Healthy Food Can Be Tasty, Too: Sora in Miyoshi

It was Wednesday, and that meant it was time to check out a new restaurant.  For about a month we've been trying to head over to Chikura for pizza, but alas fate is against us, because the shop was randomly closed this week, too.

So, Sugar threw out the suggestion to hit a cafe famous their coffee, and off we went.  It turns out it was in Miyoshi.  I swear this was not on purpose.

another restaurant you'd never find if you weren't looking for it 

The interior was bright and clean.  These chairs were actually made of some very large tree.  There are flowers, photos, and little nicknacks all over the place.  Around the far wall are 3 fish tanks containing the cutest goldfish I've ever seen.  They look like big orange bubbles - their bodies are really round and puffy and they have long, thin translucent fins that look like silk.  I want some!

They had a one-coin (500yen) lunch menu with fried rice, curry, noodles, and a couple of other things that looked yummy.  Sugar and I both ordered the original curry.

The menu boasted a 3:1(?)  ratio of vegetables to meat.  They simmer everything down and make a curry without using any added water, just the water from the veggies.  It seems to me that they might put it through a food processer, so the texture is like a very hearty meat sauce.

I am sold.

It's not one of those dishes that smacks you in the face with greatness with the first bite.  It's one of those dishes that, somehow, once you start eating, you don't want to stop.  I CLEANED that place.  I wish I had sprung for the full-size curry, but I'm not sure even that would be enough.   It's a very light tasting curry with almost no lingering aftertaste.  It comes, it's delicious, and then it's gone, leaving you wanting more.  If I could cook this, I'd probably make it every week. 

We decided to use the money (and calories) we saved on the one-coin lunch to buy a dessert set!  Choose one dessert and coffee or tea for 600 yen.  Since this place is big on coffee, we both chose that.  I had the molten chocolate cake.

The outside was moist but solid (I hate when these cakes fall apart)  and the inside was the texture of brownie batter. The cake was made of a slightly bitter chocolate, and therefore just sweet enough for adults, but the ice cream was rich and sweet so the two balanced each other well.

Sugar got the yogurt cheesecake.  I only had a bite, but you can taste a nice bit of acidity from the yogurt, and the cake was fluffy but moist, like a cross between a "baked cheesecake" and a "rare cheesecake".  It seemed like the kind of cheesecake that won't make you feel sick from one slice (which happens to me often because I don't do well with heavy, rich sweets).

We noticed a poster on the window saying that they offer classes at this restaurant.  For only 1500 yen, you can take a class on making easy, healthy cakes, cookies, breads, etc.  It includes the class materials, recipe, a drink, and a small gift.  What a steal, and what a fun way to spend the evening! I'm definitely calling the girls on this one!

Cafe Flottant in Chikura BLEW MY MIND 千倉のカフェ・フロッタン

After the Knife Festival, SR, our guests from the prefectural offices, and I went to Cafe Flottant for lunch.

SR said he was randomly choosing a restaurant and then we ended up at this SUPER AMAZING MIND-BOGGLINGLY DELICIOUS  restaurant.

They owners mainly run a restaurant in Shibuya (I think it's French food) but they come to Chikura for the warm parts of the year.  They have a course dinner menu (by reservation only) as well as curry, a burger platter, and 3 sets for lunch.

Set A:  chicken stewed in white wine

Set B:  pork stewed in black vinegar

Set B: Chicken hamburger steak with a mushroom demi-glace sauce

I got set B.  It was so good, I have had dreams about eating it multiple times ever since.

Here's the set.  On the left is a healthy multigrain rice.  The salad was a carrot-sesame salad, in the cup is potatoes au-gratin, and the meat was some kind of thick slice of stewed pork covered in sauteed peppers and the stewing sauce which seems to have included mushrooms and onions.

I picked up a pair of chopsticks because shredded salads are easier to eat with chopsticks.  Plus, I like to save the best dish (usually the meat) for last.

 So, first was the salad. I got the faint-essence of sesame oil, which I sometimes find overpowering in taste and for some reason tends to remind me of korean pickles.  However, this was a light and fruity sesame oil.  Oddly, I couldn't really place my finger on what the other ingredients in the salad, which I find is usually a good sign.  This salad had just enough seasoning to enhance the flavor of the sweet carrots without overpowering it.  I massacred it.

Next was the potatoes au-gratin.  I didn't have high hopes for this because a majority of readily available cheese in Japan is highly processed and mostly flavorless.  This, however, was completely different - a creamy, cheesy concoction with a depth of flavor, again, without being to salty or overpowering.  I could have easily polished off 3x as much.  I would have liked to, actually...

...that is, until I got to the meat.  Until now I had been eating with chopsticks, and thought "what the heck" and decided to put the meat to the test.  To my surprise, the thick, wooden wari-bashi cut through the meat like butter!  It was if the meat, in fear of  my chopsticks, fell apart on its own.

I put the meat in my mouth and nearly jumped out of my chair.  The waitress, surprised,  seemed to flinch for a moment, but then turned away with a chuckle.  It was divine...

The taste would play no second to the texture. Even though it was stewed in vinegar, there was absolutely no sourness in the least.  Plus, I could taste the lovely sweet-ish broth (we say dashi) from the veggies.  There was just enough fat left on the meat for the meat to really melt in your mouth (without feeling you're going to vomit on a bunch of jiggly stuff), a lot like the Satomi pork that Odori Kitchen used.

One section of the restaurant and our waitress.

Needless to say, I scraped my plate clean.  After lunch and before our drinks, the waitress brought out a tiny plate of alphabet block-shaped chocolates as a palate cleanser.  How cute!  My initial wasn't among the letters, so I convinced everyone to make up a name or a reason for choosing the letter they chose to eat.  It was kind of a fun ice-breaker!

There's a patio, too.  Too bad it wasn't sunny :-(

Unfortunately, for whatever reason, it seems this restaurant will close (perhaps for good) at the end of the month.  What's more unfortunate is that I probably won't get back over there before it does.

Don't make the same mistake!  Hurry over to Chikura for some mind-blowing today.

Liz

Takabe Shrine’s Knife Ceremony and the Elvis of Shinto (高家神社と神道のエルヴィス)

On October 17th, I went to Takabe Shrine in Chikura to see their famous Knife Ceremony.

Apparently, Takabe Shrine is the only shrine in Japan dedicated to a god of cooking. A few times each year, on set days, they have the Knife Ceremony,  a ritual in which a specialist uses only a knife and a set of chopsticks to butcher a whole fish into sashimi.  He does this without touching the fish with his hands even once.  I heard this used to be performed for the emperor.

I don't understand it all well enough to explain, so take a look at some photos!

I want those pants!

 cleaning the cutting board

done cleaning!

purifying tools

He was waving that around so I think that means purifying.

gotta do the chopsticks, too!

Finally the fish comes out.  As you can see, the fish is vomiting decorations.  This pleases the gods.

This was my favorite part! This guy does the cutting, and he came out in a kimono with super long sleeves.  He sat down and then flung his arms out to his sides for the men behind him to tie up (out of his way).  Somehow this movement reminded me of Elvis!

It was like this!

I was really worried he was going to cut himself.

Look at how he holds those chopsticks!  I can barely use chopsticks the normal way...

"I am finished here.  Bring me the plate!" (said without words)

I just want to know, what's the deal with grandpa's hat?

The finished product.

I've got to say, I tend to prefer flashier rituals and festivals (I know, typical American).  This one was pretty calm and simple in classic Shinto fashion.  Plus, it was hot as Hades outside!  The heat zapped a good part of my concentration.  All the same, this is a very famous ritual, so if you have time, it's worth checking out.  Look for Elvis when you come.

By the way, did you know that by the Japanese naming, October is called 神無月?  It's pronounced 'kanazuki' and it means "the month without god(s)".  According to legend, all of the gods in all of the shrines in Japan go to Izumo Taisha in Togane Prefecture for a big meeting.  Since there are no gods in people's local area, it's called the month without god.  

I wonder why they perform a ritual for the god when the god isn't there?  

No one can answer my question, lol.

Well, they'll do it again on November 5th, so hopefully the god can catch that one.

Liz

They're hidden everywhere! ~Komatsu Temple in Chikura ~

  Every fall, Komatsu temple becomes a popular tourist destination, known for it's beautiful autumn colors.

毎秋、紅葉がきれいな場所として小松寺は人気な観光地になるのです。

On the way to see the Knife Festival at Takabe Shrine, Chikura area expert SR-san and I stopped by Komatsu Temple to see if the leaves have started to change.

高家神社の包丁式に行くついでに、千倉のエキスパートのSRさんと小松寺に寄って、葉の色が変わり始めたかどうか見に行きました。

They haven't.

変わってないです。

But, it's still a really tranquil, relaxing temple to visit and just walk around, or sit under on the bench on the 'mini island' and read a book.

でも、とても静かなお寺で、お散歩か「小島」で読書をするのにすごく良いお寺だと思います。

The view of the 'mini island' (my naming) and the pond from the parking lot.  Look at the lily pads!
駐車所から「小島」の眺め。睡蓮の葉をみて！

Dragon doggies!  They're actually called shi-shi or komainu; I think they're more like a mythical lion beast.

It's called "ah" because he has his mouth open.  On the other side of the entrane is "um", who has his mouth closed.  "Ah" and "Um" figured often guard entrances to shrines and temples.

The smaller of the buildings in the complex.  Can you find "ah" and "un" in the carving? 

I love the intricate wood carvings at temples.
お寺と神社の彫り物が大好き！

I found a few of these tiny straw sandals tied around the front doors to the building.  I wonder who they're for?
(please excuse my man-hand, it's there for scale)
扉に何足かの小さな草履が付けてあったんです。誰の草履でしょう？
（私の男らしい手を気にしないで下さい。小ささを伝える為です）

scariest elephant ever, not gonna lie
超怖い象、本当に

the front of the larger building.  It would've helped if I took a photo of the whole thing, huh?  I'm obsessed with the carvings.

dragon dog "Um"
吽

dragon dog "Ah"
I wonder if "Ah is always right and "Um" is always on the left
阿はいつも右で吽はいつも左なのかな？

By the way, super-expert SR-san told me a little about "Ah" and "Um". 

ちなみに、スーパエキスパートSRさんは私にちょっと阿吽について教えてくれまた。

Here's how the conversation goes:

その話はこんな感じでした：

SR: Do you know about Ah and Um?

阿吽知ってますか？

Liz: I know that they're often posted at the entrance to temples and shrines but I don't really understand    their meaning.

よく神社やお寺の門でみるけど、その意味が良くわからないです。

SR:  What do you do to a baby when it's born?

赤ちゃんが生まれたらどうしますか？

Liz: Um...you make it cry to make sure it's breathing.

えぇ。。。息が出来ているかどうかを確認する為に泣かせます。

SR:  Right.  So when we're born our mouths are open. What about when a person dies?

そうです。だから、人は生まれた時にみんな口が開いています。死ぬ時は？

Liz: Um....we have a funeral?

あのう、お葬式を行います？

SR:  Yes, and when people die we close their mouths.

そうです。そして人が死ぬと我々はその人の口を閉じますよね。

Liz: （in my head; Yeah it'd be scary if they were open.）  Oh, right...

        「頭の中：開いてたら怖いね」あ、そうですね。      

SR: Think of it as them signifying the life cycle of humans.　Or, so I've heard.

だから、人間の生死を象徴するよな物だと聞いてます。

Liz:  It's the circle of life! Wow you're like, a genius.

        Circle of lifeなんだ！（ライオンキングの歌）SRさんすごいね！

笑！

I learn something new every day :-).

Liz

P.S.  SR says this explanation isn't true, but I think it's a good story so I'm going to believe it!