soul food

feeling a little off today, yuka mailed me to ask what I'd like for tea and when I said 'some soul food', I should have guessed she would suggest nikujaga. or mick jagger as we affectionately refer to it.

it's a traditional food of sorts but odd in the respect that it's meat 'niku' with potatoes, onions and sugar. yes folks, it's sweet mince and tatties. a variation on a scottish national dish - but the japanese add sugar - the cheeky monkeys. don't tell anyone though - if scotland, the sick-man of europe, finds out, he'll be demanding golden syprup poured over every main course. it does beg the question though, of why the japanese diet is so healthy even when they add sugar to alot of cooking (take sushi {rice} as the obvious example).

I suppose it's moderation. and I guess it's the fact that uncle mick is just an occaisional dish which is one of those filling and simple comfort foods. tonight, being a fairly average meal, consisted of a tofu salad, natto (see tramps-muccus, june), rice, chicken salad as well as mr jagger; our little sweet friend.

so there you are. nihongo ryori is not just about raw fish and seaweed (though more often than not it is). and it's comforting to know that no matter how different we all are, we often fall for the same things in time of need.

ps. I clattered my head a cracker on the back door to our apartment building on my way to the hospital today and it really, really hurt. this is a main exit to a 'public' building for goodness sake. I'm going to check the building standards.
as soon as my vision returns.

pps. oh. I sniffed out a macha (green tea) kit-kat today. another unique take on a quality snack.

Post a comment