アテネに滞在する度にご紹介することになっちゃっている、パイロット・カフェですが…
今回も行きました。でも、2回だけ。
それ以外はラウンジで済ませたり、ようやっと予約の取れた、ホテル近所のレストランに行ったりしました。
ここだ!! ドリーム
welcome to the 6th sense... 第六感へようこそ...
ここに入り浸っていたら、第六感が鍛えられてニュータイプになれるでしょうか?
でも修行が… 思い切りプロトカルチャーでデカルチャーです。(ぁぁやっと庵野から離れた)
*see ★観て
*smell ★嗅いで
*taste ★味わって
*touch ★触って
*hear ★聞いて
ぁぁ…アムロ、思惟が見えるわ。←ニュータイプ化
アテネの先生に「用心棒が出てこないかドキドキしたよ~」って言ったら、
「ネットに挙がれば宣伝になるから、嬉しいんでね」って言われました。
ちなみに、お隣さんのお隣さんも、ストリップ劇場みたいです。
このへんは Νέος Κόσμος=Neos Cosmos=New Space ということで、新興開発地区。なので、このへんにある公営団地っぽいのは、ホントに労働者、低所得層向け団地なわけです。
この状況を憶測するに… ガテン系男子たちが肉体労働を終えて帰宅する途中、股間方面のもんもんとしたものをスッキリさせようと、立ち寄るための場所がいっぱいあるわけです。でもそこへさらに再開発がかかって… インタコだのグランドハイアットだのが建ち並んでしまって、こんなカオス状態に。でもここんち、看板にギリシア文字が使われてない。…もしかしてハイアットやインタコの宿泊客目当て?
ともかくこの状況は…東京の港湾が再開発されて、タワマンとイケイケすけべ温泉が一緒に建ってる、みたいな?
…で、お隣さんを撮影後、パイロットへ入店。
出演前にお食事していったパンパンの皆さんの残り香がするブース席に座って… まずはビールを注文。
前菜と食前酒はラウンジで済ませてきたので、いきなり主菜、イキま~す! ←抜けてない
儂は、ハンバーグ♪ しかもデフォでふたつ乗ってくる♪♪
儂… 無理。幸いにも、別売りサイドディッシュの中に、ソースが5種類くらいありました。
ギリシア人の夕食は午後9時ごろスタートするので、平日の午後6~7時だったらスカスカです。
ここはいつも通りに、アテネの先生はマンモスビール、儂はアムステルのノンアルコールを。
アテネの先生は、ビフテキです。マッシュポテトがたーっぷりで、大満足だそうです。
見た目がウェルダンみたいですが、ホントにウェルダンです。レア指定してもこうなります。多分肉の質がイマイチなので、このほうが安全ということらしいですが、そんなこと言ったら、挽肉をミディアムレアで頼んでる儂のはどうなっちゃうのか心配! …幸い今のところ毎回なんともなかったけど。
ウェーブカットのフレンチフライがいっぱい。レモンまで添えてあります。
ここでも他の店でも、アテネのレストランへ何度か来店して学んだこと。
ギリシア人、にくをソース無しで喰う。
やはりスブラキとか、わずかにマリネした程度の肉を喰い慣れているせいなのか。
あるいは肉本来の風味だけで、塩胡椒だけで食べてしまえるよう慣れているのか。
ステーキものにはやはり、マッシュルーム・クリームソースでしょう。
アテネの先生と「半分こしようね♪」って言ったのに、先生は味見しただけ。
ギリシア人、ビフテキにソースも醤油もバターも付けずに食べる…。凄い。
これ、美味しいですよ。この記事が公開された頃は、もう一度同じ物食べてハッピーになった後だと思います。
まだラウンジのカクテルタイム終了に間に合いそうなので、食後酒もラウンジでもらっちゃうのだ。
もう喰えないし、そんなに飲めないので、シャンパンカクテルを造りました…。
カンパリソーダが好きみたいだけど、ジンジャーエールとかを使って工夫していました。
これ、サンフランシスコのリッツ・カールトンでアフタヌーンティーした時に憶えました。
クランベリーが無ければ、カンパリでもいいです。渋みを加えれば、良い感じ。
確かこれ週末の晩ですが、大理石の廃墟(世界遺産)を眺めつつ、いろんな話をしていました。
*see
ReplyDelete*smell
*taste
*touch
*hear
The sixth sense generally refers to something beyond the five senses listed above and is defined as the function of the mind that grasps the essence of things sharply and cannot be explained by reason. Welcome to the sixth sense... You seem to possess a sensing ability that ordinary people do not have.
By the way, this area is quite fascinating, with places like Dream Girls Bar and strip theaters. However, I heard that there are also low-income housing complexes nearby for workers, so I wonder if the public safety is okay? There are also luxury hotels such as InterContinental and Grand Hyatt lined up nearby, so it is certainly a chaotic situation. Though, as you pointed out, if Greek letters are not used on the signs, perhaps the high-end hotel guests are the target.
Oh, was it in Toyosu near Tokyo's port that a redevelopment project built a tower apartment and a large hot spring bath together?
Regarding the steak, even if you specify rare, it seems to become well-done. It's a little disappointing even though it's safety-oriented. Isn’t it strange that Greece, a country that does not prioritize safety in railway operations, prioritizes safety in this way? Actually, last night, I went to Azabu with Dr. Doi and a urologist who opened a clinic near ours (Dr. Doi's junior high school classmate). We enjoyed the stable medium-rare lean meat as usual.
Yamada Denki sensei,
DeleteI’m not developing my sixth sense but my sister is. (lol)
Or, I have the sixth sense where the huge tragedy happens… like an evil charm? Türkiye, Greece… and now I’m visiting Japan. Hope anything significant won’t happen during my stay.
Honestly speaking, if I were alone, it would be considerable to go to this restaurant after sunset. I saw some junky-ish guys are roistering around… also to attend this restaurant, we have to path thru an underground shortcut and the wall of that tunnel was covered with graffiti. Because this area is redeveloping and originally developed for low income people, the price at Pilot Café is very reasonable.
And the Greek steaks! All of grilled meats in Athens are overcooked, tough and chewy, very unimpressive. Even you request rare or probably blue, the cooked result would be very well done. Greek people don’t know how to eat meats tender and juicy… very sad. The Attorny of Athens agreed this point. He is also disappointed those overcooked beef, but that is their life, unchangeable unfortunately, he said.
Does Azabu serve Kobe beef or Matsuzaka, Miyazaki… I’m simply curious about their tenderloins. If I remember correctly, you had 6 or 8 oz fillet mignon but it had marbling. Fillet is a lean piece here in the States but high quality Japanese beef like A5 has significant amount of white-part… so I’m interested in the brand of their beef.
You put mushroom cream sauce on your hamburger and ate it, and because it was delicious, you are planning to eat the same thing again by the time this article is published... Once you find something you like, you tend to eat it repeatedly, don’t you? It must be because it's so delicious, and I highly value your aesthetic sense, except for durian (lol).
ReplyDeleteBy the way, when translating "Japanese-style ハンバーグ" into English, it seems to be translated as "hamburger," but I feel like it's different from the "hamburgers served at McDonald's" and the "ハンバーグ served at family restaurants."
After enjoying your meal, you returned to the club lounge and enjoyed a champagne with cranberry juice added to it. It is exactly the kind of luxurious cocktail that you remembered from the afternoon tea at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco. It would be wonderful to spend the weekend in such a relaxed atmosphere while admiring the world heritage site.
Next, I am looking forward to another dining record in Athens, a hidden seafood restaurant that you could enjoy and we readers will enjoy to trace.
Yamada Denki sensei,
DeleteLast Monday, I had hamburgers at Pilot Cafe but they change their menu a bit. For hamburgers, now they have two options – veal or turkey. I had veal burgers and it was beyond my expectations. Usually, if I heard ‘veal’ then it’s a lean meat. But their veal hamburgers are quite juicy with reasonable fat inside.
In the States, “hamburger” means ground meat (minced meat in English English). If you would like to specify ‘Hamburger’ at McDonald’s or Burger King, the best description would be “Hamburger Sandwich.” Or, usually, if you say ‘Burger’ then it points hamburger sandwich. Japanese style ハンバーグステーキ which served at Denny’s is so called Salisbury steak. By the way, Denny’s America doesn’t have Salisbury steak in their menu…
In Europe, or even in New England, people stop by bars and have aperitif and light snacks, then go to the restaurant where secured their seats. And after the course menu, if it’s a very classic style, the dinner procedures would be followed by cigar and digestif at study.
Champagne based cocktails are usually for aperitif but most of digestif varieties are too strong for me, so I made less-alcoholic cocktails. And fuchsia cocktail is a fancy option I thought because it’s nice and rose-colored, sweet and bitter which his quite appropriate after the meal for me.
The next one is fish and seafood restaurant. That one is really the “hole in the wall” kind of restaurant which doesn’t have any sign outside, but filled with fancy local people. The next article is scheduled to be posted on Monday at 8 am, your Tuesday. Daylight saving starts from next Sunday, so I set the disclosure timing an hour later to adjust Japanese 12 am.
I think you have a pretty impressive sixth sense, but certainly your sister seems to have an even more impressive one (lol).
ReplyDeleteBut if you do have a sixth sense that brings you not just major tragedies but devilish qualities that cause great disasters...like causing a major earthquake in Turkey or a train accident in Greece...then what about your visit to Japan? I also hope that nothing significant will happen during your stay in Japan, as well as before or after.
Considering that you are living in the United States, which has more security issues than Japan, if you hesitate to go to this restaurant alone after sunset, it must be an area with security problems. It is common to see suspicious men around girls' bars or strip theaters all over the world, but you may have felt this district was particularly dangerous. If I have to go through an underground tunnel to get to this restaurant, even if the taste of Pilot Cafe is good and the price is very reasonable, I would personally avoid it. Alternatively, if a taxi is available, I might take that option.
Yamada Denki sensei,
DeleteYes… I will see her next Tuesday which is a bit scary. But she is always helpful to keep some alibis when I travel abroad.
Actually, those mega tragedies happened just ‘close’ to me but not hitting myself or even any significant issues... thinking back the past, just a bit after we visited Sumarang in Java island, Mount Merapi erupted and the lumberyards we saw were covered by lava or ash, became like Pompeii. Or… when we visited Venezia, Icelandian volcano erupted and some air traffics were cancelled. Those are linked to volcano eruptions. Now I’m visiting Japan in March and May… March stay is short but the next one will be two weeks. Hope Nankai trough earthquake occurs. amen
Neos Cosmos is not really a dengerous area, but Omonia is. My phone was detected around several broks north from Omonia metro station, but policeman didn’t allow me to go there, even in daytime. Anyhow, Athens is much safer than United States. Most of the cases, there’s no risk of gun shooting. Drug abuse might be similar to California but I’m a big boy enough. You can’t get baby tiger without entering tiger’s ass. (lol)
I don't remember hearing the name of any famous brands like Kobe beef or Matsuzaka beef at the steakhouse in Azabu where we plan to go in May. As you remember, there is no tenderloin in Azabu, only lean fillet mignon, and even then there is only a small amount of marbling. I have never sat at the counter in that restaurant, and always enjoy it in a private room, so I have never seen the sight of meat being cooked. Before the meal starts (unless it's his day off), an elderly sommelier comes to greet us in the private room, and then the chef presents the meat he is going to grill and explains, "Today's meat is from XX prefecture," as there are several options for the prefecture. I assume that the chef chooses the best one from the various meats available on that day. As you pointed out, it is common for high-quality Japanese beef to have a significant amount of white part in the fillet, but in Azabu, the marbled part is scarce. In that sense, Azabu's meat may be a little lacking in juiciness, but it is never a taste that I get tired of, so I will visit them again on March 20th and ask about their meat brand selection process.
ReplyDeleteI see. In the United States, "hamburger" refers to ground meat. I think in the Japanese sense, "hamburger" means "one food item that includes bread, vegetables, cheese, ground meat, etc.," so I kind of understand the difference between the United States and Japan. In any case, I appreciate your detailed and easy-to-understand explanation.
Yamada Denki sensei,
DeleteThat’s because Azabu is always serving the highest end A5 beefs, they don’t have to show off the brands, I think. Last time when sensei had that fillet mignon, I don’t see that quality of meat in the States except some highest end, like Relais & Châteaux member restaurants.
When baron et feme Dr. M’s had a party at R&C restaurant, their maître d'hôtel brought me the label of Miyazaki beef and asked me to translate it. Considering the situation, handing over the meat label to the customer is a obvious breach/violation of food protection management. (lol)
If I remember correctly, we once sat the counter with your wife-san and daughter-san together. That was Azabu… or somewhere else? My holographic memories are not properly working these days, so apologize if I’m wrong.
I am delighted the meat at Azabu is not so greasy but lean. Since I am adjusted to USDA Choice or Select beef (USDA Prime is tough to find), I can’ tencounter heavily marbled meats hence my everyday beef is lean. However, because I take USDA beef, those are corn fed beefs, no grass feds like Aussie ones.
In regards to the English-like-languages, ‘ground meat’ is American accent. If it’s British or International English, it would be ‘minced meat.’ Most of English phrases used in Japan are American English, I think. But there are some exceptions. For example, your Kurobuta-san has ‘engine food’ which is Amreican, then ‘bonnet’ is British.
I have so many hilarious mistakes between American and British accents. I’ll let you know when I visit Okayama. ;)
In your response yesterday, you wrote, "But she is always helpful to keep some alibis when I travel abroad." So you need some kind of alibi, huh? "Hey husband, your wife seems to be plotting something suspicious!" (lol)
ReplyDeleteIt seems that several major disasters have occurred in places you have visited in the past. I have had an experience that was the opposite of that. I opened my clinic here in Okayama on January 5, 1995. Then, 12 days later, the Great Hanshin earthquake occurred, causing extensive damage in Kobe where I had lived until just before the earthquake. I was living in a condominium near Shin-Kobe Station, and because Okayama was close by and I had many university classmates in the Kobe area, I thought I would come back to visit and kept the condominium as a vacation home. After the earthquake, the condominium was partially destroyed, and I received more than 1 million yen in relief money (although when I tried to sell it later, the price had dropped by half, so it was a drop in the bucket). But the fact is that all the members of my family escaped unscathed. One week after the earthquake, I received a call from the management company of the condominium, saying, "We need to turn on the water to restore the supply, so please be present." The highways and local roads, as well as the railway lines, including the Shinkansen and conventional lines, were all stopped, so I couldn't use land transportation. Surprisingly, there was an air route from Okayama to Itami that had been opened to support such situations (although it was a propeller plane), and I managed to get to the condominium by taking that flight.
The cityscape of Kobe, where I had lived just three weeks prior, had completely changed. The large building in Sannomiya where I used to go in and out was still collapsed and left as it was, and people were moving around with backpacks, surrounded by police vehicles, making it look like a battlefield. I was surprised when I entered my room. Almost all the glass products were broken, and I had no choice but to go up to my room with my shoes on. Entering my room with my shoes on... it's just like in America (lol). My condominium was 15 stories tall, and my room was on the fifth floor. I was waiting patiently for my turn to come to turn on the water tap from the top floor, but it took a long time for them to call me. Later I learned that every time they turned on the tap, water leaked into the lower floors and they had to repair it, and the same thing happened when they turned on the tap on the next lower floor, so it was a situation where they had to repeat the repairs. When my turn came for my room on the fifth floor, it was already past midnight. It's a painful memory, and I never want to see such a disaster again.
Yamada Denki sensei,
DeleteWe are the couple of Rt=0, so I don’t need any alibi for my better-half-san, but those are for my mom. She is so nervous if I go abroad – mountains erupt, trains collide, earthquakes crash buildings, and airplanes drop… any of mental attack for her makes her UC worse…
The Kobe earthquake happened just after your clinic opened? So did you get bunch of customers after your grand opening, and you earned relief fund… I can’t determine which I should say, lucky you or unlucky you… but no health damage on yourself was a lucky thing.
On that Kobe quake day, I was working at an importer of network products i.e. modems or routers. That company has west office, and we immediately called them. One of our colleagues was in trouble – fortunately, himself is healthy but his home burned down, grandma left. That disaster was the biggest one in my life in Japan. On that 3-11 East Japan quake, I was watching that sensational live breaking news by TV Japan with Dr. Stefan of Swiss. I also tried to call my parents but the phone calls weren’t success immediately… several hours later, I finally talked with my mom and dad. At the quake, they were in Kojima Denki, now it’s acquired by Yamada Denki, to purchase additional air conditioners. When quake happened, my dad told me “All the demonstration air-cons were falling down from the wall!” that sounds so horrific. But fortunately, the well-built, strong salesman of Kojima carried my mom on his shoulder, and guided to the parking lot with my dad. So I honestly appreciate Kojima Denki, now Yamada Denki. No wonder I can’t escape from the name of Yamada Denki hereby. (LOL)
For me, the most amazing issue of Kobe quake is; the recovery of the highway. That elevated structured highway fell for half kilo, but reconstructed in half year! When I came to SF Bay Area, Interstate 80, an elevated highway fell down by SF earthquake in 1989, was still under reconstruction when I came here in 1997… so it’s reopened after 10 years after the quake. Therefore, every time I explained the story that the elevated highway in Kobe was recovered in half year, no one believed me.
The big tragedy is always painful and unexpected failures occur here and there. Currently, we have severe rainfall in California. Our original building is old, we’ve got leaks from ceilings, as well as the drainage of the veranda stuck by fallen leaves, our veranda became a swimming pool for my kitties, or birds came by and enjoy bathing. So I had to ask gardeners to fix the veranda, also Mike the Handyman keeps fixing our roof… but no complete success yet. *sigh*
I suppose Sensei’s area is also a dangerous zone for that expected Nankai trough quake, right? Then 備えあれば憂い無し is the words for you, doctor.
It seems that the district of Omonia is quite dangerous. Even the apathetic Greek police officer didn't allow you to go there, even during the daytime, so it must be quite something. Still, is Athens much safer than the United States where the risk of gun violence is still high? "He who would search for pearls must dive deep" is a proverb I quite like, but I don't think I would want to dive too deep just to visit a restaurant (lol).
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I have a careless personality, so I haven't felt the need to know what kind of high-end beef Azabu is serving or where the meat's brand origin is from. My motto is "spending time in good company with close friends and family is most important," so in that sense, I might resemble your senior in Shonan? But he's much better at evaluating food and drinks than I am, right? It's true that in the United States, you might not see the same quality of meat served in Azabu. Look forward to Azabu in May.
Yamada Denki sensei,
DeleteSome Omonia areas are partially risky because so many immigrants, mostly undocumented immigrants from Syria or Africa, are in that area. Officially, nothing wrong with undocumented immigrants besides they are not legally entered the country, but some of them don’t know the modern law in advanced countries – don’t harm someone, don’t steal something from someone, et al. Greece is not really an advanced country but at least they are a member of EU. However, I can’t blame on this because we have South Bronx… and Greece doesn’t have a problem of gun violence.
No, not pearls… you must obey “Unless you enter the tiger’s ass, you cannot steal her cubs.” Oh, I wrote ‘almost’ seriously…
And no, you don’t have careless personality. I never seen a person without careless if he/she is serving in healthcare industry… so you should not use that word, sensei.
Shonan Senior-san is very good for his palate and detections of the food/drink qualities. No wonder he born and raised within Yamanote-line and graduated T-Gakuen, being a CEO for years. By the way… I will see him and Oku-shama next week. I’ll forward your warmest regards.
In our town, there are some steakhouses in very good quality, like serving significantly matured air-aged beef, but I can’t compare those high-end American steakhouses with Azabu or most of steakhouses in Japan. So far, iSO-san’s friend, Shintaro-san is the exception. He is the meat-meister and he respects lean meat. I went his Yakinuku restaurant guided by iSO-san, and it was quite impressive. Our dishes were cooked by Meister himself. If I have a chance, let me edit pictures of there and post an article some day.
Unfortunately, your memory is not correct. You did sit with me and my wife at the counter, but it was not in Azabu, it was in Nishioka. At that time, you were so enamored with the chef at Nishioka, and you even said to me, "I want to kidnap that chef and bring him to my room at the Granvia hotel." Don’t you remember that? (lol) Also, the kid you met at Nishioka was not my daughter, but my son. I have always respected your knowledge of travel and fine cuisine, but perhaps I am better than you when it comes to miscellaneous memories? (lol)
ReplyDeleteI also like the fact that the meat in Azabu has less marbling and more lean meat. It's always satisfying. I was reminded of something that happened when I stayed at the Hilton in Miami Beach in 1991. My boss at the time, my wife, and I went to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. There, we saw a big, white man with a red face struggling with a huge T-bone steak dripping with fat from the early morning. Just seeing that scene made me lose my appetite completely. And I thought to myself, "How could anyone eat such a steak for breakfast? Or maybe they've been eating like that since childhood?" Fortunately, there was some white rice and miso soup placed in the corner of the breakfast venue (of course it didn't taste good), and that was enough for us to have breakfast.
Yamada Denki sensei,
DeleteNo I don’t remember the location… but Chef Nishioka's tummy was cute which I remember certainly. However, the Japanese Kappo restaurant where The Okayama’s “Subspace,” gave me too much impact, I forgot the otherwise. Sorry! But the Chef was cute anyway.
As I wrote somewhere above, my holographic memory system doesn’t work well these days… I may have to ask you to check my cumulative amount of amyloid-beta. (btw. 'Amyloid β' sounds like a hero in kids anime!! Isn’t he?)
If it’s in 1991, the Hilton hotel you stayed was Hilton Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Now they are not branded either Hilton nor Marriott, but it's still located as a milestone on on Collins Ave.
Usually, “T-bone steak and eggs” are typical and common American breakfast… I also ate those after moved to the States and that’s another reason why I became such chubby stubby Asian dude.
Okay, on your next trip to San Mateo, I will guide you to the “Greasy Spoon” where America’s most common breakfasts are served... such as steak & eggs, stack of pancakes topped with sunny-side-up, covered with maple syrup, and sides are always bacon strips and/or pork links. If you want lighter meal, I can introduce country style steak plus gravy. Anything you will encounter will have way over 2,000 calories for sure. You don't need other meals on the day. (lol)
I see, "ground meat" is American English and "minced meat" is British English. I feel like the English we first learned in junior high school was British English (like "How do you do?"), but now most of the English phrases used in Japan have changed to American English. Oh, and you intentionally wrote "engine food" instead of "engine hood," right? Indeed, it's more appropriate to give "food" to the black pork's "engine" (lol).
ReplyDeleteYamada Denki sensei,
DeleteYes, in our generation we learned British English… but we Americans still understand “how do you do?” though that phrase is almost dead. We are also not using “Pleased to meet you.” Therefore “Nice to meet you.” Is the most common phrase, I think…
I again apology the autocorrect functions. Hood to Food… no big difference though. :P
You must have been influenced by your old classmate, Ms. Teru Arai, right? I don't know whether she was a liar or not, but you're definitely a liar (lol). I didn't hear "lamentation" at all. You're making excuses like "I can't pronounce Japanese well these days," but I clearly heard "Ramen Teishoku!" Oh, it's too late to bring up this topic at this hour. You're probably already in your dreams after taking Zopiclone, right? (lol) I hope you have a good night's sleep!
ReplyDeleteYamada Denki sensei,
DeleteBy the way. Is ラーメン定食 a combo meal – ramen and rice? I’m just curious about the difference between ラーメン定食 and ラーメンライス… I’m writing around here being against s-zopiclone… so apologize in advance if I wrote something weird or nonsense.
Wow… I forgot the Daylight Savings started today. It’s twenty to midnight. Good night, doctor!