The Lunch Geisha

Crafts of Japan ::: Kimono designer dresses up iPad using Geisha kimono's

 

Nobuaki Tomita of has created cases for Apple Inc.'s iPad tablet computers made of fabric for kimono sashes worn by "maiko" apprentice geisha.

Read the full article here:

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120105a5.html

 

 

May Wish List ::: SAVONE Plates by Metaphys

 

These very cool and unusual serving plates are new from Metaphys Japan. 

 

 

 

These 'Savone' plates are far from the norm. Like cross-sections of stuck-together bubbles, each porcelain plate has three or four round compartments.

They're ideal for serving meals with lots of different side dishes.

They come in matt black or white, and glossy white.

 

 

Everything can be ordered through the Metaphys website.

www.metaphys.jp/product/product/archives/2011110764.php.

 

Japan's 'Kodomo no Hi' ~ Children's Day

 

 

May 5 is "Children's Day" in Japan, the day to stress the importance of respecting the character of children and promoting their health and happiness. 

On this day Japanese families celebrate Tango-no-Sekku, the Boys' Festival. It is Japan's way of celebrating the healthy growth and development of her young boys.

During this period, throughout Japan, families with boys will hoist beautifully colored Koi-Nobori, carp-like streamers made of paper or cloth. A carp is flown for each son in the family, a very large one for the eldest, the others ranging down in size.

Why the carp you may ask - well, the Japanese consider the carp as the most spirited of fish - full of energy and power to fight its way up swift-running streams. Because of its strength and determination to overcome all obstacles, it stands for courage and the ability to attain high goals. 

 

Families display Kabuto, the traditional Japanese military helmet. It is the symbol of a strong and healthy boy.

 

Koinobori streamers on display in a department store. They come in all sizes.

 

 

 

 

 

The Making of fake Japanese Food for Display - Part 2

 

A great photo of plastic fake food by the blogger of SHIBUYA 246.com

 

Here is a short clip showing how-to make a lettuce leaf out of plastic. It's amazing to see the transformation.

↵ Use original player

Wax Japanese food

By FargoTownie

YouTube

• 360p
• 240p FLV

← Replay

X

i

 

 

BONNE APPETIT!

Healthy & Tasty Lunch Idea ::: Soya Beans in their Pods (Edamame)

 

 

 

 

If you've never heard of 'edamame' beans as they are called in Japan, they are soybeans picked and collected while still young which allows for a tender texture and lighter flavor.

I pack edamame pods in my kids lunch box at least once a week. It goes great with any sandwich or lunch dish. I also serve them as an after school or pre-meal snack.

The simplest way to eat edamame is to boil them, still in their pods, in salted water.

• Bring the water and the salt to a boil in a saucepan.

• Add the edamame and let the water come back to a boil.

• Cook on medium-high for 5 minutes.

• Drain the edamame and rinse with cold water.

Add a generous amount of salt to the boiling water you use and you will impart a lot of flavor.

To eat the pods, hold them lenghtways near your mouth then pinch the outer edge of the pod so the beans split the inner seam and pop into your mouth.

TIP: They can be found in the frozen section in most Asian grocery stores. Although most are precooked, you still have to boil them in salted water as the recipe states above.

 

I hope you try them out. Once you get used to them, you will be hooked ~ and such a healthy and tasty snack!

 

BONNE APPETIT!

 

 

 

 

 

April Wish List ::: Lupicia Tea

 

I discovered Lupicia Teas several years ago while living in Japan. Since then i've tried many of their teas including 'Grapefruit', a black tea scented with Mediterranean grapefruits. Refreshing bitter-sweetness - great for iced tea.

Another delicious tea is their 'Earl Grey - Grand Classic' seen in the picture below. It is an authentic Earl Grey made with Keemun tea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can purchase their teas online at the link below:

http://www.lupiciausa.com

 

BON APPETIT!

 

Tea for Health & Beauty

Why add tea to your health and beauty routine? The Lupicia Tea website says it very well ...

Tea is rich in ingredients that benefit the body, including vitamins C and E, minerals such as fluorine and zinc, and dietary fiber.

Feel younger

Many scientists today believe that drinking a certain amount of green tea fights the effects of aging. 

Beautiful skin

In East Asia, tea is traditionally known to help maintain beautiful skin by increasing its ability to retain moisture. 

Boost metabolism

Japanese academic research has shown that the ingredients in tea may help to maintain lower body fat. 

Read the full article here:

 

http://www.lupiciausa.com/v/static/monthly-magazine/backnumber/0902.html#special 

 

Close-up ::: Tokyo's Plastic Food Displays - A BBC Report

 

The fake food business got its start in Japan in 1917, when the first models were made out of wax, just like the artificial house plants of the time.

Around six years later, a restaurant in Tokyo displayed artificial food to show customers what they had to offer and the restaurant saw a huge increase in revenue. Fake food on display meant more business, and that still holds true today. 

Here is a BBC close-up look at the industry:

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8310560.stm

 

 

Tasty Lunch Treat ::: Quebecois Sucre a la Creme (Fudge)

March is the start of maple syrup season in eastern parts of Canada and the United States. Growing up in Quebec, every March and April would bring us to a local 'cabane a sucre' or 'sugar shack' as they are called in english.

What was most anticipated was eating hot syrup poured atop packed snow. The snow would cool the syrup down just enough to harden the syrup and thus being able to roll it up into a ball on a stick. Hmm, ask anyone in the region, and spring means maple syrup!

Why not treat the special people in your life with a little sweet treat for lunch: maple syrup sucre a la creme.

 

 

A 'secret' family recipe, but super simple to make using the microwave.

Ingredients

1 cup 35% cream

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 - 3 tbsp maple syrup

 

Using a 1000 watt microwave,  mix all ingredients in a large glass bowl (ingredients will swell when starting to heat up). Stir all together. Microwave on high for 6 - 7 minutes depending on the wattage of your microwave. Remove from microwave and stir again. 

Microwave on high again for another 6 - 7 minutes. This time the mixture should bubble. This means it's hitting a high enough temperature. Remove bowl and let stand 1 0 - 15 minutes. ** Be careful as the bowl and mixture will be extrememly hot.

When cooled enough, stir constantly with wooden spatula for 5 - 10 minutes. You should see that the mixture is turning to a lighter color as well as getting thicker and more difficult to stir.

Put wax paper in a 9 inch square pan and let it hang over the sides. Pour the mixture in the pan and let it cool. Cut into squares. 

 

ENJOY - BON APPETIT!

 

 

 

Tasty Lunch Idea ::: Sukiyaki Lunch

 

When it's chilly outside, Sukiyaki, the Japanese dish cooked hot pot style is a nice way to warm up. It consists of meat (usually thinly sliced beef) which is slowly simmered at the table, alongside vegetables and other ingredients, in a shallow iron pot.

It is all cooked in a mix of soy sauce, mirin (Japanese rice wine) sake and sugar. Then dipped in a small bowl of raw beaten eggs which when dipped with hot food, coats the food and gives it a nice taste.

Here though, since we are making sukiyaki for lunch, we'll skip the part about dipping it into raw egg.

What's best about a sukiyaki lunch is that you can have a great meal the night before too. I usually make sukiyaki because the kids eat lots of vegetables this way. A lot more than would be eaten at a usual meal.

 

 

 

 RECIPE

1. Cut the beef into easy-to-eat size pieces. Cut the leek into 1cm wide diagonal pieces.

2. Boil the konnyaku in hot water briefly. Gather it in a strainer and drain the water thoroughly. When it cools, cut it into 3 to 4cm lenghs.

3. Drain the tofu lightly and cut it into eight pieces. Chop off the woody part of the garland chrysanthemum and cut it into 4-5 cm lengths.

4. Combine the mirin, sake, soy sauce and sugar in a bowl and heat the pan. add the beef suet, leek, beef. Pour the sauce, add the konnyaku noodles and tofu.
Simmer for a little time. At last add the garland chrysanthemum and warm up briefly.

5. Serve rice in a bowl and put the sukiyaki on top.

 

Warm it up in a microwave at work or eat it cold. Either way it makes for a tasty lunch.

 

BONNE APPETIT!