Joel Stewart
Joel Stewart
What do you like to drink on a rainy day? Let's talk early Fall temps...not winter cold just yet. Some days are still short sleeved, short pants (for the brave). Food wise, here in Kyoto, we've already begun the "nabe" season, which is a konbu/bonito flake broth base (umami up the yin-yang) and varied veggies, shrooms plus the protein of choice...cod, chicken, pork are usually the main contenders...tofu, but of course.
Tonight will be fresh cod and momen dofu (the sturdier, cotton-threshed version). "Fondue" is the not-so accurate equivalent in the west.......so....imagine this: A pot of stock burbling away at the table. On the side are all the things one wants to put into the pot, from veggies and seaweed to all kinds of proteins. At the end of the meal, the broth has become the essence of all that's been put into it. Perfect time to throw in some cooked rice and a bit of umeboshi to finish off the meal.
If it's seafood based, my knee jerk reaction would be muscadet. But if Nihonshu is required, well the fall releases would work easily and plenty of choices there.
And apropos of nothing: Because it's a rainy day here, and I was umbrella less between home and the studio, I was reminded of an equation I've often thought about: Considering gravitational forces, to be less wet, is it better to walk or run in a downpour? My thoughts are that if you run faster than than the speed of the rain falling down, you will become more wet.
Tonight will be fresh cod and momen dofu (the sturdier, cotton-threshed version). "Fondue" is the not-so accurate equivalent in the west.......so....imagine this: A pot of stock burbling away at the table. On the side are all the things one wants to put into the pot, from veggies and seaweed to all kinds of proteins. At the end of the meal, the broth has become the essence of all that's been put into it. Perfect time to throw in some cooked rice and a bit of umeboshi to finish off the meal.
If it's seafood based, my knee jerk reaction would be muscadet. But if Nihonshu is required, well the fall releases would work easily and plenty of choices there.
And apropos of nothing: Because it's a rainy day here, and I was umbrella less between home and the studio, I was reminded of an equation I've often thought about: Considering gravitational forces, to be less wet, is it better to walk or run in a downpour? My thoughts are that if you run faster than than the speed of the rain falling down, you will become more wet.