Wednesday 24 June 2015

One night only izakaya (Japanese tapas bar)

It is the last day of an-an cafe 1st anniversary event. There were so many request opening in night time from customers in the last 6months. So I will do it!

さて、いよいよ、あん庵カフェオープン一周年記念企画、最終日に皆さんから過去6ヶ月で一番リクエストのあった、夜に居酒屋をします。

On Thursday 25th June, lunch service as usual till 3 pm.  Reopen at 5pm and Japanese tapas service starts. (last order at 9:00)

今週25日の木曜日に、お昼のサービスを3時で閉め、5時に居酒屋として再開します。(ラストオーダーは9時です)

an-an will serve something very common menu in izakaya tapas bar in Japan. 

日本の居酒屋で、定番のメニューを揃えてみました。

However, an-an does not have the license to sell alcholic drink, please bring your favorite bottles. You can also purchase some bottles at the near by off license. (No soft drink please)

ただし、あん庵はお酒を売る免許を持っていないので、お好きなアルコールのお飲物を持参ください。ソフトドリンクは持ち込まないでください。

Here are some of menus in the event
一部のメニューです。
Chicken gyoza dumplings 鶏肉の焼き餃子
Chicken karaage 鳥の唐揚げ
Kushikatsu (meat & vege) 串カツ
Corokke コロッケ
Nikujaga 肉じゃが
Fried bean cued stakes 厚揚げのステーキ
Japanese style salad (tofu, seaweeds or harusame noodle) 和風サラダ (豆腐、わかめ、そして春雨)
Onigiri (rice balls)おにぎり
... And more! 

Priced from £1.50-£3.00
お値段はわかりやすいお手頃価格です。

hope to see you on the day!
では、木曜日にお会いできることを楽しみにしています!

なお、混み合うことが予想されます。ご了承ください。

Saturday 13 June 2015

Japanese afternoon tea

As the first event of celebrate an-an cafe's first birthday, I would like to hold ...

Japanese afternoon high tea! 

It's start from 3 o'clock on Friday 19th. If you prefer in the morning, 10 o'clock slot is also available.

In Japan, there is a similar formal tea party called "Cha-kaiseki". However we are in Britten. I want to adopt Japanese sweets into British afternoon tea.

There are two reasons not to go traditional Cha-kaiseki.
One is plates and bowls... Cha-kaiseki needs so many various kind of small plates and bowls in different use. An-an only have dinner plates or side plates... And it's not easy to collect decent tableware for this event.
The other is in traditional Cha-kaiseki, you only can have one sweets at the end. But in British way, I can fill at least 2 plates with sweets.

However, still I want keep some aspects of Cha-kaiseki, it's vegan.

At first, please choose your favorite tea.
Sencha, roasted green tea (ho-ji cha), green tea with roasted brown rice (genmai cha), jasmin tea or other herbal teas...

The first plate is Vegan sushi... Equivalent to cucumber sandwich???
The second plate is for daifuku, manju and dango with various sauces.
The third plate will be the ornamental seasonal sweets for tea celemony (the photo is an example. They are hydrangeas.)



I won't spoil the fun to tell you in too much detail. 
I hope you will enjoy sweets with Japanese seasons.

£12 per person with Japanese Matcha green tea. If you don't want to have matcha green tea, it's only £10 per person. It's £17 worth of sushi and sweets ! If you like Japanese sweets, you cannot miss it!

If you cannot finish all, you sill can take away all on your plates. 

If it gets busy, I will ask share tables with other customers.

I only have 8 seats on each session, please make booking as soon as possible. Please don't forget to tell me which slot you want to come (10am, 3:30pm, 5pm or 6:30pm)

Please ring 07791137409 or order@an-an.co.uk for booking.

the second selebration of an-an cafe first birthday is on Thusday 25th. I open Japanese tapas bar for one might only! The detail is on the next blog!

Have a good day... Be happy, my friends!

Thursday 11 June 2015

June sweets and events


It's already weeks ago! 
Thanks for those who came to Sussex and The Big World Market.
The first day was really lovely weather and enjoyed the view to big open sea.
Then the blustery storm washed away the good feeling in the next morning... Needed a good few hours to lift myself... Well, all the people, customers and stuffs and friends, helped me to go on. 

Specially, I cannot thank enough to friends who came all the way from Eastbourne and even farther! 

Today I felt the beginning of summer! Sun and blue sky! 

But apparently, it will be cooler after rain tomorrow evening...
So, we have to take full use of this bright sun shine!!!

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Do you know an-an serve smoothies and milkshakes?

An-an have smoothies in 4 colors. See the past blog.

Iced coffee is also very popular! Don't forget to ask for iced Matcha milk tea . Both are very popular drinks back in Japan.

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Here are sweets from June.
Of course, the most popular one is the strawberry daifuku (Mochi).
This year's strawberries are really sweet and tasteful. The best ever!!!

Next line-up is kuzumochi.
Please use plenty of homemade organic roasted soy flour and homemade black syrup.
Kuzu flour is also organic. 

Dorayaki ( smooth azuki, chunky azuki or matcha green tea) and waka-ayu (a sweet fish) are also available. 
If you like to buy sanshoku dango ( 3 color dango on skewer), please ask at least 15 mins in advance. I will steam it on request. You can ring the cafe before come around.

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June's Events

Sunday 7th June the event finished. Japanese sweet making workshop. If you are interesting having the workshop, please contact. You need to gather at least 6 friends. A meal included.

Sunday 21st The Big Tea Party is going to be held at Brighton Dome studio theatre. It's a part of multi-cultural study and took such a huge subject... Tea! About 10 countries were appointed to present their culture and food related to "teas". Along with Japan, China, Iran, Asia and African countries are preparing exhibitions with serving teas and treats.

Tickets are still available from Brihgton Dome Studio Theatre (http://brightondome.org/event/7542/crossing_the_teas_the_big_tea_party/) £7.00/person.

Saturday 27th Huruhon ichi (second hand book market) at croydon Japanese school. 10:00~12:00. 

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AAAAAnd!

It's been one year since I opened this cafe.
It was amazing year! So I would like to hold some events to say thank you and reply to some of requests customers made in the past year.

"I want to try as much Japanese sweets as possible!"

Friday 19th - an-an will have Japanese afternoon tea party in Japanese style!
Have you had "high tea" in Japanese way? Probably not. So an-an will make it!
More detail comes in the next blog. Watch this space! (Booking necessary)

"Don't you open the cafe/take away in the evening?"

Thursday 25th - an-an izakaya (Japanese tapas bar) opens one night only!
Maid cafe style pancake in the morning. Lunch service is as usual.
.... 5pm Japanese tapas bar!
Howeve, an-an don't have license to sell alcoholic drink, so bring your favorite bottles
You can also take away lunch menu through the night. But if you want to sit and enjoy Japanese izakaya atmospher, please book a seat or two.
I will list up what will be available on the day.

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So, have wagashi and lovely month, my friends!