Tag Archives: snack

Navigating the World of Japanese Snacks

Posted in Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo by

When I travel, my favorite souvenirs are food. Wherever I travel, I will no doubt come back with cases of snacks. I love to try snacks from different countries because what’s unusual in one country is the norm in a different country. Plus, it allows me to experience different flavor combinations I would never think to go together i.e. butter flavored chocolate.

I tried my best to taste all the snacks, amongst all the meals I ate, but it was a hard feat since there was such a large variety. Japan takes their snacks seriously. Chips, chocolates, and cookies in every flavor combination possible. And then there’s the matcha; it is not JUST matcha. There’s Uji matcha, sakura matcha, matcha with soybean powder, etc. It’s like snacks on steroids. The ones I didn’t have time to try, I brought home to savor. Below is a picture of all the snacks I bought.img_2590
Yes, I fit all the snacks above, 1.5 weeks of clothes, and a bottle of whiskey all in ONE carry on suitcase. I know I’m nuts, but I LOVE my snacks. Here is a breakdown of the snacks I think are worthy of trying:

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b. patisserie

Posted in San Francisco by

b. patisserie reminds me of the bakeries you find in Paris. It’s minimalistic designs and delicious pastries will instantly transport you to Paris.

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It’s signature pastry, the kouign amann (pronounced “queen amman”), is a sweet, buttery, flaky croissant. I suggest you go early to snag one of these before they run out!

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The blueberry, peach, almond croissant isn’t your normal croissant. It’s more dense than flaky but the flavor is there. The peach brings out the sweetness of the blueberry but also helps balance it out.

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The passion fruit bostock reminded me of a dense coffee cake.

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(2821 California St, San Francisco, CA 94115)

Beecher’s Handmade Cheese

Known to the world as one of Oprah’s favorite things, the “world’s best” mac and cheese from Beecher’s Handmade Cheese lives up to its hype. The intense depth of flavor comes from aging the cheese for 18 months. On display at the window, you can witness the cheese making process. Be sure to sample the cheese ranging from the curd to the aged cheese. On your way out, grab a bowl of the mac and cheese or order it online to enjoy when you like.

(1600 Pike Place, Seattle, WA 98101)

Elote Man 

The Elote Man, Timoteo Flor de Nopal, has been turning healthy corn into a heart attack snack for 27 years in Lincoln Heights. For $1.50 you can get corn on a cob or a bowl of corn topped with a heaping spread of mayonnaise, generous drizzle of butter, even coating of Parmesan cheese, and a dust of chili powder. When you to try to eat the corn, it’s a game of balancing the newly gained weight of the corn, about half a pound, so it doesn’t lose to gravity. Don’t worry! This doesn’t scare people away. On warm summer nights, the lines can get long so go early before he runs out. He’s open from 9:30 pm until 1 am or until he runs out. It’s worth it for this heart attack concoction that will change the way you eat corn. You won’t be able to eat it any other way.

(2338 Workman St., Los Angeles, CA 90031– by the 99 cent store)

Leonard’s Bakery

A popular Hawaiian treat is malasadas from Leonard’s Bakery. Malasadas are Portuguese versions of a sugar donut filled with creams. They were invented in Madeira to use up the lard and sugar before Lent and are generally eaten on Fat Tuesday. The concept traveled to Hawaii for Shrove Tuesday, which is also known as Malasada Day. 

Leonard’s Bakery offers a variety of seasonal fillings such as guava, macadamia nut, pineapple, and original (with no filling). They reminded me of a dense sugar donut. I recommend eating them while they’re fresh. They don’t sit well overnight.

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The pineapple dole whip was delicious but eat it quickly. The intense Hawaiian sun will melt it in a heartbeat.

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(933 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816)

Fresh Catch

Posted in Oahu by

Hawaii was the first place I tried poke. I haven’t been able to find a place in the states that makes it just as good. So when I came back to Hawaii, I was excited for more poke. Fresh Catch just blew the poke game out of the water. If you’re on the hunt for the best poke, look no further. The fish is fresh, and the marinades will delight your taste buds. None of them are too salty or sweet. Sold by weight, buy as much as your heart desires.

The tuna was the perfect savory balance to the salmon’s sweet marinade.

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Mmm…mmm…good! I want more!

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(3109 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816)

Musubi Cafe Iyasume

I stopped by Musubi Cafe Iyasume every morning to pick up fresh musubis before starting my day. These lightweight snacks kept well throughout the day whether I went hiking or snorkeling at the beach. My favorites were the double salmon onigiri and egg and spam musubi. The perfectly cooked sweet egg balances out the saltiness of the spam. They also offer a bacon, spam, and egg musubi and a egg, avocado, and spam musubi.

Below are all the Musubi Cafe Iyasume locations in Oahu.

Matsumoto’s Shaved Ice 

Hawaii is well known for it’s shaved ice. Having never tried the famous summer snack, I decided to give it a go. Above is strawberry, guava, and lilikoi (passion fruit). The flavors were strong and tasty but when melted down, it tasted like syrup water.

At Matsumoto’s you can order a large or small, above is the small, with up to three flavors. Extras include condensed milk, ice cream or mochi. 

(66-087 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712)

Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory

Studio Ghibli and My Neighbor Totoro fans can now fawn over Totoro cream puffs. Yes, a Totoro cream puff factory does indeed exist! It was opened in 2008 by Shirohige, also known as white bread in Japanese. Sources says this factory is also owned by the Miyazaki family. Hayao Miyazaki is the founder of Studio Ghibli and director of My Neighbor Totoro. Miyazaki also created a pig nosed animation of Shirohige, the baker.

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This will also be the cutest place you visit. The inside is adorned with everything Totoro and Studio Ghibli. Even the bathroom has a Totoro smiling at you. Sadly, I forgot to take pictures.

You can buy your Totoro cream puffs downstairs if you choose to consume them later. If you choose to eat them there, there is a cafe upstairs. However, they do require each person to buy one drink minimum.

The flavors are seasonal and are indicated by the type of decoration Totoro adorns.

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I got the strawberry cream (pink flower) and matcha green tea custard (yellow hat). My favorite was the strawberry cream because there were chunks of fresh strawberry in it.

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Hello my neighbor Totoro! 🙂

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The factory is located in Setagaya, about a 20 min train ride from Tokyo. When you get out the Setagaya station, make a right. Pass Lawson and make another right into the neighbor and follow the path until you reach Shirohige’s.

(5 Chome-3-1 Daita, Setagaya-ku, Tōkyō-to 155-0033, Japan)

Matsubara Dori

Posted in Kyoto by

After enjoying Kiyomizu-dera, I suggest walking down Matsubara Dori. Brace yourself for the hordes of people.

It’s worth it to try out the snacks and tea the shops offer to lure the tourists. One shop sold flatten mochi, which was chewy and delicious. In another, I picked up a snack sized bread filled with custard for only 60 yen. After consuming it, I wished I had bought more.

The machine in the back makes these bite sized snacks.