Thank you for smoking chocolate...?

Photo from http://www.lewhif.com/

Have you ever heard smoke chocolate or coffee?

This new chocolate and coffee is created by ArtScience Labs, a research network founded by Harvard professor David Edwards, launched a new Le Whif flavor, coffee, in the United States with a roll-out hitting stores throughout England, France and Japan.

"Le Whif Coffee" is the lipstick-shaped inhaler delivers tiny sprinkles of a breathable coffee powder with an amount of caffeine equivalent to an espresso. "Le Whif first offered the taste of chocolate without the calories, and now it offers the kick of coffee without the cup," said Edwards.
Le Whif Chocolate, introduced at the 2009 Cannes festival.

All of Le Whifs have been redesigned and are biodegradable, organic and contain less than one calorie. Now available in four flavors: pure chocolate, raspberry chocolate, mint chocolate and coffee, the product can be purchased online at LeWhif.com or in select specialty stores worldwide for €1.80.
ArtScience Labs is working on additional Le Whif flavors and innovative breathable food products that will be showcased in Le Whif stores around the world later this year.

コーヒーやチョコレートを吸って楽しむ、これなら太ることも、肌荒れも気にしなくて済む??

”Le Whiff”という、吸うコーヒーとチョコレート製品を発明したのはハーバード大学のデイヴィッド・エドワーズ教授が投資するアート・サイエンス研究所で、チョコレートは2009年のカンヌ映画祭で初めて公に紹介、発売され、この度コーヒーが新たにイギリス、フランス、そして日本でも4月に発売されるようです。

口紅ほどの大きさで、、小さなミストのようなパウダーが噴霧されると言う仕組み。この噴霧されるコーヒーのパウダーには、エスプレッソ程度のカフェインが入っているため、コーヒーが飲めない場合でもカフェインの効果があるそうです。
噴霧できるほど小さい分子でありながら、肺に入れるには大き過ぎるように分子構成がデザインされていると言うから、たかが匂いといっても侮れません。
現在、チョコレート味、ラズベリー・チョコレート味、ミント・チョコレート味、コーヒー味の4つを出しており、今後、さらに多くのフレーバーを作り、吸える食品と言うものを発展していく予定だそうです。

strange country Japan.

I've found this. I felt a bit sad but it is true...mmm...

Japan - The Strange Country (Japanese ver.) from Kenichi on Vimeo.

Japan-The Strange Country (English ver.) from Kenichi on Vimeo.

Liz Earle

My colleague told me about this.

This is face cleanser. After use this cleanser my face looks and feels clear and radiant... Feel like almost after spa!!

同僚が、このフェイスクレンザーを薦めてくれました。なんともいろいろな賞を受賞したスグレモノだとか…。

早速試してみたところ、本当に気持ちい。。。　洗った後は肌がしっとり、チョット肌が明るくなった?と思ったほどです。スパに行った後みたいにすっきりします。

おすすめでーす!

more info: http://uk.lizearle.com/

Hanami: Flower viewing

In this season, all Japanese people are starting to talk about cherry blossom and Hanami at work and with friends.
Hanami is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of cherry blossoms. From late March to early May, Cherry blossoms bloom all over Japan. In modern-day Japan, Hanami mostly consists of having an outdoor party beneath the cherry blossoms during daytime or at night. Most of the younger student in university or youngest employees at work, they are usually stay orvernight (sometimes days) to keep best site in the park for other friends and bosses. You can see those peoples with sleeping bags and card games sitting lonley on picnic seat, any where under the cherry blossom tree in this season in Japan.

The practice of Hanami is many centuries old. The custom is said to have started during the Nara Period (710–794) when the Chinese Tang Dynasty influenced Japan in many ways; one of which was the custom of enjoying flowers. Though it was plum blossoms that people admired in the beginning, by the Heian Period, sakura came to attract more attention.
Cherry blossom originally was used to divine that year's harvest as well as an announcer of the rice-planting season. People believed in gods' existence inside the trees and made offerings at the root of Cherry blossom trees. Afterwards, they partook of the offering with sake.

Under the sakura trees, people had lunch and drank sake in cheerful feasts.


Today, the Japanese people continue the tradition of hanami, gathering in great numbers wherever the flowering trees are found. Thousands of people fill the parks to hold feasts under the flowering trees, and sometimes these parties go on until late at night.

The Japanese people continue the tradition of hanami by taking part in the processional walks through the parks. This is a form of retreat for contemplating and renewing their spirits.

Borough market

It was very nice sunny day and we've descided to go to Borough Market.
天気が良かったので、ボロウマーケットに行くことにしました。









Wow, artichorkes... mmm yummy...
アーティチョーク。んん、おいしそう…。

so many different types of mashrooms... I'm looking for Maitake... but maybe not...
色んな種類のキノコがあります。舞茸は…無いか。。。

AAHHHHHHH-----!!!!!!

ぎゃぁぁぁぁーーー!!!

お魚屋さんです。

When we were having drinks I felt somebody looking at me. It was...
お昼にワインを飲んでいる時、なんだか強い視線を感じました。その正体は…。

I've been there once, I loved this pub. So many different beers and ales. So cool!!!

ここにはビールのテイスティングで一度行きましたが、それからと言うもの、すっかりここの虜になってしまいました。素晴らしいビールのセレクションで有名です。

And when we arrived at home, the sky turn to grey. Phewww...

家に着いた時には空はすっかりグレイ色になっていて、ふぅぅ…雨が降る前に帰ってこれて良かった。

For all chocolate lovers in town!!!!

http://chocstarblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/londons-1st-chocolate-festival.html

London Chocolate festival with chocolate making, demonstrations, master chocolatiers artistic shows and displays, etc... this free chocolate event should feel like heaven for all chocolate lovers in town.

Date: 26/03/2010 - 28/03/2010
Time: 11 am -8 pm (Friday to Saturday)
Place: Southbank Centre
Tube station: Waterloo

4 cutest pictures of hedge hogs

Cheese-only restaurant opens in London

Mr Ledogar and his business partner Jean-Charles Madenspacher, who are both 24, have left their village outside Strasbourg, Alsace, to move to the UK. The restaurant L'Art du Fromage, off King's Road.

Their mission: to banish the British obsession with mild cheddar and ignite an altogether fierier relationship with aged milk curd. The selections of cheese are about 100, all French cheese and Swiss cheese.

L'Art du Fromage
1 Langton Street,
London SW10 0JL
Tel 020 7352 2759

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/cheeseonly-restaurant-opens-in-london-just-dont-expect-cheddar-1924343.html

Okayama sake tasting

I went to sake tasting at Shoreditch town hall.
I can not remember when I've tried sake from Okayama prefecture last time...
So I was quite excited to try something new.

I was late.
When I having a meeting, I knew I'll be late...
I got out from tube station, then switch on my phone. I was so proud of my new i phone map.
3 sake brewers were waiting for me. I've joined to my colleague who already arrived 10 minutes ago.
The first sake that I've tried, it was Miyashita sake brewery.
I've tried Peach Nigori sake, Takarabune Junmai Ginjo, Harenokuni Okayama Junmai and plum sake "Soushun".
The peach Nigori sake was quite unique. It doesn't have peach taste. The color is light pink (peach) color. It has been made with "Okayama white peach yeast", found in white peach. It has creamy textured and touch of fresh acidity, very fruity and sweet nose. I liked it. I think I can drink one case of this. Additionally, this brewery makes beer as well. We were more interested with beer that made with Omachi sake rice.

Second brewer was Yoikigen sake brewery. "Yoikigen"?? sounds very unusual...
We've tried Yoikigen Daiginjo, Sora ao ao Junmai Ginjo, Renge no Mai and pear liquor.
Renge no mai is unpasteurized and made with rice that grown in Renge flower field. I thought this is made with Renge flower yeast, and has flowery charactor... but nothing like that. The sake was very elegant and delicate. I think, this sake would be nice to present for Mother's day or something, because of pretty colored bottle. Also I have to mention Pear liquor. It was almost feel like sipping crushed jelly, very very unusual style.

Last brewery was Muromachi sake brewery. I've tried Bizen Maboroshi Daiginjo, Bizen Maboroshi Junmai Ginjo, Kodawari Bikan zake(shu?) Honjozo and Gyu tto Teshibori Yuzu shu. Both Bizen Maboroshi Junmai Ginjo and Daoiginjo won the award in IWSC. more info about IWSC: http://www.iwsc.net/ I prefered Bizen Maboroshi Junmai Ginjo. And Yuzu shu was very pretty bottle. I'm sure this is great for PR.

Most of them were very unique. Sake in this region are quite rich charactor. I'm not sure if I want to put any of them in our sake list at the restaurant. I need to concider with price....

室町酒造 Muromachi sake brewery　http://www.sakuramuromachi.co.jp/
宮下酒造 Miyashita sake brewery http://www.msb.co.jp/
　　　　 http://www.optic.or.jp/com/miyashitashuzou/miyashitashuzou.html　
ヨイキゲン株式会社 Yoikigen sake brewery　http://www.yoikigen.co.jp/

sunny sunday Breakfast

It is such a beautiful day today.
We haven't seen nice sunny days for a while.
I could see peoples wearing T-shurts walking on the street.
I'm sure it will be very busy in centre, beautiful sunny Sunday like this.

I wanted to get up early but I was very tired and walk up quite late... oops...
Thomas went to work early morning and I'm having a day off on my own.

I cooked salmon omlet and feta cheese omlet.
Salad is mix of cherry tomatoes, rocket leaves and avocado, dressed with oliveoil+cherry blossom salt+freshly ground pepper+maple syrup+lemon juice+vinegar.

barrafina

I went to my favorite spanish tapas restaurant for lunch.
Barrafina is a sister restaurant of Fino, and providing great tapas using best quolity ingredients they can find. The restaurant is always full, but while you are waiting for seat, you can order drink and food, which is very good news.
The staffs are always very friendly and foods are always tasty. If you go there don't miss "special dish of the day". Barafina is no booking policy, so sometimes I have to wait for 1 hour, sometimes 20 minutes, but its worth to wait.

I've tried special of the day... this is grilled scallops with chilli, chives on top, served with artichoke puree. Artichoke puree was very good, smooth and sweet. Also scallops was very sweet and soft.

This is starter that we always have. very simple, but so tasty.

http://www.barrafina.co.uk/

Coqui Coqui Tulum

Happy st. patric's day!!

dinner tonight...

Soft sweet peppers stuffed with organic farmhouse feta, wrapped in matured prosciutto and its mesclun of rocket leaves.

Roulade of chicken and stilton butter, served with lemon and rosemary roasted potatoes.

Looks amazing?

It was!

my favorite sake cups

I love Japanese crockery. Especially sake cups.
These are my favorite sake cups that I use only special ocassion at home...
私は、焼き物が大好きです。特に酒器や、料理に使える器などが好きです。
これは、私が特別な時に使う、お猪口のコレクションのうちの3つです。