Fred's friends invited us to izakaya "Tonneau" this weekend. An izakaya is a popular type of establishment in Japan. It's similar to a pub or a Japanese version of a Spanish tapas bar. People come to hang out, drink and eat. The food portions are smaller, so you can sample several different things while you drink. I had been to a couple izakayas before, but nothing quite like this place.
Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me to capture this unusual izakaya. Fred, however, had a photo of the exterior from the last time he went. Behold, the barrel:
The interior was equally as impressive. Lots of carved-wood details underneath the huge, vaulted barrel ceiling. The menu was extensive and you order by picking up a phone at your table. Fred's friend turned me onto a Japanese drink called chu-hi. It's a carbonated fruit drink with alcohol - almost like a spritzer of sorts. I had the grapefruit chu-hi with freshly squeeze juice. It is my new favorite drink.
The food was delicious. We sampled a variety of different foods - tuna sashimi, stir-fried eggplant with miso, stir-fried tofu with vegetables, and I even tried some sea grapes. Sea grapes, or umibudo, are one of the million different types of seaweed here. It is named for its tiny grape-like appearance. Eaten raw, it has a crisp consistency as the salty "grapes" pop in your mouth. I was surprised by how much I loved it. It's available almost everywhere here, so I foresee much more umibudo in my future.
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