In Japan!

dinner-011510-1

I'm in Japan! I'll be here for the next three months. I am here primarily for two reasons: My mother is in hospital; and the bento cookbook photoshoot will commence next month. But of course I'll be filing plenty of reports on what I've done, not to mention eaten, here! I'll be taking and uploading photos every day, which you can follow here on flickr.

The photo above is of dinner last night with family - a seafood nabe and a sashimi assortment. Delicious and so simple, and not at all easy (or inexpensive) to recreate properly outside of Japan!

Submitted by maki on 2010-01-15 20:32.
Filed under:  food travel site news japan

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Comments

sushidushi.

15 January, 2010 - 21:14

Sorry to hear about your mother. I do hope that she's all right.

The dinner looks absolutely lovely! I wish I had a ready supply of perfectly fresh fish.

anon.

15 January, 2010 - 22:51

I've been following both blogs for a long time now. Best wishes, I hope your mother will be well soon.

Amy Sherman

16 January, 2010 - 01:33

I am so sorry to hear about your mom, best wishes for her speedy recovery. I look forward to reading more posts from Japan!

maki

16 January, 2010 - 02:33

Amy, sushidushi, anon, thank you for your kind wishes! My mom just had some pretty serious surgery, but hopefully she will recover soon!

yoko

16 January, 2010 - 03:48

Hoping for a speedy recovery for your mom! Your post reminded me that I need to find myself a hot pot like that-- I've been craving yosenabe/nabeyaki udon/something warm and comforting....

Jen @ Tiny Urba...

16 January, 2010 - 04:49

Hope your mom is OK. Looking forward to your posts in Japan. I was just there in April and absolutely loved it.

MochiPan

16 January, 2010 - 10:42

Best wishes for your Mum and I hope she makes a speedy recovery. Feed her lots of good food and make sure she gets lots of rest! That food looks amazing, and I'm very jealous! I spent 9 months in Japan a couple of years ago and I miss it (and the food!) every day!

mariannes

16 January, 2010 - 16:28

Crossing fingers and toes that your mother will be better soon.

One question. Is it easy to be vegan in Japan?

maki

16 January, 2010 - 16:42

Hi mariannes, you might find these two posts useful:

Japan survival guide for vegans

A followup report on being vegan in Japan

mariannes

16 January, 2010 - 18:59

Of course you had already written about it! Thank you!

Folly

16 January, 2010 - 20:34

Having you nearby will surely speed your mother's recovery.

Katie

17 January, 2010 - 04:11

Maki- I'm sorry that your mother is in the hospital, and I'm sure your visit is bittersweet.

In the meantime, try to eke some enjoyment out of revisiting your culinary heritage.

I am really looking forward to your posts on ingredients and Japanese cooking... I think I might be one of your only followers who doesn't want any substitutes for ingredients, so that I can cook the foods as I had them and loved them when I lived in Japan.

All the best.

-Katie

Rei

17 January, 2010 - 06:06

I am sorry to hear about your mother. I hope that she will be in good health again soon, whatever the condition is.

Ellie

17 January, 2010 - 16:04

I hope your mother gets better soon!

Mmm nabe. We had some salmon nabe the other night, made possible by a Japanese grocery store nearby. :)

Kaxxina2

18 January, 2010 - 16:16

PLEASE leave the name of the store/restaurant and price if possible with your pic posts. I'll be in Japan late March-early April and I'm looking for some good eats! :)

maki

22 January, 2010 - 00:52

Well so far, unless someone was taking me somewhere specific I have just followed that old rule of 'go where the locals are' and it's worked out great. Plus, most cheaper eateries have those food samples, or at least photos, of their dishes right out front, which really helps ^_^

Arthur3030

18 January, 2010 - 23:46

Best wishes to your mother.
I'm happy to think you're in Japan for awhile. I hope it refreshes you.

(One day, if you get a chance, please comment on carbon-monoxide dangers of those table-top burners in the picture. I've always wanted one but they make me nervous--even though I know they're very popular in Japan. I have the same issue with the tiny table-top charcoal braziers you see in Japan.)

maki

22 January, 2010 - 00:56

My mother's apartment has a carbon monoxide detector, and her burner doesn't set it off...plus I am pretty sure if there was any danger, in this country where like half the _healthy_ population wear face masks to protect themselves from the potential of getting sick...I'm pretty sure it would be a Huge Deal. So personally I feel safe using the gas-fueled burners. However, you can also find electric or induction burners too...that's what I use back home in Switzerland actually (since gas cooking is virtually unheard of there) and it works great.

Milo

19 January, 2010 - 14:36

Glad to see you're enjoying Japan! Have a look at some Japanese recipes at my site and let me know if you enjoyed cooking them. Bye

JoanneBS

19 January, 2010 - 14:56

Hope your mom is better soon. I'm learning japanese cooking and nabe is one I haven't gotten down yet. I'll have to ask my Japanese teacher to teach me and help me find a pot. THe burner I'm not sure about. Any suggestions? IF I get the gas one, can I use it with the US gas cannisters?

maki

22 January, 2010 - 16:04

You should get a tabletop cooker that you can be sure of getting the right canisters or whatever fuel is used, for. Or, an electric one. There are Japanese tabletop burners sold in the U.S., and the same stores sell the canisters. But, you don't have to go with a Japanese model.

maki

22 January, 2010 - 17:15

You should get a tabletop cooker that you can be sure of getting the right canisters or whatever fuel is used, for. Or, an electric one. There are Japanese tabletop burners sold in the U.S., and the same stores sell the canisters. But, you don't have to go with a Japanese model.

BarbJ

20 January, 2010 - 21:17

Best wishes for you Mother to have a speedy recovery and no complications. It's tough when they get older, good luck to you too.
That dinner looks so yummy!! I've got to get one of those tabletop burners. They sell them here at the local Japanese grocery, not to pricey. Have fun!!

BarbJ

20 January, 2010 - 21:17

Best wishes for you Mother to have a speedy recovery and no complications. It's tough when they get older, good luck to you too.
That dinner looks so yummy!! I've got to get one of those tabletop burners. They sell them here at the local Japanese grocery, not too pricey. Have fun!!

Adair

21 January, 2010 - 18:06

I'm sorry to hear about your mother--I hope that she gets out of the hospital soon!

Was wondering-do you have a recipe for making kimchi nabe? Have been desperately trying to find a good one on the internet, but keep running into a block and there is no way to get the kimchi nabe soup packets where I live.

Good luck with everything!

maki

22 January, 2010 - 00:50

Well the keys to a good kimchi nabe, imo, are:

- use a slightly sour (well aged) kimchi
- use chicken stock (homemade is good, otherwise storebought is fine, even soup stock cubes)
- use belly pork or at least pork with some fat on it, thinly sliced
- try a little sesame oil in the soup

See if these things work for you :)

Adair

22 January, 2010 - 02:36

Thank you! Will try it out. :)

MN

22 January, 2010 - 01:43

Honestly I am NOT following you, but I'm glad you are in Japan now, because I am too -- although only until the 29th, in Shinjuku!

I ate at a small place in Shibuya the other day... I should have taken pictures too.

Michelle_from B...

22 January, 2010 - 09:55

Wishing your mother speedy recovery!!
I love the pictures in your flickr collection from your trip. I'm especially drooling over the bento equipment things. They have so many different designs available, so CUTE! I'm on the Big Island in Hawaii, but we do not have a store with such an assortment of bento gear. Keep the pictures coming coming; or add comments to the new bento gear that is not available in the US. Aloha, Michelle

MN

22 January, 2010 - 11:05

Also, wanted to say again (was in a hurry earier!) that I hope your mother gets better soon. She always looks so cheerful and nice and I like her guest posts. がんばれ！！！

MN

22 January, 2010 - 11:06

Also, wanted to say again (was in a hurry earier!) that I hope your mother gets better soon. She always looks so cheerful and nice and I like her guest posts. がんばれ！！！

ericat

25 January, 2010 - 04:39

Hi there I have been following your blog for the past few years and still enjoy reading your insights and tips :)Can't wait to get my hands on the book!

I recently bought a nabe claypot from MUJI, but then found out that I have to temper it first, which I have no idea how to do so at all :( So it's still sitting in the box while I dream of hot steaming hotpot. Would you be so kind as to offer me some instructions on what to do with a new pot?

Thank you!!!

-erica

Wakkun

25 January, 2010 - 16:45

Hi Maki,

I have not posted in awhile, but coming to read your blog and your pots....feel like I know you.

Just wanted to send speedy recovery wishes to your mom and hope she feels better very soon!

Also hope that your photo shoot goes well! Can't wait to hear about the publication of your new book!

Enjoy your time in Japan!
take care.

missymoo999

31 January, 2010 - 08:08

I hope O-haha san is better soon!
As for a nabe pot,I have to buy a good one soon.a mochi maker too.
Here in NY,I am an acupuncturist/herbalist.
Recently ,I heard of an old TV series called ;
Baian The Assassin .
Its about an acupuncturist in ancient Tokyo(Probably mid Edo period) ,that is also an assassin .
He only takes jobs where the target is a heinous individual and the world is better off with out them.
He's a great doctor thinker.His best friend is also an assassin ,that is a toothpick maker by day.
I find this,hysterical for obvious reasons.There is just one thing about this series I cannot stand.
ALL THESE 2 GUYS DO IS EAT !
There is food ,literally, in every other scene.
My stomach growls through every episode.
(>_<)''''''
Pickled this,and nabe that.Tofu this,ramen that.Sashimi ,yakitori ,kushiage.
But they lllooovveeeee nabe pots.
Shamo ,monk fish,seafood ,eel nabe..

By episode 3, I *had* to make some nabe,or I would implode.

I even did a shabu shabu one night while watching it.I made a yuzu drink with a fresh yuzu to go with it all.
I felt so decadent .Shabu shabu at home. Wooooo.

Cool show,but the food is to die for .
Ack !

Xxoo
Missy

ren

24 February, 2010 - 12:40

Good luck for your mother and oh I love your blog and get nostalgic about Japan that I LOVE!!

niki

20 March, 2010 - 01:38

Hope your mom feels better!