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Hirokos Blog

Hiroko’s Kitchen made it onto CulinaryPrograms.net’s recently completed list of 100 Magnificent Sites for Chefs.

CulinaryPrograms.net says, “We built the list for the next generation of chefs who will soon be entering culinary programs and will need to stay up to date on the latest trends in cuisine, and know how to leverage the internet and other forms of media to get their work noticed. We think your site is a great example of how culinary professionals can use the web to their advantage.”

SHOJIN RYORI – Last Section

Posted on 6:19 PM in Hiroko's Blog

Shojin Ryori: Five Section

Thank you for completing the Shojin Ryori reading. I am writing another Japanese cookbook. The new book explains the philosophy and wisdom of Japanese cuisine, which is the backbone of Japanese preparation techniques, ingredients selection and presentation of the prepared dishes. Shojin Ryori has a profound impact on the development of Japanese cuisine. Of course, the book is full of new recipes. No matter if you are serious or non-serious cook the book nourishes your physical and mental hunger. Stay tuned!

Now I want to share with you a delightful, delicious and nourishing dessert recipe, mineoka-dofu. Mineoka dofu is derived from one of the most popular and ancient Shojin Ryori preparations called goma-dofu. Goma-dofu is prepared by cooking kelp stock and ground sesame paste along with kuzu, arrowroot starch. Monks at Zen temples spend hours grinding sesame into paste, then cooking it to make goma-dofu. During the lengthy and labor intensive preparation time monks performed additional meditation. The recipe given here is a modern piece. This recipe uses milk (but not kelp stock), so the flavor will be very appealing to us. This recipe is from my book, The Sushi Experience.

½ cup brown sugar

¼ cup granulated sugar

2 cups whole milk

¼ cup heavy cream

½ cup white sesame paste

2 tablespoons kuzu (arrowroot starch)

2 cups mixed berries

Make the molasses syrup first with the sugars and 1 ¼ cups water. Or, use already prepared molasses instead.

Mix together in a bowl the kuzu, milk, cream and sesame paste and stir with a whisk. Strain the mixture through a sieve into a medium pot. Place the pot over medium heat and cook 2 to 3 minutes. At this point the mixture becomes sticky. Turn the heat to low and cook additional 20 minutes.

Transfer the mixture into a mold and cool. Cover the mold with a plastic wrap and refrigerate. Before serving divide the mineoka-dofu from the mold into dessert bowls. Garnish the top with the berries. Pour the molasses syrup over the mineoka-dofu.

SHOJIN RYORI – Third Section

Posted on 8:55 AM in Hiroko's Blog

Shojin Ryori: Third Section

Thank you for continuing to the third section.

Last couple or pair who occupies the last double occupancy spot in my November Kyushu tour, 2018, will experience this very special cuisine and philosophy!

When I was brought up – not at all in a monastery – these five teachings were a part of my family’s life, and the lives of everyone we knew. We had no choice as to what we were served at our table. Our mothers prepared meals using ingredients that were given to us by nature, each in its own season. We were taught to offer thanks to everyone, who brought the meals to our table, including the forces of nature, the farmers, the truck drivers, the fishermen and the workers at food stores. Our mothers utilized every part of the ingredients and instructed us not to waste food. Our foods were not necessarily cheap, but were always the highest quality that the household could afford. And the food was always safe to consume. Mothers repeated these five teachings at each meal time to make sure that we were properly satisfied and nourished. Unfortunately, today in Japan highly processed, chemically laden foods are as ubiquitous as in the US. The teachings of the monks and the food practices of my youth should be brought back again to the Japanese as well.

By introducing and practicing in our lives the spirit of Shojin Ryhori that I have described, we can change our attitude towards why we eat, how we eat, what we eat and how to prepare. Here are a few more valuable concepts to add to our practice to complete and complement the spirit of Shojin Ryori.

SHOJIN RYORI – Second Section

Posted on 7:57 AM in Hiroko's Blog

Shojin Ryori: Second Section

Thank you for coming back to the Second Section of the Shojin Ryori.

Dogen, the 13th century Buddhist monk, banned the slaughter of animals for human consumption in belief that killing is an inhumane act that interferes with the training of the monks who meditate in order to attain enlightenment. Shojin means a process of continuous meditation. For Zen Buddhist at the temple throughout the day the time for preparing and consuming meals is one of the important periods of meditation. To the monks meals are not for enjoyment or satisfying hunger, but for sustaining their health, so they can continue to meditate. At each meal monks recite five teachings. This is the essence of that recitation.

  1. We offer great thanks to nature that has brought us food to this table. We offer great thanks to the people who made our meal possible at this table, especially thanks to the monk-cooks who devoted their labor and time to prepare the dishes and to the farmers who produced this bounty.
  2. We reflect to ourselves before consuming a meal, “Do we deserve to receive this meal?”
  3. We do not bring human desires, including greed, anger or other emotions, to the table.
  4. Our meal is medicine for us. Our humble, but balanced meal nourishes both our mental and physical health.
  5. Meal time is the extension of meditation time. As we eat we continue to train ourselves in order to become a better person.

DON’T MISS THIS CHANCE

Posted on 8:59 AM in Hiroko's Blog

A Great Chance to Learn Japanese Cuisine in Six Months! Please read to the bottom. You will find the peak to 2017 program result.

Any chefs who are seriously thinking of learning Japanese cuisine in Japan can apply for a very special program. It is Cuisine and Food Culture Human Resource Development Program 2018, sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan. Application will be accepted from mid-April, 2018 and the program starts in June. Hurry up and do not miss this chance!

Contact Hiroko at hiroko@hirokoskitchen.com for filing application! Dead line is May 15 (Japan time).

Qualification: non-Japanese chef; over age 18 upon arrival to Japan; graduate of culinary schools and/or having experience in working in Japanese cuisine kitchen; having financial ability to support own living in Japan during the program (air fare to/from Japan and accomodations are supplied by the organization during your stay in Japan); be disciplined and respectful; be physically and mentally healthy; having plans to engage in profession that contributes to promoting Japanese cuisine, food culture and Japanese ingredients after completing the program

Program: Consists of Japanese language training, basic Japanese cuisine training and apprenticeship at restaurant at high-end Japanese restaurants in Kyoto or Tokyo

Goal: Chefs who acquired rightful knowledge and skills of Japanese cuisine in the program will promote Japanese cuisine, Japanese food culture and Japan-produced ingredients throughout the world

Financial aid: round ticket airfare; tuitions for the Japanese language school and the cooking school; accommodations; national health insurance expense during your stay in Japan

NOTE: Those who did not complete the program are asked to return all of the expenses paid to the applicant back to the organization.

 

?Screening and Schedule (* Timeline in Japan standard time)

1) 1st Stage; document screening

Deadline of submission of application is at 23:59 on May 15, Tuesday, 2018. Submit the application to nihonshoku@tow.co.jp

Submission items: Application form/face photo, Graduate certificate (diploma) of culinary school (if graduated from culinary school), Copy of passport, Recommendation letter from the present employer, Pledge form, Medical examination report

Applicants who passed the first document screening will be contacted by the organization by 23:59 on May 16, Wednesday, 2018.

2) 2nd Stage: Skype interview

30 minutes Skype interview.  ?Daikon Katsuramuki skill will be judged in this interview.

Final Application results— Visa procedure

The result of 2nd Stage screening will be announced by mid of May, 2018.

Those who passed the 2nd Stage screening will plan to fly in Japan on July 1, Sunday, 2018.

 

?Main Schedule and Training (*subject to change)

July 2, 2018: Opening Ceremony

July 4-July 20: Japanese language lessons at a Japanese language school

July 23-August 31: Study basic Japanese cooking at a cooking school

September 3-February 22, 2019 Individual practical training as a high end Japanese restaurant

February 25: Final Exam Certification of Cooking Skills for Japanese Cuisine in Foreign Countries)

Required to participate in the exam for the Certification of Cooking Skills for Japanese Cuisine in Foreign Countries.

Check out the 2017 program result! https://www.tow.co.jp/program/pdf/program_en.pdf

Best regards,

hirokoshimbo

 

SHOJIN RYORI

Posted on 7:34 AM in Hiroko's Blog

SHOJIN RYORI, BUDDHIST VEGETARIAN CUISINE

It was 2014 when I wrote a piece called, “What We Can Learn from Shojin Ryori in Japan” for Zesterdaily.com. That site was unfortunately closed, and the article is no longer available. So, I am posting the article again on my blog because I want to keep this important message out and available to you. I have divided the article into five separate blog postings, adding some new content to each post, At the end of the fifth post is a recipe. Please make sure to make and enjoy this dish.

First Section: ‘Today we live in a world where many things have gone wrong with the diets of many people. These include inhumanely raised meat and poultry laden with antibiotics and hormones, and mass-made products laced with preservatives and artificial coloring and flavoring agents. Since these foods are cheap, convenient and readily available people may consume too much of them, contributing increasing problems with obesity in the population. These are complex problems with no quick and easy solution, but there is a path that we can take toward a better way of preparing and consuming our daily food.’

This was the lead 4 years ago to the Zesterdaily article. Today I will extend my warning to the emergence of plant and stem cell- based, synthetic protein products as a the latest in the development of artificial “Frankenfoods”. I also note, on the very positive side, that in the past several years the “clean food” movement has driven out many highly processed food products and artificial ingredients from food production.  And reduced and managed use of antibiotics in animal farming has become more prevalent. The “clean food” movement continues to gather momentum and grow.  That is good news for all of us!

‘Let us take a journey to search for the spirit of Shojin Ryori, the venerable Japanese vegetarian cuisine. The ideas behind this vegetarian cuisine were introduced by the Japanese Zen Buddhist monk Dogen in the 13th century after his studies of Zen Buddhism in China. Only monks at the temple followed the strictly vegetarian Shojin Ryori diet; the rest of the population depended on a diet of grains, seafood, legumes, vegetables and fruit. However, the spirit of Shojin Ryori deeply penetrated the lives and dining styles of ordinary people and became the backbone of Japanese food culture – why we eat, how we eat and what we eat.

Please come back to the post next week. You will find the Second section of this article.

Thank you,

hirokoshimbo

Travel Japan – Matsushima and KYUSHU with Hiroko 2018

Posted on 6:53 AM in Hiroko's Blog

Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, is known for its scenic view so the tourists from all over Japan flocks to the area. But, there is one more reason for the popularity. Check the CNN Travel story below!

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/matsushima-bay-japan/index.html

Most importantly; Join me Kyushu in November, 2018. You will stay at very unique and 4 star hotels/inns and experience something which you never dreamed of. The first place where we visit is Kunisaki Peninsula, where the Buddhist culture blossomed at early time (7th Century). It is not Kyoto and is more important than Kyoto. This year Kunisaki Peninsula celebrates 1300th anniversary of Rokugo Manzan culture. We are lucky that we receive special memorial service at this very special year at one of the oldest temples, founded in the mid of 7th century. The service is …….priceless. You won’t know what it means until you join me.

Check out the Trip Overview on my website. You will be the last couple to fill the space. Very special group. Contact me. I will send you more detailed information, including tariff.

I cannot wait traveling Kyushu with you this November!

Hiroko

 

Ashirai Garnish and Grilled Fish in the Japanese Way

Posted on 6:37 PM in Hiroko's Blog

Have you noticed that when you order grilled fish at a Japanese restaurant that the fish is always served with some accompanying condiment: grated daikon and lemon (for oily fish such as mackerel and sardine), pickled turnip, pickled hajikami ginger (ginger with a red stem), pickled cucumber, pickled myoga ginger, sweet simmered broad bean, sweet simmered kumquat to name a few. These garnishes are called ‘ashirai’. All of them serve to refresh your palate while consuming the fish.

The Japanese way of grilling fish does not employ any spices, dairy products or cooking oil. This allows us to produce a dish in which we can taste the very true, natural flavor of the fish. For example, salt grilled mackerel tastes like mackerel – rich, oily and super flavorful. The ashirai for grilled mackerel is grated daikon (and sometimes with lemon). It cleans our palate, making the grilled mackerel dining experience the very best.

Here is a recipe for a classic delicious ashirai that can accompany so many fish simply grilled in the Japanese way

Pickled turnip ashirai:

¼ cup + ½ cup water

¼ cup rice vinegar

3 tablespoons sugar

1 turnip

1 teaspoon salt

 

In a small saucepan add ¼ cup of the water, rice vinegar and sugar. Bring the mixture to a simmer and dissolve the sugar. Turn off the mixture and let it cool.

Cut off the top and the bottom of the turnip. Make closely spaced incisions (depth: 2/3 of the way down the turnip) from right to left on top of the turnip. Rotate the turnip 90 degree and again make closely spaced incisions in the turnip. You are making fine checkerboard-like pattern on the top of the turnip. Cut the turnip into 4 pieces from top to bottom. Add the remaining ½ cup of the water to a bowl and add the salt stirring with a spoon until the salt is dissolved.  Add the turnips in the salt water for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the turnip become tender. Remove the turnips from the water and discard it. Squeeze the turnips gently to remove excess water and place them in the vinegar marinade. Pickle the turnips overnight.

hirokoshimbo

Sawara Yuan-yaki

Posted on 6:36 PM in Hiroko's Blog, Recipes

Sawara can be enjoyed in many preparations including Teri-yaki, shio-yaki (salt grilled), saikyo-miso yaki and yuan-yaki.  All are variations on grilling. “yaki” means grill.

Here is my favorite yuan-yaki recipe:

For yuan marinade mix mirin, sake, usukuchi shoyu (light colored soy sauce), koikuchi shoyu (all-purpose soy sauce) in 1.5 : 0.5: 0.8: 0.1 proportions in a bowl. Add 2 slices of yuzu citrus fruit or lemon if yuzu is unavailable. Marinate the sawara pieces for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the fish pieces from the marinade and put them on skewers. Cook the fish in the salamander or broiler about 10 minutes. Towards the end of cooking paint the fish several times – on both sides – with the remaining Yuan marinad.

hirokoshimbo

Spanish Mackerel, Sawara and Cooking Tips

Posted on 9:19 AM in Hiroko's Blog

You may have had sawara (Spanish mackerel) sashimi or sushi at a Japanese restaurant and remember its rich and sweet flavor. Sawara is a seasonal fish which is wild-caught during winter and early spring. The other day I had the chance to purchase a wild-caught in Florida, very fresh, 3 pound sawara at New York’s Citarella food market.

Sawara in Japanese literally means ‘narrow body’. The long, slender, but round body allows this fish to be one of the fastest swimmers in the ocean – up to 62 miles per hour.

Sawara belongs to the mackerel and tuna family, but its color and flavor are very different. The flesh is white and the flavor is neither too fishy nor “metallic-tasting” like tuna. Sawara has mild natural sweetness. Sawara is a voracious fish with a larger mouth full of saw-like teeth. The fish loves feasting on sardines and Pacific pike. Oh,… and that’s why sawara tastes so good.

To prepare sawara in the kitchen a chef must have good knowledge of its freshness and of proper handling since it was caught. Sawara loses its freshness soon after being removed from the water. This is why sawara is not a sushi restaurant regular, but only appears occasionally.

For anyone who plans to cook sawara at home, here are some tips;

  1. Purchase the freshest fish (a whole fish, not fillets is recommended) at a reputable fishmonger
  2. Sawara is watery fish and the flesh is very soft; when you fillet the fish please handle it with care.
  3. In order to remove excess water from the flesh and firms it up, after filleting salt it (use a salt quantity equal to 3-5% weight of the fish) and let it stand for 10 to 15 minutes. You will soon see that the fish is covered with its own exuded water.
  4. After the salting period place the fish on top of paper towel and cover the top with another paper towel while gently pressing to remove the salty water. Or, you may quickly rinse the fish under cold tap water and wipe dry.

I will post the Yuan-yaki recipe next.

hirokoshimbo