Miso Soup Recipe

CONTRIBUTED BY PENNY VAN HEERDEN

My two-year-old daughter loves miso soup and even enjoys the seaweed.  As she can sometimes be full of nonsense about food this is a great discovery for me. Another healthy food that she actually enjoys, to add to her repertoire. The great thing about miso soup is that once you have bought the main ingredients it is quick and easy to make. You can cook up a pot in about ten minutes to go with almost any meal just as the Japanese do.  I am not sure that the Japanese would serve a bowl of miso soup with sausages and mashed potato but then again, why not? 

Just a couple of notes about the ingredients:  The miso paste can be any kind you find at the supermarket. There are many different varieties but unless you are a connoisseur, it isn’t easy to tell the difference.  We find that the light brown is tasty and not too salty.  Some of the darker brown or redder varieties have much stronger flavors. 

The bonito shavings are called katsuo in Japanese.  They look like bits of wood or sawdust but have a wonderful fishy smell.  In markets, you can see the katsuo, which look like bits of wood, being shaved fresh.  This is wonderful if you make Japanese stock regularly.  However, katsuo does lose its flavor so this latest find of the individual packets as shown in the photo is ideal if you don’t want to make miso soup on a daily basis.  The packets seal in the flavor and it can last longer.

The wakame seaweed is usually sold close to the miso paste.  The one I used has dried wakame, dried green onion and fu (wheat gluten).  The seaweed absorbs the soup and swells to 3 or 4 times its original size so limit to one handful at a time.

Ingredients (To serve two adults and one child)

3 cups water

2 large handfuls of bonito shavings (or 2 small individual packets)

2 tablespoons of miso paste

Small squares of tofu

1 handful of dried wakame seaweed

Any small mushrooms such as those pictured (optional)

Method

1.    Add the bonito flakes to 2 cups of water and bring to the boil.

 

2.    Remove the flakes, either by straining the stock through a sieve or use one of the pictured hand held strainers.  Discard the flakes.

 

3.    Dissolve the miso paste slowly into the stock.

 

4.    Add the tofu and a handful of seaweed.  

 

5.    Sauté the mushrooms and add.  

 

6.    Bring to the boil once more and serve.

Saltwater Fishing Okinawa

 

CONTRIBUTED BY BRYAN WINZER


I love eating fish and Okinawa has some delicious ones swimming around in the waters.  My friend and I are hardly fishing experts, but we both wanted to give deep water fishing a try before we left the island.  After looking into some options, we decided to book a trip with Saltwater Fishing Okinawa.  Booking was fairly simple:  you can reserve a spot and pay via Paypal through their website.  You can either get a full charter together or join an open charter individually. Saltwater Fishing Okinawa gives a discount to military personnel and their guests (100 USD).  That fee covers the boat, bait, a basic reel (power reels and trolling reels are available for additional fees), and the entertaining and helpful Captain Billy.  

When you return to port, Captain Billy and his staff will clean and fillet the fish for a nominal fee of a few dollars.  Coordinating the date can be done via email with Captain Billy, the owner of the fishing company. Flexibility helps as weather or cancellations can affect the charters.  

The trip has an early start: 0250. Bleary eyed but full of anticipation, we met outside Camp Foster’s Legion Gate and convoyed down to Itoman Port (with a quick stop at a convenience store to pick up snacks and drinks).  After a quick run through safety and expectations, we were off to open water and some of us tried to get some shut eye during the 2-and-half-hour ride out to sea.  As the sun rose and the waves batted up against the boat, I must admit I felt a sense of awe staring at the vast blue ocean and the golden rays beginning to light up the sky.

 

Soon, we were at the fishing grounds.  Captain Billy offers a quick tutorial on how to fish with his set ups. Put your hook through the eye, slip back through the body of the tiny fish, and drop it in the water.  It couldn’t be simpler, eh? The minute a line went into the water, someone pulled out a skipjack (also known as a Bonito or in Japanese as a katsuo).  I first pulled a decent sized yellow fin tuna.  Shouts of ‘Fish On!’ and the pulling out of strong fish made every tug on your line, whether a fish or the tide, surge adrenaline. Captain Billy and his staff help all along the way, offering advice and humorous jokes, and taking the fish off the line as you bring them in. The fish go into a common holding area, but you can tag your catches if you want.  Otherwise, they simply divide the catch based on what you say you caught when they get to port. 

The Saltwater Fishing Okinawa charter was one of the most exciting things I’ve done on the island. My friend and I went home with two yellow fin tuna and four skipjacks.  That very night, we cut up one of the slipjacks and served half as sashimi and seared the other half in garlic and pepper with a large salad to five friends. It’s hard to beat the freshness and the satisfaction of a fish you have caught yourself. 

 

A note of caution, though, you might want to check sea conditions and prepare for seasickness.  Being on a small boat in open water can turn the hardest stomach, so you might look into a motion sickness medication before you leave. On our trip, the water was quite choppy, resulting in a large number of us offering personal chum for fish. For some, this was a momentary rumble; for others, like myself, it was occasionally debilitating. Even as I stood up to get a glass of water while writing this entry, I felt the echoes of the sea.  My legs wobbled a little and I swear I felt the room list.  

Japanese for Eating Out

CONTRIBUTED BY KATHERINE MOORE

Whenever I go out with friends, they quiz me about eating out in Japan.  Some of them are more concern with etiquette, while others are just for fun and good to know kind-of-stuff.  To give you some ideas, here are some things I think it would be nice for you to know about eating out in Japan.

Before the meal

When you enter a restaurant, the employees will greet you with “Ira-shai-ma-se,” which means welcome.  You can reply to this with “Kon-ni-chi-wa” during the day or “Kon-ban-wa” at night.  After you have seated and decided what to order, you can ask “Sumi masen, oo-daa onegai shimasu.” This translates to “Excuse me, I’m ready to order.”

Sumi-masen - excuse me

oo-daa - order

onegai shimasu - please

As soon as you finish ordering, you can say “ijou desu” to let the server knows that you have ordered everything you want.  This translates to “that’s all.”  It ends that weird waiting-for-someone-to-say-something moment.

During the meal

Once you get your food, you can say “itada kimasu” when you’re ready to eat. This means that you are about to start eating.  This is useful for your patron, to let them know that either (1) you are hungry and can’t wait for them to get their food, or (2) you are checking to make sure that everybody got their food and can start eating.  I hope it is more towards later!.  After that, it is mostly (hopefully) saying “oishii,” meaning tasty.  Here are some useful words when eating:

Amai - sweet

Nigai - bitter

Sup-pai - sour

Shiop-pai - salty

Karai - hot, spicy

Atsui - hot (temperature, the same as Summer hot)

Tsumetai - cold (different from Winter cold, which is samui)

Nurui - luke warm (use this when you’re complaining that your food is cold when it should be hot)

To add fun to these words, you can take off all the i’s in the end of every word and replace it with an exclamation point.  This will strengthened your opinion. For example, you can say “Kara!” to show that it is very, very spicy.  It makes you sound cool, too.

After the meal

Now that you are done eating, you can say, “gojisou sama deshita.”  This means you are done eating and appreciate the meal.  You can say this to the server and chef, if you want to be more polite.  You can also say “oishi katta,” meaning “it was tasty.”  If you are really happy and you want to let them know that you will be coming back, you can also say, “mata kimasu.”  Finally, don’t forget to say “arigato gozaimasu” on your way out to thank them for their services.

I hope this helps you familiarize yourself to eating out in Japan.  These are all optional, of course, but are nice things to know.  It doesn’t hurt to be able to say how you feel about your meal and experience in general.  Also, being able to show gratitude to the employees, especially the chef, will gain you respect from them.  It’s a win-win situation.  You are able to say something about your meal, and they are able to understand what you are saying.  Happy dining!

Organic and Natural Shop - Tenbusu

CONTRIBUTED BY MARY RICHARDSON

Looking for a local shop that supplies organic food staples?

Well, you’re in luck. One afternoon I was driving along in Okinawa City and noticed the Organic and Natural Market. 

 

I stopped to check out this tiny store and found a goldmine of organic and macrobiotic diet foods, including a buffet of home-cooked prepared dishes.

On that day, some of the store’s offerings included vegetables such as lettuce, onions, carrots, daikon, kale, and several different varieties of mushrooms. I didn’t happen to notice any fruit, however.

Inside the freezer cases, I found organic milk, chicken, bacon, pancetta, other pork products, and even some meats I couldn’t quite identify.  The fully stocked aisles featured organic beans, grains, pasta, sauce mixes, and eggs.

The prepared dishes included tofu stir-fries, salads, onigiri (rice balls), quiches, and sata andagi (Okinawan donuts). In fact, I observed one woman filling up her bento boxes from home with a yummy healthy looking vegetable medley.  I also noticed a selection of bakery items such as breads and sweet buns as well as organic teas.

Moreover, one section of the store is devoted to an alternative treatment area, where there were shelves of vials of homeopathic remedies, natural oils, lotions, and soaps.  The homeopathic practitioner does speak English and is available for acupressure and acupuncture appointments and other types of counseling. Her name is Nobuko Irei and her number is 098-973-3193.

Overall, the store had a funky health food vibe to it, and the sales people were extremely friendly (though English was limited). The store also seemed to be genuinely committed to healthy eating and living practices, so even if they don’t happen to sell a product there, they would be a great resource for finding that obscure organic item in Okinawa.

Store Hours: Monday to Saturday 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm.

Directions: Take a left turn out of Sgt Major gate on Camp Foster (where Westpac is) and keep going downhill. Turn left at the 329 intersection and go straight. You will pass Living Design Square on your right and keep going in the direction of Comprehensive Park, but not all the way to the park. You will come to a big intersection with a McDonalds on the right side and a Hotto Motto on the left. Turn right at that intersection and continue straight towards Awase Shopping Center on the right. Just beyond the Awase Shopping Center (with ToysRus) two or three buildings down, you will see the Organic and Natural Market on the right side. Go to the next intersection and make a U-turn. There are several parking spaces in front.

Chuuka Manjuu - Steamed Buns

CONTRIBUTED BY KATHRYN CALAGUI

One of the things that I love most about Okinawa is how convenient it is!

I am originally from New York City, and what I miss most about New York are the steamed buns from Chinatown. Growing up, I called them siopao (show-pow), which means steamed bun in Filipino. In Okinawa, a steamed bun is called chuuka manjuu. I asked around where I could find them here, but no one really gave me a clear answer. To my surprise, I found them at Lawson's and in Family Mart. How convenient!! There's one of those on almost every corner!

I love chuuka manjuu. It is one of my most favorite types of fast food.  And my son loves them, too!

 

But what exactly is in a chuuka manjuu? Well, inside the bun, there is roasted pork sauteed with onions, garlic, ginger, and I believe there's some soy sauce in there, too. They have a variety of different buns with different fillings. If you are unsure what's in it, just look at the picture beside it, so you can get a general idea. I've also tried one that was "pizza" filled and it was equally delicious. (The one thing to remember when eating a steamed bun is to remove the paper lining underneath first. I've seen too many people make this mistake, so I figured I'd tell you first.)



So, if you're on the road and need a quick bite to eat, I highly suggest to making a stop at Lawson's or Family Mart. You'll usually find these little buns at the front counter right by the cash register.

Marco Polo Café and Bakery

CONTRIBUTED BY LARISSA TRAQUAIR 

Combining a café and bakery isn’t a new concept, especially in Okinawa. However,  Marco Polo delivers one unique option not many restaurants can boast – breakfast, off-base, at 8a.m.!  For breakfast you have a variety of sets to choose from with your choice of soup or drinks.  Soup for breakfast might sound unusual, but it is common for a Japanese breakfast.  You’ll choose between French toast (with a salad and potato salad) and various sandwiches, including tuna and a hot egg and cheese sandwich.  Your choices will run you between Y400 – Y600.

 

We went for lunch and their menu is extensive.  We chose several of the lunch sets and were not disappointed.  You can enjoy the pasta with meat sauce, by itself, for Y650.  Or with your choice of tea or coffee, Y700, or enjoy the entire set for Y1,100.  Your set includes soup, salad, dessert and choice of tea or coffee.   

 

I was told the soup of the day was potato and though it didn’t taste like any American potato soup I have ever had, it was FABULOUS!!!!  The dressing on my salad was incredible and hard to describe.  The pasta was good, though perhaps not the best I have had on island.  

 

The daily special was a white meat fish piccata in tomato sauce.  For Y680 there is a choice of rice or bread and a drink.  Since Marco Polo has a bakery inside their café, their bread was really good.  

 

They do serve 35cm pizzas for Y1,500, though their calzones seem to be the option that brings their regulars back.  Several of our ladies ordered this monstrosity and it measured in at 30cm.  This is when a picture is worth a thousand words.  The calzone takes 20 minutes to cook and will run you Y1,200. I would describe this calzone as the kitchen sink of calzones – there were all sorts of ingredients inside including cabbage.  

 

Definitely worth trying!  Our ladies were not disappointed despite not knowing the exact ingredients.

 

Once you’ve enjoyed your meal you must take a look around their extensive bakery.  There was no shortage of breads and desserts to tempt even the most disciplined eater.   And, if you like to eat outside, they have a beautiful patio area! 

 

Happy Eating!!!!

Special Note:  This café/bakery takes Yen and American Dollars.  098-921-1820.

Hours:  Open 7 days a week.  Monday – Friday they are open from 8 a.m. until 9p.m.  Breakfast is served from 8a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and they will take the last pizza order at 7p.m.  

Location:   Awase area

Directions: Go out Kadena Gate 2, go straight and cross 330.  You are on 20. You will cross 329 and start looking for the Mac House Jeans store, on the right, and then Marco Polo is right past the jeans store on the right as well.  If you get to 85 you have gone to far.  The restaurant is less than 5 kilometers from Kadena Gate 2.   There is parking directly in the front of the restaurant and they also have a huge parking lot behind the restaurant.  To get to the parking lot, pass the restaurant and take the small driveway that runs alongside the restaurant – don’t go to the signal, you’ll have gone to far.   

Charlie's Tacos

CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER GELORMINE

The book club that I belong to here on Okinawa has been meeting for longer than I've been on-island, but when the founder and organizer PCS'd I took over.  At first I made few changes; we continued to have our members take turns choosing the books we read each month but rather than always meeting at my house we moved the location between our homes for each discussion.  And then one of us had a great idea - when discussing Honeymoon in Tehran we should try out the Persian Restaurant down near Araha Beach to get us in the spirit.  So we geared up for some authentic food, toting our books with us... only to discover that the restaurant wasn't open that night.  (It's okay, we headed a block down the street to Genki Izakaya instead.  We didn't go home hungry.)

We loved the concept of having an actual excuse to hire babysitters and go out to eat with friends so much, we thought we'd give it a go again in February.  This month's reading selection was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and though we would have loved to travel up past Nago to the British Wine and Tea Shop, it's a bit too far to travel on a Tuesday night.  So we settled on a cuisine from the same general region of the world: Patty Macs Irish Pub right outside Kadena Gate 2.  Again, we made plans to meet with our books and our appetites... and wouldn't you know?  Although that pub is generally open on Tuesday nights it was closed on this particular one.

So we stood in front of the locked bar, stomachs rumbling and growing thirstier by the minute.  We looked left and right, and then one of us said, "Well, my kids and I like Charlie's Tacos right over there.  Wanna try that?"  And we did.

I wasn't expecting much.  They're tacos, after all.  So when my "Ladies' Set" showed up with a mildly spiced chicken taco in a homemade, freshly fried taco shell with tomatoes and shredded lettuce piled on top, along with beef taco rice, french fries, a drink and even a tiny scoop of ice cream, I was more than pleasantly surprised.

My friends mostly stuck to versions of this set, though we were given the option of beef, chicken or tuna tacos with mild or spicy seasonings, all meats which were well-received.  For 850 yen (mine was 900 yen with a slightly larger soft drink) this seemed like a great deal, especially since I walked away full.

Two of my friends opted for the three taco set, which in combination with a drink cost 780 yen, and had one of each type.  Other options on the menu were enchiladas, chili, soup, pasta, hamburgers and hotdogs, and steak sandwiches, in sets or a la carte.  And - much to the happy surprise of my friends - there's a small beer menu as well, offering Orion and Corona among others. 

It might not have been fish and chips or traditional minced meat shepherd's pie like we were expecting, but it was a delightful surprise to find a restaurant that I can bring not only my husband, but also my kids, to again sometime... probably soon.  I've been told that Charlie's can get busy at lunchtime, but on a Tuesday night at 7pm we mostly had the place to ourselves.  It seemed kid-friendly, but I didn't notice any high chairs (though that may have been because - for once - I didn't actually need to grab one!).

Operating Times:
Open from 10am to 9pm, Friday through Wednesday.  Closed Thursdays.

Charlie's Tacos accepts Yen and Dollars (but the exchange rate is currently 80 Yen to the dollar... you'll get a better exchange rate through the banks).

Directions:
Coming out Kadena Gate 2, drive straight through to the Koza Music City intersection (four corners) at 330.  Take a left onto 330 and travel for five blocks to Park Avenue (BC Street).  Take a left onto this street and travel almost all the way to the end, with a 100 Yen Plaza in front of you.  Charlie's Tacos will be on your right on the last block.

Parking isn't abundant here, so if you're traveling with a group, carpooling would be a great idea.  It's within walking distance of the USO, and I'm sure there are side streets that will take you here faster than the driving directions.  Maybe one of our readers can help with those?

Moa Moa Chicken

 

Keeping it simple seems to be how Moa Moa has carved out a name for itself.   This little shack sits below the looming building that houses Jam’s Steak House and yet packs a powerful and flavorful punch all on its own.  I first caught wind of this little treasure from a reader (thanks Suzie) and now I know what all the excitement was about. 

Here is what Suzie said about Moa Moa:  “If any of you had shrimp from the shrimp trucks in North Shore, Oahu-HI or have heard of it, you have to give Moa Moa Chicken a try.  Their menu is very simple, but very delicious.  You'll feel like you're back in Hawaii with the Hawaiian music playing in the background.”  (The owner/chef actually spent some time in Hawaii.)

 
I am a huge fan of shrimp and Moa Moa Chicken surprised me with this great combo meal.    I got the Garlic Shrimp Combo and chose rice over bread.  This combo also included a macaroni salad.  I enjoyed every bite and for Y700 you can't beat the price.  I counted 11 shrimp in my meal and I couldn’t get enough of the garlic seasoning that smothered my shrimp and tasted great on the rice.

 
The hubs tried the chicken sandwich for Y450.  You can also order a chicken and shrimp combo or just a chicken combo for Y700.  Drinks, both with and without alcohol, are also available along with garlic or cinnamon bread for Y250. 

Come ready to soak up some sun and fresh air as there is only outdoor seating!!!!  It’s that simple!!! 

Happy Eating!!!!

Special Note:  This restaurant takes Yen & American Dollars. 

Hours:  Open 6 days a week from 11:30 a.m. until 9p.m.  Closed on Tuesdays. 

Location:   South of the Onna Village area 

Directions:From Gate One of Kadena head North on 58.  You will pass Kadena Circle, pass 6 and then you’ll pass the Renaissance Hotel.  3.5 Kilometers past the Renaissance start looking for Moa Moa Chicken, below Jam’s Steak House, on the left.

Jam's Steak House

Teppanyaki style cooking is easy to find on Okinawa and very entertaining.  If you like to watch your food being prepared in front of you while acquiring a few new tips for your own adventures in the kitchen than my recent find, Jam’s Steak House, is what you are looking for.  Located a few kilometers from the Renaissance Hotel this restaurant is worth the drive. 

You first notice the incredibly large and artsy building from the outside as you drive North on 58.  Their neon, palm tree sign may also grab your attention as the day turns to night.  Once you are inside you enter into an experience like no other.  The long wooden stairs will lead you to the main level of the restaurant.  This is where the visual stimulation will grab your attention about the same time all the wonderful smells envelope you.  Jam’s is an experience! 
Like many upper scale restaurants, Jam’s offers an extensive drink menu and their presentation will not disappoint.  Even your soda comes in a beautiful cup. 
We ordered the Couples Special and, with tax, your total is Y8,000 without a drink.  This is the most expensive dinner we have paid for on the island, so far, but you will not be disappointed in your service or your meal.  Our meal combination came with soup, salad, the main course and dessert.  Jam’s salad dressings are very creative with choices like Goya Mayonnaise, Cheese Pineapple, Japanese with Miso and French.  Their signature soup is curry.  The curry soups on this island are to die for and if I could get the recipe I would be one happy clam! 
Our combination, for 2 people, came with 150 grams of Tenderloin, 200 grams of Sirloin and 2 large prawns along with many grilled vegetables and your choice of rice or noodles.  You can even order Garlic Fried Rice for a little extra.  We would recommend paying extra as Jam’s knows how to use garlic in their food. 
You can also order appetizers from their extensive menu such as ostrich sashimi and grilled salmon.  Other meal options include ground beef, steak, large prawns, fish, squid and scallops. 
One unique aspect of Jam’s is that you are escorted away from your dinner table to enjoy your dessert (sherbet and fruit) along with hot tea.  This makes for a great way to transition from your meal to dessert, never feeling rushed.

Happy Eating!

Special Note:  This restaurant takes Yen, American Dollars and Credit Card. 098-965-2626.

Hours:  Open 6 days a week from 5p.m.  until midnight with the last order taken at 10:30 p.m.  Closed on Tuesdays. 

Location:   South of the Onna Village area 

 

Directions: From Gate One of Kadena head North on 58.  You will pass Kadena Circle, pass 6 and then you’ll pass the Renaissance Hotel.  3.5 Kilometers past the Renaissance start looking for Jam on the left.  When it’s dark you won’t miss the neon palm tree sign.

Tantantei - Chinese Food

 
One of the many things I love about eating out in Okinawa is that a lot of the restaurant kitchens, in the smaller restaurants, are visible.  This makes for great entertainment if you watch closely.  From our table in Tantantei we could watch the chef fry up our noodles and boy did he make it look fun.  Don’t you just love eating fun food?  I was recently told to try Chinese pan fried noodles and I took the opportunity to introduce my friends to this new-to-us food last week.  Growing up, Chinese food was popular in my family so it’s all I knew and I accepted that as the most foreign thing to eat.  Fast forward 20+ years and two tours in Okinawa and I realize what I have been missing out on.  Pan fried noodles is one of them.

 

My friend, Ginger, ordered the pan fried noodles with meat and shrimp for Y762.  The yummy part is where the noodle spent a little extra time hanging out in the huge "frying" pan.  Love this part!

 
I had the pork with Rice or you could choose pork with shrimp or just shrimp for Y762.

 

These yummy morsels of Shu Mai are made with pork and served with a spicy mustard sauce for Y381.  If you love dim sum than check out the dim sum lunch available at Hotel Alivila.

We also ordered their yumcha for Y239.  This fun breaded shell is filled with meat and tastes great dipped in soy sauce and spicy mustard.  These can also be found at Mister Donut.

 
  
Other popular menu items available are Gyoza (Y381), Fried Spring Rolls (Y381) and Fried Rice (Y667)

Special Note:  This restaurant takes Yen and American Dollars.  098-898-4322

Hours:  Closed on Wednesday.  Thursday - Tuesday they are open from 11:30 a.m. until 3p.m. for lunch and then they reopen for dinner from 6 p.m. until 11p.m. Last order at 10:30 p.m.

 Location:   Pipeline area past Futenma

 
Directions: 58 towards Naha and pass the entrance to Futenma and the Peacock Palace Restaurant.  At the Jimmy’s make a left - you will be entering their parking lot.  Go through the parking lot until you get to the back of the lot and can make a right onto the pipeline – nickname for the street that runs parallel to 58.  Go about ½ a block and look for a white building on the left side of the street – no English lettering.  If you pass Garden KiKi then you’ve gone too far.  Make a left into the alley/small street between the restaurant and KiKi’s and go up to the parking lot on the left.