Kyoto Ice Cream: Gion Kinana – Kinako Ice Cream

This entry is part 7 of 7 in the series Do Not Miss
Gion Kinana’s fresh-made kinako ice cream, more cream than ice, is the best Japanese ice cream that I have had. Their parfaits are completely amazing too. Kinana is located in Gion, just off of Hanamikoji Street, one of Kyoto’s most scenic and historic neighborhoods. I liked Kinana…
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Kyoto Cafe: Jouvencelle Gion and Maccha Chocolate Fondue

I have received requests for more Kyoto cafe reviews. Here is one of my favorites: Jouvencelle. Japanese Western-style cakes and confections, called yogashi, in Japanese, I am not a fan of. They are nearly alaways fluffy, puffy, airy things, short on taste and soul. Western-style cakes and confections available in cafes or for take out in the department store food…
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Hearty Mid-winter Salt Pork Mochi Rice Okowa Recipe

Did you know that mochi rice isn’t just for sweets? When you think mochi in Japanese cuisine, most people think of sticky rice steamed and pounded and made into the myriad forms of wagashi confections. Glutinous rice, also known as sticky rice, is called mochigome in Japanese. (Kome is uncooked rice.) Mochigome can be used to cook rice dishes that…
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Imo Jochu Nama Choco Ganache at Kyoto Daimaru Department Store Valentine Chocolat Promenade

This year my Valentine’s Day sweet was sweet potato shochu filled chocolate ganache! Regular readers of KyotoFoodie may recall that I was given some delightful fruit vinegar bonbons last Valentine’s Day from Takashimaya. I don’t have a valentine this year so I bought my own. I was encouraged to skip Takashimaya’s Valentine’s Day chocolate exhibition and instead visit the other…
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