Japanese Food Thread - Preparing for our Trip
Apr 7th, 2013, 03:28 PM
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Japanese Food Thread - Preparing for our Trip
I've been experimenting with Japanese ingredients. Tonight I prepared a salad of grilled teriyaki steak with broccoli, roasted red peppers and soba noodles. Don't know how authentic it is but I did make "real" teriyaki sauce with Japanese sake and served the dish warm. I have also recently use miso in a dish and have made my own dashi stock. I have had to order most of the ingredients for these things on line. Does anyone have suggestions for other dishes to try?
Regarding restaurants, we have many in our area that offer sushi, tempora or grilled meats. I've seen that in Japan restaurants generally specialize. Jeane does not care for sushi or sashimi (what's the difference?) but she can deal with tempora and it is likely that she would be fine with restaurants that specialize in teppenyaki (grilled meats and vegies). Kaiseki restaurants where multiple courses are served as part of a set menu also seem like they would work for us. Could we expect this type of food at an upscale ryokan? Anyway, I am looking for more ideas on what to look for and where Jeane and I would be happy experimenting.
Finally, we like to snack during the day. We prefer to avoid a big sit-down meal at lunch. This saves us time and helps us watch our weights. Any suggestions on the best way to snack in Japan?
I am sure as the "experts" respond, I will have more questions...
Regarding restaurants, we have many in our area that offer sushi, tempora or grilled meats. I've seen that in Japan restaurants generally specialize. Jeane does not care for sushi or sashimi (what's the difference?) but she can deal with tempora and it is likely that she would be fine with restaurants that specialize in teppenyaki (grilled meats and vegies). Kaiseki restaurants where multiple courses are served as part of a set menu also seem like they would work for us. Could we expect this type of food at an upscale ryokan? Anyway, I am looking for more ideas on what to look for and where Jeane and I would be happy experimenting.
Finally, we like to snack during the day. We prefer to avoid a big sit-down meal at lunch. This saves us time and helps us watch our weights. Any suggestions on the best way to snack in Japan?
I am sure as the "experts" respond, I will have more questions...
Apr 7th, 2013, 06:56 PM
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Hi Craig. You're absolutely right -- it should be no problem to find places that serve more than sushi (piece of fish on top of rice) and sashimi (piece of fish - no rice). In your ryokan as well, raw fish may make up one course of your meal, but there will be many other additional courses that Jeane will be able to eat.
As for lunches during the day, there are many healthy options to choose from: ramen, soba, barbecued eel, even western-style sandwiches.
One of the sites we used to find restaurants is: http://www.bento.com/tokyofood.html
A restaurant we enjoyed: Syoutaien (in Ginza). 03-6274-5003. Great place for wagyu beef. They do not speak English, but they have an English menu.
We found the food in Japan to be some of the best in the world. I hope you find the same!
As for lunches during the day, there are many healthy options to choose from: ramen, soba, barbecued eel, even western-style sandwiches.
One of the sites we used to find restaurants is: http://www.bento.com/tokyofood.html
A restaurant we enjoyed: Syoutaien (in Ginza). 03-6274-5003. Great place for wagyu beef. They do not speak English, but they have an English menu.
We found the food in Japan to be some of the best in the world. I hope you find the same!
Apr 8th, 2013, 02:52 AM
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Many people have a light lunch a lot of the time, myself included. Actually, I skip it completely quite often. Ryokan breakfast and dinner are substantial, and Beniya Mukayu is outstanding. Shall I tell them Jeane (or both of you) don't eat raw fish? The will happily accommodate.
During the day if I'm hungry I usually eat fruit or bread. Convenience stores are everywhere and sell lots of junk, but also fruit and salads.
There are so many restaurants everywhere you will be spoiled for choice. Every style and price range. Italian, French and Indian are popular. Sushi is popular but by no means the majority at all. Noodles shops outnumber sushi shops by far. Yakitoriya and izakaya are cheap and good.
No way will you not find good food. I'm sure you'll enjoy!
During the day if I'm hungry I usually eat fruit or bread. Convenience stores are everywhere and sell lots of junk, but also fruit and salads.
There are so many restaurants everywhere you will be spoiled for choice. Every style and price range. Italian, French and Indian are popular. Sushi is popular but by no means the majority at all. Noodles shops outnumber sushi shops by far. Yakitoriya and izakaya are cheap and good.
No way will you not find good food. I'm sure you'll enjoy!
Apr 8th, 2013, 06:32 AM
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My problem is that I am allergic to MSG. I find that pre-prepared sauces, soups, etc, almost always have MSG. I will find something to print out before I go to show restaurant staff, but I wonder if you have any ideas for me, Kim (or others). I'm guessing that teppenyaki places will be ok, though I will likely have to be cautious with sauces there as well.
Apr 8th, 2013, 06:57 AM
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Sashimi = raw fish
Sushi = a dish containing rice which has been prepared with sushi vinegar.
There are many types of sushi. The one(and only a few of them)that Jeane dislikes is known as nigiri sushi or more directly probably the seafood variety such as toro nigiri(ahi tuna),ebi nigiri(shrimp), tako(octopus), uni(sea urchin)and the likes. Learn your sushi and by all means do not get the impression that all sushi is fish and rice like 99% of all people in the western world do. See here for the various types of sushi, all of which are "oishi" in Japan.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2038.html
I think I've mentioned this before but the inari sushi, small and simple is my favorite which is why I like to visit that little town of Inari(Inari Taisha) just two stops south of Kyoto on the JR Line.
Kathie, Kim will have a better, more pleasant way to say it in Japanese but we have found(and can only remember at the time) that any version of "Ajinomoto kinjiru kudasai" works all the time for us literally meaning in my slaughtered Japanese/English "MSG is forbidden please". If no one speaks any English and they start wagging there head and try to explain something to you in Japanese, then start to realize that this place cannot accommodate your no MSG tastes and start with plan b.
Aloha!
Sushi = a dish containing rice which has been prepared with sushi vinegar.
There are many types of sushi. The one(and only a few of them)that Jeane dislikes is known as nigiri sushi or more directly probably the seafood variety such as toro nigiri(ahi tuna),ebi nigiri(shrimp), tako(octopus), uni(sea urchin)and the likes. Learn your sushi and by all means do not get the impression that all sushi is fish and rice like 99% of all people in the western world do. See here for the various types of sushi, all of which are "oishi" in Japan.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2038.html
I think I've mentioned this before but the inari sushi, small and simple is my favorite which is why I like to visit that little town of Inari(Inari Taisha) just two stops south of Kyoto on the JR Line.
Kathie, Kim will have a better, more pleasant way to say it in Japanese but we have found(and can only remember at the time) that any version of "Ajinomoto kinjiru kudasai" works all the time for us literally meaning in my slaughtered Japanese/English "MSG is forbidden please". If no one speaks any English and they start wagging there head and try to explain something to you in Japanese, then start to realize that this place cannot accommodate your no MSG tastes and start with plan b.
Aloha!
Apr 8th, 2013, 07:10 AM
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Craig, remind the ryokan upon check-in of your likes and dislikes in food and they will try to accommodate. We have had mixed results doing this because Linda does like all types of seafood and I like very little seafood and more chicken, pork and beef. We now have a deal that we will not say we don't like anything at check-in as Linda will eat all the seafood, raw or cooked and I will eat all the meats, raw or cooked and it works out well. If we tell them at check-in of our specific wants, it usually(not always)turns out that they will honor the requests of the male(I love Japan) than the female for some reason and always only serve meat and no fish for Linda. All that said a ryokan in the Beniya Mukayu category will cater to your specific wants especially when told of ahead of time by Kim.
Aloha!
Aloha!
Apr 8th, 2013, 09:17 AM
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Natto is Japan's answer to Vegemite.
Pork is especially good in Japan. Katsu-don (fried pork over rice, usually with an egg and some sauce) and especially ton-katsu (deep fried pork with a sweet and/or tangy sauce, usually served with thin-sliced cabbage) can be amazingly good. At some top-notch ton-katsu places, you'll have a choice of several types of pork, and you can get it marbled (rosu) or lean filet (hire). Lordy, lordy, it is good.
Pork is especially good in Japan. Katsu-don (fried pork over rice, usually with an egg and some sauce) and especially ton-katsu (deep fried pork with a sweet and/or tangy sauce, usually served with thin-sliced cabbage) can be amazingly good. At some top-notch ton-katsu places, you'll have a choice of several types of pork, and you can get it marbled (rosu) or lean filet (hire). Lordy, lordy, it is good.
Apr 8th, 2013, 10:06 AM
#14
One thing I enjoyed in Kanazawa that I haven't found in the US was okonomiyaki (at Konatsu - great mushroom salad, too). I also enjoyed eating at izakaya places - informal with food grilled on sticks - I ate a lot of chicken livers at them. Not elaborate, or expensive, maybe lunch for you?
Apr 8th, 2013, 01:02 PM
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You can only grab the raw fish off of Jeane's plate. She thinks you will get worms. I actually like it (just the raw fish, not the worms).
Deep fried dog though is not an option...
Deep fried dog though is not an option...
Apr 8th, 2013, 01:57 PM
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No raw fish for Jeane - noted.
MSG is a bigger challenge. Sometimes, no often, it's used in the salt so no one is really aware they are using it. No one really thinks about it as it seems like in Kanazawa only we have issues with it. My husband gets a pounding heart and a headache.y face turns bright red and my heart rate increases to running rate. Hence, we try to avoid it. Akinomoto no arerugi arimasu node ....hairenai de kudaasai..and people get the point. (I have an MSG allergy so...please don't put it in). But in reality it's already there many times. You just won't get the final finishing touch. We've found that we can't eat cheap - ramen, yakitori (plain is ok), set lunches, prepared foods in convenience stores, even Japanese foods have it in
sometimes great quantity.
To eat and avoid MSG I tend to frequent known places, a little more upscale so the food made not from a retort pouch. I don't usually drink the soup noodles are served in - too often it's laden with MSG. Packages snacks almost all have a healthy dose of it so stick to fruit, veg, and fresh breads. Gyoza will not be your friend. Those lovely Inari sushi - careful - some are soaked in liquid containing MSG to make them delicious (and some are not!). If you are sitting in yakitori and see them sprinkling the skewers with salt and pepper - it's 99% likely to be a mixture containing MSG. Ask them not to use it. See where I'm going? High quality fresh food. There are places that Are reasonable and great. And there are places that are a bit exoensive and great.
Now after I typed all that I'm going to tell you not to worry! The criteria you use at home for choosing restaurants generally works here.
MSG is a bigger challenge. Sometimes, no often, it's used in the salt so no one is really aware they are using it. No one really thinks about it as it seems like in Kanazawa only we have issues with it. My husband gets a pounding heart and a headache.y face turns bright red and my heart rate increases to running rate. Hence, we try to avoid it. Akinomoto no arerugi arimasu node ....hairenai de kudaasai..and people get the point. (I have an MSG allergy so...please don't put it in). But in reality it's already there many times. You just won't get the final finishing touch. We've found that we can't eat cheap - ramen, yakitori (plain is ok), set lunches, prepared foods in convenience stores, even Japanese foods have it in
sometimes great quantity.
To eat and avoid MSG I tend to frequent known places, a little more upscale so the food made not from a retort pouch. I don't usually drink the soup noodles are served in - too often it's laden with MSG. Packages snacks almost all have a healthy dose of it so stick to fruit, veg, and fresh breads. Gyoza will not be your friend. Those lovely Inari sushi - careful - some are soaked in liquid containing MSG to make them delicious (and some are not!). If you are sitting in yakitori and see them sprinkling the skewers with salt and pepper - it's 99% likely to be a mixture containing MSG. Ask them not to use it. See where I'm going? High quality fresh food. There are places that Are reasonable and great. And there are places that are a bit exoensive and great.
Now after I typed all that I'm going to tell you not to worry! The criteria you use at home for choosing restaurants generally works here.
Apr 8th, 2013, 03:59 PM
#20
For snacks, you can't go wrong with the combis (convenience stores like 7-11, Lawsons, etc). They usually have all sorts of prepared food and interesting snacks. They even sell cups of ice, if you're like me and like your soda really cold!
