Japan Chronicles #1 à 10

Chronicles #1 (August 14, 2021): Shopping for groceries online in Japanese brings some surprises. For example, the size of the peppers!

Chronicles #2 (August 16, 2021): We ordered my groceries from Amazon Fresh two days ago… and a third of our order is a complete mystery. Culinary suspense! We think our best friend will be Google Translate (and maybe a little courage).

Chronicles #3 (August 18, 2021): By popular demand... here's the fruit in our fridge. We found a Canadian-sized apple (like a Gala apple) to compare. In order: Pineapple, Pear, Fuji Apple, Green Apple, Apple, Lemon, Tomato, Banana.

Chronicles #4 (August 18, 2021): Raisin Bread.

Chronicles #5 (August 20, 2021): Natto—We've tried it… but let's just say we'll let a few years go by before returning to it. This Japanese breakfast classic, these fermented beans with supposedly incredible benefits for the intestinal flora, have not yet conquered our palate. In short: our flora will have to make do with other options for the time being. We'll see if we ever get the courage back!

Chronicles #6 (August 20, 2021): Asparagus—a small luxury to be enjoyed in moderation ($2.50 for five spears, that gives you food for thought). A surprising detail: they're already peeled, proof that Japanese attention to detail extends even to vegetables. Good quality, elegant on the plate... but not sure it'll become a weekly staple!

Chronicles #7 (August 21, 2021): In Japan, delivery drivers' discretion has reached a Zen level: no doorbell, just an order silently dropped off. A small digital trap: the "refresh" button on Uber Eats is actually a "reorder" button. The result? Four pizzas already here, two on the way... Looks like tomorrow's dinner is also taken care of.

Chronicles #8 (September 2, 2021): Alcohol sales in Japan are... ubiquitous. Here, almost every store carries it, from convenience stores to electronics stores. We were at Big Camera this morning (imagine a Best Buy on steroids, but more compact), and amidst the high-tech gadgets, a vast selection of spirits, wines, beers, and sake awaited us. Even some clothing stores have their own alcohol section—because apparently, a new pair of pants can go with a good bottle. Another surprise: the prices. Alcohol is much cheaper than in Canada. Case in point: a bottle of Absolut vodka costs $16 here compared to $28 in Canada. At this rate, you could almost justify the purchase as a good deal.

Chronicles #9 (September 2, 2021): Sometimes, Japanese packaging feels like a festival of colors on steroids.

Chronicles 10 (September 2, 2021): Sometimes in Japan, you come across an object and the only possible reaction is, "Why?" A mini camera shaped like cheese... Is it an artistic statement? An ode to cheese lovers? A gadget to document every bite of Camembert? Mystery.