（JR九州がやっている八百屋チェーン）で買ったもので、199円でした。しかも福岡産。
I hope the period when a broccoli head is a luxury has ended with the arrival of locally grown ones.
これからこの辺でもブロッコリーの時期に入り、ブロッコリーが贅沢品、という時期が終わればいいのですが。
Simply Incredible ― 2023/10/21
I just wonder how this bento box can be sold at 298 yen (321 yen with tax, to be fair) at the time of ultra inflation like now. I wouldn't be surprised even if the onigiri part of this bento cost 298 yen. Awesome in many ways.
この物価高のご時世に298円ってどういうことなんでしょう。いや、税込み321円ですけど。おにぎり部分だけがこの値段で売っていてもおかしくないのでは...。いろんな意味ですごい。
Welcome Back, Mr. Donut! ― 2023/10/07
Mr. Donuts has back to Nishijin! It has opened on the ground floor of Praliva, taking over the space that PRONTO used to be.
There used to be two Mr Donut outlets in this area. One was, as long as I remember, at where now Doutour is located. and the other was on the ground floor of Nishijin Palace, which is itself destined to be demolished in very near future.
However, probably with the rise of lower-priced alternatives sold at convenient stores, these two doughnut shops all disappeared without saying goodbye to me.
In fact, there was a "doughnut war" in this area among Southernmaido Donuts, Floresta and Mt. Donut(s) and some others I can't remember. Then only Floresta has survived along with some newcomers that have popped up and disappeared.
Having frequented to each store when I was young, I am so happy to see its comeback!
The new store, however, became much smaller than the old stores, with possibly less than half eat-in space.
ミスタードーナツが西新に帰ってきました。プラリバ1階、以前プロントがあった場所です。
このあたりには、前はミスタードーナツが二店舗ありました。一つはたしか今ドトールになっているところ、もう一つは西新パレスの1階でした。西新パレスは近々取り壊しになる予定です。
西新はかつて、サザンメイドドーナツ、フロレスタ、ミスタードーナツの間で「ドーナツ戦争」があった場所。結局フロレスタだけが生き残り、そこに新勢力が加わっては消えるといった感じになっていました。
両方の店に若いころしょっちゅう行ってた私としては、西新に再登場してくれてうれしい限りです。
ただし、新店舗は以前のお店よりもずっと狭くなりました。イートインのスペースは半分以下かも。
I naturally couldn't even enter the store, not mention to enjoying a cup of coffee with a nice donut. I guess it would be less busy in half years of time, then it should be my turn. I will definitely frequent to it as I did in my late teens.
当然、この日はコーヒーをおともにドーナツを食べるどころか、お店に入ることもできませんでした。半年もたてばちょっとは空いてくるでしょうから、そのときは10代後半のように通わせてもらいましょうっと。
Revisiting Makii ― 2023/05/02
Lunch box 680 yen
I have completely forgotten there was a Makii's satellite store in Nishibetsu Fukuoka station.
This two-layer boxed lunch was the first Makii food I have had in years, which was very nice. Every ingredient was recognizable: egg tasted like egg and so do green leaves, root veggies, and so on, and after eating it I felt full until the evening. No craving at all for between-meal snack.
Raisin buns (270 yen for three）and a piece of thickly sliced swiss roll (340 yen) I bought along with this lunch also tasted wholesome and comforting.
Pricewise Makii is by no means a means accessible or everyday grocery store for me, but I think it is forgivable to relish the local luxury once in a while as its price range is wallet-friendlier than department stores'.
ここしばらく、西鉄福岡駅の構内にマキイの小さい店があることをすっかり忘れていました。
2段弁当を購入して久しぶりに食べてみたら、いいものを食べたなあ！という気分になりました。おかずは材料が何なのか分かりやすく、タマゴはタマゴの味がしたし、青物や根菜も青物や根菜の味がしました。腹持ちもよく、夕方までおやつなしで行けたのも嬉しい。
一緒に買ったレーズンパン（3個入り270円）と厚くスライスされたロールケーキ（340円）も、健全な感じの味がしました。
値段を考えると毎日買い物できるお店ではないけれど、私の中ではたまに贅沢するならアリか？というお店です。デパ地下よりは買いやすいお値段ですしね。
Lunch Battle ― 2023/04/21
My lunch today was at Ohori Park.
今日のお昼は大濠公園で。
A Humberger sandwich, a potato croquet and a bottled coffee (about 450 yen in total) bought at Family Mart, in attempt to spend less on a meal.
節約したつもりで、ファミリーマートでハンバーガーとコロッケとコーヒー（合計大体450円）にしました。
I found alcohol spray that I always carry as a means of protection against COVID-19 also works to fight off the park doves who seem to take it granted to share a meal with visitors. Be warned.
手の消毒用に持っているアルコールスプレーが、公園にいるハトを撃退するのに有効だということが分かりました。ハトが当然のように「お相伴いたします」と寄って来るので、皆さん気を付けて。
Itoshima-Age shortage ― 2022/08/23
Image retrieved from 商品一覧 | 平野豆富製造所 (hiranotofu.com)
In my understanding the Itoshima-Age is a slightly thinner version of of thick fried bean curd (Atsuage or 厚揚げ）. Because of its thinness which provide larger surface area in contact with oil, Itoshima-Age is more satisfying than Atsuage and works well as an alternative protein source to meat.
In order to protect our household budget against ever rising price of meat, I use it to bulk up the amount of protein in place of meat meat. No need the pricy soya meat.
However, this Itoshima-age has recently become increasingly hard to buy, perhaps because more people think the same way with me. It is available, but goes very quickly.
For example, at my neighborhood Marukyo where I can usually buy it for around 100 yen, the shelves dedicated for Itoshima-Age tend to become empty in the afternoon. Even in the morning, I have to go relatively early to avoid disappointment. At higher-end glossary stores where a pack of Itoshima-Age is priced at around 148 yen, Itoshima-Age tends to be available even in in the afternoon. Plus, I don't know why, but I think that the Itoshima-Age at such stores tend to bear a somewhat longer best-before date.
糸島揚げは、私の中では薄目の厚揚げ。薄い分中身に対する皮（？耳？外側の茶色い部分）の面積が広く、その分食べ応えがあるような気がします。
肉が高騰しているので、家では肉を減らし、その分糸島揚げでかさ増しするようにしています。安い大豆ミートという感じです。
同じように考える人も大勢いると見え、最近糸島揚げが買いにくくなってきました。ないことはないんだけど、すぐに品切れになってしまうのです。
近所のマルキョウ（大体100円前後で売ってる）では、昼過ぎに行くともう買えません。午前中でも比較的早い時間に行かないとダメ。比較的高い店（1パック148円くらい）だと、午後でも買えます。また、どういうわけかそういうお店の糸島揚げは賞味期限が長いような気がします。
Al Fresco Lunch ― 2022/03/30
Today I literally ate out for the first time in a while (though I have had al fresco coffee breaks with some nibbles quite often in the same period).
On my way to Bookoff to pick up the books I ordered online, I dropped in at a butcher and Korean barbecue restaurant and bought a bento that I had been dreaming.
I bought the cheapest bento (680 yen, including tax) and ate it in the park in front of the store.
With the generously served meat, the meat layer was as thick as-if not thicker than- the rice layer underneath, and heavy seasoning, even the smallest size was a bit more than enough for my 50++-year old digestion system. I might have to skip my dinner tonight. I think this was a bento to enjoy the impact, not to appreciating sophisticated taste and flavor. I would be a big fan of it if I were in my early 20s.
I must mention about some nice things: even though it is a busy shop where there are always lines in front of it, the staff members were nice and attentive.
Cons: There was a kind of dog-eat-dog world when it comes making an order. In other words, some shouted their orders behind the line and some got too close to each other. The shop itself was not doing anything wrong, but it might not be a place for an old-fashioned person who expects civilization at lunchtime.
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