Making Food Blog

One of the most enjoyable parts of Japanese eating for me is the convenient food at 7/11. I know you are immediately thinking I am refering to the types of highly processed foods that we are accustomed to seeing at convenience stores in the United States, but 7/11 in Japan offers something quite different. I could realistically build a blog dedicated to trying each fresh item in the convenient stores of Japan and have enough content to fill years of posts.

Let’s start with something new and unexpected: tongue. Tongue is a bit labor intensive, and it is a part of the animal that many have never tried.

If you have ever seen a tongue displayed at the meat counter, then you have seen the tough skin it is encased in. You don’t traditionally eat that part. Instead you eat what is inside that tough skin. The tongue is actually a very lean muscle that requires slow cooking but accepts flavoring, from cooking options like grilling and smoking, very well.

The tongue on offer at 7/11 is an ever-present item that is smoked and sliced into thin medalions. The medalions are tender and filled with subtle flavor. Overall, it is a delicious, simple, and convenient protein to add to any meal. 

When exploring here, it is easy to seek the Japan of one’s preconceived expectations because most of those things are real and they are here; like fine sushi and ramen. However, I have found that Japan is full of unexpected delights found in the small details of the everyday. Starting with the convenient food  of 7/11 may seem silly or dismissable to some, but I believe it is a great way to get to know the Japanese palette in an affordable way.