Depa-chika (デパチカ） is a kind of Japanese slang but it is important for food lovers in this country. It is abbreviation of "デパート地下食品売り場"(depart chika shokuhin uriba = food corner on underground floors in major department stores). In order to attract store visitors as many as possible, major department stores in Japan compete in the selection of food stands on their underground floors. Some can be one from other regions in Japan such as cake shops from Kobe, Sapporo or from other parts of the world; France, Italy, Korea or China. Others would be from traditional grocery or upscale restaurants in Tokyo.
Anyway, if we go to food corners in the major department stores, we are surely able to find something high quality and rate to find in any other place.
Today I found very unique and could-be strange food at "Tokyu Foodshow"(food corner of Tokyu department store) in Shibuya.
It is called "Avocado shrimp don"(アボカド・シュリンプ丼）. Avocado is not traditional food in Japan. I wondered how the fresh product can go with rice
It is packed in a paper box with a handle like this so we can bring the lunch box everywhere we want.
The avocado shrimp don comes from a tea house AOcafe in Aoyama.
Rice is on the bottom of the box and it is cooked with Hojicha (Japanese grilled tea). So the rice is not white color.
The first step to prepare the meal is put avocado, shrinps and vegerables onto the cooked rice.
Then mix all of them well...
until pieces of avocado are crushed into very small pieces.
Following advices by the food corner staff, I put the sauce at the last of mixing process.
The tast is never bad rather I like it. Surely I will buy it again.
But I have no idea about this food origin...
It cannot be Japanese traditional food at least.
Is it modern Japanese food ?
Can anybody answer to my question?
To enjoy more variations of Avocado shrimps don, as my original version, for the second half, I added nori (海苔、dried seaweed), sesame and wasabi. That was also tasty and maybe better for health.
At AOcafe food stands in Tokyu Foodshow, some more don(丼）menu are available such as Avocado salmon, Natto and minched meat. All are innovative food but surely healthy ones.
Let's try the new world of taste
Shop name: AOcafe Tokyu Foodshow, Tokyu Department store Shibuya Toyoko
Address: 2-24-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Website: Tokyu Foodshow http://www.tokyu-dept.co.jp/foodshow/
Other foods I already introduced are also available at "Depachika" in Tokyo.
Les MIGNARDISES at Daimaru Tokyo
Linked page: http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2009/03/les-mignardises.html
Mamegen at Tokyu Foodshow
Linked page: http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2008/05/mame--mamegen-d.html
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