SINGAPORE - This is my story behind Gindaco. I came into class on a Monday morning and to break the ice, I always ask my students what they got up to over the weekend. It's also a good way for them to use the English they know in a practical manner. Chisato, one of my Japanese students was trying to tell us that she and her friends, bought a sort of pan, that had hallow bits in it. I looked terribly confused and so she asked me if she could come over to draw it on the board so that she could explain better. Off she went, drawing a picture of what looked like a baking sheet with hallow bits in it. So I said, "Ahh! You mean a muffin pan!", and of course she didn't know what I meant and she made that sound that Japanese people make when confused "Ahh-eh?". She then drew an Octopus and was trying to say that you put the octopus inside the pan. Just then my other Japanese student, Yuzu, walked-in, and sat down. My other student was still trying to explain, she was making flipping motions with the pens. Poor Chisato was really trying, but I (we) had no clue. So I looked at Yuzu, she squinted and said... "AAAHHHH TOKOYAKIIII!!!" And some of the students started repeating AH Tokoyaki! I still had no idea what she was talking about. Yuzu then explained that they were octopus balls. So basically, Chisato went out with her friends to buy a Tokoyaki pan so that they could make Tokoyaki. Both Yuzu and Chisato (they have got to be my fav students in this bunch) told me that I had to try Tokoyaki and it had to be Gindaco, which was from Japan. They told me that there was a Gindaco stall at the newly opened ION mall in Orchard.
So today, as I was in the area. Me and about 20 odd people were queueing for Tokoyaki @ Gindaco.
They used real octopus pieces!
Watch them in action...
This was my Tokoyaki (the drink at the back Iced Mancha Tea -- skip it!)
The flakes on the top of the Tokoyaki freaked me out! They move!
Over all it tasted good, but I think it needs to grow on me. Great experience though.
See the flakes move... There was no draft, I swear it was on its own!
