Japanese Pizza

After leaving the the Peace Park, we headed into dowwntown and began our hunt for Okonomiyaki (aka - Japanese pizza). NOTE: Japanese pizza and neapolitan pizza have very little in common. First of all, it is cooked on griddle, not in an oven. It starts out as a fine layer of dough (paper-thin) and then a multitude of ingredients is added. There is no tomoto sauce in case you are wondering. I believe mine was the "traditional" which included, bean sprouts, cabbage, fish flakes, pork, egg, spices and a sauce somewhat like tonkatsu sauce. Once this is piled high, it is pliiped over and pressed into a pancake. Once it is done, it is cut up into small pieces, and served - you eat it directly off the griddle!!! Of course you have to wash it down with a cold draft beer. Man was this pizza good. Super satisfying and fulfilling...wait, that sounds like I just ate a neapolitan pizza! New menu item at Tutta Bella?!? Oshi!!!

Shochu from the Moon Light

One experience I forgot to mention in Sendai was my gift of Shochu from the Moon Light. After the tug-of-war ended, Tarah headed back to our hotel while I wandered around taking in the sights. I found a little bar near the JR station and decided to take a peek. I walked in and found the bar keep and one patron. They were pretty excited to have an "American" in their pub. The bartender's name was Lei'a and the drunk old guy introduced himself as "John." I ordered a Shochu and I was handed my drink along with a beer and a plate of tomatoes/cucumbers/mayonaisse. Within a minute, a microphone was thrust upon me and the karoke machine cranked out "Rocky Mountain High" by Olivia Newton John!?! I had to sing for the two friends I had just met, but I didn't have the heart to tell them that Oliva Newton John did not sing that song. After another round, "John" had a taxi pick him up and I was ready to head back. In typical Japanese form, Lei'a handed me bottle of house Shochu as a gift and wished me well. What a great way to end a visit to Sendai, Kyushu. BTW - that John Denver is full of shit.