Tempura

Blogspot is acting very slow this morning so bare with me.

Yesterday included a special train ride to Sapporo from Shikaoi on the Ski Express Train. I didn't know what to expect as it was a special booking made with my blessing by our travel agent. I don't have any problem with the normal express trains used on that route. They have always been quiet, roomy, fast and efficient. But the Ski Express, meant to whisk skiers home to Sapporo from the interior mountain hills in uber-comfort and style was a fun experience. The train sat higher, had a window ceiling and displays showing the view from the front of the moving train. This was not as interesting because my travel agent had also taken care to reserve us seats at the very front of the train which included a view out of the huge windshield of the train. Lots of room for skis and bags too. Very fun!



For dinner in Sapporo we were treated, with our friends the Suginome's, to the famous Ebiten in Susukino. Home to the universally acclaimed handmade tempura (not the frying part though). All of our spread was delicious, mind-boggling delicious - even the rice - but "ebi" means "shrimp" which means shrimp tempura is their specialty, all of it always cooked to prefection. I will find it hard to return to Canada and eat just normal shrimp; amazing texture and taste. I have a theory that Albertans that don't like seafood should have started in Japan first (but this has never been a problem in my family). I noted, to great laughter, that they must have fed the shrimp butter to make them taste so good. It was pleasant to leave the restaurant perfectly content, knowing one couldn't possibly desire anymore food; expect that we immediately entered the dessert shop next door.