Sunday 18th May 2008 – Box Hill Town Hall & Tafe
http://www.jcv.org.au/japanfestival/
I’ll take a little break from my Japan posts to report on…er…the Melbourne Japan Festival. Held last Sunday at the Box Hill Town Hall and TAFE, it is an annual celebration of all things Japanese. Amidst displays of bonsai, ikebana, taiko drumming, kimono contests, market stalls, Japanese language schools, tea ceremony schools (to be blogged shortly) and aikido (to name just a few), there was of course, the food.
This charcaol hibachi was whipping up a furious smoke – the smell of yakitori drawing all and sundry for tasty sticks of teriyaki chicken.
As you can see, they were delectably caramalised and awesomely good.
Takoyaki (octopus balls) were a popular snack at the festival – about four or five different vendors were selling them. Some chose to deep fry the little balls, but these guys were using a more traditional method utilising cast iron skillets (like what we witnessed in Osaka here).
They were actually pretty darn good, though I did miss the usual garnish of katsuobushi shavings. Surprisingly both the batter and the chunks of octopus were really tender.
Little bowls of ramen were a hot ticket item – a small bowl of miso or shoyu based stock and noodles for $5. The shoyu ramen was heavy with shitake flavour, which was an unusual little addition to a traditionally salty soy stock.
The yakisoba were absolutely fantastic. Fried on a BBQ hotplate, they are seasoned with (of all things) worstershire sauce! Large chunks of onion and cabbage had been stirfried into the mix, and it was garnished with aonori (seaweed flakes), beni shoga (picked red ginger) and Japanese mayonnaise.
I thought this was an interesting selection of treats. On the one hand you have the battered hot dog (American Dog) and a curry croquet, and on the other, takoyaki and lobster miso. An interesting blend of the traditional and the not so traditional.
Oh,all Japanese Foods! I am interested in the food culture of your country so that you are so.And I support your site. If there is time, please come in my site. From Japan
http://food-soybean.blogspot.com/
Yummmmm… and the mochi you got me was surprisingly delightful too! Was that from here? Or is my brain on the blink again?
I have a fond memory of catching the bullet train many years ago and hearing the sing song voice of the young woman pushing the food cart down the aisle say one thing that I could recognise “hotto doggos”
A strange cross cultural appropriation – all thos delicious, subtle Japanese delicacies and the locals want hot dogs!
Hey edamame – thanks for your comment again! As you can also see I am very much interested (obsessed even) with the food culture of your country, so I’m glad that you are enjoying reading my posts. I have been to your site, and look forward to trying a few of your recipes.
Hiya anna – yup, that’s where I got the mochi. I’ll be doing another post about them. They were so gorgeous and worthy of their own entry,
G’day AOF – haha…so true. I was amazed at how much westernised food is available (and consumed) in Japan. Hamburgers (hambourg) is one of their staples!
If only I’d known! I’d have loved to go for the jap festival!
Speaking of which, do you know where in Melbourne sells taiyaki? I’ve been craving for that but can’t seem to find it anywhere here!
Hiya pseudo epicurean – ooooh, I wish I DID know somewhere that sold taiyaki in Melbourne. Sadly, I’m yet to find fresh ones.
But if you are ever in Sydney, try the Hontou Pancakes in Chinatown.
oh what fun! somehow the festivals here seem to blend together and so it’s the same stuff no matter what kind of festival you’re at. everything looks delicious!
Why all the comments are about food?
THere is more to the festival : the atmosphere , the beautiful kimonos, dances, Tea ceremony, the flower arrangements….. unique, unforgettable
I missed the Festival this time – unfortunately – please organise the Japanese MOnth or at least Japanese week, and repeat everything.