Beef Achilles Tendon ― 2009/12/02
Boiled Achilles tendons of Japanese beef.
¥149/100grammes at a local butcher specialised in organ meats.
The lowest temperature in
Winter and low temperature remind me of oden (being least useful, I’m not explaining what oden is) or other hotpots. Then these dishes remind me of beef sinew, particularly the Achilles tendon.
Let alone the fabulous taste, the texture of beef Achilles tendons can change dramatically depending on cooking time. When cooked appropriately, you can enjoy the al dente texture, and when slow-cooked, beef Achilles tendons literally melt in your mouth. Plus, Achilles tendon is full of collagen, which means you can get natural skin filler without getting injected. I’m not sure if you can get your lips trout-like by eating beef Achilles tendons, though.
By the way, when I googled with “beef Achilles tendon”, I hit something like ‘dog treat’ or ‘treat for your dog’….am I stealing food from doggies?
Today's Catch - 2009/12/02 ― 2009/12/03
2 wrasses
a goby
Probably this is this year's last catch...
I become at last free to chose what to eat!
Katsuona Leaf ― 2009/12/05
This huge leaf is also called ‘New Year’s leaf’ because in
I cook this leaf in similar ways that I cook spinach.
Boiled Katsuona in soy-souce based dressing is nice, and a stir-fry with a bit of bacon is also delicious. In fact, I prefer this to spinach because of its slightly bitter taste and distinctive flavour. I feel somewhat detoxed after eating this. Don’t you say ‘good medicine tastes bitter’?
Cat Cafe ― 2009/12/07
Cat café is basically a café, of course, plus cats loafing around. The main thing you are supposed to do here is not to have a good cup of coffee, but to stroke the cats.
This was my first time I have ever visited a cat café.
At the entrance I was given a brief induction from the human staff, who looked after both their customer and their feline colleagues Then I was allowed to enter the room where cats were on their duty: having a nap.
I haven’t had such close contacts with cats for a long time. I remembered how it felt when cat’s fluffy hairs got into my nostrils.
The cats were very professional, extremely well-trained and in good temper. They would never, ever scratch you. If they did, their professional pride would be broken so badly that they might commit suicide to save their pride (too Japanese way of thinking?).
Also being professional, their glooming was perfect. Their fur was shinning. No mucus, no earwax. They even got their nails polished.
As a café, you are supposed to order something to eat or drink which were , I think, reasonably priced (compared to other businesses where professional ladies will entertain you) For example, a pot of tea or coffee was ¥350 each (chilled ones were ¥400) .
But you should be prepared to pay extra to stay there and stroke the cats. What would you call this fee? Table charge? or Cat charge? ¥500/30min, ¥800/60min (value set menus are available).
Eating area is outside the ‘cat room’, but you wouldn’t be feeling lonely separated from them. Some of the cats will get out of their ‘workplace’ and sometimes jump to the counter, where you are snacking, or even jump onto your lap or shoulder if you are lucky.
If you prefer well-mannered, beautifully gloomed and touchable cats to lovable but scratching local cats, here is the spot for you.
Today's Cat - 2009/12/08 ― 2009/12/08
An organic-looking cat on the street.
Which type would you like better, the highly gloomed cats in the cat café or cats living without human intervention like him?
Locally Produced Seasalt ― 2009/12/09
This might be the Fukuokan equivalent to your Sel de Guerande. This salt is claimed to be made from local seawater and by a traditional evaporation method. The price, ¥330 (about HK$30, as of 2009/12/09)/100grammes, can compete against the French salt, cant’ it?
I don’t use this posh salt for everyday cooking. To be more precise, I can't afford. Anyway, my taste buds are not so sensitive as to be able to detect any difference (sour grapes, in a way?). I just use it when someone comes around and I want to show off my seisitivity (to what?).
My everyday salt is this, very ordinary salt which is also claimed to be produced from domestic seawater, but in an industrial scale.
¥79/ 1,000grammes
By the way, how could you determine seawater is ‘local’, ‘domestic’, or ‘foreign’? I think there is something called ocean current which brings seawater everywhere….Should I study oceanography?
Appearance Is Not Everything, But... ― 2009/12/10
I’m not going to talk about politics.
I would like you to pay attention to his shoulder.
…Are the white bits on his shoulder dandruff?
I know I have to pay attention to his opinion, but his appearance is so attractive (in many ways, let the white flakes alone) I can’t help watching him rather than listening to him when he says something on TV.
Bread Machine with Rice-pounding Function ― 2009/12/11
¥14,000 (around £92, as of 2009/12/11) at Amazon.jp.com
Bread machines have to have multiple functions in this country.
This machine can not only bake a nice loaf of bread with a variety of flours (rye, whole wheat, etc.) and yeast (either granulated dry yeast or home-grown varieties), but also make pasta dough and mochi, basically sticky rice paste (sounds inedible?) which is one of typical New Year’s foods.
As the year 2010 is approaching, I decided to test my bread machine to see if it could make nice mochi . ..Uh, to be honest, I just wanted to eat some mochi for lunch.
I placed some glutinous rice and water into the pan.
After around an hour, the job was done.
I can welcome the New Year at ease, at least in terms of mochi (though there are mountains of jobs to be done before the end of year, and I haven't finished any of them).
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