hodaka beef

Host Mom messaged me the other day whether we would like beef or grapes

I told her whatever she chose we would be grateful to receive

Then she messaged and asked thinly sliced or bite sized yakiniku meat

I told her thinly sliced

So that is what she sent to us

8 beautifully marbled slices of wagyu from Hodaka Beef, a butcher counter in the shopping arcade down the street from where Host Mom and Dad live

with 4 of the slices I made rolled beef with Japanese tartar sauce

I rolled iceberg lettuce and some shiso from the freezer in these

for the tartar sauce I used takuan, rakkyo and shibazuke

the beef was so tender!

then with the other 4 slices I rolled them with iceberg and onions

And used some kalbi sauce

I should've drizzled some sauce as I was cooking this and also served some to dip in

The piece of tallow that came with the beef, I cut and put into the freezer to use whenever I make fried rice

Thank you Host Mom & Dad! we appreciate your kindness

thank you

We received a boxful of grapes from my host mom.

Pione (dark purple) and Shine Muscat (light green)

Thankful for her kindness.

We'll be enjoying this in the coming days.
 

another year & ristorante raffinato

If you were paying attention to some of the comments on yesterday's post, you might have figured out it was my birthday.

Very low key day.

For dinner, I bought some herbed chicken avocado salad and fried shrimp from the department store food floor.

We also had some wine and cheese.

Berry cheesecake from Antenor.

Didn't like the way the guy packed these cakes into the box...they were kinda squooshed in...boo!

(I actually wanted to buy some cake from Rocket or Patisserie a Terre, but they were closed yesterday, will try to get something from them next week...)

Flowers from Satoshi.

Lunch today with my host mom and host brother's wife at Ristorante Raffinato.

Carrot mousse with uni(sea urchin) gelee...so good!

Kanburi (a type of amberjack) salad....loved all the different veggies in there!

Crepe filled with spinach, cheese sitting on top of housemade tomato sauce...simple and delicious!

Hokkigai (type of mollusk) and broccoli risotto sprinkled with bottarga...scorching hot! but super delicious!

Kinoko (mushroom) pasta...earthy!

Wagyu so tender that it melted in my mouth!

Gorgonzola pannecotta and raspberry gelato.

Espresso to end.

There was also a sudachi (type of citrus) palate cleanser between the main dish and dessert.

Everything was delicious and nicely portioned, still, I was so full afterwards!

Appreciate my host-family always treating me like part of their family.

Also thankful for being able to celebrate another year....hope your week is going well!

Ristorante Raffinato
13-15 Shinozuka-cho
Ashiya, Hyogo
Phone: 0797.35.3444
Closed Tuesdays
Lunch: 11:00-13:00, Dinner: 18:00-20:30

yesterday

Yesterday, we got together for my host-brother's wife's birthday.

Usually my host-mom, my host-brother's wife and I go out for lunch, but yesterday, my host-father joined us too.

It was nice as I hadn't seen him in many years.

Lunch was at Minokichi...my host-father had enjoyed eating at their restaurant in Tokyo but somehow yesterday's lunch was a bit lacking (according to him).

We (three) enjoyed the different courses though.

After lunch we headed across the street to Malebranche for something sweet.

I chose their peach cake. This had meringue as well as whipped cream and nice slices of sweet peaches.

Then we went to the food floor to get some omiyage (souvenirs).

My host-mom bought us these tea gelatin sweets from Nakamura Tokichi.

Here it is in a dish...

The weather this week has been so gloomy (humid and gross), so it was nice spending time with my host-family.

I'm grateful we get together at least a couple times a year to catch-up with each other.

Thank you!

Minokichi
Shin Hankyu Hotel Kyoto, B1
Phone: 075.343.5327

Malebranche
JR Kyoto Isetan, 6F
Phone: 075.343.2727

Nakamura Tokichi
JR Kyoto Isetan, B1

kunto no sato

Yesterday, my host mom took me and my host brother's wife to lunch to celebrate my host brother's wife's birthday.

We went across the ocean to Awajishima.

A 150-something year old house refurbished into a tiny restaurant called Kunto no sato.

The wife does the food while the husband is in charge of the soba.

It was a beautiful lunch, too bad that I had a bad case of motion sickness and couldn't eat much of it.

Still, it was nice hanging out with my host mom and host brother's wife.

Happy Birthday, K!

Kunto no Sato
1541 Shitoridoi
Minamiawaji, Hyogo
Phone:0799.46.0522
Reservations only (at least a month in advance)
No children allowed

genti osier

Yesterday, I got together with my host mom, host brother's wife and my host sister for lunch.

It's been awhile since my host sister has been able to join us.

While the food at Genti Osier wasn't too good, the dessert service was nice and it was nice to be able to catch up with everyone over lunch.

My host mom and I also celebrated our birthdays early.

I'm glad we've been able to keep in touch over the years. (Thank you!)

Have a nice weekend!

Genti Osier
2-8-9 Kitano-cho, Ijinkan club Part 2, 1F
Kobe, Hyogo
Phone: 078.231.2815
Closed Tuesdays
Hours: 11:30-22:00

bäckerei biobrot

My host-mom was kind enough to buy this kürbiskern brot (pumpkin seed bread) from Bäckerei Biobrot, a tiny German bakery in Ashiya, for us.

It was such a big loaf, and with the humidity in the air these days, I froze most of it.

This wheat bread is so good!

I love how many pumpkin seeds run through this loaf.

This was perfect toasted and then eaten with a little butter.

Thank you!

Bäckerei Biobrot
14-14-101 Miyazuka-cho
Ashiya, Hyogo
Phone: 0797.23.8923
Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays
Hours: 9:00-18:30

pasticceria amarena

Yesterday I got to meet up with my host-mom and my host-brother's wife for lunch.

We went to Pasticceria Amarena in Ashiya.

They had 3 types of prix fixe menus...one with pasta, one with steak and the other with both steak and pasta.

We were kind of shocked that there wasn't one with a fish choice.

We ordered 2 pasta prix fixes and one with both the steak and pasta (and shared the steak).

Sorry there aren't many photos, I was busy talking and eating...

The meal started out with an amuse bouche...a spoonful of duck and pine nuts (super tasty), the duck really tender!

Next was this pretty salmon terrine.

Loved the grapefruit "salsa".

Then the pasta (we all chose the bacon with truffle and mushrooms). The sauce was a cream sauce, super rich.

And then the steak...super tender with thinly sliced root veggies. Talk about melt in your mouth!

Dessert was from their bakery.

I chose the berry crostata, lots of berries, loved the crust.

My host-mom chose their Sicilia (pistachio mousse and raspberry), super refreshing.

My host-brother's wife chose their Cassata (ricotta cheese mousse with lots of nuts and candied fruits).

It was a late lunch but a really nice gathering. (Thank you!)

Pasticceria Amarena
2-4 Chayanocho
Ashiya, Hyogo
Phone: 0797.35.5516
Closed Wednesdays
Lunch: 11:30-14:00, Cafe 14:00-16:00, Dinner 18:00-21:30
*reservations advised

foodie thursday in maiko

Thursday, I got together with my host-mom and my host-brother's wife for lunch. It's that time of year for our birthdays, so my host-mom took us to a buffet at the Maiko Villa hotel.

The last time we came here was when my host-brother and his family moved from Tokyo to Hyogo...some 10 years ago?!

This buffet was good! You don't have to stand up and go through a buffet line, instead, you order what you want from their menu.

I think we ordered "almost" everything on the menu...

After lunch, we went for coffee on the 14th floor.

It looks out at the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge...amazing views! Too bad the weather was overcast.

Oh, the bouquet up top is what I gave to my host-mom for her birthday, she said she really liked the colors.

It was a nice day, lots of good food and good conversation.

Thank you!

Maiko Villa
Umihotaru (Chinese restaurant)
Key West (14F lounge)
18-11 Higashi Maiko-cho
Tarumi-ku, Kobe
Phone:078.706.3711

p.s. today is the start of the Chinese New Year...Kung Hee Fat Choy!

le plaisir

Even though the typhoon was forecast to pass by our area, yesterday, my host-mom, my host-brother's wife and I met up for lunch, to celebrate my host-brother's wife's birthday.

The skies were grey and gloomy and it was super super humid.

Lunch was at a French restaurant that my host-brother's wife had wanted to try...Le Plaisir.

Located in a tiny building the restaurant is tiny too.

In fact, you need to make reservations to dine there.

We were the only customers the whole time...nice!

Lunch started off with a glass of champagne mixed with raspberry liquer...

(When we ordered this, the chef asked "are you sure? it is a rather strong drink. I've had several people pass out after drinking it...whoa?!) It was delicious!

Next came a sauteed scallop salad on mesclun greens.

The scallops were cooked perfectly and well seasoned. The vinaigrette wasn't overpowering.

The daily fish was a tai (sea bream) that was prepared poêlé style which means "pan fried" this was served with a nice light butter sauce.

The fish was also prepared excellently with a nice crisp skin.

Next came the meat dish...Beef entrecôte aiguillette (thinly sliced beef) with a red wine sauce.

So tender and the sauce was rich.

Perfect with homemade baguette.

Dessert is pictured above. A crêpe filled with homemade vanilla ice cream and topped with caramel and mandarin oranges.

Coffee or tea was also served, we all chose coffee.

Not many photos, but it was a nice leisurely lunch and the food delicious!

I'm happy they invited me to tag along. Happy Birthday, K!

Le Plaisir
2-10-22 Nakayamate-dori
Kobe, Hyogo
Phone: 078.251.0220
Closed Sundays, Reservations only
Lunch 12:00-14:00, Dinner 17:00-22:00

ashiya kitajima

Thursday, I met up with my host-mom & my host-brother's wife for lunch at Ashiya Kitajima.

The chef trained under Alain Chapel and after working here and there, opened his own restaurant 3 years ago.

When the restaurant first opened it was authentic French cooking but has slowly evolved to match the Japanese palate.

The chef also buys local food from the Tamba-Sasayama area.

Lunch started off with this hotaru-ika (blue fire-fly squid) tarte. I liked the flakiness of the pastry and the flavor of the squid.

The assorted seafood and vegetable salad was beautiful as well as delicious.

The dip in the center was served hot and was made from crab meat, kani miso (crab innards) and reminded me of a creamy bagna cauda.

This dip was also nice on the baguette that was served.

I appreciated the server leaving the dip for us to finish with more baguette.

Pea soup was creamy but not thick.

The fish dish was a flounder and a deep fried cod roe.

The fish was perfectly cooked, the skin crispy. I don't really care for cod roe, but this was creamy and delicious.

For my meat dish, I chose honey glazed duck.

The duck from Challandais was moist and I liked the sauce that came with it. I think the sauce had some shoyu (soy sauce) in it because it kind of reminded me of Chinese roast duck.

My host-mom and host brother's wife chose the rump steak, which according to Wikipedia, can mean a different cut in a different country.

Their steak had a Madeira sauce. The meat was super tender and the sauce a little sweet (we shared our main dishes).

Part of dessert was this kumquat tarte, fresh from the oven.

The other part of dessert was this yogurt ice cream.

Presentation looked like this, with custard dots on the top and bottom of the plate and a splash of blood orange cream in the center.

To end was their mini white chocolate macaron and coffee or tea.

It was a delicious lunch and I was happy to be able to spend some time with my host-mom and my host-brother's wife. (Thank you!)

Ashiya Kitajima
2-14 Higashi Ashiya-cho, Excellent Ashiya 1F
Ashiya, Hyogo
Phone: 0797.26.7774
Lunch: 12:00-15:00, Dinner 18:00-21:30
Closed Mondays, 3rd Tuesdays : Reservations Recommended

foodie monday

Monday I met up with my host-brother's wife, Kazumi.

She had been wanting to check out some mexican food, so I suggested we go to Tacos el Nopal in Juso.

Satoshi and I had eaten here previously but in the evening, so I was also interested in seeing what they served for lunch.

Their lunch menu is limited. Choose from 5 entree items. Your meal also comes with guacamole, soup & dessert...1000 yen.

Kazumi chose the en tomatada, two small corn tortillas filled with chicken swimming in a tomato chili sauce and topped with queso fresco.

I chose the burrito, a soft tortilla filled with chicken, beans, rice & cheese.

We shared our entrees with each other and agreed they were both delicious though not spicy at all.

After lunch, Kazumi had some time before having to pick up her son, so we popped into Hamburg, a sweet shop.

I had tried their sweets when they were in Daimaru Umeda, but since the renovation there, they are no longer selling their sweets there.

Kazumi tried their strawberry mont blanc and I had their "strawberry forest"....refreshing!

It was a nice lunch and a great time.

Hamburg
1-12-15 Jusohonmachi
Yodogawa-ku, Osaka
Phone: 06.6308.5570

children's day

Yesterday was Children's Day, a.k.a. Boy's Day so it was nice to be able to get together with my host-family's children.

5 of them ranging in ages from 11 to 3, talk about noisy and fun.

The weather was beautiful, sunny but not too hot.

After our bbq, we had to move because another family was reserved for the spot. I've noticed that Japan often has reserved areas for these types of things, which is good because you can't hog the place for the whole day.

It is good too because all you do is bring your own charcoal, they provide the grill & teppan (iron griddle) and then they take care of your hot coals at the end too.

Anyway, after lunch, we moved to another area of the park and this one was beautiful. The fuji (wisteria) were in full bloom.

The kids (and Satoshi) ran and played until their "batteries" were low, actually only Satoshi's battery was low. While some of us chatted and some of us napped.

It was a great way to spend time with my host-family and get out and about for Golden Week. (Thank you!)

I had no idea the full moon was being called the "super moon" but here is was at about 2-ish this morning.

I must say, it was pretty big and bright.

Hope to get out and about on the last day of Golden week.

jizoya

I think I've told you that my host-brother's wife is a foodie. I'm so glad "all of my family members" are foodies...she gave us this loaf of bread on Friday made by a shop in her neighborhood called Jizoya.

They don't use egg because many children in Japan have allergies to eggs. They do use flour, heavy cream, butter, sugar, salt and water.

The results...a very light almost airy bread.

The texture is like a brioche, rich and delicious. It was delicious toasted with a slather of butter. (Thank you!)

Jizoya
3-2-12 Yuminoki-cho
Nada, Kobe
Phone: 078.841.6230
Open from 11:00 until sold out
Closed Sundays

p.s. you may have noticed a "prove you are not a robot" thingy when you comment, at first I had turned it off because I moderate (look over) the comments before it is published. Then, I noticed many "anonymous" comments started spamming, so I put it back AND will no longer allow "Anonymous" comments, please sign in with an appropriate ID...Thanks in advance for understanding.

le un

Yesterday I met up with my host-mom to celebrate our birthdays.

(Our birthdays are actually in February, but her schedule was crazy last month, so we finally found some time yesterday.)

She took me to a very special place in Suma. This was actually a guest house built by a commerce trader, Nishio Ruizo in Taisho 8 (1919). In 1999, this home was deemed a historical area by the city of Kobe, so no cooking is allowed inside the building.

And in 2007, most of the property was turned into a wedding facility and restaurant, so all of the cooking is done in a building right next to the house.

The property is huge and they give you a tour of the home. The great great grandson still lives on the property and sometimes comes to eat at the restaurant.

The original property was 10,000 sq meters (about 2 acres) and was built on the hillside to take in the views of the ocean. When the Sanyo railways wanted to bring their trains through Suma, they bought some of his land, which unfortunately also allowed people to build condos and block most of the ocean view. (boo!)

I was amazed because even after the big Kobe earthquake in 1995, all of the beautiful stained glass windows and most of the structure was still intact and didn't need repairing.

So, onto lunch...we chose the "B" Dejeuner, my host-mom kindly treated me so I am not sure as to how much it was.

Our lunch started out with some appetizers--an onion soup jellee topped with tomato puree & green pea mousse, a cold miso-garbanzo bagna cauda with veggies, a piece of salmon topped with egg and green beans and a spinach chicken quiche.

The soup was a pumpkin carrot sakura potage topped with an earl grey "cappuccino" foam colored with beets.

This was delicious and unique because you would never think to pair tea with vegetables.

My fish choice was an homard lobster with americaine sauce. I was relieved that they had taken out the lobster "meat" from the shell for me, so all I had to do was eat. Nice generous pieces.

My meat choice was lamb filet with ratatouille and a balsamico sauce.

Very tender pieces with no hint of gaminess.

Dessert was a tea custard, raspberry sorbet & cheese cake.

With coffee we also received some mignardises, chocolate truffles.

This restaurant is apparently very popular and we were surprised that they were full by the time we left! I really liked this meal, the chef uses local fruits and vegetables and cooks "seasonally".

Next to the restaurant is the Suma Rikyu Park, this is also a huge botanical garden.

And the rose garden area is modeled after the Palais de Versailles. Unfortunately, since the weather has been cold, we didn't get to see many flowers.

The weather was kind of drizzly but it was still a great day, lots of catching up, lots of nice food, and it was nice to be able to spend some time with my host mom. (Thank you!)

Le Un
2-4-1 Rikyu Nishicho
Suma, Kobe
Phone: 078.739.7600
Closed on Wednesdays, call for reservations

tommy's

Got a chance to meet up with my host-brother's wife, Kazumi the other day for lunch. She has 3 children all under 10 so for her to get some time for herself is very rare.

Now that her littlest one is in pre-school, she said that she wanted to get together for lunch.

We met up in Kobe and tried an Indian restaurant called Sonarupa. They don't take reservations for lunch so we tried to get there as soon as the place opened.

We both ordered the "Bombay" set 1000 yen (about US$10). This started off with a really flavorful curry soup.

Next came a salad with some chicken tikka (which reminded me of tandoori chicken) and chicken seekh kebab. Everything had just enough spices and was so delicious.

A little dish of their vegetable curry and some freshly made naan.

We had a nice time chatting and enjoying the food. (sorry no photos, was too busy chatting and eating).

Then we walked over to Green House Silva, a cafe near the station.

I visited this cafe back in 2007, and I was surprised I remembered where it was.

We both had decadent chocolatey treats and coffees...and did lots more chatting.

Before Kazumi rushed off to pick up her children from school, she gave me this loaf of bread.

It was from a bakery in Kobe called Tommy's.

This particular loaf had "an" (ahn/sweet bean paste) in it. It was HEAVY!

When cut open, there are many pockets where the sweet bean paste was. The crust was very hard but the inside very soft, fluffy.

The first morning we had this, I sliced this bread thick and toasted it then spread a smidge of cream cheese....yum!

The next morning we had it again with a pat of butter...oh my!

Both ways were definitely delicious. I think the bread itself is a brioche type because it was kind of buttery.

They have various types of this loaf, matcha with sweet bean paste as well as plain.

I heard these loaves are quite popular, next time I'm in Kobe, I think I'll pick up a loaf, if they have any left.

Sonarupa
2-2-9 Shimoyamatedori, Light House 3F
Chuo, Kobe
Phone: 078.322.0252
Closed Wednesdays
Lunch: 11:30-14:00, Dinner: 17:30-21:30

Tommy's Sannomiya
1-31 Kitanagasadori, Kokashita (shopping arcade) 35
Chuo, Kobe
Phone: 078.333.8820
Open: 8:00-20:00 : take-out only