麺や葵
Aoi was a quick plan B for a group tour I was leading. Many of Tokyo's best shops close randomly and without warning, much to the dismay of a tour guide. Thankfully, Aoi was open.
Oh, great. The famous 厚切りジェイソン came here. Atsugiri Jason is an American TV talent in Japan. I have a long story about why I hate this guy (nothing personal!). The short version is that I did a TV gig and they kept saying I look like him. At the time I had never heard of him, so the whole gag was a flop. I looked like an idiot in front of Kyari Pamyu Pamyu and Yoshiki from X-Japan.
It's a standard tonkotsu gyokai, meaning they cook pork and chicken overnight, and then hit it with plenty of dried fish in the morning. Aoi uses 鰹 (skipjack tuna), サバ (mackerel), and 煮干(dried sardine).
Good stuff. I #crushedit for sure this time.
But seeing that autograph on the wall brought back a bitter memory.
(I kid, but it was a strange experience nonetheless.)
