Nom Nom Tabemono: The Perfect Sandwich

With the incoming rainy season and temperatures moving ever upwards, we have officially entered the summer season. One common concern is finding the energy or interest to make food at home when all you want to do is lay in front of the aircon and die.  My suggestion, then, is to focus on food that … Continue reading →

A Whale of a Good Time: Kujira Three Ways

by Kat Stevens Two things led to my consumption of whale meat in Japan: the realization that it was my only chance and a bargain price of 467 yen. In the US, whale meat is illegal. Despite what Flipper or Hayden Panettiere might have to say on the subject, Japan has a long history of … Continue reading →

Foodie Fun Times: Turkey

by Kat Stevens Hisashiburi tabimonsters!  The fall and early winter seasons are busy times for everyone. Exams and exam prep, winterization and holidays galore can really keep you running. Then when that winter snow starts to fall, it can feel like everything just stops.  One way to keep doing your ganbare best through the long … Continue reading →

DIY Kebabs

by Kat Stevens Summer is kicking off and it is… muggy. Hot. Getting to the point where turning the gas stove on seems like more trouble than it’s worth. In short, it’s a perfect time to grill outdoors! For the purposes of this kebab case study, I used a 2k yen one person joint off … Continue reading →

Jalapeno Popper Deviled Eggs

by Kathryn Stevens Welcome nom nom-ers!  The weather is warming up and tis the season for a good old fashioned cookout! In the southern US, it just isn’t a BBQ without deviled eggs of some variety, so here’s a little recipe that’s sure to please the crowd. Did you know deviled eggs have been on … Continue reading →

Torta de force

by Kat Stevens Welcome back to another episode of Nom Nom Tabemono! Spring has sprung in earnest, so while we wait for the good green growing things to pop out of the frozen Aomori ground, let’s give ourselves an easy anytime meal. A Spanish omelet or torta is a quick, cheap meal with a lot … Continue reading →

Reci-please!

by Kat Stevens Today we’re going to take a little break from our regularly scheduled nomnom program to talk about the oni in the room: how to know what you’re making for dinner. Much of the time the decision, shopping, and planning can be more effort than the cooking itself. When it’s so daunting, it … Continue reading →

Fettuccine Alfredo-ish

by Kat Stevens Someday the snow will melt and spring will come. Until then, I take refuge in carbs. Pasta isn’t exactly difficult to find in Japan, but it can be expensive or come with some surprising ingredients. I’m looking at you, mentaiko! Pasta at home is a good basic to have up your sleeve, … Continue reading →

Souper Star Loaded Potato Soup

by Kat Stevens akemashite omedetou! Happy New Year! I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for New Year’s Resolutions. And what better time to get started than, er… February? Saving money is always on my list, and one way to do that is to cook more at home. Aomori is knee-deep in soup … Continue reading →

Jack-O’-Lantern Kabocha Cookies

By Mel Tee Here is a simple and delicious 5-ingredient recipe perfect for Halloween! The recipe is in English and Japanese so you can share it with Japanese co-workers. (*Starred notes in parentheses are my personal notes/suggestions.*) かぼちゃのソフトクッキー Jack-O’-Lantern-Shaped Kabocha Squash Soft Cookies 材料（１２枚分、１枚分＝約９４kcal） Ingredients (Makes 12 Cookies, 1 Cookie = approx. 94kcal) ① かぼちゃ　１/１５個 … Continue reading →

Uma-i Restaurant Review! Ogata Meat Plaza

By MiNa Kim As many of you may know, one of the most fun things about traveling in Japan is how every region has a “famous food”. Is it really famous? How many people know about it? Is it also the best? Can it be only found there? There are so many questions to challenge … Continue reading →

Restaurant Review: Karakara-Tei

By MiNa Kim This restaurant review will be featuring somewhere close to home and especially close to my heart. Located in the humble town of Gonohe, Karakara-tei is a small family restaurant with its menu specializing in rice and and ramen dishes.  Continue reading →

Homemade Pad Thai

By MiNa Kim I love Pad Thai. I remember the first time I had it. A plate of noodles with a sweet but sour scent, topped with…peanuts?! “What the hell is this?” was my reaction. However, my tastebuds had a different opinion, and it just kept going OH YEAH.  However, Thai food is hard to … Continue reading →

Snacks on snacks pt 2

By MiNa Kim Japanese snacks are amazing, and with all these limited editions popping up left and right, I spared no expense on my  winter snack-a-thon. I wrote a snack review a couple of months ago, and I loved that I felt no guilt eating 7 bags of chips in a day. It was like … Continue reading →

Pretty Cheap Nabe

By MiNa Kim The recipe I have for you this issue is again a nabe recipe! (Surprise surprise…) However, not only is it fun to make, it’s delicious, cheap, and actually pretty in presentation. I wonder if you’ve heard of mille-feuille nabe, because it is the hottest nabe trend in Asia right now. Most of … Continue reading →

Snacks on snacks

By Rosalina (Mina Kim) I love snacks. You love snacks. Everyone loves snacks. If you say you don’t like snacks, you are only fooling yourself. There’s a lot of things I like about snacks. It’s tasty, it’s cheap, the variety are endless, it’s the most risk-free way of “trying new things”, and its small possibility … Continue reading →

Apple Cheddar Pancakes

By Princess Peach (Mina Kim) I love Fall in Aomori. Although it’s kind of like the calm before the hellish snow storm, Aomori Autumns are truly lovely. It’s colorful, I can wear my sweaters that is 80% of my wardrobe, and tasty fruits are plentiful and affordable. The apples that Aomori is so famous for, … Continue reading →

Improving ramen

By Mina Kim So if you have been to Hokkaido, or any ramen shops around Aomori city, you have probably heard of the Curry Miso Milk Ramen. What is in it, you ask? Well, it’s miso ramen with curry and milk in it, like the name suggests. Not too complicated, full of flavor, just yum. Around … Continue reading →

Restaurant Review: Hakkoen

By Mina Kim Hakkoen, what a wonderful place.  Hakkoen, it ain’t no passing craze. When I first heard of Hakkoen, it was my first year in Aomori and a 5th year JET was talking about the glory days of overeating and drinking and not spending all the contents of your wallet, in the good ol’ … Continue reading →

Smoothies all around

By Mina Kim We’ve been waiting for the temperature to rise since the weird brief winter last year, and the awaited Spring came so early, I thought Summer would only be around the corner. The Sakura blossoms came and went, and my excitement for bikini season was temporarily dampened with the extra chilly rainy season … Continue reading →