Minestrone soup always reminds me of the first time I cooked for friends during a chilly weekend getaway in the mountains and I wanted something warm colorful and hearty that would satisfy everyone at the table no matter their preferences. I had no plan but a kitchen stocked with canned beans fresh veggies and small … Read more
I still remember the first time I tasted karaage Japanese fried chicken at a tiny izakaya tucked away on a quiet Tokyo street and the flavors completely stopped me in my tracks so I knew I had to recreate that same crispy and juicy magic at home. Since then I’ve made it dozens of times … Read more
I discovered the Japanese egg sandwich when I was rushing through a Tokyo train station and grabbed one from a konbini on a whim and the moment I took a bite I stopped walking because the texture and flavor were unlike anything I’d ever had. The bread was pillowy soft and the egg filling was … Read more
The first time I made katsu bowls with tonkatsu sauce was on a chilly Sunday evening when I needed something warm hearty and deeply satisfying and from the first crunchy bite to the savory-sweet finish I knew I’d be making it again and again. The crispy cutlet layered over fluffy rice with that drizzle of … Read more
I first tried tan tan ramen on a snowy winter night when all I wanted was something hot spicy and soul-warming so I wandered into a tiny ramen bar and ordered their most popular bowl. One spoonful of that creamy sesame broth with spicy ground meat and chewy noodles and I was instantly comforted so … Read more
I remember the first time I made Japanese katsu curry at home and the smell that filled my kitchen was so rich and comforting that it instantly reminded me of my favorite little restaurant in Osaka where I first tasted it. The combination of crispy fried cutlet and thick savory curry over fluffy rice felt … Read more
The first time I flipped an okonomiyaki on my stovetop I was skeptical about how it would turn out but the moment I took that first bite I was hooked because it reminded me of the cozy food stalls I visited during a summer festival in Hiroshima. The crispy edges the soft cabbage-filled center and … Read more
I still remember the first time I made potato mochi because I wasn’t sure what to expect from something that sounded both savory and chewy but the result completely won me over. One bite into that crisp golden exterior and gooey soft center and I was in love and since then this has become one … Read more
I first made tantanmen ramen on a cold evening when I wanted something spicy satisfying and soul-warming and the moment I tasted the rich sesame broth with the chili oil and seasoned pork I knew it was exactly what I needed. It reminded me of a ramen shop I visited in Yokohama where each slurp … Read more
The first time I made hibachi noodles at home it was purely out of craving after a night out at a teppanyaki restaurant where those buttery soy-glazed noodles totally stole the show. I didn’t expect something so simple to taste that good and once I realized how easy they were to recreate I started making … Read more