White Taiyaki

Have you ever tried white taiyaki?

Taiyaki (literally "baked sea bream") is a Japanese fish-shaped sweet cake. The most common filling is azuki (red bean paste).

The new style of Taiyaki is white. It's batter is made of tapioca which has a mochi-like texture! My co-worker bought 尾長屋 (onagaya)'s famous white taiyaki for us to share: custard cream and sakura bean fillings! You can either serve hot (toasted) or cold (chilled in a fridge).

Anyway, tomorrow, my darling and I are leaving for Hokkaido! I will write about our trip later! I wish I could eat a lot of seafood (especially the crab) there :D

Talk to you again!!!

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Cafe & Dining SCENE

On Saturday, my darling and I had 1,000 yen (10 bucks) lunch at Cafe & Dining SCENE in Akasaka. They serve menu of the week: meat, fish bowl, pasta, and healthy plate. My darling had pasta and I had healthy plate :D The lunch menu comes with salad, appetizer, main course, and all-you-can-drink bar. The cafe was very stylish and cozy. I think we stayed there for more than 3 hours!!!

BTW, Golden Week holidays start from April 29th to May 5th! I know I gonna be busy anyway, but I can't wait!!!

Too much rain this month! It is going to rain again this afternoon...

Take care :D

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Sun Wave Showroom

On Saturday, we had a meeting with remodeling contractor. Actually, we are also thinking of purchasing fully renovated used condo.

The meeting was pretty interesting since we realized we can do anything to the room layout, including kitchen!

Thus, in the afternoon, we went to see my new kitchen at Sun Wave's showroom. Sun Wave deals in system kitchens and vanity units made in Japan. The kitchen called amiy was even nicer than in the photo or web! You can add functional drawers (dish washer, oven, etc...) like a puzzle :D

At the showroom, an advisor will help you build up your kitchen that fits your floor plan. Then later, you'll get a quote with 3D image that shows how it fits into your place! How interesting!!!

I thought getting an used condo is not a bad choice, if you can renovate as you wish :D

Anyway, this weekend was so busy that I was overstressed and under-satisfied about everything... I just couldn't stop complaining about trifles and I had a big fight with my darling last night...

I have to rest at some point X(

Take care!!!

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Stir-Fried Mozuku

Today, I will translate my mozuku recipe which won the highest award at mozuku recipe contest. Mozuku (Cladosiphon okamuranus) is noodle-like seaweed which is mainly produced in Okinawa.

Please see how much mozuku ReBekha picked up the other day! Wow!!!

This recipe, you can cook mozuku with leftover ingredients in your fridge! Bacon adds rich flavor to it. Yummy ;P

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Stir-Fried Mozuku

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 5-10min
Number of servings: 2

Ingredients:
100ｇ (3.5oz.) Mozuku
60ｇ (2.2oz.) carrot
3 Japanese green pepper
3 dried shiitake mushroom
2 bacon strip
1 tbsp. soy sauce
cracked salt and pepper
2 tsp. sesame oil
2 tsp. toasted white sesame seeds

Directions:
1. Wash mozuku, drain well, and cut into bite sized pieces. Soak dried shiitake mushrooms in water until soft, remove stems, and slice thinly. Cut carrot, green pepper, and bacon into thin strips.
2. Heat sesame oil in a frying pan, cook the bacon until crisp. Add and stir-fry carrot and green pepper until slightly softened. Then add and stir-fry shiitake and mozuku.
3. Season with cracked salt and pepper, sprinkle toasted white sesame seeds, and serve.

My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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Rain again in Tokyo...
Have a good weekend!!!

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How Do You Like Your Kitchen?

As I wrote before, I'm thinking of moving, and hopefully, I want to give more priority to my kitchen.

Currently, I have stand-alone kitchen. Which means the kitchen is in a small room surrounded by walls. If I want to watch TV, I need to look at dining room sideways... Therefore, I'm dreaming of owning counter kitchen, maybe the flat one like a table :D However, I hear pros and cons on it. The advantage is that you can join your family while cooking, but the disadvantage is that everything even leftover foods and garbage can be viewed from dining room...

Do you think the stove should be set along the wall to avoid the oil spot? I first thought it should be in line with a sink (like the image on the right), but later I thought it would be too messy with oil spot in this way X(

What do you think?
How do you like your kitchen?

Just for reference, please give me your comments and suggestions :D

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Plum Wine Recipe Contest

Yesterday afternoon, I took a half day off to attend the finals of Home Cooking Plum Wine Recipe Contest organized by Fujicitio (supermarket in Kanagawa) and Asahi Breweries (leading brewery and soft drink company based in Tokyo). Plum wine, as you may know, is a Japanese alcoholic drink made by steeping green ume in shōchū (燒酎 - clear liquor). The finals were held at restaurant Harmonic located in Asahi's Annex building.

The total of 9 recipes which passed the first screening were cooked and served by the owner chef Minegishi Hiroshi. We enjoyed sampling them and actually evaluated them! What was good about this contest was we finalists didn't have to cook our own recipes ;) Thus, we had a relaxing time!

My recipe was again sushi rolls... I thought I should have submitted the better one if I knew that the chef is going to cook it for us!!! Anyway, I had a good time.

By the way, the event site was located in Asakusa, so I enjoyed sightseeing there, too! Asakusa is a part of Tokyo's downtown Taito district best known for its many temples, particularly Sensōji (left bottom image). Believe it or not, it was my first time to go there!

Today, the high is over 20C (68F) like summer! But it gonna drop down again to winter tomorrow. Crazy!

Take care!!!

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FRESHNESS BURGER

On Saturday, my darling and I tried burgers at FRESHNESS BURGER for the first time! They serve everything with delicious taste and safety standard. Their vegetables are freshly-picked from domestic farms, and use safe Aussie beef patties.

Their most popular burger is FRESHNESS BURGER! Their buns are made with pumpkin with natural yellow color. Juicy beef patties, thick slice of tomato, original meat sauce, and mayonnaise are sandwiched. Simple but really delicious!

The stores are located in many places in Japan, so I hope you try it if you find one!

Changing my story, today I am going to take a half day off to attend an event! Will write about it later ;)

Bye for now.

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GINDACO

Have you ever tried Takoyaki?!

Takoyaki (literally fried or baked octopus) is a popular Japanese dumpling made of batter, diced or whole baby octopus, tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger, and green onion, topped with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, aonori (green laver), and katsuobushi (fish shavings).

This Saturday, my darling and I tried takoyaki at GINDACO. We see many GINDAKO stores in the city, so I was curious how they serve takoyaki. Their takoyaki was crisp outside and soft inside. It was super delicious! The image is Teriyaki Egg Mayonnaise on the left and Grated Radish Dashi Dip on the right. Both flavors were great :D

Anyway, in addition to my wedding stuff, my darling and I are currently looking for a house or a condo. There is a big reason to it (not a baby yet!).

I think I am kind of sick having a little sleep...
I mean, I'm fine at this moment, but feeling like I shouldn't overwork myself, you know...

Take care!!!

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My Accomplishments

I will list up my accomplishments in March.

On 3/1, my Thai Green Curry Jasmine Kiritanpo Nabe won honorable mention at Thai green curry recipe contest. I was kind of shocked that I couldn't win the highest (ticket for Thailand) at the contest since I created lot other recipes to apply for it. However, the other day I saw on the news that the rebellions popped out there, so I'm not that interested in the award anymore...

On 3/1, my Beef and Tomato Juicy fried Rice won the challenge award at Kyushu umaka (means yummy) recipe contest.








On 3/4, my Japanese Style Shrimp And Avocado Sandwich won the highest award at BROOKS' (Internet coffee shop) recipe contest. They asked for 3-line easy recipes that goes good with their coffee products. I added wasabi spice in my sandwich which is a new style for sandwich I believe ;)



On 3/7, my Alaskan Cheese Fries Melt which won the highest award at KRAFT's cheese recipe contest appeared on their ad! It is now available at the supermarkets. The recipe is simple. I fried avocado and cheese wrapped with smoked salmon. It's slightly salted and delicious! Sprinkle them with lemon juice for a refreshing taste!


On 3/14, my Maguro And Avocado Chirashi was printed on Kamada's (dashi soy sauce company's) brochure.





On 3/23, my Pocky decorated cup cake won the Glico's chocolate blog award.









On 3/29, my Sauteed Pork Rolled Grapefruit won the side dish award at Florida grapefruit contest. I also rolled herbs in them which makes them very refreshing :D






On 3/21, I was supposed to attend a bento recipe contest in Kanagawa prefecture, but I couldn't make it. But next week, I'm gonna attend asahi beer's tasting and awarding ceremony :)

Currently I have only 2 winnings for April...
I gotta try harder.

Today it is cold like winter!
We expect snow in adjoining city!

Have a good weekend ;)

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Ecological Oconomiyaki

Ecological cooking is to cook environmentally friendly foods. Using leftovers in the fridge can be an idea!

The other day I made Okonomiyaki using leftover fillings for Gyoza dumplings. Okonomiyaki is Japanese dish consisting of a pan-fried batter cake and various ingredients. The name of this dish means "cook what you like". I used leftover yam for the batter and dumpling fillings & cut vegetables for ingredients.

Please click on the button on this page to vote for my idea ;)
http://www.otafuku-campaign.jp/recipe/detail.php?width=568&height=450&entry_id=189

Anyway, last time I dined out to eat Okonomiyaki was two years ago! Time flies!!!

It is raining and cold again today.
When does the spring come?!

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Enchante

This is something about last Thursday.

My co-worker took me to an intimate Italian restaurant called Enchante near our office. They serve you 10 bucks lunch menu that comes with salad, appetizer, main dish, dessert, and drink (coffee)! You can enjoy Italian home-style dishes made with a lot of vegetables :D The main dish I ordered is seafood tomato risotto. It was tasty but refreshing with chunks of tomatoes!

Oh boy, I'm getting fatty since the new year!!! I gotta lose at least 4 pounds by July!!!

I wish I could burn calories faster X(

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Bamboo Trees

Last Saturday, my darling and I passed by the bamboo trees in Omotesando. Omotesando is known as an upscale shopping area featuring several international brand outlets. You can find many foreign people walking there.

I don't really find bamboo trees in Tokyo although they are kind of symbol for Japan, but finally in Omotesando! So I took a pic of them. Don't you think it's a relaxing view?!

But my darling says I am always busy, even in front of those trees, pulling the camera out from my bag! Oops X(

Anyway, I'm busy this week again... but keeping my posts ;)

Have a good day!

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To The Herbs

This Saturday, my darling and I felt like eating pasta, so we had pasta at To The Herbs (Italian restaurant). The restaurant is located near the closest station but last time we ate there was about three years ago!

BTW we always order a la carte menu items. Most of the time it costs less in this way because you only order whatever you want to eat! The food there is made with fresh seasonal ingredients. I loved asparagus and ice fish tomato pasta (right bottom image). It was really refreshing. We had a good time :D

Anyway, we argued a lot this weekend X( Since I was really busy, I couldn't stop complaining and so as my darling... The food we had during the fight tasted awful... you know... I think if we are both happy we can enjoy anything, even McDonald's!

Peace :)

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Taneya

Last time I wrote about Nenrinya's Baumkuchen, but this one is about Taneya.

Baumkuchen is a kind of layered cake, known in many countries throughout Europe. Somehow, the cake is very popular in Japan and many Japanese-style confection store produce their original ones.

Taneya's baumkuchen is soft and moist, and it tastes delicious with a thin layer of icing outside! Not too sweet at all :D You can enjoy the same texture even if you keep it in the fridge! Days ago, my darling's parents sent it to him as a birthday present. It is also his younger brother's favorite cake. Their limited packages are really cute! They deliver nationwide in Japan. Sorry not overseas at this moment...

Anyway, this Saturday is going to be pretty busy doing our wedding stuff...

Have a good weekend!!!

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