Literally meaning the “seasonal division”, Setsubun (節分) is an important Japanese celebration associated with the changing of seasons. Setsubun is traditionally celebrated on the day before the beginning of spring according to the lunar calendar (now fixed to February 3rd as part of the Haru Matsuri or Spring Festival). While it has been marked in many ways […]
food
Eating Italy: A Walking Food Tour in Rome
One of the biggest reasons we couldn’t wait to get to Italy was the food! When we heard about Eating Italy Food Tours and their eating expeditions with local foodie experts, our minds and our stomachs could not pass it up. We’d never heard of Testaccio in our reading about Rome, but as it turns […]
Soccer Fuel: Eating Raw Meat in Turkey
“I need you,” was the very blunt statement presented to Hai as we entered the door. It had come from our host in Şanlıurfa, Turkey, just minutes before we were about to leave again to watch his weekly soccer match. “Our goal keeper has had to go back to his hometown unexpectedly for family reasons. […]
Indonesian Street Food: Pisang Epe
Any trip to Makassar in South Sulawesi (Indonesia) would not be complete without trying the local specialty dessert, pisang epe. Pisang epe is made from lady finger bananas that have been grilled, then flattened in a press and covered with a delicious palm sugar syrup. In addition to the “original” flavor, it also comes in […]
A Taste of Peru: Eating Guinea Pig
One of the intoxicating things about travel is the sight, smell and taste of food. Meandering through smokey alleyways and lively markets, wandering to wafts of deliciousness and stopping at endless street stalls for a sumptuous snack. For us, cuisine is a big part of discovering a country, its culture and people. And we’ll try […]
Soba Making Class
Noodles are a staple in many countries, and loved by many more. It’s fair to say that among the diversity of Japanese food, noodle dishes are right up there when we think of Japanese cuisine. Ramen, udon and soba are all typical dishes that one can find almost anywhere. In fact, it’s so easy to […]
Tokyo’s Super-sized Soft Cream Challenge
A trip to Nakano in central Tokyo will have your expectations of icy treats elevated to a whole new level (literally). Tucked away on the basement floor of geek haven Nakano Broadway, Daily Chico’s super-sized soft serve ice cream cone will challenge even the most avid dessert lover. The store’s “Tokudai Soft Cream” is a […]
Would you fugu?
It may just be Japan’s most celebrated and notorious dish. In the country’s capital, fugu or pufferfish is a seasonal delicacy. Highly sought after in winter when fugu are at their plumpest, Tokyo’s fugu restaurants proudly display the latest bulbous catch in highly-visible tanks. So, what’s so good about fugu? Well, much of the fascination […]
Local Specialty of Mt. Fuji: Yoshida Udon
Japan has so many culinary delights that sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin. “What would you like to order?” “Umm, everything…?” When traveling around this foodie heaven, my advice is to find out the local specialty of the area you’re visiting. Japan has many regional specific dishes that are difficult to find or […]