New year 2018
Osechi
Osechi ryori are traditional Japanese New Year foods. The tradition started in the Heian Period (794-1185). Osechi are easily recognizable by their special boxes called Jubako , which resemble bento boxes. Like bentō boxes, Jubako are often kept stacked before and after use. "Osechi is what most people in Japan eat at the beginning of the new year. Regardless of how many times you go to Japanese restaurants, osechi isn't something you'll ever find on a Japanese menu. Its time and place are the first few days in January, in the Japanese home.
The New Year is often spoken of as the "most Japanese" of celebrations. With a history reaching back a thousand years, the traditional New Year's celebration is sprinkled with symbolism, and that symbolism is particularly evident in typical New Year's food.
This is onishime for Matsuda family - a melange of winter vegetables, dried shiitake mushrooms, konnyaku and other items such as burdock root and bamboo short simmered together in dashi. I used to help my mom to prepare the vegetables and make the twisted konnyaku pieces. Onishime, also known as nimono, is a dish of simmered vegetables that is ordinarily served throughout the year and is a popular Japanese dish. It is also served on Japanese New Year and is considered a part of traditional osechi ryori. Simmered vegetables include shiitake mushrooms, burdock root (gobo), lotus root (renkon), taro root (sato imo), devil’s tongue (konnyaku), carrots, and snow peas, which brings fresh green color to an entire dish. Japanese cuisine also specialize for topping and presentation. You know it, right?
Duck breast Japanese style. I used real soy sauce and mirin(fermented sweeten sake) from Japan. (Love my mom cuz she shipped them from Japan few weeks ago!) Real deal teriyaki sauce added this funny duck breast. Yes, I still have duck breast from holiday cooking. This is the last pieces!! American Teriyaki is too sweet for me, and it seems to be very arranged by other Asian culture in U.S. Luxury sweetness comes from high quality mirin of long fermentation. As you know, sweetness was luxury back in the day. Chefs don't use too much sugar in traditional Japanese cooking scene.
Kohaku-namasu, literally "vinegary red-white vegetable" is made of daikon and carrot cut into thin strips and pickled in sweetened vinegar with yuzu flavor. I can't get yuzu citrus in U.S, so I used lemon instead. Namasu, which is sometimes also referred to as “sunomono”, is a salad of raw vegetables, in a sweet vinegar and citrus dressing. For osechi ryori, namasu is made with raw carrot and kabu, which is a Japanese white turnip or radish. There are many variations of this dish, however, it is common for osechi ryori to include at least one vinegar salad. The bright orange color of the carrots in this dish symbolizes celebration, like our flag!!
This is miso marinated Spanish mackerel. Saikyo-zuke is a marinating technique that uses a base of white miso from Kyoto, to slowly marinate meat or fish before grilling it. It is hard to find opportunities in U.S to have this type of a dish with the sort of flavor you'll usually only find at a high-end Japanese restaurant in Japan. "Saikyo" in Japanese means "West City", which describe Kyoto, the old capital hundreds of years ago. ‘Saikyo Miso’ is mild and pale coloured miso originated in Kyoto. Well, I am from Tokyo, but love culture in Kyoto. Saikyo miso is always on my gift for myself list when coming back to Japan.
I should have taken more pictures! Sorry, my appetite couldn't win over "sharing heart". The osechi food that Japanese people make for the celebration is not at all immune from the painstaking effort and detail that we use in every aspect of the celebration. Every ingredient and dish is taken so seriously that they each have their own osechi meaning that signifies an important trait or characteristic that is desired for the upcoming New Year. As a result of this many of the osechi meanings are symbolic of happiness, good health, long life, fertility, a bountiful harvest, healthy partnerships and other positive qualities. I would say our "Oshogatsu" (Japanese New Year) is much like American Thanksgiving. Family time is always important.
-
2012
- Mar 18, 2012 Linguine alle Vongole Bianco
- Mar 19, 2012 Linguine alle Vongole Rosso
- Mar 28, 2012 Luxury Seafood with Tomato Cream Pasta
- Mar 28, 2012 Squid and Sea Urchin with Lemon Pasta
- May 9, 2012 Risotto di Vongole e Fungi
- May 15, 2012 Carbonara
- May 20, 2012 Spring Vegetable with Cream sauce Pasta
- Jun 4, 2012 Homemade Sangria
- Jun 6, 2012 Spaghetti alla Puttanesca
- Jun 16, 2012 Bolognese with Eggplant
- Jun 16, 2012 Ragu alla Bolognese
- Jul 19, 2012 Lobster Pasta with Tomato Cream Pasta
- Jul 26, 2012 Black ink Pasta with Shrimp and Scallop
- Sep 6, 2012 Shrimp and Eggplant with Spicy tomato
- Sep 7, 2012 Lemon Garlic Pasta with Chicken, Red and Green
- Sep 12, 2012 Pulpo a la Gallega
- Sep 22, 2012 Pate de Fois
- Nov 11, 2012 Pumpkin Carbonara
-
2013
- Mar 20, 2013 Fiber Madness Marinara Sauce
- Apr 1, 2013 Manitas de cerdo guisadas
- Jun 13, 2013 Chicken with Avocado Pesto
-
2014
- Feb 3, 2014 Choux farci au Saumon (Salmon stuffed Cabbage)
- May 8, 2014 Crystal Clear Ramen
- May 15, 2014 Beef achilles
- May 27, 2014 Summer Vegetables Curry
- Jun 9, 2014 Monkfish Risotto
- Jun 16, 2014 Caramelized Pork belly
- Aug 18, 2014 Duck is the best
- Sep 15, 2014 Duck Again!
- Oct 17, 2014 Atelierkitchen Zen
-
2015
- Mar 11, 2015 Fegatto di Vittello al burro all'aglio
- Mar 17, 2015 Atelierkitchen Zen 2
- Mar 31, 2015 Gluten Free Challenge
- Apr 7, 2015 Gluten Free Challenge 2
- May 7, 2015 Paella de Quinoa
- May 24, 2015 Osso Bucco lamb shank
- Nov 30, 2015 Filet de Canard à la grenade
-
2016
- Jan 14, 2016 Zucchini Pasta
- Jan 21, 2016 Galette for Cheat Meal
- Feb 9, 2016 Atelierkitchen Zen 3
- Feb 21, 2016 Ratatouille
- Feb 24, 2016 COTELETTES D'AGNEAU
- Mar 18, 2016 Detox Pasta
- Mar 27, 2016 Gluten Free Challenge 3
- Apr 14, 2016 Sauerkraut
- Apr 16, 2016 Potée
- Apr 21, 2016 Intermittent Fasting
- Apr 28, 2016 Spaghetti Squash
- May 6, 2016 Gluten Free Challenge 4
- May 22, 2016 Le Fromage de Tête
- Jul 1, 2016 Paleo Friendly Plate
- Jul 3, 2016 Meatless Meatball
- Jul 16, 2016 Opus One 2008
- Sep 20, 2016 Lapin Braisé à la Bière
- Oct 16, 2016 Gibier and Bordeaux
- Dec 9, 2016 Beaujolais nouveau & Venison
-
2017
- Jan 7, 2017 Venison Steak
- Jan 31, 2017 Braised lamb belly
- Apr 3, 2017 Miracle Noodles
- Apr 28, 2017 Keto Meal Ideas
- May 7, 2017 Kombucha Challenge
- Jul 16, 2017 Sourdough Bread
- Sep 2, 2017 Crépinette
- Nov 20, 2017 Fermented Foods
- Dec 25, 2017 Cassoulet
-
2018
- Jan 1, 2018 New year 2018
- Jan 31, 2018 Beef tongue
- May 5, 2018 Venison Medley
- Jun 18, 2018 Meatless Monday
- Oct 22, 2018 Short Rib or Vegan Bolognese
- Nov 23, 2018 Thanksgiving 2018
-
2019
- Jan 31, 2019 Faisan rôti
- Feb 14, 2019 Uni carbonara
- Mar 29, 2019 Probiotic Sour Soup
- May 12, 2019 Pichania
- Aug 4, 2019 Buffalo Spleen
- Nov 28, 2019 Thanksgiving 2019
- Dec 28, 2019 New England Favorite
-
2020
- Feb 14, 2020 Salted Cod on Carrot Purée
- Feb 15, 2020 Pasta Negra con Langostinos
- May 9, 2020 Tagliatelle con Gamberi e Melanzane
- Jun 16, 2020 Kitchari Cleanse
- Aug 16, 2020 Beef Tongue Stew
- Sep 20, 2020 Buffalo Testicles Stew
- Nov 26, 2020 Thanksgiving 2020
- Dec 24, 2020 Sauteed Duck breast with Foie Gras
- Dec 25, 2020 French Cassoulet 2020
-
2021
- Jan 1, 2021 Osechi 2021
- Jan 31, 2021 Slow Braised Wild Bore
- Feb 14, 2021 “Okuizome” (first meal) for Lumi
- Feb 26, 2021 Joi's Ginisang Pechay with Ground Pork and Shrimp
- Mar 3, 2021 Chicken with Mustard Butter Sauce
- Mar 6, 2021 Lamb Ribs with Blackcurrant sauce
- Apr 17, 2021 Pasta & Salad
- Apr 25, 2021 Rice malt marinated NY strip steak
- May 7, 2021 Pan Seared Pork Chops
- Jun 26, 2021 OMAD
- Jul 4, 2021 Epic Surf & Turf
- Jul 18, 2021 Bison Bolognese
- Jul 25, 2021 Bison Bulgogi
- Sep 12, 2021 Summer Salad
- Sep 18, 2021 Pigeonneau (squab)
- Nov 25, 2021 Thanksgiving 2021
- Dec 24, 2021 Duck breast Balsamic vinegar glaze
- Dec 25, 2021 French Cassoulet 2021
-
2022
- Jan 1, 2022 Osechi 2022
- Jan 31, 2022 Capon Covered with Caul Fat
- Aug 12, 2022 Steak with foie gras
- Aug 14, 2022 Mussels Italian Style
- Aug 21, 2022 Pescatore Boston
- Nov 6, 2022 Meal Prep for my Family
- Nov 19, 2022 Buffalo Testicle
- Nov 24, 2022 Thanksgiving 2022
- Dec 24, 2022 Duck breast marmalade
- Dec 25, 2022 French Cassoulet 2022
-
2023
- Jan 1, 2023 Osechi 2023
- Jan 7, 2023 “Okuizome” (first meal) for Lui
- Jan 8, 2023 Lobster and Salmon Roe Pasta
- Jan 31, 2023 Wild Boar with Wagyu Ragù
- Feb 14, 2023 Chicken Confit
- May 14, 2023 Biceps Rissoto