Have I mentioned The Rink? The place Danni owns? The place I went nearly every night for dinner & to hang out with friends, different friends every night? Sometimes Emiko, sometimes Roppongi, sometimes Misa or Misaki or Mariko. Yukie or Yuuki, Tomo or Atsu or Mochi-kun. It was always good.
Today Emiko (yes, the illustrator for The Book) sent me a picture of my favorite food at The Rink: chicken dippers. I’ve watched Danni cut and coat and fry the chicken himself, so I know it’s “homemade”. And I’ve gone shopping with him when he bought the ingredients to create his own honey mustard sauce ~ also homemade. It’s so much like eating a home-cooked meal, every time. I think that’s one reason I loved it so ~ whether chicken dippers, pizza, nashi goren, chili (HOT HOT HOT!!!), Thai curry, or anything else on the menu… it all took time, and many times I watched flames shoot up two or three feet while Danni or Atsu cooked. An adventure all its own, sitting up at the bar watching the goings-on in the kitchen.
Here’s what we came to call “Sue Set” because I ordered it so often ~ chicken dippers w/ honey mustard sauce, and a beer. Yummm.
Sue Set at The Rink
June 1, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I have been hearing Rink stories since before I had actually been to Kofu. For most of us that go to Kofu for business, it’s usually a nice break from having to communicate in sign language. I wonder just how many people look at it as a home away from home?
June 1, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Absolutely right, Kmbn, about it being a good place to relax and not have to use sign language. It used to be jam-packed with people, and a TON of foreigners went there, but then a rival “Western Bar” opened up and most of those foreigners migrated there. I still preferred The Rink, however, and enjoyed making friends with so many people there (including Japanese folks who don’t speak English ~ knowing the language is a definite advantage).
Do you go to Kofu often? Are you w/ Panasonic? Tokyo Electron? I met guys (they were always men) who came to Kofu from those companies, from those who were there 3-4 times a year; to those who were there on 2-year contracts.
If/when you go back to Kofu, you and your friends, please stop in at The Rink and tell Danni that Sue said hello (or order a “Sue Set” and see what happens! Of course, it would be great if you’d come back here and tell me about it!
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