What Does the Colour of Your Food Mean?
August 14, 2023
What food colour signals about flavour and nutrition, from chlorophyll and carotenoids to flavonoids and betalains in fruits and vegetables.
Stories from Sakai, Seki and the kitchen
The Journal読み物
Notes on knives, cooking and the people who make things slowly.
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When to Replace Your Trusty Cooking Knives: A Comprehensive Guide
July 17, 2023
Some knives are past saving: an edge that won’t hold after sharpening, cracks or chips, a wobbling handle, rust in the steel. Four signs it’s time to let go.
Choosing the Perfect Knife for Women Who Love to Cook
July 8, 2023
Choosing a knife for women who love to cook: comfort, ergonomic handles, versatility and a sharp, well-balanced blade for everyday kitchen tasks.
Upgrading kitchenware: why should you invest in good, sharp kitchen knives?
June 27, 2023
Cheap blades chip, dull within weeks and tire your wrist. The case for spending more, with Oishya’s Sakai Kyuba damascus as the counter-example.
A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing Your First Japanese Knife: A Newbie’s Essential Advice
June 20, 2023
Santoku means ‘three virtues’: slice, dice, mince. Why it makes a sane first Japanese knife, and what to check in weight, balance and handle feel.
Ein Leitfaden für Anfänger bei der Auswahl Ihres ersten japanischen Messers: Die wichtigsten Ratschläge für Einsteiger
June 20, 2023
Welches japanische Messer zuerst? Das Santoku steht für ‘drei Tugenden’ (schneiden, würfeln, hacken), plus worauf Sie bei Gewicht, Balance und Griff achten.
The Okinawan Secret To Longevity
June 8, 2023
Okinawa has one of the world’s highest counts of centenarians, linked to a plant-rich diet and the Hara Hachi Bu habit of eating until 80% full.
Effortless Maintenance, Lasting Performance: The Promise of Rust-Resistant Cooking Knives
June 5, 2023
Chromium in the steel is what stops a blade rusting, staining and pitting. What rust-resistant knives ask of you day to day, and what they give back.
Takoyaki – the japanese octopus ball cake – homemade recipe and tips
June 4, 2023
A homemade takoyaki recipe walking through batter, octopus and toppings, with tips for shaping the octopus balls in a pan or muffin tin.
Why Family Cooking Together Matters
May 30, 2023
Five reasons cooking together as a family matters, from strengthening bonds and building knife skills to teaching responsibility and healthy eating habits.
Why Japanese Knives Are Perfect for Women Cooks
May 18, 2023
Japanese knives trace back to samurai swordsmiths, including blades for the Onna Bugeisha, and their light, precise build suits women cooks well.
Honing vs. Sharpening Stones: Unveiling the Secrets to Knife Maintenance
May 18, 2023
Honing realigns a knife’s edge between uses with a steel or ceramic rod, while sharpening on whetstones removes metal to restore a dulled blade.
How to Properly Maintain Japanese Knives
May 18, 2023
Never leave them wet. How to wash, dry and sharpen a Japanese knife, with a rundown of the Gyuto, Santoku, Nakiri, Deba and Sujihiki.
Low-Waste Ideas for the Kitchen, Grocery Store, and Beyond: A Cut Above the Rest
May 16, 2023
21 practical low-waste tips for the kitchen and grocery shop, organised around the five R’s of zero-waste living: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and rot.
All About Japanese food
April 9, 2023
Why Japanese cuisine stands out: fresh seasonal ingredients, mastery of umami and the pride of the cooks behind sushi, ramen, soba and more.
What Is Santoku Knife Used For?
April 8, 2023
The santoku, whose name means ‘three virtues’, is a short, wide all-purpose blade for slicing, dicing and mincing, and how it differs from the gyuto.
All You Need To Know About Japanese Green Tea
April 8, 2023
A look at Japanese green tea, from its 8th-century roots and Zen monk Eisai to the main varieties, health benefits and tips for brewing a good cup.
Why Dull Knives Are More Dangerous Than Sharp Ones
April 1, 2023
A dull knife needs more force and slips more easily, so it causes more injuries than a sharp one. Includes paper, tomato and fingernail tests.
Should You Grow Medicinal Mushrooms At Home?
March 31, 2023
A look at growing reishi, lion’s mane and blue oyster mushrooms at home, the health compounds behind them and the pros and cons of cultivating your own.
A Quick Beginner’s Guide To Japanese Shrines And Temples
March 2, 2023
Telling a Buddhist temple from a Shinto shrine in Japan, plus the etiquette and dos and don’ts for visiting these revered sites respectfully.
Why Nakiri Is A Perfect Knife For Vegetarians
February 10, 2023
The nakiri has a flat rectangular blade built for an up-and-down chopping motion, which makes it a precise, efficient knife for plant-based cooking.
How To Clean Brass Utensils – The Easy Way
February 8, 2023
Clean and brighten brass utensils in minutes with a simple paste of vinegar, flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt, then polish and rinse.
What Is Umami Flavour?
February 2, 2023
Umami, the savoury fifth taste found in meat, cheese and mushrooms, was identified by Japanese scientist Kikunae Ikeda in the early 1900s.
Why Linen Is One Of The Best Materials For Your Kitchen
January 9, 2023
Linen is naturally anti-bacterial, eco-friendly and very absorbent, which is why it has become a staple fabric for kitchen towels and tableware.
What Is Daruma Doll And How To Use It?
January 2, 2023
The Daruma doll, a symbol of luck and perseverance, traces back to Bodhidharma, the Zen monk whose nine-year wall meditation inspired the legend.
Can Pregnant Women Eat Sushi?
December 26, 2022
Can pregnant women eat sushi? Cooked rolls are generally fine, but raw fish and high-mercury species like swordfish are best avoided.
A Quick Guide To Safe Online Shopping
December 13, 2022
A guide to safer online shopping: vet unfamiliar stores, read third-party reviews, check for contact details, and use tools like ScamAdviser.
How To Carve A Chicken, The Gordon Ramsay’s Style
December 10, 2022
How to joint and carve a chicken Gordon Ramsay style, separating the legs, wings and breasts by letting a sharp knife do the work.
10 Japanese Concepts To Be Inspired And Live By
December 10, 2022
Ten Japanese concepts for a happier life, including ikigai as a reason for being, kaizen as steady improvement, and oubaitori on not comparing.
Fish Tacos Recipe
December 6, 2022
Fish tacos with seasoned white fish and prawns on corn tortillas, topped with cabbage, avocado and a spicy lime crema sauce.
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