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[Kanagawa ]Seven famous gourmet foods with Yokohama roots for the first time in Japan! And the secret story behind their birth

[Kanagawa ]Seven famous gourmet foods with Yokohama roots for the first time in Japan! And the secret story behind their birth

2021-11-02 Management office

Since the opening of the port in 1859 at the end of the Edo period, Yokohama has flourished as a port town and the center of people's lives and culture. Influenced by Western culture from early on, many foods have spread from Yokohama to the rest of Japan. In this issue, we have selected seven of Japan's first gourmet specialties that have their roots in Yokohama. We will introduce some of the foods that are familiar to us and some that are local delicacies, along with the stories behind their birth.
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Neapolitan / Hotel New Grand the CAFÉ



The old-fashioned, nostalgic taste of "Neapolitan ". It is familiar from home cooking and school lunches, but it is actually one of the gourmet foods that originated in Yokohama. It was born at the "Hotel New Grand "overlooking Yamashita Park, which opened in 1927. It is said to have originated in the postwar period, when the hotel was confiscated by the Occupation Forces, and the second head chef of the hotel at the time created his own version of the dish by referring to the large amount of boiled spaghetti with ketchup that American soldiers used to eat.

Neapolitan with fresh tomatoes originating from a long-established hotel



More importantly, the hotel's Neapolitan was made without tomato ketchup, but with a flavorful sauce made from fresh tomatoes. Neapolitan made from fresh tomatoes and tomato paste was named "Spaghetti Neapolitan "as the chef's speciality. It is still available at "the CAFÉ "in the hotel for 2,178 yen. You can enjoy the taste of Neapolitan without tomato ketchup that has not changed since then.

Seafood Doria / Hotel New Grand the CAFÉ



Another menu item that originated in the port city of Yokohama is "Seafood Doria ". This is another dish that was created at the "Hotel New Grand "introduced earlier. It was originally an impromptu dish created by the first chef in response to a request from a foreign guest who was sick. The "Seafood Doria ", a creamed shrimp on top of buttered rice, topped with gratin sauce and cheese and baked in the oven, was surprisingly well received and was later passed down to future generations as the hotel's signature dish.

Seafood drizzle made for guests in poor health



Now offered at "the CAFÉ "as "Seafood Doria (2,783 yen) " Although the price is a bit higher than most seafood doria, the authentic taste of the doria is exceptional. The recipe was designed for guests with health problems, so the salt content is taken into consideration, resulting in a creamy and gentle taste. Other "Pudding a la mode (1,633 yen) "is also actually "New Grand "born. "You can also try this traditional Japanese dish together with Neapolitan "and "Seafood ".

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Hotel New Grand, 1F the CAFÉ
Address: 10 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-8520
Phone number: 045-681-1841
Business hours: 10:00 - 20:00
Please check the official website for the latest information.
Closed: None
Budget: 2,000 yen and up
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space & Facilities: Coffee house with gourmet food originating from Hotel New Grand
URL: https://www.hotel-newgrand.co.jp/

Bread / Uchiki Bread



The birthplace of Japanese bread is located in Motomachi, Yokohama. The first owner trained under an English baker who ran a bakery for sailors in the former foreign settlement around present-day Yamashita Park, and opened "Yokohama Bakery Ujiki Shoten "in the exotic location of Motomachi/China Town Station. It was the first store in Japan to sell bread to ordinary households, and bread itself was very rare among the common people at that time. In 1963, the name was changed to "UCHIKIPAN "and it continues to be loved by the locals as the oldest bakery in Yokohama.

English bread made using the same methods that have been used since the company's founding



"Uchiki Pan "'s signature menu item is English bread "England (330 yen) ", which has been made using the same production method since its establishment in 1888. Since hops were readily available in Yokohama, the birthplace of domestic beer, hops are still used as a fermenting agent. The long-aged dough is fluffy and chewy. It is low in sugar, so you can eat it every day and not get tired of it. The wide selection of breads is also an attraction, with about 70 varieties ranging from side dishes to sweets. It is recommended to take out and enjoy the delicious bread in a park near the port.

"Facility Information "
Facility Name: Uchiki Pan
Address: 1-50 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama 231-0861
Phone number: 045-641-1161
Business hours: 9:00-19:00
Please check the official website for the latest information.
Closed: Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday)
Budget: around 100 yen and up
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space & Facilities: Founded in 1888, the birthplace of bread in Japan
URL: http://www.uchikipan.com/index.html

Shiomai / Sakiyo-ken



"Yokohama is famous for its shioumai. "The idea for Saki Yoken's shioumai was born from the idea of creating a specialty in Yokohama. Today, shioumai has become a popular product known throughout Japan. Founded in 1908, Saki Yoken, which has a history of more than 100 years in Yokohama, started selling shioumai in 1928. "The original shioumai "was developed by inviting Chinese dim sum artisans to develop the shioumai that was served in Yokohama Chinatown at that time as a tsukidashi, so that it could be eaten in the shaking company and still taste good even when cold.

Freshly made shioumai with drinks at a shioumai bar in Chinatown.



The shi-mai is made without relying on chemical seasonings and with pork and dried scallops as ingredients, a recipe that has remained unchanged to this day. They taste great even when cold and can be eaten in one bite, making them very popular as lunch boxes and souvenirs. At "siu mai bar store "in Chinatown, you can enjoy freshly made siu mai with alcohol, such as baked siu mai and glutinous rice baked siu mai with the delicious crunchy texture of bamboo shoots, which can only be enjoyed here. These items are also great for takeout or souvenirs.

"Facility Information "
Name: Kiyo-Ken Chinatown Shiomai BAR
Address: 185 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0023
Phone number: 045-663-1139
Business hours: 11:00-19:00
Please check the official website for the latest information.
Closed: None
Budget: 460 yen and up
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space & Facilities: A bar in Chinatown where you can enjoy freshly made shioumai and drinks
URL: https://kiyoken.com/

Sanma Men / Gyokusentei



There is one called "Sanma Men "using the Chinese word "Sanma "which means raw vegetables. Some of you may not be familiar with this dish, but it is a local ramen that originated in Yokohama. Stir-fried vegetables and pork are thickened with a sauce and combined with a light soy sauce-based soup and thin noodles. Cheap and hearty, it is a local staple known as soul food for Hamakko.

Yokohama local noodles accented with thick starchy sauce



There are various theories about the origin of Sanma Men, but it is said that "Tamaizentei ", founded in 1918, is one of them. Yokohama Municipal Subway "Isezaki Choja-machi Station "is a 5-minute walk from the station, and the restaurant is located a little off the main street. "Sanma-men (670 yen) "was conceived by the second-generation owner as a cheap and filling meal for men working at the port during the postwar food shortage. The thick starchy sauce envelopes the crunchy vegetables and their savory flavor, and goes perfectly with the extra-thin noodles and soy sauce-based soup. "Sanma Men "is available at the Isezaki main store and also at the Porta store in the Yokohama Station underground shopping mall, so be sure to check it out when you visit Yokohama.

"Facility Information "
Name: Chinese Cuisine Gyokusentei
Address: 〒231-0045 Yokohama City, Naka-ku, Ise Sagi-cho 5-12
Telephone number: TEL:045-251-5630
Business hours: 10:00 - 21:00
Closed: Tuesdays (open on national holidays)
Budget: 670 yen and up
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space & Facilities: A restaurant where you can taste Sanma Men, the origin of Yokohama
URL: http://yokohama-norenkai.jp/gyokusentei/index.htm

Head Office of the Yoshimura Family / Yoshimura Family



Yokohama Ihekei-Ramen is now famous throughout Japan. To begin with, Yokohama Ihekei-Ramen is a punchy soy sauce-flavored ramen with a pork bone broth base, thick, short noodles, and chashu pork on top. The store that originated this type of ramen is "Iye-kei Sohonzan Yoshimuraya ". It is a few minutes' walk from the west exit of Yokohama Station, and there is still a long line of customers waiting to get in.

The Essence of the Original Ieke Ramen



The original family lineage "ramen (730 yen) "has a thick soy sauce-pork bone broth with "chicken oil (chiyu) "from the chicken to bring out the rich flavor. The chewy, firm, medium-thick noodles are made to order by Sakai Noodles. Smoked chashu pork, green onions, seaweed, and spinach add color, and toppings such as seasoned eggs and spicy green onions can be added. You can also add garlic powder and chopped ginger for a finishing touch to make it original. We hope you will experience the essence of the original.

"Facility Information "
Name of establishment: Iekei Sohonzan Yoshimuraya
Address: 2-12-6 Minami-Saiwai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 220-0005
Phone number: 045-322-9988
Business hours: 11:00-22:00
Please check the official website for the latest information.
Closed: Monday (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday)
Budget: 730 yen and up
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space & Facilities: Headquarters of Yokohama Iekei Ramen
URL: http://ieke1.com/index.html

Ice cream / YOKOHAMA BASYAMICHI ICE



Lastly, I would like to introduce the origin of Japanese ice cream, which originated in Yokohama. It is said to have originated from "Aisukurin ", which was produced and sold by Fusazo Machida, a former flagman, when he opened an ice water shop on Yokohama's Bashamichi Street in 1869. It was a simple ice cream with a crisp texture using only egg yolks, milk, and sugar.

Simple and new! Recreating Ice Cream of the Meiji Era



At the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, there is a store where you can taste ice cream with a modern twist on the flavors of that time. "Freshly made Yokohama Bashamichi Aisu Custard (377 yen) "has a nostalgic sweet custard aroma and flavor, and its crisp texture and melt-in-your-mouth feel are just like Italian gelato. The ice cream is served in a red cup and covered with a lid, giving it a cute shape. The red cups and the red brick warehouse make for a perfect shot.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: YOKOHAMA BASYAMICHI ICE
Address: 1F, Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No. 2, 1-1 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Phone number: 045-650-8707
Business hours: 11:00 - 20:00
Please check the official website for the latest information.
Closed: Same as facilities
Budget: 377 yen and up
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: A store in the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse that recreates ice cream from the Meiji era.
URL: https://yokohama-bashamichi-ice.jp/


summary

Research has revealed that many of Japan's first products, ranging from familiar foods that we eat without thinking to local gourmet foods, originated in Yokohama. There are many other foods that have their roots in Yokohama, such as shortcake, ham, and beer. Why not check them out and enjoy a gourmet tour of Yokohama?

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