Event Report: Saturday Night Fever

On the second-to-last weekend of July, the Saturday in the Park group decided to try something a little different. Instead of holding their event during the day, they moved it to the late evening and into the night to help everyone escape the summer heat.
The regular Saturday in the Park vendors, including All Right Coffee, Hi-5 Burgers, Mr. Goodman, and Champs de Ble, decided to change their usual menu and add special new items just for the evening.
I had the chance to attend this new event, Saturday Night Fever, and was welcomed by friendly people, great music, and some amazing food. It turned out to be a fantastic way to spend a summer evening.

Satuday Night Fever

I headed to Saturday Night Fever with a friend of mine, ready to enjoy some great food and a few beers. Since I usually drive everywhere, this was a rare occasion when I decided to leave the car behind and take the bus from Tsuchiura Station to Tsukuba Station. The event was held at Chuo Park, just a short walk from Tsukuba Station. The Saturday in the Park team always hosts their events there, and they never disappoint.
If you happened to miss my previous post about Saturday in the Park, be sure to check it out:
https://ibarakieats.com/event-report-saturday-in-the-park

By the time I arrived, the party was already in full swing. The vendors were busy preparing their new special dishes, people were enjoying drinks and chatting with friends, and the atmosphere was fantastic. Since I was feeling a little sleepy after the trip, the first thing I did was grab a nice, cool, and refreshing coffee to wake myself up.

Clash Orange Coffee
All Right Coffee

The first vendor I stopped by was All Right Coffee. I always enjoy picking up one of their drinks along with a gluten-free treat. Their menu has never disappointed me, so I couldn't wait to try their new creation, the Clash Orange Coffee.
The owner pulled a fresh shot of espresso, added orange juice, ice, and a few other ingredients that I couldn't quite make out before blending everything together. The result was an incredibly refreshing and flavorful coffee drink. The rich espresso flavor was still front and center, but the bright citrus from the orange gave it a fun tropical twist. It was a unique combination that worked surprisingly well.
After finishing my coffee and feeling much more awake, I made my way over to Mr. Goodman to grab my first meal of the evening and, of course, my first alcoholic drink.

Mojito and Shumai
Mr. Goodman

When I walked over to Mr. Goodman, I noticed they had a mojito on the menu. Since I come from Miami, I can be pretty strict when it comes to mojitos. I've tried them at several places around Japan, and to be honest, I'm usually left disappointed. I wasn't sure how Mr. Goodman's version would turn out, but after my first sip, I knew I had nothing to worry about. In fact, I was impressed.
It had everything a good mojito should have. The mint leaves were fresh and had been picked right at the event. The sugar was perfectly balanced and blended smoothly into the drink, and all the flavors came together beautifully. It was refreshing, delicious, and easily one of the best mojitos I've had in a while. I only hope they'll bring it back again before the summer is over.
By this point, I was starting to feel a bit hungry, so I ordered some shumai as well. The owner of Mr. Goodman asked if I wanted two. I laughed and said, "No way. I'll be full after that." Then I saw the size of them and immediately realized he was right. These shumai were huge!
After pouring a little soy sauce over them, I took my first bite and was greeted with a mouthful of juicy pork and fresh green onions. They were incredibly flavorful, and since they were made right in front of me, every bite was hot and fresh. Before that evening, I had no idea the owner of Mr. Goodman had previously worked at a ramen restaurant. Their regular menu focuses on pizza and calzones, but after trying these shumai, it's clear they can do much more than Italian food. I definitely hope I get the chance to enjoy their shumai again.

Fried Chicken Tenders
Hi-5 Burgers

After finishing my mojito, I decided to grab a beer from All Right Coffee. Yes, they were serving beer as well! With a cold drink in hand, I made my way over to Hi-5 Burgers.
There were no burgers on the menu for this event. Instead, Hi-5 was serving fried chicken tenders. I had tried Hi-5's fried chicken many years ago when the owner was running his own restaurant, so I was excited to have the chance to taste it again after all this time.
I ordered some fried chicken tenders, and I was glad I did because they were almost sold out! When the chicken arrived at my table, it looked absolutely amazing. The owner was kind enough to give me a few different sauces to try with the chicken, which was a nice touch.
I first tried the chicken on its own, and honestly, it was even better than I remembered. The batter was fresh, crispy, and perfectly cooked, while the chicken inside was piping hot, juicy, and full of flavor. It might have been some of the best fried chicken tenders I have had in quite a while.
I ended up buying another order of fried chicken tenders for my wife, who joined us later in the evening, and she absolutely loved them as well.

Galette Hot Dog
Champs de Ble

Champs de Ble is a galette shop near Doho Park that I am still planning to visit and write about on this blog soon. I am always happy to see the owner at these events, and for Saturday Night Fever, she brought a very special creation: a galette hot dog.
This was not your ordinary hot dog. A large wiener was completely wrapped in a galette and topped with ketchup and other condiments. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I first saw it. Still, after taking my first bite, I was transported into a world of soft and flavorful galette, a juicy meaty wiener, and a mix of condiments that worked perfectly together to enhance the overall flavor.
What surprised me the most was the spicy kick that came through. I definitely was not expecting it, but I welcomed it. This meaty galette delight was so spicy that it even made me cough a few times, but the heat paired extremely well with the cold beer I had in my hand.
It was a unique and delicious creation, and I would love to have this galette hot dog again.

All Right Coffee and Mr. Goodman
All Dressed up for Saturday Night!

After enjoying all that amazing food, drinking several beers, and even having a shochu soda, it was finally time to stumble back home.
This event was a huge success. Everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. The food was excellent, the drinks kept flowing, and there were smiles and laughter everywhere. My wife arrived later in the evening, but she had a great time, and my friend enjoyed himself as well. We were able to catch up with old friends, meet new people, and enjoy a fantastic summer night together.
I really hope the Saturday in the Park group holds another nighttime event like this again. I think people around central Tsukuba would really welcome another evening like Saturday Night Fever.
Thank you for a great time, Saturday Night Fever!

For more information on this event group, Saturday in the Park, check out their Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/saturday_inthe_park/?hl=en

Matsuri Tsukuba
By the way, the Saturday in the Park guys will be in the Tonarie area of Matsuri Tsukuba this weekend! They will be in the area where the Tsukubanominoichi takes place every month.
Grab a Hi-5 Burger or get a huge shumai from Mr. Goodman, and then go check out the nebuta later that evening.
Enjoy!

For the older blog posts, check out the WIX Ibaraki Eats.

https://regaladom24.wixsite.com/website