Boy’s Day Koinobori Chofu

May 5, 2009 1 Comment

Tango-no-Sekku (Boy’s Day) Koinobori Chofu 端午の節句鯉のぼり調布

May 5th is Boy’s Day, or Tango-no-Sekku in Japan. Colorful koi (carp) fabric streamers, some gigantic, are flown from house roofs and condominium verandas by families with young boys. I found these koinobori chofu at a wagashi shop in Nara the other day, I hadn’t seen anything like this before.…

Aoi Matsuri Kyoto Kaiseki

May 4, 2009 15 Comments

Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock Festival) Kyoto Kaiseki at Kichisen 吉泉の五月の献立

It is May and the most historic festival in all of Japan, the Aoi Matsuri is upon us. Iron Chef Defeater, Yoshimi Tanigawa of Kyoto’s famed Kichisen restaurant artfully uses the symbols and themes of the Aio Matsuri and seasonal leaves and ingredients for Kichisen’s May kaiseki menu.…

Karinshu: Japanese Quince Liqueur

March 7, 2009 13 Comments

How to Make Karinshu (Japanese Quince Liqueur) 花梨酒

Karinshu: Japanese Quince Liqueur 花梨酒カリン酒かりん酒

Karin, a variety of quince, is fairly common to see in the fruit section of grocery stores in the winter in Japan. I knew that people steeped it in shochu alcohol to make karinshu, like umeshu (plum liqueur) but had never made it or even tasted it. We made some today…

Vinegar Shinise: Fruit Vinegar Chocolate Valentine’s Day Bonbons

February 16, 2009 5 Comments

Fruit Vinegar Chocolate Valentine’s Day Bonbons from Vinegar Shinise! 内堀醸造酢ボンボン

Happy Valentine’s Day Peko! You’re my favorite foodie! This year I skipped the usual maccha chocolate and got Peko fruit flavored vinegar chocolates from a vinegar shinise company in Gifu that has a small stand at Takashimaya Department Store in Kyoto. The novel flavors of blueberry, orange and grapefruit,…

Itadakimono: Kumiage Yuba and Yuba Donburi

February 8, 2009 8 Comments

Kumiage Yuba and Yuba Donburi 汲み上げ湯葉湯葉どんぶり

We were given a gift of kumiage yuba from a yuba company up in Otsu recently and made donburi with it on Peko’s famous rice. Simply flavored with soy sauce and wasabi, this is veg, healthy, and not just tasty, but creamy tasty! Have you heard of yuba?…

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