Kyoto Food: Matcha Kitkat

Something green, something made from Uji tea, something so Kyoto. This is Kitkat – yeah, the usual kitkat chocolate bar, you get this in white chocolate sometime but getting this in green tea flavor has to be so uniquely Kyoto or some thing from Kansai region. Taste wise, this kitkat green tea chocolate is really nice, it melts in your mouth directly and gives you the smooth, milky texture and yet the bitter (from green tea) and sweetness (from white chocolate) flavors. Hmmmm....

Manga (Komikku) Culture

We all know that Japanese comic is very popular. From my childhood I have been reading Japanese comic translated to Chinese, where the pretty girls are always with big eyes, nut shape face and, in long socks and short skirt. Well, the comic may have evolved now since my time, but overall comic is still very popular in Japan. Apparently, reading manga is a temporary escape of reality and indulgence into a comic world of romance, violence , adventure, sports or even sexuality. Due to the rigidness of the Japanese society, comic is a form of release from tension, social obligation and lack of space.

There was one night, we walked into a 24 hours manga store where with a little fee, one can have unlimited drinks, free read of manga, magazines and even an assigned cubical space with computer and internet for people to watch DVD, listen to music or interneting. We did that for an hour or so… just for the fun of it.

Japanese Plastic Food Display

So far I have been talking about real food, now how about the famous Japanese plastic food display which is purely for your eyes only. The plastic food displays come in real size and look real, these are usually display at the entrance or the window of the restaurants. They are quite enticing and visual in a way making those with language problem able to select base on the display instead of reading from the menu.

Kyoto Food: Western Cakes

Ok, enough of namagashi (和菓子) and other Japanese food for the time being, now I am going to switch to a different topic and write about the western cakes that I have tried in Kyoto. Kyoto is not that old fashion anyway, western bakeries can be found everywhere on the street, cafes or in the supermarket or convenience stores.

In general, the western cakes here are light and fluffy and very Asian, like the one we get from any bakery in Malaysia or Hong Kong.

Here is the list to my liking; my best choice so far is the chestnut tart which the Japanese called Mont Blanc. Although it looks like a pile of cream but these are not cream but chestnut paste. It tastes very light, not sweet but just full of the chestnut aroma. Finally on top of the paste comes with a real chestnut

My second choice is this Green tea roll. It is bitter just as any matcha should be. I love the texture of the cake, not too hard or soft, just right. And the cream in the roll is very light and contains anko bean which gives a different texture when you bite on it. Very well done.

Then is this green bun which I bought in mistake assuming it was matcha bun. Anyway, this rock melon or honey dew bun is actually quite refreshing. It gives the natural intense melon taste. I like this as well.

Finally, this is a rather disappointing matcha cake. The cake itself is fluffy and light but the cream is rather disgusting, both Johannes and I ate only the cake and chuck away the cream.

Our Japanese Ryokan (旅館) Experience

Ryokan is usually refers to traditional Japanese Inn dating from the Edo period. The main features are the tatami mated floor, sliding doors, futon bedding spread out on the tatami floor, communal baths by sex, and guests may wear yukata (summer version of kimono) everywhere they go.

After we checked out from our apartment, we stayed 2 nights at this ryokan Matsumoto (松本旅館) nearby the Kyoto tower. In fact, this is not a real ryokan but a modern guesthouse converted to give ‘ryokan’ feel and atmosphere without the Japanese garden and a proper viewing platform.

To add the thrill to ryokan experience, there isn’t any bathroom or toilet attached to our room. So for big or small business we need to get out of the room and thankfully the toilet is nearby. For shower or bath, we have to go down to basement where there is a public bath. In both nights, I actually used the bath alone by myself.

This time is basically just a glimpse of ryokan elements, sleeping on the floor and the futon blanket is rather thick and heavy.

Next time I am going to stay in a real ryokan, if I ever go to Japan again.

Kyoto Food: Matcha Pudding

The original packaging, photo taken while in Kyoto

Matcha Purine that what is stated on the cover, it comes in a set of four, this is the individual packaging

Matcha purine once the case is removed, very green

Opening the package that contains some green tea syrup

Close up of the Matcha purine with the syrup on top of it

From my expression you probably could tell how good it taste...

This is something that I bought home to taste, since there are countless snacks, cookies and wagashi to try in Kyoto and I only got limited time there. I bought the matcha pudding from a shop that selling all about the taste of Kyoto in Kyoto station. I finally got the chance to taste it last Saturday 10^th January at home.

Kyoto: Nikishi food market (錦市場商店街)

This is one of the Kyoto must visit place but we didn’t do it until much later part of our trip. We finally came by to look for some local delicacies to bring home and as the New Year (Oshogatsu お正月)is approaching, the market alleys (narrow streets) gets very busy as both locals and visitors came by. The locals came to source for their New Year meal's ingredients while visitors came by either to check off the ‘must do’ list or like us, to sample local delicacies and in search for something to take home.

Nikishi market starts from Teramachi-dori and run east-west parallel to shijo-dori, frankly speaking, I came here in 2 occasions but never walked from end-to-end, as it was too crowded to squeeze in between the crowds on such a narrow alley. It was fun for a start by I give up after a few blocks.

This is a stall that selling snappers, a must delicacies for Japanese Oshogatsu (お正月). Mind you that it actually cost a bomb, rather expensive one.

Kyoto Pickles or Kyo-tsukemono (京漬物) these are pickles again but marinated in Kyoto way. You get this usually in a small ceremic dish and eat it as condiments with your meal, taste wise, sour, salty or hot or combination of all.

Matsubagai (crab) – some delicacies in the autumn winter period

Nukazuke tsukemono – another type of pickles in nuka (rice bran) where vegetables are fermented. They have a lighter color compare to the other type of tsukemono.

This dried cod another oshogatsu staple. No idea how they should be eaten...

This shop sells all sort of beans, on the second row left is the black bean (Kuromame) that Japanese people eat on New Year, and the one next to kuromame in yellow are newly in kuri (chestnuts).

Here are some seasoned, grilled or smoked little fish (sardine?). I remembered this from the movie 'Memoir of the Geisha' at one scene the mother of Sayuri is eating this for lunch/dinner.

Another shop that selling the local delicacies such as the new bean, black bean, mushrooms etc.

Nikishi market is very vibrant, very lively, most of all very crowded and smelly and noisy, but my knowledge about Kyoto delicacies, staple and wagashi increased each time I strolled through this market and extend my taste bug to the fullest.

Pachinko (パチンコ)

This is also something very Japanese, kind of gaming device used for amusement and prizes. It is for young and old. Pachinko machines were originally mechanical but these days, it could be a pinball machine or video slot machines. In Kyoto, Pachinko parlors are within the reach and there is always one on every other street. Most of the time you will see the young people congregated at the entrance with some soft toys and the noise , the cigarette smoke and lights come out from within.

Namagashi (和菓子) - The Beauty to My Eyes

9^th January 2009

Also together with my matcha tea, I ate this namagashi (和菓子). This namagashi looks so crystallized and transparent under the winter sunlight. This is one of the left over Namagahsi that I bought from Kyoto.

As I already mentioned, all namagashi is too beautiful and delicate to be eaten. However, I am still eating it anyway despite of all the admiration.

This one is dusted with sugar and not made of mochi (rice flour), however it has the same anko bean paste as the filling. This is how it look after I cut it into half. The anko bean paste surfaced.

Taste wise, not too sweet and tone down the bitterness of matcha.

LOVE IT!!!!

Kyoto Food: Food We Cooked

This blog is about other food that we have purchased and home cooked in Kyoto at our Gosho west apartment.

(Left) Hotpot with crab meat balls, squid, Japanese fish cake (Middle) Hotpot with seaweeds, shredded crab meat, Kyoto style omelet, fish head and others (Right) Udon with tofu, scallops, vegetables

(1) Seasoned Sardine – Kyoto style (2) Kyoto style omelet (3) Shredded crab meat

This is one dish in a pot that contains Hokkaido crab legs, ramen, Japanese mushrooms, green vegetables and others.

Kyoto Food: Soy Bean Fondue

Since we rented an apartment in Kyoto, we actually cooked and eating in quite often. Most of the nights, we made hot pot or fondue with the freshest ingredients that we could find in the supermarkets.

Here is one of the highlight, Soy bean soup base with some of the key ingredients.

(1) Literally called Kyo Ya-sai (2) The hotpot soup made of Soy bean (3) Hokkaido giant crab legs (4) Fresh oysters (a dozen costs under €2) (5) Salted Salmon (6) Fish head meat

Kobe Beef 神戸牛肉

26th December 2008

While we were at Kobe (神戸) for a day visit, we passed by this outlet that selling Kobe beef in Nankinmachi (南京町), sort of one of the three Chinatown in Japan. There were lots of people standing in front of this store that selling street style Kobe beef dishes.

The small portion of this costs 1500 yen, which is around €12. Definitely not cheap for such a street flare. Taste wise, the meat is very tender and soft, more or less melt in my mouth and very juicy too. The whole portion only contains 6 to 8 pieces of meat. May be this is not the best way to sample Kobe beef, but really there is nothing wrong with the beef itself but just the way we have chosen to eat it (on the street) didn't give us the opportunity to enjoy its taste to the fullest.

Now what is Kobe beef really?

Kobe beef in Japan is registered trademark and it must fulfill all the conditions as follows:

· Tajima (但馬牛) cattle born in Hyōgo Prefecture (兵庫県)

· Fed by farm in Hyōgo Prefecture

· Bullock or Virgin cow, meant to purify the beef

· Processed at slaughterhouse in Hyōgo Prefecture.

· Marbling ratio called BMS is level 6 and above.

· Meat Quality Score is A or B

· Gross weight of beef is 470 kg or below.

It is also believe that the cattle are fed sake and beer, and they are massaged and brushed for setting fur, and fed on grain fodder.

Nara Food: Udon

30th December 2008

On our day trip to Nara (奈良市), we discovered this restaurant serves some famous udon dishes in a very peculiar way, perhaps the Nara way. After the stroll at Nara park, and a detour to Naramachi (奈良町) just before we reached Sanjo, we spotted this store that attracted our attention. After observing the photo, we decided to go in to check out the food (we are hungry anyway).

There are lots of photos hanging on the wall. It is as if lots of happy moments have taken place in this small eatery. This place is rather small, probably sitting not more than 15 people but the atmosphere is incredibly cozy and homely. One can take time to observe those photos and we guessed those photos were sent to the owner by the patrons. There are also some nice cartoon and story on the wall.

I ordered the udon set but that comes with assorted tempura, pickles, a onigri, the udon and a dessert.

The soup is cooked with four different types of meat slowly and as a result the soup is clear, non greasy and comes with multilayering of taste and yet very subtle.

My udon is still hiding in the fried tofu bag

The udon surfaced, it more than just fun but also very tasty. My compliments to this family run eatery.