Okonomiyaki....Can I do it????

Tonight was a night of firsts. Well, honestly, only one first. It was the first time I attempted to make Japanese food...all by myself...with no Japanese people in the room...or even the same building. I decided to make one of my all time favorite things to eat, OKONOMIYAKI!!! This was quite risky because I don't want to put myself off anything that I normally enjoy when others prepare it.

So....what is Okonomiyaki???? According to Wikipedia, okonomiyaki is "is a pan-fried Japanese dish cooked with various ingredients. Okonomi means "what you like" or "what you want", and yaki means "grilled" or "cooked" (cf. yakitori and yakisoba); thus, the name of this dish means "cook what you like, the way you like". In Japan, okonomiyaki is usually associated with the Kansai or Hiroshima areas. Toppings and batters tend to vary according to region."

Why would I make such a dish?? Well, it is a specialty of the Kansai region of Japan and more specifically, Osaka. My better half is from Osaka and she cooks a "mean" okonomiyaki. I've watched her make it and happily consumed it on many an occasion....now was the time to make it. Unfortunately it's not so easy to get all the proper ingrdients in a small Canadian town, but I got most of the things I needed!

Hmmm...the batter, cabbage, eggs, green onions and garlic all waiting to meet "Mr. Pan."

Sizzle my pretties...usually you put thinly sliced beef or pork on top...I figured bacon would do just fine!

Oh No!!!! Will it work out????

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Yes!!! Flipping them was a success. None of the bacon fell off!

All right! Not bad. Things worked out as well as I could manage....noting the lack of proper ingredients, know-how and skill!

Will I try to make okonomiyaki again??? I dunno...maybe I should wait for the experts to do it justice. BUT....it did work out ok...no one died in the process of preparing the meal or consuming it.

Am I Still A Tourist???

Ok Ok....here we go. Sooo...the trip to Japan was great, even though it was something of a whirlwind. Osaka was the base of operations since it is Mai's hometown. From Osaka we first went to Himeji. Himeji has, argueably, the most splendid castle in all of Japan...it's all original...not remade like Osaka-jo. It was great. From there we ended up in Tokyo for a few days. It was a harrowing and somewhat stressful trip, but we came out the other end relatively unscathed! I have no idea how people can successfully navigate that city on a daily basis. Al I can say is one thing...SHINJUKU STATION is EVIL!!!!!! From there we went back to Osaka and the Kyoto. Kyoto is AMAZING!!!! I loved it there. it is such a gorgeous city that needs at least a dedicated week of your time to do it justice (I was a wimpy cry-baby for this leg of the journey...tired and with sore feet).

Oh yeah...we also went to Nara which was soooo great. The fact that they have 1200, mildly aggressive deer as national treasures is a treat. Don't eat anything in public cause you're liable to be mauled by a pack of roving fawns!!!

Ok...I left Asia after my wonderful trip with Mai. Last weekend I landed in Vancouver and met up with Greg and Arin. They work at CDI's emmersion school in Vancouver called CSI. EEEEK....I got there just in time for their class pageant (Wizard of Oz) and graduation ceremony. One of my old students from Busan was even there. We both almost had heart-attacks when we saw each other. A few days in Vancouver and then I was off to Ontario.

Jeez...I feel like a tourist in my own country. I've been away for so long that I still have yet to feel like this is home. I suppose it isn't. I may be a citizen of Canada, but Korea has been home for years and still feels that way. Soon I'll be back in the game though. Timmy Ho's has been tasting pretty good and sooooo cheap compared to the coffee I'm used too! The Sens may be out this year, but I'll be in Ottawa this Fall to cheer'em on...oh yeah....and Canadian beer does taste GREAT!



In Vancouver with Greg and Arin...


Golden Temple in Kyoto with Mai...


Granville Island in Vancouver...


I am the keeper of the fire...ugh!