Food for the days of the end and first of year

Today I want to introduce about Japanese food for the days of the end and first of year, Toshikoshi soba and Osechi. Almost Japanese eat it every year.

The habit of eating soba has started since Edo era. There are differences of soba's types in each religion in Japan. In general, it is said that we can live long with health, we can get money and we can throw the year's troubles if we eat soba in the end year's day, December 31. It is important to be finished eating soba before a new year's day, January 1st.

The habit of eating Osechi has also started since Edo era. There are many kinds of food in Osechi. It is celebrate of new year. various color are used in the boxes, Jyubako. Recipes of Osechi's food is simple, for example just boiling or frying because it gives women rest during the first few days of January. the food keep well for a long time. Each food has a meaning which are praying for health, money, promotion and so on.

Japan has lots of traditional food customer. We have to keep culture. I think many Japanese don't believe any religions, so Japanese culture will gone if we stop these customer. I don't want to lost the culture. In this year, I will learn how to prepare soba and cook Osechi food from my mother.

Have a happy year-end and new year!!

Food for X-mas

Today is December 19th. X-mas will be coming soon, so I want to write about food for X-mas. What do you eat in the day of X-mas?
This picture is interesting because there are sushi and chicken on the same table!


In Japan, X-mas have been spread for around 1952. X-mas had been known in 1927 in Yamaguchi prefecture by missionaries. It have became one of year's events in Japan completely after the World War. People spend the day with family or friends or lovers at home or restaurant, for example. Then, they eat food for X-mas like chicken or cake and drink wine. I think that Japanese people don't believe any religions, so they just enjoy food, present and illuminations.

I would like to introduce of what kinds of food people eat in X-mas in the world.
American people eat a turkey. British people eat roast beef or chicken. French people eat grilled rabbit meat. Finn people eat rice porridge of milk. There are people who eat fish instead of meat in these countries.

What will you eat in this X-mas? Did you decide yet? Have a good holiday!

Macdonald's in the world Part Ⅲ

This is the last part of my McDonald's blogs. I want to introduce about McDonald's in USA. The reason why I choose it, maybe you can guess easily, there is a company of McDonald's in USA, so I wanted to know that McDonald's origin.


Macdonald brothers started McDonald's in 1940 in California, USA. It got famous after World War Ⅱ. In 1954, Ray Kroc was interested in McDonald's style. McDonald's had a good customer turnover. Then he recommended starting business using this system. However, the brothers were not interested in franchise and they made terms. Its permitted Ray Kroc's hope that to make franchises and to spread McDonal's in USA.

McDonald's suceeded in Illinois in USA. He started a new company which is "McDonald's Systems Inc." in 1955. He opened a fist McDonald's in Chicago. In 1960, the company name was changed to "McDonald's Corporation."

In 1961, Ray Kroc get all right of company from the brothers. They continued thier shop as a hamburger shop. That name was "The Big M", but it don't exist now.

That is a origin of McDonald's. I had not known that exactly. Do you know that? It is interesting that reserching origin. McDonald's get popular among all over the world. They will increase more in the future.

Mcdonald's in the world Part Ⅱ

Today I want to introduce history of McDonald’s in Japan.

The first store was opened in Ginza, Tokyo in 1971. The second store was opened in Kyoto in 1972. After 5 years, they had 100 stores. At that time, a hamburger was sold 80yen. It was a little bit expensive when McDonald’s was opened. “Big Mac” which was made in America in 1967 was sold 200 yen. McDonald’s throughout Japanese life style.

In 1997, McDonald’s which had a drive-through system was opened in Tokyo. The shop of Kanagawa had great sales. The shop of Enoshima is the 5,000 shop in the world. In 1984, “Chicken Mac nugget” was started. It is my favorite one.

In 1991, McDonald’s achieved an annual business volume of 2million. It was the first time in the food service industry. The number of visitors exceeded 50 million in 1992. Finally, sales of a day passed 14 million in 1994. MacDonald’s started selling “Happy Set” which is for children. They have got popularity of family.

The shop of Ginza was the 1,500 shop in Japan in 1996. They celebrated it and decided that 7/20 is a day of hamburger. Everyone knows that a famous phrase of McDonald’s is “I’m loving it.” It started in 2003. It is a common word in the world. In 2011, in this year, they enter 40 years anniversary.

McDonald’s dramatically spread in Japan. I think almost Japanese have an experience that going to there. McDonald’s changed Japanese diet style. We have chooses of food, so I want to continue going to McDonald’s in the future with caring of my health.

McDonald's in the world

I want to introduce McDonald’s in Mexico, today. I will present Mexican food in pair presentation. So I wanted to get some information before it.

I heard that Mexican people don’t like American culture, but there are McDonald’s and Mexican people like it. We can look McDonald’s which have white surfaces.

They often eat meat, so they often go to McDonald’s. However the prices are not same in McDonald’s. The prices are high in the city and people who are riches often use it. In other hand, the prices are low in the country and people who are poverties often use it.

Next, I will tell you McDonald’s menus. The meats of hamburgers are thick. I think that one of reasons is Mexican people like to eat meat. In addition, there are various Mexican original menus. For example, Tacos set, hamburger pinched Doritos which is snacks in Mexico or definite flied potato in Mexico.

However, there are some problems in Mexico. Mexican MacDonald’s are not good public health.

When I will go to any foreign countries, I want to go to the McDonald’s and try to eat original hamburgers. Would you like to eat hamburgers, too?
However, take care of public health.

recipe of happiness

Today, I want to introduce a film which is "No Reservations." This is made in America in 2007. The fillm's Japanese title is "幸せのレシピ" so I has been interested in it since I knew it. Then I tried to watch it for write a blog. At first, I thought that this is a heavy love story, however it is not correct. It tough me how get to my recipe for getting a happy life. Now I would like to introduce this story.



A main character is a woman who is a unmarried person, a chief cook in a restaurant, strict for her job; Kate. One day, Kate lost her sister and she had to take care of her niece, Zoe. However, it was difficult for her to heal a wound of Zoe. Zoe always thought her mother and was often crying. The other day, Kate met a man who came to her restaurant as a new chef; Nick. They started to work together. He is so cheerful, but Kate hated him because she thought that he deprives her job.

In this film, cooking for someone is the most important thing. Kate cooked for Zoe to give a energy or smile. Nick also cooked for Zoe when he knew that Zoe didn't much eat. Nick cooked for Kate to give a love or get a trust from her. Zoe cooked for Kate to appreciate for Kate's effort. They send messages through their dish. It includes their love.

Kate thought "what is the best recipe for my life? If I have a recipe of happiness, I could get a happiness." The answer is "To make a recipe of life by myself is the best way to get a happiness." I like this scean.

Whwn I finished watching it, I wanted to cook for someone. I want to cook includes my message when I cook for someone. Everyone can send a message through cooking. It is cool, isn't it?

Chocolat

I will introduce a film, "Chocola" and chocolate in my 2nd blog! Firstly, I will tell you about the film.

This film is a American film in 2000. Chocolat means chocolate or cocoa in French. I like Johnny Depp, so I was interested in this film, then my friend has a DVD and I borrowed it. This film describes love, parent-child ties, religion and so on. Juliette Binoche who is a French actress and played the main character was a good job in this film. Jonny Depp was also good acting.

There is a small village in France and a parent and child came the village. The parent who is a mother of a little girl opened a store of chocolate in this village. She has an ability that finding a good chocolate for somebody. Then village people opend thier mind gradually and became cheerful.

This is an outline of this film. I felt warmth after watching this film and I also wanted to eat chocolate. Chocolate can change human minds. I think that food have a power to change human's health or mind.

Secondly I will tell you some good points of chocolate.

Chocolate have an antioxidation effect and a mineral and dietary fiber. In other words, it is good for health.

We should eat chocolates appropriately for having a good life!