Comfort Food: Ozoni to ring in the New Year

Happy New Year!

New Year in my Japanese household means one thing: ozoni time.  

Ozoni is a mochi soup with clams and mizuna, a leafy green, in a fish-broth dashi, or broth, and of course mochi!  It's definitely what comes to mind when I think of comfort food.  Ozoni is one of my favorite things to eat yet I only get to eat it in during the first couple of weeks of the new year, or as long as we have mochi in the house (which in my household isn't very long).  Eating ozoni is meant to bring good health during the new year and cleanse your body to ready it for the year to come.  I hope you and your families have a great new year!    

Morsels: Nijiya Market

Alyssa and I both discovered the amazingness that exists at Nijiya Market.  A Japanese shopping market, Nijiya has all of my childhood snacks like the Bear Honey Kimi Crackers, Nori-Ten, and Konpeito sugar balls, as well as a full selection of hot food and ridiculous bentos.  Why pay for mediocre food on campus when you can have a delicious Japanese feast for the same price? 

North Shore Cruising: Shave Ice and Shrimp Plates

No better way to spend the day than driving around the North Shore, stopping at your favorite beach, and filling up on simple, yet extremely delicious food.

Matsumoto's Shave Ice

(And yes people, it's shave NOT shaved)

Large guava and lilikoi shave ice with snow cap (condensed milk)

Pay the 25 cents and go for the holder. Thank us later. 

Romy's Kahuku Prawns & Shrimp

Butter and garlic sautéed shrimp plate

Steamed prawns with side of butter dipping sauce (pictured as the aftermath)

The wait can be long but stick it out and be patient because it's definitely worth it.

Locals and frequent customers, ask for the stamp card. 

Photos taken by Kiyana using Blackberry Bold and Droid Razr.