Sukiyaki Don (Gyu Don = Beef Don) - where you can buy thin meat in Brussels?

 

Have you ever tried 'Gyu Don (or Sukiyaki Don) ?   

'Sukiyaki' is a one of the traditional dish in Japan (below picture) and using 'Gyu = Beef' , leek (Poireau) and Tofu as basic.

'Don' means rice-bowl dish which you can put kind of whatever on top of the rice. 

so, if you put 'Sashimi' on top of the rice .... become 'Sashimi Don'

put 'Pork ginger wok' .... become 'Pork ginger Don', etc. 

Let's Make Gyu-Don

how to make Gyu Don

Where you can get the thin meat is in Ixelles meat shop or Chinese super market is below....... and Onion!

　　

Royale du jardin 

Chinese Super Market

*** if you cannot find a Mirin, never mind!  you can replace to sugar. 

if no Sake? never mind! you can replace to white dry wine. 

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Japanese BENTO - do you know BENTO?

 Doramemon caractor bento = cara ben 😆

I think BENTO (= Lunch box in Japanese) style in Belgium and Japan are totally difference. For example, my kids are bringing below European style Bento most of the day..... well.... until they find out Japanese bento is cool to bring 💗 

When our kids are really young, they didn't like to bring Japanese style Bento because too different and use Nori (seaweed) which is weird for other kids. 

BUT thanks to fashion style which is ASIAN culture become fashion!!!  Especially easing 'Sushi' is really fashionable, my kids start to ask me to make a Japanese Bento which make me really happy 😍😍😍

I like Japanese Bento which has more variety and more different food in it and good for health. 

off course, it is a lot of work for Mon to prepare. But but but...... this is one of the LOVE to my kids. 

    Happy Valentine!

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Sashimi / Sushi in BXL - let's try Japanese food

 

Do you like Japanese food?  Do you love Japanese food? 

 I LOVE Japanese food😍 Especially Sashimi 😋

Especially Sashimi with Cold dry White wine or Sake is the best!

My favorite Sushi shop in Belgium is located in Uccle ' Le Cap du Vivier D'oie' which has a Japanese chef to make a Sashimi. 

Actually, the photo above is for 'Temaki' and I ordered as 'Sashimi for Temaki'.

Please click How to make Temaki and check how to make it. Very simple. 

Le Cap du vivier d'oie

Chaussée de Waterloo 1229, 1180 Uccle

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New Year in Japan

How did you spend your New Year?  

Sleeping? Eating? Watching movie? Read book? Cooking???????  

 

In Japan, we normally go to Shrine or Temple to pray own/family/friend health, wishes, etc.  Going Shrines or Temples are all ways feels good and feels calm....😄

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ox_(zodiac)

2021 is Ox year and Oxen are the hard workers in the background. 

Hope Ox will take away all bad thing in 2020 🙏

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Japanese noodle - UDON

What is UDON?  Udon (usually written as うどん) is a type of thick, wheat-flour noodle used frequently in Japanese cuisine.  well..... Udon is a Japanese pasta!

 

Let's enjoy to make variety of UDON together! 

<Salad Udon>

This is VEEERY simple😆

1. put frozen UDON into the boil water in 3-4min

2. rinse the noodle in a strainer, then drain it well

3. put noodle and salad (whatever you want) into the bowl then dressing

this time, I use cucumber, salad, tomato, seaweed (wakame) and tuna

also whatever dressing you can choose. please find your favorite dressing with UDON😉

You can buy a frozen UDON at Japanese supermarket or make it yourself ! 

FYI: Japanese supermarket in Belgium  Tagawa,  Haru-chan Ken-chan

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Daishimaki - delicious, very popular senbei (rice cracker)

 

This senbei (rice cracker) is very popular,  called Daishi-maki.  The shop is located in Kawasaki, Kanagwa, Japan.  The shop name is Domoto (堂本).  Everyday there is long queue to buy this and before noon, it is sold out...

There is 2 tastes, shoyu (soy sauce) and Shio (salt).  Very big and crispy Nori (seaweed) is the reason for its popularity!

This is the queue in front of the shop!!

The name "Daishi" comes from very famous shrine at this area called Kawasaki Daishi.  Normally around new year time, many people visit.

When you go to Japan next time, please visit this famous shrine and try Daishi maki!!

 info:

Domoto:堂本HP （in Japanese)

Kawasaki Daihi : Kawasaki daishi HP

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Asian supermarket in Leuven (Belgium)

 

Where do you buy Japanese products?

Here is my recommendation if you live close to Leuven in Belgium.   It is just outside of city center and there is a big car park which is quite handy !

As you can see many fresh products from all over Asia.

 

Different sort of alcohol, Japanese beer is quite cheap ! It is around 1.5 euro.

you want to buy tools to cook or plates ? There are many of them.

What I love are the instant noodles.  They have sooooo many different sorts of noodles to try out.  Let me know which one is your favorite?

They are open on Sunday as well. (13:00 -)

Supermarket Asia & More 華潤超市
住所：3012 Aarschotsesteenweg 92, Leuven, Belgium

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KANJI of 2020

In Japan, there is one of the event call 'Kanji of the Year'. People are voting one Kanji which represent of this year. 

'Kanji of 2020' was "Mitsu" (密) which people are chosen. The meaning is Dense or Tight and "Mitsu" as used in '3 Cs' 

from TBS news

Well..... then I choose my Kanji of 2020 as "Komoru" which you can find a Kanji on top (籠). 

"Komoru" means 'stay locked up in' or 'retreat'... At least I am staying home most of the time since last March. And wish & hope to get out from home in 2021!

Kanji for this year - From Wikipedia

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How to make pickled ginger

 

This is one of my favorite Japanese food.  It goes good with rice, veggies, fish, and basically with everything!

Ginger is a typical Asian food and has many benefits. It works with many forms of nausea, especially morning sickness, or it may help with weight loss. (apparently! 😀Check here for more ginger benefits->)

But I just eat it simply because I love it!

    Recipe    

<To cook>

Ginger ... 200g peeled

◾ Lemon syrup ...2 TSP

◾  Salt ...1/2 TSP

◾  Water ... 2 TBSP

<To marinate>

◽ Lemon syrup ... 2 TSP

◽ Sesame oil ... 2 TSP

◽ Any plant Oil (preferably less smell) ... 3 TBSP

◽ Soya sauce ... 1 TBSP

(TSTP= Tea spoon / TBSP= Table Spoon)

<To instruction>

1. Chop the ginger in a food processor.
2. Mix Ginger and all ingredients from ◾ 
3. Microwave it for 5 minutes. 600-700W
4. Mix it with  all ingredients from ◽

Enjoy and Keep in the fridge!

    Written by Nona

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Who are we ??

 

This blog is by 5 ladies living in Europe, sharing our useful (or useless?) chit-chat while waiting for our kids studying in Japanese Saturday school. Our interests covers Japanese cooking, diet recipe, living abroad, travel Europe, parenting in foreign country, multi-lingual education, cross-cultural communication and more! We are looking forward to knowing you 😊

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Hi ! I'm Nona. I have spent most of my life in west Japan. Love Kansai food, Kansai-ben..

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Hello! Do you like Japanese traditional items? I like it 😀😄 and would like to enjoy with you!

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