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.
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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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Muhammara w/ Pomegranate And Walnuts
November 18, 2022
Muhammara, the roasted red pepper and walnut dip from Aleppo, blended with pomegranate molasses, cumin and lemon for a sweet, smoky spread.
Butter Chicken
November 10, 2022
A lighter butter chicken recipe with yogurt-marinated chicken in a spiced tomato and cream sauce, served with naan. A fitting Halloween dish.
Top 3 Reasons Why Couples Who Cook Together Create Stronger Relationships
July 2, 2022
Three reasons couples who cook together build stronger relationships, from learning side by side to connecting and making memories in the kitchen.
Top 3 Ways To Store Your Kitchen Knives
June 12, 2022
The three main ways to store kitchen knives safely around children, comparing drawer inserts, countertop blocks and wall-mounted magnetic strips.
How To Look After Japanese Knives With Chef Olivia Burt
June 5, 2022
Chef Olivia Burt’s three tips for caring for Japanese knives: use a flat wooden board, store them on a magnetic rack, and never use the dishwasher.
Top 5 Reasons To Eat By The Seasons
June 5, 2022
Five reasons to eat seasonally: produce in its natural season holds more nutrients, tastes more intense, and skips artificial ripening agents.
Roasted Cod With Pea, Edamame And Asparagus Risotto
May 27, 2022
A recipe for roasted skin-on cod served over a creamy risotto of pea, edamame and asparagus, finished with Parmesan and fresh greens.
Top 5 Reasons Why Should You Cook With Wooden Spoon
May 25, 2022
Five reasons to cook with wooden spoons: they resist heat, stay non-reactive with acidic foods, and don’t harbour bacteria the way myths claim.
How to make a chilli oil
April 17, 2022
A quick chili oil recipe: simmer crushed dried peppers in neutral oil with a pinch of salt, then bottle and use within a month.
Japana Home Is Rebranding As Oishya
February 1, 2022
After five years, Japana Home is becoming Oishya, a name from the Japanese word oishii, reflecting a wider range of kitchenware beyond knives.
Techniques De Coupe Avec Chef Fulvio Pischedda
January 24, 2022
Le chef Fulvio Pischedda montre comment tenir un couteau, la prise en griffe et quatre coupes de base: julienne et brunoise, fines incluses.
Knife Techniques With Chef Fulvio Pischedda
January 24, 2022
Paris chef Fulvio Pischedda demonstrates how to hold a knife, use the claw grip, and master the julienne and brunoise cuts.
The Claw Grip With Chef Olivia Burt
January 17, 2022
Chef Olivia Burt shows how to do the claw grip, the hand position that tucks your fingertips behind the blade so you cut food, not yourself.
How To Hold A Knife – By Chef Olivia Burt
January 17, 2022
Chef Olivia Burt explains how to hold a Japanese knife, gripping the top of the handle with thumb and fingers for steadier, faster cutting.
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