napa cabbage

11-30-2012 Fri. cold, sunny.  

WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with carrots 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---apple
DINNER --- Shanghai salsa | kung-pao chicken | sauteed napa cabbage with shiitake | rice | wine 

 

• shanghai style, particular the threaded napa cabbage with starchy sauce.

sweet carrots with bacon

11-29-2012 Thu. cold, rainy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- potato stew 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---  tangerine 
DINNER --- caramelized carrots with onion and smoked bacon | spicy cabbage | rice | wine 


 

• this carrot dish is french

Cod and potato stew

11-28-2012 Wed. cold, clouds. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH ---steamed pork buns
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tangerine 
DINNER --- fisherman's stew of potato and cod | stir-fried chive flowers with smoked tofu | wine 

• too sleepy from jet lag

a big bowl of udon

11-27-2012 Tue. cold, clouds.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH ---steamed dumplings
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tangerine 
DINNER --- udon noodles with braised beef, spinach, napa cabbage and spicy pickled bamboo shoots | wine 

 

• warm up

steamed dumplings

11-26-2012 Mon. cold, clouds.



BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with Brussels sprouts 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tangerine 
DINNER --- steamed dumplings with chicken, shiitake, and bok choy fillings | napa cabbage soup | wine 

 

• work and cook

roasted sea bream

11-25-2012 Sun. cold, clouds


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | pan-fried scallion pancake | french toast | tangerine  AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- roasted sea bream with ginger and scallion | steamed Brussels sprouts | rice | wine 

 

• back to kitchen

grilled fresh eel

11-24-2012 Sat. cold, clouds.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- ( at Mister Donut, Narita) coffee | doughnuts 
LUNCH --- ( at eel grill house, Narita) rice bento with fresh eel grilled on spot | tea
DINNER --- ( on plane) airline food 

 

• at the eel grill house, the guy was killing and fileting eels one per 30 seconds

Tokyo ramen noodles and dumplings

11-23-2012 Fri. cool, rain.  


BREAKFAST --- (at Siegfriedo coffee shop, Shibiya, Tokyo)  cappuccino | croissant  
LUNCH --- ( Chinese restaurant in shopping plaza, Ginza, Tokyo) Shanghai Xiao-long-bao  | pickled cucumber | steamed spicy chicken | tea
DINNER --- ( ramen noodle house, Shibiya, Tokyo)  pork bone broth ramen noodles | pan-fried dumplings 
AFTER-DINNER-DESSERT --- (fancy bakery, Ginza, Tokyo) mini chocolate cake 

• back to Tokyo

sweet yam along the ancient mountain route

11-22-2012 Thu. cool, clouds and sun.  


BREAKFAST --- (at Daikichi, Tsumago) traditional multiple course Japanese breakfast  | coffee 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- ( hiking along the ancient route 中山道) roasted yam | air-dried yam chips |( at the roadside tea house) pickled plum | green tea 
 AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- ( on Shinkansen ) rice balls | candied ginger 
DINNER --- ( under the train track, Shinbashi, Tokyo) grilled chieken skewers | sake | sashimi | nabe hot pot 

 

• a good day, delicious breakfast, beautiful hiking route, nice local people,  perfect bus and train schedule.

Kyoto pressed sushi and Tsumago country cuisine

11-21-2012 Wed. cool, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee | goyza | tangerine 
LUNCH --- ( on Shinkansen ) rice balls and mackerel pressed sushi ( from a roadside stand near Kōbō-san the Toji Temple Flea Market, Kyoto)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- ( at Daikichi ryokan, Tsumago  ) green tea 
DINNER --- ( at Daikichi, Tsumago )  multiple course dinner true to local tradition ( miso soup, soba, tempura, salad, sashimi, grilled fish, seasonal vegetables, rice, pickles, sweets, tea )

food for travel

 Tsumogo

 in the front of 大吉

• the dinner served at the local inn Daikichi 大吉 is outstanding, sophisticated yet homey. 

Kyoto Cuisine in 先斗町

11-20-2012 Tue. cool, clouds.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee | leftover rice and nabe broth | pickled vegetables | pan-fried goyza
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tangerine 
DINNER --- ( in 先斗町, Kyoto ) modern Kaiseki ( 10 course meal ) 

 breakfast

temples

先斗町

 

• 先斗町 is near the canal, a tiny lane with hundreds of restaurants plied up together, and a retro geisha theater at one end. 

Nijo Castle and art book store

11-19-2012 Mon. cool, sunny.



BREAKFAST --- coffee | Japanese pastry | tangerine 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- ( at a local soba house, Kyoto ) soba noodles with fu (gluten)
DINNER --- ( cooked at Gion house) lightly marinated octopus salad |  stir-fried eggplant | stir-fried Roma green beans | nabe hot pot | sake | rice 

Nijo Castle

tea house in the castle garden 

 

 used book store (art)

• very impressive castle, the inside space is  open and huge, with bird-chipping sound built in the floor in the corridors. 
• vintage book store is full of big art volumes and specializing textile designs

Nishiki food market, Kyoto

11-18-2012 Sun. cool, sunny. 


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | Japanese pastry | tangerine 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- ( at Nishiki food market, Kyoto) pickled vegetables | dried fruits | candied ginger | octopus balls 
 DINNER --- fried miso eggplants | scrambled eggs with Japanese greens | simmered mackerels with ginger and soy | braised squid with Japanese leek | sake | rice 

 Kenninji in the early morning

Gion neighborhood

 at Nishiki Market

dinner cooked in Gion House 

 

• around the neighborhood, temple and market in walking distance