What is Ryorishu? Japanese Cooking Sake

February 28, 2009 5 Comments

Itadakimono: Recently I visited my favorite sake brewery, Uehara Sake Brewery in rural Shiga prefecture. Before I left, Mr Uehara, the owner, gave me a bottle of the brewery’s cooking sake, which is not sold in retails stores, but to exclusive, ‘hidden’ restaurants. Most cooking sake contains salt so that it can be sold in grocery stores, but not…

Wagashi: Walnut Gyuhi Mochi with Cinnamon

February 27, 2009 3 Comments

Wagashi: Walnut Gyuhi Mochi with Cinnamon 百万遍かぎや益寿糖

Ekijuto is a rare kind of mochi that was first created by a pharmacist with the intent of combining medicine and sweets. Contemporary Ekijuto mochi is flavored with cinnamon and walnut.…

Kyoto Nishijin Shinise: Tawaraya Meibutsu Udon

February 25, 2009 7 Comments

Tawaraya Meibutsu Nihon (Two Noodle) Udon たわらや名物二本うどん

A bowl of udon with only two noodles? Is it a rip-off or a find? Though Tawaraya’s famous udon dish is a bit gimmicky, it does have that special and refined ‘shinise’ taste. This is a dish that has been enjoyed, across the street from an ancient shrine, by several generations of locals…

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,…

Oyako Donburi: Nishijin Chicken Shinise Toriiwaro

February 16, 2009 9 Comments

Oyako Donburi: Nishijin Chicken Shinise Toriiwaro 西陣・鳥岩楼鳥水だき

Toriiwaro, a shinise located in the old weaving district of Kyoto, offers a single dish for lunch and a single dish for dinner. Toriiwaro’s chicken broth is the heart and soul of their chicken cuisine. Chicken itself is a relative newcomer to the Japanese culinary scene and this 150 year old restaurant…

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