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Thursday, February 23, 2023

C'est Bon le Japon 2023

 

Last weekend was the annual 3-day salon, C’est Bon, Le Japon  in the Marais

60 purveyors of Japanese gastronomy etc.

With lots of etcetera like Totoro from Studio Ghibli
And Okonomiyaki, a delicious, squarish pancake-like thing made with egg, cabbage + whatever plus essential sauce on top. The first thing I ate.
There is always green tea/Matcha at this Salon. I wish I had tasted.
But the first time I’ve seen Matcha-flavored white chocolate-covered madeleines. How did I resisted? When I went back for a second look they were gone.
I don’t know what these are. They look like marzipan. Do you?
I have yet to fall in ❤️ love with mochi. The French are mad for it. There are several La Maison du Mochi in Paris. They were at the salon. 
The Lockdown 
Made me 
Into a cat person.
There can never be too many cats imho. I thought these were maybe little foxes. Thank you PBerπŸ‘ - they are Shibu Inu, Japan’s most popular dog!
The French are mad for foxes like the Japanese. In Japanese folklore,
 kitsune are foxes that possess paranormal abilities that increase as they get older and wiser. According to yōkai folklore, all foxes have the ability to shapeshift into human form. While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others—as foxes in folklore often do—other stories portray them as faithful guardians, friends, and lovers.
But I digress 😊 I bought a cat chopstick/baguette rest, after much deliberation - the sitting cat at the top. 
Along with the gazillion things to taste and browse
There was constant live exercise entertainment. Nika Taiko drummers based in Paris performed 5 times over the weekend. Stupendous. Unless you were sitting in the first row. I moved back. 
These Haniwa TAIKO drumming figures date from the 6th century  That’s how long drumming tradition has existed.
‘Raging Women’ Taiko drummers are relatively new .
I was lucky to attend the salon on Friday, opening day. I thought I’d pick up an okonomiyaki for lunch on Saturday after swimming. The line was around the block. I will never learn to love Paris Lines
Here’s a quick, easy lunch to incorporate sardines and get your weekly omega-6s. The buckwheat noodles come in single portions. It helps if you have a K-Mart near you to buy Japanese condiments like sesame oil and good soy sauce. 
The sardines should be packed in virgin olive oil (not citron-basil)btw. 
Get a pot of water boiling. Drop in the soba noodles. They cook in about 4 minutes.
At the same time, in a frying pan dump the can of sardines. Add a splash of sesame oil, soy sauce, sesame seeds and any other Japanese seasonings like rice vinegar. Bean spouts are a nice addition and a bit of seaweed or chopped arrugala.
When the noodles are cooked, drain. Run under cold water.
Then throw in with the sardines and give a good stir & voila. A delicious lunch for one. Just double for two. Not gorgeous to look at, but very tasty, satisfying and NOT fishy.
This Saturday the big Salon d’Agriculture begins. You’ll soon be hearing about Fr regional foods and COWS πŸ„ if you’re not a Japanophile.
Coming home from the Japon Salon, the Seine was looking like a Japanese woodblock print…
If you enjoyed this newsletter, forward to a friend. 
You can receive a Paris letter or watercolors in your mailbox at ETSYXxx Carolg & Bear 🐻 πŸ„πŸ†

31 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:34 AM

    Love your work Carol!!! C'est bon!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bonnie L7:15 AM

    Paris is truly a thrill-a-minute. There is always something exciting going on. This Japon Salon is enticing…as is your noodle sardine meal!

    I’m looking forward to seeing your posts on the Agriculture Salon. ❤️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:06 AM

      Yes keeping up requires stamina. I better get to the pool 🏊‍♂️

      Delete
  3. It’s too bad you missed out on the Matcha flavored madeleines…you know my motto…get it when you see it. However, you did not go home empty handed. I didn’t know there is a chopstick/baguette rest. So cute!πŸ—Ό❤️πŸ₯’

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous9:06 AM

      You can’t eat everything you see in Paris. And my Sugar daddy was MIA.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous9:54 AM

    In my year in Paris, the Agr Salon was one of my favs! I can't wait to see it again in your post. Paris Breakfast keeps my memory alive and yearning to return! Thank you!

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    1. Anonymous10:51 AM

      I think everyone looks forward to the Agriculture salon. It is the best taste adventure!

      Delete
  5. Anonymous10:07 AM

    Those little ceramic figures are Shiba Inu. They do look like foxes.

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    1. Anonymous11:11 AM

      Thank you!
      I never would have guessed. The figurines are all over Etsy.
      An ancient Japanese breed, the Shiba Inu is a little but well-muscled dog once employed as a hunter. Today, the spirited, good-natured Shiba is the most popular companion dog in Japan.
      The Shiba Inu is said to be one of the oldest and most popular of all six breeds, making up about 80 percent of the population of native dogs.
      !!!

      Delete
  6. I haven't had okonomiake in years. Rick used to make it fairly often and I need to get on his case about that. It would be such a wonderful outing. And of course, I adored all the cats!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous10:50 AM

      Isn’t Ron a Wonderful guy! Lucky you πŸ‘

      Delete
  7. Anonymous10:49 AM

    I dont think I would eat half of that food. The pancake is iffy. Lynn C.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:52 AM

      A ticket to Japan is in the post πŸ’Œ

      Delete
  8. Anonymous11:42 AM

    The chopstick rests make great paint brush rests as well!

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous1:18 PM

      Thank you. What a good idea! I should have thought..

      Delete
  9. Adore this, Carol. I missed it - so thank you so much for sharing your highlights. I adore the Taiko drummers - and the wagashi little cakes served with tea. They are all so pretty. My daughter, Lucie, would love this even more, as she's studying Japanese. Let's hope she can make it next time - wish it was in the holidays!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous1:17 PM

      Lucie would love it. It’s always in Fevrier.
      Wagashi of course. I forgot. I went to a kaiseki dinner in Tokyo. Every dish looked like a flower. Mysterious beautiful food 🍱

      Delete
  10. I must try buckwheat noodles! Your bowl looks yum!! I've tried mochi once but it was not my cup of tea, but if they were marzipans I would eat them all :-) There is one mochi shop at rue du Cherche-Midi, almost in front of the small flower shop ;-)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous1:32 AM

      I found mochi too gluey in texture.
      Soba noodles are nutritious, tastier than regular pasta imho and very low in gluten. Plus you can’t overeat because they come in individual portions unlike pasta. I highly recommend them πŸ‘

      Delete
  11. Anonymous3:51 PM

    Always enjoy your news. Thank you always x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Virginia6:08 PM

    I have been to the Salon d'Agriculture.... It's gigantic. And there are the most beautiful cows I have ever seen. Especially those from the Aubrac. Carol, I don't know how you do all you do.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous1:29 AM

      The Aubrac cows πŸ„ are famous for their steaks. We had one at their salon restaurant last year.
      I don’t know how I don’t know either 😳
      I do have a lot of down time, drawing in the studio to recoup.
      Sometimes I come home and just fall into bed πŸ›Œ after these events

      Delete
  13. This looks very interesting and I would have loved to try one of those madeleines. I'm really looking forward to your guiding us through the Salon d'Agriculture. The drummers look like they do a great show.

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    1. Anonymous1:25 AM

      Thanks Suki πŸ‘ I am trying to build up my STAMINA for the Agri Salon πŸ₯Š

      Delete
  14. Anonymous2:22 PM

    Carol, Thanks for the beautiful article. Wish I was there ! It reminded me of TOMO in 2022. Ginn

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    1. Anonymous1:07 AM

      Ahhh…Thank you
      PÒtisserie Tomo! And there are 2 of them in Paris, one near by and I have browsed in there! I must go back 🌸

      Delete
  15. This looks like so much fun, a mini trip to Japan. Okonomiyaki are so tasty and mochi is definitely a different texture dessert, maybe that’s why the French like it. Your cat chopstick test is very cute! I always love buying small things and stationary when I’ve visited Japan. I agree, pity you missed out on the mocha madeleine.
    I like cows as well (since I was young) so look forward to your next post too. Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous1:03 AM

      Aw..thanks Kirra ❤️ I guess Japan is not so far away for you, you lucky πŸ¦†

      Delete
    2. Yes! Some places we are lucky to be closer too πŸ™‚

      Delete
  16. Sharon8:04 AM

    Playing the taiko drums was my favorite activity when I used to take students to study abroad in Japan. and the food...

    ReplyDelete

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