Discover the Art of Japanese Cooking
Join us as we explore authentic Japanese recipes that celebrate tradition and flavor.
Discover the Heart of Japanese Cuisine
Welcome to a place where you can explore the art of Japanese cooking. Here, you’ll find a blend of traditional recipes and Lucy’s personal touches. Our mission is to share the beauty and depth of Japan’s culinary heritage, inviting you to appreciate the flavors and techniques that have been crafted over generations.
Culinary Journeys
Join Lucy as she takes you on a culinary adventure, uncovering the stories behind each dish. Learn not just the 'how', but also the 'why' of Japanese flavors.
Respecting Tradition
We honor the rich history and culture behind Japanese cuisine. Through our posts, we celebrate age-old practices while making them accessible for everyone.
The Story Behind
“Sushi Girl”
This artwork was created by Sally Lewis (1929-2025) who reinvigorated and refreshed the logo from my original newsletter (Gochiso-sama!) on Japanese cuisine. I fondly call her “Sushi Girl.” Based on a drawing from the Edo Period (1603-1868), I believe.
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Recipes
Until I lived in Nagoya, I thought I only preferred less salty, lighter-colored misos, on the sweeter side. But the first time I had Misonikomi, another Nagoyan specialty, and tasted the deeply red and pungent hatcho (red) miso, my miso taste preferences widened and expanded. I loved making my kishimen
This month’s recipes are typical Nagoya fare: kishimen, a flat, wide quick-cooking udon noodle called hirauchi; and misonikomi (in next blog post), a dish of thicker handmade udon noodles in a hearty hatcho (red miso) broth. If you don’t like noodles, you could never be happy in Nagoya. Happily, I
Looking for a recipe on Mastumae Zoni soup from Hokkaido? You’ve come to the right place! New Year has always been an integral part of Japanese society. Osechi is the essence of traditional Japanese home cooking, and consists of all the celebratory dishes prepared at home two or three days
I love shiso, also known as perilla leaves, and am always thinking about how to use it in recipes. In fact, in my last blog posting on yakumi: Essential Japanese Herbs, Spices, and Condiments, I wrote about shiso (perilla leaves). This is a simple yet absolutely delicious fish dish
Like most cuisines, Japanese cooking employs a variety of fragrant herbs, spices, and condiments called yakumi to help create those delectable Japanese flavors and tastes. As the world becomes smaller, many of these can now be found overseas and are being used innovatively in many other cuisines. Here are some
One great way to instill smart, healthful lifetime eating habits in your kids is to have them planning menus, preparing dishes, and cleaning up right alongside you. By doing so, you can expose youthful palates to a wide variety of foods, teach kids to ascertain the freshness of ingredients, show
When my college-aged daughter was home this past summer, we explored a lot of Japanese places in the Bay Area. One hot day, we dropped by Uji Time Dessert in Berkeley, CA. I love their motto: “Our goal is simple – Think of us when you crave Japanese fusion style
I was thrilled when I heard about Kokoro Care Packages, who offers monthly and or seasonal Japanese care packages. I love that more companies are introducing Japanese foods and other products here in the U.S., and to other countries outside of Japan. So, I reached out to them and introduced
This recipe is a favorite in beer gardens and beer halls in Nagoya, where I happily lived for a number of years. Beer halls and beer gardens are popular summer retreats in japan. Just like overseas drinkers, the Japanese enjoy a variety of highly addictive and tasty snacks that inevitably
I was lucky enough to visit Okinawa once and loved it! Here is one of my favorite recipes from there. Modern Okinawa cuisine is based on dishes enjoyed by the rulers of the Ryukyu dynasty, which controlled Okinawa from 1372 to 1879, and traditional island homecooking. Originally, royal Ryukyuan cuisine
Katsuo (Bonito) is a seasonal Japanese delicacy of early summer. The most popular way to eat it is as katsuo no tataki (“pounded bonito sashimi”), a traditional dish from Kochi Prefecture on Shikoku Island. (Part of Thanks for the Meal’s regional Japanese recipe collection.) This is a unique type of
When it comes to sampling authentic Shojin Ryori, there are dozens of options throughout Japan. When it comes to sampling the best of the best, though, there are seven restaurants that you absolutely must check out. Must Visit Shojin Ryori Restaurants in Japan Shigetsu (Tenryuji, Arashiyama, Kyoto) This was my
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