Thai Smiles Japanese Styles
As September marks the gentle transition into autumn, the air slowly cools, the leaves begin to change color, and a fragrant seasonal breeze whispers by. This is the perfect time to savor a quiet moment, watch the gentle sway of the branches, and enjoy a warm meal in your favorite cozy corner, nestled beneath a carpet of fallen orange leaves. A vast sky overhead sees migratory birds flying far away.
In this serene quietness, we invite you to taste the simple, yet special flavors of the season. Let this moment be a small reward for all your quiet efforts that no one else sees.
Early autumn is when eggplant is at its most delicious. Having soaked up the summer sun, eggplants gradually become sweeter as the cooler autumn air sets in. This makes the eggplant of this season flavorful, sweet, and firm, perfect for any dish.
When thinking of a warm hot pot or stews, shiitake mushrooms are an excellent ingredient for creating rich flavors. Fresh shiitake are abundant during this season. Their subtle aroma and firm, chewy texture, filled with deliciousness, are a perfect match for any dish, whether boiled or grilled.
Everyone knows shimeji mushrooms. They are a delicious, affordable staple in every household, appearing in stir-fries, butter pasta, or miso soup. Their soft, crunchy texture and delicate aroma, though not overpowering, blend harmoniously into any meal. Just a small addition of shimeji will let you experience the autumn season in your warm dish.
Maitake is the "king of mushrooms," known for its delicious, nutty flavor and numerous medicinal properties. It can be used in a wide variety of dishes, from soups and butter stir-fries to adding extra nutrition to your favorite meals.
Matsutake is justifiably expensive. This is because it is a mushroom that cannot be cultivated; it can only grow in the specific environment of a Japanese red pine forest with nutrient-poor soil. The fragrant aroma and rarity of Matsutake make it a truly worthy seasonal delicacy.
Although available all year, butterfish is most delicious during this season as it accumulates fat for the winter. This white fish has a tender and sweet flesh, making it ideal for grilling with salt, boiling, or even as sashimi.
A fish with firm, sweet, and plump pink flesh. The deliciousness of yellowtail comes from its rich flavor and unique firm texture. While yellowtail is known for its firm texture rather than its fat content, in autumn, its meat becomes marbled with fat, enhancing its tenderness and adding a special deliciousness found only in this season.
Autumn is when bonito has accumulated the most fat. Modori katsuo (戻り鰹) is the special name for this fish in this season. Modori katsuo has a high oil content, a unique bonito aroma, and a richer flavor from its fat, making it perfect for Katsuo no Tataki.
This seared bonito dish is enjoyed with shiso leaves, sliced ginger, green onions, and thin slices of garlic. The aromatic blend of fresh seasonings, mixed with a tangy and savory dashi sauce from soy sauce, lime, and grated ginger, adds a refreshing touch. If you try seared bonito during this autumn, it will certainly be a very special dinner.
Pacific saury is a true symbol of autumn. Its glistening skin and rich, fatty flavor pair perfectly with grated daikon and a squeeze of lime. It's a taste that is a perfect match for a bowl of hot rice. The fish’s meat this season is so tender, sweet, and rich that even its bitter intestines perfectly cut through the richness, allowing you to enjoy it endlessly.
A firm, soft, and lightly sweet fish with a non-oily flavor, cutlassfish is delicious in every dish and not commonly found in the market. While boiling, steaming, or frying are all great options, the most recommended way to enjoy it is deep-fried. When fried, its skin becomes crispy and delicious while the inside remains soft and sweet, a texture that everyone loves. This is a must-try during this time.
In this season of unmissable flavors, whether it’s a small dessert that brings a smile after a meal or a warm dish that fills your stomach and heart, we hope to be a part of creating that smile for you.
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