If You Take A Flower In Your Hand And Really Look At It, It’s Your World For A Moment

The night before I was to be leaving Soroosh in Nashville, he read me a children’s book to calm my nerves. You may know it, apparently it’s quite popular but at the time, I didn’t. The Kissing Hand as the title suggests is a kiss in a hand gently pressed on its recipient’s face.

I recently received this kiss in the mail. 
The first time I experienced origami (the art of paper folding) was in Japan where a coworker asked an entire class to make a paper crane, write their name on it and later stand and declare: “this crane was made by (insert name here)” as a way of introducing themselves. I remember silently panicking for the students who wouldn’t know how to do it. Turns out I had no idea. Every student made a crane. And they made them fast!


You know how they say only in hindsight can you realise the true value of a moment? Well, I remember feeling extremely homesick and out of my comfort zone that very make-a-crane day. However, if it wasn’t for that unique experience, I wouldn’t have been able to pass on the art to my new students today.

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” ~C.S. Lewis (Coffee. He means a cup of coffee!)

You know round Saturn peaches? Well, turns out they have pretty inappropriate looking nectarine cousins and here’s one of them.

More work antics….I love my job!

An Inside Look At A Spanish Supermarket

So different to both Japan and New Zealand. When travelling, I love to visit the local supermarket. It always becomes a highlight because it’s always so interesting.

Two entire rows + four row fronts (each side) just for cheese! Oh my!



This is a monkey fish. You choose your fish and the ladies (or gentlemen) prepare them for you. Of course, preprepared fish is also available.

Jose doing his thang.

Apart from this brand (which is refrigerated) the remaining milk here look like cleaning products because of the way they’re stored and packaged.


Meat, meat and more meat.

Look at the top right yellow label. 339 Euro for one leg! Now that’s some special meat.

Jose says these pigs eat acorns so even though they’re fat, they’re good fat. “Like me,” I said (hehe).
All of the tomatoes an Italian chef could wish for (also on other side).

In Japan, carrots are heavily sprayed making them big and perfect. Then, they’re individually wrapped in excess plastic. This is how fruit and vegetables should be! Ugly but delicious. 

I love these peaches! 0.98 Euro for a KG! Good or good?!


All of the legumes! Plus, olives, anchovies, pates and dried nuts and fruit (not pictured).

Look Japanese friends! “Japanese” food!

Introducing Jose to almond milk and other trendy health foods (hehe).

All Happiness Depends On A Leisurely Breakfast

Damn right John Gunther.

Behind The Scenes

If you didn’t know, fruit is expensive in Japan. Like, 8-bucks-for-a-single-peach expensive. So, I may have spent my month’s grocery allowance already…And since I don’t get paid for this blog, unlike some other food-bloggers, I have had to alter my foodie-ventures. You might know (if you’re a regular follower) that I’ll be finishing up my contract in the Japanese countryside in less than 8 weeks… which means (note to self) I should be eating the things in my pantry instead of grocery shopping. So, I  raided my pantry and made  onigiri (rice balls). These specific ones are called sekihan 赤飯 which are usually white rice boiled together with red beans – though I used brown rice and too many beans (on purpose of course). They are a traditional Japanese dish and often served on special occasions throughout the year like birthdays, weddings and some holidays, such as Shichi-Go-San.

Further, I didn’t buy these flowers. I rode my bicycle at 5.30am, in the rain and picked these wild ones instead. There, I had the pleasure of receiving 3 vicious sand fly bites which have caused my ankles to become as large and round as my watermelon.

What’s in season: chestnuts, persimmons and DEER

Currently in Japanese countryside, chestnuts and persimmons have taken over/are in season. Oh and deer! The other night, I spotted 5, YES FIVE deer on my drive home which for me, coming from a city where nothing but cats, dogs and university students in jandals roamed the streets, was; absolutely surreal and by surreal I mean, I screamed. Loud. Thank God it was night-time without a single soul in sight and I was completely alone in my fragile bentobox Japanese K-car…!!  Also, I found some antlers in my backyard (as you do) and am now using them as a jewellery stand on my dresser.
Hashtag rurallife. Anyways, back to the edibles.

Now, there are SO many persimmons and chestnuts around that they have literally conquered the sidewalk (not that there ever was a side-walk – Japan has the world’s narrowest roads – don’t quote me on that but I’m sure it’s true). I cannot bike/walk half a meter without spotting one. Persimmons, I have always loved but after some recent study on the fruit, it turns out they’re rather high in calories so, I am cutting back (insert pout) but chestnuts, Chestnuts! Id never tried chestnuts before coming to Japan. Also, I had no idea some nuts had to be boiled before they could be consumed? Did you? Or am I just dumb? I guess I assumed all nuts were like walnuts (came off a tree and able to be eaten raw). Turns out peanuts grow underground? What? Here’s an idea, why don’t schools teach this stuff in place of algebra?

So my lovely neighbour boiled some chestnuts for about 50 min, halved them with a knife and we ate them using a teaspoon. To me, they taste like sweet potato! I can’t wait to cook/bake with them. Suggestions welcome…

the best fruit parfait in okayama

Okayama AKA the ‘Sunny Land’ is known for its delicious fruit and in particular, its white peaches. The folk tale of Momotaro, a boy born from a peach who became a warrior, originated in this region. Here, as well as actual whole fruits, an extensive variety of fruit (in particular peach and grape) products are on offer. These include, fruit jams, fruit chocolate, fruit jello-like desserts, fruit tea and even fruit curry! Not sure how I feel about the latter but hey! We ought to give everything a go, right? Perhaps most popular of all fruity products though, are Okayama’s fruit parfaits. These as you can imagine, can be seriously good and are often served with a combination of cream/ice-cream/sponge cake and oddly, corn-flakes – go figure? And range anywhere from 600YEN to a whopping 2200YEN.

So, where is the BEST fruit parfait in Okayama you say? Kurashiki Momoko is my answer (In Kurashiki – well, duh). Kurashiki Momoko is a farm direct outlet located in the Historical Quarter of Kurashiki, run by the Okayama Prefecture Vegetables and Fruits Sales Group. The two-story building is a retail space on the ground floor and an adorable wooden furniture fitted café, on the second. You know a place knows their shizzle when there’s a line out the door!

One of the most popular items on their menu is the fruit parfait, which is available only during the peach season. Fruit options include: peach (well, of course), grape, fig, pear and mixed fruit. They are generously proportioned (especially the 22000Yen one) and seriously GOOD – I mean look at that picture! The café also serves smoothies, gelatos and other cakes/sweets as well as a range of edible souvenirs, all made with locally grown Okayama fruit.

We ordered the fig and pear parfaits and ohhh boy.

However; I do have one tiny complaint though. When we finally reached the counter, after having waited our turn like civil folk, we were escorted all the way to the back of the line again! What had happened is that the shop assistant had assumed (as unfortunately often happens here – sorrynotsorry) that the foreigners had pushed in line. Thanks to a lovely Japanese woman (who with her family had been waiting behind us all along) speaking up, we were apologised to and escorted to the front again. Here’s hoping you won’t have the same experience – A minor glinch compared to the epic sequel, though!

figalicious definition makin’ me go loco

Don’t worry, I’m not about to quit my day job! Here’s the good news though, THE FIGS HAVE RIPENED and hallelujah! THEYRE JUST AS DELICIOUS AS I THOUGHT! Sorry for the caps. Clearly, I’m a little over excited. So, if I haven’t already mentioned, I am living in Okayama AKA the ‘Fruit Kingdom’ of Japan. How convenient is that? Anyways, recently I’ve completely changed my breakfasts. There’s been a lot of talk/research about eating raw fruits on an empty stomach (some people think it a load of bollocks whilst others swear by it). I myself, fall with the latter. Of course not of blind faith – I’ve been having raw fruit-only breakfasts for the last FEW days and already, I’m feeling a difference! Honestly people, I feel great. You too, should try it! Deli, if you’re reading this, please give it a go! You might think that after an hour or so your stomach will start grumbling and eating you from the inside out but it’s actually the opposite! I’ve never received so much energy from any other breakfast! Not even oats! Sorry, too many exclamation marks for a paragraph on fruit but I feel so strongly about my new discovery that I just cant help myself! I really don’t think I’ll ever have anything else for breakfast – well maybe pancakes but they can be the once in a lifetime (and by lifetime I mean tomorrow) exception! ! ! ! !!!! I

Excuse me while I move to a tropical island to become one of those women who just eat 20 bananas a day.

love your body, eat more raw food

“If you don’t take care of this the most magnificent machine that you will ever be given…where are you going to live?”
― Karyn Calabrese

a sweet end to the week

As if people posting their lunch on social media weren’t annoying enough, now you poor folk recieve emails about my lunch! Gommenasai! (Sorry in Japanese)
Anyways, I assume you don’t mind too much since you’re still following along…

TGIF. I celebrated with a sweet lunch. Homemade granola (recipe under breakfast), probiotic yoghurt, almond milk and fresh fruit: mandarin and cherries.

Three Words: Go Fruit Yourselves

Dearest followers,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
PS Don’t forget; 365 new days = 365 new chances.
Love, nisa x