Taiyaki (2004-05-11)
Taiyaki is a fish-shape pancake filled with sweet red bean paste ("tai" means bream in Japanese). It is one of the favorite snacks of Japanese people and it has been around for a very long time. Most shops make good taiyaki but the one in Nezu (
) turns out exceptional ones. The
shop's name
is simply called "Nezu no taiyaki" ( Nezu's Taiyaki).If you get out of subway Nezu Station and turn left once you get on
the street level, the tiny shop is just a few minutes away. So
far there was not a time when I didn't have to wait in line for
the snack. Their taiyaki is really famous. Countless
celebrities and political figures have visited their shop including
Walter Mondale, the former U.S. Vice President and Embassador to
Japan. Some of their autographs still adorn the shopfront.
What sets Nezu's Taiyaki apart from the others' is the batter which is used for the "body" and the filling. The pancake body is more like a paper thin crust holding a creamy paste of red beans that is sweetened just right. Yet some kernels are left in the paste to give texture and contrast to the overall smoothness. Each taiyaki is made individually using cast iron molds with a long handle. The chef has to constantly turn each mold so they don't burn. The process must give him very sore wrists at the end of the day. And for years the owner has not raised the price of his taiyaki despite its popularity. They are sold for 120 yen (US$1.1)each.
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