Ciao: Nagoya`s Specialty Pasta

Area: Mei-eki (the Takashimaya side of JR Station)
Restaurant: Ciao
Address: 名古屋市中村区名駅４丁目５番１９号　第５堀内ビル１階 
Website:  http://www.ciao-morita.co.jp/ciao/

This looks like Italian food, but I don't know if I'd dare to call it that!  Sure it's made from spaghetti pasta, but the sauce has some Asian flair.  It's actually a Nagoya specialty called Ankake pasta.  I don't know exactly what the sauce is made from, but it tastes like it could be a soup for instant ramen or something like that, just thicker.

What I like about the spaghetti in Japan is the chewiness of the pasta.  It must be the water here....even the dried pasta from the supermarket can me made to perfect al dente!

This restaurant also has pizza which is also different from regular pizza.  The crust is very soft and flimsy, but with the cheese and prociutto and arugula....it still satisfies my cravings for pizza.  For the price, I'd give the pizza and Nagoya pasta at Ciao a thumbs up.

Okinawa Cafe: A bit of Okinawa in Nagoya

Area: Osu Kannon
Restaurant: Okinawa Cafe
Address: 中区大須3-30-40万松寺ビル１階, Nagoya-shi, Aichi, Japan 460-0011
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/okinawa-cafe-Nagoya-/131448386941131


Ok, so it's not a Nagoya specialty, but I didn't say this blog is about Nagoya food only!
As I was walking around Osu Kannon, I came across Okinawa Cafe and since I've never been to Okinawa (yet), I thought this was closest I could be to being there.

Apparently Okinawa is known for delicious pork dishes, so I tried this popular dish called Rafute.
It uses the wonderful (always goes well together) marriage of a teriyaki sauce and mayonnaise.
You can't see it, but underneath the mountain of seaweed is mouth-watering pork belly.
The rice krispy-looking things are like fried tempura bits, and they're mixed with green onion.  I love the crunchy texture it brings...
The accompanying soup is like drinking bacon!  Yum!