Autumn in Japan, 日本の秋

There are many things I love about Japan. Season is one of them.
In Japan you can enjoy different food and scenery in different seasons!

I was back in Japan for a week in mid-November.
I had a chance to visit a suburb of Tokyo on a day trip and I could see beautiful Autumn scenery of Japan. 
In Spring time, beauty of "Sakura" -cherry blossom- is very famous and one of the things represent Japan, but the color of the leaves in Autumn is also as amazing as "Sakura".


Red colored maple leaves & Japanese Persimmon

Mountain view with "Ryujin Otsuri Bashi" bridge, 竜神大吊橋, in Ibaraki prefecture

It was a beautiful sunny day. Not so cold yet. Perfect Autumn day for a day trip.
This, I could enjoy neither in Taiwan nor South China.....  


Beautiful red maple leaves and "Fukuroda" falls, 袋田の滝, in Ibaraki prefecture

Even in a city of Tokyo, I could feel the season of Autumn.
Though, the color of the leaves was not yet so vivid as it was in the mountains.


Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku

Color of the maple leaves were not yet completely red in Shinjuku

 

Shinjuku Central Park

Marriott International Unveils a Grand Classic in the Heart of Shanghai



Here is the one I saw in Shanghai last time I visited there in Oct.

The 18th Marriott's Hotel in Shanghai has been opened!!

 - The 720-Room Shanghai Marriott Hotel City Centre - Marriott News Center

Japanese Sweets "Wagasi", 和菓子-羊羹の作り方-

"Wagashi" is Japanese traditional sweets made of plant-based ingredients, such as mochi, red bean, flour, kudzu, seasonal fruits...etc. Served at tea ceremony or at the end of a meal with tea.

Yokan with simmered sweet chest nut

"Yokan"(羊羹ようかん) is one of the oldest wagashi made from red bean, sugar and agar.

Technically, there are different names for the different ways of making "yokan".

"Neri Yokan" is solid block, contains more red beans and less water.

"Mizu Yokan" (Japanese "Mizu" means water in English), on the other had, is softer, contains less red beans and more water than "Neri Yokan".  

Here I introduce is how to make "Mizu Yokan" (because I personally like it better than "Neri Yokan"!!).

Prepare, red beans, agar ("Kanten"寒天 in Japanese, "Yang Cai" 洋菜 in Chinese -in Taiwan-, "Qiong Zhi" 琼脂 -in Mainland China-), sugar and water.

Red bean paste: 300gm 

Water: 500ml

Agar: 9gm

Sugar: depends how sweet the red bean paste is... (need to taste it while cooking. it should be bit sweeter than you feel comfortable. it becomes less sweet after chilled)

  

Picture on the top left is Japanese "Kanten", on the right is Chinese "Qiong Zhi"

Agar comes in different shapes. Here I use is the threads shaped one.

* If you like to make red bean paste from fresh red beans...

Put red beans in a pot with more than enough water to cover up the red beans and heat it up till it boils. Add water on the pot, 2-3 times while boiling. Keep it for several hours in medium heat.

Make sure all the red beans are completely cooked and soft in the middle, then add sugar.

Put the cooked red bean in a food processor, strain off the skins of red beans and make it into smooth red bean paste.

Put agar in a bowl with cold water and leave it for over night.

Take out the agar from the bowl and dry off the water.

Put it into a pot with majored water.

Heat it up and mix it well while heating.

Make sure all the agar are melt in the water.

Put red bean paste in the pot and mix them well.

Strain it off in a bowl and cool it down in a ice water bath.

Mix well while cooling down the bowl (other wise the red bean paste sunk down in the bottom).

Pour it into "Nagashi kan" a special stainless container (if not, cups, plastic container or anything can be used) as soon as the liquid inside the bowl get thickened (*liquid with agar gets solid in room temperature, not like one with gelatin which needs lower temperature to get solid). 

Put it into a fridge till it gets solid.



"Nagashi kan" can be used to make "Yokan" and many other Japanese food

Done!!



Yokan with sweet green tea sauce as an accent

Shenzhen Wine and Cheese Club's Party in JW Marriott

In Nov. 26, Shenzhen Wine and Cheese Club has held a party in JW Marriott for the first time.

November Wine and Cheese Club @ JW Marriott by "Shenzhenparty.com"

The party was held in the hotel's pool side terrace at 4F.
It rained in the morning and we have concerned we might need to change the venue to inside the hotel.

But luckily, rain stopped by the afternoon and over 60 people joined the party to enjoy several types of wine along with Japanese food and cheese.

Photo's of November Wine and Cheese Club @ JW Marriott by "Shenzhenparty.com"

Marriott International Announces its 100th Hotel in China - Marriott News Center

As I have mentioned in the other day, Marriott keeps grow in China. 

Marriott International Announces its 100th Hotel in China - Marriott News Center

 

Actually this is not only for Marriott or hotel industry, also for any other business from out side China.
Economy in European countries are a mess and USA still doesn't show any sign of recovery from the financial crises in 2007-2008.  So, those who want to expand their business (or simply can not survive within their own countries) come China for an opportunity. Some people said China's economy growth would slow down after Beijing Olympic and Shanghai Expo but seems like it was wrong.

Short trip to Shanghai, 上海

Beautiful Night View of Pudong

In Oct. I had a chance to visit Shanghai for 4 days.
I have stayed in Courtyard Marriott Puxi, one of the 18 Marriott's hotels in Shanghai. 
Those 18 facilities are; One JW Marriott, Two Executive Apartments, Two Ritz-Carlton, Four Marriott, Five Renaissance and Four Courtyard.

Courtyard Marriott Hotel Puxi

It was very nice staying in Courtyard Puxi. The hotel with 416 rooms is one of the biggest as a Courtyard hotel.

Hotel is still new and good location too -5 minutes walk to subway station and 10 minutes walk to Shanghai main station-. Getting around by taxi to Bund about 28RMB (4.5USD)  to Xintiandi about 20RMB (3.2USD). Room is also nice and clean, big enough. Only without a bathtub, it's not a big deal.  

JW Marriott Hotel & Executive Apartments at Tomorrow Square

Unique structured building with 60 stories includes JW Marriott Hotel and Executive Apartments.

Next to the building, on the ground floor, there are shops of Ferrari, Maserati and Porsche. As Chinese economy keeps growing, all the famous brands come into China from all over the world!

That is also same for Marriott International brand which has just announced 100th hotels in China. And it will open average of one hotel a month in China for at least the next three years.

Newly opened, Marriott City Centre

18th hotel in Shanghai has just opened in this fall 2011.
Marriott City Centre has a famous Japanese restaurant "Inagiku" inside the hotel.

Famous Shanghainese Sheng Jian Bao (left), Xiao Long Bao and Guan Tang Bao

Shanghainese local cuisine is still remain the same and keeps attracting people.
Many tourists from in and out side of Shanghai come over to enjoy its famous food, like  Sheng JIan Bao or Xiao Long Bao.

 Twilight in the Bund (Wai Tan) 

The Bund, the area of former Shanghai International Settlement, attracts people because of its beautiful 19th Century Europian style buildings. Those buildings with 100 years of history were originally consulates and banks from outside countries.

It is so pretty and hard to believe you are in China!

SUN with AQUA" Japanese Dining & Bar

SFBI (Suntory F&B International), opened a restaurant in the Bund, 2006, when I was working for one of their restaurants inside Shangri-La Taipei.

One of the reasons I visited Shanghai was to see my old days friends, Chef Maki-san and restaurant manager Kawashima-san. I was so happy to see them both and the stunning restaurant.  

Tian Zi Fang

Tian Zi Fang is the latest tourist attraction area, known for small craft stores, coffee shops, trendy art studios and narrow alleys. This area slowly became famous as some artists opened their galleries in this area followed by restaurants, cafe and so on...

The area became "China's Best Creative Industry Park" in 2006. 

City keeps growing...

As China's economy grows, a city of Shanghai keeps grow too. More new buildings and less old buildings. I hope they keep some part of history remain the same...

Birthday "Chirashi" Sushi Cake, デコちら

It is always nice to have something special for a birthday. A pleasant surprise for a special occasion. That is something I can do and I am always so happy to do.
Doesn't matter what it is. We, chefs, are entertainers in a way and will give 100% to make our guests happy.

So, here is something I have prepared for my guests' birthday dinner. Instead of just giving away an ordinary, common birthday cake, I made a cake looking "Chirashi" sushi.
The birthday lady and her family were so surprised and happy.

Dazu -a day off in Chongqing- 大足石刻

The General Manger of JW Marriott Chongqing has told me about the great rock carving site in Dazu right after we have arranged the schedule of my task force in Chongqing. He was generous enough to offer me a day trip to Dazu Rock Carving site on my day off.

Dazu country is located 60km west from the central city of Chongqing.

It was heavy traffic on Monday morning, of course, and it took 2.5 hour drive to the rock carving site on Mount Baoding! But, I must say, it worth spending the time.

Those carvings were begun back in 6th century AD, during the early Tang Dynasty, influenced by Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist beliefs. And the carvings were listed as a World Heritage Site in 1999.

Unfortunately, the sculpture of Bodhisattva with Thousands Golden Hands was under preservation process and could not see clearly this time... but, other than that, all the carvings are stunningly beautiful and it made me think of the people who made those sculptures over 1,000 years ago... 

Rock carvings of Buddhas and Circle of Life 

Buddha, Entering Nirvana

"All Japanese Buffet" in JW Marriott Chongqing

Last three days of Task Force in Chongqing, from Sep.1st to 3rd, Special promotion "All Japanese Buffet" had been held in Marriott Cafe. 

Decorations for the event. Sake barrels, a little "Geisha" doll, etc.

 

It was a first "All Japanese Buffet" event in the history of 5*hotels in Chongqing and was very successful event indeed. I also had opportunities to meet people from Japanese consulate, Japanese companies and also people from other 5*hotels in Chongqing. I didn't forget to tell them about the new menu project in the hotel's Japanese restaurant "Mikado"! 

Service staff in Japanese style uniforms and Live "Tempura" station

Cold appetizers and salad station,

Japanese sweets -"Kuzukiri" noodles with black sugar syrup-

Live sashimi station with fresh seafood

"Niku Jaga" -Simmered beef and potato in savory soy sauce broth-,

"Oden" -simmered fish cakes and vegetables in bonito broth-,

"Bara chirashi sushi" -dice cut sashimi and vegetables on sushi rice-

Marriott International | Business Excellence Magazine

Here is something I found on the web site...
It talks about Marriott International's future growth in the Middle East and Africa.
"Marriott International has identified enormous growth potential in the Middle East and Africa...."
Marriott International Business Excellence Magazine

JW Marriott Hotel Chongqing, JWマリオットホテル重慶

JW Marriott Hotel Chongqing has opened in 1999 with 472rooms.

It's located in the middle of down town Chongqing -liberation monument area-.

30minutes drive from the airport. *Note; if it's weekday rush hours... it takes forever!

Chongqing is an old, hilly city and all the streets are very narrow. Also, it is intersected by the Jialing river which runs into Yangtze(揚子江) -or Chang Jiang(長江)- River.

So, I could understand why people say it's like Hongkong. 

 

Hotel lobby.

12years old hotel, but it still looks very nice.

All Japanese Buffet Promotion's poster and decorations in the lobby.

Living room and bathroom in the master room.

Bed room with nice view of down town Chongqing.

Thanks to the hotel GM let me and my wife stay in the sweet room.

Task Force in Chongqing, 重慶出張

I am going to JW Marriott Hotel Chongqing
for "Task Force" from Aug.26 to Sep.4

I will be helping out their promotion in all day dining restaurant.
"Original All-Japanese Dinner Buffet in Marriott Cafe"
Only for 3 nights special dinner event from Sep.1 to 3.
(* See "News" for more details!)

And also, menu change and staff training in their Japanese restaurant "Mikado".

That will be a very busy 10days in Chongqing.....

However, I am excited to see a different city in China!
Chongqing is a major city in southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. (Other four are Beijing, Shanghai, Guanzhou and Tianjin)

One of my friends from Hongkong told me that Chongqing is called "Little Hongkong" because both cities are surrounded by water. Though, the size of Chongqing is much bigger than Hongkong.
Chongqing is bigger than Hokkaido -Hongkong is only half the size of Tokyo- !!

Universiade Shenzhen 2011, ユニバーシアード深セン

People here in Shenzhen have been talking about it for so long...
The Universiade is now in Shenzhen!
Check it out → Universiade Shenzhen 2011, Official web site

Signs and posters are all around the city of Shenzhen!

So many new streets and buildings are built for the game.

Signs inside the subway stations, remind people to behave in a civilized way... 

Also, new subway lines have just been opened before the universiade in June.

地震後の影響は？

先日行われた中国国内の日本人向けフリーペーパー「ウェネバー広東」による取材が7月号の記事として紹介されました。

今年三月の日本、東北地方での大地震、原子力発電所の爆発、それに伴う放射漏れ。。。
その影響は隣の中国、そして世界各国にも広く及んでおります。
今回の記事は、現在の広東省における日本食事情を詳しくつづったものです。

自分も海外日本食事業に携わる者の一人として現状の報告と一個人としての意見を述べさせていただきました。

日本国外にいてたいした手助けもできませんが、被災地の方々、そして各方面で影響を受けている日本国民にいち早く安らかな日々が戻ることを心より願っております。。。

がんばれニッポン!!

Special dish for a VIP guest

Tonight, our VIP hotel room guest came to "Shizuku" Japanese restaurant for dinner with friends.

He asked me to make one dish which is not on the menu for him. And he told me he liked "Sanma" -pacific saury-.

It was very busy night but how could I say "No".
When someone come challenge me, my answer always is  "Yes, no problem". I just told him "please give me a little time"...
Then, I started think what I could do with "Sanma" to give them "WOW" while running back to the kitchen.

Thanks to my previous boss who is a great chef and specialized in tempura. So, I came up with the idea of deep frying it then mix with sweet and sour sauce. He taught me a lot....



Clean the fish and fillet it into 2 pcs and one piece of middle bones. Put a bit of salt over both filleted meat and middle bones. Leave them for a while then rinse them with water and dry them with kitchen paper. 
Cut the meat into 2-3cm wide pieces, put corn starch around it and deep fry them.

This time, I also deep fried the middle bones and julienne sweet potato (with lower temperature) and cut green asparagus.
Heat up the sweet and sour sauce (mixture of soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, rice vinegar, chopped onion, ginger juice) in a pan, add cut small tomatoes, deep fried "Sanma" meat and green asparagus, then mix them well.

Put them in a orange cup then julienne spring onion and deep fried sweet potato on top.
Pour little bit of the sauce with small tomatoes around the cup. Put deep fried bone on the side.
Garnish the dish with some spring onion, then "Voila!" done!!!

I succeeded to give them "WOW" and they left the restaurant with smile :)

Hotels in Macau, マカオホテル事情

It only takes one hour by boat trip from Shenzhen to Macau.

It has been handed over back to China from Portugal on Dec. 1999 but under the policy of "one country, two systems", its unique European atmosphere still remains the same and keep attract millions of tourists every year.  And the numbers of those tourists keep growing due to Chinese economy growth -over 50% of the visitors are from mainland China and 30% are from Hong Kong-.

Of course, the main reason which attracts those tourists is the casinos.
In 2006, Macau's gambling business has made 6.95 billion US dollars revenue, surpassed Las Vegas and made it the world's top casino market.

One of the oldest casino & hotel is the Lisboa -one of Macau's icon, the hotel with 1071 rooms- in the middle of the downtown Macau peninsula. It's opened in 1970 and the new hotel "Grand Lisboa" design as lotus flower with 431 rooms 52F, just opened next to it in 2008.

Newly opened Grand Lisboa, original hotel Lisboa and the casino. 

Some other hotels opened in Peninsula side within a past 5years are;
MGM grand with 600 rooms 35F opened in 2007, Sofitel with 408 rooms 20F opened in 2008, Mandarin Oriental with 213 rooms -without casino- opened in 2010.

Across the bridge to islands of Taipa and Coloane.
In between those two islands are now connected by landfill forming the Cotai Strip.
This area is booming now!

Four Seasons Hotel and the Venetian

Macau's new icon the Venetian is opened with 2,874 rooms (!) in 2007 and Four Seasons just right next to it opened in 2008 with 360 rooms. Grand Hyatt across the street opened in 2009 with 791 rooms. New casino complex Galaxy is just open this year, 2011, in May which includes hotels from Japan -Hotel Okura-, Thailand -Banyan Tree- and its own Galaxy hotel with 1,500 rooms.

GALAXY MACAU

And soon, another complex is going to be opened just across from the Venetian and Four Seasons.
Scheduled to open early in next year, 2012. It includes hotels by Starwood group -Sheraton and St.Regis- and others (it was planed to be Shangri-La and Traders but the agreement between the hotels and casino complex was terminated for some reasons in March. -see the news on "Macau Daily Times").

New complex is under construction.
The building in the left was supposed to be Shangri-La's and you can still see it's logo on top.

Those luxury hotels are opening with casinos after Macau's new law.
In 2002, the Macau government ended the monopoly system and opened it to other companies from outside. Since then, casino complexes' opening rush is continuously going though it was slowed down for a period of time after American economy corrupted by "Lehman Shock" in 2008.

We will see all new Macau within a couple of years....