Japanese Grocery Store
Nov. 5th, 2007 07:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
burendasan4So yesterday afternoon, I finally went shopping at the Japanese grocery store that I had mentioned in a previous entry. It seems to be the place where Japanese living in Pittsburgh go to get a taste of home because as I parked my car in the teeny-tiny parking lot(that is shared with the laundromat and restaurant), I could see a good number of Japanese families (who are probably living here temporarily)coming in and out of the store. Also, the Japanese bibliographer at the library said that he and his wife do their shopping there about every other week.
Actually shopping there, as opposed to just observing, was a surreal experience for me. It brought me back head-on to now vague memories of being in Japan. It was a strange sensation of being somewhere familiar yet alien, as if I was looking at objects from another life.
Yet, as I left the store with my goodies, I was giddy and excited because I was able to get my hands on things that once had been so familiar to me that now I am looking forward to including in my "repetoire" of meals. I wondered if perhaps my trip to the store was a pathetic attempt to momentarily relive my experience in Japan. But I know there is no way...as each year passes, the memories become more distant.
So anywayz, as I said, I was pretty happy with my purchases, which totaled to about $30.
On the top left corner is a small bag of white rice which is the kind that is mostly used in Japan and is the kind of rice I prefer to eat now. Next to the rice is some dried shiitake mushrooms. I bought something similar for my mom when I was visiting home in early 2003 and she really liked them so perhaps I should give them to her when I go home in a few weeks. The "Golden Curry" is the Japanese version of curry that is very popular and on the bottom right hand corner is the natto that I looked for in vain at the Asian food market near![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
intothebluagain's place when I was in NJ a few weekends ago. I haven't had either since I returned from Japan so I'm curious/anxious to see how I like them now. The jar next to the Golden Curry is furikake "seasoning", which adds flavor to plain white rice. I brought some over for my dad on one of my visits home and he absolutely loved it. Perhaps I should get some more for him.
You can judge whether I spent too much or not.
Anyway, I found out from their website that they are closing on Thursday and not opening again until November 23rd (perhaps they are renovating, restocking, or going on vacation), so I'm really glad I got a chance to go before they close...I might even try to go again before Thursday. I'm looking forward to trying out my purchases!
Actually shopping there, as opposed to just observing, was a surreal experience for me. It brought me back head-on to now vague memories of being in Japan. It was a strange sensation of being somewhere familiar yet alien, as if I was looking at objects from another life.
Yet, as I left the store with my goodies, I was giddy and excited because I was able to get my hands on things that once had been so familiar to me that now I am looking forward to including in my "repetoire" of meals. I wondered if perhaps my trip to the store was a pathetic attempt to momentarily relive my experience in Japan. But I know there is no way...as each year passes, the memories become more distant.
So anywayz, as I said, I was pretty happy with my purchases, which totaled to about $30.
On the top left corner is a small bag of white rice which is the kind that is mostly used in Japan and is the kind of rice I prefer to eat now. Next to the rice is some dried shiitake mushrooms. I bought something similar for my mom when I was visiting home in early 2003 and she really liked them so perhaps I should give them to her when I go home in a few weeks. The "Golden Curry" is the Japanese version of curry that is very popular and on the bottom right hand corner is the natto that I looked for in vain at the Asian food market near
intothebluagain's place when I was in NJ a few weekends ago. I haven't had either since I returned from Japan so I'm curious/anxious to see how I like them now. The jar next to the Golden Curry is furikake "seasoning", which adds flavor to plain white rice. I brought some over for my dad on one of my visits home and he absolutely loved it. Perhaps I should get some more for him. You can judge whether I spent too much or not.
Anyway, I found out from their website that they are closing on Thursday and not opening again until November 23rd (perhaps they are renovating, restocking, or going on vacation), so I'm really glad I got a chance to go before they close...I might even try to go again before Thursday. I'm looking forward to trying out my purchases!
