Ready for a summer cookout? I highly recommend giving this tsukune recipe a try. Drizzled with sweet soy sauce, these Japanese chicken meatball skewers are absolutely delicious. They are best on the grill, but you can bake them in the oven too. Tsukune (つくね) are Japanese chicken meatballs that are skewered and typically grilled over […]
THE GOCHISO GOURMET: It’s 5 p.m. somewhere!
July 20, 2023 by Leave a Comment
That means it’s always cocktail time! Since I retired, tracking the day of the week has become somewhat of a challenge mainly because Ms. S is still part of the workforce (though as you read this, she’ll just have 11 more days until she joins me in retirement), and because she works every fifth weekend, […]
Kushikatsu (Kushiage) 串カツ・串揚げ
July 6, 2023 by Leave a Comment
A hugely popular Osaka street food, kushikatsu (kushiage) are skewered meat and veggies that are breaded with panko and deep fried to a golden crisp. Dip in a savory sauce to enjoy! When we were in Osaka one summer, one of the local specialties that we enjoyed most was kushikatsu (串カツ), also known as kushiage […]
THE GOCHISO GOURMET: Obon food memories
June 22, 2023 by Leave a Comment
One of my enduring food memories of Obon season on Maui was consuming chow fun from conical shave ice cups every summer. Although I was raised and primarily resided on O‘ahu, Mom grew up in Wailuku, Maui until she moved to O‘ahu, then Indiana for college. And because she was a teacher, she had every […]
Goya champuru (Video) ゴーヤチャンプルー
June 8, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Okinawa’s most iconic goya champuru is a stir-fry dish with bitter melon, tofu, egg and pork belly. This popular savory dish is a truly rustic yet well-balanced meal to serve with steamed rice and a side of miso soup. Goya champuru (ゴーヤチャンプル) is a popular stir-fry dish that came from the sunny island of Okinawa […]
THE GOCHIO GOURMET: More than just soft and silky
May 25, 2023 by Leave a Comment
I know the first thing people envision when you say tofu is that semi-solid block of soft curdled soy milk. Sometimes it’s served as is with a little bit of shoyu and sliced green onions, sometimes its heated so those curls of shaved bonito slowly dance on the surface of the block and sometimes its […]
Takoyaki recipe たこ焼き
May 11, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Takoyaki, or grilled octopus balls, is one of Japan’s best-known street foods that originated in Osaka. Whether you make a traditional style with bits of octopus or other alternatives, these ball-shaped dumplings are fun to make with your friends and family! Takoyaki (たこ焼き) is a Japanese snack in the shape of little round balls containing […]
Cherry blossom cookies 桜クッキー
April 13, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Celebrate the magic of spring with these crispy and buttery cherry blossom cookies. Topped with edible salt-pickled sakura buds, these cookies are infused with the heavenly fragrance and flavor of Japanese cherry blossoms. Spring in Japan is so beautiful and magical. All the hills and parks are covered with pink and white cherry blossom trees, […]
THE GOCHISO GOURMET: Alternate sandwiches
March 16, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Way back in the 18th century, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, supposedly had his valet place slices of salted beef between two slices of bread so his meal didn’t interrupt his regular marathon card games, thus creating the sandwich. Since then, many iconic variations of that Early (pun intended) sandwich have been created, […]
Ootoya’s Sweet and Sour Chicken (Tori Kurozu-An) 大戸屋鶏と野菜の黒酢あん
March 2, 2023 by Leave a Comment
A copycat recipe of Tori Kurozu-An from Ootoya, this Japanese-style sweet and sour chicken uses black rice vinegar in the sauce to create a deep, malty savory flavor. Sweet and sour dishes from Chinese restaurants are really popular and my children love them whether they are made with chicken or pork. This sweet and sour […]
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