Chawanmushi (Japanese Steamed Egg Custard) pictures (1 of 6)
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This is a special post to my readers who have requested for a chawanmushi recipe. Chawanmushi or steamed egg custard (茶碗蒸し) is a popular Japanese dish, one that is mostly ordered as an appetizer at Japanese restaurants.
From the name of this dish in Kanji 茶碗蒸, I believe chawanmushi is originally a Chinese dish, but has since been perfected by Japanese chefs. The Chinese version of steamed egg custard or 蒸水蛋 is a lot simpler, but not as tasty as chawanmushi, in my honest opinion. The reason is very simple: chawanmushi is loaded with treasures that are buried at the bottom of the steamed egg custard while the Chinese version is usually plain! Plus, the use of dashi stock and sake are great seasonings for an otherwise plain steamed egg taste…
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Steamed Asari Clams pictures (1 of 9)
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A few nights ago, I met up with my friends Steamy Kitchen and Delicious Life/Tastespotting at Izakaya by Katsu-Ya in LA. We ordered many delicious Japanese dishes, two servings of chilled sake and chatted our night away about food, blogging, people, and random stuff. We had such a wonderful time!
One of the dishes we ordered was a Japanese izakaya classic–steamed asari (manila) clams with sake or asari no sakamushi, a personal favorite that I never miss out whenever I dine at izakaya.
I came to know about Japanese izakaya about eight years ago when I first visited Tokyo. During the trip, I had numerous meals at this izakaya in a small alley right next to my hotel. Sitting on a tatami mat and dine from a low table in traditional Japanese style, my host introduced me to yakitori, steamed asari clams, chicken karaage, yakisoba, agedashi tofu and various mouthwatering Japanese small-plates. I was instantly lured by this very special and casual Japanese dining culture–one that comes complete with food, booze, and great social ambiance. I have been hooked ever since…
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I love Japanese food, but not every kind of Japanese food. For most people in the United States, Japanese food means sushi, sashimi, teriyaki, and tempura. While I enjoy teriyaki and tempura quite a bit, I don’t like sushi and sashimi…
