A Local Favorite – Matsusaka’s Downtown Yakiniku Barbeque
Born and bred in Matsusaka.
Our cuisine isn’t that famous Matsusaka beef,
its grilled chicken!。
Downtown dining culture.
As the sun sets, folks gather at a place that feels like home. The fragrant smoke, the sound of the TV, and the warmth of the hearth soothe body and spirit.
Ahhhh, this…this
is the flavor!
Bursting with flavor bite after bite, it’s a taste you can’t quit. The firm white meat has its share of fans as well.
Horumon (fatty intestine) snaps and pops over the flames. It isn’t chicken, but it’s a yakiniku staple.
The rich juices mingle with the miso-based sauce and make an excellent complement to rice and sake.
No worries, let’s have a little more!
At the next shop, we are greeted with a beaming smile.
“I’m home!”
Seems the right thing to say here.
Bright smiles and cheerful voices make the best seasonings!
Ah, this is a moment of joy. Laughing and eating, what could be better? Warmth flows from the bottom of our hearts.
Delicious, almost nostalgic, but it never gets old.
Of course, its beef.
Forgive the boast, but this beef is the pride of Matsusaka.
What awaits behind the noren curtain?
Matsusaka beef!
Salt and wasabi bring out the flavor of the meat.
Looking on, the waiting is excruciating!
The texture is not one of chewing so much as unravelling the meat with one’s teeth.
The savory umami of the meat and the sweetness of the fat strike an exquisite balance.
Matsusaka beef horumon is only distributed locally.
“Ahhh, it’s so juicy…” I sigh.
The feeling is one of being enveloped in total satisfaction. I take up my rice bowl to finish off the meal.
I enjoy some kimchee while my meat is grilling.
The flames lick hungrily at the meat.
This is downtown.
Greetings given with a smile are heartily returned.
Idle chatter…
“So, where ya from?”
“ round here?”
“From Matsusaka, huh?”
In a small town roots run deep.
Warmth.
Food brings people together.
Cuisine and culture comes from the people.
（October 23, 2016）
Produced for Web Magazine OTONAMIE by Hashimoto Nana