August 2026
Mentsuyu — The All-Purpose Seasoning Every Japanese Kitchen Relies OnNew!!
What Is Mentsuyu? Do you know about mentsuyu (めんつゆ)? It might just be one of the most useful seasonings in Japanese cooking. In a single bottle, you get dashi, soy sauce, mirin, and sake all combined together. Honestly, with just this one seasoning, pretty much anyone can put together a proper Japanese meal. It's such […]
Easy Nikujaga Recipe: Shortcut Japanese Beef and Potato Stew (With Mentsuyu)
A classic Japanese comfort food — tender beef and vegetables simmered in a savoury-sweet broth. This shortcut version uses just one seasoning: mentsuyu. INGREDIENTS Nikujaga (Japanese beef and potato stew) Servings − 4 + STEPS NOTES A note on mentsuyu strength: mentsuyu comes in several concentrations \u2014 straight (ready to use), 2x, 3x, and even […]
Somen — The Noodle You Eat at Home, Not at a Restaurant
When people think of Japanese noodles, ramen is usually the first thing that comes to mind — it's famous worldwide, and for good reason. But did you know there's another noodle that's a huge part of everyday Japanese life, yet you'll almost never see it on a restaurant menu? It's called somen (素麺), and today […]
Our New Kei Truck Has Arrived
Life with a Kei Truck My husband and I spend from May through October living between two homes, maintaining his family house in Hokkaido during that stretch. It's out in the Niseko area — genuinely deep in the mountains. In a place like that, there's one thing you absolutely cannot live without: a vehicle. And […]