Category: Healthy Food

Categories
Healthy Food

Indian Dinner in Tokyo

Oddly, despite all that eating I did in Tokyo, I actually lost weight which goes to show how healthy Japanese food is and how portion control is important. I ate Japanese food at every opportunity – sushi, onabe, oden, etc. – at every meal except when my girlfriends took me to (at my request) a delicious Indian restaurant near Tokyo JR station. Indian food in Tokyo is very good and when I told the chef that I was from Silicon Valley and thought his food was better than the Silicon Valley Indian food, he was beaming – and it wasn’t a flattery – it was true. The flavors were delicate and well spiced…(but portions small – the Japanese standard). I am always so impressed with Japanese baked goods and here at Indian eatery as well. Best Nan and dosa…

Last to leave being last to get seated… late dinner is not my thing but:) making exceptions…chefs are waiters are cleaning up so … a hint that it’s time to go.
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authentic chai with shared sweets… petit sizes…
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The place was packed and could not get a reservation until 8:30pm… Here’s the link to the restaurant site – menu in English as well … Click the restaurant name: Dhaba India
Or you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner – all Japanese, everyday:) but so much variety in mega-city, that is, Tokyo:)

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Ganesha greeted us! Felt at home – weird isn’t it? A Japanese coming back from America, at Indian restaurant in hometown, Tokyo and feeling at home?

In case you were beginning to wonder…

“I’m not so weird to me.”

― Haruki Murakami, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

Categories
Beautiful People Healthy Food

Michio Kushi

Quoting Michio Kushi:

“Yoga breathing control is practiced to influence our thinking. The lungs correspond to our fore brain and can influence our consciousness.”


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“As you know macrobiotics has helped thousands of sick people; but this is kindergarten. The purpose of macrobiotics is to become free to change all of this world into what we want – unhappiness to happiness, sickness to health, war to peace, misery to love. When you attain this freedom you become the children of the Kingdom of Heaven.”


New York Times coverage on the passing of Michio Kushi is linked – Click Here.
Please rest in peace… Hope to be learning from some of your students.

We all have to die physically some day of something & since I am putting away Haruki Murakami books into storage, this Murakami quote seems appropriate:

“Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.”

Sad, yes, but he lives on & I love the way he is remembered – His words quoted from his memorial page is so touching. Click here.

Categories
Beautiful Rituals Healthy Food

Shojin Cuisine

Shojin cooking is a type of vegetarian cooking introduced into Japan together with Buddhism in the 6th century adapted into native Shinto-based culture. Shojin is a Buddhist term that refers to asceticism in pursuit of enlightenment. In the 13th century, with the advent of the Zen sect of Buddhism, the custom of eating shojin ryori(cooking) spread. No meat is eaten; no life is sacrificed – purely plant based.

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watercress tied into bows for garnish to top the New Year’s Day soup, i.e., “ozouni”:)
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“Yuzu” not lemon…
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Ginnan berries? nuts? to shell… Ginnan harvested from Gingko trees.
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Thanks to lovely and generous friends, last night was full of indulgences so…today is light and fresh beginning with Shojin cuisine, washing away the effervescent bubblies and the yummy creamy richness. This is my version of an offering … to purify and clean out in order to truly nourish on this day one of the year, signifying a fresh new start:)

Trying to recreate at least few dishes from the Osechi cooking taught by the famed Chef Toshio Tanahashi. Not an easy feat when you don’t have a team of Japanese ladies with expert knife skills – so humbled. Use of electric kitchen appliance NOT allowed. Practically engaging in the unintended detox fast for all to wait as I am still in the kitchen … maybe need another hour or by tomorrow, lol …I probably should have started working 3 days ago as my late grandmother used to do to prepare for this auspicious day – first day of Year of the Ram !

New Year’s resolution?

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Some facts about Gingko nuts that may be of interest:

– Traditionally, ginkgo seeds or nuts were consumed in modest amount to get relief from breathing problems since in Chinese medicine, the nuts confer yang (warmth) effect. The kernels are also believed to ease asthma, bronchitis, and urinary tract ailments.

– Unlike ginkgo leaf, which FDA approved as a food supplement, the kernels have yet to attain this status in the United States.

– Overall, the ginkgo nuts may be used in small quantities as medicine instead of as a major food source as other nuts and seeds.

– When eaten in limited and specified amounts, ginkgo nuts would confer some of health benefits.

– These nuts are the storehouse of minerals like copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium. Copper is an essential trace mineral that is required in neuro-transmission, metabolism, as well as red blood cell (RBC) synthesis.

– but should not eat more than 10 at most (children 5) caution due to Ginkgotoxin poisoning.

– excerpt from nutrition-and-you.com