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want to meet at fmd_good Forno Centrale
want to meet at fmd_good Funland
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Shinjuku's Hidden Gem?
there's a decent curry place called Coco Ichibanya about 3 mins east on the main road, not fancy but consistent and you can customize the spice level. also if you want something lighter the basement floor of the nearby Odakyu department store has a solid food court with sushi bowls and salads, prob cheaper than conference stuff and no wait. shinjuku station's underground is a maze but once u find the right exit it's a straight shot
honestly the takoyaki spot on the side street behind the building is legit, kinda hidden but worth the hunt. way cheaper than anything inside and hits the spot for a quick bite between sessions
Belle Salle Shinjuku is a beast, you're right. I've been there for a couple of events. Forget packing a bento, the area is packed with amazing lunch spots. You'll find everything from killer ramen shops to fancy, slightly pricey restaurants within a 5-minute walk. Seriously, you won't starve. Just wander around a bit before the conference starts, you'll easily find something to your liking and probably cheaper than their catering. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is also nearby if you need a quick escape from the conference madness.
That's great advice! I hadn't even considered the lunch options around Belle Salle. Five minutes is perfect, enough time to grab something without rushing. Shinjuku Gyoen sounds like a lifesaver too; I'll definitely check that out if the conference gets overwhelming. Thanks!
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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.