How about ‘Petrifying’and ‘Awe-stricken’?
Last week in Tokyo, my friends asked me to meet them in ‘some restaurant’ in Akasaka-Mitsuke. When I arrived (sparing details of my torture getting around Japan subway lines), I was told to be a little prepared for what’s to come. I dismissed the warning nonchalantly. I just had a tough week in Japan, and didn't think it is possible that my eyebrows can be raised any further.
A ninja's presence must remain unknown
When I found the restaurant, my eyebrows started tingling. I am looking into an abyss in the wall. The entrance is set right in the dark grey walls of a building. “I can do holes in the wall”, I think to myself. And I entered.
Down the stairs, I came to an unfurnished tiny dark room with just the sound of distant water for ambience. There is a petite Japanese girl wrapped in black ninja robe with shining eyes in brimming red glasses and pigtails. “Manga!”, I thought. She gave me a brimming smile as I gestured to her, lifting an imagery spoon to my mouth. And she suddenly gave out whooping cry.
And in fly the ninja girl.
‘Petrifying’
My ninja welcome was nothing I expected. Gesturing me to follow her, I scurried along as she led me through darkened passages. Up and down flights of stairs. A sudden gush of wind swept my hair across my face. She babbled on incessantly in Japanese, I figured explaining each of the 'obstacles' we are going through. All of a sudden, we stop short and we reach an end to the passage way with a deep drop ahead. "What do we do???", she exclaimed. I looked around half expecting daggers to fly and hoping that fit ninja boys will come rescue me from this strange yapping woman. Instead she started chanting and a trap door opens up to us.
Welcome to the Ninja Labyrinth
Imagine a hideout based on the elements: water, wind, tree, earth and stone. This is exactly how the dining fortress looks like. Dry ice escaping from water ponds, bamboo trees and dark stoned caves. Ninja girl announced that I am assigned to the 'Oburo' hideout and led me to my cave, where I found my friends stiffling their giggles at the sight of my shell-shocked face and wind-blown hair.
Serious presentation of light Ninja grubs
What do ninjas eat, you might ask? Surprisingly pretty normal food such as octopus, reconstructed eggs, hot stone soup, potato ice cream and bonsai tree. Don't get me wrong, the food is odd but extremely tasty. We had a twenty course meal with minute size servings of delectable and exquisite fusion japanese delicacies. Presentation is key here and every single dish served leaves us in awe. We had raw pork and vegetables cooked in front of us using purely hot stones. Our sashimi comes in a bed of dry ice and every other darn thing is painstakingly shaped or carved.
'Awe-stricken'
Every now and then, we have our ninja visitors. Hilarious ninja jesters pulling bread roll from his mouth and executing amazing card tricks. Ninja-clad waitresses serving our food and drinks. The courses are served periodically over nearly three hours. It was almost a shame when our desserts arrived - cheese cake shaped as a frog (named 'frog looking cheese cake' in the menu) and bonsai tree ice cream. Oh by the way, I heard the dessert menu scroll vanishes into thin air after reading.
Ninja Battle Send-Off
They say a ninja's lair is his hideout from the rest of the world. When you leave, it is usually only for battle. Our send-off was as dramatic as the entry. Reverbating chants of battle-cries ensued as we departed from Oburo cave and on to our next 'battle'- which by the way is, bar hopping in Shibuya! Our manga ninja girl led us through the obtacles course (again!) and out through the same hole in the wall. Just before we leave, she suddenly gave us another one of her trademarked whooping cry as she unleased a scroll with the words, 'Do Come Back Again', kneeling right there in the busy streets of Akasaka.
Restaurant Ninja Akasaka - I highly recommend
1F Akasaka Tokyu Plaza 2-14-3 Nagata-cho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Go by: Tokyo Subway Akasaka-mitsuke Station (Ginza Line)
Phone: 1-81-3-5157-3936
http://www.ninja.tv/
4 comments:
waaaah. you r in tokyo. i so jeles.
Don't be. They hated me. I can't slurp my ramen and I mix wasabi in my soy sauce. Those are two major culinary taboos there.
your blogs are the most interesting read. They are sometimes very philosophical. But, this ninja one...hmmm...I think I have to come on a trip with you to Japan.
Awww.. thanks for the note, Anon:) Ok for you, more zen-ness moving forth - even in food review
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