tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696Tue, 07 May 2013 07:19:36 +0000DrinkItalianVegetableAmericanFruitSweetsChineseRecipeEating-outBritishMemoirPastaBookMisc.JapaneseMeatNoodleFrenchAbout me...letters from a Tokyoite. aromas from the culinary crucible.http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)Blogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-6684035399490731980Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:12:00 +00002010-07-04T14:45:47.933+09:00FruitRecipeJapaneseDrink It’s a pity that the Japanese young of these days became unlikely to enjoy alcohol. Aah, don’t get me wrong. Alcohol can cause hepatic and brain-related damages, or in worst cases, ruin our life at all, I know. It is, however, true as well that the moderate intake has been playing a part in keeping our body healthy. Japanese loves to not only drink but also make “fruit liqueurs” (kajitsu-shu, http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2010/06/culinary-activity-in-early-summer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-5297254160929044708Thu, 27 May 2010 06:32:00 +00002010-06-07T02:28:44.750+09:00MeatRecipeJapaneseVegetableI’m a lot wondering since when early-summer gets full of festivals in Tokyo. Foreign cultural events have gradually been tempting the young lads, as Jamaica, Thai and Laos, these three festivals made a consecutive success at Yoyogi Park, followed by one of the most iconic Shinto festivals called “Sanja Matsuri” in downtown Asakusa. If you want endless cheers with decent beer, just stop by http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2010/05/taste-no-5-or-taste-chicken-tsukune.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-6200952878332725425Sun, 02 May 2010 09:33:00 +00002010-05-24T19:49:38.728+09:00RecipeJapaneseVegetableWe’re just in the middle of an almost-one-week national holiday, traditionally called “Golden Week”. Delighted!! The premier day kicked off on 28 April in honour of the birthday of the late Showa Emperor, the first couple of days in May follow up as consecutive public holidays. Now, let’s try a small brainwork... this year, adding 3 paid leaves and 2 weekends, we get a total of up to 12 days to http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2010/05/quick-wasabi-mole.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-208264211446530698Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:17:00 +00002010-04-11T00:22:36.427+09:00Misc.SweetsJapaneseDrinkMy personal report on sakura (cherry blossoms). This weekend, it was chilly, cloudy and patchy-rainy... Tokyo was situated a bit miserable in weather, but sakura was finally in full bloom. Hooraaay!!!In Japan, life starts in April; schools, companies, services and systems, all are renewed at this time of year. As the Japanese Met Office issues a formal statement for the first opening of sakura http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2010/04/no-sakura-no-spring.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-6636743577754756164Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:18:00 +00002010-03-26T13:11:06.912+09:00NoodleRecipeJapaneseVegetableThe Met Office finally announced the blossoming of Sakura (cherry) trees at Central Tokyo on 23 March. However... winter is back! The temperature is around 4˚C this afternoon and expected lowered as deepens into night. No more blues, pleeaaasee!!My brain and tongue accordingly demand an autumnal or winter recipe to cook lots of mushrooms rich in flavour. And I’m a bit proud of Japanese “http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2010/03/met-office-finally-announced-blossoming.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-4436792661174392553Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:11:00 +00002010-03-13T15:51:36.070+09:00MeatRecipeSweetsJapaneseDrinkVegetableNearly one month has gone since my last post. Apart from a couple of sunny days, it’s been cloudy, rainy and snowy in Tokyo. This is kinda typical weather in February and March, so we need a bit more time and patience to welcome the gloriously blossom season.In the meantime, we had guests for Sunday dinner. Well, the cooking fuss of everyday is a nightmare, but spending almost half day in the http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2010/03/sunday-feast-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-3149159964729726492Sat, 06 Feb 2010 09:22:00 +00002010-02-06T21:38:37.012+09:00SweetsFrenchFebruary is the fag-end of winter? Nope. That’s the coldest in Japan although according to our Chinese calendar, 4 February marks “Risshun”, the beginning part of spring. The following months are, of course, getting milder and milder in temperature, but it still snows occasionally in March, in Tokyo. I am beyond bearing today: sooo freezing, windy and almost snowing (again). Quivering!! Nothing http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2010/02/sweet-sugary-spring.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-6093894002432037494Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:03:00 +00002010-02-09T14:29:07.700+09:00Misc.SweetsBookI feel like revealing my culinary weakness in one Sunday afternoon. This is my personal voice, but maybe, something to share with 9 out of 10 Japanese folks. Have a look.* Alphabetically listed.1. Bulky, photoless cookbookJapanese cookbooks are slim and light in body, yet full of cookery photographs; easy to keep and easy to follow. I have discomfort on some aspects of “foreign” cookbooks, so lethttp://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2010/02/10-things-i-fairly-dislike-in-culinary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-5142827891445617984Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:07:00 +00002010-03-25T20:21:54.210+09:00MeatPastaItalianRecipeBritishBookDear Nigel,Freezing winter days urge me to eat something rich, filling, but not stodgy. So I decided to make cream pasta, following your cookery suggestions in the BBC TV series, “Simple Suppers”. Well, I replaced chopped sausages with hand-rolled meatballs because to get hold of “good” quality sausages are not easy in my surrounding environment in Tokyo. Moulding plenty of edible balls is http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2010/01/wintry-letter-to-nigel.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-3695353299695117648Sun, 10 Jan 2010 06:23:00 +00002010-03-25T21:44:56.529+09:00NoodleRecipeVegetableChineseIn Japan, Chinese cuisine has been coexisting side by side with the Japanese counterpart. I know that they’re eaten around the globe, but our culinary relationship is a lot closer. The number of Chinese restaurants is beyond your imagination just in Tokyo. (Most are Cantonese while Mandarin and Szechwan are minor.) They come in many ranges from swanky dinings situated in shopping precincts, http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2010/01/noodle-salad-please.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-4838029698886134279Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:12:00 +00002010-01-10T20:46:07.971+09:00SweetsJapaneseChristmas is really a commercial event in Japan. Money-spending often goes on here and there; grown-up couples love fine dining with silky champagne, friends enjoy food and booze in scruffy-but-vibrant restaurants, boys and girls plan a romantic time in Tokyo Disney Land or other hot spots, and Santa parents rush into toy shops for their kids gift.The 25th is no holiday though we’re nationally http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2009/12/from-tokyo-2009.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-2578518634158449101Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:01:00 +00002009-12-21T17:14:07.326+09:00RecipeJapaneseVegetablePotatoes, sweet potatoes and yams... All are familiar root vegetables in Japan too, but my favourite is “yamaimo” literally meaning “mountain yam”.Yama-imo (or called yamato-imo locally) is a fist-shaped yam which has been consumed in Japan since its pre-historic period. To fully enjoy the extreme stickiness as well as soupiness in texture, we often “grate” the yam, a bit diluted with dashi (fishhttp://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2009/12/yam-is-yum.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-5056167868983884911Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:27:00 +00002009-12-12T00:24:41.863+09:00JapaneseBritishBook This morning, a book parcel just arrived from Amazon EU. Ordering foreign cookbooks (written in English) is my regular activity on a monthly or bimonthly basis. To unpack such a heavy box from abroad is a therapeutic ritual to air my life in Tokyo with extra-exotic breeze, which now became a little piece of joy! It may sound unusual to keep collecting foreign cookbooks while the same kinda http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2009/12/more-asian.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-1681812811186353725Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:09:00 +00002009-12-18T13:20:34.111+09:00RecipeJapaneseVegetableIn Tokyo, nothing happens on Thanksgiving Day. No feast! That’s because our oven is too small to roast a turkey, or we’re just busy going out for early Xmas lights. December appears the quietest wintry month for Japanese, who loves parties and get-togethers in every ceremonial occasion, ignoring its religious and historical background.Anyways... today, I want to introduce a basic “wafu (http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2009/12/something-in-between.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-7619932107015261322Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:05:00 +00002010-01-11T21:04:42.490+09:00MemoirAmericanEating-outAlthough my family moved out a while ago, I was born and grew up on Omotesando Street in Harjuku, that was originally an approach to Meiji-jingu Shrine through the Aoyama area. This highest street in Tokyo is now known as the “Champs Elysees” in Far East, the epicentre of shopping and fashion trends. In the pre-booming period of a couple of decades ago, however, the atmosphere had a different http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2009/11/time-flies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-1009544542229277234Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:41:00 +00002009-11-28T22:16:41.926+09:00DrinkHot lemonade saves my body and soul around this time of year when Xmas is almost upon us. The simple combo between freshly squeezed lemon juice, pure honey and hot soft water gives me warming, relaxing and soothing effects. The sourness of lemon, at the same time, kicks my dozing brain in the lazy afternoon. What a winter magic!Winter lemon is good indeed, for its skin becomes so thin that more http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2009/11/temple-lemonade.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-3980950180446097295Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:56:00 +00002010-01-10T21:02:57.899+09:00JapaneseWithout fail, “soy sauce” (shoyu) is a desert island item for Japanese. Miniature bottles of soy are our standby in travelling abroad. Amazing.There are always 20 to 30 varieties of soy lined on supermarket shelves in Japan. Most are from the giants while some are locally produced, matured in taste like Italian aged balsamic vinegar. If..if you’re a soy virgin and confused which to choose, try http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2009/11/not-apple-but-soy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-5443821548835544878Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:22:00 +00002010-01-11T21:05:13.260+09:00FrenchDrinkThe release day of the freshest French wine has come! It is odd enough that Japanese can’t wait for this foreign-made alcohol every year, but, thanks to TD, Japan is the first guest to be offered Beaujolais Nouveau in the world. So, we deserve it.At midnight on the third Thursday in November, some locations in Tokyo are turned into party venues to celebrate the arrival of the French beauty, with http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2009/11/beaujolais-beaujolais-beaujolais.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-687892695444328696.post-1008660840884130058Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:16:00 +00002009-11-28T22:19:26.292+09:00About meTokyo is a huge capital with the population of nearly 13 million. People come in the city from every corner of Japan, and they never leave… because the sleepless city is full of temptations; theatres, galleries, hotels, clubs, fashions, restaurants, swings of jazz, and all other indulgences. Who cares the bad economic climate???Is the life of real Tokyoite, then, fancy enough?? I was born and http://thelacquerspoon.blogspot.com/2009/11/about-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (the lacquer spoon)4