Korokke (croquette in French)

Today, I would like to talk about Japanese deep fried dish called "KOROKKE".

Korokke is related to French dish called "croquette". 

Korokke is popular among Japanese kids because its sweet, and soft.

Japanese stated to eat korokket in early 19oos. 

My friend told me that korokke is popular in South Korea. They sell it in bakeries. 

Korokke is made by mushed potatoes with chopped meat (beef) or seafood, such as, crab, shrimp, etc.

Some people like eat it with only potatoes and vegetables. 

It rolled in wheat flour, egg, and breadcrums and deeply fried with oil until brown on the outside. People eat Korokke with sweet sauce and sliced cabbage. 

I love crab my mom cooked crab korokke very much because it is very soft, creamy, and

sweet. It perfectly match with fresh sliced cabbage and sauce. 

Try that out tonight!!!!

Some information from Wikipedia

All pictures are from Google

Nikujaga (Meat-Potato)

I would like to talk about Japanese food "NIKUJAGA" today.

Nikujaga means "meat-potato" in English. Yes, it is basically cooked from 

beef and potatoes. 

Japanese people use sliced of beef or pork, potatoes, onion, carrot, and sometimes konnyaku with sweetened soy sauce. 

I can say no one does not know Nikujaga in Japan.

It is almost Traditional home Japanese food. 

Nikujaga came from chefs of Japanese navy in the late 19th century. 

It is similar with beef stewed served in British Royal Navy.

Nikujaga was very famous among those people a long time ago because of

good nutritional value and the ease to cook.

I love Nikujaga since I was child because my mother often cooks it with rice and miso soup 

during our dinner time. Whenever I eat Nikujaya at outside of my home, It reminds me my mother.

Lets try Nikujaga Tonight!!!

some imformation from Wikipedia

All pictures from Google

Monjayaki!!!

Today, I would like to talk about Japanese Kanto region vegetable pancake 

called MONJAYAKI :) It is very similar with Okonomiyaki which is very popular food in Kansai region. 

Okonomiyaki is cooked with many types of vegetable and sliced meat.

Monjayaki is made with same ingredient as Okonomiyaki but Moanjayaki is used by more liquid than Okonomiyaki. 

The liquid is made from water and powder. 

We mix the sauce and vegetable and put it to iron plate. 

We can add some meat later.

If you want, you can put Rice cake, seafood, cheese, etc. 

All pictures come from Google

Nabe (steam pot) Part 3!!!

I know everyone was waiting for different types of Japanese Nabe.

I would like to talk about Japanese Nabe part 3 today:) This time, I am going to

talk about Shyabu-Syabu. 

Syabu-Syabu is Japanese variant of hot pot. 

I believe many people in United State know about this Nabe recently 

because I see many Syabu-Syabu restaurant in LA, such as, 

Santa Monica, Hollywood, Torrance, or Orange county. 

Syabu-Syabu is very similar with Sukiyaki which I told before in my blog. 

We eat very thin sliced meet, such as, pork, chicken, duck, beef, sirloin, etc with hot water. 

We also eat a lot of vegetable, such as, tofu, cabbage, seaweed, onion, carrot, mashroom, etc. 

The different thing between Syabu-Syabu and Sukiyaki is that Syabu-Syabu is less sween than Sukiyaki because it is used by only hot water. We do not dip ingredient to egg or sweet soy sauce soup. 

After all meet and vegetable are boiled by hot water, we dip them a little bit to Ponzu, or Sesame sauce. 

What is the best way to eat Syabu-Syabu?

I will tell you...

After you finish to eating meat and vegetable, 

Japanese people put noodle or rice into the hot water.

The water will taste really great because meat and vegetable 

make the water taste perfect.

All pictures come from Google

Nabe (steam pot) Part 2!!!

Today I would like to talk about a different Nabe.

CHANKONABE :)

Chankonabe is one of the most traditional Japanese food.

It is often eaten by Sumo wrestles as part of weight gain diet food.

Since Chankonabe has a lot of calories because of the volume, and a large quantities of protein, such as, rice, chicken, beer, and noodle), Sumo wrestlers want to eat that to gain more their weight. 

It is eaten by them because Chankonabe is also healthy. It is because there are many different kinds of vegetables in it. 

I do not often eat Chankonabe at my house because 

It is not the traditionally food which Japanese eat at their house

as main dish.

Mainly senior sumo wrestlers can eat Chankonabe. 

Chankonabe is also easy to cook and cheap food so I recommend all of you reading my blog to try it tonight!!!

All pictures are from Google 

Nabe (steam pot) Part 1!!!

Nabe (steam pot) Part 1!!!

SUKIYAKI Nabe :)

Suki yaki is a Japanese Traditional hot pot (Nabe in Japanese) served with

sliced of meat, tofu, mashroom, spring onion, carrot, shirataki (konyaku noodle), and other 

vegitable if you want more. 

Interesting thing is that pieces of food are dipped into a raw egg before you eat them. 

Those food are boiled inside of hot pot with soy sauce based soup. 

the sauce is traditionally cooked with soy sauce, a lot of sugar, and salt. 

I love the sauce because it tastes sweet and perfectly matches with raw egg. 

Here is an image of Sukiyaki Nabe.

Sukiyaki is generally eaten in winter season because it is hot dish. 

Japanese people often eat Sukiyaki at year-end parties because it is easy to cook and many people can eat at the same time together. 

One more interesting thing is that Japanese comedian who has a really tight budget like to cook Sukiyaki nabe because it is of course easy to cook and cheap. 

My family eat Sukiyaki at my grandparents house on December 31st every year.

Try it now!!!

All pictures are from Google 

Castella or Kasutera

Castella or Kasutera (in Japanese) is Japanese traditional snack

made of Egg, Sugar, flour, and starch syrup. 

It shapes rectangle. Color is yellow and dark brown on top of the castella.

Now, Nagasaki is the most famous city known as making tasty Castella in Japan. 

When I went to Nagasaki to eat castella, I was really surprised because 

the taste there and Japan are totally different. Castella in Nagasaki is more expensive

and not sweet that much. It is a little bit expensive as snack, but I definitely recommend

you to buy castella in Nagasaki!!!!

I would like to talk about a history of Castella.

In 16th century, when Portuguese reached to Japan, they broght many different kinds of thing that Japan did not have that time. Castella was in part of those things.

Sailor in Japan ate castella because it is easy to carry and healthy. 

Now, there are different color and taste Castella in Japan. (image above)

All pictures are from Google

Whats Doraemon's favorite Food???

Answer is DORAYAKI!!!

Dorayaki is a famous Japanese Snack originated in long time ago.

Dorayaki is made from Anko(sweet red bean paste) and Honey pancake. 

Dorayaki has been know by Japanese for long time and they love Dorayaki.

I would like to post pictures of Dorayaki.

What does Dorayaki looks like? It shapes circle and sweet red bean paste in side of the pancakes.

We use two pancakes and paste red been jam between them. 

What does Dorayaki taste like? It is sweet but its not too sweet.

Pancake tastes not sweet but smell a little bit Honey.  However, Red bean paste is really sweet

so when you eat pancakes and red bean, it match perfectly. 

Dorayaki have been loved by Japanese people because it is tasty and healthy too.

When I was child, I ate Dorayaki as snack because my mother thinks Dorayaki is healthy. 

One of the most famous and popular Japanese anime "Doraemon" uses Dorayaki as Doraemon's favorite

snack. 

because of the popular, we have Doraemon Dorayaki as product which have been loved by

many children. 

When you go to Japan, or find Dorayaki in United State, please try it!!!

I hope you live Dorayaki:)

All pictures are from Google

Seven-herb Kayu

Today, I would like to introduce Japanese Traditional festival food called SEVEN-HERB KAYU.

This is Long standing Japanese Traditional Food that most of Japanese eat this every January 7th.

Frankly to say, This food includes seven different types of herb and rice gruel. 

I have eaten this every year since I was born because my mother is a person who always strict to follow Japanese

traditional events. I like it because it is really tasty and healthy. I definitely recommend all of you to eat this as diet food.

I would like to explain those seven herb.

Seri (Water dropwort)

Nazuna (Shepher's purse)

Gogyo(CudWeed)

Hakobera(Chickweed)

Suzuna(Turnip)

Suzushiro (radish)

Hotokenoza(Nipplewort)

These seven different herb are in rice gruel little by each. 

You do not want to put them a lot in rice because you want to eat it with just smell of herb. 

We do not put spice that much. Taste should be really simple so We do not put much seasoning. 

Japanese eat seven-herb kayo on every January 7th because they think that seven of the first month is really important day and need to keep up with healthy and peace days though a year ahead. 

It is a true that some Japanese do not follow this traditional event anymore because

they do not think it is important event anymore. 

However, I am still doing this event and I wont stop it because

this traditional Japanese food is really important to be handed down to posterity. 

there are many different ways to eat this kayu depending on person.

I like to eat this with egg and soy sauce. 

all pictures from Google

OYAKO-DON

What does Oyako-Don stand for?
Oyako-don is Japanese Chiken bowl.
Oya means parents and ko means child in Japanese.
Don means bowl. Therefore, oyako-don made from chicken and Egg.
Oyako-don is popular and traditional Japanese food.
However, Only Japanese restaurant have this in La.
So if you have a chance to go Japanese restaurant, ask them
if they have Oyako-don or not.
Oyako-don is made from chicken, egg, and green onion.
Taste is soy sauce and sugar.
Oyako-don has been loved by Japanese for a long time, because
it is really easy to cook and healthy food.

Let's try to cook Oyako-don!!!

YAKITORI

I would like to talk about Yakitori today.
Yakitori is Japanese type of skewered chicken.
People use piece of chicken which is skewered on babmoo skewer.
And it is barbecued over charcoal. We usually eat it with tare sauce
wich is made by soy sauce and sugar.
I recommed you to eat Yakitori on your dinner time with cold beer.



Now, there are a lot of different type of Yakitori in Japan and even in America.
People use not only a piece of Chicken, but also use different part of chicken.
They are chicken heart, liver, skin, chickenmeatball, chicken wing, tail, tangue, etc...


This image of yakitori shows different part of yakitori, such as,
chicken wing, tail, liver, chickenmeatball, and heart.
I also can recomment people to each yakitori with LEMON or SALT.
Depending on parts of chicken, you can eath with Lemon or Salt.

As a conclusion, I will tell you a good yakitori restaurant in La.
1. FURAIBO 2068 Sawtelle Blvd. West Los Angeles
2, SHINSENGUMI 18517 S. Western Ave. Gardena

All pictures are from Google

Japanese Ramen

As you know, Ramen is one of popular Japanese food in California nowadays.

I hope many people like Japanes ramen.

Rame is one of my favorite food because Ramen is really easy to cook and tasty.

My father is really good at cooking his own ramen and I love those because it is tasty and healthy.

There are many different types of ramen depending on locations in Japan.

First thing that you can recognize the differences is soup.

We have miso, soy sourse, salt, pork based soup, etc...

Second thing to know the differences is noodle.

Depending on restaurants, they have their own noodle, such as, thick, thin, straight, curvy, and crinkly.

All spice and other ingredient are totally different in each restaurant.

There are a lot of ramen restaurants in Japan so I definitely recommend those who are interested in eating different types of ramen in Japan to go with your friends and order some to tast them!!!

OSECHI-RYORI

I would like to talk about Osechi-Ryori today.

Osechi-Ryori is a Traditional Japanese New Year Foods.

Most of Japanese know what Osechi-Ryori is because it has been started from Heian period. (800's)

Japanese buy or cook Osechi-ryori End of a year and New year.

Osechi-Ryori looks like lunch box but there are lot of colorful foods inside.

Some Major foods inside of the box are DATEMAKI, KAMABOKO, KAZUNOKO,KUROMAME

DATEMAKI is circle yellow color. It is a sweet rolled omlette with fish paste and mashed shrimp.

KAMABOKO is circle pink and white color. It is a broiled fish paste. It is a wish for many auspicious days.

KAZUNOKO is stick yellow color. It is a number of egg of fish. It is a wish to be gifted numerous children in new year.

KUROMAME is black bean. We eat them with a lot of sugar. It symbolizes Health in New Year

For Osechi-Ryori, Japanese use a special box because having this food box is a really important for Japanese to have health and great a year ahead.

Some of them just buy Osechi box but some cook by themselves.

My family always buy them in new year.

We eat midnight of December 31st and whole day of January 1st.

Osechi-Ryori is definitely healthy foods because it is not made by snack
or other junk foods. It is made by fich, beans, vegitable, and some meet.
If you have a chance to buy it, recommend you to buy and eat!!!
You will be able to have a great year ahead!!!!

all pictures are from Google

Where did Japanese Curry rice come from??

Do you know a history of curry?? 

Do you know where the first curry came from?

How did Japanese curry become popular as Japanese traditional food?

The reason why I would like to talk about it because Curry rice is one of my favorite Japanese foods.

I have eaten many different kinds of curry for many years. 

I thought Curry is Japanese food and made by Japanese long long time ago.

However, it is wrong. the very first curry came from India in 18th century. 

The curry at the era was very different from Japanese curry now. 

Indian used many kinds of spice and yogurt as curry powder. They made their own curry by mixing spices. 

During 18th century, India was a colony of England, so some England told others about curry. 

During Meiji era, Japanese started to be influenced by European culture and Japanese copied their curry. As time goes by, Japanese made their original curry like today.

As traditional and normal Japanese curry, 

we use potatoes, carrots, onions, and pork or beef. 

Of course, there are a lots of different types of curry in Japan,

such as, fried beef curry, octopus curry, horse meet curry, and vegetable curry etc...

My favorite curry that my mother cooks is Summer Vegetable curry.

I love it very much. She uses many summer vegetable in it,

such as, carrots, onions, cabbage, celery, eggplant etc... it sounds yummy doesn't it?? :)

 I am learning how the curry is cooked from my mother now♡

All picture are from Google

Rolls are not Real and Traditional Japanese Sushi!!!

I would love to tell people who are not sure what Japanese Sushi exactly looks like about Real Sushi in Japan.

Since my favorite food in my life is Sushi. 

However, the only place which makes me feel eating perfect sushi is Japan for me. 

Of course it is because I was born in Japan and know Good sushi there. 

My favorite Sushi is Otoro. (the most expensive part of Tuna)

Otoro is the most soft and expensive part of Tuna. Color is light pink and there is a lot of oil in it.

Some people do not like this part because of too much fat. However, if those who eat Otoro, Chutoro, and Akami, they will be happy. 

Personaly, I love Otoro, but three pieces of them are enough. 

Here is a image of Chutoro (second expensive part of tuna)

Chutoro is more red than Otoro because its less oil and fat compared to Otoro.

Next time You go to Sushi and try to eat Toro, Eat Otoro, Chutoro, and Akami(Fish with red flesh)

Your stomach will be happy :) 

Here is great sushi place in Japan and California. Get money and Eat Tasty Sushi!!!

Sennari Sushi Restaurant

Western Ave, Gardena, CA, 90248 

Tsukigi Sushisei Ginza 

http://www.tsukijisushisay.co.jp

All pictures are from google

Ai Watanabe

Britney Spears

this image is from Wikipedia

this image is from google