VERY Slimy Yamaimo in Okonomi-yaki
Okonomi-yaki is a stuffed pancake similar to a crepe.  The standard type is filled with lots of cabbage and small portion of protein such as thinly sliced pork or beef, shellfish or both and served with a somewhat sweet sauce.  Various Japanese cities - Tokyo, Osaka and especially Hiroshima - are proud of their versions of this popular fast food that is often sold at food stands on the streets and at festival grounds.  When you go to the okonomi-yaki specialty restaurant in Japan, you sit in front of the heated large griddle, and watch

Work on to return to Central Market
Thank you, Julia, for your comment.  I am going to miss you at my Ramen and Gyoza class this coming Saturday.  I will work on to make a return to Central Market and teach additional Japanese classes - pherhaps Ramen and Gyoza - in the near future.  Please come to assist me in the class!  Good luck!  Hiroko

Aebleskiver and laurel leaf
Maud, thank you very much for your comment.  I googled and found the information about Aebleskiver.  Your pancake look much puffier than your neighbour’s Poffertjes, and reminds me of our Takoyaki.  It says that Aebleskiver is a before-the-Christmas, seasonal delicacy enjoyed with glogg.  When I visited your country 2 years ago I missed the chance to savor it because I was there in the wrong season.  Poffertjes, Aebleskiver and Takoyaki are all members of the pancake family.  Now my question is who invented dented cast iron skillet for small-size pancake production instead of flat griddle which produces larger pancake….my search goes on. Snadra Rober

Takoyaki ??? No.2
During Takoyaki and Poffertjes search I also found the existence of additional Poffertjes-like dish.  It is Indian Paniyaram.  Paniyaram is rounder like Takoyaki but the use of aromatic spices and chutney sauce makes Paniyaram a very distinctive and different cousin of Takoyaki.  You can google Paniyaram and you will find a video in which an Indian guy showing how to cook Paniyaram.Now how do I prove that the Dutch Poffertjes inspired us and Indians to create Takoyaki in Japan and Paniyaram in India.  Or, did Dutch take Indian Paniyaram and bring it to the Netherlands?  My initial Internet search on Takoyaki history was not p

Takoyaki???
This November’s Culinary Institute of America (CIA) Conference is focused on street foods of the world.  As one of the presenters representing Japanese cuisine, I have been researching Japanese street foods.  One of the signature street food is the Takoyaki and I have stumbled on its fascinating history.  Takoyaki is a mini pancake in the shape and size of golf ball.  Crepe like batter (made from flour, egg and dashi, Japanese fish stock) is poured in depressions in the heavy cast iron skillet, and