Part of our travel routines is visiting local supermarkets. It’s so much fun. We try and avoid chain supermarkets because they tend to not carry much local products. But, I do make an exception for Lopia, which is a discount supermarket from the Tokyo area. It has a huge shop in the basement level 2…
Category: supermarket
Hiyashi Chūka
A fabulous summer noodle dish is hiyashi chūka or chilled ramen. Here topped with thin slices of omelet, ham, cucumbers, menma fermented bamboo shoots, and crab kani kamaboko imitation crab. At the supermarket look in the refrigerator section for fresh ramen packs. The sauces can be goma sesame or soy sauce based. The noodles cook…
Northeastern University
Northeastern University has a fabulous summer program on the Food of Japan. Professors Susan Ito and Jared Young have put together a syllabus packed with lectures with speakers including my mentor, Elizabeth Andoh. I had the great pleasure of speaking to the students. Ideally we would have done a market tour together, but my tours…
Reading Labels – Ramen
Tips on reading Japanese recipes on packages. Here are four different packages of #ramen. The pack comes with straight dried noodles, a dried soup package, and a small seasoned oil packet. Two key points:Look for 分 (fun) how many minutes to boil the noodles. Look for ml for how many milliliters of water to boil…
Ehōmaki
Today in Japan is Setsubun, the last day before Risshun, the first day of spring in the old Japanese calendar. While homes first day of spring in the old Japanese calendar. While homes with kids will throw dried soybeans at someone wearing a devil’s mask chanting “out with the demons, in with good fortune”. If…
Akomeya
Akomeya is a fabulous shop to stock up on pantry staples, rice, condiments, and tableware. There are a few branches at Nihonbashi Takashimaya, Shibuya, and Shinjuku. The main shop in Kagurazaka is organized over two floors and includes a restaurant. The beautiful space was designed by architect Kengo Kuma. Bookmark @akomeya_tokyo if you love cooking…
Toyama Tips
Other highlights of Toyama city include dinner at Suehiroken for wonton ramen which has a branch in the Daiwa department store. I asked what their osusume, recommendation, is and they said the wonton ramen was popular. Everyone who came in after us all ordered the wonton ramen. 🙂 Dining at department stores is one of…
Kanazawa Yamato
Yamato is a very cool shop that specializes in fermented foods including soy sauce, miso, and kōji products. Staff are helpful and friendly in this busy shop and offer many samples before purchasing. I’m a big fan of the fermented kōji amazaké which is an all natural probiotic drink. The shio salt kōji and soy…
Kanazawa Fukuro
Fukuro is a cool condiments shop near Ohmicho Market. I love the seasoned salts and misos. Curry chicken miso excellent for stuffing in onigiri or for crudité. On this trip I picked up lemon salt as staff said it’s great for karaagé fried chicken and bōcha roasted green tea salt for ochazuké rice with toppings…
Yuzusco
One of my favorite condiments is Yuzusco. Like a Tabasco but made with #yuzu. I use it with pasta, pizza, and omelette.
Hand Roll Sushi Party
Sushi party for dear friends in Minnesota. In the past we made maki zushi rolls but I much prefer the Japanese homestyle version of temaki zushi hand rolls. No rolling or slicing so hand rolls are so much easier to make. Simply put some vinegared rice on the nori, add your fillings, and roll up…
Easy Curry
We love curry in Japan. Most often we make it from scratch, but I do keep pre-cooked curry packs in our home for rainy days. These simply need to be cooked in the pack in hot water – usually for about 5-7 minutes. To cook in the microwave I open the pack and move the…
Ochazuké
I am enjoying my #FoodSakeTokyo market tours so much. I love demystifying Japanese cuisine. Just last week I did a local supermarket tour with a client who has moved to Tokyo. We walked through her local supermarket introducing ingredients and products she can use in her daily life. She lived in Japan before so is…
Food Sake Tokyo 