Obanzai Izakaya

I went for a drink with seminar mates in university day. It has been about a year since last time we got together. We went to a Japanese style Izakaya (pub) which serves Obanzai (Kyoto food).

Original salad.

This is Namafu-dengaku. Namafu is a unique food made from wheat gluten, which has sticky texture. Dengaku is a recipe, which is skewed with a bamboo stick and pasted miso sauce.

Fried pork. Tomato with thin sauce.
Desert. Matcha (thick green tea) and Manju (sweet dumpling).
It was enjoyable night!

Chacha

Other things around Kyoto

One of the attractions of Kyoto in this season is beauty of fresh green. It is difficult to express in a word how it is . I can feel unlimited vitality from fresh green. The fresh green made me refreshed.

Yasaka jinja (shrine) Yasaka no Tou (Five stories tower)
Japanese style cafe which has shaved ice. Literal sign "ice" and ballooned ice are hung.
Matcha soft-cream (ice cream green tea flavor). Soft-cream is a common style of ice cream like this shape. Very smooth and soft.

Kyogashi experience

Kogashi is traditional Kyoto sweets. I challenged handwork in a confectionery factory. Professional pastry chef taught us how to make up the flower. It is fine work. Kyogashi has strong connection with tea ceremony and it takes it very important to be able to feel the season. Today's flowers are rose and iris.

The two packs on the near side are before work, Two on the far side are example made by professional. Done!! Mine are two on the near side. Do they look like rose and iris?
After work, we enjoyed green tea with a kyogashi made by professional chef.
We saw demonstration making the mandarin orange. The chef made this easily. Very skillful. Bravo!!

Oyako don

Oyako-don is very common food. Oyako-don is literally parent and child rice bowl. Substantially, rice bowl topped with boiled chickens and eggs. We usually boiled chopped chickens, beaten eggs and sliced onions with soy sauce and put on steamed rice. In Kyoto, Kujo-negi (unique vegetable likes leek) is put in it instead of onion. Fresh egg is topped on the bowl in this restaurant, but it is not so common.

Kyoto has some local vegetables which is very unique to Kyoto. Seasoning in Kyoto is quite different from food in Tokyo. We can enjoy nice food in Kyoto.

Hachiki an

Nishin soba

Nishin soba is a kind of Kyoto food. It looks very simple. Nishin is a fish (herring), and the fish is boiled with soy sauce. It is also little bit sweet. This is my first time to try Nishin soba.

Owariya

Kiyomizu dera

Kiyomizu dera (Kiyomizu temple) is one of the famous landmarks in Kyoto.
This is Kiyomizu no butai (Stage of the Kiyomizu temple).
We sometimes use the common metaphor "Kinomizu no burai kara tobioriru" or just "Kiyomizu no butai", which means jumping from the Kiyomizu no butai literally. Used in a situation someone made a courageous decision or very determined to do something reckless.
You can find Kinomizu no butai is very high.
This is spring water. The name of Kiyomizu dera is originated from this spring water. The literal meaning of "Kiyomizu" is pure water. People are queueing to taste the pure water. This water is not only a good natural water but is thought as a sacred thing.
This long stairs bring you to the stage.

Kyoto specialities set

Lunch set in Kyoto.
appetiser:
Shijimi clam boiled with soy sauce, Trout sushi, Dashimaki tamago (Japanese omelet), Konnyku (something made from potato, but non-calorie. it has very unique texture), Edamame (boiled beans), Cooked chicken, Namafu (very unique food made from wheat gluten).
Tofu. Kyoto is famous for its high quality tofu.
Unohana (Bean curd salad)
Tempra
Gohan (Steamed rice), Miso shiru (Miso soup) and tsukemono (Japanese pickles).
Chirimen-sansho (small sardine with oriental spice) on the rice.
Nuka-zuke (vegetables pickles dipped in rice bran.) Very common way of making pickles.
fruits

Hashimoto

Ginkakuji Temple

Ginkakuji temple. Gin=silver. But Ginkakuji is not covered with silver.

Approach to the temple. Strange path.

Main building is under renovation. Unlucky.. Japanese garden.

The moss is kept in the good condition. View from the observatory

Kinkakuji Temple

Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto.

Belfry Main building of Kinkakuji.Kin=Gold.
The outside wall is covered with kinpaku (gold foil). It is shining!!
The Golden building is reflecting in the Kyoko-chi (Mirror pond.)Many people are looking the Golden building across the pond. Sekka tei. This small house is for tea ceremony.
Inside the house
Ocha-dokoro. Tea place for tourists.

Obento

I went to the bank at lunch time, so I got a obento (lunch box) for lunch on my way back office. Main is brown rice, and grilled mackerel and some vegetables.

Chirashi sushi

Gudakusan (rich toppings) chirashi sushi.

Open!!Prawns, thin omelet, lotus roots, asparagus, peas.....

Looks lovely!　

Minokichi

Taiyaki

Taiyaki as usual.

Buta don bento

Pork saute on rice bento (lunch box) .

Uni spaghetti: spaghetti sea urchin sauce

Pasta set for Sunday lunch.
Uni (sea urchin) tomato sauce spaghetti