Japan’s Gekikara Spicy Hot Craze and the Little Ramen Chain that Fuels It Gekikara (extra spicy) ramen is trending in Japan these days. The term “gekikara” means “fiercely spicy” in Japanese. You’ll see the term on all sorts of products in Japan. There are gekikara snacks, pastries, onigiri rice balls, noodles, and bentos lined up in supermarkets and convenience stores. Ramen, udon, burger, beef...
The cuisine of Peru is a blend of foodstuffs from the nation’s various ecosystems. Restaurants in this western South American country regularly place in lists of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and in 2019, two Peru restaurants made it into the top 10 of one of those lists. One restaurant in Peru is, MAIDO, which focuses on Nikkei cuisine. “Nikkei” is a term used...
Autumn is a time to celebrate the year’s harvest and enjoy some succulent in-season specialties. The weather turns cooler, we don sweaters, and our appetites start to come back. It’s a great time for cooking. In Japan, autumn is a time for grilled mackerel, matsutake mushrooms, eggplant, newly harvested rice, nashi pears, and much more. The Japanese word “shun,” which means “in season,” is...
Comparing Morning Meals in Japan & Taiwan If you’re planning a trip to Japan, why not add one more destination to your trip? This might not be the right time to travel to Hong Kong, and popular Southeast Asian destinations like Bangkok are an extra seven-hour flight from Tokyo. Here’s our recommendation: take a 3.5-hour flight to Taiwan. Taiwan may be a short flight...
If you like to cook and are curious about Japan’s spices and flavors, here’s a guide to a few basic ingredients that can give your dishes a distinct Japanese flair. All the products mentioned here can be bought at Uwajimaya supermarkets. Also, the Uwajimaya website has helpful definitions of Japanese ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes here: https://www.uwajimaya.com/uwajipedia Dashi This is the very essence of Japanese...
Cooked Rice with Oyster 2 rice-measuring cups rice 7 ounces oysters 1 cup dashi broth 2 ½ tablespoon usukuchi soy sauce (light color soy sauce) 2 ½ tablespoon sake green onions, chopped Rinse and drain the rice. Rinse well the oysters with salt water and drain. Heat dashi broth, usukuchi soy sauce and sake in a saucepan and bring to boil. Add the oysters...
BENTOS ARE GOOD FOR YOU ( AND HERE ARE THE REASONS WHY ) 1. Calories are easy to gauge It’s said that the average adult should take in about 2,000 to 2,500 calories a day. That includes 600 – 800 calories for lunch. A traditional bento includes a staple, a main dish and a side dish in a 3:1:2 ratio. The bento box helps...
Osechi-ryori is a traditional Japanese food for the New Year. In Japan, many people take the first three days of the New Year off and spend time with their families and relatives. Each family prepares the Osechi before the New Year so the family members are free from cooking and can enjoy the foods together during the holidays. Osechi-ryori is beautifully arranged in an...
Ozaki Gyu has captured the imagination of chefs around the world. This unique brand of wagyu doesn’t smell, is beautifully marble, has a smooth, rich flavor, and is incredibly juicy. Ozaki is the surname of the farmer who has been improving the quality of this beef for more than 30 years: Muneharu Ozaki. The beef is named after him, just like some famous wines...
We see the word “wagyu” bandied about these days on menus and grocery store labels, but what does the term mean? In Japanese, the word is used to define four distinct breeds of beef that have been raised for the last 200 years or so. The beef quality continues to improve as cattle ranchers improve the care and diet the cows receive. The four...
