Discoveries from around the archipelago
Courtney serves up some dishes with mirin this week. Now I know how to use up the bottle I have in my kitchen! Mirin is a staple in most Japanese kitchens. It is a light yellow, low-alcohol rice wine that is used to sweeten dishes. Originally it was served as an alcoholic drink (contains approximately 14% alcohol),... Continue Reading →
If you’ve visited Japan, you have more than likely run into Japanese mayonnaise. More specifically, Kewpie mayonnaise, as they have 70% of the market and is THE brand most people think of when looking for Japanese mayo. Kewpie is easily recognizable by the plain bottle with the red lid and packaging that includes a (slightly... Continue Reading →
When I first arrived to Japan years ago, my friends took me to a chain restaurant where udon (wheat) noodles were made behind glass windows in the front of the store. I had only eaten dried udon before and I just couldn't get over how delicious these these noodles were in comparison. Fresh udon is super... Continue Reading →
Most visitors to Kyoto can't help but taste the old capital's specialty sweet - yatsuhashi. While traditional yatsuhashi is a hard cinnamon-flavored cookie, the stands that line the road up to Kiyomizu Temple do a brisk business in both selling and offering samples of the nama (raw) version - a chewy, glutinous confectionary. Namayatsuhashi are normally shaped like a triangle... Continue Reading →
New Year's Day arrives in less than two weeks and I am just now coming to terms with that. What is it about December that makes it seem as if there are 15-20 fewer days in this month than all the others? Last year, I felt I had everything together by the time Christmas rolled... Continue Reading →
There is sushi and there is design. And then there is designer sushi. There's no better way to describe the beautiful seafood and vegetables on offer at the minimalist restaurant A-Womb. The eatery specializes in high quality, DIY hand-rolled sushi (temaki), featuring many local vegetables and unique food combinations not often found at your standard sushi joint.... Continue Reading →
Soba has become quite the dinnertime staple in the Uncover Japan household. I can't wait to try out Courtney's recipe below! Soba, or buckwheat noodles, are popular throughout Japan and served hot or cold. Many soba dishes are served daily as inexpensive food found at train stations, but some dishes are seasonal or for special... Continue Reading →
Tokyo is enjoying a vegetarian revolution. When I lived here seven years ago, finding healthy food - TRULY vegetarian or organic food - was a bit of a challenge. Fast forward the clock and in the Tokyo of today, you can't go more than ten yards without tripping over a juice stand, an eatery serving... Continue Reading →
(The entry by Courtney this week made me chuckle, as we are currently traveling to Tokyo with packets and packets of furikake in tow for my daughter's daily rice portions! She loves it ... now you can too!) I use to wonder how Japanese could just eat steamed rice …then I discovered furikake! Furikake to Japanese... Continue Reading →
There are certain good things to moving house, at least in the initial days. One of the bright spots is that I don't have to cook. Don't get me wrong, I love to be in the kitchen some of the time and I love to make healthy food for my family. But it's nice to... Continue Reading →
