Last year on February 3rd, the day before spring, I put a grilled sardine head on a holly stick and put it next to my front door. That was to prevent the ‘Oni’ demon from entering my house and getting my new year off to a bad start.
I didn’t…
Archive for the ‘fish (魚料理)’ Category
My Original Hiiragi Iwashi Design (Whole Sardine and Holly Leaves)
Depachika: Sanma-zushi
Aozakana season is upon us here in Japan. Aozakana literally means ‘blue fish’. Aozakana isn’t a species but a category. Aozakana are varieties like mackerel (saba), saury (sanma), sardine (iwashi) and so on. The backs of these fish are blue in color and in the autumn and winter they are particularly fatty and oily. Japanese say, abura ga notteiru (脂がのっている).…
Epic Sushi! Kyoto-style Sushi Lesson at Kichisen
Helena Chlepnac from Sushi Fusion from Switzerland was in town studying-up on Kyoto’s incredible culinary culture. We had a chance to spend a few days together which culminated in the most luxurious sushi meal, actually, three sushi meals, that I have ever had or even imagined! This was epic sushi! And all thanks to Chef Tanigawa at Kichisen, who gave…
Donabe Eda Mame ‘Green Soybean’ Gohan, Matsutake Gohan, Ayu Shioyaki and Tsukudani
Donabe Takikomi Gohan: Eda Mame ‘Green Soybean’ Gohan, Matsutake Gohan, Grilled Ayu Sweetfish and Homemade Tsukudani

Being requested for more frequent recipes by our readers on KyotoFoodie, last night I made eda mame gohan cooked in a donabe and tried my new experimental tsukudani. While preparing this simple, seasonal and very tasty dish, Tanigawa-san from
Kichisen Sansho Chirimen Jako on Gohan Nabe Rice
Kichisen Sansho Chirimen Jako on Gohan Nabe Rice 吉泉山椒縮緬

Sansho Chirimen Jako is a condiment in Japan that is usually eaten with, or sprinkled on rice. It is made by simmering dried sardine fry (jako) and fresh sansho pepper fruit (sansho-no-mi) in soy sauce, cooking sake and mirin. I got this much sought after sansho chirimen jako from…



