『Fukuchan's food adventures: a journal of gigantic meals. Episode 20: Come enjoy a mega-sized steak at "Ikinari steakhouse"!?』
In "the stylish Ginza district," various gourmet cuisines are served in mega-sized portions. In this issue, we introduce everyone's favorite, "meat" dishes served in mega-sized portions. Please look at the photo (to your right).
Do you see what I mean...?
The portion is far too big to eat for lunch.
The portion is suitable to be referred to as mega-sized portion.
Today, we reveal to you in this issue Fuku-chan's latest challenge, to eat this mega-sized steak!
The challenge to clear this mega-sized plate is here again...
One day, five months since the final show-down. Fuku-chan started researching his new challenge after finishing his health exam.
"...!"
Much to his surprise, Fuku-chan's category of articles, "mega-sized portions" was ranked number 4 among informational sites!
Fuku-chan always questioned continuing on his quest to eat mega-sized meals. Does society really have a demand for someone like himself, an unknown writer and his writings about mega-sized cuisines…? Who is wanting to read his quest about "journey for mega-sized gourmet cuisine"...?
His self-doubt was instantly diminished by what he found. Fuku-chan and his findings were needed. At least, Google seemed to be indicating so.
And now, Fuku-chan suddenly felt ashamed for making excuses to get out of the health exam.
Now is the time to fight…! "Fuku-chan," the fighter for mega-sized cuisines, was ready to accept the challenge.
The sooner, the better! Let's head out to try the mega-sized cuisines of Ginza district!
Therefore, Fuku-chan arrived at the "Ikinari Steakhouse," relatively close to his office. Regardless of avoiding lunch hours, lines were still forming in front of the restaurant, indicating the restaurant's popularity.
The cost percentage is high at 5 yen per gram of meat.
While orders start at 300 grams, the cost is 1,500 yen, an overwhelming cost percentage. Now, let's dig into this mega-sized cuisine!
It's been a while since his last mega-sized cuisine, so Fuku-chan's expression seems nervous, but in a good way.
We indicated earlier that orders at “Ikinari Steakhouse” starts at 300 grams, however, the value-for-money is even greater during lunch hours, when 300 grams of meat is only 1,050 yen! Moreover, the steak comes with rice, soup, and salad! Our staff members who came to the interview ordered the wild steak, while Fuku-chan ordered rib-eye? steak (300 grams) x 3.
Usually during lunch hours, 300 grams of meat is served as 3 pieces of meat on a plate. However, sensing Fuku-chan's enthusiasm, the restaurant's kitchen staff made an exception and served the steak as a one 900 gram piece of steak.
※Please do not order your steak in this fashion despite this article, for this service is not provided during lunch hours.
Soon after placing the order, the soups and salads for the interview team started to arrive.
Of course, the dressings are original recipes, prepared by "Ikinari Steakhouse."
The inside of the restaurant is filled with the appetizing aroma of sizzling steak, as Fuku-chan is starting to gear up to kick-off his challenge!
At Ikinari Steakhouse, food is prepared in full view of the customers. The delicious looking meat is cooked one after another, which adds excitement to the wait!
We were watching the chef preparing the steaks, when it suddenly arrived. The 900 grams of mega-sized steak!
It may be difficult to tell from this photograph, however, the portion of the meat is dramatically different from other servings. The mega-sized steak is bigger than the hand of an adult, perhaps as big as a baseball glove.
Presented with the carefully char-grilled 900 grams of mega-sized steak, Fuku-chan slightly hesitated.
"This is a bit too big..."
How would Fuku-chan's five-month break since his last challenge affect him…? The entire interview team could not hide signs of concern.
At last, Fuku-chan asked the server,
"If I can't finish it, can I take it home...?"
Fuku-chan asked the question to assess his risk. Was it too hasty to order a 900 gram-steak...?
And now, the moment finally arrived. The mega-sized 900 grams of steak was presented before Fuku-chan's eyes.
The enormous steak appeared to be ridiculing Fuku-chan's nervousness with it's 900 gram presence.
The mega-sized portion is overwhelming...!
While the aroma of sizzling meat is enticing, it was another source of anxiety for Fuku-chan. However, he couldn't back down now. The time to engage was now.
The steak is topped with a generous portion of garlic, which further stimulates the appetite. Meat and garlic is the golden combination! Fuku-chan cuts his first bite.
"This is delicious...!"
As soon as Fuku-chan bit in, the light juicy meat flavor spread inside the mouth. This flavor is possible because the red meat is not too rich.
"I might be able to finish this..."
The term "maybe" was still a cause for concern for the interview team, however, they had no choice but to keep encouraging Fuku-chan. His challenge to finish the 900 grams of mega-sized steak just started.
The outside of the rib-eye steak is crispy, while the inside of the meat is cooked rare for this exquisite dish. Fuku-chan kept repeating, "It's SO good! Really good!" as he ate away, occasionally changing the flavors by adding salt and pepper, another trick learned in our past "mega-sized" challenges.
However, this is when Fuku-chan faced a challenge that is unique to a mega-sized "steak." The teppan hot plate had cooled, hindering Fuku-chan's ability to adjust the degree of heat to cook the rare portions of the steak.
"Oh no...If I keep eating this meat that's too rare, I'm going to hit a wall"
Fuku-chan was about to give up at that moment when the server asked,
"Can we cook the meat a little bit more for you?"
The server offered Fuku-chan a helping hand.
"Yes! Please!"
At this time, a painful interval had broken his pace, yet Fuku-chan was all smiles.
"It's easier for me to eat cooked meat more than to continue eating meat that's too rare."
Less than five minutes later, the remaining steak emerged after reheated and cut into smaller pieces in an appealing presentation.
"Ohhh! It looks good!"
The challenge started where it left off. Fuku-chan's momentum was instantly revived.
Before long, the big piece of meat was gone. Just when the staff started to think Fuku-chan will clean off the remainder of the plate to a victorious finish, Fuku-chan became flustered due to his usual profuse sweating.
"I have no problem continuing on eating, but the sweat...I'm sweating..."
Further adding to his frustration was the paper apron, which soaked up so much of Fuku-chan's sweat that the section tied around his neck had torn off.
By the end, Fuku-chan had used five paper aprons for the record.
Fuku-chan's challenge continued after the interview team finished eating. Eating the second chunk of steak was taking time. The strategy was to change the flavor again.
The Japanese flavor is of course "soy sauce." The flavor was changed by pouring soy sauce over the meat for the final burst to the finish line.
"Soy sauce" also encourages Fuku-chan's challenge to finish off the final bite.
"This soy sauce flavor is delicious."
In addition to the strategy to change the flavor, Fuku-chan stuffed two pieces of meat into his mouth at the same time, swallowing one piece down and chewing the next in a rotation. Fuku-chan passionately explained that the key to success to continue eating without wasting a single second.
One person in the interview staff mumbled,
"While we staff members encouraging you to finish off the steak are nodding in agreement, others who don't know you may be dismayed by your strategy..."
Disregarding the staff member's comment, Fuku-chan is down to his last two pieces of steak, thanks to the soy sauce flavor and his rotational strategy of swallowing one piece of meat and chewing the next. The specialty steak sauce is the key to push his momentum to the finish line!
The specialty steak sauce is a bit rich in flavor and perfectly compatible with white rice, flavor that's very much the "conventional steak flavor," perfect to finish off the steak!
Fuku-chan continued eating in silence. Finally, the high hurdle of a 900 grams of mega-sized steak was gone!
Fuku-chan's smug facial expression was unforgettable.
"To be honest, it was easy. My range is up to 1.2 kilograms, so I still had a margin of 0.3 kilograms."
Where did all his anxiety go before the plate was brought...?
After the interview, Fuku-chan was boasting to other staff members who didn't accompany the interview team to the restaurant that "I ate 1 kilogram of steak today" (claiming to have ate an additional 100 grams of meat that he didn't eat...).
However, Fuku-chan wasn't aware at the time that his greatest rival to date would soon emerge….
(To be continued)
