Koumibou

Hello! It is a tropical day again!
I hate taking packed train on such day because sometimes you're forced to stand next to sweltering passengers!!! Yikes!

Anyway, yesterday I got really sleepy and couldn't post my diary again. Gee... this steamy weather is really tiring!!!

Before I forget, I will write about last Saturday!
My boyfriend and I went out to eat creative Chinese cuisine at Koumibou. We live very close to the restaurant, but we just didn't have a chance to go there till this day!!!

The restaurant is so popular that many TV programs have featured it before!!! Once I saw it on Tsuyoshi Domoto's "Domoto Tsuyoshi no Shoujiki Shindoi"! On this program, he makes a small journey with a guest to a selected place. One day he toured our neighbors and had lunch at Koumibou. I remember he and the guest were eating Peking Duck!!! Also, the ramen that uses the broth of the duck seemed very delicious!!!

However, we couldn't have the Peking Duck. The portions were too big for us :( But we had chopped Peking Duck and vegetables served with pancakes, which was similar to the Peking Duck and was delicious!!! Also, all other dishes we had were great.

Next time, I'm gonna go there with my parents and sisters to have the Peking Duck ;)

Today, I went to lunch with my co-worker. I had a lot of vegetables to beat the summer heat! What I had was vegetable rice bowl (salad, natto, and mentaiko on top) and a green vegetable smoothie! Now I feel better!!!

Take care you all!!!

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Hikarin Cafe

Hello! We are having high 90's almost daily!
The heat from the ground is steamy like a sauna and makes me dizzy :(
Because of the heat or not, I was extremely drowsy this morning that I fell back to sleep... Also, I dozed off while standing on the train... I'm okay now though!

Yesterday, the third Monday in July, was Marine Day (a holiday) in Japan!
My boyfriend and I went to Odaiba to go to the "Hikarin Cafe". It is a cafe opened by Nosan Corporation which is famous for their Yodoran (iodine-enriched egg)! I wrote about them often since I won some prizes at their contests every season.
Last week, I again won a prize, "the grand prize", and received lunch for two at their cafe! That's why we went there ;)

The cafe is open from 7/19-8/31, for a limited time only. They have an anti-aging food platter for adults and a well-balanced food platter for kids! Moreover, they have many different kinds of sweets and drinks. They all use healthy ingredients including their eggs!

The cafe was kind of crowded, but we could seat without waiting, which was good! It was a bright white cafe with a lot of cute images of Hikarin, the character of Yodoran, on the windows. There were some of my recipes in their handmade recipe books displayed there! We had a good relaxing time!

Moreover, there are many entertaining places in Odaiba. At the DECKS Tokyo Beach, there is a place called DAIBA 1-CHOME SHOUTENGAI (image on the right) where you can time-trip to Showa era (1950s). Also, there is a SEGA amusement theme park called Tokyo Joypolis.

On this day, there were a lot of people going to Fuji TV's "Odaiba Boukenou Final". I have no idea what that is, but it seems like popular with kids.

If you have a chance to visit Tokyo this summer, Odaiba is a place you want to go ;)

And lastly, you know what!? My bracket broke off again...
No more 3s!!!

Okay, I have another thing to write, but maybe tomorrow.
Good night!

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Nenrinya

Hi! It was raining this afternoon! Maybe after a week or so. And needless to say, it was very hot and humid!!!

Today, my co-worker bought us Nenrinya's baumkuchens! I didn't know about the store, but she said it is very popular in Tokyo! She had to stand in a long line to get them!

Nenrinya's baumkuchens are different from those in Europe! They say they instill Japanese traditional sensibilities when they bake. Why I say baumkuchens (plural) is because they have 2 different kinds: firm rings (crisp coating) and soft rings (sponge cake type). This is their distinction!

Hmm. They both were great, but too complicated to understand the quality! I mean, I know many other baumkuchens said to be good and just couldn't compare with them... Anyway, I perfectly enjoyed the fancy snack ;)

Different story, but I could make an appointment with my orthodontist tomorrow morning because someone has canceled!

I'm drowsy now... so will stop!
Have a nice weekend ;)

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Fat-Burning Sour Drink

It is again hot and humid in Tokyo.
Glad not raining though!

Hmm. It is hot but I'm not losing weight!!!
Okay, here I'll translate my sour drink recipe, which helps burn fat ;)
I wrote about the sour drink before, but will explain it again!
Sour drink is a drink made by soaking fruits and sugar in vinegar for more than a week. The flavor of the fruits will be added to the vinegar after a period of time. When ready, you dilute it with water (or soda or anything you like) and drink.
The vinegar contains nutritional elements that are effective in relieving fatigue. Also it reduces blood cholesterol levels and there are many other good things for your health.

This time, I soaked white grapefruit and ginger in vinegar! I believe some people know but the grapefruit contains a fat-burning ingredient. Also a pungent ingredient of the ginger increases metabolism!

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Fat-Burning Sour Drink

Difficulty: Very Easy
Time: 5min + soaking time about a week
Number of servings: about 10

Ingredients:
200cc Mizkan's Rice Vinegar
200g honey
100g (about 1/2) white grapefruit
100g ginger

Directions:
1. Remove grapefruit peel, leave the pith on, cut into wedges. Peel ginger and slice.
2. In a scalded glass storage jar, dissolve honey in vinegar.
3. Add grapefruit and ginger, cover it with a lid, and keep in refrigerator (or in a cool, dry, dark place).
4. Shake gently once a day. After a week, remove grapefruit and ginger (you can eat grapefruit as is and can use ginger for cooking).
5. In a glass, dilute the mixture 4-5 times with soda or sparkling water (I recommend).

My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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Oh my god. My braces broke off. I need to see my orthodontist tomorrow, if possible :(

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Konapun

Hello! It is hot and humid again. I feel dull.

I forgot to write about this, but there was an International Tokyo Toy Show 2008 at Tokyo Big Sight in June.
I didn't attend it, but the next day I saw on TV that Bandai (a Japanese toy making company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits, famous for Tamagotchi) has exhibited their toy called Konapun, which is the toy I wanted when I was small.

Konapun is a toy that you can make miniature dishes from the special powder and water. You won't be able to eat it, but it is harmless to eat. "Kona" and "pun" both mean powder in Japanese. The image shows how to make a donut in "Konapun Donuts Kitchen"!

There are many other series available!
The search at Bandai's catalog shows 35, so maybe there are 35 different kinds of series.
In July 2008, they are going to release "Konapun Kitchen Studio"!

Actually, Konapun was sold again after 20 years in June 2006.
I remember that my friend had one!
I asked my mom, but she didn't buy me!!!
Of course I didn't give up and made a creperie from cardboard and cooked some real small crapes (pancakes) in the kitchen and served... I remember that I made a mess of it but that was all I could do :(
It is about 10 to 50 bucks, so now I can buy one or all!
But I won't! I mean, I want a real kitchen!!! Ha-ha :)

Anyway, I am so excited to see it available again.

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How to Make Tasty Mayo Marinated Tuna and Avocado - Video Recipe

These days, we see on TV that the oil price increase hit deep-sea tuna fishing industry.
Too sad... I love tuna!
How times have changed!!!
I wonder whether we are doing the right things for future generations...




Today I will translate my recipe using "sushi-su" (sushi vinegar or Japanese seasoned rice vinegar). It is a rice vinegar mixed with sugar and salt. The most popular manufacturer of sushi-su is Mizkan! Their products are also available overseas!

The slightly sweet flavor of sushi-su gives a small amount of mayonnaise a rich flavor, which is better for your health ;)



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Tasty Mayo Marinated Tuna and Avocado

Difficulty: Very Easy
Time: 5min or less
Number of servings: 2-3

Ingredients:
1 avocado
110g (3.8oz) Sushi grade tuna
A
* 1 tbsp. mayonnaise
* 2 tsp. Sushi-Su (Sushi vinegar)
* 1/2 tbsp. soy sauce
* a bit of Wasabi (Japanese Horseradish Paste) if desired
Kizaminori (finely shredded Nori sheet)

Directions:
1. Mix A in a bowl.
2. Cut avocado and tuna into cubes, place them in the bowl (1.), and toss lightly.
3. Arrange (2.) neatly in a dish, sprinkle with Kizaminori on top, and serve.

My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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You know what!? Yesterday, I was searching the web and found a lot of recipe contests in the US! I didn't know that it was also a popular promotional project there!

2008 Recipe, Cook-offs and Food Related Contests for both amateur cooks and professional chefs
http://www.foodreference.com/html/recipecontests.html

I didn't search further, but should be more! How amazing!!!
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A Treat from the King

Hello! We are having high (30C=86F) and humid temperature days continuously! The house won't get cool...
It is better to stay out at a cool cafe or office, rather than running an air conditioner at home.

In April, I wrote that the store called "SWEET MONAKA CREAM" has opened in Shinjuku station, but actually, it temporary closed after a few days. I wondered why but I don't know why.

However, today I found that the new store called "Ousama kara no Gohoubi", which means "a Treat from the King" has opened at the same location. They have a variety of Jersey milk based sweets. (Jersey milk is very rich. It is best suited for cream and butter.) They have Jersey Pudding Rolled Cake, Cheesecake, Jersey Milk Pudding, and Jersey Souffle. Hope I can try once before it closes down...

The truth is, I am posting this in the morning, the next day...
I couldn't stay up last night!
I was going to translate my recipe but maybe tonight ;)

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My Accomplishments

Hi! It is very hot here in Tokyo!!! We are still in the rainy season and having a very humid weather every day :(

As usual, I will list my recent accomplishments!

On June 24th, following the first release, my recipe using Kagome's basic canned tomato sauce product become a recipe sticker again! It is now available on the can at the stores. (Sorry I just have an image of the sticker, but actually, it is on the tomato can!)
The recipe is Vietnamese Tsukemen. Tsukemen is cold noodles. You dip the noodles into the cold broth and eat. I made the broth using the tomato sauce product and nuoc mam (Vietnamese fish sauce)! It has nice ethnic taste :)


On June 26th, I won the grand prize at asahi beer's contest. They asked for appetizer recipes, using food ingredients of Kyushu, to go with their beer: Asahi Super Dry!
I cooked fritter with sea bream of Nagasaki prefecture. Which is Harrison Ford's favorite! Ha-ha :) The prize for the contest was a set of train ticket and restaurant coupon in Kyushu. Sounds like I have to go to the island someday!

Yesterday, on July 10th, my recipe (Chinese-style steamed beef and mushrooms) was broadcast on the radio: FM Yokohama!
They introduced the recipe that you can eat a lot of vegetables!
Unfortunately, I missed to hear it, but it was about 7 minutes broadcast.

Also, yesterday, my recipe (Pickled Plum, Japanese Basil and Seaweed Rolled Pork) was introduced as "today's choice" at recipe-blog (the recipe site I'm registered). I had a lot of visitors to my Japanese recipe blog on that day!





Changing my story, today is the release day of iPhone in Japan. The leading company called softbank has released it! Now, I am using softbank's 2G (digital) phone. However, this generation is going to be discontinued in early 2010, so I am thinking of getting the 3G (UMTS - Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) phone, which might be the iPhone. My boyfriend put our name on the waiting list! Hope I can get it... But one thing I concern is the "touchscreen"! I have no idea whether I could get used to it or not.

Yesterday, my boyfriend didn't come home. He is very busy since he took a long vacation with me. I hope he is doing fine. Me? Don't ask!

I'm going to see my friend tonight, maybe after 7 years or more :)
Have a great weekend!

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Bye-Bye Kuidaore Taro

Hi! This morning, I saw on TV that Osaka's famous restaurant Cui-daore has closed on July 8th!
Cui-daore was a massive eight-story restaurant with a different Osaka cuisine on each floor. Actually, Kuidaore Taro (a mechanical drum-playing clown - he has a younger brother called Kuidaore Jiro, which looks the same) in front of Cui-daore is even more famous! It is kind of a landmark of Osaka!
In 2006, when we visited my boyfriend's home, we stopped by at Osaka for sightseeing and took a picture in front of it ;)

Speaking of Osaka, it is very famous for Takoyaki!
Takoyaki is a popular Japanese dumpling made of batter, diced octopus, tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger, konnyaku, and green onion, topped with okonomiyaki sauce, green laver (aonori), mayonnaise, and katsuobushi (fish shavings).
There are many street vendors selling Takoyaki around Dotonbori area, so it is hard to tell which one is good! They all say Japan's best!

Also, there is a Haagen-Dazs shop in Dotonbori where you can eat Takoyaki shaped ice cream puffs! Those come in 6 different flavors, which is pretty cool!!!



Someday, I want to visit Osaka again.

You know what!? I fell from stairs this morning :(
Hope it won't bruise.

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