We realized just yesterday that the annual Ginza Festival was on at the Midwest Buddhist Temple in Old Town. This is a small but mighty celebration of Japanese culture and includes all sorts of entertaining and inspiring things happening on the main stage, namely, Aikido and Judo demos as well as Taiko drumming (that's drumming on those big, dramatic drums) and folk dancing. We enjoyed all of that (especially the drumming) but you know why I wanted to go? I bet you can guess. Yes, I wanted to go check out the food.
Ted made his way to the Chicken Terriyaki where he scored a half a chicken nicely glazed and grilled over charcoal served with rice and coleslaw (hey, this is Chicago we gotta sneak some mayonnaise in somehow). Ben helped direct people to the chicken tent.
I went and got some udon, I thought it was going to be hot but was happily surprised to find it in a cold broth, perfect for a summer day.
Sam being Sam, chose to gnosh on popcorn in lieu of anything substantial. I must say, I found the paper bag rather eye-catching. It's funny, I was munching on edamame, which I think it sort of the Japanese version of popcorn, in terms of a cheap but satisfying salty snack.
And Ben being Ben, chose to sample a little bit of everything and enjoy it all, except for the edamame which he spit out without much ceremony.
It was very much a last minute outing, but as we made our way home on the pokey #22 bus, our bellies full with such good food and having enjoyed a nice variety of Japanese culture (and getting some good climbing time in at a local playground) we agreed we need to check out some more neighborhood and ethnic festivals before summer is out. I believe the Korean Festival is in a couple of weeks . . . bulgogi perhaps?
Cheers!
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