Learning till I die.

It's my Motto.

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Thankfully, my cafe is having more customers who are interested in what they eat.

Well, "Japanese Food" tends to be "Healthy food" in British people's idea. Some of the dishes are not healthy, but I could not help loosing words in some dishes.

For example, I could not say "yes/no" without any hesitation, when I was asked for the agreement to "Sushi is healthy, isn't it?!"

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Before I opened my Cafe, I had an idea of displaying a lot of small side dishes for sale...
But once I started checking the ingredients of ready made Japanese side dishes, I thought I should give them up.

There were so many unknown ingredients and chemicals... Some chemicals are come from natural source, but it's too hard to distinguish what is good and what is not so good by my limited knowledge of food.

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I am surprised by so many people who are suffered from some kind of allergy and food intolerance. They need to choose what they eat in the very limited menu out side of their house.

Luckily, I don't have any eating difficulties, but I needed to study about allergy as my son had to have a very strict diet without any nuts and sesame seeds.

I always carried Epi pends and anti-histamine Syrup in my bag whenever eating out with my son. He is now 10 years old and better dealing with the problem.

However, some problem happens time to time. Even if we make sure the dish does not contain any sesame seeds, my son's got a reaction. It was Gyoza dumpling in one of a Sushi Bar. I tried it and tasted Hoising Sauce. It contains Sesame seeds paste. I talked the shop manager, but she did not believe me as it was not listed.  We often disappointed when we order Cucumber rolls in most of Sushi Chains and Supermarket packs. Sesame seeds are always hidden in the rice...

I just want to make my cafe for those people to enjoy food safely.
I will be dead honest about what in the sauce I use. Please always ask me if you are in doubt.
It's not easy to make Japanese meals to show all, as most of sauces are not domestically made... it means I cannot make them from simple salt and peppers... But I will show the list of ingredients if you like.

Nuts, Sesame seeds, Eggs, Fish, Soy beans, MSG, Wheat and Gluten...

Endless list I need to check.
If you care about diabetics, even the list will be longer!!!

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One day, I had a customer who is a vegetarian with gluten intolerance.
At the moment, I could not serve any of usual menu for her.
She told me the way to get around this problem.
Just one ingredients I change, I can serve more menu to more people who has gluten intolerance!

It's Tamari Soy Sauce!

For me, Tamari means soy sauce for Sushi or Sashimi. Traditionally, Tamari is made only with Soy beans (normal soy sauce are made with about 50% Soy Beans and 50 % wheats) and rice.

These days, not only Tamari are made from 100% Soy beans, but i found it here.

I can prepare Sushi and Teriyaki Tofu lunch for her in my cafe. I can extend more...

Since I opened this cafe, I have learnt a lot about Japanese Food from my customers .
I re-investigate so many things which are regarded as "just Japanese Foods". How interesting!

I really want to serve food everybody can enjoy  without any concerns about not feeling well afterwords.

I will receive Brown rice soon. I shall start serving it, too.

November...

Unbelievably warm days... How are you doing?
It was very stormy outside today, but winds are not cold at all!
I could go out without a winter coat.
Very strange.

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Apology for taking random closing of an-an cafe in the past few weeks. It's been over 4 months since I started this cafe, I needed time to resolve a pressure of running this business by myself.
The trigger was ... maybe the accident happened at the beginning of  October.
I was very down and could not settle down at all. There were so many things need to be done, but I even could not know where to start with. I was also very anxious if I could carry on this business like this.

But I am fine now. I had some time to think about it. The answer was "No going back. No looking back.".
Sometimes, I will need to have some time off from this cafe to keep myself on the track. I will come back, so don't give up on me!!! Anyway, I will let you know when I will need time well in advance.
Now I should be ok at least for a few month, though.

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So, I already finished the first sales in November. It was at Croydon Japanese School HuruhonIchi.
Thank you for people and friends who bought my sweets. I am so sorry I could not make enough.
Actually, There are some sweets could not make the sales...

I am thinking about sales at some places in Brighton again... a little by little...。

November, 3rd（Monday・・・well, tomorrow？）Japanese toddler group (Cornerstones Church, Hove)
from around 10am. If the weather is bad, it will be postponed to 17th. Sorry for the short notice.

November, 8th (Saturday）Brighton & Hove Japanese Club
2:00 - 4:00 pm. If it is dry, I will be in the parking area. If it is wet, I will be in the main Hall.

November 18th (Tuesday）Japanese Cafe an-an
7pm -9pm  Japanese and English language exchange session. If you want to talk in Japanese, please join us. Maximum number of people is 8. Fee- £5.00 (One drink and nibbles)

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November's sweets・・・


Kintsuba.
You can chose Pumpkin or chunky adzuki beans.
Dorayaki (Pancake sandwich) 3 filling to chose.
Satsuma Daifuku (Mochi) is a Limited edition till Christmas.
Chestnuts cake is out of stock. But I will make it very soon.

If you want to buy more than 10 sweets, please make an order in advance.
Sweet are not delivered now. Only delivered by a courier, using next day guaranteed. Therefore, please mind the Courier delivery charge will be added separately.

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November seems to be another unstable months.. I mean weather.
Please take care of yourselves. We need to get ready for Christmas soon. ww