Tom Yum Pretz

Tom yum Pretz

If you're a fan of Chicken in a Biskit, savory Pretz, and tom yum, you'll like Glico's tom yum Pretz "breadsticks" made in Thailand.  

Box in Thai

While it isn't like crunching on a bowl of tom yum goong nor very spicy, the salty, lime-sour, and shrimpy flavor hits the target. Blindfolded, one would easily guess the flavor.

Box in English

I didn't realize there were over 75 Pretz flavors. This doesn't even touch upon Glico's other more famous stick snack, Pocky. Intriguing flavors that were available for a limited time, in Japan, or around Asia: nozawana, basil, mapo tofu, potsticker, eel, spicy squid, larb, mentaiko, and sharks fin. Salad is my favorite flavor.

- Cassaendra

Ekiben

You know a country has a hardcore food culture when great meals can be found in trains that are, in all practicality, considered public transportation. In Japan, not only are the trains clean, beautiful, and punctual, a wide variety of well made, mostly healthy, and beautiful meals are available.

On the way to Kumamoto from Hakata, we cheated and bought our ekiben, literally "train meal," at one of several kiosks within the station just before boarding. With a choice of more than 25 different lunches ranging from 400 yen to 2,000 yen ($5-25 US), I am sure to my father's chagrin, it took me 15 minutes to decide. Had we not purchased our meals there, we would have been able to on the train in the dining car or from a cart at our seat.

Staple Japanese dishes are available like chicken or beef bowls; however, the best part about traveling by train is tasting the regional specialties. Each region, large or small, has some kind of specialty whether it is an ingredient, preparation style, or container.

Hakata

My father purchased a beautifully prepared Hakata meal and I picked out a Nagasaki meal. My father had considered the Nagasaki meal but deferred since he was going to travel from Hakata, where we stayed, to Nagasaki by train a few days later, when I would be traveling to Oita.

I'm not well versed in Hakata cuisine, but I recognize mentaiko, spiced cod roe, on the bottom right of his box. Hakata is also famous for their traditionally dressed ceramic dolls, so one is pictured dressed elegantly in a kimono on the cover and along the front strip of my father's box. As such, the meal is elegantly arranged and colorful...considering our meals went vertical a few times despite my best effort to keep them horizontal.

Nagasaki's culture and architecture appears different from much of Japan due to its exposure to Chinese, Portuguese, and Dutch missionaries and traders from its history as a port city. For periods of time throughout Japanese history, foreigners were restricted to the confines of Nagasaki. Nagasaki's Chinatown is more significant historically (15th century) than the Chinatown in Yokohama, near Tokyo, which is the largest Chinatown in Asia -- of course, outside of China.

Nagasaki

My meal included shumai, a Chinese style dumpling with hot Chinese mustard, bottom right. To the left, kashiwa tori meshi -- chicken cooked in sweetened shoyu stock, egg, and nori (seaweed) over rice. The salted grilled salmon hidden behind the decorative greenery was very tasty, and matched very well with the steamed vegetables (lotus, carrot flower, mushroom, and beans).

As I generally adore Japanese tsukemono (pickled vegetables), it was to be expected that I enjoyed the pickled Japanese mustard greens and the very crunchy pink daikon slices. Even the dessert of white kanten and cherry (top right) was just right at a couple of bites.

One of my favorite train meals took place on the way to Takayama nearly 20 years ago. Simmered rice with mountain vegetables were served hot in a ceramic bowl and a bamboo cover. I continue to use this bowl! Each time I use it, I reflect upon the wonderful trip I had.

- Cassaendra

Tsubame line Shinkansen
Hakata to Kumamoto
Kyushu, Japan

Koka

A much anticipated box arrived from a good friend of mine that included one of my favorite foods -- noodles! I tore open the box and discovered packets of Koka brand curry and mi goreng noodles from Singapore. These were high recommended by a local Singaporean while he was there.

The packet

Since we've signed up for Fresh Fork Market (CSA), we always have fresh vegetables and eggs. This was our first week receiving Brussels sprouts, Hungarian peppers, and yellow pattypan squash. Corn and eggs were part of our bag the previous week.  Leftover bamboo shoots and a sprinkle of shichimi togarashi, and I was good to go.

Steamy bowl of yum

The amount of noodles packed was twice as much as expected and not as temperamental as some instant noodles are, with an ample al dente window. For a powder only base, the soup had a rich curry flavor that was pleasing to my palate. Cumin was neither overpowering nor bitter, with a nudge toward the sweet curry spectrum. How fortunate I am to have such a sweet friend! He took great care in transporting this fragile cargo to the US evident by the noodles arriving in perfect condition. (Thank you!)

- Cassaendra

Ikea

We didn't hear the trumpets as we entered Ikea on our second visit like we...I...did on our first visit.  Because we don't have room in our postage stamp place to buy furniture, Ikea is a different store for us -- a place for contemporary, interesting, and/or inexpensive doodads and utensils, and, most importantly, a dining destination.

Ikea sits atop the highest hill in the ~100 acre Robinson Town Centre, a mega shopping mall. Their dining hall is a spacious cafeteria on the second floor, surrounded by two walls of glass and outdoor seating with a gorgeous view. Unfortunately, I didn't think to take a picture.

At the front of the line are self-serve refrigerated cases with plates of desserts, salads, and appetizers, followed by warm items served upon request, then a self-serve salad bar. Cups are given for water and soda at the register.

Beckoning from behind the cold glass door was a beautifully dressed plate of Najad salmon ($4.99), cold smoked and cured with dill, served with lime-marinated root vegetables. Along with a small bowl of salad greens, the substantially thick slices were supple and filling; a perfect traveling lunch that did not weigh heavily in my belly. The vegetables were decorative and didn't add much flavor.

Najad salmon

Bug ordered the Swedish meatball meal ($3.99), which includes mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam. For $1.00, he received another 5 meatballs. The meatballs are firm but not rubbery, evenly textured, and have a spiced and oniony flavor. Lingonberry jam augments the meat with a sweet and tartness that is akin to a bite of a Thanksgiving feast with dressing, gravy, and cranberries.

Swedish meatballs with lingonberry

Apple pie with vanilla sauce ($2.99) concluded our trip to Ikea. The vanilla sauce doesn't have very much flavor just sweetness so it is unnecessary to enjoy the spiced apple pie. On our first visit, the apple pie looked neater, but this was still quite presentable.

Apple pie

A nice incentive at the store is a free meal when $100 is spent. The price of the meal is taken out of the total purchases made.

I am not going to say that the food is "just like grandmother's," but the dishes are tasty and phenomenal for its price point. We don't normally purchase soda, but I had to try the lingonberry soda offered from their drink dispensers. I regret not buying lingonberry syrup so we could make the sweet-tart soda at home.

- Cassaendra

Ikea
2001 Park Manor Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
Tel: (412) 747-0747

Happy Chirashi

'Twas a parcel that arrived from Michael,
A bounty collected whilst Foraging Seattle.

I tore open the package with much exuberance, much glee,
Amongst the booty, a packet of chirashi mix bundled in three.

"What is chirashizushi?" Bug inquired,
I explained, "sushi where deft fingers are not required."
Hot rice mixed with vinegar and mirin are laid out,
Colorful ingredients like egg, roe, and vegetables are scattered about.

A ripple of recognition spread across his face,
He exclaimed, "I'd really like some, post haste!"

Chirashi mix

The directions were in Japanese,
I was washed with a wave of unease.
Not one to waste time, I rinsed some white rice,
Then placed the pot in the rice cooking device.

While the rice was steaming, we walked Akemi,
Bumbling about in the snow like Fargo's Buscemi.
She leaped in the snow, and ran in circles for a bit,
Shivering in the arctic winds, we waited for her to take a...mit.

When we finally made it back to our abode,
The rice cooker was already in "warm" mode.

The mix consisted of some Japanese staples - shiitake and bonito,
Also included were carrots, lotus, kampyo (gourd), and takenoko (bamboo shoots).
Steeped in vinegar, mirin, and shoyu (soy sauce),
The combination may sound strange, but the flavor'll grow on you.

Two steaming bowls of rice were incorporated with the mix.
Appearing watery, I added two more bowls to fix.

Mix mixed with rice

The egg was beaten with a generous pinch of shichimi then fried,
Sliced into strips, they were set aside.

Next, a slice of Spam was chopped into sticks,
Fried 'til crisp, for 5 to 7 minutes.

Spam n eggs

A rehydrated shiitake was squeezed, its juices drained,
Chopped in thin strips, with the crepe they remained.

Shroom n eggs

Atop the colorful and piquant mound,
Crunchy furikake, 'twas crowned.

Chirashi+

The crispy Spam was not forgotten,
Injecting salt and fat to the dish, I know I oughtn't.

Dusted with furikake and droplets of sesame oil,
The Spam was flanked by a bead of sriracha and a Kewpie mayo coil.

Spam + Kewpie + Sriracha = Yum

Preparing this dish was quick and a delight,
Happy chirashi to all, and to all a good bite.

- Cassaendra