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So you’re heading to the Land of the Rising Sun. Japan, where gluten-free rice reigns supreme.
Easy peasy gluten-free. Right? Depends if you’re a glass half full or empty sort of person.
Let’s start with sushi:
Fresh fish is fine.
Japanese sticky rice is gluten-free (and absolutely delicious!)
Miso soup is served with most Japanese restaurant meals. Miso is sometimes gluten-free. (Miso is made of... Read Full Article89 |
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ScheduleFlirting with the oldest temple in Tokyo (Sensoji) is Kappabashi-dori. The street crammed with specialty stores serves culinary professionals, home cooks and foodies from abroad. (No special invites needed.) Restaurants all over Japan rely on Kappabashi-dori vendors to provide them with plastic food. Yes. Plastic replicas of what a restaurant serves are often showcased. After getting my fill of gawking at the expensive fake soba and... Read Full Article90 |
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Japanese dorayaki pancakes are my go-to when traveling in Japan. The golden almost-cake pancakes filled with red bean paste are perfect for breakfast on the go. Dorayaki are inexpensive, wrapped beautifully and easily slipped into a purse or backpack.
Usagiya in Tokyo is where you’ll find premium dorayaki. (Their doors have been open from 1940. You know they're doing something very right!) In Osaka, the Akanemaru dorayaki... Read Full Article91 |
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Do specific foods contain magic powers? New Year’s Day in Japan brings feasts of osechi ryori: Layers of lacquered bento boxes filled with foods promise good fortune and longevity. Inspired by the Japanese New Year feast and Southern Living’s promise that black-eyed beans will bring prosperity, I created a healthy quinoa Japanese donburi bowl. (Donburi in Japanese basically means a bowl of rice topped with “fixings.... Read Full Article92 |
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Joy buzzed through my body. 15 years of marriage later, I was taking my husband on a dream trip to Japan. Nervous energy kicked in too as I packed suitcases. For the first time I was going to meet Japanese friends I’d spoken to on Skype. (iTalki.com and CaféTalk.com are inexpensive ways to learn and practice Japanese. Discernment of whom you choose to befriend is a definite plus.)
Upon arrival in Osaka’s Kansai Airport... Read Full Article93 |
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“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
– Lao Tzu
Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa’s latest cookbook is dedicated to her husband. It’s all about the recipes her spouse loves. Ina Garten’s fantastic recipes have always been inspirational. So have her elegant parties. As much as I love my husband, I find it hard to be selfless like the Barefoot... Read Full Article94 |
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Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hyms at heaven’s gate
-Sonnet 29, William Shakespeare
In the midst of blessings, sometimes the blues come a-calling. But then I remember my heroes...
Emperor Meiji of Japan (1852-1912) was the ultimate multitasker. He cast aside criticism. He persevered in propelling Japan in a positive direction. After 200 years of isolation... Read Full Article95 |
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Ancient Japanese knew the secrets of peppermint. (The miracles of chocolate and cupcakes came to Japan a few centuries later.) Alongside their Egyptian counterparts Japanese healers were prescribing peppermint leaves, teas and oils for digestive and respiratory issues. Toothaches and headaches were also cured with the perfect mint. The current interest in the natural medicines has put the restorative qualities of peppermint back in the spotlight... Read Full Article96 |
