plate lunch nanary

There is a plate lunch place nearby that I've been wanting to try.

Most times though, if a shop is not open while I am doing my grocery shopping, I end up buying my lunch elsewhere.

Sunday, Satoshi went to watch university baseball team play, so I got to try Plate Lunch Nanary.

This shop is tiny and takeout only.

I tried their kalbi bento.

It was a good sized bento.

The meat was flavored well, though it could've been a little more tender.

And the rice was a little too soft for my liking.

Still, I hope to try other items on their menu...I'll be back.

Plate Lunch Nanary
4-32-2 Ikegami
Ota, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6410.3985
Hours: 11:00-19:00

anpan & gardenias

It has been many years since I've baked bread.

I have this type of yeast, which was a freebie in a foodie magazine.

I have had it in my freezer and it is WAY past the expiry date!

Since yesterday was quite warm, I decided to try baking with the yeast.

On the 1st proof, it rose...whew!

I weighed and divided it into 7 pieces.

After the 2nd proof, I filled them with an (sweet bean paste).

It was my first time using this yeast as well as trying a pain de campagne (country bread) recipe.

After baking, some oozed.

I tasted one, the texture seems to be good and there was a nice crust.

Breakfast tomorrow : anpan!

I wanted to show you this gardenia bush that I found on the side of the road nearby.

Love the fragrance of gardenia (the Japanese call it "kuchinashi").

It is gardenia season here and I have seen some homes with them in their yards.

Are the gardenia blooming where you are?

this and that

Yesterday, I posted about Coffee Jelly, I forgot to mention that if you'd like to leave out the sugar or use a sweetener when making your gelatin, please do so.

On to today's post...The other day the weather was on the cooler side, so I made rafute.

I also made goya namashi (namashi is the Okinawan pronunciation for namasu).

Goya Namashi : based on recipe from "Chimugukuru" by Hui O Laulima

1 goya (bittermelon), cleaned & thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt

1.5 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
1.5 tablespoons water

Clean and slice bittermelon, massage salt onto the goya and let it sit for about 20 minutes.
Rinse then squeeze out the water.
Add to vinegar mixture, mix well.
Chill and serve.

NOTES: It was my first time making namashi and will definitely make it again because it is easy and perfect for summer.

I hope to also try more recipes from this cookbook.

After making the rafute, I had quite a lot of gravy leftover.

Instead of throwing it out, I made some ajitama (literally seasoned egg) with it.

If you eat ramen, you'll often see ajitama as a topping or garnish.

Make some hanjuku tamago.

Then put your peeled eggs into the rafute sauce.

Put the eggs & sauce into the refridgerator for at least a couple of hours.

This got a thumbs up from Satoshi.

I think you could use any shoyu based gravy.

Most recipes I've seen online use the pre-made sauce used for soba/udon.

If you try this, I hope you like it.

coffee jelly

Have you ever had coffee jelly?

In Japan, "jelly" is pronounced "zelly" and is a shortened version of "gelatin".

Anyway, you will often see coffee jelly on many menus here.

If you'd like to make your own, do this...makes about 2 servings

200 mililiters hot coffee
5 grams gelatin
20 grams sugar

vanilla ice cream

Make the coffee.
Mix in the sugar.
Using part of your hot coffee, mix it with the gelatin, so that it will not clump.
Put in the refrigerator to set.
Serve with vanilla ice cream.

NOTES: this is perfect for those humid days...I'm pretty sure you could even do this with tea if you don't drink coffee...happy summer!

odaiba

The last time I went to Odaiba was pre-blog.

I had seen hydrangea photos on someone's Instagram and went to check it out on Friday.

Even though it was overcast, it was super humid.

There are many office buildings as well as many shopping areas on this man-made island.

There is a huge Gundam statue in front of the Diver City Shopping area.

If you'd like to know more about Gundam, check out this link.

There was also another area to view hydrangea but it was a bit farther from where I was.

I am sure if the weather had been a bit cooler, I would've checked it out, but it was pretty miserable on this day.

There are many bridges crossing the freeway, so be prepared to walk.

As for food, there were lots of fast food places...I ended up eating at Taco Bell.

I am glad I went to reconnect with Odaiba and hope to check out other areas for hydrangea.

If you want to see more photos, please check out the link.

Have a nice week.

millefeuille corn

Came across a new variety (to us) called Millefeuille Corn.

Super sweet and different gradations of yellow.

I'm glad we tried this and will get it again if I see it at the market.

around honmonji

Monday, it rained all.day.and.all.night.long.

Since I needed to go out in the rain for some groceries, I also went to check out the hydrangea.

There are many temples around Honmonji.

One in particular is Myokendo.

Along the stairs to the temple are many ajisai (hydrangea).

I don't think the ajisai were in full bloom at this temple.

If you'd like to see a short video I shot in the rain, click the link here.

In the back of Nagasoyamayogen Temple, there were azalea and ajisai which are planted on the perimeter of their cemetery.

It's been rainy (and cold! The temps dropped to 16C (60F)!) hope to get out to other temples/parks to see their hydrangea in the coming days.