Chanko Disaster, Yikes!!!

[Tom Quinn <bjewell@twics.com>]

Wow!  that sounds down right dangerous!  :-0 Yoko and I have nabe every
Sunday night, am I repeating myself?  Again?

In the past, when I was on a chanko hunt around Tokyo, I went to a lot
of resturants.  I have had chanko at the occasional heya as well. IMO,
most chanko has a clean taste with little in the way of spices.  I've
never had chanko with miso broth, but, hey, I'm sure there must be some
somewhere. :-)

I'd try making the broth with some chicken stock, and some pieces of
dark chicken, skin and all.  Cook for a long time, and discard the skin
and bones.  Add a little salt, maybe put a piece of seaweed in while
you're making the basic broth to cook the rest in.

The trick is to have a ceramic nabe and fresh ingredients at the table. 
You need a little gas burner, although maybe those are tough to buy, I
don't know.  If you can't get one, then cook on the stove.  If you can
possibly get a traditional nabe, then please do so.  they are the center
of the kitchen, and really earn their keep.  I sent one to my parents 
My mother uses it for covered dishes for the church lunch on Sundays. 
She's really proud of it!

Chanko is fresh and never overcooked.  Well, except for the Jonokuchi,
maybe.  Use lots of greens.  Put in some tofu cut in big squares.  Make
some meatballs with chicken and spices.  Bamboo is a nice addition. 
Everything should simmer enough to cook with out  overcooking.  the
meatballs should be soft and just barely cooked in the center.

Add seven spices to individual portions.  Eat with hashi, and drink the
broth from the bowl.  A box of cold nihonshu, an early Tora-san movie,
six cats staring intently at your bowl - "hey, you gonna eat that last
meatball?" - and you have the makings for a great Sunday night.  Or, I
should say, that's my idea of a great Sunday night!

Seriously, don't give up.  Chanko, and nabe in general, is healthful and
actually low-fat.  Its the beer that does it.  And, the hot dogs on the
side.  One day, Ross, Dave, and I ate at a heya after morning practice,
and watched their shin nyumakku polish off, how many sausages was that
Ross?  Well, it was a bunch!

Tq