In Harajuku "Garrett", which also sparked the popcorn boom, the eating editorial department once waited for an hour . It's finally getting warmer and I want to eat it again ... but I'm hay fever, so it's a little difficult to line up outside this time of year.
So, I decided to go to " Hill Valley ", which opened at the same time as Garrett and is often introduced as a popular store as popular as it is. It seems that you can get anything here on weekdays without lining up!
This popcorn is a bit different!
■ Only Hill Valley can call itself "Gourmet Popcorn" !?
While many popcorn stores in Japan are open from overseas, the Nakameguro main store in Meguro-ku is the first store in Hill Valley. Moreover, it even has the trademark of "gourmet popcorn". Hmmm, it's just like opening a store with "fullness". It's been a little late since it opened, but I'll try the gourmet title, our tongue!
The main store I visited this time is quietly located in a residential area, just around the corner of "Life" near Nakameguro Station and going straight through the alley. Is it about 3 minutes from the station? On the way, I passed by about two people with a paper bag in the store.
Turn right at the corner of Nakameguro Life
A little-known location
It was lunch on weekdays, but there was no line in front of the store, and one person came to the store after the author entered. I bought it very smoothly!
There are 3 types of menu, "Plain & Salt", "Gold Caramel Mix" and "Chicago Cheese" , and "Hill Valley Mix" which is a mixture of caramel and cheese. Only cases are lined up in the bright glass-enclosed shop, and they weigh and pack on the spot.
Sell by weight on the spot
The author chose the Hill Valley mix recommended by the clerk. You can choose from 3 sizes of containers, paper bags or cans with logos. In addition to popcorn, drip coffee (300 yen) is also on sale, and if you buy both, you can use the free space on the second floor.
■ I don't call Date "gourmet"!
Anyway, everyone in the editorial department is waiting, so hurry up and take it home, and taste the town! The pink and light blue pop package seems to be useful as a souvenir. I made it a lot of M size (980 yen) that everyone can eat, but I wonder if it was a little more ...?
Pop packages are great as souvenirs!
M size was pretty big ...?
Large popcorn is a colon and round mushroom type. By the way, popcorn that pops like a flower that you often see is called a butterfly type.
A nice scent!
In Gold Caramel Mix , this round cone is thickly coated with caramel, and the crunchy texture is fun. With a slightly bitter seasoning, you can feel the fragrant caramel flavor and richness. Hmm, it's a waste to keep this caramel as popcorn anymore ...!
Thick caramel coating
Looking at the leaflet, it seems that 100% natural brown sugar and Calpis unsalted butter are used for the caramel. Calpis butter is about twice as expensive as usual, but it is an excellent butter that is recognized by top chefs and experts. I also use it when I'm here, but I recommend it because the flavor and aroma change surprisingly.
… Oops, the story went awry. Then pakuri Chicago cheese. Although it is sprinkled with melted cheddar cheese, there is almost no cheese odor and the flavor is felt. But the saltiness is working well. It pops crisply in the mouth and has a fluffy and light texture.
Not too cheese, crisp and salty
You can eat these two types alternately and repeat sweet, salty, sweet ... or you can enjoy the exquisite sweetness and saltiness of the two together.
■ Explode with air! Healthy air popcorn
This popcorn is an "air popcorn" that explodes only with hot air without using oil, so it is a healthy snack food without oiliness. According to the clerk, even if you can't eat it all at once, it will last for a couple of days (it contains a desiccant). Certainly, the texture remained crispy the next day.
It seems that it is made in the back of the shop
■ 100% approval rating kitter in the editorial department!
Garrett has a rich and truly "American" impact, while Hill Valley has the impression that you can eat it all the time. You can feel the commitment to the material. Even the En-eating editorial department unanimously praised it as "light and not persistent" and "taste for Japanese people" , so if you like popcorn, it would be interesting to compare it once! The Nakameguro store may be crowded during the cherry blossom season, so I'm not sure.
