The Taikenhaku(Trial Expo) in Ebisubashi-Suji shopping district .”When we have 551 Horai wrapped by myself “

Namba of Osaka has a shopping district called “Ebisubashi-Suji Shopping Street”. It is in the area called “Minami(South Osaka)” in Osaka.Recently,it has been crowded with tourists from foreign countries every day.
It is the shopping arcade that has about 370m long,running from north to south between “Takashimaya Osaka Department store” and “Ebisubashi”.
It’s history goes back to the Edo period,and a modern shopping district was constructed in Taisho 2(1913).It is a shopping district with a history of over 100 years.Contrary to the “Kita” area(North Osaka) around Osaka Umeda,there are still lots of old shops.
“Taikenhaku(Trial Expo)”held by Ebisubashi-Suji shopping district.From 2010, it is held every spring and autumn,you can enjoy over 20 experience such as the trial of the treatment skill of the famous staffs at the long-established shop which cannot be usually given,walking around the street with the merchants in Minami,and beauty trial programs of the beauty salons or the cosmetics shops.
This time we accompanied the trial program “When we have 551 Hourai wrapped by myself!”

551 Horai

551 Horai” founded in Showa 20(1945) is the famous shop that “Steamed Pork Bun(Butaman)” whose head office is in this Ebisubashi-Suji Shopping District.

And do you know the meaning of “551”?
One day the founder,Low Pan Chang thought that “How can we make the name of the product more familiar to the customers?He suddenly came up with the idea when he saw a cigarette to take a breath.”This is it!” That cigarette is “555(Three Five)” from foreign countries.
Kanji and Kana characters only apply in China and Japan.As for numbers,they are common for all countries.
It is said that the telephone number of the head office at that time was 64-551,and the meaning of “We want to head for the best taste and service!” was also put in and finally the name of “551 Horai” was born.
“See 551 Horai HP”

What are the contents of the trial?

There were 132 entries for this trial,and 10 people were chosen by lot.
Steamed Pork Bun(Butaman) is one of the most popular items in 551.This trial is the experience of wrapping the ingredients for “Butaman”.
The master of wrapping gives us direct teaching.It is a program that you can experience it with the original method of 551 Horai.
We wrap two buns by yourself,one to eat,one to take home.
Moreover,we can experience in the kitchen of the head office in operation.It is the area that you cannot enter usually.We were very excited to hear that.

Preparation to enter the kitchen

Before entering the kitchen,we must put the mask,hat and apron.And put the net to keep your hair from falling Wearing a hat with 551 logos make us look like the real staff.

This is harder than we thought!

“You will make folds 13 times,1,2 and 3,Do this way”.The staffs will teach the techniques.
Next time,everyone will practice wrapping.we must use the skins and ingredients with fixed amount.For several times,we practiced wrapping the skins which are used to resemble the ingredients.
If you touch the skins,you must say “Soft and comfortable like a baby’s skin.”
The veteran staffs were teaching us how to wrap from A to Z.
“Did you all make it?“ Some say,“It is a little difficult!”Then the staff says“Everyone did it well.”

Now we have come to the real test

Above is the ingredients.Let’s wrap them properly by showing the result of our practicing.
Behind us,the staffs are wrapping the Steamed Pork Bun for sale We could see it close by.
Above is the “Butaman” that the participants made wholeheartedly.They will be steamed from now.

To the restaurant of the head office

Until the “Butaman” which we made by us is steamed up,we challenged “551 Horai Quiz” at the restaurant on the 3 rd floor. We could acquire some knowledge of “551 Horai”.
“Butaman” has been finished!They are fresh out of the kitchen.

Above is piping hot “Butaman” wrapped by myself.It looks very delicious!

Summary

Self-made “Butaman”.It is such a valuable trial that you cannot normally experience.The skilled staffs taught us directly!This is unique to this trial of “Ebisubashi-Suji shopping street” This Trial Epo is held every spring and autumn.It will be a lottery among many applications.Why do not you try applying for it?
And,as every participant was enjoying the “Butaman”, we bought a lot of souvenirs and went home.Sweet vinegar Dumplings are delicious with plenty of sweet vinegar.We strongly recommend this!