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…
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Izuju: The Best Kyoto Style Sushi in Kyoto

This entry is part 1 of 7 in the series Do Not Miss
Sushi in Kyoto has a long history but it is quite unlike the nigiri sushi that we are used to abroad. Unlike Tokyo, Kyoto was landlocked and that required somehow keeping fish edible after the journey here. Kyoto sushi required some smarts and ingenuity, it also had…
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Kichisen Sabazushi

Kichisen Sabazushi (Mackerel Sushi) 吉泉の鯖寿し Kichisen Sabazushi  吉泉の鯖寿し
Historically, Kyoto — the inland, landlocked capital — wasn’t much of a sushi town, but sabazushi was and is a very important part of the culinary culture. For centuries, Mackerel was harvested in fishing villages on the Sea of Japan coast and carried for several days on the ‘Mackerel Highway’ to Kyoto. The end of…
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Saba Yuzu Kosho Nabe (Mackerel Yuzu Pepper Hotpot)

Saba Yuzu Kosho Nabe (Mackerel Yuzu Pepper Hotpot) 鯖柚子胡椒鍋

Saba Yuzu Kosho Nabe (Mackerel Yuzu Pepper Hotpot) 鯖柚子胡椒鍋
Winter is the season of both aozakana (literally, blue fish) and nabe (Japanese ‘hotpot’). Saba (mackerel) is a very unusual addition to nabe, and this includes black pepper! This is actually a family recipe from Paku’s house. (Yuzu was Peko’s addition) We both felt that while this was…
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