It has been very cold in Seattle lately so I'm posting a yummy Japanese noodle soup recipe to warm your tummy. My recipe for Kitsune Udon! Kitsune Udon is Udon Noodles served in a bowl of hot Dashi soup and topped with Aburaage (thin fried tofu) that has been cooked in a sweet & salty soy sauce based sauce. You rarely see Kitsune Udon on the menu in most Japanese restaurants here in the United States but it is super popular in Japan. You will see it on practically every menu at the local neighborhood noodle shops in Japan and for a very reasonable price. Kitsune means “fox” in Japanese. … [Read more...]
Fried Pork Wontons with a Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce
September 26, 2016 · by · Leave a Comment
I really love Chinese food but I rarely eat it when I'm at our Seattle home. Chinese food in the United States is usually quick, cheap, and very greasy. Not always but most of the time. I know there are some great upscale Chinese restaurants in some cities but I really haven't found a good one in Seattle yet. In Tokyo there are the quick and cheap Chinese food places all over the city but there are many beautiful upscale ones as well with amazing food. I really miss my favorite Chinese places when I'm in Seattle. The kind of places with fine china and white tablecloths. Yes those kind of … [Read more...]
Niku Soba 肉そば Cold Buckwheat Soba Noodles with Beef
September 16, 2015 · by · Leave a Comment
I love noodles and I'm lucky to live in Seattle part of the year where there are many great Asian markets. I can pretty much find all of my favorite noodles, dry and fresh, to prepare at home. One of my favorite noodles to prepare is Japanese Soba, or buckwheat noodles. When I am at our Tokyo home I can walk through our front door and find the best soba restaurants within walking distance or a short subway ride away. Yes we are very lucky. One of noodles shops I love to visit when I'm in Tokyo is Minatoya. Minatoya specializes in one type of Soba dish, Niku Soba, or Cold Soba with Beef. … [Read more...]
Chashu ~ Japanese Braised Pork チャーシュー 煮豚
March 19, 2015 · by · Leave a Comment
I posted my Shio Ramen recipe last week so I wanted to master Chashu, or Nibuta (which means slowly simmered or braised pork) to go on top of it! Chashu has always been my favorite ramen topping and fried rice ingredient. Many Ramen places in Japan will have a Chashu Fried Rice on the menu and I can never pass it up. Chashu is very versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes and of course who can resist slowly cooked pork belly? The aroma alone drives me crazy. One of my favorite Ramen shops in Tokyo, Doraichi, is just a short walk away from our Azabujuban condo and makes some of the … [Read more...]
Shio (Salt) Ramen 塩ラーメン
March 11, 2015 · by · 13 Comments
Yes I know it has been quite a long time since my last post. I was kind of in a funk after the holidays and couldn't get into my recipe groove. I was blaming the holidays but it's already March so I don't think I can use that excuse anymore. Another problem was I couldn't decide what recipe to post next but then I was inspired by a bowl of Shio Ramen while experimenting at home. I thought this is it! I had to share this recipe with all of you. Yes this Shio Ramen brought Lovely Lanvin's groove back. I am having my first Ramen cooking class at Nikkei Horizons in Seattle this month and that … [Read more...]
Hiyashi Chuka (Cold Ramen) with a Sesame Miso Sauce 冷やし中華ごまみそだれ
June 25, 2014 · by · Leave a Comment
Hiyashi Chuka is a cold Ramen dish served during the hot and humid Summer months in Japan. When the weather starts getting warm you will see Hiyashi Chuka posters popping up on the walls of every local Ramen shop. This is a seasonal dish that you will only see during the Summer. Hiyashi Chuka means "cold Chinese" in Japanese and I like to describe it as a cold ramen salad. The noodles are the same noodles used in hot ramen but Hiyashi Chuka is topped with chilled fresh vegetables, shredded chicken, ham, roasted pork (Chashu) or seafood and a drizzle of sauce just to coat the ingredients … [Read more...]
Wafu Oroshi Hamburger Steak 和風おろしハンバーグ
September 24, 2013 · by · Leave a Comment
I have another Japanese Hamburger Steak recipe to share with you and it is super yummy. The best way I like to describe Hamburger Steak is that it is like a mini meatloaf. You can find Hamburger Steak all over Japan and it is probably one of the most popular Yoshoku dishes on a Family Restaurant menu. Family Restaurants are Japan’s answer to the American chain-restaurant but with much better food. They are fairly large restaurants often with substantial parking lots and most are open twenty-four hours. Family restaurants generally serve a mix of Western, Yoshoku and Japanese cuisine. There … [Read more...]
Bukkake Udon ぶっかけうどん Japanese Cold Udon Noodles with Various Toppings
August 27, 2013 · by · 1 Comment
We are in the middle of the nicest Summer in Seattle in over fifty years. Summer is always very beautiful in Seattle but this year we are having the best Summer I've ever experienced. There is an abundance of sunshine (over two months straight) the temperatures are warm but not too hot and the best thing is we don't get the humidity like most places. The humidity part is why I spend the Summer at our Seattle home. After growing up in Tokyo and still living there part of the year I stay away from the heat and humidity they get during Summer. Living in Seattle has turned me into a heat wimp … [Read more...]
Stir-fry Sukiyaki Udon
August 7, 2012 · by · 26 Comments
Welcome to the new LovelyLanvin.com! I hope you love the new design as much as I do. I thought this was a good time to freshen up my blog since it is my blogs' second anniversary. Yes it's been two years already and I can't believe it. It has been so much fun and I look forward to sharing more of my Japanese recipes and life in Tokyo and Seattle with all of you. Thank you for your support on this journey. My Blog and your continued support and encouragement have really helped me have more confidence in myself. I am very grateful to you all. Now for a new post! It is nearly … [Read more...]
Curry Udon
June 25, 2012 · by · 18 Comments
Japanese Curry has been a part of my life for as far back as I can remember. My Mom made the best curry and I whenever I would smell her delectable curry coming from the kitchen it would make me very happy. When I tell people how popular curry is in Japan they're usually quite surprised. Curry is such a big part of the Japanese diet now and is popping up in new dishes every day. The more common ones are curry filled bread (curry pan), curry rice, curry ramen and curry soba or udon just to name a few. I love Curry Rice but a close second for me is Curry Udon. My favorite place to enjoy … [Read more...]
Okonomiyaki – Japanese Savory Pancake, Osaka Style
January 30, 2012 · by · 18 Comments
Ok I'm finally doing an Okonomiyaki post. Ever since I started my blog, a year and a half ago, I've been asked over and over about posting an Okonomiyaki recipe and I promised I would, someday. I make it often and when I do I always post photos on Twitter or Facebook and get so many requests for the recipe. Well I decided to make Okonomiyaki my first post of 2012. It is definitely my favorite dish ever and I know it will become one of yours too. There are many shortcuts to making Okonomiyaki but I don't recommend any of them. I see so many recipes out there using a mix, or Okonomiyaki … [Read more...]
Toshikoshi Kinoko Soba, Japanese New Year’s Eve Soba Noodles with Mushrooms
December 30, 2011 · by · 11 Comments
As most of you know I spent the majority of my life growing up and living in Tokyo. I first moved to Japan at the age of five and have spent a total of twenty eight years in Tokyo and counting. My husband and I are now living in both Tokyo and Seattle, our two favorite cities. My husband, who is Japanese, was recently offered his dream job in Tokyo. This might not sound so strange for a Japanese man to be working in Tokyo but for my husband it's the first time he's actually worked for a Japanese company. He was with an American software company his whole career and that is what originally … [Read more...]
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