Karani
I love the simplicity of 'udon' for lunch. Cheap, quick, delish and fun. I went to Takamatsu city in Kagawa-ken again last month to feast on udon for three meals a day, and visit my favourite Ritsurin Park; probably again by slow ferry for the long weekend in October. Noodles are Nice aren't they.
Instead of my usual 300 yen-ish bowl of udon goodness, today I visited 'Karani' for some atmospheric hand made 'soba' on my last day of school holidays before Semester 2 begins tomorrow proper. Located in the softly humming 'shoutengai' just 500 metres down from JR Fukushima station, Karani is a lovely Sunday lunch location. The place is fresh, feel-good and modernly old. Soba dishes range from 800 – 1300 yen, with a large selection of 'tsumami' (snacks) to begin your journey with some Heartland beer perhaps.
The man behind this shop, Kiyoshi san, is a surfer boy true. Mini splurges of surf photos and surf magazines here and there, add to the colour and charm of this corner place comfortable. His surfy tan, and radiantly shiny laughter lend the interior landscape some buzz and beauty.
The soba is just divine, and looks so very pretty; eat slowly and enjoy the different textures. There are thick and thin soba combinations, which to me look exquisitely feminine and masculine. After your meal, add some of the thick white 'sobayu' (in the jug) to your soba dipping sauce, and try drinking it. A distinctly refreshing way to end your meal experience.
Closed Thursdays, and every 4th Wednesday.
Open from 11:00 – 14:00 for lunch, and 17:00 – 20:30 for dinner.
HOW to get there:
Get off at JR Fukushima station on the Loop Line, and turn left out of the station. Cross the train tracks, and make an immediate left at Mister Donuts down into the 'shoutengai'. Cross over Amaidaike suji street intersection, and keep walking a little more. Karani is on the right hand side corner.
After your meal, you could have some coffee, cake and slow time at either the newly opened 'Cafe Stove' (in the 'shotengai' heading back to ward the station on the left side), (10:00 - 18:00 on weekends and public holidays, and 10:00 - 20:00 on weekdays.)
The staff are sweet ("Here won't you have some roll cake we got as a gift. We surely can't eat it all." they said to me on my first visit), the crockery is adorably retro, the hand made donuts are scrummy, and the mood is slowly healing.
Another great choice sensational is the nearby simplicity of 'a Terre' (with a little gift shop full of 'zakka' delights downstairs)
(Head back toward the station, cross over the Amidaike suji street intersection near the 7-11 convenience store, and turn left. Only a short walk away from there.)
Both are wonderful places to spend some time.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment