Sasa no Yuki – Ten courses of tofu
This is ten courses of tofu. Without jisho.org(*), I can’t read half of it, the hostess speaks only a minimal amount of English to me and mostly just smiles, my company simply tells me that this is the menu. There’s little necessity to go further anyway, they probably think, the joy is in eating the courses and not in knowing what it is, since I’m just a foreigner who most likely eats here only once.
And they’re right… This stylish restaurant, Sasa no Yuki, is not quite for a student’s everyday dining, the cheapest lunch course (Uguisugozen, 6 dishes) is 2200 yen (~$22). But I keep the slip of paper, and I will remember what everything is called!
First 2 courses: ike mori namasu (生盛膾) – vegetable (and jelly) assortment with a tofu dipping sauce, and sasanoyuki (笹乃雪) – a block of cold white tofu. Don’t underestimate the tofu block, it’s uncooked, extremely pure and actually tastes like soybean.
Third and fourth courses: ankake tofu (あんかけ豆富)* – tofu in a slightly sweetened soy-flavored sauce with a dash of mustard, and goma tofu (胡麻豆富) – tofu made with sesame and arrowroot.
Ankake tofu is said to be Sasa no Yuki’s signature dish, originated more than 300 years ago. Unfortunately, it is also my least favorite.
Fifth course: agemono (揚げ物), which means fried food in general. In this case, it’s deep-fried tofu and a ball of deep-fried rice cracker or something. A satisfying contrast after all the cold, homogenous blocks.
Sixth course: yuba (湯波) – tofu skin, and kouya tofu (高野豆富) – freeze-dried tofu. Both taste airy and a little sandy.
Seventh course: unsui (雲水)** – a noodle soup, but entangled in the noodle are yuba strips, and the broth is lightly seasoned soy milk. It’s served warm. Extremely satisfying, light but flavorful, full of varieties but harmonious. This soup costs 700 yen by itself. Highly recommended.
Eighth course: soft tofu in a cold broth, shrimp and veggie. On the menu, it’s known as “kisetsu no ippin” (季節の一品), which means “a product of the season”. Also one of my favorites.
Ninth course: uzumi tofu (うずみ豆腐) or also called ochadzuke (お茶漬け) – rice with seasoned tofu in hot broth.
Dessert: tofu ice cream. Can it go wrong? Never.
The 10-course meal, otonashigozen, costs 5000 yen. It is perfect for the hot, wet Tokyo summer. It makes you feel light and clean. It’s a lesson about the aesthetics of simple things. It also teaches you that this comforting life is ephemeral, because moments later, you will exit the restaurant into the pouring rain. Everything is fleeting, including your dry, happy self.
Address: Sasa no Yuki – somewhere near Uguisudani station, Tokyo.
This restaurant is featured everywhere on the internet, you wouldn’t have any problem finding it. Japan Times has an in-depth review about the restaurant (which started in the Edo period!):
“If you really want to know the taste of tofu, put a piece on freshly cooked rice and eat it. Then you can tell,” says Okumura [Sasa no Yuki’s president and tofu master], who usually enjoys tofu with no toppings while drinking wine or beer. “The taste of soy protein is strong enough to blend beautifully with a simple bowl of rice.”
Okumura also observed, it has become a rather luxurious experience these days — because there is so little tofu fit to be eaten this way.
Though so simple in principle — relying merely on high-quality soy beans, good water in which to soak and boil them, and nigari (bittern) to cause coagulation — tofu has now mostly fallen foul of profit-oriented mass production to the point that many people may never have tasted the authentic stuff, Okumura says. “Nowadays, we are one of only a few shops still making tofu in the traditional way.”
A Japanese friend of mine once lamented the exact same thing while eating tofu straight from its plastic-film-covered white plastic minitub, which he bought from a nearby market.
———————————————————————————————-
Guest post by C. from Katsushika.
Foodnote:
(*) Even with a dictionary, Sasa no Yuki’s menu is difficult to read. They use different writings for some of the words, such as 豆富 instead of 豆腐 for tofu, and 湯波 instead of 湯葉 for yuba.
(**) “Unsui” is cloud (un) and water (sui), which also means a wandering monk.
so much great info on here, :D.
1Hi my loved one! I want to say that this post is amazing, great written and include approximately all significant infos. I would like to look extra posts like this.
2Wonderful work! This is the type of info that should be shared around the internet. Disgrace on the seek engines for no longer positioning this publish higher! Come on over and consult with my website . Thanks =)
3Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing some research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! “A human being has a natural desire to have more of a good thing than he needs.” by Mark Twain.
4Incredible! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a totally different topic but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Wonderful choice of colors!
5What i do not understood is in fact how you’re no longer actually a lot more neatly-favored than you might be right now. You’re very intelligent. You know thus considerably in relation to this matter, produced me personally imagine it from so many various angles. Its like women and men don’t seem to be fascinated except it is one thing to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs great. All the time maintain it up!
6https://shorturl.fm/Wv8oq
7I simply couldn’t go away your website prior to suggesting that I extremely loved the usual info an individual provide to your visitors? Is going to be again continuously to check out new posts
8I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later. All the best
9I have been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be much more useful than ever before.
10I simply couldn’t depart your site before suggesting that I actually loved the usual info a person provide to your visitors? Is gonna be again incessantly in order to check up on new posts.
11Hiya, I am really glad I’ve found this info. Today bloggers publish only about gossips and net and this is really frustrating. A good web site with exciting content, that is what I need. Thanks for keeping this web site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can’t find it.
12Some genuinely interesting details you have written.Assisted me a lot, just what I was looking for :D.
13This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post. Also, I’ve shared your web site in my social networks!
14Some genuinely interesting points you have written.Aided me a lot, just what I was looking for :D.
15Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
16I really appreciate this post. I’ve been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thanks again
17There is noticeably a bundle to learn about this. I assume you made certain good points in options also.
18I simply couldn’t go away your website before suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the standard info an individual provide to your visitors? Is going to be again frequently in order to check out new posts.
19https://shorturl.fm/kIvFO
20Heya are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you need any html coding expertise to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
21Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing.
22This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.
23I’m usually to running a blog and i really admire your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and preserve checking for brand spanking new information.
24As soon as I observed this website I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.
25Some truly interesting details you have written.Assisted me a lot, just what I was searching for :D.
26Great line up. We will be linking to this great article on our site. Keep up the good writing.
27I really enjoy reading through on this website , it has wonderful posts.
28Undeniably believe that which you stated. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the net the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people consider worries that they just don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people could take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
29Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do some research about this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more from this post. I’m very glad to see such great information being shared freely out there.
30I have recently started a site, the info you offer on this web site has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work.
31I got what you mean ,saved to fav, very decent site.
32Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.
33Hey, you used to write wonderful, but the last few posts have been kinda boring?K I miss your super writings. Past several posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
34Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
35Great web site. Lots of useful info here. I am sending it to some friends ans additionally sharing in delicious. And of course, thanks to your sweat!
36I am not sure the place you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time finding out more or figuring out more. Thanks for great info I was looking for this information for my mission.
37Thank you for helping out, excellent info. “Job dissatisfaction is the number one factor in whether you survive your first heart attack.” by Anthony Robbins.
38Its wonderful as your other posts : D, regards for putting up. “The present is the necessary product of all the past, the necessary cause of all the future.” by Robert Green Ingersoll.
39I’d constantly want to be update on new posts on this internet site, saved to my bookmarks! .
40I conceive other website owners should take this website as an model, very clean and fantastic user pleasant style and design.
41I like this weblog very much so much wonderful info .
42I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
43Very interesting points you have noted, thankyou for posting. “I never said most of the things I said.” by Lawrence Peter Berra.
44Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing.
45Pretty nice post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing for your feed and I am hoping you write once more soon!
46Really clean web site, thankyou for this post.
47Perfect piece of work you have done, this web site is really cool with great info .
48Its wonderful as your other posts : D, appreciate it for putting up.
49I like this blog its a master peace ! Glad I discovered this on google .
50