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want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
want to meet at fmd_good The Spot
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Shinjuku's Hidden Dance Floor?
tbh you might have more luck in the basement level. there's a tiny karaoke bar called "utahime" tucked away down there, not even listed on most maps. its basically a closet with a mic but the owner doesnt care what you do as long as you're buying drinks. seen people turn it into a mini dance floor around 11pm when the wedding crowds start filtering out
fwiw belle salle is a weird building layout-wise, the 2nd floor has this random hallway that dead-ends into what looks like a storage closet but theres actually a small lounge area behind it with a little wooden floor. i've seen staff use it for cigarette breaks mostly but theres no sign or anything, just a door that says "private" in japanese. if you're slick about it you could prob get a small group in there after the reception winds down
just be careful with the noise, the walls are thin and theres a manager office right next to it. also the hallway lighting is motion-sensored so it'll go dark on you if you're not moving around
theres a small bar called "the open book" like a 5 min walk from belle salle, more of a speakeasy vibe than a dance floor but theyve got a little back room that could work if youre not too loud. just be aware the wedding party might be on the 5th or 6th floor and theres a weird gap in the building where the stairs dont connect properly, so scope it out before you commit to a spot
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Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.