About food in Japan

The keywords-of-the-year 2010 (流行語大賞 2010)

A publishing company announced 10 buzzwords as "The keywords-of-the-year 2010"(流行語大賞 2010) last week. Among these ten frequently used words in Japan for 2010, here I introduce two related to "food".

* "Taberu ra-yu" (食べるラー油, chili oil for eating)

Ra-yu(chili oil) is the one we can find at Chinese restaurants and what we put for dim-sum, the most often gyoza (餃子). Normally what we know is hot oil in orange color, simply liquid form, while "Taberu ra-yu" includes full of small pieces of both chili and garlic tips. (as you can see this photo) The oil brings yummy garlic scent that strongly stimulates our appetite!! Apart from those who hate hot and spicy food, everybody have been nocked out by the garlic scent, I guess. Put the oil on top of steamed rice or tofu, salad. If you would like to have something gorgeous, boild pork must be matched well with "Taberu ra-yu". It is rather "for eating" than "for dipping and seasoning". That is the reason of the naming "Taberu ra-yu".

A major food producer Momoya launched their first product in "Taberu ra-yu" category in mid-2009. It captured Japanese people's mind across ages and regions. Seeing the populatlity, a major spice maker, S&B foods followed its rival and introduced thier version of "Taberu ra-yu" in Spring 2010. The war of "Taberu ra-yu" started at that time. The wider people acknowledged the products the more it became wanted. For a while, as soon as bins of "Taberu ra-yu" were placed, they had been quickly run out from the shelves of supermarkets across Japan. Day by day, the phenomenon caught the attention of other food producers and food service companies of course. Now we can see differnt versions of "Taberu ra-yu" by different producers and dishes arranged with the very popular ingredient at Chinese or Japanese casual restaurants. 

Yes, surely it was so popular and is one of the keywords of the year in 2010.

Below the product by Momoya and its rival by S&B Foods.

* "Jyoshi-kai" (女子会, Girls Party)

The word is new but the concept is never new, I believe as a girl or a lady...

The food service industry newly paid more attention on exclusive gathering among girls or ladies recently. They started organizing and offering course menu or package plan targeting ladies only groups called "Joshi-kai", featuring food ingredients particularly appreciated by ladies; good for beauty or help for controling their weight, good visual presentation and tasty of course.

Ladies prefer to try different plates even by small portion for each and they must be price-sensitive... Some can be attentioned on thoese points.

Restaurants competed for Joshi-kai plan each other.  It is good for femal consumers to have more attractive choices. Such girls party or Joshi-kai may be held among femal colleagues for socializing or networking, otherwise simply among groups with same interests, among good friends, as seen in many of other parts of the world. Surely all are relaxing and fun time for ladies

Should we think about boys plan next year?... Yes, maybe.

I am looking forward to finding "the keywords-of-the-year 2011 a year ahead from now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michelin Guide Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe 2011

Michelin published its restaurant guide for Kansai region (Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe) 2011 version on the last friday. Surprisingly 12 restaurants are awarded three stars. The number of 3 star restaurants on the guide is the biggest in the world and even more than one for Tokyo and Paris. Out of 239 restaurants on the guide, 80%  are Japanese restaurants in a variety of categories from Izakaya (居酒屋, casual dining bar), Kushiage (串揚, skewered and fried food) to Kaiseki (懐石料理, upscale sophisticated course).

Kansai region’s capital Osaka is considered more vital Asian-like city contrary to Tokyo cosmopolitan and it is called "the merchant city ". At the same time, it is known for casual dining as an example of Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き, salty pancake). In Kyoto, the ancient city, upscale traditional Japanese restaurants attract dinners for more than a hundred year with the most sophisticated anc delicate ways of cooking skills. Kobe may be known for the Kobe beef by non-Japanese people. The city, just next to Osaka, is a hometown base of wealthy in Kansai. It is natural easily to find fine restaurants there.

Here the list of 3stars restaurant on the Michelin Guide Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe 2011

<Kyoto　京都>

Kikunoi Honten (菊乃井　本店) - Japanese Kaiseki  http://kikunoi.jp/store/

Kitcho Arashiyama (吉兆　嵐山本店) - Japanese

http://www.kitcho.com/kyoto/shoplist_en/arashiyama/index.html

Chihana (千花) - Japanese Itamae cappo (chef's cuisine) http://kyotochihana.com/e/

Tsuruya (つる家) - Japanese http://www.kyoto-tsuruya.co.jp/kyoto.html

Nakamura (なかむら) - Japanese Kyoryori (京料理, Kyoto local cuisine)

    http://www.kyoryori-nakamura.com

Hyotei (瓢亭) - Japanese Kaiseki http://hyotei.co.jp/

Mizai (未在) - Japanese http://www.mizai.net/

 

<Osaka　大阪>

Kashiwaya (柏屋) - Japanese Kaiseki  No official own website http://r.gnavi.co.jp/c158900/

Taian (太庵) - Japanese Kappo No official website

Hajime (ハジメ) - French  http://www.hajime-artistes.com/

 

<Kobe　神戸>

Ca cento (カ・セント) Spanish  http://casento.jp/

Komago (子孫)  Japanese No official website

 

Those Japanese restaurants offers limited number of tables and advanced reservation is strongly recommended. Especially after the publishing of Michelin guide, they might be fully booked for a few months. Please be ready well advance to visit them. Japanese upscale restaurants in general offer only  one or a few courses by price range and no a-la-carte menu. All food provided there are served at the best condition as per the chef's recommandation and well-prepared with fresh, high quality ingredients.

 

 

Related stories in this blog

Koju (小十) - Japanese upscale restaurant, Michelin ***

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2010/04/koju-小十-japanese-upscale-restaurant-michelin-.html

Kaiseki Tsujitome(懐石　辻留）

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2008/08/kaiseki-tsujito.html

LA TABLE de Joel Robuchon - French (Michelin Guide 2010 **)

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2010/08/la-table-de-joel-robuchon-french-michelin-guide-2010-.html

RESTAURANT SANT PAU - Spanish

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2010/03/restaurant-sant-pau-spanish.html

Chinese- Momonoki (桃の木) Michelin 1* (2009)

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2009/11/chinese-momonoki-桃の木-michelin-1-2009.html

French - Les Creations de NARISAWA (Michelin *)

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2009/08/french---les-cr.html

 

Online-culinary classroom for Japanese food

Ms. Elizabeth Andoh recently launched two new websites to provide online-culinary classroom; http://www.washokucooking.com and http://www.kanshacooking.com/ companioned with her two cooking books, "WASHOKU: Recipies from the Japanese Home Kitchen"(washoku / 和食, Japanese dishes) and her newest work just published "KANSHA: Celebrating Japan's vegan and Vegetablian traditions"(Kansha/感謝, in Japanese, a word representing appreciation, especially to nature's bounty).

On these websites, picking up some dishes from her two publishing (with the page number) every five or six weeks, she will post cooking "WORKSHOP" in PDF format with images and information. For both sites, additional information can be found to learn concepts related Japanese traditional food and deeply to know more about Japanese food culture, ingredients or preparation tools. These informaiton and workshops must be valuable for those who are keen to learn Japanese food and cooking culture at profound level.

Ms. Elizabeth Andoh, raised in America, is based in Japan and has provided A Taste of Culture culinary arts programmes "in English" since 1970's. She also works as author and journalist for numerous cooking books, magazines and newspaper articles including New York Times Travel Section.

Related website:

http://www.washokucooking.com

http://www.washokucooking.com

http://tasteofculture.com

 

Related links, Elizabeth Andoh's pubishing works:

To purchase WASHOKU: Recipies from the Japanese Home Kitchen from amazon.com,

please click here.

 

To purchase KANSHA: Celebrating Japan's vegan and  Vegetablian traditions (newly published on 19 October 2010), please click here.

 

 

Tokyo Food Lovers Film Festival at Ebisu Garden Cinema

The first "Tokyo Food Lovers Film Festival" will be taken place during 6th to 12th November 2010. The organizer selected "tasty good" 8 movies from both Japanese and international works. Let's enjoy eating through films with yummy plates and food.

The 8 films to be screened at the film festival include;

* etrip (2009, Japan)

English subtitle will be for the main work of the film festival.

Related story in this blog: eatrip - Movie about food and eating by a Japanese food director

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2010/04/eatrip-movie-about-food-and-eating-by-a-japanese-food-director.html

Official site: http://tokyogohan.com/english

 

* Tampopo / タンポポ (1985, Japan)

Related story in this blog: Taimeiken (たいめいけん) - Tampopo omerice (たんぽぽ オムライス)

Link: http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2010/09/taimeiken-たいめいけん-tampopo-ome-rice-たんぽぽ-オムライス.html

 

* Kamome shokudo / かもめ食堂 / ruokala lokki (2005, Japan) - the story of a Japanese lady who opened a small restaurant in Helsinki.

Official site: http://www.nikkatsu.com/movie/official/kamome-movie/

 

* Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain / Amelie アメリ (2001, France)

 I am sure I do not have to add further explaination about this well-known French movie with Audrey Tautou.

 

* Chocolat / ショコラ (2000, USA)

 

During 6th to 12th November 2010, either of 4 films per day will be played from 11:00/13:45/16:25/19:00.

Time table in Japanese: http://www.kadokawa-gardencinema.jp/yebisu/news.html#20202

 

Ebisu Garden Cinema

Address:4-20-2 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Official site: http://www.kadokawa-gardencinema.jp/yebisu/

 

 

eatrip - Movie about food and eating by a Japanese food director

The movie title represents eat + trip (食べる旅). 

In the Japanese official site of the film, it is described "Life is a trip of eat".

In the English site, it explains about the movie as "contemporary Japanese food culture documentary".

I watched the movie recently and Yes I agree with the expression.

The film is recommendable for people who are interested in Japanese food culture.

By the film director whose original profession is food coordinator, it is depicted well how Japanese people think of food and eating, what kind of emotion they have for food through interviewing various types of people, young, old, men, women, artists, ordinary people, monk, tea school master, in Tsukiji fish market, Okinawa etc. Of course in the film, you will see the scenes of Japanese food and its preparing ways. 

The film has been screened at several international film festivals such as Montreal World Film Festival (2009) and International Festival of Environmental Films in Paris (2009).

For more information, where you can watch the movie, please visit its official website:

English - About the movie click here. 

             The latest news and theater information click here. 

Japanese -http://eatrip.jp

The latest screening outside Japan is in Barcelona next week.

Asian Festival of Barcelona (Spain) official exhibited work
http://www.baff-bcn.org/en/pelicula/emergentes/eatrip
(Local time: 2nd May and 5th May 2010)

Please do not miss watching this movie, when you have a chance in your place

郷土料理（Kyodo ryori, local specialty） - JAPAN'S TASTY SECRETS issued

Local specialty is called as "郷土料理"(kyodo ryori) in Japanese. In north or south, seaside or mountains, we have variety of kyodo ryori by region by region. To introduce such local specialties from farms, mountains or fishing villages in Japan, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries issued a guide book of kyodo ryori in English on June 2009. The 65 pages publication features local specialty of each 47 prefectures in Japan with photo and brief explanation. Many of them are casual food such as noodle, nabe (pot), manju (Japanese style cake) and ones can be seen only in the region.

The book will be distibuted at airports in Japan, Yokoso Japan! booth at internatioanl travel fairs held at major cities in the world.

The electronic version is available on the internet.
To download it, please click here.

Related link:
Rulal Development Planning Commision website (Japanese)
http://www.rdpc.or.jp/kyoudoryouri100/

Begian beer bar - Delirium cafe Tokyo, Japan vs Belgium food, not football, match

Celebrating the friendship football match between Japanese and Belgian international teams, a Belgian beer bar in Tokyo planed "food battle Japan - Belgium", while the sports match was taken place by the same two countries in the same city.

Traditional food from both countries lined up on the special menu list.

The 1st round - Potato
Japanese style fries...? never head about it.

The answer is sweet potato fries

It is rather sweet than salty.
This is neither a traditional nor typical bar snack, but is familier for Japanese as hand-made mum's snack for kids.

I guess, at least, high-fiber sweet potato is healthier food than the traditional Belgium speciality.

The 2nd round - Clam cooked with alcohol

Hamaguri with sake, mussels with beer both are very traditional food.
Mussels should never be missed at Belgian bars.

Please do not leave the soup at the end.
After having all the mussels, clear soup left in the bowl is the second delight from the food. Enjoy the juice from mussels.

The 3rd round - traditional meat dishes
We could not reach to the stage, to be honest...

At the end of the intersting match, Belgian food goes well with Belgian beer not surprisingly, while Japanese food does with sake. I recommend for the next match, when we have, the bar brings sake in order fairly to verify which one is better...

By the way, as for the football game, Japan won against Belgium; the score 4 - 0.

The bar provides selected Belgian beer including 50 kinds of draft brands imported directly from breweries in the origin country.

Restaurant name: Delirium cafe Tokyo
Address: Tokyo Club Kasumi Dining 1st floor, 3-2-6 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Website: http://www.deliriumcafe.jp

Normally it closes on Sunday.

English menu for more hospitality!

This is a good news for non-Japanese people who hesitate to enjoy eating at local restaurants in Toky because of language barrier to understand their menu lists...

This week Tokyo Metropolitan government launched a new tool on its website for restaurants owners. Tokyo, one of the biggest cities in the world, aiming to become a successful candidate for Summer Olympic 2016, is keen to increase reputations for citizen's hospitality to foreign tourirsts.

As one of the measurements to raise the service standard, the governement provides a tool on its official website for small or middle size local restaurant owners who are unlikely to have sufficient language skills to organize their menu lists in foreign languages.
According to the website, by selecting formats, food menu from over 2500 sample, the tool helps with creating menu lists in English, Korean and Chinese (Simplified and Complicated letters). It also allows adding some explanations about Japanese food for those who are not familier with it.

I hope that soon you will see English menu at more restaurants in Tokyo and that you will feel more comfortable to enjoy there!

To go to the news source Tokyo Tourism Info, click here.
The list of menu examples created by the translation tool is here.

Tea or free gift? what you buy...

We are not able to imagine how many kinds of ready-made drinks available in Japan, whether in can or in PET bottle. Beverage makers face severe competition to get space on the shelfs of convenience shops across this country.

To attract both consumers and convenience shop owners, major soft drink producers are likely to attach a packet of small gift to their bottled drink products.

You will find something like this on a shelf of PET bottle drinks. A small plastic bag is hang from a bottle-neck.

The free small gift depends on the target of the drink.

Recently launched the promotion by Lipton must keep attention of Japanese girls and sweets-lovers. It offers original mobile phone charms collaborated with Belgium high-end chocolate shop, Pierre Marcolini. The charmes are in shape of miniature sweets by the chocolate brand; tablet, colourfull ice cream or biscuit..

They really look like real sweets apart from the size.

Yes, the size, as they are to be "a charm for mobile-phone", they are so small to eat

At least they are enough attractive to entertain people who find it with your mobile phone.

 

Related website

Lipton Sweets Collection : http://www.lipton-sweets.jp/

 

Michelin Guide awarded more stars to restaurants in Tokyo

Michelin made clear today the restaurants on the list of Michelin Gude Tokyo 2009 and the number of stars awarded to each one, followed by publishing the book on this friday 21st November 2008.

According to its press release,
- The company expanded its research area to 13 central districts of Tokyo from only 9 districts in 2008.
- One three-star, 14 two-star and 35 three-star are newly added on the list or awarded more stars from 2008.
- Total 227 stars are awarded to restaurants in Tokyo. The number of star given to a city is still the biggest in the world.
-  60% of the restaurants on the list are Japanese ones.
- Two new symbol marks are implemented for retaurants with "interesting sake list" and ones "where guests are required to shoe off".

I found that more restaurants elected are not familier for me and that many of them are Japanese ones. It means that there is still huge extra space for me to discover restaurants in Tokyo!