Happoen - Japanese garden

If you are close to Shirogane, and want to relax one afternoon in Tokyo, here's Japanese garden of Happoen.

There're many carps in the pond and the hydrangea is blooming.

My friend from London wanted to visit here.

So, firstly we visited here and then, we went to Sheraton Miyako which is only 5min. away from here on foot for tea. ( also, you can enjoy little Japanese garden view from the lounge).

Ready for summer?

I went to 2nd Calligraphy lesson.

Today, instead of words, we mainly practiced painting for summer.

Painted summer flowers and other icons for summer on cards, fan, and table mat.

It was really fun and yes, now I am ready for sending summer greetings.

First Japanese Cooking Lesson in English

Last night we had first "Japanese Cooking Lesson" in English.

We firstly went to a super market and let student to choose ingredient listed, then, made dishes.

I worked as an assistant and it was a great experience.

Menu

Rice: Mixed Rice (Takikomi gohan)

Soup: Kenchin Soup

Main dish: Grilled Salmon

Side dish: Spinach with Sesame Dressing

Dessert: Fruit & Milk Jelly

Everyone enjoyed the class.

Traditional Japanese meal is called "1 soup and 3 dishes" - that means rice, soup and 3 dishes ( main dish and 2 side dishes ) as you see here.

In that way you can eat various food and eat with balance.

Today, our main dish is fish (sardine ) with lotus. Cooked pumpkin and vinegared food are side dishes.

Home-made Cooking

Basically, we use soy sauce and sugar for flavoring.

Here's simple dishes.

"Nikujaga" -- "Beef and Potato"

It's like Japanese style pot-au-feu.

Stir-fry sliced beef.
Then, add some water with powdered bonito bouillon.
Add some potatoes, onions, and carrots.
For flavor, you add firstly sugar, then, some soy sauce.
Cover it with a drop lid for about 15min. until all vegetables get soft.

We often make some vinegared food, then.

This is the one with squid, okura and cucumbers.
Vinegar and also Okura make the smooth blood.

We visited the exhibition.
Cup and saucer, tea pot, plates, bowls, flower vase, mirror.. one of my favorites is flower vase you can hang on a wall.

Chatting with potter is fun part of visiting an exhibition.

I bought a pot of moss you see on the shelf. (the right one!)