Gobo to Ninjin no Kimpira – Burdock and Carrot Kimpira

Gobo to Ninjin no Kimpira - Burdock and Carrot Kimpira

At this time of year in 2010, Tomiko and I flew to Tokyo and spent a month staying with our friend for hanami – cherry blossom viewing. Tomiko and I got gobo to ninjin no kimpira – burdock and carrot kimpira – from the supermarkets in Tokyo and ate it on fresh, white rice for breakfast […]

Tsukemono – Japanese Pickles

Pickles are an important part of a Japanese meal. When Meinhilde and I last visited Japan and overstayed our welcome with the very generous mottekurunoda, we ate rice and pickles almost every morning for breakfast. Not your usual North American start of the day! Maybe that’s why I now prefer a savoury breakfast over a sweet […]

Japanese Design: Eiko Ceramics by Eiko Maeda

Little Pink Cup by Eiko Ceramics, Kiku Corner

Eiko Ceramics by Eiko Maeda is a collection of dainty, light, and beautiful pieces that are functional as well as stunning. Not only are the pieces lovely, but the styling and photography really showcase the ceramics themselves. Japanese meals often include a selection of small dishes that contain savoury items such as pickles, vegetables, a bit of […]

Toronto Eats: Lunch at Kinton Ramen

Toronto Eats: Kinton Ramen, Kiku Corner

I love noodles. I am a noodle girl. Hence ramen. Specifically, Kinton Ramen. I walked by often as it was undergoing construction and was intrigued by the gorgeous wood siding storefront, and I finally found time to eat lunch there with some friends. To start, I had the delectable Tofu Furai, a mixture of tofu […]

Matcha Cupcakes with Matcha Frosting

Matcha Cupcakes with Matcha Frosting, Kiku Corner

Now that it is dark and cold, I feel like baking all the time. Bread, muffins, cookies, cakes…and cupcakes. Matcha is a fine grade of powdered green tea, and here Ryan and I incorporated a few tablespoons of precious matcha into rich cupcakes. To increase the matcha intensity, we also added a tablespoon of matcha to […]