Izakaya: the Japanese Pub Cookbook
The Izakaya: the Japanese Pub Cookbook review done by Metropolis has me itching to get a copy. While the title may seem a little misguiding, the book is not just about recipes. It’s also a guide to fine watering holes and good eats around Japan.
Neither restaurant nor bar, the izakaya is more than a place where you can share delicious food and relaxing drinks—though it is certainly that. In many neighborhoods, it is a community hub with a cast of characters and ongoing narratives. The customers will range from locals and regulars to office workers, academics or day-laborers. They will order small-dish delicacies throughout the evening, perhaps in the beginning sharing just a couple of items. The menu is like a road map and the diners are at the wheel, calling out orders as the mood takes them. All dishes are inexpensive, and as the “scenery” and conversation changes, items that initially escaped notice acquire new appeal. No inquisitive diner can fail to broaden his or her horizons, wandering side routes into exciting new food avenues. And as the evening progresses and energy levels rise, you will hear straight talk and the uttering of hard truths that won’t ordinarily be spoken. In short, at the izakaya, people are more themselves.
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