Big city, Shinjuku. Skyscrapers are lined up around the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, and downtown areas such as Kabukicho are spreading. However, if you step away from the center, there is a wide variety of areas in the ward, such as areas lined with universities, areas with abundant greenery in the park, and areas where you can feel the history.

Kagurazaka, which retains the taste of Edo, is also in Shinjuku Ward. You will be thrilled to see the many shops that stand quietly in the quiet alleys. At Kagurazaka, I got the information that there seems to be Nagasaki's specialty Turkish rice, which is ordered by an office lady on Friday night. … Hmm? OL in Kagurazaka? Nagasaki specialty? Turkey? You can't connect at all? I'm curious!

… And if you're curious, check it out. I decided to go and check it out!

■ Arrive at Kagurazaka!

I'm here, Kagurazaka. There are many shopping streets on both sides of the gentle slope, and there are many unique shops selling food and miscellaneous goods at restaurants, making it a must-see area for a stroll around Tokyo. Well Kagurazaka, after all it is wonderful.

■ You can eat "Turkish Rice" at 2-chome Shokudo Toledo.

Today's destination is the coffee shop "2-chome Shokudo Toledo", which is located in the complex PORTA near Kagurazaka. When I went a little deeper into the brand new PORTA ... there was! This is Toledo, a 2-chome cafeteria!

■ Toledo was a long-established store.

Handwritten menus are scattered around the shop. It is a tremendous amount of information, one by one, and a tremendous amount of heat. It seems to be overwhelming. Anyway, I entered the store.

In fact, Toledo, a 2-chome cafeteria, is a long-established store founded in 1972. The curry "Additional Curry", which has been added for 37 years until 2009, which was once closed due to redevelopment, is a specialty coffee shop. After that, he entered PORTA and resumed business, and curry also started stocking. I see.

Students come from not only the neighborhoods of Tokyo University of Science and Hosei University, but also Waseda University, which is a little far away, and it has been loved for 40 years. And there is a famous master who has been watching over the students for a long time in this shop. The handwritten menu is a master's work, and it shows the master's love for eating good food. This friendliness and warmth is truly unique to the atmosphere of a shop loved by students.

After learning the history of Toledo, I checked the menu again. Of course, today's aim is Turkish rice. I took a peek at how it was made.

■ By the way, what is Turkish rice?

The origin of Turkish rice is said to be Nagasaki. The time of its origin is around the period of high economic miracle. When Western food was still rare, I want to eat a lot of luxurious Western food at once! It seems that it was born from the thought.

Italian Napolitan, Turkish cutlets, and Indian curry. "Turkish rice" is a combination of these three popular Western food menus, and it seems that it was named after the place name of "Turkey" located in the middle of the (?) 3 areas where each menu was born. Hohe ~.

■ But the Turkish rice in Toledo is a bit different

It seems that the request from the students triggered the Turkish rice to be served in Toledo. It all started when a student from Nagasaki ordered to make Turkish rice, a specialty of his hometown.

Turkish rice is generally served with three types of rice: "Naporitan," "curry pilaf," and "pork cutlet." However, in Toledo, instead of "pork cutlet", we used "chicken cutlet", which we are proud of, and instead of "curry pilaf", we used the famous "additional curry" to complete a slightly luxurious Turkish rice.

Let's see how to make it!

First, beat the chicken and then fry it crisply. I'm glad that they fry each one after the order is placed. In the meantime, fry the Neapolitan skillfully, and when the chicken cutlet is fried, serve it, and finally add the curry and it's done! The teamwork in the kitchen centered on the master's wife is wonderful!

Napolitan, curry, chicken cutlet and luxurious Turkish rice with a popular menu on one plate. The visual impact is tremendous! And the fragrant scent of fried Neapolitan ketchup, the spicy scent of curry, and the appetizing scent of chicken cutlet combine to make your nose happy.

It is unique to Turkish rice that you may be wondering which one to eat. The menu of Toledo also said "Adult children's rice", which is exactly right. I was at a loss, but from the freshly fried chicken cutlet. I will!

■ What is the taste?

When I grab it, I can see the delicious taste of chicken from the crispy batter! What this is so delicious! The batter is really crispy due to the exquisite fried food, and the freshly fried and juicy chicken is also soft ... really exquisite. I wonder if I've ever eaten such a delicious chicken cutlet ... my tongue is happy ... I'm crying. That should be the case, and the chicken used for chicken katsu is said to have been purchased directly from the master's wife's parents' home, a domestic bird wholesaler. It is a convincing quality.

Next is the famous replenishment curry. The appearance is mellow, which is almost like the taste of a bag, and the first bite is the gentle taste as you imagined. The roux, which has been simmered well, has the sweetness of vegetables and fruits and is delicious. Most of the vegetables are stewed and there is no prototype, but the meat is thick. This is also well cooked and soft. However, as I continue to eat this, it is surprisingly spicy ...! It is a curry that has a addictive taste and the spoon does not stop.

And Napolitan. Why does ketchup have such a nice aroma when fried? When I bring it to my mouth, it's The Napolitan ... This is ... this is Napolitan ...! Involuntarily sigh. The onions, peppers and meat are well-balanced, and the sweet and sour ketchup is perfectly distributed. Showa taste, retro taste. No, this is great.

■ Why is the OL coming on Friday night?

By the way, why does an office lady eat Turkish rice on Friday night? I asked the master.

According to the master, OL asks for an elegant and fashionable menu with only a small amount, but when ordering with his own money, he asks for a menu that is worth more than the price. And that. Uh, yeah ... there are too many clauses that I can think of ...

Turkish rice in Toledo is super volume. What's more, it's a luxurious dish where you can enjoy three popular single items at a time. For girls' desire to eat a lot of different kinds, it's a really awesome menu. On Friday night, when the tiredness of the week has accumulated, OL, who wants to eat a lot of delicious food and get rid of the tiredness, often orders Turkish rice. I see!

The master was a very friendly person, and he immediately had a conversation with the first customer who came to the store. I'm sure that in the spring, the store will be very lively due to conversations with the students who are coming. The writer has just stayed longer. It was a well-known store where you can feel the traditional taste and warmth of a good old store.

■ The most interesting food in Shinjuku Ward

By the way, En-eating recognizes this "Turkish rice" as "the most interesting food in Shinjuku Ward" (without permission). The origin is interesting, delicious, and hearty Turkish rice. It's a dish worth visiting!

But, if you live in Shinjuku Ward and say "I know more interesting foods!", Please let us know. En-eating editorial staff will come to eat!