This is the third installment of our series on Navy Curry, a local delicacy of Kure, which is a town characterized by the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force.

The various curries that are eaten on Friday lunchtimes by sailors onboard ship have been reproduced by chefs onshore and are currently gaining tremendous popularity as ‘sightseeing gourmet’.

There are a total of 22 different types of Kure Navy Curry eaten by Maritime Self Defence Force sailors. In Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 we introduced 6 kinds and in response to popular demand, we’re going to introduce 3 more today!

This is a reproduction by the Kure city hall cafeteria of the keema curry served on JS Bungo (a minesweeper mother ship).

It’s special characteristic is that it’s prepared using over 20 different types of seasoning including, among others, oyster sauce and okonomiyaki sauce.

Giving it a mild yet rich flavor, it has an abundance of vegetables and fruits such as peach blended in. I wonder if it’s because it also has Japanese style broth mixed in that you can’t get enough of the flavor? It’s not at all surprising that so many people frequent the restaurant.

A minesweeper mother ship is responsible for removing mines, among other ordnances.

Through trial and error, the chef created this curry and rice dish in order to allow the sailors, who constantly face danger, to at least enjoy their mealtimes.

Recreated by Seaside Café Beacon, this is the curry served on JS Samidare (a destroyer class vessel).

A curry designed to be eaten with naan bread, this one is particularly popular among women. The vegetables in the curry are cut into easy-to-eat cubes…

Although it has a spiciness to it, the subtle flavor of red wine and the sourness of coffee along with the richness of demi-glace sauce balance the flavor into one of which you won’t grow tired.

It’s also the perfect match for local Kure beer and nostalgic lemon soda!

The shop faces the port, and it has an ambience that makes you feel as if you’re onboard ship.

From the window, at times you can catch a glimpse of a destroyer at anchor…

Recreated by restaurant Il Mare of the Kure Hankyu Hotel, this is the curry served aboard JS Umikiri (a destroyer class vessel).

Served with rice, it’s a curry dish simmered for as long as two days. Apparently, even the onions are sautéed well to make them nice and golden and bring just the right amount of sweetness to the dish, which overall has a round, even stew-like, refined flavor.

Making the texture of the vegetables and the beef just right, some ingredients are simmered separately according to the time necessary.

The head chef personally works in the kitchen to recreate the curry.

Apparently, he works especially hard to achieve the deep color and the right kind of sweetness.

Even though they’re all called ‘curry’, the preference onboard each vessel is different, so there are an infinite variety of flavors!

Why not enjoy the feeling of the sailors by trying out all the different curries!?

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Kure City Hall Cafeteria
Address: Kure City Hall 8th floor, 4-1-6 Chuo, Kure city, Hiroshima prefecture
Tel: 0823-21-3472
Open:11:00-15:00
Closed: Sat, Sun, national holidays

Seaside Café Beacon
Address: 5-20 Takaramachi, Kure city, Hiroshima prefecture
Tel: 0823-23-6000
Open: 11:00-18:00
Closed: Tuesdays
http://www.beacon-cafe.com/ (Japanese)

Hankyu Hotel Coffee House Il Mare
Address: Kure Hankyu Hotel 1st floor 1-1-1 Chuo, Kure city, Hiroshima prefecture
Tel: 0823-20-1111
Open: 11:30-20:30 everyday
http://www.hankyu-hotel.com/hotel/kurehh/restaurant/274/index.html (Japanese)
http://www.hankyu-hotel.com/cgi-bin2/cms2/index_en.cgi?hid=35kurehh&page=rest (Some information in English)

Setouchi Finder Photo-writers: Makoto Esaki & Yoko Suganami (Rainbow Sake Co., Ltd.)