Chez Lénon, a French restaurant in Tsukuba, is one of our favorite places. They always serve wonderful soup, employing the best vegetable in season. Current one cooks 聖護院大根, a big, round-shape horse radish grown mainly in Kyoto. It seems such delicacy be praised and enjoyed more.
good taste
Washed Up
StandardHere are black carrots grown by Tele-farm. Now our refrigerator is full of them, with normal orange ones already stored. They will make a little earlier Christmas gifts for horses, while cooking vegetables is a lot of fun for Mei-Shun as well.
Japanese Culture@wkday
StandardThis Tuesday on the way to home, Mei-Shun dropped in at a branch of 菊廼舎 in Tokyo Station. She reserved specially-designed cans of 冨貴寄, with the symbol of coming 2016 申=monkey, for friends and herself. They are called 年女 or 年男 = people of the year, who were born in the new year symbolized by one of 12 animals. She makes it a rule to send that delicacy to her precious 年女 or 年男, since it seems to bring a good fortune.
365th Step!
StandardIt seems one of great joys allowed only to grown-ups: we enjoyed chatting on Japanese sweets sent from Mei-Shun’s mother after dinner, late at night. Such a style of eating is awful for a good diet? Ah-ha. You are exactly right. Green tea could give damage to a sound sleep? Well, we know they say so. We would see anybody who could be good to us as Jessie, Ariana and Nicki do.
Tea Pillar
StandardIt is believed to be a forerunner of good luck in our country. However, it appears in your cup only when a twig green tea is employed. Many of them are cheaper than non-twig ones, meaning rich people hardly see this message in tea.
Standing in the center.
Tastes Autumn
StandardIt was so shocking for Mei-Shun to see her favorite tea shop closed last year, yet recent finding that they have another branch in Tsukuba made her delighted. As season recommendation, a cup of twig green tea called karigane, meaning song of flying wild geese, was served. Twigs pruned from tea plants are mixed with leaves, giving a bit bitter and refreshing flavor.
Hard or Soft
StandardWhich fruits do you prefer? Mei-Shun does the former while Shin the latter for persimmon, apple, banana, etc. They are all good for morning salad, adding cucumber in one-bite cut. Hot tea, milk and this would make your day energetic.
After 27 Wks
StandardHappy visit to the hospital again for Mei-Shun. Please, Dr. A, take her gratefulness. They have many gingko trees in parking area. That tasty nuts fell on the ground, before pressed under tyres maybe. Such a pity … mottainai. They should be picked up and soaked in water or covered with soil for a while. Not to be stigmatized with that odor.
100th Ohagi
StandardThank you so much, mom. It is the best sweet for us, Mei-Shun and her older sister. Since her anko is rather sweet, we need to control quantity of it for coating a rice ball. Sometimes ohage (=bald ball!) appears in our hands. Well, no problem; tastiness is the most important. You say so, dad?
Golden Wedding Anniversary
StandardMei-Shun’s mother enjoyed making ohagi with her granddaughter for this ohigan (=an equinoctial week). Her loved husband asked his young bride to do it during their honeymoon in 1965. It served therefore the 100th celebration for the couple. Congratulations, dearest daddy and mommy.
meishunkikunoe 