Re: Chanko Disaster, Yikes!!!

[Scott & Masami Light <lightsms@texas.net>]

TQ Wrote:

snip, snip!

>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.

I have found almost every oriental type grocier has this burner and fuel!
In Texas that is! (Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio!)

Happy looking!

Scott Light
Masanohiro

At 04:57 PM 4/6/98 -0500, you wrote:
>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
>
>