Sunday, January 04, 2009

lucci, mochi cream & hatsumode

Yesterday after Satoshi went to work, he picked up some dessert for us. He couldn't decide and ended up getting 8 different flavors of Mochi Cream. Hawaii has a counter in Shirokiya.

Sakura (cherry blossom), Beni-imo (purple sweet potato), Caramel macchiato, Kuromame kinako (black bean powdered soy bean), Zunda mame (soy bean), Blueberry, Cafe au lait and Chocolate.

I took two bites from each and gave Satoshi the other half. They were all really good and blueberry was my favorite.Today Satoshi had the day off, so we went to say our prayers for the New Year. This is called hatsumode. One of the shrines we go to every year holds the god for the feet. We go to this shrine to pray that our feet/legs will be strong enough to carry us through another year. Another temple that we go to is to pray for success, so that the new year will bring success at work.After going to various places to pray, we headed to Ikeda, to try a new Italian place.

Lucci is small and only seats 8 at a counter, but the 20-something year old chef/owner, is very personable and the service is very good.

We both had the lunch A (1000 yen about US$10). This included a salad, your choice of pasta from the specials, dessert and coffee or tea.

I chose the tomato sauce pasta with pancetta and green beans, Satoshi chose the cream pasta with pumpkin. We tasted each others choices and both were very good.

Dessert was a blanc mange (like a pannacotta), flavored with an apple liquer. Not too sweet and just the right amount...I think we'll be back.

Tomorrow everyone goes back to work, hope you have a good week.

Lucci
4-19 Daiwa-cho
Ikeda, Osaka
Phone: 072.752.8380
Lunch 11:00-15:00
Dinner 17:30-23:00
Days off are not decided, call before going

13 comments:

2kamuela47 said...

Hauoli Makahiki Hou! That pasta looks so good and the mochi ice cream is a favorite of mines. Here's to 2009 may it be healthly and happy one! Take care!

K and S said...

Thanks Laura, hope 2009 is a good one for you too :)

Take care.
Kat

Phoebe said...

ooo yum mochi! Some mochi by korean-made mochi are meant to be kept in the freezer as it holds ice-cream. I like the ice-cream but definitely not the thin & hard piece of skin!

Anonymous said...

At Shirokiya I've tried the cafe au lait, sakura, and green tea mochi creams. I liked the green tea one the best...but I think next time I'll give that blueberry one a try! :)

K and S said...

Actually if you let it defrost a bit Phoebe, the outer mochi (rice cake) will get nice and soft.

Ooh, green tea, I'll have to try that one the next time, Lori :)

Take care you two.
Kat

Deb in Hawaii said...

Love the custom of praying at the different temples--especially when combined with good food. ;-) I still have not tried the Shirokiya mochi creams yet although I keep meaning to. The blanc mange with the apple liquor sounds delicious too.

genkitummy said...

Those mochi creams look good. I'll have to stop by Shirokiya when I'm back in Hawaii in April!

K and S said...

Thanks Genki, hope you get to try some when you go back to Hawaii, will be interesting to see what flavors you try :)

Take care.
Kat

K and S said...

I hope you get a chance to try them Deb, I think you will enjoy them.

Take care.
Kat

Kathy YL Chan said...

My mom is obsessed with the mochi creams at Shirokiya! ^_^ I've only had a chance to taste a few, but banana chocolate is my favourite so far :)

K and S said...

I'll have to remember that flavor and see if we have that here, Kathy :)

Take care.
Kat

chimerastone said...

I had mocchi before, there's a shop in Hong Kong which sell them and other Japanese sweets. They come as in bags or can be mixed up like pick and mix.

I like the green tea flavoured mocchi, it looks the same as melon. There's chocolate, red mung beans. Well alsorts. Most definitely going to buy a mixed packet when I go holiday on 25th.

K and S said...

Chimerastone,
Sounds like you will have a delicious time in HK, enjoy!

Take care.
Kat