First day in Japan: Unagi at Narita city

Naritasan Shinshoji

There were a couple of reasons why I decided to take the night flight to arrive in Narita airport in the morning. One was to get tickets for the night train and two because I just couldn't wait to be in Japan. So there I was bright and early in Narita airport. After storing my luggage and getting the tickets for our Hokutosei Tokyo-Sapporo for that night, I decided to make full use of my Japan Rail Pass and head out to Narita city.

Turtle pond at Shinshoji

All the guides for Narita city claimed that unagi is their specialty. Thus, while I wonder through the city on the way to Naritasan Shinshoji Temple. It took only 15 minutes by JR train from Narita Airport terminal 2 to Narita city station. The walk to the temple was fun as I get to see the shops on both side of the street and of course making a mental note on where I should get my unagi lunch.

View of the garden from the main gate

I thoroughly enjoyed the temple and the garden behind it. My Japanese failed me after 5 years of absent use but I felt like I could find my zen again. I wish I could just sit there for ages, but I had to get lunch and get back to collect my travel buddy, let's call her Ginko chan, from the terminal later that same day as she was flying from New York.

The inner garden with small creek, so green and peaceful

I decided to get my unagi lunch from this cute little traditional inn and restaurant operated by a local family. My unagi set consisted of an unadon (unagi on top of rice), bamboo shoots, pickles and clear soup. So simple, so deliciously good. This is what I love about Japanese food. The ingredients are there to enhance the original flavor of the dish, not overpowering it.

The shop from outside

The ladies waiting for customers

My unagi teishoku

Unadon close up

Close up of the soup

The ladies of the restaurants were so hospitable and gracious. It was heavenly. I cherished it more now that I've experience the hellish customer experience in Singapore, where waitress and shopkeepers are just plain rude. When I got in, they greeted me and ushered me in while telling me to sit at the table by the AC as it was hot outside. They gave me tea and set down my meal gently while giving me a warm welcoming smile. Heaven!

Back in Sydney: Japan Withdrawal Syndrome

Meotoiwa (Marriage Rocks), Ise - Mie Prefecture

Tadaima! Back in Sydney after almost a month a way, 7 days in Jakarta and 18 days in Japan. Severely suffering from Japan withdrawal syndrome. I just really wanna go back to Japan. I wasn't ready to leave. Come to think of it I wasn't ready to leave Japan 5 years ago either. Everything there is just wonderful. From the landscape, the culture and of course the food. Food are so affordable and high in quality standard. Again, if I ever have to choose just one cuisine to eat for the rest of my life, it would be Japanese. Side road food, kombini (convenient store) food are just simply good and cheap!

Grade A4 Matsusaka Beef - it simply melts in your mouth *drools

Soy Donut

Anyway, since I just got back yesterday morning and started class last night it'd be some time before I posted all my culinary adventure in Zen Land. I will give you these preview though. These pictures were taken by my friend and host in the middle of nowhere Taki - Mie Prefecture, Chuborama san - click here for his blog.

Akafuku kakigori, Ise - Mie Prefecture

A lone mushroom sprouting out from the moss in Ise Jingu, Ise - Mie Prefecture

P.S. I did find my zen and lots of small but cute serendipities.

Off to Zen Land

Running to Zen land

Do you know where this is?

Sorry for MIA. Exams are done now and I shall be off to J-town and Zen Land. Uber excited. Planned my meals for Japan already. I shall report when I get back. In the mean time, check out my twitter as that's where I'll try to give updates.

Gion-Pontocho area, if you're super lucky then you might just get a glimpse of a maiko san, beware of geisha-wanna-be though...

Fushimi Inari at dusk

Breakfast at Book Kitchen

Book Kitchen really does have books... and you can browse them while you eat. Just don't stain the pages ;)

It's that time of the semester where school is done, but students are restless and stressed out with the impending exams that are yet to be taken. I am one of those students. Headaches and hunger pangs come much more frequently these days and I get a little depressed at times thinking about my exams and how much they weight. Really still not used to the Australian nazi-esque grading system. I miss the American grading system, at least I know what I would be getting and understand how it works.

Mocha, to ward off the cold and the early morning sleepiness

So I decided that I would get some flowers from the Sydney Markets at Flemington to brighten my flat and get some lavender for my bedroom as lavender scent is believed to have calming effect. So I drove to Flemington at 6.30am with my cousin and we went a little bezerk at the cheap flowers there were. She got tulips (2 bunches for $10), I got lavenders (5 bunches for $10), jonquils (2 bunches for $3) and tiny roses (a bunch for $5). Then we head for breakfast. At first we wanted to get pork fennel sausage at Bourke Street Bakery, but the sausage rolls weren't done baking just yet. So we crossed the street to Book Kitchen.

Roast pumpkin omelet on sourdough

I ended up getting the roast pumpkin omelet on sourdough while my cousin ordered bacon and egg roll. Of course I had to order the banana bread with passion fruit butter. The roast pumpkin omelet was a very comforting, or maybe I was just too hungry. But I really did like the roast pumpkin, its a different twist with a soft and sweet taste than the usual ham or other breakfast meat.

Bacon and egg roll with tomato chutney

The bacon and egg roll came out and we were surprised at how big it was. It looked really yummy though. The tomato chutney gave it a gourmet taste. The banana bread... moist, succulent and toasted just nicely. Dollops of passion fruit butter contrast the sweetness of banana bread with fresh tanginess of the passion fruit. I was so full, halfway to my banana bread toast, but I had to finish it... it was too good to be left uneaten.

Banana bread with passion fruit butter

The Book Kitchen

255 Devonshire Street

Surry Hills, NSW 2010

+61 2 9310 1003

Open Mon-Sun 8am-3pm, Plus Wed-Sat 6-9.30pm

Cooking garlic shoots

I have just recently discovered garlic shoots and I love it. It has become one of my favorite vegetables. It's super easy to cook too and especially delicious for stir frying. It's crunchy and sweet, and its fiber! It's also nice to have a home cooked meal on this winter days. Here's my recipe if you're interested.

Ingredients:

1 bunch of garlic shoots - cut in 4 cm length

3 cloves of garlic - minced

100 grams of minced pork (or substitute it with meat/chicken/tofu)

2 table spoon of oyster sauce

2 table spoon of Worcestershire sauce

1 tea spoon of sesame oil

3 table spoon of olive/vegetable oil

1. Heat olive/vegetable oil on a frying pan and enter the minced garlic, still till browned and you can smell the fragrant

2. Put in the minced meat and stir till browned, then throw in the garlic shoots, mix them together

3. Put in the oyster sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and sesame oil in the pan, mix them together. What I usually do is put a the lid on and shake everything to make sure that everything is mixed in together. It also ensures that the meat cooks faster.

Then, just serve yourself a nice meal with freshly steamed rice. Buen Provecho.