Kobe

Last weekend was a 3-day weekend, so my darling and I went to Kobe to visit my grandma to make Ikanago no Kugini (my favorite dish) together!!!

Ikanago no Kugini is a specialty in Hyogo prefecture. It can be cooked and eaten during a specific period of time around March. Thanks to the holiday, I could finally visit my grandma!!!

Day 1:

We took Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) from Shinagawa (Tokyo) at 6:27AM. We bought Ekiben (bento box sold at the railway station) for our breakfast. As soon as we arrived at 9:08, we strolled around 三宮 (Sannomiya) 元町 (Motomachi) China town and the bay area (Kobe Port Tower and Kobe Harborland umie). Obviously it was so early that most stores were still not open till 11AM. LOL We had lunch at Frantz (famous for magic pot pudding, if you know). The harbor view from the restaurant was amazing. Then we walked all the way back to 三宮 (Sannomiya). In the shopping street, you can find 生田神社 (Ikuta shrine), the god of marriage and longevity. For dinner, we happened to find a real good and inexpensive restaurant called 鹿鳴茶流 (Rokumei saryu). They use deer meat for their dishes. They were amazingly healthy and delicious!!! We stayed at the hotel called Crowne Plaza ANA Kobe. Very convenient next door to Shin-Kobe rail station. The hotel overlooks the city of Kobe.

Day 2:

My grandma lives 1 hour away from Shin-Kobe station. I visited her with my darling to make Ikanago no Kugini :) Hopefully, I will make a video of it soon!!! We had a real good bento lunch box together. Those plates are printed on the bento box, so you cannot remove them. hehe

Day 3:

We went to the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens next to the hotel, and took a ropeway up to the mountain top! You can enjoy the panoramic view of Kobe. Also, you can enjoy herb dining buffet there! In the afternoon, we walked around Kitano area where there are many Ijinkan (foreign residences). The train back to Tokyo was at 19:46. We bought Ekiben at 淡路屋 (Awajiya). Their beef bowl bento is famous. We arrived back to Tokyo at 22:26.

I miss my oba-chan (grandma)!!! I remember I visited Harborland and Ijinkan with her many many years ago. Time flies. But she hasn't changed since my childhood. I will visit her again someday soon :)

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How to Make Fresh Wakame Seaweed Soup (미역국) - Video Recipe

Fresh Wakame seaweed is in season in spring in Japan!
My mom bought it as a souvenir.

Wakame soup is highly nutritious soup that contains a high content of calcium and iodine.

Most of the time, it is served with Yakiniku (Japanese Grilled Meat / BBQ). Of course it goes great with any kind of dish, especially the rice dish :)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0wDMY8UoSo

You can blanch the fresh Wakame in boiling water (which will turn the natural brown color to the green we are familiar with) and freeze up to a year. When you use, you can just defrost at room temperature or soak in water.

There are many ways to enjoy fresh Wakame seaweed. Leaves can be used for Shabu Shabu (enjoy leaves changing color in hot water and eat with Ponzu sauce), Miso soup, salad, etc… Stems can be used for Tsukudani (simmered dish), Kinpira (stir-fried dish), etc…



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Fresh Wakame Seaweed Soup

Difficulty: Very Easy
Time: 10min
Number of servings: 4

Ingredients:
100g (3.5oz.) fresh Wakame leaves *or rehydrate 4 pinches of dried Wakame in water and drain
A
* 800ml water
* 4 tsp. chicken stock powder *or 2&2/3 tsp. Ajinomoto Hondashi Kombu Dashi stock powder (Vegetarian stock)
B
* chopped long onion
* toasted white sesame seeds
* a dash of sesame oil *or Ra-Yu (hot chili oil)

Directions:
1. Blanch the fresh Wakame leaves in boiling water (which will turn the natural brown color to the green).
2. Put A in a pot and bring to a boil.
3. Add Wakame and cook until hot.
4. Place B in serving bowls.
5. Ladle the soup into the bowls.

レシピ（日本語）
http://cooklabo.blogspot.jp/2014/03/blog-post_25.html
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Kuki Wakame no Tsukudani (Seaweed Stems Boiled Down in Soy Sauce) Recipe
茎わかめの佃煮 レシピ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkSmR9XF3nc

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Ikanago no Kugini 2014

Again, Ikanago is in season =)

"Ikanago no Kugini" (いかなごのくぎ煮) is my favorite Tsukudani (food boiled down in soy sauce) made with Ikanago (sand eel/sand lance).

Ikanago no Kugini is a famous Tsukudani in Hyogo prefecture. My grandma, who lives there cooks a few kilograms of Ikanago no Kugini every year for us in Tokyo.

It is usually cooked and eaten around the end of February or early March, when the fish is about an inch long. After its season, Ikanago goes deep in the sea where is cooler. Then it goes under the sand and aestivate.

This year she sent us in the beginning of March again, with some local sweets :)





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