Solitary Gourmet - Season 7

First aired: 4/6/2018 12 episodes

Episodes

1. Shoulder Rosukatsu Set Meal of Honcho, Ageo City, Saitama Prefecture

Aired: 4/6/2018

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) got off at Ageo Station in Saitama. He is looking forward to eating tonkatsu since he missed a chance to eat one the day before due to work commitment. But he has to attend a meeting with a client first. The client, married couple Arai (Kino Hana, Yamagami Kenji) who runs a kimono shop, is said to be the troublesome type. Goro is about to find out why they are called that way... After the meeting, Goro searches for a shop that sells tonkatsu that he has been pining for. He finds it in an eatery called "Kiseki Shokudo". Inside, he is welcomed by the proprietress (Tabata Tomoko). Goro marvels at the menu of pork katsu and steak, set meals, and their fair prices. "It's kiseki (miracle)!" But most of all, he is astounded by the huge size of the meat cuts!

2. One-Person Buffet of Kyodo, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 4/13/2018

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) was in Setagaya waiting at a tennis court for a client (Owada Baku) to finish playing a match with friends. Much to his chagrin, Goro who is not much into ball-based sports, obliged the client's request to practice swinging the racket... After their meeting, Goro managed to follow a somewhat vaguely drawn map towards Kyodo station. He felt hungry after experiencing relief from reaching the endpoint of the map. However, he was at a residential area with no shop within sight. By chance, he saw a sign outside a usual looking detached house. It read "Macina Mecina", a shop that offers buffet meals. Out of his "hunger's curiosity", he entered and got ushered in by the proprietress (Ishino Yoko). Goro began to enjoy the real pleasure of a buffet feast, determined to go over and taste each and every dish...

3. Queso Fundido and Pipian Verde of Minami-Azabu, Minato Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 4/20/2018

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) was in Minato Ward to visit an international school center where many foreign children were playing. Client Yamamoto Catherine (Toyota Ellie) wants Goro's services in looking for antique toys as gifts for the kids from their home countries. When the topic of lunch was brought up, Goro heard the word "lasagna". It made Goro hungry so he immediately set out to look for an eatery. But Goro was picturing something Western in mind, so a basement Mexican restaurant, "Salsita" caught his eye. The menu was literally foreign and strange to him but he decided to try it anyway. He was welcomed by a staff (Watabe Gota). Goro tried to visualize the dishes described in the menu but couldn't imagine them at all. But he left it to luck, and went for the items he never tried before: sopes, Yucatan style chicken-lime soup, zucchini pudding, queso fundido, pipian verde...

4. Tanmen and Pork Sukiyaki of Shimonita, Gunma Prefecture

Aired: 4/27/2018

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutake) is in Shimonita, Gunma for business. He arrived too early so he strolled around a neighborhood that seems preserved in the Showa era. He decides to eat at a Chinese diner called "Ichiban" that boasts of its delicious tanmen and handmade gyoza, served by an elderly couple and their young apprentice Numata (Tozuka Junki). Next, at the request of city hall, Goro inspects an old brick warehouse that is being planned to be refurbished and reused. After business was done, he tries to head back to Tokyo but falls asleep at the station while waiting for the train. He blames station conductor (Masana Bokuzo) for not waking him up. Instead of staying at the station, he decides to eat for the meantime, and heads for a restaurant he saw earlier in the day. It was a sukiyaki shop known as "Columbia"...

5. Green and Red Mapo Tofu of Mikawashima, Arakawa Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 5/4/2018

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) is walking at a shopping street near Mikawashima Station. He looks at wares sold by the shops. He next meets with Sugiyama (Nakayama Shinobu), a soon to be shopowner of a sweets store. She wants Goro to come up with decors and accessories for her shop. Before Goro leaves, she gives him some kimchi and even directions on where to find the shop that sells it. Goro goes to the shop and buys more kimchi for himself. Then, he suddenly feels the pangs of hunger, and searches for a restaurant to eat within the area. He tries a Chinese shop called "Shinjitsuichiro" thatspecializes in mapo tofu. Inside, he finds it is run by a young chef (Okada Yoshinori). The shop also has many versions of mapo tofu and tea, with designated colors like, "white", "red", "black", etc...

6. Black Sablefish Nitsuke Set Meal of Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture

Aired: 5/11/2018

The client for this day is the manager of a petshop in Urayasu, Chiba. However, Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) seemed to have arrived there a bit early since there was no one at the shop. He decides to pet a cute dog when Manager Okuda (Fukawa Ryo) arrives. Goro is embarrassed to be seen doing something suspicious... After their meeting, Goro suddenly feels hungry. While looking for some place to eat, he spots a sakanaya (fish diner) with an unusual name "Raten" which he couldn't read at all. Inside, the proprietress (Achiwa Satomi) and the Taisho (Hino Yojin) welcome him. Goro chooses among the delectable-sounding set meals of grilled or simmered fish, that includes soup, pickles, and sashimi...

7. Natto Pizza and Spicy Pasta of Higashi-Mukojima, Sumida Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 5/18/2018

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) visits the owner of a fish dish shop near Higashi-Mukojima Station. The client (Ito Katsunobu) wishes Goro to find an antique chest drawer he found on the internet. Goro is not confident he can find it but asks help from all his colleagues through email. When work was over, he wanders around town looking for a place to eat. He tries a cozy, snug-looking Italian-themed shop that has a kiln oven. The menu offers pizza and pasta dishes with broad, unspecific names: Natto Pizza, Ham and Egg Pizza, Spicy Pasta, Salty Pasta, etc. Goro wishes to order one pizza with two kinds of flavor but the proprietor (Nakahara Takeo) who is blunt and gruff-looking says: "There are requests I can and cannot do"...

8. Chicken Nanban and Jidori Momokushi of Hyakken Yokocho, Nakano Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 5/25/2018

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka may have been to Nakano often but on this day he visits Nakano Broadway mall which he wasn't so familiar with. He strolls around waiting for his client Maruyama (Kakuta Akihiro) who was late for their appointment because of the latter's misunderstanding with the scheduling. Nevertheless, the meeting turned out to be a huge success for Goro. He was able to secure a huge contract. Feeling hungry and jubilant, he goes around looking for a place to hold a celebratory feast. He scoured nearby alleys that are teeming with pubs and diners. He wanders into an alley called Hyakken Yokocho. There, he finds a charcoal-grilled yakitori shop called "Namidabashi" that features Miyazaki's local cuisine and local chicken (jidori). The Taisho (Chiba Tetsuya) welcomes him warmly. Among the dishes offered are Chicken Nanban, alluring appetizers, skewered foods that include mackerel, miso-flavored pork belly, chicken meats and offals...

9. Natto Chigae and Self Bibimbap of Cheongju City, South Korea

Aired: 6/8/2018

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) has come to South Korea for the first time. He meets with the president of a trading company, President Im (Sung Si Kyung) who wanted to consult him regarding future trade with European markets. Goro says Korean traditional crafts have potential, and so he was sent to Jeonju City to inspect the products himself. He was accompanied by assistant Park Soo-Young (Park Jung-ah) to serve as his translator and guide. In Jeonju, they both visit makers and markets selling traditional furniture and umbrellas. Afterwards, Goro has an opportunity to stroll around town alone. He feels hungry and decides to try an eatery called "Tobang" that sells set meals. However, Goro of course does not understand the menu and just orders the most inexpensive item. What was brought to him suprised him. There were spicy pork, natto jjigae, and a variety of kimchi and side dishes...

10. Bone-In Pork Ribs Galbi and a Cluster of Side Dishes of Seoul, South Korea

Aired: 6/15/2018

It was Inogashira Goro's (Matsushige Yutaka) second day in Seoul, South Korea. On his way to his client's office, he spots and tries a food stall that sells tteok-bokki and Korean tempura. Afterwards, he attends a meeting with President Im (Sung Si Kyung), and his assistants, including Park Soo-Young (Park Jung-ah). Goro says his goodbye as his consultation ends, and is headed back home to Japan. However, he feels hungry, and looks around for a shop to eat. He decides to try a charcoal grill shop called "Jongjeom Sutbul Galbi". He was able to order by indicating that he'll be having what the other customers were eating. What he ordered was delicious pork galbi. What he didn't expect was it was accompanied by all sorts of banchan, or side dishes, as well as doenjang jjigae...

11. Special Garlic Soup and Fresh Salmon Sauteed in Butter of Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture

Aired: 6/22/2018

Inogashira Goro is having a busy day, visiting clients in Chiba City. He comes to Mihama Ward via Nishi-Nobuto Station to negotiate with the manager of an Indian restaurant (Ueno Yukio) who has a thick Kansai accent. But Goro feeling tired from the day's work, cannot focus well. The scent of curry is also driving him wild with hunger. He ends the meeting immediately to look for a shop. Fortunately, he finds it right away. It was "Ebisuya", a cafe and restaurant that offers Western style food. He is greeted by senior proprietress (Fujita Yumiko) and the junior proprietress (Kobayashi Asako). The smell of garlic immediately hits him. It was from the shop's specialty item: Special Garlic Soup. Goro chooses it from the menu, as well as Crab Pilaf, Garlic Toast, Salmon Sauteed in Butter...

12. Garlic Chive-Egg Rice and Shrimp Chili of Hatchobori, Chuo Ward, Tokyo

Aired: 6/29/2018

Inogashira Goro is in Hatchobori to visit a long time client and friend, Igarashi (Otomo Kohei) who manages a music bar. The last time they've been in contact was four years ago when Igarashi made some drunken, unreasonable job request to Goro. This time, he has another "unreasonable" request... After finishing business talks, Goro starts looking for a shop to eat lunch. There were high-end shops within the area but eventually, he found "Chinese Food, Shibuya". It's exactly what he was looking for, an eatery that offers "the common people's meals". Inside, the shopowner (Kadono Takuzo) ushers him in. There were so many Chinese-style dishes to choose from, Goro had a hard time deciding. In the end, he orders Nira-Tama (Garlic Chives Stir Fry with Eggs), Shrimp Toast, Shrimp Chili...