How Do You Enjoy Your UNBIRTHDAY?

Have you ever heard the word "UNBIRTHDAY" I think you may had head before if you have seen Alice In Wonderland.

I love that scene which Alice and Mad hatter have a tea party to celebrate their "UNBIRTHDAY" So, have you ever had such a lovely party? I definiately say "YES" to you. Even though there are normal day for you, if you had food which is a bit different from normal. You can enjoy your UNBIRTHDAY.
Today, let me talk about my memories of UNBIRTHDAY.
Then, you'll find out your special UNVIRTHDAY.

1. shocking colored ice cream

Loooooook!!! Can you believe that this is the food for human? saddly, yes it is. I met this too vivid ice cream at my home-stay house. When we invite my host mother's parents, host mother made it for them. Actually, it was the first time for me to meet such food. When I saw it, I thought "Oh, I came to FOREIGN country" I think you also have such experience like me if you have been abroad, don't you? Do you want to know the taste look like?...Nothing!! It has no special taste like, orange, grapes, or strawberry...it was just sweet. Anyway, It was a great time to eat together with them. Whenever I found such a too vivid food, it reminds me my "gramma&grampa"s' sweet smile and lovely time.

2. lovely pancake

I fell in love with pancake in AUS! my history of pancake has started from there. My friends and I often went to eat pancake as a little treat of daily life:) It makes me so happy! Even if I had some trouble with my life and felt depressed, I would be happy after eating pancake! There is nothing to wrtite about the day, I memorized that day as a "Pancake Day" From that point, I always feel something special whenever I eat pancakes even in Japan. For me, pancake is the food which can rethink as "I am a girl;)"Do you have something special which you can feel better?

3. cookie and cream cheesecake

Unfortunately it is not possible to convey even half of the size of this cheesecake. It's quite big and I can say it's Australian size! It is sold at the "DOME cafe" Have you ever heard the name of the cafe? It's common and popular cafe at AUS especially in Perth. Actually it's more famous than starbucks...because there are NO starbucks in Perth;) I always went there to study and have a chat with my friends. Whenever I went there, there were cookie and cream cheesecake and I wanted to try it, but I didn't... because the price was little bit higher than the others. So I decided to end my AUS life with eating it. then I finally ate it the day before I leave Perth!! I remembered it was a subsaline cake. I think this cheesecake made me cook cakes in Japan. I'll never forget the taste and the special feeling of it.

4."Pika-chu" cream bread
Sooooo cute, isn't it? This is a bread which filled with custard cream. Personally, I think "custard cream" is the king of the any other cream. So I always check custard cream bread when I fo to bakery. When I met this lovely cream bread, I was soooo happy:) I bought it for my lovely nephew because he loved "poke-mon" at that time. and he smile like that;) Even though such a tiny food has a power of making people happy!!! Of course, the taste was outstanding!

5. honey bread with various fruits

My friends and I ate it at the restaurant in shibuya. You may know but we find sweets in any GIRLS TALK. We love both of them, don't you? At that time was also we talked about some UNBELIEVABLE things of our daily life AS USUAL;) Then, the stuffs of the restaurant brought such a lovely honey bread! We shouted like"WooooW! That's soooo CUTE!!" This bread make our meeting more precious and emotional one. It became a graceful memory for us;)

This is the end of today's story. Did you enjoy them? When I think back to each memorial scene in the past, there are always something which are yummy and lovely food there. I think FOOD and MEMORY are conected very tightly. FOOD always help us to celebrate our UNBIRTHDAY!!!

So, how's your UNBIRTHDAY today?

The Very First Dish for YOU

-Today's menu-
*roasted red sea bream
*umeboshi
*Japanese clam soup
*pebbles

Here it is!!!!

Can you imagine whose dish is banquet?
This is the dish that your mother and father might have prepared for YOU!!!
Do you remember the very first food that you ate when you were baby?
Me? Of course NOT ;D

Have you ever heard the word "Okui-zome"?
This is the time you ate something for the first time in your life. Strictly speaking, at that time you just pretend to eat. Did you know that?

Why I'm telling you about it is because my niece has just finished this event on Feb 19. As well as I have two nephews, I also have niece ! She has white skin and cute eyes.. sooo lovely......
Anyway! She will be the today's main heroin of my blog.


-What is "Okui-zome"-
This event is heald to celebtate children's growth and to pray for their future health especially for their food life. Traditionally, it is taken place at 100 days after birth. Though babies can't chew anything to eat yet, parents will serve tons of food for babies. In Japan, there are some food which has a "meaning".
For example, we eat herring roe in New Year's Day because it symbolizes a wish to be gifted with children. As well as that, what I listed on the biginning has also have special meaning for each.

*roasted red sea bream

The Japanese word for red sea bream, "tai"sounds similar to the word "mede-tai". What is more, it is auspiciously red in color.

*Japanese pickled plam

pickled plam has a lot of "wrinkles" on the surface. People wish for baby will enjoy a long life-span until they get lots of wrinkles.

*Japanese clam soup

Usally, there are two shells for each and clam-shell marking is exactry same. So the reason why people make clam soup is to hope that baby share a long and happy life with her or his partner forever.

*pebbles

Of course they don't make babies eating the pebbles actually. Pebbles are just put on the table. There is also has a meaning for it; wish for their strong teeth. It is so interesting, isn't it?

There are many kinds of food and ther reasons depends on the are. Here is the only the typical example of the event. Anyway, now you know much about "Okui-zome". So I'll give you a title to "Doctor Okui-zome";)


Lastly, I'll put some pictures of my niece's "Okui-zome"

The person who gives her food is my grand mother. she is also cute, isn't she?
Looks she is satisfied with her first meal:)


I think ther are similar events in other countries. Have you ever heard about it? If yes, please share your information for me.

I'm also wating the message that "your niece is as lovely as you!!" like that ;)

Hope you will prepare well when your babies become 100 days after birth!

My Luky-Charm Food

Hi :)
I'd like to ask one question for you...
What is my favorite food? Do you remember that?
Yes! The answer is...

KARAAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been loving karaage since I was a child.
Today, let me introduce various KARAAGE which I've ever met.

1. The biggest KARAAGE I've ever met

I met them at Japanese style pub called "Kyo-kai" in Shinjuku. Can you imagine 20cm karaage? When I saw it, I shouted "WoooooooW!!!!" The attractive point of this karaage was not only huge appearance, also taste was nice. I guess that restaurant's fire power was much stronger than household one. That's why it is possible to make such a huge karaage. If you feel that karaage which you make at home is not big enough for you, I recommend visiting there!

2. Yummy home made KARAAGE

Look! There are mouth-watering karaage on the table! Can you imagine who made it? The chef is someone you know...MEG!! Can you believe it? She is actually a great chef! She made it for us when my friend and I visited her house. MEG's karaage was outstanding!!! I can say that her cooking skill is fantastic. The reason why I love her karaage so much is because her karaage is still taste good when it's cold. I will definiately ask her to make it again for me in near future. Anyway, thank you so much MEG;)

3. Large and Simple KARAAGE

This karaage was similar to Kyo-kai's one. I met it also at Japanese style pub called "Inkyo-Tei" This is also large karaage! My friends and I were surprised at the size. The unique point of this karaage was the flavor. Most of the karaage seasoned with soy sauce, but in Inkyo-Tei's style, it was used only salt! At the first, I don't feel familiar with it, but bite by bite, I loved it so much. If you want to taste something different from normal one, I recommend you it!

4. Great seasoning KARAAGE

I loved it because the combination of karaage and sauce was very nice!! In a normal situation, I prefer plain karaage which doesn't need any sauce to seasoned one. So I don't eat with any sauce even lemon! However, in this case, I enjoyed the flavored karaage very much. I met this karaage at the restaurant in Shibuya with Mariko! She also like karaage, so we kept saying "Hmm...it's yummy. Delicious, isn't it?" Plus, the dish was hearty, so I can recommend there for boys!!

5. My cozy KARAAGE

This is the last karaage which I introduce today...and it is my mom's karaage!! The recipe of it is quite simple, but I love her karaage the most of any other food. Whenever I have any big events, such as; exam, concert, birthday party, graduation party, job interview and I actually have been able to overcome those big events many times. For me, her karaage is like a lucky charm:)

I guess you feel a bit tired because of too many KARAAGE;)
Thank you for reading my loooooong collection of KARAAGE. Hope you enjoyed!
Now you know how much I love KARAAGE!!!!!
And my journey of seeking any other KARAAGE will never end.

So, I need cooperation that if you know some delicious or UNIQUE karaage, please let me know about it !! I think there are many kinds of karaage which I don't know yet...
I'm looking forward to hearing your imformation from you:)

Lastly, as well as my KARAAGE, there must be some lucky food for you!!
So what is your magical food for you?
It's your turn to talk about it. I would be happy if you tell me that:)

Bye;)