My Secret Weapon: Chocolat Brewery Cupcakes

This post appeared in the July 2011 Japan Blog Matsuri “Drinks in Japan,” hosted at NihongoUp. ほろ苦い (horonigai): bittersweet; something that has a strong taste adults favor “Can I lick the bowl?” As Japan gears up for White Day, the day when men who received chocolate for Valentine’s Day prepare to return the favor, the…

Will Translate for Jam

Regional and seasonal food in Japan is Serious Business.™ When I go on trips, I try to make a point of eating the regional specialties. Nagano is famous for a lot of delicious things. I bought the most delicious and cheapest of apples I’ve had in Japan at a stand with a cash box outside Zenkôji in Nagano City–4 for 200 yen! I discovered that Nagano actually has apricots, which are scanty and expensive in my region. I tried the regional Kit Kat flavors: shichimi, “seven-spice,” and apple.