Food Maker, Chef, and Traveling Diner
When I think back on all of the many caterings throughout my time as a chef, this particular one is probably the most significant catering that I have ever done. In fact, I get emotional just thinking about how much my Bachan has impacted my …
My sister, Kristen, just turned forty on March 12th. My sister-in-law, Linh’s, birthday is just one day before on March 11th a couple years before, so each year we get to celebrate these two lovely ladies and everything they do for our family on a daily …
Another Osechi Ryori has come and gone, but this year is also a special one because Bachan will turn 100 on July 21, 2023, so this is her 100th Oshogatsu and I am so grateful that I was able to prepare and host this year’s party!
2022 was hard —lots of pain and lots of transition—but with the help of our family and friends and the deep trust and love we have for one another, we made it into the new year!
I have been making Osechi dishes and celebrating Japanese New Year most of my life. You can search other years on this blog and though many of the items we enjoy on New Year’s Day are Japanese American, they still have great significance to our family and our evolving traditions.
This year we got to share the day with our nieces, Maleeya, Amaya, Adelyn, and Quinn, and our new nephew, Keston, born July 30, 2022! We also hosted my uncle and cousins to share this special day with Bachan. Even with challenges, there is always so much goodness and joy!
I had some really good lighting this year and I’m grateful to share this menu and these dishes with you all. Also, some very awesome kamaboko art that Brandon took time to do this year. We are always looking for new ways to elevate and share delicious food.
Menu
Osechi Ryori
Tazukuri (Candied Sardines)
Symbolizes a bountiful harvest
Kamaboko (Fish Cake)
Symbolizes celebratory colors
Gobo (Kinpira Gobo and Sesame Gobo)Symbolizes strength and stability
Ebi (Shrimp)
Symbolizes longevity
Konbu (Seaweed)
Symbolizes joy and good omens
Namasu (Pickled Daikon and Carrot)
Symbolizes peace and happiness
Renkon (Lotus Root)
Symbolizes luck in future prospects
Takenoko (Bamboo Shoots)
Symbolizes advancing in life
Satoimo (Japanese Taro)
Symbolizes lasting prosperity
Konnyaku (Yam cakes)
Symbolizes bonds and relationships
Five-Sided Carrot and Daikon
Shiitake Mushroom
Blistered Shisito Pepper
Umeboshi
Tsukemono
Sushi
Ahi Sashimi
Korokke (Potato & Meat Croquette)
Chicken Katsu
Teriyaki Chicken
Spicy Chicken Skewer
Grilled Sake Trout
Rice
Grilled Shrimp
Fresh Fruit
Mochi
Spam Musubi
Wonton
Chashu
Ozoni
Japanese New Year Mochi Soup
Kagami mochi “mirror rice cake” represents harmony in the family and mochi’s stretchy texture symbolizes hopes for longevity
I hope you enjoyed this year’s dishes!
Happy New Year Everyone. May 2023 bring you lots of love and peace!
-Kimberly
Unrivaledkitch
Truth be told, I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to make all my usual Christmas deliciousness because Brandon had his hip replaced just before Christmas. The unknown of going through a surgical procedure was a little unsettling, but luckily his hip replacement …
Baby Fujitaki # 3 is on his way! My brother, Kyle, and my sister-in-law, Viet-Linh, are having their third child and…drum roll, please…it’s a boy! Needless to say, his arrival is much anticipated, especially since Kyle already has two daughters, Adelyn and Quinn, and my older sister, …
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a massive cooking extravaganza and that’s just what it was this holiday season. I was able to have time time off from teaching to just work on tamales and pozole and hang out with my family and enjoy every minute of my time with them. I truly cherish these memories with all my loved ones and the time I was able to spend with my nieces as they enjoyed our holiday traditions. It’s completely amazing. Holidays can be a bustling time of the year, but I truly stayed present to the fun, giving, loving, community-inspired essence of the holidays that I absolutely love so much.
I have been making tamales every year since 2008. It’s a nice way for me to work on some of the bits and pieces of my recipes and come out with a really solid tamale that my family and friends love. This year I got a beautiful new mixer from Brandon, which helped tremendously because my old one was completely worn out. My mom had a chance to put some together herself this year and I can say that I’m pretty quick when it comes to assembly. The stocks, braising meat, making the salsa, rehydrating chiles, roasting chiles and tomatillos and everything else that goes into tamales is a labor of love. So when you taste a really good tamale, remember that it probably wasn’t fast food and take some time to truly enjoy it.
We went to visit my great-aunts and great-uncles at my grandma’s childhood home. Of course, I couldn’t go there empty handed, so this year I brought them a pot of my pozole. I have to admit, the pozole was rather delicious this year, with just the right amount of spice. pozole is another recipe that is a labor of patience and practice. But soup is a soul food and it truly is a nourishing dish. There is nothing like a hot bowl of pozole with all the right toppings on Christmas morning.
I hope whatever traditions you and your family and friends have, they are something to keep passing down to the people you love and sharing the things that make you happy, grateful and inspired. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and happy New Year! Stay tuned for my Japanese New Year annual Oshogatsu post of osechi ryori.
Cheers,
Unrivaledkitch
I have 6 years of Thanksgiving blogs on Unrivaledkitch, which to me, shows my commitment to being there for my family and I am truly grateful that I have been able to take on this tradition for the ones I love and to share these …
Life seems to be steaming right along. August was a blur of celebration, grief, love, tears and just being. Life is so precious that even in the day-to-day happenings we can get carried away with the difficulties or choose to see the joy that is …
I can’t believe that Maleeya is already 4-years-old. It’s almost a month later and I’ve been slacking on my food blogging, but this was a very special birthday party catering and since I’ve blogged about each of her birthdays, I can’t stop at 3. So here is the 4th edition.
This year Maleeya had a Minnierella (Minnie Mouse as Cinderella) themed princess birthday party for her friends at our house. My mom made Maleeya’s beautiful pink dress for her Minnierella costume and my sister decorated the house. Everyone enjoyed playing games, catching up, delicious food and togetherness and I don’t think we’ve ever had so many people in our house at one time, which was really fun. We had a special feast of Maleeya’s favorite foods for her party. I asked Maleeya what she wanted to serve at her birthday party and her list was as follows: latkes, fruit, veggies, salad, chicken, strawberries and cake. So with those directions in mind, as well as some special Vegan and Gluten Free requests, I came up with this menu and we had a blast.
Menu
Fruit Tower and Melon and Grape Platter
Fresh Vegetable Tray
Sweet Sesame Chicken Skewers
Turkey Meatballs
7-Layer Bean Dip
Pico de Gallo
Grilled Sweet Soy Chicken Drumsticks
Italian Pasta Salad
Chinese Chicken Salad
Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons
Bread Basket
Latkes
Grilled Vegetables and Tofu
Thank you to everyone who helped celebrate this very special little lady, or as she liked to be known that day, Minnierella. Happy fourth year of fun, love and excitement, Mighty Maleeya!
Cheers,
Unrivaledkitch
I’ve had a few weeks to reflect and enjoy the memories and events that took place during our Beautiful Bountiful Body Retreat from Judgement at Lido Palms in Desert Hot Springs. This week has been such a busy week of staying in the moment, …
