Thursday, July 31, 2008

keeping cool

It is the last day of July. There were so many things I wanted to post about, but didn't get around to, so here is a round-up of what we have been eating/drinking this summer:

There was spam fried rice.

Fanta puru puru shaker: this gelatinous soda is the only type of soda that you need to shake before drinking. I wasn't too impressed with these. The orange one tasted like Airborne and the grape one was grape-y, but wasn't even purple!

Salads: orzo with cashews, wheatberry with pumpkin seeds & chinese chicken salad.

Starbuck's shaken lemon passion tea--a tart and refreshing way to cool off.

Dean & Deluca's Super Premium Ice Cream--I actually tried these before summer. Sicilian Pistachio & Californian Strawberry. Both were good, smooth, but I wish there was "stuff" in it.

Ciao Bella's hazelnut gelato--delicious.

Fauchon's cafe latte, milk tea, earl grey ice cream & millefeuille tea. I really liked the cafe latte (black) and milk tea (pink). The earl grey ice cream and millefeuille (gold) tea were just too sweet.











Even though the Fanta shakers were a bomb, A & W root beer wasn't...I hadn't had this in ages! With the heat, I have been craving for fizz and sugar.

These two new beverages from Kirin: Confiture au lait (Milk jam espresso)--creamy delicious and Caramel au lait (salt butter caramel)--if you like salted butter caramels this drink is an interesting, but delicious approach to it.

We've also been eating spicy foods: curry and mabo nasu tofu. When I make mabo tofu, I usually also add some nasu (eggplant) in there. Instant keema curry with ground cashews. 2-curry lunch from Cafe Ata, a cafe in our shopping arcade.

There was also some matcha...bouchee by Kobe Fugetsudo, warabi mochi by Chikujian, matcha yokan by Sasayaiori & matcha latte by Fred's Cafe.

Whew...so, what have you been eating/drinking to keep cool?

p.s. The house right across our lanai is finished. I was shocked to see someone looking out the window one day. The other week, the man of the house and his son came to introduce themselves. They brought a small gift. In Japan, you are supposed to go over to introduce yourself when you are new, but this custom is near obsolete and most people do not know their neighbors.

p.p.s. Oh, remember I sent in my passport for re-newal? Well, I got the new one yesterday, talk about speedy...I think it may rain because my passport was so speedy, but I'm secretly hoping it will snow....

20 comments:

Tamakikat said...

Hi Kat,

looks like your summer is delicious.

That's nice of your new neighbor to introduce themselves.

I've spent the morning preparing for my trip by cooking up what was left in the fridge to put in the freezer.

Now ready to chill out for the rest of the morning.

Have a great time up north.

See you in September.

TK

K and S said...

Thanks Tamakikat! I think we may go south though, no flights up north :(

Have a great vacation, will be looking forward to hearing about it and seeing your pics.

Take care.
Kat

Kathy YL Chan said...

I love all the packaging/bottling of everything - from the drinks to ice cream, especially the ones from Fauchon. ^_^ There's a Ciao Bella gelato stand near my apartment, but I still haven't found the time to visit!

Deb in Hawaii said...

Great photos! Everything looks so good--except maybe the Fanta, although I do like to try new and different drinks. Have you tried the Ciao Bella Raspberry or Passionfruit? They are really good too.

Mama Mia said...

They have the best drinks in Japan! yum!

K and S said...

Can't wait to see what you try, Kathy :)

I should see if the gourmet super has the Ciao Bella raspberry and passionfruit, Deb :)

Most are good, Lina :)

Take care everyone.
Kat

Rowena said...

All of these photos were still hanging around in your camera?! I was doing fine, not drooling over the keyboard or anything, and then I saw the matcha desserts and realized that I was very very hungry.

I think I'll go fry up some spam now. The last can! Good thing I'm going back home :-)

K and S said...

Actually Rowena, I still got a little more...going to post them tomorrow...last can of spam, you are lucky to be going home soon :)

Take care.
Kat

genkitummy said...

Wow! The food and drinks in Japan look so good! Those gelatinous drinks look interesting. There's nothing like it in the US.
In the next few years, my travel plans will definitely include a trip to Japan!

Lore said...

I just had a late lunch and after seeing these I'm hungry again! That mabo tofu look particulary yummy.

2kamuela47 said...

Great photos! Kat you always have the most interesting dishes. Have a great day! Take care!

FranMag said...

So many great looking treats! I remember my college trip to Japan (early 80s) our first stop was an A&W (we didn't have one in Guam so we were pretty excited to see it). Imagine our dismay when they weren't serving Root Beer!! My Japanese friend told me that root beer is not a flavor that many Japanese people enjoy. I wonder if that's changed at all.

K and S said...

Just remember not to come in Summer, Genki, unless you like humidity and heat...

Thanks Lore and Laura!

No, I think they still don't enjoy rootbeer, Fran. When I asked my husband if he would like a rootbeer float, he said, "is that the beer without the alcohol?" and then said, "no". BTW, the A&W on Okinawa has rootbeer :)

Take care everyone!
Kat

Jenster said...

Kat, all those drinks sound delicious, except for perhaps the gelatinous sodas. I imagine they're an aquired taste?

Also, do the sodas in Japan contain sugar or high fructose corn syrup? Most of the sodas in the U.S. now contain the latter (because it's cheaper than sugar) and I can't stand the taste! (It also makes me feel sick if I drink too much of it.) If you want real sugar in your sodas here you usually have to pay more for the premium brands. Hopefully, that's not the case in Japan.

K and S said...

Jenster,
I think those gelatinous sodas are definitely an acquired taste. Maybe it is because I used to drink Coke/Pepsi, but the fruit flavored sodas seem to be sweeter. Anyway, I think the sodas in Japan contain sugar and "fake" sugars like HFCS. Though most have words I can't read on the label, so I should probably stay away from these.

Take care.
Kat

Anonymous said...

Hey Kat,
I'm curious about that Milk Jam Espresso. What is milk jam? Is the drink just a thicker type cafe au lait?

Everything you've been having looks so good!

K and S said...

I am not too sure, Lori, but have a feeling it is similar to Dulce de leche (sp?). I think Milk Jam is the Japanesenglish word for DDL. It was mixed with espresso for a creamy, sweet drink.

Take care.
Kat

K and S said...

I googled around Lori and it is the same as Dulce de leche, a rich caramel made from condensed milk.

Take care.
Kat

Anonymous said...

Interesting, thanks kat! :)

K and S said...

:)

Take care, Lori.

Kat