dubai chocolate cookie

Tried the Dubai Chocolate cookie by Guilty’s

The cookie was a soft type and I enjoyed their version of the viral Dubai Chocolate...1000 yen (tax included)

This was way better than the dubai style chocolate we tried from Donki.

The cookie had kadayif (finely shredded phyllo) which the viral version has and was super crispy/crunchy, the chocolate was dark

The crunch surprised Satoshi, he enjoyed this

The website said that 1 cookie is over 1000 calories! eep!

I’m glad we tried this and would get it again

10343

Went to Nihonbashi on Thursday.

I wanted to check out the new biscuit shop that Alain Ducasse opened 

In Europe, cookies are known as biscuits. I think in French they are called sables

I purchased the Tablette Biscuit, Graines & chocolat.

The biscuit is chocolate, like a shortbread and has different seeds in it (flax, pumpkin, sunflower) and is covered with 75% chocolate on one side, a little dry and not sweet, love this

They were so nice to wrap up some samples of their other biscuits...Pur Beurre (pure butter), Palet Fin Noisette (hazelnut covered with chocolate) and Biscuit Sarasin (buckwheat)...the two without chocolate are savory, all would be nice with wine.

I also went next door to the chocolate shop and purchased the 75% Mendiant Pistaches Sablees (chopped pistachios)

The pistachios are not chopped, so delicious!

Bummed that the chocolat staff that offered me a sample didn’t wrap it up for me like the biscuit staff did…(I didn’t want to take off my mask to taste the sample.)

And then I walked about 5 minutes to Bakery Bank.

I purchased their curry pan, this was wonderful! Still crispy even after bringing it home!

It was filled to the gills with curry, a little spicy, chunks of meat, even a little crunch from some fukujinzuke, would get this one again.

I also tried their cinnamon roll! this was delicious too.

A little different from most cinnamon rolls, this was flaky and cinnamon-y!

For dinner, I also purchased  their pate sandwich, so I could have it with some wine.

It was cloudy all day and the wind was super fahreezing, but I was glad to be out and about.

guilty's

Made by the same company that made the croongji, I tried yesterday, is Guilty's large cookies...480 yen (tax included)

This one had Lotus biscuits, oreos and marshmallows on top of a chocolate cookie.

The texture was more like cake.

I cut it into three and put the other two pieces in the freezer. 

dunno if I would buy this one again but glad I was able to try it.

seijo ishii homemade sable

Love these shortbread cookies (sable) made by Seijo Ishii.

All butter and no artificial sweeteners 

Glad we got to try these and will definitely buy these again.
 

snackage

Found some new (to me) chocolates from Oh wow! a German maker.

Loved the design and package...these were a little sweeter than I like but I'm glad we got to try these.

Irish maker, East Coast Bakehouse's Granola cookies...so crunchy!

What kind of snacks have you been enjoying?
 

things I don't eat in japan anymore...

You may or may not have noticed that I don't post about certain food stuffs anymore....

like McDonald's...It was a couple of years ago that they apparently found human teeth in the chicken nuggets here...eew!

Mister Donut...a couple of years ago, whenever I had eaten here, the doughnuts were dry and oily...blah

Oreos...the ones they sell in Japan, used to be made in Japan, now they are made in China.

Are there any foods you don't eat anymore?

things I'm liking

Been awhile since I've done a post like this...

Haagen-Dazs' Matcha Opera...bitter green tea ice cream, almond sauce, cookies, a blonde chocolate ice cream and topped with a sweet dark chocolate...nice balance.

Haagen-Dazs' Crisp Chip Chocolate...milk chocolate ice cream with bits of chocolate chips and I think crushed wafers.

Lotte's Chocolate Truffle filled with matcha ice cream and a matcha chocolate sauce...apparently this is only sold at 7-eleven.

Saba (mackerel) sushi wrapped with takana (mustard cabbage) and filled with egg, cucumber, hijiki and crunchy ume...wish I had bought more pieces!

The Loaf's cream stew bread and pannetone.

Since I filled up a certain amount of stamps on my card, I received a drip coffee pack from them.

And I was also able to pick up some of their cheese cookies, will have these with some wine soon!

1st time adding some chocolate syrup to my gingerbread latte, so glad I did! Also am enjoying their cacao nuts.

What are you enjoying these days?

levain

After 46 years Yamazaki, the company that used to make Ritz crackers and Oreos in Japan, parted ways with Mondelez (Nabisco's head company)!

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that the actress who normally advertises for Nabisco, was advertising a different product.

That's when I found out that Nabisco Japan products would not be made in Japan anymore.

I don't know about you, but I grew up with Ritz crackers...so many different comfort foods go well with it.

I also enjoyed the matcha oreos that the Japan factory used to make.

Since they parted ways, Yamazaki recently came out with a new brand called Levain.

Levain crackers are made in Japan, and in my opinion, taste pretty close to Ritz.

While I was bummed that Ritz and Oreos will not be made in Japan anymore, it is still being imported from its new areas of production (China, Malaysia and Indonesia), so you can still find it in the stores.

Still, I'm gonna keep an eye out for Levain and support local.

It's a 3-day weekend here, hope you have a great weekend too.

lunch with friends

Had lunch with S and BFF on Saturday.

We went to The Counter and got there when it opened at 11:00...only to order then wait almost 40 plus minutes for our food to come out...WT?!

Needless to say, BFF's burger did not have the onion rings that her burger was supposed to have.

S's custom burger did not have the avocado that she requested...

Was it an off day? We hope so, but aren't planning to go back any time soon.

S shared some goodies with me...Red Velvet and Fudgy Brownie from Chocolate & Vanilla Bakery in Kaimuki (I want to go back to try their macaron!), Furikake Popcorn from Island Popper (a food truck), a pretty pair of beach glass earrings.

BFF made some delicious brownie cookies.

I'm glad we've been able to keep our friendships going over the years and able to get together while I'm back.

Thanks S and BFF!

Chocolate & Vanilla Bakery
1115 12th Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii
Phone:808.737.2462
Closed Sunday & Monday
Open Tuesday-Friday 10:00-18:00, Saturday 9:00-17:00

Island Popper
@islandpopper on Twitter
Phone:808.391.0238

seed studded anzac biscuits

Monday was ANZAC Day, and while I am neither Australian nor New Zealander, I like ANZAC biscuits, because they remind me of chewy macaroons/oatmeal cookies.

I posted about this many moons ago here.

This time, I tried Nigella Lawson's recipe.

Seed Studded Anzac Biscuits : Nigella Lawson : makes 15

100 grams soft butter
100 grams light brown sugar
2 tablespoons golden syrup
1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda (baking soda)
2 tablespoons hot water
125 grams plain flour
50 grams unsweetened coconut
100 grams oats
25 grams pumpkin seeds
25 grams sunflower seeds
25 grams sesame seeds

Melt butter, sugar and golden syrup
Take off heat
Add hot water to baking soda (it will fizz), add to butter mixture
Combine with dry ingredients
Scoop out and press down flat
Bake at 180C (350 F) for 8 to 12 minutes depending on how chewy or crisp you want your cookies (longer is crispier)

NOTES: I love the idea of adding the seeds! I didn't have pumpkin seeds, so I left it out. I also used black and white sesame seeds. I didn't have golden syrup so I just used kuromitsu (thin Japanese molasses). Also the coconut that I have is sweetened, so I just used that as well. Nigella used sprouted oats, but I used regular oats.

I also cut the recipe in half so I only had 7 cookies.

I will definitely make these again.

It's the start of Golden Week here. We may be off the grid for a couple of days, will talk to you soon!

lee's & scratch

Last year I raved about the transfer system on the bus here.

So far on this trip home, I've ridden the bus twice.

On one of my trips, I stopped off in Chinatown to pick up a custard tart from Lee's.

The price went up from $1 to $1.25, still relatively cheap and still delicious.

And then I stopped into Scratch Kitchen and Bake Shop to purchase this peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie..$2.75

At least they don't make you buy 3 now...loved the amount of peanut butter and chocolate in there, super rich!

Both were great for breakfast.

The weather is still hot and very humid in Hawaii with hurricanes/tropical depressions coming around almost every week...gah!

I've been hearing from friends in Osaka that it is getting cooler in early mornings and evenings, guess Autumn is approaching...

oatmeal chocolate chip bars

From a post that K of Never Turn Down A Cupcake had on her blog, it lead me to Cookies and Cups.

Which lead me to her recipe for Salty Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars.

These were easy to put together.

Salty Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars from "Cookies and Cups"
makes 24 bars

Ingredients
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp coarse sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 3/4 cups flour
2 3/4 cups of old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cup flaked sweetened coconut

How to Make
Preheat oven to 350°.
Line 9x13 baking dish with foil and spray lightly, set aside.
In bowl of stand mixer combine oil, brown sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
Mix in salt, baking soda and flour. Add in oats and mix until evenly combined.
Stir in chocolate chips and coconut (if desired)
Bake for 20 minutes until just set.
Allow to cool before cutting into squares.

NOTES: I cut this recipe in half and left out the salt. Next time I'll add some nuts too. Chewy and soft, they are the perfect snack.

snackage

I started to dip into my "stash" of snacks that I brought back from Hawaii...Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Oreos.

Chocolate and peanut butter cream center...such a wonderful combo!

And the mini version...these are filled with peanut butter cream only but still nice.

What have you been snacking on these days?

things I'm liking

Random things I'm liking...

This bowl for sauce/dressing.

My Twitter friend H sent this to me recently.

It is made by a potter named Shimizu Kumiko, who is with the Maruhachigama in Tamba.

This type of pottery is called Tachikuiyaki. I like the pretty blue glaze. (Thank you!)

Corn Kim chee Fritters.

Fresh corn, some kim chee, edamame, red bell pepper & some onion added to the fritter batter. So easy and so good (with beer)!

Recipe here

Daruma maguro, which is apparently the young version of Mebachi maguro.

This piece was super tender. Slicing it for poke (po-kay) was like slicing butter!

This came from Chiba, it was 189 grams for 752 yen. Not bad for local. I'm not sure if it was caught in Chiba or farmed.

Super fresh!

Andes salt and pepper Doritos...

look how "black" these chips are!

Not sure as to how they got them this black but they are really peppery!

White Belg by Sapporo.

Super fruity with orange peel and coriander.

Mint candies. I know some people hate this combo, but I love chocolate paired with mint.

Summer is pretty much the only time you see this flavor combo here...

Haagen-Dazs' Green Tea & Chocolate ice cream sandwich.

Chocolate wafer with green tea ice cream and a surprise piece of chocolate in the middle...crispy, yum!

Charles VII Biscuits filled with dark chocolate by Maison Fossier.

The biscuits reminded me of Hawaii's creme cracker and are slathered with dark chocolate...nice!

The coconut cookie from City Bakery.

Super chewy with lots of coconut in it...love!

What are you enjoying these days?

snackage

Bonne Maman's Croquants are tiny cookies (maybe an inch round (2.5 centimeters)?!)

I found these at an import market.

What I love is how much coconut they use in these.

They not only use grated coconut but coconut oil as well.

When you open the package the aroma fills the air.

Very flavorful and crisp.

Nice with black coffee or café au lait.

eat this...

Chocolate dipped coconut cookie from Cookie Corner...the cookie is chewy and the coconut adds more chewiness.

The chocolate was a nice addition.

Make sure to have some black coffee too.

sesame shortbread

This recipe caught my eye in the latest "Elle a Table" cooking insert.

It boasted that an oven wasn't needed...after reading through the recipe...um, well you still are using a toaster to "bake" these, which is an oven of sorts.

Adapted from "Elle a Table" : Oyatsu no Jikan Vol 2 : makes 18 or so cookies

50 grams butter, unsalted
25 grams light brown sugar
25 grams almond powder
75 grams flour
17 grams black sesame seeds
2 tablespoons milk (optional)**

Cream butter in a bowl.
Add sugar and beat until it turns whitish.
Add the almond powder, flour and sesame seeds.
Mix with a rubber spatula.
Add the milk.**
The mixture should come together but not be too wet.
Put some plastic wrap on it and put into the refrig for 30 minutes.
After the 30 minutes, put a piece of foil onto your toaster oven pan and with a teaspoon, scoop out balls, roll them briefly in your hands, then place them on the foil and press them a little in the middle.
Take out another piece of foil and seal the cookies as best as you can.
Toast for 15 minutes.
After the 15 minutes, if they are pale, take the foil off and toast some more, watching to make sure they don't burn.

NOTES: Maybe it was me, but after following the directions, I literally had "dust".

So I added some milk. If you don't drink milk, you could probably use soy milk or almond milk.

**if your dough comes together before adding the milk, then leave the milk out.

I guess if you only have a toaster this recipe is good, but I think using the oven would've been faster. Not to mention, I wouldn't have wasted so much foil.

After taking the foil off, I ended up toasting them for 8 more minutes (probably because of the milk).

These were flaky, delicious. I like the nuttiness from the sesame seeds.

I would make these again, but would definitely bake them. Maybe at 350F (180C) for 20 minutes or so.

If you try this, let me know how it goes for you.

coconut sablé ice cream sandwich

The other day while Satoshi and I were at the grocery store, we noticed these coconut sablé ice cream sandwiches in their freezer section.

Since I had bought a package of coconut sablés a couple of days prior, we just bought a 120 mililiter mini cup of Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream.

By the way, the sablés I bought were the same type used in the ice cream sandwiches we saw.

Place 4 cookies on a plate, divide the ice cream between them then cover them with 4 more cookies.

Delicious. The sablés are crisp and coconutty, matching perfectly with the vanilla ice cream.

It's Friday here, hope you have a great weekend!