Chiapalin Donburri

I've been watching anime, and getting ideas for food. Again. This time from Shokugeki No Soma, which follows the protagonist, Soma, as he attends the most elite culinary school in Japan. The anime, and manga, are quite redonk. As usual, they cook something up that I'd want to eat. 

The dish that really got me hungry was Chiapalin Steak Don, which is steak with onion gravy over rice that's been laced with pickled plums (umeboshi). 

Here's the recipe I used, I stuck to it pretty closely. In the show the meat is so tender the characters pull off pieces with their chopsticks. I wasn't able to get that, despite scoring and pounding my steaks. You could sub in Cube Steak if you want to skip a step, but I would use either a fattier cut or score it more severely to get it "chopstick tender." 

The umeboshi are very salty, but once they're mixed into the rice, it mellows out perfectly, so you don't want to salt the rice separately. 

Dons (rice bowls) are a lot of fun, and they're cheap and filling. This one was really good, and I'd probably make it again. 

Wakako al Ajillo

I've been watching a lot of "Wakakozake." You can find it as a manga, an anime and a live action show. It follows the food adventures of a 20-something professional living in Tokyo. Wakako love food and alcohol, and she eats the most delicious foods whilst waxing philosophical about matching shochu with seafoods. 

In one episode of the live action (also known as a "Drama") she orders Gambas al Ajillo. The garlicy oil causes her to go through her crusty bread before finishing the shrimp, much to her embarrassment. Fortunately she gets more bread, and more wine and finishes the dish with relish. 

If there's one weakness Tom and I have, it's an Asian Drama showcasing tasty food. So needless to say I made this purely because of Wakako. 

Serious Eats has a very easy recipe if you want to make it yourself. It's quick enough for a weeknight too.