Stew Restaurant Hippopotamus (new location) / シチューの店「ヒポポタマス」(移店先）

My wife and I had a favorite neighborhood restaurant called [Hippopotamus] where we went to eat weekly for a long time period. The specialty of the restaurant was its beef stew but we were hooked on their garlic-cream chicken. One day while we were walking, we noticed that the space where the restaurant was supposed to be was empty! It was a very sad day or so we thought until we continued walking and discovered that they didn't close, they only moved to a new location. By this time we had not been going every week, only on a few rare occasions. But being so happy to know that they didn't close, one Saturday afternoon, I decided to have lunch at the new location.

自分の近所に以前僕と妻の気に入りのビーフシチューの店「ヒポポタマス」がありました。 長い期間毎週行きましたね。シチューが店の自慢ですが、私たちがはまったのチキンのガーリッククリームソース。これは絶品。ある日散歩しながら、店がなくなってた。びっくりの上結構悲しい気持ちになった。でも散歩を続いたら、またびっくり、店は潰れたんじゃなくて、移転しました。良かった。まだあの大好きなガーリッククリームチキンが食べられる！ちょっと前だけど、昼食の時間でウロチョロしてる時、思い出した。ヒポはランチもやってる、そこに食べに行こうっと。

The restaurant moved from Wakabayashi to a busy shotengai (market street) near Shoin Jinja. The new location has a larger space but still retains its homey atmosphere.

店の移転先は世田谷線の若林駅近くから同じ世田谷線の松蔭神社の商店街へ。店内が前より広くなってますが、以前と同じ様な暖かい雰囲気です。

Oh no! I thought again as I noticed the garlic cream chicken was not listed on the lunch menu. Fortunately, since I have been a long time customer, the owner made my favorite dish for me! The lunch set includes salad with home-made dressing and you can choose if you would like rice or bread as well.

あっ！とまた思った。今度は僕が大好きなガーリッククリームチキンはランチメニューに載ってない！良かったことに、自分は元常連客だったので、オーナーが僕の好物のメニューを作ってくれました。ランチセットはサラダ（手作りドレッシング入り）とライス付き。ライスはパンに変わることも可能。

Their homemade dressing is to kill for. So delicious. I had asked for the recipe once and had given it to my sister but she told me she lost it.

店のサラダドレッシングもとっても美味しい。

My favorite dish on their menu, the garlic cream chicken.

ヒポのメニューで僕の一押しの食べ物はこれーガリッククリームチキン。

I decided to have the bread with my lunch instead of rice as I like to dip the bread into the garlic sauce as well.

僕はライスよりパンを選びました。パンはガーリックソースを付けて食べるのも俺流。

And a beer to go with the meal.

そしてランチはビールと共に。

Bon Appetit!

いただきます！

2016 New Year Welcoming Party / ２０１６年 新年会

Japan has a tradition of having an end of the year party in December called the bonenkai and then a welcoming the new year party called the shinnenkai. My friends and I usually celebrate both the bonenkai and shinnenkai at our friend's restaurant [Kitamachi Utou] in Ushigome Kagurazaka. This year would be no different.

日本で年末に忘年会があって、新年には新年会があり。僕の回りの友達は毎年牛込神楽坂にある「北町 善知鳥」という店で忘年会と新年会を開催する。今年の新年会も友達とその店に集まってワイワイしました。

Cheers to the New Year / ２０１６年に乾杯

The informally set menu is always delicious!

毎年提供する料理は素晴らしい！

Always a good time when celebrating with friends.

友達と飲むと一番幸せですね。

Someone brought a snack from Aomori Prefecture called Imo ate.

誰か青森県のお菓子イモ当てを持ってきた。

Owner and chef of Kitamachi Utou, Ken-chan / 北町善知鳥のオーナーチェフの健ちゃん

Yukio most likely doing his Eikichi Yazawa impression.

幸男は絶対矢沢の真似してる。

Yukio and 21 (that is his nickname) / 幸男と２１番

Group photo / グループフォト

Continuing the celebration of the New Year at another establishment.

二次会の店。

Me and my friend Ai / 僕と友達の愛ちゃん

Wandering the street of Kagurazaka at night.

夜の神楽坂でウロチョロ。

Someone having too much fun.

誰かさんが大げさに楽しめた。

But before going home, some of us had a bowl of ramen at Kagetsu Arashi.

何人で〆は花月嵐のラーメン。

And that was the end of the evening.

ここで新年会の巻くが閉じた。