Neko-chan in Japan: The Tastes of Nagasaki

     I got introduced to Nagasaki last Christmas through one of their delicacies - a "kasutera" (originated from "Castilla") or castelle which friends Benjie and Joy gave me.

     The "kasutera" pound cake was introduced by the Portuguese in the 16th century and is still alive and kicking today as a traditional sweet of Nagasaki.

While there may be other castelle cakes from other regions, it remains something associated with Nagasaki itself. As I've always liked pound cakes from my Sara Lee days, the kasutera for me was totally addicting (I loved the "matcha" or green tea ones) as it was light cake.

     Here is a link I found which has pictures and a recipe: http://www.justhungry.com/2006/08/oyatsu_and_kasutera_castella_a.html

     I was also taken with the colorful wrappings for these cakes...I've yet to download the picture I had taken of the green tea castella I had bought from Huis Ten Bosch. That one had a nice wrapping to it, while the other one I gave as pasalubong and which I promptly forgot to take a picture of beforehand. I will include it later and edit this post.

     If I didn't have to go around from one station to another, I'd have bought a basket of these home with me as they were a perfect accompaniment to my very occasional cup of tea - be it English breakfast, oolong, green tea (yum, the layers of flavors!) or even milk tea which is already sweet. My weakness...*salivates*

     "Shippoku", which is the city's most famous food is delicious full course meal that combines the cuisine of Japan, China and Europe.

     You have to have at least 1 more person with you if you plan to dine on this kind of food - it may include dishes like sashimi, fish soup, seasonal delicacies which may be boiled, fried, vinegared etc. {picture in this page taken from another site was I was unable to book a reservation at one of the recommended restaurants}


"Champon" and "Sara udon" are very hearty Chinese dishes (and not expensive, to boot!). I got a taste of the former in Huis Ten Bosch and this thick Chinese noodle is served as a soup with meat, seafood and vegetables.

We had to queue for some time to get into the restaurant and I was afraid it was going to be a commercialized version, but like most restaurants in Japan, the soup turned out to be very good and filling - the perfect food to eat for a hungry tourist going around and around. The had udon too which we didn't partake of.... and I'm afraid the picture I have here is of the packaged kind only.

     "Karasumi" or dried mullet roe is a seafood delicacy prized by gourmets. No comment since I hadn't eaten or seen it.