Food Writing & Culinary Travel

Shizuoka: A Culinary Journey Through Nature's Bounty

In Shizuoka, you can trace the path of ingredients from their source to restaurants all over Japan within an ecosystem of passionate farmers, artisan producers, and visionary chefs. Here are some of the best ways to explore this region’s delicacies, including coastal ingredients, mountain-sourced produce and, of course, sake. The waters of Mt. Fuji are inseparable from the produce of Shizuoka, which is no better exemplified than at Shimoyama Fish Farm. Akira Shimoyama has mastered raising am...

The Cauliflower Recipe So Good Even Sworn Cauliflower Haters Love it

Cauliflower: bland and inferior to broccoli in every way. Or so I thought.

For a long time, even cauliflower cheese (the florets baked and smothered in cheese sauce) wasn’t enough to convince me otherwise. We were often served mushy boiled cauliflower in school, and the soggy mess turned me off the white, bulbous brassica for years after graduation.

My father, who grew up in Egypt eating and making food that’s a world away from the bland fare of school lunches, never misses a chance to prove m

The Top 10 Foods to Try in Hokkaido

Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island and historic home of the native Ainu people, offers visitors a whole host of foods and dishes unique to the mountainous island. From Hokkaido’s own take on ramen to the island’s specialty ice cream, here are 10 foods that must be tried when exploring the island.

Home to Sapporo, the birthplace of miso ramen, Hokkaido is undoubtedly the place to grab this classic bowl of Japanese noodle soup. Hokkaido-style ramen features tonkotsu broth, though unlike the Ha

The Story of Kitakata's Ramen and Where To Eat It, According to an Expert

If you don’t know where to commence your Kitakata ramen journey, consider trying Genraiken because – as Hanami says – it is “said to be the ‘original Kitakata Ramen restaurant’” and is the descendent of the original street cart mentioned above. Close to the main train station, you can literally hop off the train from Tokyo and go straight to Genraiken to try some classic Kitakata ramen, and perhaps a side of homemade gyoza or rice. With a drinks menu ranging from sake to cider and classic dishes

A Wine Lover’s Guide to Furano

Make sure to take a walk through the winding forest and shopping cabins of Ningle Terrace to reach

. Ningle Terrace is one of Furano’s top attractions, and local creators’ products are showcased in its log cabins. It’s open from noon daily but is particularly stunning at night when the trees and cabins are lit up with fairy lights. This is a perfect time to meet local creators and purchase artisanal products, which vary from food and drink (including wine) to handmade fashion accessories and or

10 Best Restaurants in Sapporo

Sapporo, Hokkaido's capital city, offers its visitors some of Japan's finest restaurants, as well as a whole host of foods and dishes unique to the mountainous island of Hokkaido that draw in people from all over Japan and the rest of the world. This land of the Japanese north more than 50 Michelin star restaurants, with many of those being based in the city of Sapporo. Known for its fantastic range of fresh seafood, delicious ramen, and lamb dishes, there's plenty for the food lover to dig into

The world of Japanese saké as seen in Kampai! For the Love of Sake

Anyone who has tried good sake (pronounced sah-keh) can attest to the initial simplicity behind the drink giving way to depth and flavor. Drinking sake is an ancient tradition amongst the Japanese people, and can be found mentioned as far back as the 3rd century. Sake, or nihonshu (literally, Japanese liquor) as it is known in Japan, is very much intertwined with the culture of Japan, and is considered one of the country’s national beverages.

Fascination with nihonshu is growing throughout the

10 Foods You Need to Try in Kyoto

With Kyoto being the most famous and longest-lasting capital city in Japanese history, through centuries of cultural and artistic growth and development, it’s no wonder that Kyoto has so many incredible foods and dishes that are unique to the city or originally invented there. Some of Japan’s most cherished dishes can be found in Kyoto. Here are 10 that visitors must try when visiting the old capital.

Shojin ryori is a stripped-down vegetarian cuisine favoring seasonal produce which originated

The Top 15 Restaurants in Kyoto

Kyoto was Japan’s capital city for hundreds of years and it remains to this day the great city of art and culture in Japan. It is where many of the great artistic legacies of Japan began, including the culinary arts. Japanese food is often seen and respected as an art form as well as a thing to eat, and the food found in Kyoto is some of the finest in all of Japan. That means when you visit a Kyoto restaurant, you know you're experiencing the best of the best.

In its fourth generation of owners

10 Foods to Try in Osaka

Japan is famously a foodie’s paradise. Meals like sushi, ramen, and katsu curry are celebrated the world over. But Osaka is where food is truly innovated upon, and many of Japan’s most delightful culinary surprises can be found. With Tsuruhashi, one of Japan's most celebrated Koreatowns, and districts famous for their restaurants like Shinsekai and Dotonburi there’s plenty to explore. From bite-sized pockets of joy like takoyaki to the wholesome and savvy innovation that is omurice, there is so

These Are the Absolute Best Restaurants in Osaka, Japan

Osaka, one of Japan’s largest, busiest, and most exciting cities, is also one of the country’s food capitals. It's responsible for such culinary delights as takoyaki (fried octopus balls with bonito flakes), kushikatsu (fried skewers of chicken, pork, and mixed vegetables), and okonomiyaki (savory pancakes filled with vegetables, mayonnaise, bonito flakes, and anything else you fancy). Thanks to a treasure trove of foods to try in Osaka , you'll find a range of outstanding restaurants that cater

Find Tranquility in Shanghai's Tea Houses

One of the oldest teahouses in Shanghai, serving tea since 1855, Mid Lake Pavilion Tea House (also known as Huxinting Tea House) can be found at the entrance of Yu Gardens. It certainly looks the part with its two-storey traditional wood design, the zig-zag bridge extends deliberately from it in an attempt to keep out demons who prefer a straight route in. Many famous visitors to Shanghai have sat for tea within, including Queen Elizabeth II and Bill Clinton.

The tea served here is of the highe

5 Ramen Towns You Must Visit | Travel Japan | JNTO

One of the most exciting things about ramen is that you can really delve in and start getting to know the regional varieties that make this iconic noodle dish so special. Variations in broth, noodles, and toppings make every bowl unique. What better way to do that than visiting some of Japan’s special ramen towns? These five areas have been recognized as culinary hubs with countless ramen shops to visit and enjoy. Get ready to experience some of Japan’s best ramen.

Considered to be one of the o

8 sweet, chewy, and colorful Korean desserts you’re missing out on

Gone are the days when South Korean food in America only referred to Korean barbecue. Bibimbap and kimchi grace menus, and traditional flavors have blended with other cuisines to make a new category of Korean burgers and tacos. Part of that popularity is because Korean food is one of the healthiest cuisines in the world, but one side of the food — the decidedly less healthy side — is still often left out: dessert.

That’s a shame because there’s a Korean dessert for just about every occasion, wh

5 Local Food Markets You Must Visit | Travel Japan | JNTO

Japan’s food markets tell the story of the nation’s deep culinary and cultural history. While some such establishments have occupied the same locations for generations, all afford visitors the chance to interact with locals offering a variety of tantalizing local ingredients lovingly grown, caught, and prepared by skillful hands. There is a lot more to these food markets than just the food but having access to the best ingredients doesn’t hurt. Japan is certainly famous for its seafood but local

Fresh, Hot & Steamy: Our Guide to the 9 Best Korean Street Foods (& 1 That You Might Want to Avoid Completely)

The smell of Korean street food hits you moment you escape the high rises and wander down to the markets, side streets, subway stations, and universities. Korea’s street vendor culture dates back over 600 years to the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) where cooked food was sold at neighbourhood markets for hungry locals. Today, Korea’s street food scene is colorful, vibrant and includes not just the region’s traditional, tasty meals, but weird and wild Western-inspired dishes, too.

Myeongdong, Jongno,

The Best Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo

Tucked away in Harajuku, and very unassuming from the outside, is the tiny Harajuku Gyozaro, which is well known for offering some of the best, and most reasonably priced, dumplings in Tokyo. Gyoza (pan-fried dumplings) are common in Japan and Harajuku Gyozaro has taken this simple dish and made it the restaurant’s pride and joy. Customers can pick from steamed or fried gyoza in trays of six, stuffed with either vegetables or chicken and vegetables. The shop usually has a sizeable line outside b