I took a ~week long trip in Fukuoka Japan in 2008 for a laser conference. Here are some excerpts from e-mail that I sent while I was there.
--------
----from first night
"Well I'm fricking eating a shitty white bread sandwich that I got at a
mini mart because the cool street vendors down by the river didn't
want to serve me if I didn't know Japanese. I've been e-mailing some
people off the internet to try and hook up with someone that can guide
me through the incredible culinary opportunities that are just out of
reach. Actually a neighboring vendor at the conference today wanted to
take me to dinner but I was feeling jet lagged and didn't really want
the company but now I wish I would have taken him up on it."
----from second night
"OK that was much better! A Japanese vendor took me out tonight and it
was great. Actually he would like to talk to us about Japanese
representation, so I think that added to the "wining and dining".
We started at a little hole in the wall around the corner from his
hotel. he ordered everything (because as always everything was in
Japanese text). We started out with beer and some light veggies. But
that was just the beginning!! He didn't say another word to the staff
BUT the food just kept coming. Next was pork then chicken gizzards,
then chicken liver, then chicken skin, then chicken, then more
chicken, then chicken kidney. Each portion is small but for Christ
sakes it's adding up. Oh and that's just the food. After the beer
comes one each of a strong distilled sweet potato drink and then
another of a different brand and cost. Then we start talking about the
distillation and fermentation practices and he sees that I'm
interested so out comes another (for us to split) and then another but
this time made of malt and aged in barrels (tastes like a smooth lite
whisky) and then a sugar cane spirit.
Oh crap I think I've had enough. "Lets go for a walk" I say "and check
out the street vendors that I've heard so much about." Well so we do
and actually I'm feeling buzzed not drunk and the weather is
incredible so it's a nice walk. Next thing I know he tells me I'm not
really full and that I should "try harder" and for god sakes the
street vendors look great so there you have it we're in line for some
street yum yum. I think to myself "we have really eaten a shit load
already so surely he is just ordering us a small sample." Ahhhhhhh no!
One cores then another then a huge bowl of noodle soup. Holy Shit this
street food is great. I reach for my water to wash it all down and
what do you think but NOPE it's more of the strong stuff!!! Man oh man
that was a great meal/meals. And he paid for it all!
Good Night"
**
Fukuoka, Japan 2008
