Blog

Visiting the Yoichi Nikka Distillery (Hokkaido)
October 30, 2018
Last year, my husband Johnny and I took his mom on her first trip to...
Postcard from Hokkaido: Next-Level Ochazuke in Kushiro
November 2, 2016
Ochazuke, or "tea rice," is usually as humble as its name sounds, but at a random izakaya in Kushiro, it was taken to the next level.
Postcard from Hokkaido: Autumn Salmon at Washo Ichiba, Kushiro
October 26, 2016
Some of the best, freshest seafood in Japan comes from Hokkaido. Many of the stalls at Washo Ichiba sell shoyu-cured ikura from locally-caught fish.
Furochan Eats: Out in Otaru, Hokkaido
October 25, 2013
Furo-chan visits Hokkaido, Japan and eats fried chicken at Naruto-ya and grilled seafood (uni, tsubu, and scallops) at Sawazaki Suisan.
The Ramen Shaman: Ezo Fukurou Visits America
September 30, 2013
I may have missed the recent LA Ramen Yokocho Fest due to an unavoidable trip to...
Furochan Eats: Sapporo's Soup Curry is a Joy Forever (Until You Finish Eating It)
September 16, 2013
“I hate Tokyo.” S’s face was perfectly serious. “Sapporo is so much better -- less...
Postcard from Hokkaido: Here's Looking at YOU
May 20, 2013
This squid was swimming around, minding its own business just a couple minutes before this...
The Ramen Shaman: Miso Ramen at Sumire (Sapporo)
May 16, 2013
Los Angeles to San Francisco. San Francisco to Tokyo. Tokyo to Sapporo. Plane to train...
Japanify: Ikuradon (Ode to Hokkaido)
March 8, 2012
There was an egg festival in my bowl of rice the other day. I placed...