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    Search Results for: label/ice cream

    Snacking in Japan

    April 8, 2011 by Jennifer Che


    It's all my dad's fault.

    Starting from when I was around 2 years old, My dad started me on a tradition. Every day, he would place me in the front basket-seat on his bike and we would visit . . . . . the ice cream shop. I'll never forget the look of that unique ice cream shop in Toledo that was shaped like a huge igloo.

    And thus the habit began.

    I love love love ice cream. In high school I used to eat three scoops a day after school. Even now, whenever I make ice cream, I end up eating it day after day until it's all gone (especially if it's my all time favorite flavor).

    This post is actually not just about ice cream, though it was one of the first "snacks" that caught my eye when I was in Japan. Instead, think of this as a mini tour of my snacking experiences during my trip to Japan.

    Soy Milke Soft Serve at Mr. Bean

    Mr. Bean is a new chain (originally from Singapore, which hails over 50 stores!) that just opened up in Tokyo. This Shibuya location is the first one in Japan. I must admit, I was totally drawn to the super cute bean character smiling at me. Isn't he cute? This stand offers various types of soy milk soft serve, such as plain soy and green tea.

    They also have these cute griddle cakes filled with various sweet or savory fillings -sort of like a conveniently neat sandwich on the go.

    Of course, don't eat while walking! Unlike the Chinese, who are all about street food, the Japanese tend not to eat while walking around. You also can't eat in the trains, so you basically have to find yourself a nice corner to enjoy your snack.

    I loved the fresh and natural soybean flavor of the soft serve. It reminded me of a nice, cold glass of fresh,  homemade soy milk. It was clean tasting, not too sweet, and just really refreshing.

    Sushi for Breakfast in Tsukiji

    Another fun thing to do in Japan is to enjoy sushi in the morning after visiting the fish market in Tsukiji. If you can help it, avoid the weekends, because the lines can get super super long! I've often heard great things about Sushi Bun and Sushi Dai. Unfortunately, the line was about three hours long when we tried to go, so we opted for a smaller, lesser known place with a shorter line.

    At Tsukiji, we saw lots of sea urchin (uni), various grades of tuna (maguro, toro, otoro, chutoro), and lots of salmon roe (ikura). Essentially, you are eating whatever is in season at the time - straight off the boats. Prices aren't too bad - you can get a nice bowl topped with lovely slices of super fresh seafood for around $10-20.

    Streetside Snacks at Asakusa

    One of the most fun places to enjoy more traditional Japanese snacks is on the main street leading up to the temple at Asakusa. Along this admittedly touristy way, dozens of street vendors sell souvenirs as well as snacks. It's fun just to explore and try various things. Most snacks aren't very expensive, and thus you can definitely try several!

    Here's a man baking rice crackers . . .

    A nifty little machine that cranks out little round leaf shaped pancakes filled with red bean paste.

    Takoyaki

    Takoyaki is a savory, octopus-filled cake that is very often sold in little street stands. It's typically served with mayonnaise, takoyaki sauce, and dried bonito flakes. These are especially satisfying on a blustery autumn day since they come out fresh and hot from the griddle.

    Depachika
    One of my favorite things to do when I go to Japan is to explore the vast food-filled basements of the department stores. They are called "depachika", which is a shortened form of "depato" (department store) and "chika" (underground mall). There are countless different types of shops selling everything from raw vegtables to high-end bakery items (like Pierre Hermes!) It's a fun place to try various snacks or grab dinner (although, again, you won't see anyone walking around and eating).

    On our first evening in Japan, Bryan left to attend a business dinner, so I just wandered the basement of Tokyu (a department store) and bought some fun a la carte salads. It was one of the first times I tried to use my rusty Japanese and (thankfully) I was able to communicate. Corn and mizuna salad on the left, lotus root and gobo root salad on the right.

    The supermarkets are filled with beautiful produce. Just the selection of thinly sliced super marbled beef (some of which looked like Kobe!) was mind-boggling.

    Of course the bakery selection is phenomenal - many of Europe's most famous bakeries are represented in these depachikas. Naturally, I visited my favorite and picked up my favorite macaron.
    Jen Ispahan Macaron Tokyo
    I guess I broke the cultural rules and ate my macaron while sitting on a random chair in the hallways of the depachika. Oh well . . .

    Related Posts in this Series

    Tribute to Japan
    Kappabashi-dori
    Tapas Molecular Bar
    Suzuran (Ramen)
    Japanese Matcha and Azuki Breads
    Masamoto Tsukiji Knives
    Maisen
    ©2009-2014 Tiny Urban Kitchen
    All Rights Reserved

    Serendipity 3

    March 3, 2011 by Jennifer Che


    It was sooooo cold outside. Frrrrreezing!

    In fact, it technically was freezing that crazy week in January when it briefly snowed in Las Vegas! It was so cold, area stores completely sold out of the season's winter coats to unsuspecting visitors who had shown up in the city assuming they wouldn't need jackets.

    So why "frrrozen hot chocolate"? On one of the coldest days on record?

    Hey, I'm from Boston. Bostonians love their iced desserts and will eat at anytime. Heck, our ice cream shops open all winter long and they are always crowded, regardless of how high the snow piles are or how cold it is outside. I am always happy to make and eat ice cream no matter what season it is!

    So of course I was totally game. Plus, one of our friends had never been to Serendipity before and really really wanted to try it.

    Serendipity 3, a restaurant that originates from New York, holds the world record for the most expensive ice cream sundae. This insanely opulent sundae must be ordered 48 hours in advance (probably so they can obtain all its exotic ingredients!). It contains five scoops of Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream (infused with Madagascar vanilla), rare Amedei Porcelana and Chuao chocolate, American Golden caviar, passion fruit, orange, Armagnac, candied fruits from Paris, and marzipan cherries. On top of that, there's real gold everywhere, from real gold dragées to the  23-carat edible gold leaf.
     You even get to enjoy your sundae with an 18-karat gold spoon.

    Absolutely nuts. Supposedly they sell about one per month. I wonder who gets these? I wonder if it even tastes that amazing . . .

    Anyway, we didn't find out. Instead, we ordered their most famous dessert, the frrrozen hot chocolate. I got the Oreo one, which I loved.  I have always loved Oreos, especially in ice cream, so it's no surprise that I would love the Oreo frrrozen hot chocolate. It had the characteristic dark bitterness of Oreos. The best part, it wasn't too creamy nor too sweet. I shared one with my friend, which was just about right.

    Bryan got a peanut butter one, which was quite good too. In the end, I still preferred mine, thinking his was too sweet and rich. His was also an alcoholic version, though it was so huge and rich he had trouble finishing the whole thing,

    Serendipity is located right outside Caesars Palace. Except for that crazy sundae, it's actually a reasonably priced restaurant. The menu has a variety of sandwiches, hamburgers, salads, and some main entrees as well.  Of course, there is an extensive dessert section which includes various ice cream sundaes, cakes, and tarts. As for ambiance, the funky retro decor is fun, although the music's a bit loud for conversation and the service can be average. Nevertheless, it's not a bad place to stop by late at night for a little sweet tooth craving.

    Serendipity 3
    3570 Las Vegas Blvd S
    Las Vegas, NV 89109
    Serendipity 3 on Urbanspoon

    This post is part of a larger Las Vegas series. Posts in this series:
    RM Seafood
    Bouchon Bistro
    Bouchon Bakery
    China Poblano
    Jean-Philippe Pâtisserie
    Beijing Noodle No. 9
    Raos
    Mesa Grill (2010 trip)
    Joel Robuchon (The Mansion)
    B&B Ristorante
    Enoteca San Marco

    Giveaway Winner!
    Congratulations to the first Flavors of Malaysia cookbook winner - bunster10!  I'm still giving away two more books!  Click here and here to enter!

    ©2009-2014 Tiny Urban Kitchen
    All Rights Reserved
    Jennifer Che Tiny Urban Kitchen

    Hi, my name's Jen and welcome to my cooking, eating, and travel site! I am an expat who moved from Boston to Hong Kong 5 years ago. Born and raised in Ohio to Taiwanese immigrant parents, I am a chemistry nerd, patent attorney by day, blogger by night, church musician on weekends, and food enthusiast always. Feel free to explore away, maybe starting with the Recipe Index or one of the travel pages! I hope you enjoy this site!

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