An Ode to Kappabashi Street (plus) Corn & BBQ Chicken Pizza

So Corn on Pizza is not very common in the US but in Japan and many parts of Asia it is a popular topping.

The first time I had it was when I was shopping around for kitchen supplies on Kappabashi street in Tokyo.

By the way, shopping districts are laid out in Tokyo is so smart and convenient.

Check out this article here! https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0001775/

I did what any sensible person would do. I got some drinks, a notebook, and watched some YouTube videos, then planned some areas to see and the next day was the Kitchen Town!

All I can say was that, if you like cooking, this place was a dream. Beautiful plates, high quality chopsticks, fancy razor sharp knives, quality cutting boards, it's all here.

I loved chatting with the random foreigners on their Japan trip. Asking why they were buying a new Japanese knife. Hearing that they actually don't cook much but are spending a pretty penny on a new knife to spark that interest in cooking.

Which I understand and is a valid response! Once you have the right tools, the job/activity, it seems to get easier. Buttery smooth, precision, delicate and intricate cuts can really make you enjoy a chopping, dicing or butchery task. A dull knife can really make the task of cooking a chore.

To the other side of the coin, chatting with professional chefs just upgrading their kit in order to improve their speed and technique in the kitchen. I was actually convinced by one British cook, who recommended me this black cutting board that you see in almost every post/video I make!

Gear is such a fun thing that can change how we view the task on hand.

If Tokyo wasn't my first leg in my Japan journey, I would've definitely bought more gear. Bowls, spatulas, aprons, plates, drink ware. It's a dangerous place if you're a cook haha.

Kappabashi street really allows total newbies, to hobbiest (like me), to professional cooks person to bathe in the highest quality cookware imaginable.

I actually went inside this knife shop (by accident) that I think was invite only. Like I think you had to have a reservation or invitation online to go inside but I just walked in haha. The staff was pretty confused but with my own freewill they let me browse their shop.

I definitely couldn't afford any of their knives. Those were like the Rolls Royce of knives, probably ~$500+ a piece for the cheapest paring knife they had! It was beautiful! The hammered designs looked like sakura flowers!

After hours and hours a browsing kitchenware, testing dozens of knives, deciding whether I wanted a carbon steel or stainless steel knife. Picking the hardness of the steel. Deciding the handle color, the material, the price, a knife cover, etc.

And then spending another few hours of the contemplating the shape of the knife... thinking about what I wanted to cut: meat, fish, vegetables? The versatility of the knife. Should I get a santoku for its 3 virtues: slicing, dicing, chopping / meat, fish, vegetables? A Kitisuke cause it looks so cool and hefty? A Nakiri to get my vegetable game up?

(So some context I actually gave away all of my knives before coming here) and I bought a few... 😄 Quite a bit actually 😅. New cutting board, knife roll, a gyuto, a santoku and a utility knife. The 3 knife shapes you need to pretty much tackle any job in the kitchen. It was a splurge but you see me use them from time to time during the video I make! A worthwhile investment yeah?!

Now the shopping is done, I was starving... So this street doesn't have many restaurants, just food related paraphernalia. And those plastic food models for display cases. haha

There were a few Japanese food spots near by, a couple coffee/tea shops. But nothing really I wanted to eat. I also didn't check my phone much for food around the area.

But I was at the point of hungry!

They don't have many restaurants but at the end of the Kappabashi street, but there was a Pizza Hut (I just wanted to eat at the closest place near me as well)... plus as the glutinous American I am, my curiosity got to me and I had to try the wackiest exclusive Japanese flavors and compare them to the US.

I pointed at one that looked tasty and I took the risk! It was so worth it!!

This Pizza Hut was only for take away too, so I went to a nearby park and got attacked by pigeons and a super cute tiny dog wanted to eat the pizza with me.

Never would I have thought that these flavors would mix in such harmony. Sweet and salty cheesy goodness with the creaminess of the Japanese style mayo, washed down with a lemon drink that could erase your enamel away with one swig.

The pizza was surprisingly crispy after being in a box for 10 minutes walking to the park. And the extra packet of Furikake to top it off was the perfect contrast of umami to cut the richness of all the flavors!

And here we are today... missing Japan more and more. 🥹

It really is such wonderful place to visit. Everything you know (as a Westerner) is flipped upside down, challenged, put on a plate and served to you hot whether you like it or not. This is the reality there and you just have to accept it. It's just built different.

These things that challenged your current beliefs. It's a wonderful thing to reflect on, and to see yourself grow and get out of your comfort zone. Seeing both sides and a fuller picture.

When you miss a place, and can't be there. Next best thing is to recreate that dish wherever you are in the world. Use what you learned and make something reminiscent.

Bring a little bit of the culture and nostalgia to scratch that itch you have.

Life is nice sometimes.

And when life gets hard, make something that brings you happiness and peace! Not all the time, a little bit of struggle is good to grow! 😁

And so the Corn & BBQ chicken pizza is made!

Filling my Japanese Pizza Hut craving! Please enjoy the video! Like and subscribe on YouTube! Please support us on Patreon.

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Big Dawgs Gotta Eat!

-Albert