Tokyo Station is an ekiben paradise where you can find famous ekiben from all over Japan, and the “Shinagawa Kaizukushi” introduced here is an ekiben mainly featuring shellfish, which, as its name suggests, is associated with Shinagawa, a city that has had a close relationship with the sea for a long time.
The five main types of shellfish are asari, itaya clam, scallion, shijimi clam, and scallop. There are ekiben that mainly feature oysters and scallops, but it is hard to find another ekiben that allows you to enjoy such a variety of shellfish all at once.
First is the teriyaki scallop, the largest of the grains. The soy-sauce flavored scallops, which go well with rice, are soft but firm and chewy. Incidentally, the rice is chahan. It is flavorful, topped with a broiled egg and scallion, and goes well not only with scallops but with all other shellfish as well. Also, the green soybean stew is a key accent.
The bivalve shellfish itayagai, which looks like a miniature scallop, is lightly seasoned, allowing you to fully enjoy the flavor of the small pillar itself. The scallion seems to be cooked with ginger and the clam with soy sauce, but the flavors are a bit similar, with the hamaguri being slightly stronger.
On the other hand, shijimi is boiled with sansho (Japanese pepper), and this one has a strong sansho flavor. It is unique and truly delicious. Side dishes include simmered shiitake mushrooms that are not too sweet, but have a distinct shiitake mushroom flavor; a sweet egg omelet with a slightly Datemaki-style texture that is unusual; and simmered Japanese butterbur that is chewy and firm. Ganmodoki, which has absorbed a lot of sweet broth, and lightly pickled greens are also included. Red ginger is included in the dish, so you can add it as you like.
Incidentally, this ekiben is part of JR Tokai Retailing Plus’ “Shinko Shokudo,” a series of ekiben based on the concept of “enjoying the food culture of the Tokaido Highway. The “Shinagawa Kaizukushi” was an ekiben worthy of the name “Shinagawa,” a former lodging town facing the sea in Tokyo, the starting point of the highway.
© Source travel watch