Chamagraphy: Tasting Kaiseki Cuisine with Echizen Lacquer Ware

A Japanese dining event “Tasting Kaiseki Cuisine with Echizen Lacquer Ware” was held at Japanese Culinary Center in Midtown on June 28th.

Take a look Chamagraphy!

To see more photos of this event. visit…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chamagraphy/sets/72157624276061583/

Beat The Summer Heat With Nanbu Bijin

The summer heat can zap anyone’s energy, but the smooth, clean taste of Nanbu Bijin Tokubetsu Junmai on the rocks will bring it back. Since it has full-bodied rich flavor, you can drink it with ice without fear of losing taste. For Nanbu Bijin
Junmai Daiginjo, on the other hand, it is recommended that you drink it ice cold to enjoy its elegant aroma.
Both types of Nanbu Bijin work with a variety of foods, from lighter fare such as somen noodles to richer offerings and even desserts. It goes especially well with meats, making it a natural accompaniment to barbeque season. Nanbu Bijin can be enjoyed in any location, whether on your terrace or at the beach or park, but if you plan to go camping, bring Tokubetsu Junmai. All you have to do is put ice in a glass,
fill it with this sake and you are good to go. Sipping this delicious beverage on the rocks in the great outdoors will really give you a sense of summer.

A Perfect Lite Bite with Mini Donburi and Nanbu Bijin

IPPIN Daiginjo from Ibaraki

Greeting the new year with a new taste of this rare sake…makes me feel new!

Daiginjo IPPIN brewed by Yoshikubo Shuzo, Ibaraki, Japan

The first sip, tastes like a regular Daiginjo; fragrant, light, clean, and smooth. But the second sip, WOW… was richer , creamier, robust, juicier and a very long finish.

interesting!

TAD DAHHHHHHHHHHH!!! OKASHIRA TSUKI TAI SASHIMI

Snapper Sashimi with a head! We have whole Tai(Snapper) dishes for celebrations like a new year, wedding or…whatever happy occasion! (Japanese people love to make excuses to eat this anyway :p)

I love squid sashimi with mentaiko…. great ATE for sake..hehhe

Good food, good sake, and good people make the world for sure. Don’t you think?

Akita is Booming in Korea!

I just received this article from Mr. Kakisaki of Asamai Brewery (Amanoto, Heaven’s Door). Unfortunately, I can’t read Korean, but these pictures are showing that Amanoto sake is booming in Korea, for sure!!

Also, he sent this link AKITA Daisuki! as well. “AKITA Daisuki” means “I Love Akita very much!” in Japanese. Look! My sweet hometown Akita is loved in Korea very much….

Mmmmm….. I’m getting hungry now….

Let’s have Korean BBQ with my favorite junmai Amanoto JUNKARA!! It’s going to be a great pairing for sure.

Today’s ATE—ANKIMO with Nanbu Bijin

One of my favorite ATE is steamed monk fish liver with ponzu sauce called ANKIMO!! I paired Nanbu Bijin Junmai Daiginjo and Tokubetsu Junmai at Sakagura! Both are great. Junmai Daiginjo paring is very delicate and sophisticated, and Tokubetsu Junmai is little more like a winter taste. Anyway………yum yum yum….heaven!!

ATE are small dishes that go great with sake.

Yamasa Soy Sauce Cooking Class at FCI

Soy sauce for Japanese is like olive oil for Italians. Is that true? Yes, I believe so.

However, I had never really contemplated the subtle differences between so many different soy sauces. For instance, there’s “Koikuchi soy sauce” and “Tamari soy sauce”, or “Japanese soy sauce” and ” non-Japanese soy sauce”….

I was invited the other day to a very interesting event .

“The Joy of Soy : Creative Cooking with Soy Sauce” at the International Culinary Theater at The French Culinary Institute

Cooking demonstrations and tastings with Chef Ben Pollinger of Oceana and a Soy sauce lecture by the expert from Yamasa Corporation, it was organized by the  Gohan Society.

Brewing soy sauce process is very similar with brewing sake. The expert explained about Koji, Moromi, Umami, Bitter, and Sour for soy sauce….sounds almost same with sake class! It was very familiar for me!

* Umami–Amino Acid (Glutamic Acid, etc) from soy bean protein and wheat protein

I should learn more about soy sauce as a Japanese woman….

The History of Japanese Soy Sauce

Japanese soy sauce finds its roots in “hishio”, a similar seasoning used
in seventh and eighth century Japan. Soy sauce evolved roughly into its
form about 700 years ago. Full-scale production started early in Edo period
in the 17th century, coinciding with the beginnings of Japan’s
modernization. In the late Edo period of the middle 1800’s, soy sauce’s
use as a table seasoning spread. Japanese cuisine that relies on soy sauce
flavoring, such as sushi, soba and broiled ell, took final shape during this
time. Also during the Edo period, Dutch and Chinese trading ships (the only
ships permitted at that time to carry out trade) took soy sauce to all parts
of Europe and Asia. Today, Japan exports soy sauce to dozens of countries
in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Soy sauce has become a staple
in the homes of peoples worldwide.

Ben Pollinger
Executive Chef, Oceana

Ben Pollinger, Executive Chef at Oceana Restaurant, has a unique cooking
style that artfully blends the freshest seafood with the finest ingredients
from a global pantry. Sensitive to the seasons, and with a preference for
buying local, he has received critical acclaim first in July 2008 when
Oceana was awarded three stars in the New York Times, and again in October
that year when Oceana was awarded a Michelin star for the second year.
Pollinger’s recipes are a reflection of time well spent abroad, working in,
and dining at, some of the world’s most prestigious restaurants. Each dish
he creates embodies a passion for, and love of, all things from the land and
the sea, and his fervent desire to share them at the table. Ben Pollinger
believes in being a good steward of our planet, and he lives this philosophy
at work and at his New Jersey home where he tends to a 500 square foot
organic garden, and provides many of the vegetables and herbs that flavor
Oceana’s global seafood cuisine.

Nanbu Bijin Tokubetsu Junmai with Japanese Curry

Of course soooooo yummy!!!

I had a great time with great food and sake at my friend’s beautiful loft in Soho last night.

The curry tasted so Japanese mom’s taste! I really miss it!!