Jul. 25th, 2015 09:08 pm
Hondana Shokudo S2 Ep1: Drama Notes
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earth_colorsEp. 1: "Horror Meals Volume"
Episode Synopsis: Nishiki and Jiro are excited since it seems they will be able to meet the day's deadline. "Finally, we are able to outwit Sakurada this time!" cried Jiro. However, heavy rains and a thunderstorm suddenly occurred. A clap of thunder was heard, and the lights suddenly went out. It was a power outage. Having no choice but to pause from their work until the lights come back, the two decide to tell ghost stories to while away the time...
Drama Notes:
Summer Ghost Stories. Ghost stories and story-telling are popular in the summer because of various reasons: the Obon festival (Day of the Departed) takes place in August, hearing ghost stories gives you the "chills" during the hot season, etc. A group would gather around a candlelight and each member takes turns telling scary stories. In this episode, Nishiki mentions about ghost stories that end in "It was you!". A popular example of this story is the urban legend of the "Coin Locker Baby": A woman decides to abandon her new-born baby inside a coin locker in a train station. A few years later, she found a little boy wandering around the same station, seemingly lost. She asked where his mother is. The boy looked at her and said, "It's you!"
(info: tofugu, ja.wiki) (pic: photo-ac)
Yang Guifei. "Yang Yuhuan, often known as Yang Guifei, known briefly by the Taoist nun name Taizhen, was known as one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. She was the beloved consort of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang during his later years."
(quote/pic: wiki)
Doubanjiang. "A spicy, salty paste made from fermented broad beans, soybeans, salt, rice, and various spices... It is used particularly in Sichuan cuisine, and in fact, the people of the province commonly refer to it as "the soul of Sichuan cuisine".
(quote/pic: wiki)
Featured Food Literature (with above book covers from left to right):
"Hana China" [華中華] Vol. 7 by Nishi Yuji (story) / Hikino Shinji (art). "Hana China" was released from 2003-07 (under Shogakukan); and 2007-2013 (Big Comics). It was discontinued in 2013 after Nishi Yuji died unexpectedly. The story is about an apprentice chef, Hanamura Hanako who is training to be a cook specializing in Chinese fried rice in a restaurant in Yokohama's China Town called "Manten". One day, she meets the ghost of Yang Guifei who teaches her Chinese cuisine.
(info: ja.wiki) (pic: shogakukan)
"Diner" by Hireyama Yumeaki (Poplar Publishing Co). A noir novel that has received some awards including the 13th Oyabu Haruhiko Award. For a nice synopsis, go to booksfromjapan.
(pic: poplar)
Pork with Garlic Chives (from Majo no Soup)
Serves 2
Ingredients: Garlic chives 1 bunch; Pork 150 g; Salt and Black Pepper (desired amount); Garlic (chopped) 5 g; Ginger (chopped) 5 g; Sesame oil 1 TB; Soy sauce 2 tsp
Steps:
1) Chop the pork, and season with salt and black pepper. Cut the chives into 3 cm length.
2) Heat a wok and put in sesame oil and saute garlic and ginger. Add and cook the pork.
3) Add the chives, and finally sprinkle in the soy sauce. Add dashes of salt and pepper, and adjust to your liking.
Episode Subs: (link)
Episode Synopsis: Nishiki and Jiro are excited since it seems they will be able to meet the day's deadline. "Finally, we are able to outwit Sakurada this time!" cried Jiro. However, heavy rains and a thunderstorm suddenly occurred. A clap of thunder was heard, and the lights suddenly went out. It was a power outage. Having no choice but to pause from their work until the lights come back, the two decide to tell ghost stories to while away the time...
Drama Notes:
Summer Ghost Stories. Ghost stories and story-telling are popular in the summer because of various reasons: the Obon festival (Day of the Departed) takes place in August, hearing ghost stories gives you the "chills" during the hot season, etc. A group would gather around a candlelight and each member takes turns telling scary stories. In this episode, Nishiki mentions about ghost stories that end in "It was you!". A popular example of this story is the urban legend of the "Coin Locker Baby": A woman decides to abandon her new-born baby inside a coin locker in a train station. A few years later, she found a little boy wandering around the same station, seemingly lost. She asked where his mother is. The boy looked at her and said, "It's you!"
(info: tofugu, ja.wiki) (pic: photo-ac)
Yang Guifei. "Yang Yuhuan, often known as Yang Guifei, known briefly by the Taoist nun name Taizhen, was known as one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. She was the beloved consort of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang during his later years."
(quote/pic: wiki)
Doubanjiang. "A spicy, salty paste made from fermented broad beans, soybeans, salt, rice, and various spices... It is used particularly in Sichuan cuisine, and in fact, the people of the province commonly refer to it as "the soul of Sichuan cuisine".
(quote/pic: wiki)
Featured Food Literature (with above book covers from left to right):
"Hana China" [華中華] Vol. 7 by Nishi Yuji (story) / Hikino Shinji (art). "Hana China" was released from 2003-07 (under Shogakukan); and 2007-2013 (Big Comics). It was discontinued in 2013 after Nishi Yuji died unexpectedly. The story is about an apprentice chef, Hanamura Hanako who is training to be a cook specializing in Chinese fried rice in a restaurant in Yokohama's China Town called "Manten". One day, she meets the ghost of Yang Guifei who teaches her Chinese cuisine.
(info: ja.wiki) (pic: shogakukan)
"Diner" by Hireyama Yumeaki (Poplar Publishing Co). A noir novel that has received some awards including the 13th Oyabu Haruhiko Award. For a nice synopsis, go to booksfromjapan.
(pic: poplar)
"Majo no Soup (Witch's Soup) ~Nokoru wa Shokuyoku~" [魔女のスープ―残るは食欲―] by Agawa Sawako. The author was a retired newscaster who traveled to the US. After she came home, she started writing a book essay about dishes she made and have encountered. One particular dish was the soup she concocted one night using leftovers, which she described as a "suspicious-looking liquid of reddish brown color". She called it "Witch's Soup", a reference to the movie "Babette's Feast". "Majo no Soup" was published in 2014.
(info/pic: shinchosha)
Recipes featured in this episode (Translated from recipes posted by NHK, with some modifications; pix from NHK):
Watermelon Fried Rice (from "Hana China" Vol. 7)
Main ingredients: Watermelon 1 whole medium-sized piece; Watermelon rind (julienned) about 100g; Ground pork 150g; Doubanjiang 1 tsp; Sesame oil 1 TB; Rice wine 1 TB; Soy sauce 1 TB
3) Heat another frying pan, and put in the salad oil. Add a beaten egg, rice, and salt, and stir fry well. Add next the green onions, and soy sauce.
4) Add the mixture from no. 3 and mix.
5) Place the fried rice in the hollowed out watermelon as a serving bowl, and put some watermelon slices on top as decoration.
Bombero's Hamburger (from "Diner")
Serves 2
Main ingredients: Hamburger buns 2 pcs; Butter 10 g; Honey 1 tsp; Ground beef 160 g; Salt 2/3 tsp; Black pepper (desired amount); Lettuce 2 pcs; Tomato 2 slices; Pickles 2 pcs; Onion 20 g; Salad oil (desired amount); Cheddar cheese 20 g, 2 sheets; Cheese 4 slices
(info/pic: shinchosha)
Recipes featured in this episode (Translated from recipes posted by NHK, with some modifications; pix from NHK):
Watermelon Fried Rice (from "Hana China" Vol. 7)
Serves 2
Main ingredients: Watermelon 1 whole medium-sized piece; Watermelon rind (julienned) about 100g; Ground pork 150g; Doubanjiang 1 tsp; Sesame oil 1 TB; Rice wine 1 TB; Soy sauce 1 TB
Basic fried rice: Steamed rice 500 g; Egg 1 pc; Green onions (chopped) 40 g; Salt 1/3 tsp; Soy sauce 1/2 TB; Salad oil 1 TB
Steps:
1) Cut the watermelon in half. Get one half and hollow out the contents (you can use a ball scooper, chill the watermelon balls and serve as dessert). Scrape the white skin with a spoon, and chop into strips. The other half is cut to serve as toppings.
2) Heat a pan, and pour sesame oil and doubanjiang; add and saute ground pork. Once the pork changes color, quickly add shredded watermelon rind, and season with sake and soy sauce. Adjust according to your liking. Set aside.Steps:
1) Cut the watermelon in half. Get one half and hollow out the contents (you can use a ball scooper, chill the watermelon balls and serve as dessert). Scrape the white skin with a spoon, and chop into strips. The other half is cut to serve as toppings.
3) Heat another frying pan, and put in the salad oil. Add a beaten egg, rice, and salt, and stir fry well. Add next the green onions, and soy sauce.
4) Add the mixture from no. 3 and mix.
5) Place the fried rice in the hollowed out watermelon as a serving bowl, and put some watermelon slices on top as decoration.
Bombero's Hamburger (from "Diner")
Serves 2
Main ingredients: Hamburger buns 2 pcs; Butter 10 g; Honey 1 tsp; Ground beef 160 g; Salt 2/3 tsp; Black pepper (desired amount); Lettuce 2 pcs; Tomato 2 slices; Pickles 2 pcs; Onion 20 g; Salad oil (desired amount); Cheddar cheese 20 g, 2 sheets; Cheese 4 slices
Dressing: Mayonnaise 1 TB; Ketchup 1 tsp; Vinegar 1/2 tsp; Sugar 1 tsp; Black pepper (desired amount)
Steps:
1) Slice buns in half, toast lightly, and spread butter and honey on them. Chop lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and freshen with sprinkles of water.
2) Mix all ingredients for the dressing.
3) Put in these ingredients on the buns in this order: lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and then the dressing.
4) Mix ground beef and salt, black pepper, and create thin round patties that are slightly larger than the buns. Put a thin thin layer of oil on a frying pan, and grill the patties while pressing down with a spatula or turner.
5) Place slices of cheese on the patties while still on the pan and let it melt. When the meat is cooked, placed them on the buns, and further add more slices of cheese on top. Cover with the other buns, and pierce the center with a skewer to keep them in place.
Steps:
1) Slice buns in half, toast lightly, and spread butter and honey on them. Chop lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and freshen with sprinkles of water.
2) Mix all ingredients for the dressing.
3) Put in these ingredients on the buns in this order: lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and then the dressing.
4) Mix ground beef and salt, black pepper, and create thin round patties that are slightly larger than the buns. Put a thin thin layer of oil on a frying pan, and grill the patties while pressing down with a spatula or turner.
5) Place slices of cheese on the patties while still on the pan and let it melt. When the meat is cooked, placed them on the buns, and further add more slices of cheese on top. Cover with the other buns, and pierce the center with a skewer to keep them in place.
Pork with Garlic Chives (from Majo no Soup)
Serves 2
Ingredients: Garlic chives 1 bunch; Pork 150 g; Salt and Black Pepper (desired amount); Garlic (chopped) 5 g; Ginger (chopped) 5 g; Sesame oil 1 TB; Soy sauce 2 tsp
Steps:
1) Chop the pork, and season with salt and black pepper. Cut the chives into 3 cm length.
2) Heat a wok and put in sesame oil and saute garlic and ginger. Add and cook the pork.
3) Add the chives, and finally sprinkle in the soy sauce. Add dashes of salt and pepper, and adjust to your liking.
Episode Subs: (link)
