New Japanese Style Restaurant [Chikurinbo] / 新和食 本町 「竹林坊」

I started my current job at the beginning of March in 2017. I'm currently going on my fourth year teaching English at an English Language Conversation School located near Aomori Station. At the beginning of summer, the office staff and veteran teacher held a kangeikai, a welcoming party for me and the new teacher who would be teaching at Hirosaki University. Of course, many students were invited as well, even though there was a nominal fee to join us. The party was to be held in an area called Honmachi at a Japanese style restaurant called [Chikurinbo].

現在の職に就いたのは２０１７年３月１日から。今は四年目に入ってます。青森駅近くの英会話学校で英語の講師をやってます。夏の始まりに先輩講師と日本人スタッフが僕と弘前大学勤務の先生の歓迎会を開いてくれた。選んだ場所は本町にある新和食レストラン「竹林坊 （ちくりんぼう）」。何人の生徒たちも参加しました。

A very nice interior. It looks a bit luxurious. 

店内は凄い良い雰囲気でした。結構高級感がある感じ。

Tonight's course menu.

今夜のコースメニュー。

First, we were served an a grilled eggplant topped with tororo (grated yams).

最初の料理は焼き茄子とろろ。

Next, the otsukuri (assorted sashimi platter) which included maguro (tuna), amberjack, sweet shrimp, and octopus. 

次出たのがお造り。今夜のお造りおはまぐろ、かんぱち、甘海老とたこ。

We were then served a Chinese-sytle salad with Chinese dressing.

お造りの次は中華サラダ中華ドレッシング。

The main entree was a one-pot dish made with beef. Udon was added to broth when most of the meat was eaten.

メインはちりとり鍋、牛バラ。鍋〆は焼きうどん。

Before dessert, we served the daimono (an assortement of dishes) which included Japanese Spanish mackerel, ceviche, ikamenchi (squid croquette), meat-wrapped fishcake with cheese. 

デザートの前は台物。提供されたのはさごし新線焼き、セビチェ、いかメンチ、とチーズはんぺん肉巻き。

Dessert was a yogurt mousse with blueberry sauce. 

デザートはヨーグルトムースブルーベリーソース。

As I was still getting to know the students, I didn't take any pictures of the participants or the other teachers. Also, my mother-in-law told me that her husband had worked on part of the interior of this restaurant but she has never eaten here. 

まだ生徒たちが詳しく知らなかったので、生徒たちと他の先生たちの写真を撮れなかった。あとから聞いたはなしですが、義理の母の夫がこの店の中庭を手掛けたんだって。義理の母は店に食べに来たこともないので、その店内も見たことないと言ってた。

Restaurant [Ajisai] / レストラン 「あじ菜」

We were meeting one of my wife's friend's for dinner and she suggested this washoku (Japanese style) restaurant. It is called Ajisai. This was back in February, our second month of living in Aomori City. I was still not fully employed but something promising did come along.

妻の友達と久ぶり会うので、この和食レストランに決定されました。名前は「あじ菜」。私たちは青森引っ越してまだ２ヶ月しか経ってない頃だった。２月の下旬でまた雪がいっぱい残ってる。自分もまだ仕事が見つかってなかったが、採用されそうな会社があった。

We sat near the window as we ordered our meal.

窓側の席に座って、食べ物を待ってた。

I love that many restaurants in Japan still have the plastic food displays at the front of the shop.

まだいろんなレストランがプラスチックの食べ物ディスプレーがあるのは嬉しい。

Tonight's dinner. We all ordered the same item. Zaru soba with tempura and sushi. This dish was called the "Ajisai Zen" and cost 1,380yen and it was all delicious.

私たちは全員同じものを注文した。あじ菜膳。これはざるそばと天ぷらと５巻の寿司。美味しかったよ。この量で値段は１，３８０円。

We decided to order some dessert as well. We ordered the shiratama zenzai (rice cake and ice cream with red bean sauce).

デザートも注文しました。頼んだのは白玉ぜんざい。

Bon Appetit!

いただきます！