Kure

Last Sunday we piled into the car for a drive and headed down the coast to Kure. The town's fish market is a local tourist attraction and a small restaurant across from the main building of the Kuroshio Honjin serves a delicious tataki lunch. Signs of spring were everywhere, from the buds on the dogwood trees to the blooming plum trees, but it was still bitterly cold. Driving along Kure Bay we saw snow flurries. The tataki was delicious, then went to a coffee shop overlooking the ocean, that specializes in cake, ice cream and drinks made from strawberries. Ray wolfed down a strawberry ice cream cone, while Nobuko and I had cafe ole and strawberry cake. Braving the cold we hit the market and my wife purchased some dried iwashi, or large sardines. I was skeptical, but when when grilled up they were pretty tasty and great to munch on while drinking beer.