Gordon Ramsay at the Conrad Tokyo

I like Japanese food a lot – who doesn’t? Now I haven’t had much experience with British food but I do believe they have some quite interesting dishes. So what better fusion than British and Japanese food?

For those who are interested in this kind of fusion, you are in luck. On the 19th of this month, world renowned chef Gordon Ramsay is going to hold a gala dinner at a restaurant in Tokyo. Named Gordon Ramsay at the Conrad Tokyo, the restaurant is actually co-owned by the chef himself. It opened in 2005 and is Ramsay’s first Japanese restaurant.

The gala dinner is going to be served from 7 pm to 10 pm on the 19th and is purported to have a total of 7 courses. The whole meal is going to be prepared personally by Ramsay and will cost 35,000 yen per person!

Aside from the special gala dinner, the people of Tokyo are set for a treat with Sunday Lunch – a new menu which is based on Ramsay’s famous book “Gordon Ramsay Sunday Lunch.” The offerings will be held on the 19th of April from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm and on the 20th of April from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. Prices for these two events are at 8,800 yen per person.

Where to go? The restaurant is conveniently located on the 28th floor of the Conrad Hotel in Tokyo, which is housed in the Shiodome Building.

Ginjo: The “G” Word

Sake is known all over the world for being one of the most potent drinks that one can enjoy. The national drink of Japan, sake has become popular all over the world. People from other countries who are not really into sake may not have heard about the “G” word but for most Japanese, it only means one thing – the best sake available.

The more expensive bottles of sake in Japan are labeled with “ginjo,” which literally means “brewed with particular care.” This is not to say that the other sake brands are not good, its just that with the ginjo label, you are assured of the best.

What makes ginjo sake different from regular sake? How is ginjo sake made? The big difference lies in the process of polishing the rice grains, which is the main raw material for sake. For ginjo sake, the rice grains are polished over and over again until only 60 percent or less of the grains are left. The reason for this is so that the outer portion can be gotten rid off – this is the part which is heavy on minerals.

Polishing rice grains in this manner increases the quality of the resulting sake but it is also means that more rice is needed to produce the sake. In other words, the more you polish, the more expensive the process becomes. Of course, the polishing is only the start of a long process, many stages of which are unique to the production of ginjo sake.

The next time you want to try this brew, try looking for the “G” word.

Japan goes gaga over mini veggies

There is a growing demand for miniature vegetables in Japan, and sales of these delicacies are booming not just in local stores but also on the internet. Some of the mini veggies that are quite popular in Japanese homes are daikon, cucumber, bok choy and Japanese cabbage.

The vegetables are really considered miniature — for example, a mini daikon is just one half or one third of the size of a regular daikon.

These miniature veggies are particularly popular in homes with few family members and also elderly couples. The size makes it easy to store, quicker to cook and also stays fresh longer in the ref. Housewives particularly like the advantage of quicker cooking times.

In a country that has miniaturized practically everything, vegetables are really not that far behind.

Bake your pizza on your stove

Here’s another product from the school of Japanese “can do” ingenuity.

The Japanese has developed an ongoing love affair with pizza. Many people love the traditional Italian variants but then there are also some who have an affinity for a more decidedly more Japanese tasting ingredient combinations (like squid!). This Pizzeria now allows you to actually make whatever kind of pizza you want from the comfort of your own home. The product is actually a ceramic oven that you can put on your stove burner. No more need for an actual oven and the stone slab to make the crust crispy. This thing does it all and it is quite convenient to use. The small size is also perfect for the cramped Japanese kitchen.

The Pizzeria is being sold by Hakuho-web.com.

You no longer need a huge oven to make pizzas at home. With Pizzeria, a new ceramic oven, you can make hand-made pizza on the stove burner. It is very easy to use. Just put the pizza crust and toppings inside the Pizzeria, set for 300 degrees C and let it do the rest.

A healthier bento box

I’ve always thought of the dishes inside Japanese bento boxes as healthy alternatives to fast food fare. I had this belief that since most of the dishes are stir fried and rarely deep fried then it is a better option.

I was surprised when I read that many people still think that bento meals are not healthy after all. This is especially true of the bento boxes sold at convenience stores. But the Lawson convenience store chain may have heard these comments and have done something about it. The company has recently come out with a bento box that was developed with the help of students at the Kagawa Education Institute of Nutrition.

The newly formulated bento box is said to be much healthier because of the increased use of beans and vegetables. the portions of the healthy food were based on the food balance guidelines set by the health ministry. All branches of the Natural Lawson stores will carry this healthy option.

Food service for athletes

Japanese businessmen have thought up of the perfect way to incorporate their patriotic love for the country and the smarts to take advantage of a niche in order to earn money. The result is a new meal service that caters to athletes in training at training camps and dormitories. The menu for this service put special emphasis on nutrition and dietitians are frequently consulted about it.

D-Athlete Communications started the service back in 2001. The inspiration for the service came when the company’s chairman was requested by a track and field club of a university to provide meals for its training camp. From then on the company’s clients have expanded over the years. Currently, it services 1,500 people in 150 sports clubs in its area — this includes universities and high schools as well as swimming clubs.

Don’t think that you will get the same generic meals though. Since each sport requires different nutritional requirements for its athletes, the company provides a dietitian for each team. These professionals also give seminars on nutrition to the athletes.

This is one more idea that people in other countries should look into. The Japanese can really think out of the box.

Soba machine now sold in Japan

I love noodles. In fact, I love it so much that it is the first thing that I check out in a menu whenever I go eat at a restaurant. I doesn’t matter if it’s Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean or any other cuisine. As long as they have long strips of carbohydrates then I am ordering that.

I particularly love soba noodles. Soba is one of my most favorite Japanese foods. I love how soft and flavorful soba noodles are and how it complements the condiments and additional ingredients included with the dish. Of course, just like with any other noodle, freshly made soba is better than the commercially available dried ones. I know how hard it is to make soba so I was quite delighted to discover an actual soba machine being sold in Japan. Now, anyone can make soba, even at home. The machine will allow a user to make soba in just 20 minutes. The maker, Takara Tomy, designed the machine similarly to Italian pasta machines, meaning it is quite easy to operate. who says you need to be an accomplished soba chef to make soba? Now you can make your own soba!

Triumph unveils My Chopsticks bra

I was watching the news yesterday and thoroughly getting depressed because of all the bad news the anchors were relaying. Fortunately, a light, lifestyle feature followed that lifted up my spirits and also showed how wacky the Japanese can get.

It’s the My Chopsticks bra that was created by Triumph Japan. The funny looking bra actually has sports cups that look like a bowl of rice (on one cup) and a bowl of miso soup (on the other cup). To top it off, the bra has side pouches where chopsticks can be kept. Call it a concept bra, if you will. The My Chopsticks bra really brings home the message that a woman’s breast can really provide nutrition and has a wonderful packaging.

Candy Sushi Recipe

Purists will definitely hate this tip but dessert lovers will love the fushion between western sweets and the Japanese food - sushi. The candy sushi here do not taste anything like sushi but they really are pretty to look at and very delicious too.

Ingredients:
Fruit by the Foot (preferably green)
Mini powdered donuts
Swedish fish
Pull and Peel licorice
Marshmallows
Jelly beans
Strawberry, caramel, or chocolate syrup.

Candy Sushi Version 1:
Place a strip of Fruit by the Foot on your working space.
Place a Swedish fish in the center.
Cut a mini-donut in half and place this on the Swedish fish.
Wrap the ends of the Fruit by the Foot around the fish and donut.

Candy Sushi Version 2
Wrap a strip of the Fruit by the Foot around a marshmallow.
Place the marshmallow on its end.
Cut a jelly bean in half and place it on the marshmallow, inside facing up.
Cut some small pieces of liquorice so that they look like small balls or fish eggs and place them around the jelly bean half.

Candy Sushi Version 3
Using a knife, carefully carve a hole in the middle of a marshmallow.
Thread some liquorice through the center of the marshmallow.
Wrap a strip of the fruit roll-up around the marshmallow.

Recipe compliments of WikiHow.

Harajuku

The fashion lovers mecca of Japan, Harajuku stretches out along the Takeshita Street, or Takeshita-dori. One can get to the plethora of shops and stalls in this area by getting off at the JR Harajuku station of the Yamanote Train Line. From there, you will get inundated with all the clothes, jewelry, and all sorts of accessories that you can find.

Harajuku mainly attracts the younger crowd who fill up the place, especially during the weekend. More often than not, you will also see large flocks of tourists frequenting the place. Different areas in Harajuku stand for different things. Fashion boutiques are best found in Laforet Harajuku while the hub of young designers is Ura Harajuku. Omotesando on the other hand is the place to go for the chic and sophisticated. Whatever your taste may be, you will surely find something to suit you in this fashionable place. At the very least, it will be a feast for your eyes.
[tags]Japan, tourist spots, shopping, fashion, Harajuku[/tags]