Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

Speaking of Valentine's Day, I think the image of "sweet and sour" as "the day when a woman confesses to a man" was strong in the past, but recently it has been
・A woman rewards herself
・Women give each other (high quality) chocolate and other sweets.
・For some reason, men buy chocolates by women, and bags are also bought because of the rush.
・My uncle buys the chocolate he wants to eat at the event.
I feel that there is a wide variety of ways to enjoy and exploit while increasing the variety of flavors that are not only "sweet", such as "sweet".

For this reason, events to buy chocolates from all over the world are called "Sweets Collection" and "Salon de Chocolat" instead of "Valentine", and there are more options to keep up with the brand even if it is a fairly sweet party.

What is the focus of this season? "Ruby chocolate," right?

This is the new category of chocolate that appeared for the first time in 80 years following dark, milk and white.
Ruby chocolate is rare and delicate, so I visited the sweets collection at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store to try this ruby chocolate.

By the way, Godiva's first Asian store, famous for its luxury chocolate brand, is the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store (1972).
It may not come out, but it's a trivia.

First, I purchased "Yokan au Chocolat" with "Toraya". It is a product limited to the Paris store, and it is a taste of an adult with a mixture of rum and yokan.

Next, at the venue of the Sweets Collection, I ordered Pierre Marcolini soft serve ice cream. Combination of happiness that harmonizes rich aroma of cacao with gentle strawberry.

Speaking of Pierre Marcolini, it goes back to my memories of traveling to Belgium with my boss more than 20 years ago.
At that time, I don't think there was anything in Japan that would become a luxury chocolate market as it is now. Preliminary study on business trips (?) "Is Neuhaus, Wittamer, Del Rey, etc. famous in Belgium (all are still famous)" I had gained a shallow knowledge, but the old streets ○ province I met in Belgium said, "Let's go to an up-and-coming chocolate patissier shop that won the chocolate championship," "Piermaruco" said. There were chocolates like jewels in the shop, but I think it was mainly sold in "blocks" units like large plate chocolates.


Next is the real ruby chocolate ... I went to buy Del Rey ruby chocolate that I was aiming for ..., why?
It's sold out! ！　(Other brands were sold out all the way.)
Perhaps because of its rarity, it is even more expensive even in a high-class chocolate group, so I read a sweet saying, "It will not be sold out in a rubble."

Although the set of ruby chocolate "only" was sold out, I purchased a Peter buyer who sold a set containing ruby chocolate. Collaboration of sourness unique to fruits like berry and sweetness coming later. This is a gem that you want to eat more. Will it take some time to become a little more common?

(In addition, we purchased premium wheat chocolate etc. You can enjoy a variety of flavors. Domestic wheat is also a nice point.)
Many other brands, a variety of ways of enjoying, taste, sight, smell, hearing, and touch are elaborated enough to mobilize as much as possible, and the more you know, the deeper you notice.

The "French Blend" of Miyakoshiya Coffee, which is located at the same Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, is highly recommended as a coffee that goes well with chocolate.
Needless to say, I enjoyed chocolate while enjoying a slightly darker French blend.

　Suddenly, what do you recall when you hear the Suwa area of Nagano Prefecture? Fireworks of Lake Suwa, Lake Suwa, God Crossing, pillar of Suwa Taisha Shrine ...

　You may not have enough time in the picture, but don't forget the "eel".

　The Tenryugawa, which originates from Lake Suwa, is connected to Hamamatsu. Eel fry born in Hamamatsu climbed the Tenryugawa River and grew up in Lake Suwa, so eel catch has been very large since ancient times, and eel specialty stores are still lined up in the surrounding area. . In addition, this area is a mixture of steamed "Kanto-style" and ground-yaki "Kansai-style" shops, so you can enjoy both tastes.

　The other day, the annual eel festival (?) That's why I went to the Suwa area of Nagano Prefecture.
(Lake Suwa, which is 16 km per lap, has a wonderful running route, making it ideal for running. There's no shortage of hot springs after running. You can enjoy the package of "Eat, run, and hot spring". Shinshu is full of delicious food and is in trouble!) 。
(The scenery of Lake Suwa showing various faces in one lap. On a clear day, you can also enjoy the beautiful view of Mount Fuji.
　By the way, this time, I visited the eel "Kobayashi" (Suwa City). It is said that "natural eel has come in", so order without hesitation. The eel season is not summer, but from autumn to early spring is spreading. However, it is said that the availability of natural eels will be nearing the end in December.
At this shop, natural eels are said to be from Tokyo Bay in addition to Hamamatsu, etc., so I didn't think I could hear the story of eels in front of Edo here.

(The largest eel in my history. And it was excellent. It is a pity that the size is difficult to convey in the photo.)

This eel "Kobayashi" is also a member of the "Eel 100 Selections".
(The newsletter of the "Eel 100 Selection Party" received at the store. There are plenty of essays by Sawako Asakawa and talks about eel resource conservation. )

The "Eel 100 Selection Meeting" is issued by Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku (finally appeared in Chuo-ku). Even though it covers shops nationwide, if you look at members in Chuo-ku, you can see them.
(No particular order, titles omitted)
・Ise Sada
・Izumoya
・Oedo
・Kiyo River
・The Takashima family
・Miyakawa Honten
・Takebatei
・Noboru Sanmatsu (Tomimatsu)
・Hitsumabushi Nagoya Bicho Ginza Store

・・There are many famous shops that are well-known.

　
In the newsletter of the eel 100 selection society, a page on the protection of eel resources is also divided.
"Five years ago, 3-4 kilograms of shirasu were caught in the Ono River in Oita Prefecture." (It means that about 20,000 animals were caught overnight.) "Now, 100 to 1,000 animals are caught. It's not a level that this is decreasing anymore. It's a thousandth of the past."

I have been raising eels several times before. It may not be well known, but it is a large eater who has the ferociousness to attack other fish and eats shrimp, small fish, earthworm, etc. And I think it's a tough fish for changes in water quality and environmental conditions.
In the past, the decrease in the number of eels was caused by the deterioration of water quality, such as pollution, but the issue has changed to the depletion of resources itself.

In order to keep this food culture alive, I want to do something before it's too late.

The other day, when I took a bus in Chuo-ku, I was near Ningyocho, saying, "Speaking of puppet ware around here, Shigemori, Itakuraya, and Kamei-do....I heard someone saying, ""

　I said, "Oh, Kameido-san should have closed ... Kameido-san was selling "Saichosenbei (senbei)" which was written as "re-challenge", so I wonder if it was revived. "I thought I had to check secretly.

　Now, we are constructing buildings and condominiums everywhere in the city center, such as Chuo-ku, and I don't think it's uncommon for us to say that the landscape has changed completely if we noticed.

　As for the booklets such as "Nihonbashi on that day (Takeyodo)" that I have cut out some of the everyday scenery that should have been commonplace at that time, when I look now over time, I realize that they speak eloquently about the people's outfits and the hustle and bustle of the town, and I think, "A casual thing is fresh, exciting and valuable."

　With that in mind, I went to amazake Yokocho in Ningyocho early in the morning as a fixed-point observation. (From Ningyocho, head toward Hamacho, where Meijiza is located.)

　It seems that the place where there was a 100 yen shop before is being rebuilt. The enclosure of the construction site also serves as an advertisement/guidance version nearby.
(The shadow was beautifully reflected from the goodness of the camera's arm, please forgive me.)

　And here I noticed that the British cafe's Thai Reia Tearoom was moving to amazake Yokocho Street. You can enjoy delicious tea, scones, cakes, etc. at this shop, a cafe inspired by the British countryside. I also liked crotted cream, scones, black tea, chiffon cake, banana cake, etc. The shop was a little small, but it seems that it has been relocated and further expanded.

It was also called at the English fairs in Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi and Isetan, so "I thought it was delicious, but it was reasonable because I was called by Mitsukoshi" (/archive/2018/09/post-5598.html) (It was this shop that I got endorsed, not me, but I am a little happy early in the morning).

Unfortunately, Kameido, who was on the right side toward Meijiza, remained closed. (Speaking of puppet ware in Ningyocho, if there are some people who have not been updated, such as Nobudo Shigemori and Itakuraya, please refer to it.)

　The last is a photo of the construction site of "Japan's No. 390m skyscraper (390m), which is scheduled to be completed in 2027, exceeding Abeno Harukas" at Nihonbashi Exit of Tokyo Station.
What will happen in 10 years or 15 years? The dress has changed completely, and what was this before? You might think that.
(Slightly expand construction sites only ↓)

　I jogged about 10 kilograms before going to work this morning, and suddenly, "Oh? It's like this!' Yes, it's Yanagi Sansei in Ginza. It is located near Sakurada Gate in the Imperial Palace. I've been there many times, but I haven't noticed it so far, so how I haven't looked around ...

It's written on the signboard. "Ginza's willow III who disappeared from Ginza Street in 1968. Nisei willows were raised as cuttings with the willow branches of Ginza, and as cuttings, Ichiji Shiiba and Yasuo Katsumata grew the third willows with all heart. " It is a donation from the two of them.

　Speaking of Ginza, willow may be imagined by people over a certain generation, but it was in 1968 that the last willow was removed from Ginza Street (Chuo-dori). After the willow, shrubs Sharinbai are planted, and now yews are planted higher than human height.

　The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ginza Street Federation have announced that they will replant street trees into wigs by 2020, so Ginza Street is likely to become a more comfortable space in summer with more shade than ever before. (Sinding is essential for the hot summer in the coming summer.)

*********

By the way, even though there is no willow on the current Ginza-dori (Chuo-dori), as the name suggests, "Ginza Yanagi-dori St." is planted with trees in the alleys and willows cover the road.

The width of this Ginza Yanagi-dori St. is currently 16 meters. So, this width is the same road width as Ginza Street in the Edo period. Then, when I walked through the current Ginza Yanagi-dori St. while imagining and experiencing the width of the road in the Edo period, I felt like I could feel the hustle and bustle of the time, and how to walk like a time slip just by feeling It may be a way to enjoy it.

　As you may know, in April 1959, "Miyoshikai" was launched as a youth club of the Nihonbashi Cuisine and Food Business Association.

While accumulating activities rooted in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, we are sincerely working hard to cook food to protect the taste of Nihonbashi and expand the circle of exchange among members. In recent years, we have actively participated in various activities in the region and are actively working on the challenge of revitalizing the region.

The number of members gradually increased, and now it is about 60 people.

There are many famous shops in Nihonbashi, but because there are many options, I am worried about which shop is better, but if you are a member of this "Miyoshikai" (shops) I guess there is no doubt.

There are various types of faces, such as long-established stores and founding Hoya Hoya shops, but the passion for betting on restaurant management and the spirit of loving the city of Nihonbashi are both common.

There may be problems with the sensitivity of my antenna, but I think it's getting more and more momentum recently and more opportunities to see it.

(The photo shows a taste competition with the 344th Association at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi)

Occasionally, we often offer limited menus for events, and the other day, a lunch menu measure of 3440 yen was being developed.

The menu of every shop looks delicious. I was worried about what to eat ... I have no eyes on the sweet stuff, so this time I ordered a Afternoon Tea set with a fruit parlor at Senbikiya.

Well, it's delicious. Every time you get one step by step, the sadness of the goal approaches (laughs).

The drink is a blend of cold green tea and grapes. This was personally a new way of drinking.

Looking around, everyone seems to be ordering this 3440 menu, and it is still popular as a special menu.

(It is secret that we ordered not only the Afternoon Tea set but also the malon shortcake (soaked in milk).)