Global Space Net – ページ 3 – Fun international cooking events in Tokyo for everyone

Torinoichi 2018

Torinoichi is a famous festival in November.

This takes place every November on the day of the Rooster. This year, there were three days of the Rooster.

This year, the third Torinoichi festival took place on a Sunday, so along with my Italian friend, we went to look around the Asakusa area and went to the Otori shrime.

There were so many people there and it was very lively. I was so happy to see my friend smile after she got a small Kumade with an Okame (a traditional Japanese mask of a smiling woman), which was her favorite. ^^

We went to a small Izakaya along the nearby street and had a toast with beer. ^^

Takoyaki & Okonomiyaki Dinner with Students

I had guests in November and arranged a Takoyaki & Okonomiyaki party for them. They are all foreign university students who are studying in Japan.

We started by making nice takoyaki balls with everyone. Making perfectly round takoyaki balls is difficult, so it was a teamwork effort.

We also made Okonomiyaki in another hot plate a few times.

Afterwards, we made Yakisoba noodle. We were all full by the time we finished eating everything.

But we still weren’t finished until we have had some dessert. In the very end, we made sweets balls on the takoyaki machine using some pancake flour mix, bannanas, and chocolate chips. Everyone loved the sweet pancake balls too.

If they have plans to come back to Japan again, I hope we can cook and eat again together!

2018.11

English Lunch Meet Up in August ♪

We had a lunch meet up in August. ^^ Six members came and my children also joined in because they were on summer break!

I cooked spicy bean curry this time.

I also baked a cake for dessert and my children put strawberries on it for decoration. It was a very nice decoration! ❤️

For some people, it was the first time joining this luncheon so they introduced themselves to everyone and we all had a great time!

Everybody often travel around Japan and oversees. ♪ I usually see beautiful photos on my friends’ SNS. It was so exciting to hear about their wonderful experiences of their journey. They are very curious things for me. ^^

Keep in tune for the next luncheon!

2018.08

Japanese Sake Lunch with guest from Singapore!

I had a Japanese Sake party with a guest from Singapore this Summer. She came to Japan once in Spring but we met up again. My friend also joined it and we had a wonderful time together. ^^

I made several kinds of dishes to go along with Japanese sake.

These are some of the dishes I arranged to use seasonal summer ingredients.

I would like to see my guest again in the near future.

2018.08

Japanese Cooking Lunch in August ♪

About the Japanese Cooking Lunch in August! We had a very hot summer this year so wanted to eat something to make us all feel refreshed. ^^

We made Salmon Chirashizushi, which is mixed rice with baked salmon, and some garnish such as sesami seeds and pickled plum(ume), etc.

Salmon Chirashizushi

We also made some fried rolled porks with ume paste.

The ume paste is a good addition to cooking in Summer. The taste is really makes you feel refreshed. Try it for your cooking! ^^

2018.08

Visited to Akihabara with homestay students

I went to Akihabara with my homestay student and their friends and host families.

The students wanted to go Animate.

It was first time visiting for me and nice experiences.

We also visited a Meid Cafe in Akihabara.

This was a fun place I never experienced too.

The food was so cute and tasty! My homestay student was a begitarian. They cooked a salad for her. ^^

Then we went to a Cats Cafe later.

There were many cute cats in cafe and we played with then for a while.

We also had a BBQ Party with another host families at a park.

It was nice to talk another people.

I also invited her brother to my house and had takoyaki party together.

He worked at a Japanese company as an internship student from this spring in Japan. It’s very nice to hear about his experiences for my kids. My kids were very interested in his talk and that was very good experiences for them.

I hope we will see again!

Vegetarian dishes for a home stay student

We occasionaly accept home stay students from abroad. A student was staying in my house during this summer for about two weeks. She was a vegetarian so I tried to cook vegetarian dishes for her.

A good ingredient to start off with when making vegetarian meals are beans. I cooked several kinds of beans and put them in a freezer so we can use them any time if we want. ♪

This is a bean curry with rice & salad, fried wantan with cheese.

bean curry with rice and salad, fried wantan with cheese.

This is next morning’s breakfast plate ^^

Toast with Avocado and cheese with clashed almonds for lunch.

Spaghetti with Tomato & Cheese

Hand Rolled Sushi for vegetarians & Ricepaper Spring Roll

Korean Cheese Toppogi

I also used tofu and cheese a lot for cooking.

My daughter and I tried the same dishes during her stay. It was a nice and fun experience for us. But I did miss bonito flavored miso soup and fish such as sashimi sometimes. ^^;

Day trip to Nikko with home stay students ♪

I went to Nikko with my home stay student and another host family. It was a exciting day trip by car from Tokyo. I haven’t been to Nikko for a long time.

We started to drive around 6 AM and took a short rest in a shop on the high way. Then we arrived at the Kegon Falls almost two hours later. It was a little rainy and foggy in the morning that day. The falls had high water volume because of a previous strong tyhoon.

We went to Toshogu Shrine next. Usually there are many people there but not so many people in the morning after the strong tyhoon. Luckly it was easy to get the tickets. Early bird catches the worm!

Gojunoto(Five-Story Pagota) was so beautiful!

These are the famous sculptures of the three wise monkeys in Toshogu.

We can see gorgeous decorations and colorful paintings.

There were more people coming in the afternoon. When we went back to the car, there were many cars waiting in the parking lot and the line was so long.

I enjoyed a grilled Ayu fish. This is one of my favorite foods. ♡

I want to visit with my family next time. ^^

Mexican Summer Taco Dinner ♪

Mexican Summer Taco Party in July!

It was a hot and humid summer this year. Fresh salsa and spicy chili con carne were good for summer meals. ♪

I had been in California for few years and had enjoyed Mexican food very much. Some of my mexican friends taught me some recipes for me so I can cook by myself in Japan sometimes. ♪

I invited my friend and her husband this time and the husband really loved tacos.

He said he really liked my tacos and I was so happy to hear that. ^^

This time, I used two type of beans: the kala chana beans & the urad whole beans.

Both of the beans are really tasty. I made chili con carne with urad whole and cooked kala chana beans with cheese.

Beans with cheese, and the Mexican Omlet

I also cooked a mexican omlet with bell pepper and fish ceviche.

And of course, Corona Beer goes well with Mexican food!

Orange and peach milk pudding for dessert 🙂

I want to try exploring not only more mexican meals but also new dishes from around the world!

2018.07

Chinese Cooking Dinner in July ♪

I had a welcome party for my sister in law’s family to Tokyo! I cooked some chinese style dishes for dinner this time. ♪ We love chinese food and enjoy putting several dishes on the table.

Tomato and Szechuan pickles salad