Black Sesame Oil & Red Spicy Tantanmen at JTAN, Tokyo JAPAN

Red Spicy Tantanmen  900 yen

Black Sesame Oil Tantanmen 850 yen

Although the chashu (roasted pork slices) are tough, both black & red tantanmens were good overall. They are still better than most ramen I've had in the States, but not better than Oakland's Ramen Shop's Spicy Tantanmen. 

Omakase, Unagi Oshizushi (pressed sushi), and Futomaki at Sushi Wacogoro, Helsinki FINLAND

Omakase - Maki and nigiri combination

Unagi Oshizushi (Pressed sushi)

Back Row: Hotate (Scallop) and Koji (Grilled) Salmon Nigiri
Middle Row: Futomaki (big roll)
Front Row: Sake Oshizushi  

While visiting Helsinki, I was exciting to visit Sushi Wacogoro for lunch. While looking through Helsinki's recommended restaurants, there are many Japanese restaurants to choose from. However Sushi Wacogoro's 5 Yelp-star status really makes me wonder. While reading about the background of the restaurant, it is actually owned by a Japanese family who moved to Helsinki for more than 4 years, solely to seek an opportunity in sushi business. 

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JAPAN CANDY BOX NOVEMBER 2015 SUBSCRIPTION BOX REVIEW

Japan Candy Box

Japan Candy Box is a Japanese candy subscription service who will select around 8-10 hand-picked quirky Japanese sweets & snacks for your candy box. It has a nice variety of popular Japanese candies that I remember having when I used to live in Asia. The proportion is just right to try out each snack. It doesn't make me feel "too filling" when having these smaller packages of candies and caramel corn puffs.

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Sashimi, Unagi + Truffle Nigiri, Miso Salmon, Beetroot Sorbet at Restaurant Gaijin, Helsinki FINLAND

Sashimi Tasting - sake, aji, and hamachi, roe, wasabi-yuzu dressing, wakame, wasabi mayonnaise

Unagi & Truffle Nigiri - glazed eel, truffle, teriyaki rice, seaweed caviar

I visited Helsinki for the New Year, and visited a local Asian fusion restaurant called Gaijin. (What's funny is that "Gaijin" means "foreigner" in Japanese. It is pretty ironic for a restaurant to name themselves this way.) Overall, the dishes are easy to go down and many are quite delicious. I was very full in the end that I can't even finish my dessert.

FREEDOM JAPANESE MARKET NOVEMBER 2015 SUBSCRIPTION BOX REVIEW

Original Subscription Pack

Origami of the Month

For this review, it is going to be about the November 2015 "Original Subscription Pack" by Freedom Japanese Market.

After opening my snack box, I am delighted to see an adorable origami. I really appreciate these kind of small things. Actually folding origami for each subscription box can be very time consuming, this is something that I love to see when it comes to details.

I am also very surprised that I actually never seen many of these snacks before. Usually, I am familiar with half of the snack box! Especially this "pipe choco" that I am holding, (photo below) I can almost imagine a kid holding it and role-playing with it while enjoying the mini chocolate balls. It makes you feel like childhood.

Pipe Choco