Cherry-Blossom Spritz

I made these cookies to send in care packages to some of our friends, including my friend who always requests birthday cake challenges. (This year, it was meant to be this cheesecake adventure.)

Guest Post: Krispy Kreme HARU! Doughnuts Taste Test

The hardest part of researching and blogging about Japanese food trends from the US is not being able to eat them! Today we have a guest post about Krispy Kreme’s HARU! Doughnuts by Alice of Super Happy Awesome. You may have seen her posts on seasonal foods, especially Starbucks’, linked on the social media for…

Food Report: Sakura Season 2014, Part 3

Part 1 Part 2 I didn’t mean to turn this blog into a tribute to cake and sakura sweets, and yet here we are with another sakura pop-culture chain-food post. I do have a curried stew recipe in the works, and I swear it’s sugar free. Back to that sakura food for a moment: one…

Food Report: Sakura Season 2014, Part 2

Part 1 here. At the risk of being all doughnuts all the time lately: While Mister Donut may not be bringing back the sakura donut for 2014, Krispy Kreme is! (But only until March 31, so  you’ll have to hurry!)

Food Report: Sakura Season 2014

Part 2 First, I’m very jealous of you all in Japan enjoying or about to enjoy the sakura food! I like to follow food trends, so, for posterity, here are some foods from cherry-blossom season 2014. Most of these are from international brands and chains that localize their products for Japan. Just a heads up: I’m not…

The Best Sakura Soft Cream in Town: Kyokusuien

I had a hell of a time looking up the name to this hole-in-the-wall ice cream shop, but it’s actually hard to miss the storefront! Located at the base of the hill leading up to the Ishikawamon (石川門) Gate of Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen, Kyokusuien (曲水案) specializes in Japanese flavors of soft ice cream. While…

Sakura Matcha Muffins

One hell of a storm blew through Saturday night and Sunday, ruining the weekend for hanami. Luckily, we’d had decent weather all week, including Friday night, when I went to Rojô Park in Komatsu for nighttime cherry-blossom viewing. Of course, hanami wouldn’t be hanami without food and drink, and what better to bring than two Japanese classics together…

Homemade Sakura “Latte” (Sakura Steamer)

    Nothing heralds spring like seasonal menu changes! Starbucks’ sakura latte (henceforth not italicized) is much like the pumpkin spice latte in the US: people line up for it and it sells out long before sakura season is over. Or, in Kanazawa and the rest of northern Japan, before it even starts. This year,…