Tsukemono: Aka Kabura Nukazuke from Nishiki Market

Nukazuke: Japanese Rice Bran Fermented Pickles 京漬物 錦・高倉屋 Tsukemono: Aka Kabura Nukazuke from Nishiki Market 京漬物 錦・高倉屋
Meet nukazuke, a traditional Japanese tsukemono that is fermented in rice bran with a bit of salt. Nukazuke is full of vitamins and can be extremely pungent. Most any kind of vegetable can be used, even meat can be pickled by this method! It is easy to make at home and…
Read More »

Winter Crab: Kani Miso, Kani Nabe, Kani Zosui

Winter Crab: Kani Miso, Kani Nabe, Kani Zosui かにみそ かに鍋 かに雑炊 Winter Crab: Kani Miso, Kani Nabe, Kani Zosui かにみそ かに鍋 かに雑炊
In Japan winter is the season for crab and the best, fresh sake. We were given two beautiful crabs from the Sea of Japan and after doing kani nabe I wanted to cook the kani miso in the shell with sake over an open flame, so I bought some…
Read More »

Koshogatsu Ryori and Oma Maguro Tuna

Happy New Year Again! Koshogatsu Ryori and Oma Maguro Tuna 小正月料理 大間マグロ Happy New Year Again! Koshogatsu Ryori and Oma Maguro Tuna 小正月料理 大間マグロ
Koshogatsu, or ‘little shogatsu‘ is traditionally observed on January 15th and marks the end of the Japanese New Year celebration. Mochi that has been offered to Shinto gods for the last half month is now quite dried out and is shattered with a hammer for eating…
Read More »

Wagashi: Kyoto Toraya’s Year of the Ox Namagashi

Wagashi: Kyoto Toraya’s Year of the Ox Namagashi 京都とらや のどかな朝 Wagashi: Kyoto Toraya's Year of the Ox Namagashi 京都とらや のどかな朝
There is a blend of sophistication, beauty, simplicity and cuteness in namagashi, especially Kyoto namagashi, that is just unlike anything else in the foodie universe. In food and non-food related design, the traditional Japanese sense is something from another, bygone world, but still seems so essential even in…
Read More »

Shogatsu: Mochibana Japanese New Year Decoration

Mochibana Japanese New Year Shogatsu Decoration 餅花 Mochibana Japanese New Year Shogatsu Decoration 餅花
Mochibana is a Japanese New Year’s decoration that uses white and pink colored mochi wrapped around willow branches to simulate blossoms. Shogatsu signals the coming of spring in Japan, and spring is plum, peach and cherry blossoms. Why do people use mochi rather than real flowers?…
Read More »