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

nuchi gusui part 2

After coming back from our vacation, I was kind of eager to get back into the kitchen to use the produce we got from Mirai Ginoza. Mirai Ginoza is a roadside farmer's market (there are actually a lot of these roadside markets here and there, each showcasing fruits and veggies from their area). Farmers from the area bring their veggies and fruits to sell. The prices were so reasonable, I wished I could shop here everyday!

Dragonfruit was going for about 200 yen each (about US$2), mangoes depended on the size, one was 900 yen (about US$9..okay that wasn't too reasonable...but the aroma was so sweet)!

Okra were longer than my fingers and were 100 yen a package (about US$1). The okra we get on mainland Japan are stubby and cost a little more, plus there are only 10 in a package, the one in Okinawa looked to have more.

Kabocha pumpkins were going for 300 yen a piece (about US$3), I've never seen a whole pumpkin in our markets.

Togan (winter melon) for about 300 yen a piece (about US$3)...for the whole thing! you'll never see this price in the markets on mainland Japan, especially for togan this big and fresh.

After oohing and aahing at everything that they had to sell, I bought some beni-imo (purple sweet potato), 2 for 200 yen (about US$2...not as reasonable as the roadside for 300 yen, but carryable on the flight home) and a pack with 22 shiquasa (I counted), a lime found in Okinawa, for 157 yen (about US$1.57)

With 10 shiquasa, I was able to squeeze 1/4 cup of juice and diluted that with water and added some blueberry honey to make a shiquasa drink for breakfast. (did this two times for two breakfasts, very refreshing.)

Also with some shiquasa (2 to be exact), I used it to make some fig jam (post on that a little later).

With the beni-imo (purple sweet potato), I steamed it. We ate part of it as is and it was really sweet. With the rest, I made a creamy dill dressing and we had beni-imo salad. 1 tablespoon mayo (Best Foods if possible), 2 tablespoons plain yogurt, several dashes of dill...delicious.

With the rest of the King's sweetbread that we got from Nate, I made some french toast for a breakfast and a bread pudding for another breakfast...delicious (thanks again, Nate!)

Did you know that Ginoza has a sister city in Italy? Thought that was pretty cool.

This little guy said it all "watashi wa shiawase" (I'm happy).

nuchi gusui

The Okinawans have a saying "nuchi gusui" literally life's medicine. Eating good food, chatting with friends...

Here are some of the local foods we enjoyed while in Okinawa:

Bukubuku coffee--the Okinawan cappuccino. The original drink is called bukubukucha and is made with barley tea and whipped frothy with a big bamboo whisk. 500 yen (about US$5) at the Ryukyu Coffee in Naha.

Beni-imo mont blanc & chocolate swiss roll--both sweets were topped with a good portion of beni-imo (purple sweet potato) with choice of drink, 550 yen each (about US$5.50) at Kashigoten, Onna-son.

Okinawa zenzai--this is different from zenzai on mainland Japan. It is more like shaved ice with azuki beans. We had this at Aragaki zenzaiya in Motobu, a tiny shop that has only made zenzai for over 60 years! They raised their price from 200 yen to 250 yen (about US$2.50)this year due to oil prices...still very cheap!

Okinawa soba--we had this at Kishimoto soba in Motobu (a few doors down from Aragaki zenzaiya). We didn't hear about this shop through the guide books, we saw the line outside. This shop only serves Okinawa soba in large (600 yen about US$6) and small (450 yen about US$4.50). The pork that they serve on top is so tender and well marinated...delicious.

While staying at a minshuku (like a B&B), Sanyasou in Onna-son, we had dragon fruit salad and mango as well as many delicious local dishes.

Awamori coffee--I think the beans are roasted with awamori (Okinawa's alcohol beverage), gives the coffee a deep, rich flavor. We've also bought awamori coffee from Miyakojima.

Maguro (tuna) caught off the shores of Okinawa. This one was 24 kilos (about 50 pounds?) and was said to be able to feed 300-400 people! The hotel we stayed at had a "show" to watch the chef slice the maguro. They served the maguro for their all you can eat maguro buffet (Satoshi ate this and enjoyed it), 4000 yen (about US$40).

Kuruma-ebi (large prawn) at the Kuruma-ebi shokudo. They are farmed off Yagaji Island, an island near Nakijin. Tendon style 1300 yen (about US$13)--worth it! The tempura was light and crispy. Besides the 2 kuruma-ebi, there was beni-imo (purple sweet potato), kabocha (pumpkin), bell pepper & kakiage (which is a mixture of all sorts of veggies).

For filling out a survey at the Kuruma-ebi shokudo, we got this little package of ebisen (crispy wafers made from crushed kuruma-ebi. These would definitely be good with beer.

We found an acerola farm in Motobu, but were disappointed with the products they had for purchase, most were diluted, you couldn't buy 100%.

We also found a honey producer. The samples were delicious so we bought the ones that were made in Okinawa. (They had others that were blended with honey from China).

There were many un-manned roadside stands. This one was selling these bags of beni-imo (purple sweet potato) for 300 yen each (about US$3)! (How I wanted to buy a bag...or two. Payment was by the honor system.) I decided to look for smaller amounts.

This fried okinawan soba made a great beer chaser.

My relative had given me some of her goya (bittermelon), I shared some with Nate, but the one that I had kept didn't make the week...so I took the seeds home, hopefully I'll be able to grow some for next summer.

"nuchi gusui"....enjoying life IS the best medicine.

american influences

The US military's presence in Okinawa is still quite visible today, even 60 something years after the war ended, they have several bases scattered around mainland Okinawa and you can also see bits of American culture here and there.

For one thing, Spam is readily available here--cheaper than what I pay for at the gourmet supermarket. The day I bought this it was on sale--195 yen (about US$1.95). As well, as corned beef hash 80 yen for a tiny package (about US$.80) and pork and beans 100 yen (about US$1). Oh and some American brands of toothpaste can also be found--I was actually looking for Colgate but bought this Aquafresh, we can get Aquafresh on mainland Japan too.

The drive-inn is still around in Okinawa. Drive up, park and order. They bring the food out and you eat in your car. I had to explain this to Satoshi as it was the first time for him to see this.

Drive-thrus can be seen here and there too. I was fascinated with this Starbucks drive-thru (sorry very blurry). I haven't seen any SB drive-thrus in Osaka.

A & W--we used to have one in Kailua when I was younger, I remember going to one after the 4th of July parade and having the baby burger with a frosty glass of root beer. (If I'm not mistaken they used to have a papa burger, mama burger and baby burger)

Anyway, I ordered the BBQ burger 220 yen (about US$2.20) A burger with an onion ring, lots of chopped onion and BBQ sauce on it. I really miss Southern BBQ sauce!

Satoshi had their Mozza burger (I think it was called this because of the mozzarella cheese in it) 400 yen (about US$4) And of course we ordered onion rings. Free refills for your rootbeer (I don't think mainland Japan has free refills of anything or anything free for that matter).

JEF burger is a Japanese company (JEF stands for Japan Excellent Food), but they have an American style drive-inn system. Their burgers are "healthy". Goya (bittermelon) omlettes in their Goya burger--282 yen (about US$2.82)

Add spam and cheese to the goya burger and get their Nu-yaru burger which means "what is this, exactly?" in Okinawan. 314 yen (about US$3.14)

Deep fried goya (bittermelon)--this stuff was super bitter! 252 yen (about US$2.52)

The portions are American sized. How is this iced coffee I ordered in Urasoe? The cup on the right is the "normal" serving size. This iced coffee was called "tappuri ice" or lots of ice....the cup was 4 times the normal size! 450 yen (about US$4.50)...had to go bathroom every 5 minutes...yikes!

Blue Seal/Big Dip (a subsidiary of Foremost)--you can find ice cream parlors and stands all over Okinawa. They have "okinawan" favorites like beni-imo (purple sweet potato) and goya (bittermelon). But I usually go for the mint chocolate chip as it isn't readily found on mainland Japan. We checked out the one in Chatan. Satoshi had the beni-imo and I had the mint chocolate chip. (260 yen each about US$2.60)

Tacos can also be readily found. Something that isn't seen too much on mainland Japan. An Okinawan version of tacos called taco rice can be found on menus all over Okinawa.

Everyone has their own recipe and style. We tried a taco pilaf (800 yen about US$8) and taco curry (800 yen about US$8) at a cafe in Naha...delicious.

Spam musubi---or pork musubi as their are called in Okinawa can be found in convenience stores all over Okinawa.

I tried two different types: spam, egg and tuna 210 yen (about US$2.10). Good but I was looking for the tuna....only found it at the last couple of bites.

spam, egg and abura miso 200 yen (about US$2). I think abura miso is made from pork fat and cooked with shoyu, sugar and mirin to get a thick miso-like sauce. I enjoyed this one best.

I really enjoyed seeing and tasting these bits of American culture in Okinawa.