Visit Hokkaido and taste these amazing dishes

Hokkaido is a large prefecture in the North of Japan that’s blessed with abundant nature, rich and expansive agricultural lands, and some of the finest seafood in the country. It’s no surprise then that Hokkaido is a popular tourist destination, not just for foreign visitors but for many domestic travelers. One of the main highlights of visiting Japan’s northernmost prefecture is to enjoy the region’s meibutsu, the local specialty foodstuffs.

1. Crab

Hokkaido boasts several premium varieties of crab, including tarabagani (king crab), zuwaigani (snow crab), and kegani (horsehair crab), all available at an attractive price. Specialty shops in Hokkaido boil up succulent crab freshly caught from the ocean, and Hokkaido crab shipped straight to your front door is one of the top holiday gifts in Japan. The different varieties of crab can be eaten in an assortment of ways, such as kani nabe (Japanese hotpot), served with rice kani meshi, as nigiri neta (topping), and in miso soup.

2. Jingisukan

Jingisukan, or “Genghis Khan”, is a type of barbecue dish from Hokkaido that features lamb grilled together with vegetables such as kabocha pumpkin and sliced cabbage, and a spicy soy-based sauce. The dish is named after the famous Mongolian ruler due to the helmet-shaped grill that the dish is cooked on, which many people believe evokes the image of a Mongolian warrior. Lamb and mutton are not widely eaten in other parts of Japan, so jingisukan dining offers a unique Hokkaido experience.

3. Ikameshi

Ikameshi is a dish of squid (ika) stuffed with rice and simmered in a soy sauce based stock. It originated in southern Hokkaido during the food shortages of World War II when rice was scarce in Japan. Squid was plentiful at the time, so a local bento lunch vendor came up with the idea of using the squid to stretch out their rice supplies. Today, ikameshi is beloved by locals and visitors alike, and can be purchased from train station bento vendors known as “ekiben” in Hokkaido.

4. Soup Curry

Soup curry is a dish of spiced Japanese curry that originated in Sapporo. It combines a curry base with a rich broth, roasted meat, fresh herbs, and plenty of vegetables. The dish is easily customized to personal preferences, from the toppings used to the spice level. This is a warm and filling soup that is packed with flavor. Enjoy it with a side of rice, which you can dip into the delicious curry-flavored broth to soak up the flavor.

5. Kaisendon

Kaisendon is a type of donburi, or rice bowl, topped with fresh sashimi, seafood, and shellfish. With its world-class uni and crab, juicy scallops, and buttery ikura (salmon roe), Hokkaido is the best place to try kaisendon in Japan. Look for it from breakfast time in the fish markets of Sapporo and Hakodate.

6. Miso Butter Ramen

If you need warming up and looking for things to eat in Hokkaido, miso butter ramen is just the dish. A richly flavored style of ramen noodles that originated in Sapporo, it’s made with a soup base of red miso paste combined with chicken or pork bone broth. The noodles used in Sapporo ramen are thick and wavy and served slightly chewy. They’re joined by popular local ingredients like fresh Hokkaido butter and sweet corn, and even extravagant seafood toppings such as scallops and crab.

7. Yubari Melon

Hokkaido’s yubari melon is one of the most expensive fruit in the world. Grown in greenhouses, it’s recognizable for its thick raised webbing, blemish-free surface, perfectly round shape, and intense melon flavor balanced with a gentle sweetness. Melons in the range of 20 thousand yen and above are often given as gifts of distinction for special occasions, and the most expensive Yubari melon ever sold for 2.5 million yen.

See more: Visit Hokkaido and taste dishes made from Melon

Source gurunavi

The best foodie experiences in Asia

Asia is an expansive region packed with a diverse array of exciting food experiences. From the sultry flavors of Thailand to the exquisite creations found in Japan, here are the things you cannot miss eating adventures around Asia.

Dine with a local in Vietnam

Dining in the home of a Vietnamese host is a fantastic experience for so many reasons. Firstly, you will be treated to proper, home-cooked food, the stuff Vietnamese people eat every day. Secondly, you will have an unparalleled chance to get to know the locals to experience dinnertime the way the Vietnamese do it, and to learn about their everyday lives and culture. As wonderful as Vietnamese restaurants are, these are experiences you just cannot get anywhere else.

These dinners can be arranged with English-speaking hosts all over Vietnam, and depending on where you choose to visit, your host may even take you to the local market to buy ingredients before your meal or get you involved in cooking it.

Learn to make Banh Xeo in Hoi An

Travel to Hoi An, one of the top foodie destinations in Vietnam, and discover how to make banh xeo, one of the country’s most celebrated dishes. This tasty crepe is a marriage of French and Vietnamese cooking methods. The rice flour batter is spread paper-thin on an iron pan and cooked until crisp and light. It is filled with shrimp and a medley of fresh bean sprouts and herbs. This is a dish that takes skill and dexterity, but when you learn the art of cooking it from a local expert, you cannot go wrong.

Explore the historical morning markets of Takayama

Takayama in Gifu prefecture is at the heart of Japanese culinary history. The region is famous for producing high-altitude vegetables, renowned sake, Hida beef, and many other delicacies. The morning markets, which open at 6 a.m., date back more than 300 years, and local farmers put out fascinating displays. Visitors will find beautiful seasonal produce, unique local pickles, bags of homemade miso wrapped in leaves, preserved fish, soy bean candies, and more.

Visit the Bibimbap Festival in Jeonju

It is fitting that a city considered among the best places in Korea to sample bibimbap hosts one of the biggest celebrations commemorating this simple, delicious dish. Held each year in October in Jeonju, the festivities include cultural performances, tours, and plenty of opportunities to sample the celebrated dish. The denouement is the preparation of a giant bibimbap that is large enough to serve 400.

Experience the unique cuisine in Chiang Mai

Bangkok hogs the limelight, but Chiang Mai provides the chance to try northern dishes such spicy sausage, Burmese curry, fish curry, sticky rice in banana leaf and lovely salads of green mango and soft-shell crab. There is less emphasis on chilli, making northern dishes kinder on the tongue. Markets supply all the fruit you could ever name and there are good restaurants galore.

Browse Ningxia Night Market in Taipei

Taiwan is renowned for its snack culture, and there is no better place to sample the full range of delicacies than at the Ningxia Night Market. Although this is not the largest night market in the city, it is one of the most popular among locals, and you can bet the flavors are true to tradition. When the sun sets, wander through the many rows of lighted stalls, and dive into specialities such as oyster omelettes, deep-fried taro balls filled with salted egg yolk, and roasted sausage stuffed inside glutinous rice.

See more: Top 6 must-try food in Taipei

Source Internet

The most amazing buildings in Seoul, Korea

Seoul’s skyline is vast and ever-changing. There are several key structures that perfectly combine the old with the new. These are some of the most amazing buildings in Seoul that make the vibrant city what it is today.

DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza)

One of Seoul’s most extravagant modern buildings, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, completely transformed the surrounding area of Dongdaemun. Design by Zaha Hadid and Samoo, the structure is a major urban development landmark in Seoul. Its distinct neo-futuristic features stand for power and elegance. It’s no wonder that the building holds the bi-annual Seoul Fashion Week and is also home to countless art galleries and exhibitions.

See more: Explore Gangnam district in Seoul

Lotte World Tower

The 123-floor Lotte World Tower was completed in March 2016. It is currently the world’s fifth tallest building, standing at 554.5 metres (1,819 ft). The design of the building was inspired by Korean ceramics and writing brushes. The tower houses various galleries, cafés, a luxury hotel, as well as a skywalk and an observation deck.

Boutique Monaco

The 117 meter (383 ft) tall Boutique Monaco is a residential skyscraper in Seoul’s Seocho district. The building has 27 floors and 172 apartment units. Design by architect Minsuk Cho, the structure gained so much international fame and admiration that it won the 2008 Silver Emporis Skyscraper Award.

Seocho Garak Tower East

Designed by ArchitectenConsort, the Seocho Garak Tower East is a beautiful 24 storey skyscraper in Gangnam, Seoul. The construction of the building was completed in 2011 after three years of planning and building. Today, the building stands at 130.1 m (427 ft) and is a remarkable addition to Seoul’s skyline.

Seoul National University Museum of Art

The Seoul National University Museum of Art ( SNUMoA), is a museum located on the premises of Seoul National University. The museum is often considered Seoul’s center for the arts as it holds regular and temporary art exhibitions displaying work from Korean and international artists. The museum also has a strong focus on design and supports local artists and designers to get their careers started.

Source Internet