Kyoto Restaurant ‘Hatakaku’ – Botan Nabe (Wild Boar Hotpot)

Botan Nabe, or wild boar nabe ‘hotpot’, is a dish commonly found in cold, rural, mountainous regions of Japan today. It may surprise you to learn, however, that it was in fact invented in Kyoto by the founder of Hatakaku, a restaurant founded nearly 100 years ago, located just north of the Imperial Palace. I have been meaning to introduce…
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Yakizakana: Komochi Maruboshi Nishin (Grilled Dried Herring)

Yakizakana: Komochi Maruboshi Nishin (Grilled Dried Herring with Eggs) 焼き魚: 子持ち丸干しにしん Yakizakana: Komochi Maruboshi Nishin (Grilled Dried Herring with Eggs) 焼き魚: 子持ち丸干しにしん
In Japan there are literally more ways to prepare fish than one can easily imagine. Yakizakana, grilled fish, is one of my all time favorites. Sakana-no-hoshimono, dried fish, is extremely tasty and quick and easy to make. I discovered this one the other day, it is a…
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Doyo Ushinohi: Unagi Eel Day, July 24th

Doyo Ushinohi: Unagi Eel Day, July 24th うなぎ土用丑の日 Ushinohi: Unagi Eel Day, July 24th うなぎ土用丑の日 Unagi, or freshwater eel, is a very popular food in contemporary Japan and there is a dedicated ‘Eel Day’ in mid-summer (this year July 24th) on which most Japanese eat unagi.…
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