FOOD FOOD FOOD....Oishi desu ne

Ok the food in Tokyo is something else I have to tell you you about! Lets just start with fruit and vegetables...

Ok the fruit/veg here puts any market in Sydney to absolute shame. No matter where you go, let it be the massive supermarkets, green grocers or the tiny corner stores you see everywhere, the fruit & veg is amazing. It is like picking it straight from your own garden. I have been buying both fruit and vegies for over a week now, and those of you who know me, know that I consume a massive amount of both of these food groups. Everytime I have eaten a piece it has always been ripe, juicy, crunchy and damn delicious. Its nothing but fresh and I can't believe we have been missing out on this back home.

Oh and the rumours about apples costing $10 is a load of S***. The most one apple cost I saw was like $5, but thats in the expensive markets AND this apple was the size of four normal apples put together. Basically it was one huge freaking apple. I have been buying apples down the road from where I live at the corner market and one apple costs $1.50 and it is still pretty damn big. But, other fruits that are cheap include pineapples, some mangoes, bananas ($2 for like 6)...now thats damn cheap. And the vegies are a decent price too. I must say that the pineapples are the finest I have ever eaten. They are BIG (ookii) and so so juicy!

Ok now the rice here is also different. When I cooked it I was like..."huh..is this right?" The rice is only short grain, but when it cooks it is like sticky...but also has its own flavour. Like it actually tastes like a food, not like the dodgyness back home. I was told rice here is totally different to Australia and that story is definitely true.

When you go shopping its different to home. They don't use trolleys, but baskets. No one buys a massive shop because they have to bike and walk everywhere plus the Japanese people do not consume massive amounts. I havn't seen one obese Japanese person yet....I do not think they exist. Australia should take one from Japan and maybe we wouldn't have the health issues we have. But things like corn flakes, and lollies and other random brands you can get in Tokyo. But foreign brands are hiked up. Like our kelloggs cornflakes costs $8, but if you buy the Japanese cornflakes it costs $1.60. Massive difference. Oh, and I asked them about lactose free milk, because I am lactose intolerant. Guess what...they have never heard of it. My Japanese friends said if someone can't eat that food they just do not eat it. I was like, but you need dairy for calcium and they said tuff shit. WOW, if you have a disability here you are in deep poo. Like the train stations don't have anywhere for wheelchair access. Sounds harsh, but thats how they keep their city efficient. If I see any disability facilities around I will let you know, but so far there isnt too many. But, in the mean time I am keeping to soy milk, someone said they heard there is lactose free in Japan but no idea where. That was no help at all!

And I have been eating out. The sushi here is damn good, as one would expect. And I know a few people that have been here before me told me the food here was bad, but I just think they ate at the cheap dodgy takeouts like so many people do in Australia. Bascially they wouldn't know what good food was if it kicked them in the butt. But, I have eaten soba noodles, sushi, ramen, beef dishes and seaweed fresh. Fresh seaweed tastes funny but they tell us its the most healthy thing you can eat, so I started to eat it regularly. Guess what it actually helps my gut (those who know of my med condition will understand). So seaweed it is!

GUESS WHAT! Pasta here is ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. I experienced the worst ever the other day and the other gaigin told me its all like that here. It is so watery and yuck. Italians would be ashamed to see what they are cooking here. So sad....I want real pasta :(

But, with all the healthy fruit, veg, meats, seafood, noodles etc I will be fine. Also the snacks here are crazy. At the cherry blossom party they brought heaps of different kinds for us to try. We had all different kinds of rice crackers, cookies, chocolates and weird chessey sticks. Also had beer here....mmm alcohol. Oh and YEP...alcohol is cheap as. Like half the price of what we pay back home. I saw beam for like $15....and Schmirnoff $10-$15 for massive bottles. AND you guessed it, smokes are only $3 a pack, not that I smoke, but I know plenty that do and know how you all wish they were so cheap :)

Thats all the info I have on the food front for now. If I come across crazy foods or happenings on this topic I will let you know. And if you have any questions on food I might have missed just hit me up!