July 25, 2009

Homemade Mushi Pan Steamed Bread - Second Try

I love love love mushi pan (steamed bread) and have been trying to make it at home. I want it to be very mochi mochi (heavy and sticky) but I am nowhere near the texture and taste that I want. This time we included warabi mochi powder, but it still wasn’t sticky enough. Keep trying.

Homemade Mushi Pan Steamed Bread

Homemade Mushi Pan Steamed Bread

Homemade Mushi Pan Steamed Bread

Comments (View)
July 20, 2009

Kyoyasai Shogoin Cucumber

I harvested my first ‘Kyoyasai’ (traditional Kyoto vegetable) today, an intriguingly light green and speckled Shogoin Cucumber and had it with dinner. It was rather astringent and bitter. I can see why they aren’t very popular! I planted 6 vines of them this year, I guess I will be getting better accustomed to this taste this summer.

Kyoyasai Shogoin Cucumber 聖護院胡瓜

Comments (View)

My First Lotus Flower

In my third year of lotus cultivation I have finally produced a flower. It is a beauty!

My First Lotus Flower

Comments (View)
June 18, 2009

White Taiyaki (白い鯛焼き)

I don’t like conventional taiyaki — the azuki bean paste filled grilled confection in the form of a sea bream — but I like this very unusual white version. While moffle (waffle made with mochi, not batter) is popular in Japan now, this is made with mochi flour, not the usual wheat flour. Once grilled though, it is gooey and chewy like fu (wheat gluten) and hot mochi. I have to get some more, but it is only available in Kyoto two days a week at the Kyoto Central Wholesale Food Market.

White Taiyaki 白い鯛焼き

White Taiyaki 白い鯛焼き

Check out this video about the frustrating life of taiyaki in Japan in the 1970’s,

Comments (View)
June 8, 2009

Really Disappointed with Summer Hokke

I love hokke ichiyaboshi in the winter. I bought this hokke (arabesque greenling) today, early summer and not salted and dried overnight and it was a real disappointment. In the winter they are buttery, heavy with oil. Apparently hokke was not eaten much in Japan before the war. They were called ‘rat fish’ or ‘prisoner fish’ (fed to prisoners).

Summer Hokke Arabesque Greenling ほっけ

Comments (View)
Comments (View)
June 5, 2009

New Yebisu Jukusei Beer is Out! (ヱビス超長期熟成)

This new Yebisu beer, Yebisu Jukusei, a limited edition, that I heard about from a friend in the know is available now. On the way home from dinner at Kichisen and sake at Asakura, I found that new Yebisu was out when I stopped by Kunitaya to see what namazake they had available for my friends to take back to America with them.

Yebisu is the only beer that I can really drink in Japan. Their Amber is very good, but only available in the winter. This beer is quite good as well. I am looking forward to having it with a meal!

New Yebisu Beer is Out! (ヱビス超長期熟成)

New Yebisu Beer is Out! (ヱビス超長期熟成)

Comments (View)
June 1, 2009

Gion Izuju Kyomaki and Inarizushi

Today, after I finished interviewing Kitamura-san of Izuju, he gave me a box of their kyomaki and inari sushi.

Gion Izuju Kyomaki and Inarizushi 祇園いづ重 京巻 いなり寿し

Gion Izuju Kyomaki and Inarizushi 祇園いづ重 京巻 いなり寿し

Gion Izuju Kyomaki and Inarizushi 祇園いづ重 京巻 いなり寿し

Gion Izuju Kyomaki and Inarizushi 祇園いづ重 京巻 いなり寿し

Gion Izuju Kyomaki and Inarizushi 祇園いづ重 京巻 いなり寿し

Comments (View)
May 28, 2009

Kibune Kawadoko

Kibune, also pronounced kifune, is a valley village up in the north mountains of Kyoto where people like to go in the summer and have lunch or dinner literally on top of the cool, rushing mountain stream. This is called kawadoko.

Tanigawa-san took me up there and we had a quick, chilled somen noodle lunch and then visited Kibune Shrine.

Trip to Kibune 貴船 川床 貴船茶屋

Trip to Kibune 貴船 川床 貴船茶屋

Trip to Kibune 貴船 川床 貴船茶屋

Trip to Kibune 貴船 川床 貴船茶屋

Trip to Kibune 貴船 川床 貴船茶屋

Trip to Kibune 貴船 川床 貴船茶屋

Comments (View)
May 23, 2009

Cheri Chows Kogetsu Wagashi

Cheri loves to eat
even wagashi

Cheri Eats Kogetsu Wagashi

Cheri Eats Kogetsu Wagashi

Cheri Eats Kogetsu Wagashi

Cheri Eats Kogetsu Wagashi

Cheri Eats Kogetsu Wagashi

Cheri Eats Kogetsu Wagashi

Cheri Eats Kogetsu Wagashi

Cheri Eats Kogetsu Wagashi
and then she is always ready for more
see, Cheri is a girl with a one track mind,
my dream girl! 

 

Comments (View)