Monday, May 30, 2011

Now that's what I call REAL sushi!

We have eaten sushi several times here in Japan...we ate it in America too. WE (yep, all three of us) love it! So we had to try a restaurant I heard about that has the BEST sushi in Misawa! We call it Fear Factor Sushi!

REAL wasabi -- YUM-O!


all different kinds of raw fish...DELISH!!
The course we have been waiting for -- LIVE fish!
Another large variety if fish...this time the shrimp in the middle was still alive! REALLY - it was moving its tentacles and all.......it dies about 8 min later and then the sushi chef pulled the tail off and I ATE IT!! It was sweet tasting :)

It's Rice Planting Time

Here are the pics I promised....
This is what the rice plant looks like when we put it in the wet fields

I LOVE older Japanese ladies! Here is one walking between the rice fields
A rice field after it is all planted
the rice plants before we put them on the machine
Can you believe that MANY people still plant rice by hand! The farmers we went to visit had several rice fields so they had a machine. The machine automatically sticks a few rice plants in the mud
Elijah got the chance to drive the tractor...with a bit of help ...he couldn't reach the peddle
TRUE FOCUS!!

Friday, May 27, 2011

It's time to plant some rice and vegetables

So we had the opportunity to plant rice and vegetables with some local, Japanese farmers. Elijah and I were good to go!! I mean how many times do you get the opportunity to help plant rice in Japanese rice fields??

Cleaning the trays afterwards
This is called an Umbrella Plant (just what Americans call it) Check out below to find out why!

Elijah helping out with transporting the rice from the greenhouse to the rice fields
One of many rice greenhouse - this is where they grow the rice to be planted in the rice fields
This is what we had for a our vegetable for dinner that night - FRESH asparagus!
planting corn
This was the end of the afternoon:)

ARGHH!! I can't stand when my blog limits my pictures I can upload....more rice planting pics tomorrow!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Sunday Brunch at the Organic All You Can Eat Restaurant

YUM-O! This is one of my FAVORITE places to eat here in Misawa! It was a beautiful day here (translation: 60 degrees as the high) so we made an afternoon of it! This area has a farm, farmers market, store, rabbits you can feed, donkeys, goats, a foot onsen and 2 restaurants.


We stopped by the strawberry greenhouse. You can pick strawberries here...without breaking your back by bending down to the ground.....INGENIOUS!
YUMMY! YUMMY! YUMMY! Strawberry puree with our brunch. I am telling you .... you haven't tasted a strawberry until you've tasted a Japanese strawberry! Sweet and delicious!
Organic Strawberry salad and organic curry with nan bread
organic coffee jello with organic creamer you pour on top ..... after dinner delight!
apples chunks marinated with wine, cream puffs and cheesecake...yep all organic..and bite sized so you don't feel guilty afterwards! Oh I almost forgot the tiramisu back there!
I saved the BEST for last.....don't knock it until you have tried it! This is organic vegetarian pizza with thin slices of strawberry on top! Not sure what kind of cheese it was, but it was a strong, white cheese that paired well with the sweetness of the strawberry slice. Really not kidding...all 3 of us liked it A LOT!

There is also a grilled onion slice in the back of the picture with mushrooms on top and baked acorn squash chuck - topped with a cheesy mixture!

Rest assured: There are dishes with meat there, but the vegetables, soups and salads are so good and FRESH -- right from the garden in the back.....even Eddie and Elijah only had tuna on their plates!