Welcoming All Bastardized American Food...

One of the best things about living in another country is taste-testing new foods. Who can say no to a sumptuous bowl of handmade ramen in rich broth? [we're talking the real thing, not those blocks of deep-fried, desiccated wrinkles we hoarded and ravenously consumed in college]. Or how about crisply fried tempura perfectly paired with cool soba noodles in a light refreshing dipping sauce? Everything is so much tastier and varied overseas.

But I have to admit, by far the most entertaining thing about eating in Japan is the American food. Japan deserves a lot of credit. They've bastardized American foods in such unexpected, yet tasty ways. There's something poetic about the Japanese "fixing" our American foods. From a country that made Taco Bell its number one Mexican restaurant, paybacks can be a bitch.

Let's start with Denny's. Home of the Grand Slam Breakfast, right? Not quite. More like home of the squid and cod roe spaghetti. And curry vegetable soup with strewn cereal. My first week in Japan, I decided to be super adventure lady, and ordered the garden salad. It came with seaweed, other unrecognizable greens, and equally unrecognizable salad dressing. Weird, but so yummy. I wish I knew what was in it. For desert, I ordered the French toast with a choice of 5 ice cream flavors and five special sauces. I didn't know or recognize the ice cream or sauce flavors I got, but they were delicious. Best desert I've ever had at Denny's. Yum.

Walking around the grocery store, you won't find a wide selection of beers, but you will find Cola Shock. The "shock" is that it doesn't come with extra caffeine. But it does come with Vodka. What a great invention. Why mix your drinks when you can buy them premixed in a coke can? Turns out you can buy dozens of different mixed drinks individually sold for $2 in 6 oz cans in supermarkets throughout Japan.

My favorite hands down are Aloe Yogurt KitKats. Sound like a lotion? Well they're the best darned KitKats I've ever had. Such subtle and complex nuances to the taste; I'm not going to attempt to describe them. Nestle, if you're reading this, PLEASE introduce them in the States. If you're afraid how they'll be received, introduce them in the Mission Valley Ralph's supermarket in San Diego. I'll be glad to help you promote them as a health product when I get back.