yakiimo is heaven

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Marjorie

It’s warm now as May approaches. So I wasn’t expecting roasted sweet potato (or yakiimo in Japanese) would still be sold – they’re usually around during the colder months. But when we saw a man eating his yakiimo passionately on a bench near the grocery section in Ito Yokado, I also craved for one; which had Mayumi laughing and saying “yappari!” (I knew it!). 😀

Happy me the big ones are available again this time!

Yakiimo is so sweet it’s like candied sweet potato. Roasting it on the stone however, brought out its natural sweetness.

Ah. Love.

Yui had her share of the goodness as well, had it with her oatmeal. Like Mommy, like daughter I think. 🙂

I used to hear yakiimo jingles on speakers attached to the trucks of yakiimo sellers. They’re very seldom seen nowadays and that yakiimo are now more frequently sold in supermarkets. I’d prefer buying the traditional way though albeit Ito yokado probably has the best yakiimo in the region. 😀

on Japanese honesty: Family Mart and my 500yen

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Marjorie

Two weeks ago, we dropped by the Family Mart nearest our place to get something printed (yes, we still haven’t bought our own printer!). Thankfully there was English instruction on the printing machine so I was able to follow through the instructions. Thing is, it was designed that you drop your coin first before proceeding which is unlike other printing machines in malls and techie stores. So it was only after I dropped my 500yen that I learned that the machine can’t print PDF files, only jpeg files. Disappointed, I cancelled my request and with a frown went out the store, my mind working on re-planning our itinerary for the day with my parents as it was heavily dependent on that document to be printed.

Because my mind was preoccupied, I totally forgot about my 500yen coin, still in the printing machine coin slot. When I remembered about my coin an hour after, it was with a pang – it’s gone for good for sure.

I hadn’t thought about it thereafter and only remembered it when my sis in law and I (and yui) again dropped by the convenience store last Tuesday. With a smile, I suggested to Mayumi to ask the staff if they’ve noticed some coin that was left on the printing machine a couple of weeks ago.

The staff had an eager yes for confirmation and without hesitation gave us our 500yen. Wow.

Filipino style sweet spaghetti

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Marjorie

For me, this is perfection. I have so many dish requests in mind that I hope Papa would cook for us during their visit here in Japan but I think I’d be requesting for this one again very soon.

With pork meat, bacon, mushroom and loads of cheese. And sugar.

Glick Grill (Takamatsu)

Posted on January 2, 2013 by goodfoodhunt

And so with the start of the new year is the hope that I’d be able to update this blog more often; “more often” being at least once a month.

Had our first dine out for the year earlier for dinner at the Glick Grill. Set up is like one of those popular family restaurants here in Japan; only, that this is of high end and of course with more class.

Both hubs and I had the meal with roast chicken, pan-grilled tuna (hiding under the paprika in below photo) and deep-fried marinated shrimp on lemon sauce. I love all three, especially the roasted herbed chicken skin (I rarely eat chicken skin as part of dieting) and the shrimp (which reminded me of the way Papa cooks shrimps – which they had for their Media Noche ~drool~). If given the choice however, I wouldn’t have had added the lemon sauce.

We ordered herbed rice with our main dish. I was just expecting the usual herbed rice but was delightfully surprised with what was served us.

It’s reminiscent of the Singaporean Chicken Rice but made EVEN BETTER because it’s Japanese rice and cooked with herbs. I’m limiting my rice intake to only half a cup once a day but I believe I could easily finish four cups of this one. 😀

Tummy has no more room for dessert so I just ordered cafe mocha. No expectations for this one but yet again I was delighted with what was served.

Thanks for the treat Otoosan! 🙂

Wanderlust

Posted on December 29, 2012 by Marjorie

Proof of how much a wanderer I was during my single days stint in Japan – happened to look at a list of famous sites in Japan and I realise I have been to all of them, and other places besides. And no, they’re not located in the same region.

Cicada in Hiroo

Posted on August 5, 2012 by goodfoodhunt

I could easily call this Mediterranean restaurant an old favourite. Their menu is one that would make you come back again and again and again. And well, the fact that it’s a place were i’ve had wonderful memories of get togethers with friends add to the place’ charm.

Honestly, I’m craving for Cicada’s dishes today so much so that I asked Hubs we eat there with Okasan next week when she comes to visit us. I-CAN’T-WAIT. For now and the next few days, I’ll just daydream of these:

Grilled flat bread that goes great with salted olive oil. It’s “bottomless” or for okawari at only 500yen (without tax).

They offer a selection of olive oils – Greek, French, Californian, Italian.

For their Tapaz, these are our absolute favourites:
Spicy Moroccan Crab Cakes

Roasted Calamari stuffed with Prosciutto

For the main entree, Pan-roasted scallops with farro and maitake risotto

Drool. Six sleeps away.

Click here for reservations and access to the place.

On Chocolate Hill

A chocolatey journey, with Yui!

Tag Archives: japan