SNAKKU BOX OCTOBER 2015 REVIEW

October Snakku Box - Hokkaido themed snacks

What a traditional and cute packaging for snack bento!

Snakku is a Japanese snack subscription service founded by Shigeki-san, who was born in Tokyo and values authentic Japanese snacks made by actual snack makers in Japan. When I first received my Snakku box, it leaves a deep impression from the way Snakku packages their snack box with a "furoshiki", a piece of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth for bento (picnic box), gifts, grocery goods, etc.  

GIVEAWAY: Enter to win SNAKKU November Japanese Snack Bento! [Ended on 11/2/2015]

SNAKKU October Snack Bento Box

Giveaway: Enter to win the newest November bento box! 
Entry begins on Oct 26 and ends on Nov 2, 2015 11:59AM PDT.

Mensho Tokyo is opening their first American restaurant on December 1st in San Francisco, USA

Mensho Ramen has always been listed as one of the best ramen spots in Japan. Even ramen superstar Ivan Orkin went back for a round 2 of their delicious lamb tonkotsu tsukemen.

Ramen chef, Tomoharu Shono, was planning to open his first American outpost restaurant in San Francisco during Spring 2015 called "Mensho Tokyo"; however schedule has been delayed throughout the year. 

http://mensho.tokyo/

Japanese Teishoku Pop-up Dinner at 2293 Mission St., San Francisco USA

Tonkatsu (Fried Pork Cutlet) with egg and sauce: with rice, miso soup, pickled cucumber, and cold mix-veggies over tofu (Tamago was supposed to be in that empty bowl...) $18

What do traditional Japanese meal tasted like? I am glad I was introduced to a Japanese Teishoku Pop-up Dinner in San Francisco tonight. Teishoku means "meal set" and typically includes items like rice, miso soup, a main dish, side dish and pickled vegetables. It's simple dishes, but was prepared with great care. Let me tell you how the dinner went!

JAPAN CRATE PREMIUM OCTOBER 2015 REVIEW

JAPAN CRATE PREMIUM OCTOBER 2015

This is the first time I've ever received a Japanese snack subscription box. It feels like Christmas already just to receive a box full of goodies! Japan Crate includes all kinds of snacks: savory ones like chips, sweet ones like candies and DIY snacks, sour gummy candies, crispy corn snacks, etc! For Premium box, they even include a Japanese drink. 

Bireley's Orange Drink - a discontinued drink from 1920 California and
is still available in Japan made by Asahi drink manufacture

Meiji - Poifull - Assorted Soda Jelly Beans

My favorite snack is a jelly bean by Meiji. I used to have it a lot when I was young in Hong Kong, where Japanese snacks are widely available. After moving to the America, this is one of the few times that I get to try this candy for a long time. The texture of this candy is hardened only for the outer layer. Once you eat it, the outer layer will soften and blend with the rest of the candy. It is sweet, but not overly sweetened like many American candies. (American food doesn't go easy on sugar!)

SKOSHBOX OCTOBER 2015 REVIEW

SKOSHBOX - The Original Skoshbox

SKOSHBOX - Dekabox

Skoshbox is a Japanese snack subscription service that delivers a monthly box of Japanese candies and snacks from their selection of assorted snacks that will definitely surprise you each month. 

Monterey Bay squid and pork fried rice at Ramen Shop, Oakland USA

Monterey Bay squid and pork fried rice with wild nettles, cilantro, basil, cherry tomatoes, and Siew’s spicy shrimp-chili paste $15.5

Once a while, my friends will order Ramen Shop's fried rice as a small appetizer. It is a little bit spicy from their house-made shrimp-chili paste. 

Taiyaki at May's Coffee Shop, San Francisco USA

Taiyaki $2

This snack shop is located inside Japan Center. It has a large Taiyaki drawing at the front of shop. There are two flavors: chocolate or red bean. Also, I recommend coming at the morning so you can get fresher Taiyaki. From what the set-up tells me, it seems like they make a bunch in the morning and leave it at the front.