June, 2017
Tsukemono
Tsukemono which means “pickled things” are not necessarily pickled as some perceive that notion with vinegar, salt and sugar, although there are examples such as the sushi shop staple “Gari” – young ginger pickled in sugar and rice vinegar- which comes to mind. But these Japanese pickles employ various methods such as salting, brining, beds of […]
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Japanese Horse mackerel (Aji)
My local fishmonger recommended these Japanese horse mackerel from real close-by around Miura peninsula and when this old boy makes a recommendation, you listen and engage immediately. If you are buying fish anywhere in the world, just like you would with meat and your butcher(and hopefully one day vegetable farmer at the produce section […]
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Ume (Japanese plum)
Get your gums `round these plums! So we have European, American and Japanese varieties and none of the most common types are found in the wild pointing to our cultivation of these special fruits. The two most popular ways to consume the sour green Japanese variety are firstly umeboshi the ubiquitous pickled/salted version then umeshu. […]
Continue ReadingRakkyo (pickled shallots)
Tsukemono are delicious little pickled things such as beni shoga for yakisobo, takoyaki and okonomiyaki. Gari, the sweet and sour young ginger that cleanses the palate during a sushi session is another popular example and the list is large and varied with regional specialties like nozawana from Nagano further expanding the repertoire and indulging you […]
Continue ReadingSardines (iwashi)
At this time of year during the wet transition from spring into summer, you will have sardines available from your supplier or supermarket. They are even called Tsuyu(rain season)Iwashi as they are extremely tasty at this time of year and also through the end of summer. As one of the most exploited fish in the […]
Continue ReadingNikkei cuisine
Lured by the prospect of financial riches in a then very poor Japan at the end of the 1800`s, the first wave of Japanese nationals travelled by boat to their new home of Peru. Although its almost laughable to think about it these days with just how far Japan has come in a hundred years, back then […]
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Clam digging (Shio higari)
My daughter loves to engage in this Japanese seasonal pastime and family get together that is clam digging. I have one confession to make which I feel guilty about and will duly have to apologize for in time perhaps choosing father Christmas in the same conversation. I recently found out that the places where families […]
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Yamanashi
Yamanashi is know for hiking, skiing, climbing and fishing but for me it represents 3 things. Firstly there is the produce namely fruits, which benefit from the favorable climate and have been grown in this region for over a thousand years , such as cherries, peaches, strawberries and high quality grapes made into delicious grape juice and wine […]
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