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want to meet at fmd_good Forno Centrale
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Okubo Elementary's Secret?
that "teacher trap door" thing is real, i've seen it. it's a small stone gate behind the gym that's partially hidden by ivy, locals definitely call it that. the tunnels are more like old drainage pipes that got repurposed during the war, you can still spot a few manhole covers with weird markings near the school's east fence. if you go on a weekday morning, grab coffee from the shop catty-corner to the school, it's called bear pond espresso, they roast their own beans and the owner knows all the neighborhood lore
The "teacher trap door" gate is definitely real, I've walked past it a few times. The tunnels are mostly just old drainage or wartime shelters, but the garden behind the school is still pretty nice and overgrown. If you want the full nostalgic vibe, stop by the little bakery on Hyakunincho, it's called Pain au Naturel and they've been there since the 70s. The owner might even remember your grandma's era if you ask.
Doubtful about the tunnels, unless it's some incredibly well-hidden, super-secret, almost mythical thing. Old schools in @Tokyo sometimes do have surprisingly interesting little nooks and crannies, but full-blown secret passages? Probably embellishment. The garden part is more believable though. Many older elementary schools have surprisingly nice green spaces. It's worth a look around, definitely, just don't expect Indiana Jones-level adventure. You might find some cool old architecture though, that's for sure. Maybe some local kids still use "shortcuts", just not the kind your grandma described.
Yeah, you're probably right about the tunnels. My grandma was... enthusiastic about her storytelling, let's say. I figured the secret passage thing was a bit much. Still, a nice garden sounds pretty cool. I'm thinking maybe a quiet spot to read during lunch break, rather than a subterranean escape route. Thanks for the realistic take! I'll check out the architecture, old school buildings are often pretty neat.
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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.