Fireflies and Da Yuki Wood-fired Pizza

Just as life was warming up in Japan, several months back now of course, I experienced two firsts in one night -Wood fired pizza in Kyoto - at the wonderful Da Yuki in Higashiyama (I'd put money on this being the best Pizza in Kyoto) and Fireflies!!! 

oh what childlike pleasure was derived from spotting that first glowing light, floating ghostlike over the Shirakawa canal, under the weeping willows. Whilst waiting for our table to free up at the pizzeria we spent a good half hour giggling and gasping in wonderment.  As soon as we made an approach the tiny green fairies flicked off their lamps in protection and once we finally ignored them the party lights were back on and off they'd levitate.   Now I've seen a glow-worm in Australia but never a firefly - I'm pretty sure they don't exist here ( please correct me if I'm wrong) so that may help explain my excitement.

yep! that is a firefly believe it or not.... and here's another... such fantastic night-time photography skills... 

And on to dinner...

Sensational pizza, fresh salad and above average desserts. A decent wine by the glass and a cosy environment. What's not to like. . 

Such a simple, special evening

You can find DA YUKI by walking West along Niomon street from the giant red torii gate on Jingu-michi ( the street that leads up to the entrance of the Heian shrine). Pass by the river, pass by the wonderful french brasserie and just 2 minutes more will find yourself outside the restaurant - chances are you will smell the aroma before you reach it!

Uzuki- Cooking classes in Kyoto

If you have found yourself here you probably like to eat, cook or travel? And if possible combine the three? If you answered yes to either question you may be interested in doing something a little off the regular tourist route when you are in Kyoto town. 

The charming Emi Hirayama holds seasonal savoury and wagashi (traditional confectionary) classes in her home and I was lucky to score a spot one of her Spring cuisine classes in April this year. 

Including Emi-san there were just four of us in her kitchen, an older American couple and myself and we shared a lovely couple of hours cooking together, learning about seasonal cuisine and the wonders of Kyoto before enjoying a meal around the kitchen table sampling our wares. 

Our simple menu consisted of :

Rice with peas and salted sakura (cherry blossom flowers)

Nanohana ( canola greens) with scallops, mustard dressing and sansho

Sauteed Rolled beef and mushrooms with freshly grated wasabi

Marinated grilled fish

Prawn and vegetable kakiage

Seared Nama fu ( wheat gluten) with sweet saikyo miso and fresh kinome (sansho leaves)

It was a lovely experience - not just for the learning and the food but for the chance to step inside someone's Kyoto home.  Opportunities are rare for foreign visitors to spend time in a Japanese house  - which is a shame as it can really make one feel more connected to the country's culture. I highly recommend Emi san's classes for general foodies and people interested in getting a little deeper with their travel experience. 

Here's the link to the cooking school 

You can even see a little of my own efforts on her blog!

If you make it to Emi's place please give her my regards and who knows... I might even bump into you there one day! 

NEWSFLASH!! Free Copies of Zenbu Zen!

Currently there are two (ichi, ni..) separate competitions running - both of which provide you with the opportunity to win a copy of my latest book Zenbu Zen! 

ICHI (1) 
The lovely people of SBS Feast magazine have a competition in the November issue of their magazine out now. 10 people have the chance to win a copy of the book so run out and buy SBS Feast magazine with this cover  ...

OR... go HERE for more detail. 

NI (2).
 I have also been running my own competition which closes in a few short days!

  ALL you have to do is LIKE my Facebook page... and you could be in the running to win a copy of Zenbu Zen! 

If you already like my page - get a friend to like it and just make sure they tell me who referred them - then you BOTH have a chance to win. TOO EASY!

HERE is the LINK

So what are you waiting for?? ;)

Cheers, Jane

PSST !! Have you heard about EATLOVE??

If you haven't you need to go immediately and check out the site - it is packed with free recipes and other foodie tips and insights from top Australian chefs and food writers (and a few well loved international foodies too like Tessa Kiros!). It has just launched and is looking schmicko!

More and more content will be added in the coming weeks and months and my prediction is that it will  snowball into one of the most useful recipe sites around - the bonus being that all the recipes are triple tested with many of them straight from your favourite chef's own book or restaurant.

There are a bunch of very cool chefs on board already including Neil Perry, Luke Nguyen, Adriano Zumbo, Peter Gilmore, Frank Camorra, Leanne Kitchen, Rosa Mitchell, Matthew Evans, Nino Zoccali, Darren Purchese.... and cough... MOI of course! And that's just the beginning!

So PLEASE jump over to my page and follow me - and some of those other "celeb" chefs if you really have to.... but most importantly MEEEEEE if you like my stuff  -because I don't have a TV show or my own restaurant or mind-blowing store of sweet goodness to tie my name to so I really need your help not to look like Neddy-no-mates!!  But mainly because - I really want to share my love and knowledge of foodie culture and recipes with as many people as possible - "sharing is caring"!

So please help me out if you can by joining the Eatlove family and following my page. Very shortly there will be free, yes that's right - FREE recipes from my other books such as Yoshoku and Snowflakes and Schnapps!

Here's the link to my EATLOVE page. Go on  - do it now!!
Pretty Please.....

Jane xx

Yakitori Hitomi - やきとりひとみ Kyoto

Hello - we are currently in the process of moving all Japanese related content over to my ZENBU TOURS site. 

This page has already been moved  - please find the link HERE.

Gospel Coffee and Pub House ( Kyoto)

Hello, we are currently transferring all Japan-related content to Jane's ZENBU TOURS site. 

This page has already moved - you will find it HERE.

Thank you.  

Zenbu Zen Competition no.2

OK, I'm going to take it easy on you all this time... Entry will be quicker than making yourself a cuppa!

Simply go to my Facebook book page HERE and "like" it.  That's it! Too easy. 

IF you have been so kind (and supremely clever enough) to have already "liked" my book page then please find a friend to do the "liking" - but make sure they quote your name in the comment box (or privately via FB messaging if they prefer) so that I know exactly who has recommended them to the page. 

There will be two winners.
One new "likee" will be pulled out of the "likee" hat and one person who refers a "likee" will be pulled out of the referral hat! The more friends you refer - the more chances you have to win  - just make sure they remember to include your name!!

So what are you waiting for - like away!

Competition closes midnight (Australian time) 30th October 2012 - winners will be announced on 01 November and a personalised copy of the book sent shortly afterwards. 

Cheers and Good Luck!
Jane 

*photo copyright of Cath Muscat Photography and must not be replicated in any form without permission