Kinpiragobo (Crispy burdock root) 曰式炒牛蒡

My mother and I love this Kinpiragobo (Crispy burdock root 牛蒡) , this side dish was serving at the breakfast buffet counter at the hotel at Sapporo. The burdock tasted crispy, sweet and salty, perfect to go with plain steamed white rice or porridge. Next time I can cook this simple dish for my mother to try out.

Simple Home-style tofu, and how to remove tofu from the box

Earlier I have problem to remove a perfect tofu from the box. After I learnt a new way, I am glad to see the tofu perfectly removed from the box for every attempted.

Easy Castella Cake (cold eggs method) 蜂蜜长崎蛋糕 (冷全蛋打发)



I was accidently broken four eggs when I tried to close the fridge door on last weekend. Then I asked to Jane what to do with these four eggs, then Jane suggested me to make a castella cake since she just done one. I recalled a castella recipe that shared by Helena earlier, so I immediately make it. But i can't use her method which using separation of eggs since four eggs were mixed up together. So i use back the cold eggs method (you can refer to orange sponge cupcake) . To my surprise, this easy castella recipe yield very nice cake, light, moist, little QQ texture (texture like cross between sponge cake and bread), very nice honey aroma, no oil and no SP or ovalette is added.

Japanese Curry Buns 日式咖喱面包

Curry bun is a very popular bun in Japan, you can get them in any supermarket or 7 eleven. We bought some to try during the trip, and it was good. I realized that Japanese like to coat bread crumbs in many of their foods ^_^

Clock Tower 時計台, Former Hokkaido Government Office Building, Bento & Meal, Hokkaido 北海道 2013

Since my memory still fresh, I have to quickly update about the Japan trip, we went to Tokyo then Hokkaido. The whole trip it was planned by me, total 6 family members, from the ticket booking, trip itinerary, hotels, transport & foods. I think I can apply for a travel agent job ^_^ . I was tried to cover all individual's requirement, like my mother wanted to see autumn colour, my son wanted to go zoo, my daughter wanted to try macarons, and I want to try all good foods from Kobe beef, kaiseki dinner, ramen, and crab meal..All requirements were fulfilled without failed. Lets check my first post here!

Mapo Tofu (Spicy Chili Tofu with minced meat) 麻婆豆腐

Mapo Tofu is a famous Chinese traditional tofu dish. A famous Szechuan dish, roughly translated as "pockmarked grandmother beancurd", named for the old woman who supposedly invented the dish.

Japanese Salt Grilled Eryngii Mushrooms (Kinoko no shioyaki) 日式盐烧杏鲍菇



Just back from Japan trip (Tokyo & Hokkaido), and we had a wonderful trip with good foods and enjoyed the fall foliage at Sounkyo Gorge. While I still sorting out the thousand of photos taken, today I cooked this mushroom as one of the dish widely served during autumn in Japan, I refer to the information provided here.

Campo de' Fiori market 菜市場, Rome Italy 2013 羅馬意大利自由行

On the last day at Roma / Rome, since we still have time in the morning, we visit another market - Campo de Fiori . I remembered Terri mentioned about this market in her Italy travel post but she missed to make a trip here. So I went there on behalf of her ^_^. Anyway, this market is smaller than Mercato Centrale at Firenze/Florence, and it is located at a open space

Mercato Centrale 中央菜市場, Firenze / Florence Italy 2013 佛羅倫斯 意大利自由行

 

I like to walk through pasar "market " whenever I visit a country, a best place to get the fresh local ingredients. Mercato Centrale is a old market since 1874..

Piazzale Michelangelo 廣場, Firenze / Florence Italy 2013 佛羅倫斯 意大利自由行

Oh, if you have a chance to visit Firenze / Florence, don't forgot to visit Piazzale Michelangelo, they have the most beautiful panorama view of Firenze city ! furthermore, you don't need to pay a single cent to view this awesome view..And remind me of the popular Hong Kong drama " 衝上雲霄1 ".