Loquats, a member of the plum family, are in season from February through April. Try the dishes and drinks below to see why theyre a favourite Bermudian fruit. 1 A Perfect Spread: Loquat Jam In the spring, many Bermudians’ pantries are stocked with homemade loquat jam. The spread offers just the right piquant taste to give your morning toast extra zing. Making your own is a snap. Heres a recipe to try. You can also purchase the jam in the Craft Market locat

Okinawan cuisine differs significantly from Japanese cuisine due to the islands unique history, during which its food culture was influenced especially by China, South East Asia, Japan and the United States, and due to the different climate with its effects on agriculture and the appetite. Okinawan dishes are widely available at restaurants throughout the prefecture. For trying out a variety of dishes, we recommend a visit to a local izakaya, where multiple smaller dishes are shared

Kagoshimas cuisine is also known as Satsuma Cuisine (�F������, Satsuma Ryōri) after the old name of Kagoshima Prefecture. It is one of the most distinct local cuisines because of Kagoshimas isolated location at the southern end of Kyushu. Travelers may notice some influences of Okinawa cuisine, as Okinawa was controlled by Satsuma for a few hundred years in the past. A wide variety of restaurants can be found in downtown Kagoshima, for example along Gourmet-dori (Gourmet Street).

As the only major port open to international trade during Japans period of isolation, Nagasaki has a rich and cosmopolitan history that is also reflected in the citys cuisine. Many of Nagasakis specialties have their roots in different parts of the world including China and the West. Chanpon Chanpon is a noodle dish with Chinese roots that is synonymous with Nagasaki. The dish

As one of the closest cities to the Asian mainland, Fukuoka has developed a unique and interesting food culture that has been influenced by Korean and Chinese cuisine. Some Fukuoka dishes, such as Hakata Ramen and motsunabe, have swept Japan by storm and become widely popular across the country.Anyone would do right to try these dishes on their home turf, and the local specialties are probably best sampled at one of the popular yatai food stalls found around the city. But there are also co

Hiroshima offers some local delicacies that, due to their ubiquity, visitors would probably chance upon even if they are not particularly searching. Popular dining places in the city include the area around Hiroshima Station and downtown Hiroshima. The following is a list of Hiroshimas specialty foods: Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki Hiroshimas most famous food is its own style of ok

Located along the fertile Nobi Plain, Nagoya has long been an agricultural and economic center, allowing it to develop a strong culinary tradition wholly distinct from its neighbors. Unlike the delicate subtlety of Kyoto Cuisine or the lavish Osaka food culture, local Nagoya specialties follow their own unique style and have the familiar feeling of hearty comfort foods. A wide variety of restaurants can be found around the city, especially around Nagoya Station, Sakae and along the citys v

The food of Hokkaido is one of the northern islands biggest attractions, especially the high quality seafood caught in its cold waters and the agricultural products grown on its wide farmlands. Seafood Hokkaido is renowned for the high quality and freshness of its seafood, as the cold waters surrounding Japans northernmost prefecture are ideal for fish and sea vegetation.Within th

It has been said that the people of Osaka spend more on food than on anything else, and the term kuidaore (eat until you drop) is used to describe the food culture here. At the same time, the locals have high expectations towards the quality of their cuisine, and restaurants have to maintain high standards or face closure.Not surprisingly, Osaka is famous for various local dishes, some of which have attained nationwide and even international fame. Luckily for the budget traveler, most of t

As Japans former capital and seat of the imperial court for over a thousand years, Kyoto offers a rich culinary tradition. The local food culture is diverse and ranges from aristocratic kaiseki ryori course dinners to the vegetarian shojin ryori of monks and the simple obanzai ryori home style cooking.While some restaurants look to the past for inspiration, others experiment with new flavors. Fusion restaurants, that combine ingredients and techniques of Kyoto cuisine with cooking styles f

Tokyo is one of the worlds most exciting dining destinations. The city features a wide range of both local and regional Japanese cuisine in addition to all types of international fare. Its top restaurants have accrued more Michelin stars than both Paris and New York combined. But good food can be found at every price range from cheap hole-in-the-wall joints to expensive high-class restaurants with every budget in between. Tokyo SpecialtiesAs Japans political center for over four cen

Drinking plays an important role in Japanese society. Drinking parties, typically held at restaurants and izakaya, are a common activity that are used to strengthen both social and business ties. A large variety of alcoholic beverages can be found in Japan. Some of the most popular ones are: Beer and beer-like drinks Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in Japan. Due to taxat

Tea is the most popular beverage in Japan and an important part of Japanese food culture. Various types of tea are widely available and consumed at any point of the day. Green tea is the most common type of tea, and when someone mentions tea (����, ocha) without specifying the type, it is green tea to which is referred. Green tea is also the central element of the tea ceremony. Among the most famous places for tea cultivation are Shizuoka, Kagoshima and Uji. The following is a list

Wagashi (�a�َq) are traditional Japanese sweets that are typically enjoyed in combination with a cup of green tea. They are made in a wide variety of shapes and consistencies and with diverse ingredients and preparation methods. Some are popular across the country and around the year while others are only available regionally or seasonally. Sweet azuki bean paste (anko) is a central ingredient in a large number of Japanese sweets. Boiled azuki beans are sweetened with sugar and mash

Japanese pickles (�Е�, tsukemono) are an important part of the Japanese diet. They are served with practically every traditional meal alongside rice and miso soup. They are valued for their unique flavors and commonly used as a garnish, relish, condiment, palate cleanser or digestive. Tsukemono first appeared way back in Japanese history in the days before refrigeration when pickling was used to preserve food. As a result, some traditionally prepared types of pickles can be kept pra

Takoyaki (������), which literally translates to grilled octopus, refers to the savory dish of grilled balls of batter made with flour and eggs filled with octopus chunks and other ingredients like pickled ginger (beni shoga) and leftover fried tempura batter (tenkasu). Each takoyaki ball is approximately the size of a golf ball. Typically made fresh in-store, the exterior of a takoyaki ball is a nice golden brown while the interior can be a touch molten. A single order of takoyaki

Okonomiyaki (���D�ݏĂ�) is a popular pan-fried dish that consists of batter and cabbage. Selected toppings and ingredients are added which can vary greatly (anything from meat and seafood to wasabi and cheese). This variability is reflected in the dishs name; okonomi literally means to ones liking. The dish is available all over Japan, but is particularly popular in the cities of Hiroshima and Osaka.Okonomiyaki is sometimes translated into English as As-you-like-it Pancake. However, this ma

Nabe (��) is the term used to describe Japanese hot pot dishes as well as the hot pot itself. Nabe is a popular winter dish that is typically cooked and eaten at the table. Common ingredients found in nabe include vegetables, mushrooms, meat and seafood. The liquid in a hot pot is either a seasoned and flavorful broth, which cooks the ingredients and doubles as a soup base, or a simple and light broth, which is only used to cook the ingredients. Popularly eaten at home, hot pot dis

Tonkatsu (�Ƃ񂩂�, pork cutlet) are thick slices of pork that are breaded and deep fried in a manner similar to German schnitzel. They are typically made from two cuts of pork: the lean and tender hire (�q��, tenderloin or filet) and the fattier rosu (���[�X, loin). While tonkatsu is by far the most popular katsu dish, there are other variations made of chicken (chikinkatsu), beef (gyukatsu), ham (hamukatsu) and ground meat (menchikatsu).Tonkatsu pieces are typically sliced and served in one

Japanese curry (�J���[, karē) is a dish that is hugely popular in Japan. It is readily available at various restaurants, and many households cook it at home too. As the curry is usually served with rice, you would hear the term curry rice (�J���[���C�X, karē raisu) mentioned often.After importing curry from India, the Europeans invented curry powder so that the layman could cook curry without having to master the intricacies about spices. This form of curry was introduced to Japa