Tanpopo Studio

04/09/2024

Just in time for a back to school/work lunch idea!
This takikomi-gohan recipe is from my mom who spent her time learning culinary knowledge during her extended stay in Kyushu, Japan from 1970 to 1989. It holds fond memories from my childhood.
Thank you for letting me share the recipe.

Happy cooking

https://thejapanesekitchen.com/takikomi-gohan/

Takikomi Gohan is a traditional comfort Japanese rice dish meticulously prepared using an assortment of vegetables, mushrooms, and meat.

23/08/2024

Our next textile tour is just around the corner, and I'm super excited to meet up with Ms. Kagi in Nagano again. She's been teaching us the incredible art of SAORI weaving, and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us this time.

The September tour is already fully booked, but we still have a few spots left for the spring 2025 tour. So if you're interested, make sure to sign up soon!

https://tanpopojourneys.com/textile-and-traditional-arts-tour-of-japan/

05/08/2024

Tanpopo Journeys made it on the second page of the Daily Tohoku Newspaper.

デーリー東北新聞に載せていただきました。

＃tohokutextile

17/07/2024

Hey there, textile enthusiasts!

Our Textile and Traditional Arts tour is the go-to for anyone who loves textiles and wants to dive deep into the world of traditional art. Plus, it's a small group tour with only 8-10 travelers, which means you'll get personalized attention and care.

The next textile tour is coming up in the spring, and there are a few seats left. I'd love for you to join us!

Dates: 4/13-4/24/2025

P.S. Check out the pictures from the 2023 textile tour.

https://tanpopojourneys.com/textile-and-traditional-arts-tour-of-japan/

17/07/2024

Following a temporary disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our inaugural Edible Japan tour in four years concluded on a remarkably positive note.

Our awesome group of 10 included five couples, some of whom are from Minnesota. We had a great time reminiscing about our favorite Tanpopo Noodle Shop.

Tokyo was as posh as ever, with its refined and elegant food scene. But we were just as excited to visit more rural areas, where we could connect with nature, natural beauty, and the lovely local people.

If you're curious to hear more, check out some reviews from our website tanpopojourneys.com and to learn more about our Edible Tour 2025.

16/07/2024

Our registration is open for 2025 Spring Textile Tour!
We hope you can join us.

Sol Small Group Journey Come join us in Japan for an unforgettable travel experience highlighting Japan’s art, culture, and food. So much of what makes Japan unique is its deep history of fine arts…

11/03/2022

Are you a fan of Ghibli? Ghibli Park is set to open this November in Aichi prefecture (between Tokyo and Osaka). Don't miss it!

https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/ghibli-park-announces-opening-date-and-releases-never-before-seen-pictures-012822

New images and video shared by Studio Ghibli show a 5.2m Totoro statue, the inside of Ghibli’s Large Warehouse and more

11/03/2022

Are you considering traveling to Japan in 2022? Ensure you have the right tools and travel insurance to safeguard your trip.

https://tanpopojourneys.com/what-to-do-when-you-get-sick-or-injured-while-traveling-in-japan/

Useful healthcare and insurance tips for safeguarding your health, money, and peace of mind when traveling to Japan from Tanpopo Journeys.

11/03/2022

In Japan, people take breakfast seriously. If you travel to Japan and stay at a ryokan, a traditional inn, you wake up to a beautifully presented Japanese breakfast: how are small portions prepared with care for a healthy start to the day. This class will recreate just that with salted and grilled salmon, tamagoyaki (egg omelet), a simple tofu miso soup, rice, and nori.

https://seward.coop/event/cooking-with-koshiki-japanese-breakfast-virtual-class/

In Japan, people take breakfast seriously. If you travel to Japan and stay at a ryokan, a traditional inn, you…

11/03/2022

Please join me next month for a free-virtual Japanese dessert class. We will be preparing dorayaki and sweet potato creme brûlée.




https://seward.coop/event/cooking-with-koshiki-japanese-dessert-virtual-class/

Join Koshiki in making two widely popular desserts in Japan. Sweet potato crème brulee is a rich and creamy baked…

07/01/2022

Come join me January 24th and make sushi.
Free virtual class.
https://seward.coop/event/cooking-with-koshiki-new-year-new-skill-sushi-making/

Join us to learn sushi-making basics. In this class, we will be using ingredients from Seward Co-op to make healthy…

15/11/2021

Please join me next month for a free virtual Dengaku (vegetarian tofu skewers) class. Hope to see you there!
https://seward.coop/event/cooking-with-koshiki-tofu-dengaku-virtual-class/

Dengaku is vegetarian tofu skewers with sweet and savory sesame-miso sauce. We will learn to make atsuage (fried tofu), sesame-miso…

14/10/2021

Join us Friday night for a conversation on sashiko and boro. We will talk bout our upcoming sashiko tour and what it means to us.

11/10/2021

Our October newsletter is here.
https://mailchi.mp/56b38d1832fe/october-newsletter-tanpopo-journeys

Happy autumn, travelers!

How was your summer? Ours flew by so quickly, and just like that, it is October, the best time for feasting on delicious food, reading novels, and of course, traveling to see the rich autumn colors. We planned our last camping trip at Grand Marais, a beautiful small town nestled between Sawtooth mountain and Lake Superior. After that, we may stretch our feet to the Apostle Islands, also a gem of the region.

Jiro Nitta and Yasushi Inoue are both on my reading list this season. Particularly Jiro Nitta, a Nagano native who writes about personal stories behind hiking and climbing based on true stories. As a former meteorologist, his writing is fascinating with weather and climate details and draws you right into the early 1900 mountains. If you are a naturalist or planning on visiting the mountains of Japan, you may enjoy his books as well.

We have few things to share with you in this newsletter: WWFOOF Japan, registration for Edible Japan, and some good eats.
I wish everyone beautiful and delicious autumn.
Koshiki

Happy autumn, travelers! How was your summer? Ours flew by so quickly, and just like that, it is October, the best time for feasting on delicious food, reading novels, and of course, traveling to see the rich autumn colors. We planned our last camping trip at Grand Marais, a beautiful small town nes...

15/09/2021

Many thanks to those who joined me last Monday for Miso Butter Corn and Foil Yaki Salmon. Both the dishes came out delicious with many heart-warming comments.
The next class is Agedashi Tofu & Maze Gohan. I will cook the rice in Donabe, a Japanese clay pot. Hope to see you there!

https://seward.coop/event/cooking-with-koshiki-agedashi-tofu-maze-gohan-virtual-class/

Agedashi Tofu was the ultimate best-selling appetizer at Koshiki’s former restaurant, Tanpopo Noodle Shop. What made this dish so special…

17/08/2021

So many of you wrote such beautiful comments from the last class; big thanks to everyone who joined the August cooking class.
I also want to thank Seward Community Co-op for making these cooking classes available for no charge to anyone who wishes to join; how awesome is that!!

My next class, Foil Yaki Salmon with Mushrooms & Miso Butter Corn, is set for 9/13/21. So let's cook delicious food together again!

https://thejapanesekitchen.com/foil-yaki-style-black-cod-and-mushrooms/

Clock the link below to sign up.
https://seward.coop/event/cooking-with-koshiki-miso-butter-corn-foil-yaki-salmon-virtual-class/

In this Izakaya style recipe, black cod and mushrooms are seasoned and wrapped in a foil pouch and backed in an oven.

03/08/2021

Thank you to everyone who joined the cooking class last week. The next class is in three days: Salmon Cakes with Sweet Corn & Kabocha Rice. Easy to make and delicious! Hope to see you there.

https://thejapanesekitchen.com/salmon-cakes/

To sign up, visit:
https://seward.coop/event/cooking-with-koshiki-salmon-cake-with-sweet-corn-kabocha-rice/

I grew up a fisherman’s daughter and lived near the sea, so you can only imagine how much I miss eating seafood now that I live in Minnesota

06/07/2021

If you miss the chicken wings from Tanpopo Noodle Shop, here is your chance to learn how to cook them at home. Join me Thursday, July 29th, from 6-8 pm for a free cooking class.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cooking-with-koshiki-tanpopo-style-chicken-wings-tickets-153362843393

https://thejapanesekitchen.com/chicken-wings-in-soy-ginger-sauce/

This is an original recipe from our restaurant, Tanpopo Noodle Shop and enjoyed by our customers for many years. Made-to-order and freshly served for a delicious, succulent chicken wings.

21/06/2021

Thank you everyone for being a part of my last class. It was so nice to see many of you cooking along with me.

Next month, I will be making Tanpopo style chicken wings tossed in a soy-ginger vinaigrette, alongside Japanese-style potato salad with eggs, cucumber, and onion. I hope you can join!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cooking-with-koshiki-tanpopo-style-chicken-wings-tickets-153362843393

Join Seward Community Co-op for free virtual classes with community instructors! Learn more about us at www.seward.coop

21/06/2021

Here is a recipe for a easy baked mochi with coconut milk recipe (my kid's favorite!) to try at home. Enjoy.

https://thejapanesekitchen.com/baked-mochi/

This flourless sweet and chewy backed Mochi is made with glutinous rice flour, sugar, coconut milk, and eggs, then baked in an oven.

14/06/2021

Just a quick reminder about the upcoming free virtual class on homemade dashi broth and spinach salad. I hope you can join me!

https://seward.coop/event/cooking-with-koshiki-wild-mushroom-soba-spinach-goma-ae-virtual-class/

Wild Mushroom Soba was one of the most popular soba noodle soup we served at Tanpopo Noodle Shop: hearty buckwheat…

03/06/2021

Here is more about our Sashiko tour to Japan next spring. We will have more stories to share, so stay tuned!

https://upcyclestitches.com/sashiko-tour-japan-spring-2022-with-tanpopo-journey/

Are you interested in Sashiko & sightseeing in Japan? The Sashiko Tour Japan Spring 2022 with Tampopo Journey is the all-in-one Package

03/06/2021

Ready to delight in Japanese cooking experiences? Keeping the right Japanese pantry staples on hand will help you become a seasoned chef.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/japanese-ingredients-you-need-in-your-kitchen/

Koshiki Smith shared her list of Japanese pantry staples with us!

28/05/2021

Atsushi Futatsuya, a skilled sashiko artist and a storyteller from Upcycle Stitches and Tanpopo Journeys across a path on social media platforms during the pandemic, did not take too long to work together to curate a sashiko tour to Japan. This sashiko tour is centered on traditional sashiko’s cultural significance to the northern regions, learning to recognize regional differences in sashiko, and focusing on local efforts to preserve native arts and crafts.

Highlights include:
Welcome dinner & sashiko workshop
Take a tour of the Tsukiji Fish Market and have fresh sushi for lunch
Visit Tsutaya Edomoji Studio
Guided arts and crafts tour of Iwate prefecture
Visit stencil dye and homespun studios
Take a cooking class from a local women’s group
Workshop with Otsuchi Sashiko Recovery Project
Kanazawa sightseeing
Kutani Pottery Studio Visit
Feather & needle art workshop (optional)
Gold leaf application workshop (optional)
All-day sashiko workshop in Takayama
Day-trip to Shirakawago, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Fabric Shopping in Textile Town
Farewell Dinner

Anyone with a strong interest in Japanese textile, especially sashiko and boro, is welcome to join. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

https://tanpopojourneys.com/sashiko-textile-tour/

Small Group Journey Next spring, you are invited to join Atsushi Futatsuya, a sashiko artisan and a story-teller from Upcycle Stitches, and Koshiki Smith, a textile tour guide from Tanpopo Journeys…

11/05/2021

Summer cooking class schedule is ready!

June: Wild Mushroom Soba & Spinach with Sesame
July: Tanpopo-Style Chicken Wings & Potato Salad
August: Salmon Cake & Kabocha Rice

Please click the link below for details:
https://thejapanesekitchen.com/cooking-classes/

Happy cooking😋

https://seward.coop/event/cooking-with-koshiki-wild-mushroom-soba-spinach-goma-ae-virtual-class/

Wild Mushroom Soba was one of the most popular soba noodle soup we served at Tanpopo Noodle Shop: hearty buckwheat…

03/05/2021

Hi everyone!
Just a quick reminder about my upcoming class this Thursday. It is a free-virtual class and I hope you can join me.

https://seward.coop/event/cooking-with-koshiki-hiyashiki-chuka/

Koshiki’s children ask for Hiyashichuka as soon as the weather warms up: chilled curly wheat noodle topped with cucumber, carrots…

12/04/2021

Happy spring, travelers!

How is the weather where you are? I have been busy working on hiking and sashiko tours and, just like you, itching to travel to Japan. Let’s hunker down a bit longer and enjoy spring wherever you are, yet, looking forward to the next spring to view the sakura blossoms and relish the good food.

If you are interested in seeing the best of Japan next year, please contact me directly at [email protected] for an opening in summer and fall 2022.

We have some wonderful new trips and ideas for your future Japan trip, so please read along.

https://mailchi.mp/496ed1fca25d/tanpopo-journeys-april-newsletter

Happy spring, travelers! How is the weather where you are? I have been busy working on hiking and sashiko tours and, just like you, itching to travel to Japan. Let’s hunker down a bit longer and enjoy spring wherever you are, yet, looking forward to the next spring to view the sakura blossoms an...

29/03/2021

Just a quick reminder about my free-virtual cooking class this Thursday. I hope you can join us!

https://seward.coop/event/cooking-with-koshiki-oyako-donburi-virtual-class/

Requested by a student from a previous class, Oyako Donburi is chicken, eggs, and onion cooked in a sweet and…

26/03/2021

Thank you Conde Nest Traveler for talking about the importance of working with travel specialists!

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/why-using-a-travel-specialist-is-more-important-than-ever?

A skilled travel fixer can craft an unforgettable experience—and manage logistics under even the trickiest of circumstances.

22/03/2021

https://thejapanesekitchen.com/cooking-classes/

Hi everyone,
It is almost time for my next class, Oyako Donburi. I hope you can join me!

Virtual and in-person cooking classes with the Japanese Kitchen food blog. Learn to make delicious Japanese food at home from an experienced chef/blogger.