Cafe 'Yumeya' or Cafe Dream Shop

 I went to cafe 'Yumeya' in Nasu highland about an hour driving from home with my wife a few months ago.


The cafe was renovated of an old farm house in beautiful and quiet mountains.

The served traditional Japanese dishes and Indian dishes arranged for Japanese tastes.

It's a bit hard to access because I had to drive through winding narrow streets to get there.

 I enjoyed the atmosphere of the cafe both inside and outside very much.

Cafe Black Cat / Kuroneko-Kan

The menu, on the left, was hand written on envelops.

Two months ago, yes, quite long ago, I went to Cafe Black Cat in Mohka city with my wife.

It was a hot summer day.

Rice, bread, vegetables and tofu were colorfully put on a lunch plate.

It was delicious and the fat free foods would perfectly fit for those who concern their healthy diet.

We took a walk along a brook dropped by on our driving way to Cafe Black Cat.

Kuri-gohan or Boiled Rice with Chestnuts

How to Cook Kuri-gohan,

1. Buy a net of chestnuts.



2. Choose twenty good shaped chestnuts.




3. Cut open the shells, then peel the skin with a small knife.
   Take your time, be careful not to cut yourself.
   Peeling uncooked chestnuts is laborious.

   If you soak chestnuts in hot water for about 30 minutes before peeling them, it'll be easier but you lose the flavor a little.

If you like mushrooms, carrots, podded peas or pieces of fried bean curd, those can be added.

4. Cut them in pieces, then put them in a rice cooker with chestnuts.

5. Start the rice cooker.

6. When rice is cooked, let the rice steam for about ten minutes before opening the lid.

Ingredients:
  20 pieces small chestnuts
  3 cups Japanese rice
  1 teaspoon soy sauce or 1 teaspoon salt
  1 tablespoon mirin or sake
  3 cups water

Wtih soy source version

Without soy source, podded peas topping version

Cosmos Flower Fields, 2013

'Kinu Green Park' run by Utsunomiya city has tennis courts, baseball fields, an outdoor obstacle course, camping fields, a rollerblade course, and flower fields.

My most visited and most favorite tennis courts are in KGP, because of its huge flower fields just next to the tennis courts.

It has been on the top season for cosmos flowers since half a month ago. 

I carry my tennis rackets and a camera when I go to KGP. 

The pictures I uploaded are all taken in KGP.