Umami: The 5th Dimension of Taste
Salty, sweet, sour and bitter are familiar terms to describe taste. Yet a fifth, umami, is less well-known but just as prevalent.
Salty, sweet, sour and bitter are familiar terms to describe taste. Yet a fifth, umami, is less well-known but just as prevalent.
Ujikintoki is a cool and refreshing dessert that's usually enjoyed during the summer season.
It's got gooey melted cheese. It's got a robust tomato sauce that balances zestiness and sweetness with just the right bit of zip. It just happens to be made with noodles instead of dough.
In response to the global ramen renaissance, some restaurants in Japan are adapting to make their food more accessible to foreign visitors—like this restaurant in Asakusa, which serves halal ramen.
Sake is probably the best known Japanese drink in the world.
Umeshu plum wine is one of the most popular of Japanese liqueurs. It's made from a base alcohol such as sake and Japanese plums, and has a very nice, sweet flavor.
Kyoto is just as steeped in ramen as any other part of the country.
Sounds like a terrible idea, right? Not to worry: it's not what you think.