The truffle madness begins.

On our first night in Tuscany we began our ridiculious attempt to scent ourselves from the inside out with truffles. Crostini of Lardo with truffled honey, and crostini of taleggio with fresh truffle was a great way to start.



How could we be in a new place for all of five minutes and already feel content??

Niseko Sakura Week

All these things we find out about just by stumbling across some little random flyer that's all in Japanese ... and then find out it's something so cool as the annual Niseko Sakura week. Ton's of little restaurants and shops around the village participate in this week long event, with special Sakura menu's and products. We found out about it a little to late, but still managed to fit in two samplings.

The first one comes from the Niseko Fromage.



They make a range of different string cheeses, which is almost like a stringy mozzarella. Our favorite to date had been the wild garlic. But they were offering one that had been aged with a sakura, or cherry blossom.



It was delicious! The cherry blossom flavor was mild, but it was there. I think we planned to use it in a salad or something but kinda remember just munching away the whole thing ....



Then Pension Brook, who are located in Higashiyama, where we get some delicious smoked salmon and octopus for the deli from, were doing smoked little fishies with Sakura.



We will definitely be more aware of it's happenings next year, and try to get to a few more places.

Tasty Hokkaido Goodies

Last year it was indeed a, some might say envious, task trying and evaluating over 100 Hokkaido cheeses. Some are very so-so, but there are others out there which are world class. A particular favorite find would have to be the Shin Sapporo blue cheese.



It is made just outside of Sapporo, and is rich and creamy with a great blue flavor. It reminds me of a French St. Agur. It has a fair surface mould which covers the creamy inside pate that is flecked with blue mould.



We're enjoying that with some crusty bread and local butter. mmmmmm



Not to mention the giant plate of Hokkaido meats we're sampling tonight, all in the name of research, or course. Including pork salami, venison salami, soft boerwurs, Sekka's dried cherry tomatoes and pickled cherries.



Another great day in the office !!

Hello old friend

Over the years shops come and go for all sorts of reasons, luckily Ricky's has and is still there for us. Located on Pra Arthit off the back of Bunglumphu, Ricky's has been knocking up great baguettes out the faux chinese coffee shop for years.







They have been there for us when we just needed some farang food, they have been there for us when we've been drinking for far to long and need a solid stomach liner, they have been there well... always, except for the brief moment when we came back to the shop and stood horrified at the closed down front for a few seconds be for relising they had just moved next door (be still my racing heart).
The drinks are good the staff friendly but what brings us back time after time is the crusty baguette stuffed with bacon lettuce, tomato and blue cheese or feta if we're feel a little daring and topped with slice green olives and dried oregano. It is and will always be a winner in sandwich circles.







Ricky knows we'll have a few brief flirtations with others but we' always be back. See you again soon Ricky.