This didn't stand a chance.
Today I stayed home from work. My legs are still sore to the point of "functionless" thanks to my failed attempt at dancing a few days ago, and the stomach bug that's been ripping through my company suddenly hit and left me exhausted and useless on my bedroom floor. I deeply believe that our bodies will generally tell us exactly what they need if we only think to ask, so I sat there, aching legs in awkward angles, and asked my unhappy stomach what it needed to feel better.
"Pizza," it said.
Pizza is expensive here. Well, scratch that. Vaguely Western style pizza is expensive here. Japanese style pizza can be found for fairly cheap -- my favorite place serves up a decent sized "Italian salami" (read: pepperoni) pie for about $7 USD -- but it's an acquired taste. Japanese style pizza is thin crust to the point of ridiculousness, more of a cracker than a pizza, and the ratio of sauce to cheese to toppings is nearly opposite of what a girl from New York expects out of her pie.
Pizza Hut is not quality pizza, but it is one of the closest experiences I can get to "home" without heading all the way up to Costco. That said, there are some marked differences between Japanese Pizza Hut and American Pizza Hut, as demonstrated, in part, by this ad that came with my "Basil and Tomato" pizza:
"Pizza," it said.
Pizza is expensive here. Well, scratch that. Vaguely Western style pizza is expensive here. Japanese style pizza can be found for fairly cheap -- my favorite place serves up a decent sized "Italian salami" (read: pepperoni) pie for about $7 USD -- but it's an acquired taste. Japanese style pizza is thin crust to the point of ridiculousness, more of a cracker than a pizza, and the ratio of sauce to cheese to toppings is nearly opposite of what a girl from New York expects out of her pie.
Pizza Hut is not quality pizza, but it is one of the closest experiences I can get to "home" without heading all the way up to Costco. That said, there are some marked differences between Japanese Pizza Hut and American Pizza Hut, as demonstrated, in part, by this ad that came with my "Basil and Tomato" pizza:
Just look at this "Party Set!" I'm sorry for the terrible quality, but I am sore and sick and hence could not be bothered with actually focusing my camera. The important part is the pizza. I've been here long enough that this no longer phases me, but you might want a little more explanation. Japan absolutely loves these "mixed" pizzas, where one half is one breed of pizza and the other half is something entirely else. (One could turn this into an ironic extended metaphor, but I will be tasteful and resist the urge. For now.) The left half of this pizza is a "Winter Deliglace Beef" pie. According to my menu, this consists of "demiglace containing meat", brocolli and mushrooms. Doesn't sound too bad to me, honestly. The other half is the "Crab&Shrimp Mayo King."
This is where we start getting a little crazy.
The C&SMK consists of crab, shrimp, broccoli, onion, and corn, all in a delicious mayonaise sauce. This is, sadly, so typical of Japanese pizza tastes that I am no longer shocked by it. I remember being seventeen and having my lovely English teacher at Chiyoda High School bring me out to an Italian restaurant after I had whined about missing American pizza to her for months. I was expecting great things, as most food here is exceptionally well prepared, in my opinion... and then I was greeted with corn. Mayonaise. Egg.
The world's tiniest violin strummed out a wistful tune.
Anyway, that might be enough, but I want us to pay attention to one last thing: the crust.
This is where we start getting a little crazy.
The C&SMK consists of crab, shrimp, broccoli, onion, and corn, all in a delicious mayonaise sauce. This is, sadly, so typical of Japanese pizza tastes that I am no longer shocked by it. I remember being seventeen and having my lovely English teacher at Chiyoda High School bring me out to an Italian restaurant after I had whined about missing American pizza to her for months. I was expecting great things, as most food here is exceptionally well prepared, in my opinion... and then I was greeted with corn. Mayonaise. Egg.
The world's tiniest violin strummed out a wistful tune.
Anyway, that might be enough, but I want us to pay attention to one last thing: the crust.
Is that a freaken hot dog in the crust?! Yes, yes it is. The other side is filled with cheese.
For what it's worth, my pizza was pretty generic and very delicious. I enjoyed the halved cherry tomatoes the most. It seems to have appeased my angry stomach for the time being.
Maybe next time I will get the "Idaho Special": diced potatoes, bacon, onion, corn, parsley, and black pepper, in a half tomato, half mayonaise sauce. Sigh. I have been here long enough that this almost sounds like a very good idea.
For what it's worth, my pizza was pretty generic and very delicious. I enjoyed the halved cherry tomatoes the most. It seems to have appeased my angry stomach for the time being.
Maybe next time I will get the "Idaho Special": diced potatoes, bacon, onion, corn, parsley, and black pepper, in a half tomato, half mayonaise sauce. Sigh. I have been here long enough that this almost sounds like a very good idea.
mayonaise and the word "pizza" should NEVER occur in the same sentence!!! That being said, i'm glad you satisfied your urge for pie...if i could freeze dry Pizza 2000, i would'nt hesistate to rescue you from this pseudo pizza dilema..as far as the delicious japanese pizza hut ad, well, there's "too many mother uckers ucking with that shi!"
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