Food
Zucchini or summer squash makes for a colorful pasta dish
A combination of pasta and summer squash results in a light, flavorful dish that's full of color. We decided against peeling the squash, as the skin helped to keep the pieces intact throughout the cooking process. Because summer squash contains so much liquid, we salted and drained it to keep… Read
Easy-breezy: Planning ahead can make your picnic just that
As the weather warms up, many of us start thinking about enjoying our meals outdoors. But a seamless, successful picnic takes some planning. Having a checklist and some ideas for what foods work best can keep the easy-breezy notion of a summer picnic just that. Whether you are looking to… Read
Cafe’s gorgeous hydrangea sweets celebrate most beautiful flower of Japan’s rainy season
Japan’s seasons are especially distinct, and Japanese culture has always enthusiastically savored the transition from one to another. One way it does that is by viewing flowers in the country’s parks and gardens, with the famous sakura cherry blossoms of April followed by wisteria and Nemophila/baby blue eyes of mid-to-late spring. Next on the… Read
Transparent soy sauce creates different culinary experience
Ever since it opened for business at the dawn of the Meiji Era, Fundodai Goyo Inc has been making high quality soy sauce and miso products, earning a national reputation for excellence and growing steadily throughout the years to become the number one producer in Kumamoto. In addition to their… Read
Shiny green wasabi pearls become hot selling topping
Shizuoka Prefecture is famous for its high quality wasabi, and local 144-year-old-manufacturer Tamaruya offers a wide range of the finest wasabi products in Japan. Their latest offering has skyrocketed to the top of the wasabi goods list, however, selling out in two minutes online. It's been nicknamed "green caviar", but are… Read
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Hinasushi, known for all-you-can-eat sushi including toro and uni, opens in Roppongi
If you want to eat sushi to your heart's content when you visit Japan, you either need to have yen to spare or find a restaurant with an all-you-can-eat sushi plan. The problem with the latter is that all-you-can-eat sushi plans often have a limited list of sushi items to… Read
Vegetable kebabs with a crisp exterior and juicy interior
Vegetables on their own can be a great option for grilled kebabs, because they cook quickly and, when done right, offer a crisp, charred exterior and a juicy, tender interior. Tossing grilled vegetables with a bold dressing can do wonders to brighten up an otherwise boring dinner, but for our… Read
'Takenoko gohan' -- Steamed rice with bamboo shoots
Bamboo shoots (takenoko) are a staple of springtime in Japan, and going out to harvest them is a fun activity in itself. After cutting the fresh shoots, the Japanese people typically boil them as soon as they get home, then store them in the boiled water in the refrigerator. Takenoko… Read
World’s first matcha latte art competition to be held in Japan this year
Everyone appreciates a beautiful latte art or two, and depending on barista skill, some of the extremely detailed ones can be nothing short of mesmerizing. And if watching baristas come up with gorgeous creations is your kind of thing, then you would not want to miss an upcoming latte art competition on May… Read
Teppanyaki: A Japanese cooking tradition made in America
Teppanyaki is an iconic Japanese style of cuisine in which the chef and the diner enter into a culinary interpersonal relationship. The chef takes the yaki (grilled or broiled food) orders from the diner, prepares the food for the diner on the teppan (iron plate), and serves the diner on-the-spot.… Read
