Tag Archives: グルメ

Double Cheese Chou

August 25, 2010 dragonlife 7 Comments

The Japanese love their chou a la creme! Actually they call them chou cream! Mixing up connections? They particularly love the small version/petit chou that you would not find easily in shops in Europe or America. In this country they are everywhere!

Here is a typical Japanese version:
Double Cheese Chou!

INGREDIENTS: Enough for 6 fairly big (by Japanese standards!) choux (plural with an “x”!)

Chou Pastry:
-Unsalted butter: 30g
-Water: 20 ml/cc
-Milk: 20 ml/cc
-White sugar: 1/2 teaspoon
-Salt: a pinch
-Flour: 30 g
-Egg: 1

Cheese Custard Cream:
-Milk: 200 ml/cc/1 cup
-White sugar: 50 g
-Flour: 30 g
-Egg yolks: 2
-Vanilla Essence: a few drops

Cheese Whipped Cream:
-Fresh cream: 100 ml/cc/1/2 cup
-White sugar: 1 + 1/2 teaspoons
-Cream Cheese: 40 g

RECIPE:

-Cheese Custard Cream:
In an oven bowl sieve in flour and sugar. Add milk little by little and mix well.

-Add the cream cheese after crumbling it between your fingers. Wrap with cellophane paper. Put in microwave for 2 minutes at 500 Watts.

-Take off cellophane paper at once. Mix thoroughly with a hand whisker. Add egg yolks and mix well again.

-Wrap with cellophan paper again and put back into microwave oven for 2 minutes at 500 Watts. Take out cellophane paper. Mix well until smooth. Add vanilla essence and mix well again.

-Transfer into a fridge dish. Cover well with cellophane paper so as to prevent cream from drying. Mixing again with a saptula from time to time will help cream to chill more quickly.

-Chou pastry:
Sieve flour.
In a pan drop butter, milk, water, sugar and salt. Mix and cook over a medium high fire.

-Mixing with a spatula melt butter with other ingredients. Once the butter has completely melted and started “boilin”, add all flour and mix quickly with spatula.

-Once the water has evaporated take away from fire and mix again energetically.

-Once the pastry has become smooth and uniform and can be easily detached from the bottom of the pan, add betaen eggs little by little and mix weel until smooth.

-The pastry will be ready when it becomes “bright” and slightly adhere to the spatula.

-On a oven plate lined with baking paper place 6 balls of pastry with a spoon. Keep them sufficiently separated from each other.

-Wet the tips of your fingers with water and shape the balls. Don’t worry too much about the aspect. As long as they are roughly rounded, no problem!

-Lightly spray them with water and bake at 200 degrees Celsius for 10~15 minutes ir until they have completely risen.

-Once they have completely risen lower temperature to 170 degrees Celsius and bake for 15~20 more minutes. Do not open oven halway and make sure to lower the temperature!

-Take chou out and let cool completely.

Cheese whipped cream:
-Bring cheese cream temperature to room temperature. Warm it up inside microwave oevn to soften. Don’t overheat it, just soften it! Transfer into a bowl

-Beat the cheese with a hand whisker until smooth. Add sugar and fresh cream and whisk until fluffy and light.

-Cut chou cream in halves and fill bottom halves with cheese custard using a spoon.

-Cover cheese custard with cheese whipped cream with a pastry bag. Top the whole delicately with the chou upper half.

Not that difficult, is it?

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Where to eat locally grown organic vegetables in Shizuoka

August 24, 2010 dragonlife 2 Comments

Salad of organic vegetables from Bio Farm at Uzu

It is one thing to know that Shizuoka Prefecture is getting deserved fame for the quality and variety of its vegetables all year round and especially organic vegetables, but it is another to know where, or more precisley in which restaurants, to savour them in good company.
We are presently blessed with three restaurants in Shizuoka City (still looking for more in the whole Prefecture!) which not only serve them but can arrange full vegetarian and vegan meals on request!

UZU

Deep-fried organic potatoes from Bio Farm

Service: excellent, easy-going and very friendly
Facilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: very reasonable, good value.
Strong points: Very fresh local ingredients, especially organic vegetables extensively used. Local sake. Home-made umeshu. Great shochu list.

Uzu is arguably the best Izakaya in the whole Prefecture having won accolades from its peers, national medias and gastronme writers.
Although they serve all kinds of food, vegetarian and omnivores, they make organic vegetables their specialty. Most of them are grown at Matsuki Bio Farm in Shibakawa, Fujinomiya City at the foot of Mount Fuji.

Check their homepage as they update it as the menu changes, which is almost everyday as they serve only seasonal food.

UZU-4

Vegetables Shabu shabu

UZU
Shizuoka City, Otowa-cho, 3-18
Tel.: 054-249-6262
Business hours: 17:00=23:00
Closed on Mondays and first Tuesday
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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TETSUYA SUGIMOTO

Ranking：
Service: Highly professional and friendly
Equipment: Great overall cleanliness. Beautiful washroom
Prices:~
Strong points:Freshest produce and ingredients only, mainly from Shizuoka Prfecture. Organic vegetables. Seasonal food only
Map (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

If you happen to visit Shizuoka City, you will find many restaurants and izakayas serving and mainly using produce/products and ingredients from Shizuoka Prefecture. There are many treasures to be discovered in this hoard!
One of them is the French restaurant going by the name of Sugimoto Tetsuya!

If you can read Japanese you will know what is waiting for you inside!
A gastronomic paradise in Shizuoka Prefecture!
Mr. Sugimoto does everything by himself: chef, waiter and entertainer! This is real slow food in its true and best meaning!
Almost all ingredients are from Shizuoka Prefecture, be they vegetables, fruit, meat or fish!
But his specialty is organic vegetables from Shizuoka Prefecture!
I requested that particular dish to feature only produce for Shizuoka Prefecture only.

All these were organic vegetables grown by different farmers in Hamamatsu City.
The dish included egg-plants/aubergines, 3 varieties of zucchini, tomato and “manganji” Chili pepper.

To give you an idea how Mr. Sugimoto works, all vegetables were first sauteed separately and cooked in the oven before served with two different dressings:
-Olive oil and orange juice
-Framboise/raspberry vinegar

Tetsuya SUGIMOTO
420-0038 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Umeya,, ２－１３，１Ｆ
Tel./Fax: 054-251-3051
Opening hours：１１：３０～１４：３０，１７：３０～２１：３０
Holidays: undecided
Cedit cards OK
ＨＯＭＥＰＡＧＥ

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PISSENLIT

Service: excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable, good value.
Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products.
entirely non-smoking!

Great food is great food!
Be you vegan, vegetarian or omnivore, one can only appreciate and being thankful for savouring vegetables not only of the best quality, but local and organically grown to boot!
I will never tire of saying to everyone how lucky we are here in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, a region renown nationally and increasingly internationally for its exceptional gastronomy!

Pissenlit, with Uzu and Tetsuya Sugimoto is is generally considered as one of the “Shizuoka City Triumvirate” when it comes to healthy, local and sublime gastronomy.
Chef Tooru Arima has many contacts in the Prefecture and it is always a good idea what’s available as it can change very quickly. He is particularly fond of oraganic vegetables grown by Mr. Hideyaki Hirokawa in Mishima City

Even if I have nurtured a special relation with chef Tooru Arima (and many others), he he is only too happy to oblige with his custon\mers’ selfish requests!

The above is a sample of the greens grown by Mr. Hirokawa!

And these the other organic vegetables grown by the same farmer!

If you have the occasion to visit Mishima City this is the address of our great farmer!

Mr. Hideyaki Hirokawa, Mishima City, Kawaharagaya Yamada, 765
Tel.: 055-973-2702

PISSENLIT
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 2-3-4
Tel.: 054-270-8768
Fax: 054-627-3868
Business hours: 11:30~14:30; 17:00~22:00
Closed on Tuesdays and Sunday evening
Homepage (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK

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STILL LOOKING AROUND!

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Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2010/08/24)

August 24, 2010 dragonlife 2 Comments

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Two New Seasonal Releases

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

As you know, fruited ales are close and dear to our brewing hearts despite the fact the fruit beers tend generally to be vapidly cloying and concocted with gimmickry foremost in mind. There is no gimmickry in the crafting of Baird fruited ales; we use only fresh, locally harvested fruit; we painstakingly process the fruit by hand; we subject the fruit to the fermentation process; and we weave the fruit into the matrix of the recipe so that it complements, rather than dominates, the beers other underlying flavors.

Today we are excited to release two fruited summer ales, one an annual mainstay (Asian Beauty Biwa Ale) and one a new creation (Biere du Biwa). These ales should be available at your favorite Baird Beer retailer beginning Wednesday, August 25.

Asian Beauty Biwa Ale 2010 (ABV 5.6%):
Biwa is “the small, yellow, edible, plum-like fruit of the loquat tree.” We had no idea what it was until our partner-friend-carpenter-farmer, Nagakura-san, brought some in several years ago for us to taste and then brew with. It is an extremely subtle fruit that harmonizes sweetness with tartness. Asian Beauty Biwa Ale is coyly fruity, spritely effervescent and yet delicately firm — like a true Asian Beauty!

Asian Beauty Biwa Ale 2010 is available both on draught and in bottles (633 ml) at Baird Beer retailers throughout Japan. Individual consumers also can purchase bottles direct from our brewery via our online E-Shop.

Biere du Biwa (ABV 5.7%):
Biere du Biwa is brewed with the same recipe and processing parameters as Asian Beauty with one major exception: We ferment it with a Belgian ale yeast rather than our house ale yeast. The resulting flavor difference from this single variable change is profound. If you ever wanted to isolate and discover the character that a Belgian yeast strain imparts to a beer, this is the chance.

Biere du Biwa feels tarter and drier on the palate than Asian Beauty. The phenolic character imparted by the yeast is strong and almost defining. After imbibing a glass, the overall impression is one of supreme refreshment.

Biere du Biwa is available on draught only at fine Baird Beer retailing pubs and restaurants throughout Japan.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

———————————
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
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日本語のブログ
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Shizuoka Agricultural Products: Mrs. Toshiko Otsuka’s Fig Orchard

August 23, 2010 dragonlife 13 Comments

Mrs. Toshika Otsuka/大塚敏子

Figs have been very popular in Japan for eons.
They were introduced in Japan at the beginning of the Edo Era (17th Century) in Nagasaki (Kyushu Island) from Persia through China.
Interestingly enough the Japanese consume only a little quantity of dry figs that they mainly use in cakes. They prefer their fruit fresh and eat them either as appetizers (with sesame dressing/gomadare) or as dessertfruit.

They are grown inside greenhouses or in open air, depending on the variety and growing method.
Mrs. Otsuka grows hers exclusively inside greenhouses on a total area of 240 tsubo/~750 square meters.

Once again my good friend, Natsuko Koyanagi/小柳奈津子 was on hand to help with introductions.
It was quite a distance away from her usual area as figs are grown only on the right bank of the Abe River due to the needed sun exposure whereas Natsuko lives on the left bank. We knew we had arrived before we discovered the greenhouses as the cloying smell of the figs had wafting around us into our car very quickly!

Mrs. Otsuko grows a single variety called Masui Dofin/マスイドフィン, a Japanese hybrid.
Do you know how the Japanese write “ichijiku” for fig? 無花果/No flower fruit! At least knowing the kanji characters meant I was not going to make the mistake asking when flowers were supposed to bloom!

Her trees are pretty old by Japanese standards (these can live a long time indeed!) as she first planted them 27 years ago. Her orchard is her own supply of cash to the homestead as her husband has his own job. Nevertheless, he gives a hand before leaving to work and after coming back from work. Either he is a tough guy or a loving one! (or both? LOL).

Watering is done through a pipe system snaking over the whole grenhouses.
As for fertilizer, she told me in with almost naive honesty that she asks a specialist every year to check on her orchard and decide what’s best!

I saw quite a few figs I would lay my hands on!
Actually, Mrs. Otsuka explained me that Summer is not so much the right season to really savor them. Although she harvests them everyday and “ship” them to the Cooperative, the best season is the Fall when figs are at their best and do not spoil easily.
As she accepte personal orders, you can be sure I will visit her again in a couple of months!

Aluminum foil sheets are spread on the soil along each row of fig trees not so much to protect the soil but to reflect the sun and provide more exposure and heat. And I can tell you this is sweat work!

Trees are trimmed completely of their branches around January and you can count each year going along the scars left on them!
Fruit bearing branches do have to be supported and are tied with twine to the roof to keep them erect and give as much as vital space as possible to the fruit.

Harvesting is always done in the morning when the temperature is lower. The fruit will keep their umami/balance then. Fruit are calibrated and carefully put into boxes before delivery.

Mrs. Otsuka pointed out an interesting detail: when harvesting one has cto cover herself/himself completely, especially arms an legs as fig leaves are really tough and their rims can cut through your skin if you are not careful!
And one has to constantly clean the soil of fallen leaves as they rot easily!

Greenhouses have to left open on their side for better air circulation, but all openings have to be netted or birds will have a feast!

Certainly learned a lot again and am ready to be taught more!

Mrs. Toshiko Otsuka’s Fig Orchard
Sshizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Fukudagaya, 123-1
Tel.: 054-294-9787
Personal orders accepted

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Seaweed: The Vegan Food of the Oceans!

August 22, 2010 dragonlife 6 Comments

Mozuku in amazu/sweet vinegar as served at Yasaitei, Shizuoka City.

I have recently been asked again by many friends about seaweed in Japan. Here is the original posting with a few additions!

Seaweed or algae have been used for eons by humans, but have only been recently rediscovered as a food of their own.
Seaweeds are consumed by coastal people, particularly in East Asia, e.g., Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, but also in Indonesia, Belize, Peru, the Canadian Maritimes, Scandinavia, Ireland, Wales, the Philippines, and Scotland.
It is rich in calcium and magnesium and seaweed noodles can be cooked into pancit canton, pancit luglug, spaghetti or carbonara.

Nori

In Asia, Zicai (紫菜) (in China), gim (in Korea) and nori (in Japan) are sheets of dried Porphyra used in soups or to wrap sushi. Chondrus crispus (commonly known as Irish moss or carrageenan moss) is another red alga used in producing various food additives, along with Kappaphycus and various gigartinoid seaweeds. Porphyra is a red alga used in Wales to make laver. Laverbread, made from oats and the laver, is a popular dish there. Affectionately called “Dulce” in northern Belize, seaweeds are mixed with milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla to make a common beverage.

Seaweeds are also harvested or cultivated for the extraction of alginate, agar and carrageenan, gelatinous substances collectively known as hydrocolloids or phycocolloids. Hydrocolloids have attained commercial significance as food additives. The food industry exploits their gelling, water-retention, emulsifying and other physical properties. Agar is used in foods such as confectionery, meat and poultry products, desserts and beverages and moulded foods. Carrageenan is used in salad dressings and sauces, dietetic foods, and as a preservative in meat and fish products, dairy items and baked goods. It is a vital jelly component for vegansand vegetarians.

Alginates are used in wound dressings, and production of dental moulds. In microbiology research, agar is extensively used as culture medium.

Seaweed is a source of iodine, necessary for thyroid function and to prevent goitre.

Seaweed extract is used in some diet pills. Other seaweed pills exploit the same effect as gastric banding, expanding in the stomach to make the body feel more full.

Finally seaweed provide jel for beauty products and make-ups!

Konbu Tsukudani, a popular Japanese seaweed dish.

The Japanese divide their edible seaweed into three main groups:
BROWN ALGAE:

-Konbu/昆布, or Laminariaceae Bory (Latin), comprises many varieties, some of them regional: Makonbu or Saccharina japonica（真昆布）, Onikonbu or Laminaria diabolica（羅臼昆布）, Rishiri Konbu or Laminaria ochotensis（利尻昆布）, Hosome Konbu or Laminaria religiosa（細目昆布）, Hitaka or Mitsuishi Konbu or Laminaria angustata（日高昆布、三石昆布）, Naga or Hamanaka Konbu or Laminaria longissima（長昆布、浜中昆布）, and Kagome or Kjellmaniella crassifolia（籠目昆布）.

-Hijiki or hiziki (ヒジキ, 鹿尾菜 or 羊栖菜, hijiki) (Sargassum fusiforme, or Hizikia fusiformis) is a brown sea vegetable growing wild on rocky coastlines around Japan, Korea, and China. Its two names mean deer-tail grass and sheep-nest grass respectively. It is also called sweet seaweed.

-Hibatama or Fucus, a genus of brown alga in the Class Phaeophyceae to be found in the intertidal zones of rocky seashores almost everywhere in the world.

-Hondawara or ホンダワラ（馬尾藻、神馬藻 (Sargassum fulvellum）

-Mozuku, or Cladosiphon okamuranus (水雲; 藻付; 海蘊; 海雲) , a type of edible seaweed in the genus Cladosiphon, naturally found in Okinawa, Japan. Most of the mozuku now is farmed by locals, and sold to processing factories. The main use of mozuku is as food, and as source of one type of sulfated polysaccharide called Fucoidan to be used in cancer treatment aid health supplements. Mozuu is usually served in rice vinegar in Japan.
-Wakame (ワカメ), Undaria pinnatifida, a sea vegetable, or edible seaweed. In Japan it is most widely used in miso soup.

Yes, these violet and green alagae are edible!

VIOLET ALGAE:

-Asakusa Nori, or アサクサノリ（浅草海苔 (Porphyra tenera).

-Tengusa, which gives agar agar, a gelatinous substance. Historically and in a modern context, it is chiefly used as an ingredient in desserts throughout Japan, but also as solid jelly used as decoration in salads and others.

GREEN ALGAE:

-Aosa or sea lettuce comprising comprise the genus Ulva, a group of edible green algae that are widely distributed along the coasts of the world’s oceans.

-Aonori (青海苔 or アオノリ, “blue seaweed” or “green seaweed”), also known as green laver, a type of edible green seaweed, including species from the genera Monostroma and Enteromorpha of Ulvaceae. It is commercially cultivated in some bay areas in Japan, such as Ise Bay. It contains rich minerals such as calcium, magnesium, lithium, vitamins, and amino acids such as methionine.

-Umibudou, or sea grapes, a delicacy of its own!

MARKET AVAIBILITY IN JAPAN:

In Japan it is interesting to note you can easily buy seaweed in paste form:

Konbu

Aosa

Hijiki

Next here are some pics to help you discover/recognize edible varieties in the markets:

Akamoku

Makusa

They often come as a mixture!

Red Algae

JAPANESE GASTRONOMY:

Here are some examples of the use of seaweed in Japanese gastronomy that can be expanded and inspired from wherever in the world you are, you being vegan, vegetarian or omnivore!
I have reduced the size of the pictures. Click on them to enlarge and copy them!

Agar or Crystal Kaiso/Crystal Seaweed!

The same in a salad!

An example of seaweed salad with wakame and agar.

Another seaweed salad with samples harvesyed in Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture!

An Okinawa variety called somen nori!

Another local variety called Tsunotama/Horns and Balls!

Wakame appetizer!

Wakame Noodles!

Another Wakame salad!

Wakame sticks cooked with miso paste!

Wakame and Miso Paste mix from Kanzanji, Shizuoka Prefecture!

Wakame and Miso Bread!

Wakame Miso Soup!

Wakame, tofu and miso Soup!

A bowl of freshly steamed rice with seaweed paste!

Soba/Buckwheat noodles with nori and green leaf vegetables!

Seaweed, trefoil and ground seame seeds salad!

The best way to eat rice?

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Matsutake Mushrooms and Conger Eel Fritters at Pissenlit

August 20, 2010 dragonlife 6 Comments

If celebrated chefs like Dominique Corby at 6eme Sens in Tokyo (1 Michelin Star and a regular on TV’s) say that Tooru Arima at Pissenlit is a chef is worth the trip all the way don to Shizuoka City, there is little else I can say except paying a regular visit to the establishment!

The cuisine at Pissenlit is always seasonal as his Matsutake Mushrooms and Conger Eel Fritters/Beignets de Matsutake et de Congre.
Matsutake Mushrooms have just appeared on the market, and he announced them as Haya matsutake/早松茸/early matsutake.
Frankly speaking i don’t have a real clue as to the order of the cooking, although I suspect it was done allat one time (maybe not for the mushroom, though) but it is certainly a small tour de force.

Thin strips of congre eel/anago/穴子 were rolled around matsutake mushroom and dipped in a thickish batter. The way of serving it was also a little piece of art.
The batter was solid and slightly crispy, more like a cake than a fritter batter.
The dressing made of olive oil, river weeds extract and matsutake juice was sublime and I cerainly didn’t leave a drop (sponged in a little nread…).
I left the plate absolutely clean!

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Fromage Creme Brulee at Pissenlit

August 18, 2010 dragonlife Leave a comment

Some desserts are classics wherever you find yourself in the world.
Creme brulee is one of them.
Thinking that it means “burnt cream” in French, one would be excused to question the naming of such a good and simple (in concept) dessert!
Many French restaurants are judged through the way handle so-called easy classics, especially terrines and pates for appetizers and creme brulee for dessert as they often tend to leave a lasting image as the first and last dish of a superb meal!

Whatever their simplicity, they cannot be served with a sophisticated touch.
This is where chefs like Tooru Arima are above the crowds.
The creme brulee comes with a spoon of passion fruit for extra seasoning and a small fruit salad for more decoration and a lightened dessert.

The creme is based on a pudding/custard made with fromage blanc and eggs of the best quality into an unctuous blend under a solid caramel you dleight into breaking after you have smeared it with the passion fruit!

Who said one would kill for such desserts! LOL

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Marinated Tuna Sushi/Magurozuke Sushi

August 18, 2010 dragonlife 4 Comments

Whenever tuna is available one ought to taste it raw as sashimi or sushi.
Now, avaibility does not always mean quality.
On the other hand, the Japanese have a simple and delicious way to accomodate tuna of any quality: magurozuke, which basically means marinated tuna, a concept easy to understand anywhere in our world!
Here is a basic recipe you can easily improve and adapt. I can guarantee you that your friends will look at you with a different eye!

INGREDIENTS:

-Tuna: raw for sashimi, enough for a plate of sushi
-Sushi rice: as appropriate. Check Sushi Rice Recipe here!

-Marinade/Zuketare:
-Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
-Japanese sake: 2 tablespoons
-Mirin/Japanese sweet sake: 1 tablespoon
-Chopped thin leeks: as appropriate
-Wasabi paste: as appropriate

RECIPE

-Prepare the marinade: In a bowl drop the soy sauce, Japanese sake, mirin and chopped leeks. Mix quickly.
Slice the tuna for sushi. Take care of slicing it in equal size (especially thickness) slices!
Drop all the slices inside the marinade. Stir gently so as all fish is marinated. Cover with cellophane paper and leave inside the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

-Prepare the rice balls/shari in a slightly elongated size. Remember that the rice balls/shari should be slightly narrower and shoter than the tuna slices.
Smear a little wasabi paste on top of each rice ball. Skip if you don’t like wasabi. On the other hand you could top the nigiri (taht is on top ofthe fish, not the rice ball) with a little grated ginger!
Take tuna slice out one by one, shake them over the marinade bowl to let run excess marinade (do not sponge it off!), place a slice on each rice ball firmly enough (no need to overpress it between your hands, or you will have marinade everywhere!).
Place on a service dish and eat as soon as possible.

Easy and so impressive!

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Raspberry Tiramisu

August 16, 2010 dragonlife 6 Comments

The summer and the heat have this strange influence on me: I don’t seem to be able to get away from sweet comfort (I don’t much dessert usually) and soft drinks (I usually prefer beer or Japanese sake, LOL)!
Since I’m still in my “Tiramisu Mode” here is another simple recipe that will delight the kids (and adults, of course!)!

Raspberry (ies) Tiramisu!

INGREDIENTS: Enough for 10 (Japanese-sized) portions? Michael might not agree with that! LOL

-Frozen raspberries: 500~600 g
-Sugar: 6~8 tablespoons
-Lemon juice: 2 tablespoons
-Mascarpone Cheese: 450 g
-Egg: 1
-Glazing sugar/fine sugar powder: 6 tablespoons
-Fresh cream: 300 g
-Fresh raspberries for decoration (the more, the better!)
-Lady finger biscuits: 30~34

RECIPE:

-In a large pan drop the frozen raspberries, sugar and lemon juice. Heat over medium fire for 20 minutes. Switch off fire when mixture has taken the consistency of jam. let cool down.

-A) In a bowl drop the mascarpone cheese, the glazing/fine sugar powder and mix well.
B)In another bowl beat fresh cream to semi-firm.

-Mix A and B delicately until smooth.

-Dip lady finger biscuits well into raspberry jam (but have a look at the next step, first!)

-In a large bowl of your choosing, first line the bottom with a layer of mascarpone mixture, then lay a layer of jam-dipped ladyfinger biscuits over it. Repeat the process three times.

-Lay the rest of the mascarpone mixture on top. Sooth it out with a spatula and decorate it with plenty of fresh raspberries.
Cover with cellophane paper and chill inside fridge overnight.
Sprinkle with plenty of glazing sugar before serving.
For people who like them add more color withsmall mint leaves!

So easy and so impresive!

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Marshmallow Tiramisu

August 16, 2010 dragonlife 8 Comments

I seem to have entered a “Tiramisu Mode” as this is my third (and I have more!) recipe in less than a week!
I might have found myself under the curse of a sweet tooth fairy!
Marshmallows are popular everywhere, even in Japan, so I thought a little “American note” was in order this time! LOL
This particular recipe has not only the merit to be yummy and fit for all ages, but is also so simple and adaptable!

Marshmallow Tiramisu!

INGREDIENTS:

-Cream cheese: 200 g
-Milk: 100 ml/1/2 cup
-Marshmallow: 100 g
-Sugar: 100 g
-Cookies/Biscuits/Sable: 1 “box” or whatever is appropriate
-Instant coffee powder: 2 tablespoons
-Water: 100 ml/1/2 cup
-Cocoa powder: as appropriate

RECIPE:

-Get all your ingredients ready! Leave them outside long enough to reach room temperature (relative in summer. Say that 25 degrees Celsius is fine!). Above ingredients are shown as found in Japan. We also use Philadelphia cream cheese. As for the biscuits and marshmallows use whatever you fancy!

-Mix the coffee powder and water to obtain a strong coffee.

-Drop the cream cheese into a large bowl. Heat it for about 30 seconds in a microwave oven to soften it. Add sugar and mix well.

-In a separate bowl drop the marshmallow with 2 tablespoons of the milk. Leave in microwave oven for 30~50 seconds to melt the marshmallow. Mix well.

-Add the rest of the milk to the melted marshmallows and mix well.

-Add the cream cheese to the marshmallow mixture and mix well.

-Line the bottom a large glass terrine mold with one layer of biscuits. Brush enough coffee onto biscuits for them to absorb it. Cover with a layer of marshmallow/cream cheese layer of same thickness. Repeat the same process three more times or until you run out of ingredients!

-Smoothen the surface with a spatula and leave inside the fridge for at least 3 hours (overnight is best!). Sieve cocoa powder over it before serving (not before or the coca powder will sink in the cake!).

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Vegan Tofu & Macha Tiramisu

August 14, 2010 dragonlife 6 Comments

I’m not vegan or vegetarian, but I’m certainly interested, not only for the sake of healthy food, but also for the challenge.
Tiramisu is difficult to imagine for vegans and even vegetarians, but don’t forget that the Japanese are blessed with both tofu for consistent food and macha for extra taste!

Vegan Tofu & Macha Tiramisu!

INGREDIENTS: For 4 people

-Avocado 1 (ripe)
-Tofu/Silk tofu: 125 g
-Soy milk: 60 cc
-Agave Strup: 1.5 tablespoon
-Oatmeal: 70 g
-Vanilla Oil: as appropriate
-Macrobiotic coffee: 1.5 tablespoons
-Powdered macha: as appropriate

RECIPE:

-Mix oatmeal with coffee. Add 1 tablepoon of hot water and mix. It will will turn up as soft cookie when all the liquid has been absorbed..

-Thorw in the cut avocado, tofu, soy milk, agave syrup and vanilla oil into a blender. Mix. Check taste and add syrup if not sweet enough.

-Line bottom of cup with oatmeal mix.

-Top with avocado cream, Chill inside fridge.

-Top with plenty of macha powder and serve!

Simple, ain’t it!

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Tiramisu Cupcakes

August 13, 2010 dragonlife 16 Comments

The Japanese are famous for miniaturizing (making smaller) anything in sight, and it does apply in cooking, especially desserts.
Tiramisu is “usually” made into large affairs to be scooped from.
Here is a Japanese home-style version which will prevent fights between children and adults alike!

Tiramisu Cupcakes!

INGREDIENTS: For 5 cups

Sponge cake:
-Whole egg: 1
-Sugar (white): 2 tablespoons
-Flour: 2 tablespoons
-Salad oil: 1 Tablespoon

Coffee Syrup:
-Hot water: 2 tablespoons
-Instant coffee powder: 1 teaspoon
-Coffee Liqueur: 1 tablespoon

Cheese Cream:
-Egg yolk: 1
-Sugar (white): 1 tablespoon
-Mascarpone cheese: 100 g
-Fresh cream: 50 cc/mm (1/4 cup)
-Egg white: 1
-Sugar (white): 2 tablespoons
-Cocoa Powder: as appropriate

RECIPE:

-Sponge cake:
Beat the egg and sugar together until they have properly risen.

Add oil and mix well. Add flour through a sieve in three steps and mix.

Fill each cup with an equal amount of sponge cake mixture. Bake for 13 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.

-Coffee Syrup.
Dissolve completely instant coffee powder in hot water. Add Coffee Liqueur and mix well.

-As soon as the spong cake has been baked brush in the coffee syrup on it while it is hot top allow for a good soaking.

-Cheese cream:
Beat egg yolk and sugar together until mixture whitens.

-Add mascarpone and mix well.
Beat fresh cream in a separate bowl until 7/10 hard.
Add to mascarpone and mix

-In another separate bowl beat the egg white and sugar until hard risen.
Fold inside mascarpone mixture.

-Fill each cup with cheese mixture.
Sieve chocolate powder on top.

=Chill inside fridge!

Easy, isn’t it!

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Organic French Fries at Uzu/An Interesting Cooking Technique

August 12, 2010 dragonlife 4 Comments

The other day when I visited Uzu with the Missus, I had found the fried potatoes included in the Vegan Oarganic Salad so intriguing that I couldn’t help ordering them separately!

The potatoes are of two kinds:
Pinkish ones called Red Moon and the other yellowish called Inca Mezame.
Both were gron organically by Mr. Matsuki at Bio Farm in Shibakawa Cho in Fujinomiya City at the foot of Mount Fuji.

Now the cooking technique was a bit out of the ordinary:
The potatoes are first steamed whole with their skins.
Instead of slicing them or cutting them into sticks, the potatoes are broken by hand. The potates are chosen small enough to be broken only in two to four chunks of irregular shape.
They are then deep-fried in high quality oil.
The fact their shape is uneven allows for a bigger outer surface with a lot of crispiness, especially when accounting with the skins!
Having been steamed, the potatoes have acquired the perfect balance of outside crispiness and inside tenderness, but keeping their firmness at the same time, allowing for a deep and satisfactory bite!

Do try it!

UZU
Shizuoka City, Otowa-cho, 3-18
Tel.: 054-249-6262
Business hours: 17:00=23:00
Closed on Mondays and first Tuesday
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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Vegan Japanese Cuisine: Tofu, Avocado & Tomato Marinade

August 11, 2010 dragonlife 8 Comments

Tofu, Avocado & Tomato?
Very much in “season”! Actually could be obtained easily all year round!
Here is a Japanese (and Italian?) inspired vegan (and vegetarian) recipe for the hot days of summer!
Choose your ingredients well, striving for the best and organic, if you can!

INGREDIENTS: For 2~ people

-Tomato: 1
-Avocado: 1
-Tofu: half a standard block~200 g
-Basil: 6 medium leaves

Marinade:
-Olive oil (EV): 2 tablespoons
-Lemon juice: 1.5 tablespoons
-Balsamico vinegar: 1 teaspoon
-Sugar: 1/2 teaspoon
-Salt & black pepper: as appropriate

RECIPE:

-Press water out of tofu (cover it with a clean cloth and a weight on top).
Cut tomatoes, tofu and avocado in same size chunks/cubes (important!).
Think of final look!

-Cut basil in small enough bits for easy mixing.

-Mix all marinade ingredients in a large bowl.

-Add tofu, tomato, avocado and cut basil. Mix delicately. Cover with cellophane paper. Keep in fridge long enough to chill or until you serve.

-Try to be inventive on presentation!

-So easy and yummy!

NOTES:

-Peel skin off tomato if too hard. Choose “fleshy” tomatoes with a little water and seeds as possible. Take the later off if possible.

-Choose a particularly aromatic lemon juice. Meyer would be interesting!

-Keep basil leaves handy for decoration! Mint could be interetsing, too!

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Sushi Cupcakes: For an easy Party!

August 11, 2010 dragonlife 15 Comments

Cupcakes don’t need to be introduced, neither sushi!
But have you ever thought of combining the two for an easy party meal/snack for adults or children?
Here is a simple suggestion you can easily adapt to impress your friends!

Sushi Cupcakes!

INGREDIENTS: for 15~20 cups

-Sushi Tarou Sushi Mix: 1 pack
The above can be found easily in Japan or at Asian supermarkets abroad to make your work very easy! They are also called “Go Moku Chirashi”.

The above is available on Amazon.com in Japan!

-Steamed rice (warm): 500 g

Ａ）Boiled prawn: 2
A）Avocado and lemon juice: as appropriate

B）Kamaboko/Fish paste (red): as appropriate
B）Mitsuba/Trefoil: as appropriate

C）Mini Tomato: as appropriate
C）Sliced cheese: as appropriate
C）Kaiware/Daikon Sprouts (or other): as appropriate

D）Sweet Rice vinegar renkon/lotus root: as appropriate
D）Cucumber: as appropriate
D）Kanikama/Surimi: as appropriate
D）Ginnan/gingko nuts (boiled): as appropriate

Ｅ）Smoked salmon: as appropriate
Ｅ）Shiso or Oba/Perilla leaves: as appropriate
E）Yuzu/lime zests (grated) as appropriate

RECIPE:

-Pour the warm rice and the sushi mixture into a large bowl and mix quickly.

-Fill aluminum foil cupcakes or cups with the sushi rice. Make groups of two or three cups. Srim\nkle them all with finley cut dry seaweed (skip seaweeed if you don’t like it!), or with some roasted sesame seeds. If you have some tube wasabi handy, put a little in the middle.