Donburi?

Dish: Donburi

Restaurant: Hamburg

Location: Fukuyama, Japan

Price: 880 Yen

Description: A rich dish of chicken with cream sauce served over rice. Just to make it even better - it's topped with a little cheese.

Fun facts: This restaurant specializes in hamburgers. It's important to note that the hamburgers are beef and pork. 

The restaurant was cute inside - very cozy. The donburi was a little salty. Would I go back? Maybe.

Oh...my...curried noodles.

Dish: Curried Noodles with Bell Peppers

Restaurant: My apartment

Location: Fukuyama, Japan

Price: ~1000 Yen

Description: A deliciously sweet and slightly spicy dish that is easy to make - pasta with red and green bell peppers, scallions, a few bean sprouts, coconut milk and some amazing spices. 

Fun facts: This recipe can be altered to suit your tastes- add more vegetables, less coconut milk for a thicker sauce, or more sriracha for more kick.

Ingredients

Spaghetti (about the diameter of a 50cent piece)

1 can of Coconut Milk

1/3 of a Red Bell Pepper

1/2 of a Green Bell Pepper

2 Scallions (both the white and green parts)

A small handful of bean sprouts

2 Tbsp Sake

2 Tbsp Sugar

1 Tbsp Mirin

2 Tbsp Soy Sauce

1/4 Vegetable Oil

1 Tsp Turmeric

1 Tsp Ground Coriander

1 Tbsp Sriracha

1/2 Tsp Paprika

1 Tsp Salt

1. Fill a large pan with water and place over high heat - heat to boiling.
2. Meanwhile, remove the seeds and white parts of the peppers and slice them into strips. Do the same for the scallions.
3. Put all of the spices( coriander, turmeric, paprika, salt, sugar) into a small bowl. Mix the soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sriracha in another bowl.
4. Place the vegetable oil into a sauce pan over medium heat. 
5. Cook the spaghetti according to the directions on the package. Rinse the pasta in cold water.
6. Add the red and green bell peppers, scallions, and bean sprouts to the oil.
7. Add the spices and liquid mixture as well. 
8. Simmer/stir-fry for 2-3 minutes. 
9. Then, add the spaghetti.
10. Simmer for 2 minutes.
11. Add the coconut milk and allow to simmer for 2 minutes. 
12. ENJOY!

After a full day of work (8 classes), making this recipe was a breeze. It didn't take too long...maybe 30 minutes tops. It was comforting - sweet and a touch spicy. 

Welcome Home

Salmon with a Teriyaki Glaze

Quinoa

Spinach with Garlic

A nice dinner to celebrate being back in Japan. I sauteed the salmon with a little olive oil to brown the sides. Added some soy sauce and sake to create a teriyaki sauce (of sorts). The spinach was sauteed in olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. The quinoa is a grain I have not had for some time because I have not been able to find it in Fukuyama. The only way this meal could have been better - a glass of white wine. 

Simply delicious.

Dish: Spaghetti alla Gorgonzola 

Restaurant: ERBA

Location: Fukuyama, Japan

Price: 1050 Yen

Description: A delightful salad (not pictured) with an olive oil based vinaigrette, spaghetti with a Gorgonzola based cream sauce, and a strong cup of coffee.

Fun facts: The chef studied in Italy. The restaurant is simple but classy. You can order additional pasta if you would like, but the standard portion is enough. The lunch special is a spaghetti based dish. There are many choices for sauces or types of dishes on the back of the menu. Your beverage choice - coffee or tea. It has an open kitchen so you can watch the chef prepare your meal. 


This pasta dish was simple but amazingly delicious. The sauce was rich, included a variety or marinated mushrooms and a slight dusting of Parmesan. It was truly a satisfying meal. 

Sigh

Sometimes...people move on. Sometimes...it sucks. Sometimes it is a blessing in disguise. Sometimes...you just don't know if it sucks or is a blessing. What I do know...it's time to cook. I need some time to not think about anything but the moment. So - what should I make? 

Japanese Comfort Food

Dish: Seafood Bento

Restaurant: Saboten

Location: Fukuyama, Japan

Price: 799 Yen

Description: Shrimp, squid, a crab/potato square, white rice, cabbage, egg, and ginger

Fun facts: This bento is one of the view things on the menu without pork. Getting a take away lunch does not include dressing for the cabbage salad. If you choose to eat inside the restaurant, there are menus available in English.

This was not a healthy lunch, but it was exquisite. I might even describe this as comfort food. My favorite part of this meal was the combination of seafood, seaweed dusted white rice, and soda. Sometimes a Coke provides the perfect reminder of home. 

Can naan fix everything?

Dish: Curry of the day

Restaurant: Sangam

Location: Fukuyama, Japan

Price: 800 Yen

Description: This was the lunch special. It consisted of chicken and pumpkin curry, naan, and and a a delicious cup of hot chai. 

Fun facts: The lunch special includes all you can eat naan. The menu is in Japanese and English. The staff, in addition to their native language (please excuse my ignorance), speaks Japanese and English. 

I love the vibe of this restaurant. As I walk through the door, I feel as if I am stepping into another world. A world that is not Japan. I understand that this may sound a little absurd, but sometimes having a break from the constant influx of Japanese culture is great. It was my decision to come to Japan and to extend my contract and I have no regrets. It's just that not having a break from a culture that is so different than mine is intense. Culture shock does not go away. 


Anyway, back to the restaurant...I love the curry selection and the various types of naan. My favorite thing on the menu thus far has been the Chicken Tandoori Salad. The tangy dressing that has been drizzled across the top provides a nice contrast to the slightly sweet chicken. The menu is large and I cannot wait to see what's next.